AS THE Droitwich Spa Christmas Sleigh starts its journey around the town this evening, it will be the most environmentally friendly it has been in its 50-year history.
The sleigh has been delighting children (young and old) for half a century and now – after a dramatic overhaul – it has a battery generator, rather than a petrol one for the first time.
Clearly inspired by recent events at COP26 in Glasgow, new low energy lighting and sound systems have been fitted.
The team have been working hard in preparation and it was only last night declared ready for its annual seasonal journey.
The sleigh is jointly managed by Droitwich Lions and Rotary Clubs and the venture is assisted by several organisations in the town.
As well as now being a green, clean festive cheer spreading machine, it has also raised tens of thousands of pounds for local charities over the years.
Santa will be back with a fuller schedule after last year’s scaled back operations to ensure everyone stayed safe.
Again, this year there will only be a small number of non-stop drive rounds of the sleigh and the routes are available to view on the Droitwich Spa Christmas Sleigh Facebook page, the Rotary Club of Droitwich Spa website and Droitwich Lions website. These will generally keep to main roads but will be visiting more than last year.
Sadly the man in the big red suit will not be knocking on doors or handing out treats to the boys and girls.
As with other years, buckets are available to make donations to local charities and, in keeping with 2021, there will also be an online Droitwich Spa Christmas Sleigh JustGiving page and a QR Code (below) to make giving as easy as possible.
In addition, there will be static days in the town centre on December 10 and 11 near to Morrisons and on December 17 and 18 near Waitrose.
On these days contactless card readers will be available for anyone who wishes to donate. It is vital that social distancing is observed when visiting the sleigh on these days.
The latest information will be posted on Droitwich Spa Christmas Sleigh Facebook group.
Once again live tracking after proving very popular last year.
None of the updating of the sleigh would have been possible without the amazing help and generosity of Chris Sparkes and the team at PSS and they are owed a giant thanks.
People are urged to share the dates and times to give Father Christmas as good a reception possible and to give generously to benefit the good causes.
The opening run will be around the Celvestune Way area.
Among the roads being covered (although it will not go along the length of all of them) are Avondale, Calder Close, Danube Close, Derwent Grove, Glendale, Grafson Place, Hawford Place, Lahn Drive, Monnow Close, Mosel Drive, Severndale, Teesdale Close, Teme Crescent, Thames Drive, Trent Close, Waveney Road, Welland Close, Wensleydale, Wharfedale Crescent, Wye Close.
To check out when Father Christmas will be visiting your road, we have printed the Lions’ and Rotary’s list of individual roads and dates below (in alphabetical order).
Abberley Drive K Dec 3
Abitot Place I Dec 9
Addenbrooke Road H Dec 10
Addyes Close/Green L Dec 16.
Adrian Close. E Dec 14
Albert Street H Dec 10
Alder Grove D Dec 5
Alderbrook Road J Dec 12.
Alexander Avenue K Dec 3.
Anne Thomas Crescent I Dec 9
Archers Close J Dec 12.
Arkle Road/Close D Dec 5
Arrow Croft J Dec 12.
Ashendon Close E Dec 14
Austin Drive I Dec 9
Avondale C Dec 1
Badger End A Dec 15
Bagehott Road/Close L Dec 16
Bainbrigge Avenue F Dec 8
Barnscroft Way J Dec 12.
Bays Meadow G Dec 7
Belfry Road D Dec 5
Berrill Close D Dec 5
Birch Coppice D Dec 5
Blackfriars Avenue H Dec 10
Blackthorne Close D Dec 5
Blake Avenue K Dec 3
Bluebell Close A Dec 15
Bourne Close H Dec 10
Bowden Green L Dec 16
Bower Hill K Dec 3.
Brantwood Road/Close D Dec 5
Brecon Close J Dec 12.
Broadheath Close L Dec 16
Broadmeadow K Dec 3.
Bromsgrove Road G Dec 7
Bruton Avenue I Dec 9
Burrish Street H Dec 10
Calder Close C Dec 1
Camp Furlong/Hill K Dec 3.
Cedar Close D Dec 5
Centenary Way I Dec 9.
Chalverton Court J Dec 12.
Charlecot Road E Dec 14
Charles Dickens Close L Dec 16
Charles Henry Road F Dec 8
Charlotte Bronte Road L Dec 16
Chawson Pleck Road K Dec 3.
Cherry Close F Dec 8
Chestnut Spinney D Dec 5
Chorley Road G Dec 7
Church Road G Dec 7
Churchill Avenue K Dec 3.
Clayhall Road D Dec 5
Clee View H Dec 10.
Clifford Road/Close L Dec 16
Clover Close A Dec 15
Clydesdale Road/Close D Dec 5
Cobham Court E Dec 14
Cockshute Hill F Dec 8
Coleford Close J Dec 12.
College Green K Dec 3.
