Driving into the station in the sunshine and a temperature of fifteen degrees past the daffodils in Doddinghurst road, it was hard to believe it was Boxing Day. We have many guests with me in the studio today. In the first hour I was joined by Harrison Jobin, a pupil at Beckett Keys school, his sister Amelia from Ingatestone Junior School and his father Mark, a primary school teacher. They all talked about how Christmas had been celebrated in their schools. Amelia was one of the winners of the Mayor of Brentwood’s Christmas card competition and she read the poem printed in the card. From eleven o’clock we welcomed from Brentwood School Adrian McConnaughie, the school chaplain and his son Jonty who is a pupil at the school. Jonty told us about the production of West Side Story put on for five nights by the school in wghich he had a role. We also heard about the history of Christmas traditions. Adrian and Jonty both talked about the Christmas services held by the school. From twelve noon I was joined by Tim Lee from Brentwood Churches Together. Tim was keen that we use this time between Christmas and New Year to connect with people who are important to us and give time to reflect on all that really matters in life.
The wide selection of music including items from the Ingatestone and Fryerning Church choirs, led by music director Ollie Lincoln, from this year’s Fryerning church 9 Lessons and Carols.
We had many messages left before the show. You can read them below. During the show we heard from Lee who was listening whilst reading a new cookery book and looking for new recipes. Rene was listening as she was packing for a skiing holiday. Phyl was in the kitchen preparing and cooking the dinner. David was listening via the Phoenix98FM app as he walked his dog in a field in Lincolnshire. If you do not have the app, download it for free from the station website as a belated Christmas gift.
An example, of one of the memories left and used in the show came from Marjorie Perring.
I had four Christmases away from the U.K. The first was in Ascension Island, where we swam on Christmas Day. The others were in Brazil, where it was very hot. Despite that, the Father Christmases all wore the traditional thick costumes and even had red gloves to try and cover as much skin as possible. We always went to the English Church in Recife and sang all the traditional carols. Brazilians are very lively people, and throw themselves with enthusiasm into everything they do. The Christmas celebrations became a bit much. All I wanted was a snow field. I remembered walking in one with my sister when we were young. Our shoes came off and we could not stop laughing. Please play for me White Christmas.
Join me for another live show, New Year’s Day, 8-10 p.m.
[mixcloud width=600 height=180]https://www.mixcloud.com/RenH/phoenix-98-fm-boxing-day-special-with-patrick-sherring-26-dec-2015-what-christmas-means-to-me/[/mixcloud]