Blog

The famous Leander Club played host to over 200 people on Saturday night who came to watch that night’s Living Advent Calendar performance, and be warmed by their Winter Pimms and Brakspear’s ‘O Be Joyful’ beer. It was a perfect winter’s evening by the river to listen to the ever-popular Henley Rock Choir, especially as they have a very special relationship with the Henley Living Advent Calendar : they were the very first set of surprise performers to emerge from the door back on December 1^st 2011 when the event first started.

Friday 6^th December was a double celebration: the annual Henley Christmas Festival AND the Living Advent Calendar. About 140 people strolled along to Friday Street to admire the vintage Bugatti (named Dorrie) and to be entertained by its owners, the Asher Family, on keyboard, drums and trumpet. There was literally dancing in the streets as local Littlies frolicked in front of their performance Marquee. And if you thought you recognised the family, you probably did : they were winners of the popular series ‘Four in a Bed’ with their narrowboat hotel.

For the third year in a row, the Living Advent Calendar audience enjoyed the welcome at the River & Rowing Museum. This year they were partnered again by our major Sponsors, Sotheby’s International Realty who provided copious amounts of delicious mulled wine and mince pies. The surprise performance of the evening came from the remarkable Henley Choral Society, who were ranged along the atrium stairs. Their renditions of beloved traditional carols had young and old alike joining in.