Columbine Road A Dec 15
Conbridge Close I Dec 9.
Coneygreen Mews I Dec 9.
Coppice Close ALL B Dec 2
Corbett Avenue E Dec 14
Corbett Street E Dec 14
Cowslip Gardens A Dec 15
Crofters ALL B Dec 2
Crutch Lane G Dec 7
Cuckoo Close A Dec 15
Cuphill Close A Dec 15
Danube Close C Dec 1
Deer Grove A Dec 15
Derwent Grove C Dec 1
Dodderhill Court Drive G Dec 7
Dodderhill Road G Dec 7
Dodington Drive I Dec 9.
Dormouse Fields A Dec 15
Douglas Close I Dec 9.
Dove Crescent A Dec 15
Dovecote Road E Dec 14
Doverdale Close H Dec 10
Dovey Close I Dec 9.
Dowles Croft J Dec 12.
Drovers Way ALL B Dec 2
Dugard Way L Dec 16
Dunclent Close I Dec 9.
East Park Drive B Dec 2
Elgar Crescent L Dec 16
Elizabeth Avenue F Dec 8
Enid Blyton Corner L Dec 16
Evertons Close K Dec 3.
Fabricius Avenue H Dec 10
Falcon Close E Dec 14
Falstaff Drive L Dec 16
Farmers Court ALL B Dec 2
Farriers Close ALL B Dec 2
Florence Avenue K Dec 3.
Fox Avenue A Dec 15
Foxglove Avenue A Dec 15
Foxhunter Close D Dec 5
Friar Street G Dec 7
Geoffrey Chaucer Walk L Dec 16
Glendale C Dec 1
Godwin Close I Dec 9.
Goldcrest Way A Dec 15
Gorse Close D Dec 5
Grafson Place C Dec 1
Greenbank F Dec 8
Gresley Close I Dec 9.
Gresley Way I Dec 9.
Grosvenor ALL D Dec 5
Hammond Close D Dec 5
Hampton Road H Dec 10
Hanbury Street/Terrace/Road G Dec 7
Hare Close A Dec 15
Harris Close H Dec 10
Hartland Drive I Dec 9.
Hawford Place C Dec 1
Hawthorn Walk D Dec 5
Hazel Close D Dec 5
Hedgehog Way A Dec 15
Hedmag Croft I Dec 9.
Henley Drive D Dec 5
Heron Place G Dec 7
Herriotts Court/Lane F Dec 8
Highfields Close E Dec 14
Hipkiss Gardens J Dec 12.
Holloway Close F Dec 8
Holly Close D Dec 5
Home Piece J Dec 12.
Homestead K Dec 3.
Honeymans Gardens J Dec 12.
HuntersClose ALL B Dec 2
Impney Way/Green G Dec 7
Inett Way B Dec 2
Isaacs Way L Dec 16
Jackdaw Lane E Dec 14
Jenny Wren Row A Dec 15
Kestrel Crescent E Dec 14
King George Avenue E Dec 14
Kingcup Fields A Dec 15
Kingston Close D Dec 5
Lahn Drive C Dec 1
Langley Road E Dec 14
Lark Piece A Dec 15
Laurelwood Road/Close D Dec 5
Lawley Way K Dec 3
Ledwych Road/Close/Gardens J Dec 12.
Leigh Grove J Dec 12.
Leofric Court I Dec 9.
Ley Croft D Dec 5
Lilac Close D Dec 5
Little Hill/Court/Green J Dec 12.
Little Park K Dec 3.
Long Sling K Dec 3.
Lyttelton Road E Dec 14
Mallard Place G Dec 7
Manning Road H Dec 10
Manor Close F Dec 8
Mantle Close I Dec 9.
Maple Grove D Dec 5
Marhon Close D Dec 5
May Tree Hill D Dec 5
Mayflower Road F Dec 8
Maynard Drive I Dec 9.
Meadow Way ALL B Dec 2
Miller Street H Dec 10
Minter Avenue H Dec 10
Monnow Close C Dec 1
Moreland Road H Dec 10
Mosel Drive C Dec 1
Mulberry Tree Hill D Dec 5
Netherwich Gardens J Dec 12.
Neville Close I Dec 9.
New Chawson Lane J Dec 12.
Newland Drive E Dec 14
Newland Road (to Windsor} D Dec 5
Newland Road(to Windsor) E Dec 14
Nightingale Close E Dec 14
Nuffield Drive B Dec 2
Nunnery Avenue H Dec 10
Oakham Drive/Place/Green J Dec 12.
Oakland Avenue E Dec 14
Oakleigh Road J Dec 12.
Old Coach Road H Dec 10
Ombersley Road H Dec 10
Ombersley Street West H Dec 10
Orchard Rise K Dec 3.
Oxlip Row A Dec 15
Packington Close I Dec 9.
Packington Road H Dec 10
Paddock ALL B Dec 2
Padgewell Hill K Dec 3.
