On Tuesday 2nd December, the Mayor of Chelmsford, Councillor Jannetta Sosin and Mayoress, Chris Shaw, officially launched Chelmsford Mildmay Rotary Club’s annual Santa Sleigh tour at Beaulieu – Countryside (now part of Vistry) and L&Q’s JV development in Chelmsford.
Returning for its fifth year, the tour officially commenced from the Beaulieu Community Centre and was marked by the Mayor of Chelmsford waving the sleigh off on its journey across the surrounding streets.
Across 10 nights in December, the Chelmsford Mildmay Rotary Club’s festive tour aims to raise vital funds for local charities. In the lead-up to Christmas, Santa’s Sleigh will spread holiday cheer across Chelmsford, visiting Beaulieu, Channels, North Springfield, Boreham, Broads Green, Howe Street, Ford End, and the Walthams.
Funds raised from the event will be donated to The Children’s Society East (Hidden Harm) – a fantastic organisation that works with young people across Essex who live with parents with drug or alcohol addiction, or parental or carer mental health issues – as well as other local charities. The tour will comprise:
- 2nd December: Armistice Avenue, Wright Crescent, Ben Wilson Link
- 4th December: Centenary Way, Linge Avenue, Walter Whybrow Crescent
- 11th December: Boreham: Butterfield Road Shops, Butterfield Road area, Orchard Plaza
- 12th December: Channels, Albatross Way, Lower Wimbush Road, Belfrey Crescent, St Andrews Drive, Channels Drive, Brassie Wood, Mashie Link, Fairway Drive
- 13th December: Sainsbury’s Superstore White Hart Lane
- 14th December: Ford End
- 15th December: Little Waltham, Broads Green, Great Waltham, Howe Street
- 17th December: Centenary Way, Wilfred Waterman Way, Robert Finch Crescent, Minns Avenue
- 18th December: Goldenacres, Stablecroft, Paddock Drive, Trenchard Crescent, Mountbatten Way, Daffodil Way, Hunters Way, Martingale
- 20th December: Morrisons Superstore Regiment Business Park
Full details of the dates and destinations can also be found on Chelmsford Mildmay Rotary Club’s website and social media. (www.mildmayrotary.org.uk). Routes may change depending on weather and other unforeseen circumstances so look out for daily updates which will include how to track Santa’s Sleigh each evening.
Roger Spall, President of Chelmsford Mildmay Rotary, said: “I was delighted that the Mayor of Chelmsford, Councillor Janetta Sosin, together with Mayoress, Chris Shaw, joined us at the Beaulieu Community Centre on the evening of 2nd December to wave off Santa and his elves on their first tour of the Christmas season. It made it a very special occasion and a memorable start to the travels of our Santa Sleigh which are now underway and continue through until 20th December. I’m particularly looking forward to helping Santa as he takes his sleigh around the streets of Beaulieu and other parts of the Chelmsford Garden Community, seeing as many children and adults as possible and raising much needed funds for the Children’s Society East and other charities. We are grateful to everyone who supports us and especially Beaulieu Chelmsford for their sponsorship”
Representing the developers of Beaulieu, Countryside (part of Vistry) and L&Q, Martin Leach, Managing Director of Vistry Strategic Land & Major Projects said: “Christmas at Beaulieu showcases the strength of our community coming together. The Santa Sleigh tour is a popular neighbourhood event in the run up to Christmas, helping to create festive cheer while generating vital funds for charities making a real difference in Essex. We are very pleased to be sponsoring Chelmsford Mildmay Rotary Club’s Christmas events once again and would encourage everyone to get involved in this festive fundraising initiative.”
Councillor Jannetta Sosin, Mayor of Chelmsford, said: “Thank you, Chelmsford Mildmay Rotary, for inviting myself and the Mayoress to wave off Santa on his important sleigh mission so close to Christmas when he and his helpers are so busy. It was great to hear about the annual fundraising which raises so much money for local charities. We wish Santa all the best for the rest of his journeys throughout December. What a great list of venues. Good luck Santa.”