Park Way B Dec 2
Parling Drive I Dec 9.
Parsons Corner K Dec 3.
Pelham Road K Dec 3.
Penrice Road K Dec 3.
Percheron Way D Dec 5
Petersfield Drive F Dec 8
Pilgrim Road F Dec 8
Piper Close I Dec 9.
Platten Close I Dec 9.
Ploughmans ALL B Dec 2
Portland Road F Dec 8
Prescott Drive I Dec 9.
Pridzor Road/Close G Dec 7
Primrose Gardens A Dec 15
Primsland Drive F Dec 8
Primsland Fields D Dec 5
Princes Avenue E Dec 14
Priory Gardens H Dec 10
Rabbit Croft A Dec 15
Raven Gardens A Dec 15
Ravenscroft Drive F Dec 8
Rebekah Gardens L Dec 16
Ripple Road H Dec 10
Riverside Road/Way G Dec 7
Robeson Close F Dec 8
Robin Meadow A Dec 15
Rose Avenue F Dec 8
Rowan Close D Dec 5
Rushy Close K Dec 3.
Rye Close F Dec 8
Salwarpe Road J Dec 12.
Sandles Road/Close L Dec 16
Sarah Close L Dec 16
Scholars Walk K Dec 3.
Severn Court E Dec 14
Severndale C Dec 1
Sharington Row I Dec 9.
Sharmel Row I Dec 9.
Shepherds ALL B Dec 2
Shire Way D Dec 5
Shirley Jones Close B Dec 2
Shirley Road K Dec 3.
Showell ALL L Dec 16
Shrew Corner A Dec 15
Singer Hill K Dec 3.
Snowdrop Drive A Dec 15
South Park Drive B Dec 2
Spa Road H Dec 10
Sparrow Walk A Dec 15
Squirrel Bank A Dec 15
St Andrews Close/Drive/Road H Dec 10
St Augustines Close/Drive G Dec 7
St Georges Court/Crescent F Dec 8
St Josephs Close J Dec 12.
St Marys Road E Dec 14
St Nicholas Street H Dec 10
St Peters Church Lane F Dec 8
St Peters Crescent/Walk F Dec 8
St Peters Road E Dec 14
St Richards Gardens H Dec 10
Stalls Farm Road H Dec 10
Station Street H Dec 10
Steynors Close/Avenue H Dec 10
Stinton Lea I Dec 9.
Stoat Close A Dec 15
Stoulton Croft J Dec 12.
Suffolk Way D Dec 5
Swallow Place E Dec 14
Swan Drive G Dec 7
Tagwell Close E Dec 14
Tagwell Gardens E Dec 14
Tagwell Grange E Dec 14
Tagwell Heights E Dec 14
Tagwell Road E Dec 14
Teasel Close A Dec 15
Teesdale Close C Dec 1
Teme Crescent C Dec 1
Thames Drive C Dec 1
Thatchers ALL B Dec 2
The Butts K Dec 3.
The Dale K Dec 3.
The Firs J Dec 12.
The Holloway F Dec 8
The Oaklands K Dec 3
The Orchardlea F Dec 8
The Parklands E Dec 14
The Ridgeway F Dec 8
The Tyning K Dec 3.
The Waterfront G Dec 7
Trehearne Road F Dec 8
Trent Close C Dec 1
Trimnel Green K Dec 3.
Trymnell Place I Dec 9.
Union Lane H Dec 10
Valentine Close D Dec 5
Valley Way J Dec 12.
Vashon Drive I Dec 9.
Vernon Grove J Dec 12.
Victoria Avenue E Dec 14
Vines Lane West G Dec 7
Vines Lane/Mews G Dec 7
Waterside/Close G Dec 7
Waveney Road C Dec 1
Weasel Avenue A Dec 15
Weaver Close F Dec 8
Wedgeberrow Close H Dec 10
Welland Close C Dec 1
Wensleydale C Dec 1
West Street H Dec 10
Westbury Avenue J Dec 12.
Westmead Close J Dec 12.
Westwood Avenue E Dec 14
Westwood Close B Dec 2
Wey Close/Place J Dec 12.
Wharfedale Crescent C Dec 1
Wildlife Way A Dec 15
Willets Road D Dec 5
William Shakespeare Place L Dec 16
Willow Drive D Dec 5
Windsor Road E Dec 14
Winslow Avenue F Dec 8
Witton Avenue K Dec 3.
Woodedge Drive A Dec 15
Woodfield Rd G Dec 7
Woodfields G Dec 7
Woodland Way A Dec 15
Woodmans ALL B Dec 2
Worcester Road PART E Dec 14
Wych Road K Dec 3.
Wye Close C Dec 1
Yew Tree Hill D Dec 5
York Avenue (to Windsor) E Dec 14
York Avenue(to Maple D Dec 5
