Opening a door each day on an Advent Calendar is part of many people's childhood memories. This year, Prince of Wales Drive has taken part in a new take on this old tradition as the Nine Elms area becomes a Living Advent Calendar.
Prince of Wales Drive has taken part in the first ever Nine Elms Advent Calendar. Co-ordinated by Nine Elms Arts Ministry, from 1st - 24th December, a new Christmas Carol themed 'Window' is being revealed each night, at a festive opening event in a different venue and continues with nightly celebrations throughout December.
There are nightly window openings across the Nine Elms area with a whole range of festive treats from sophisticated musical offerings in restaurants, to carol singing in pubs. In keeping with the calendar's theme, Prince of Wales Drive opened its "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" window on the 2nd December. The event featured live music and the unveiling of a choir of beautiful paper angels designed by Anna Cowie. The angels, have been created from bronze and gold burnished sheet music of the famous carol.
The window openings will conclude at 4pm on Christmas Eve at St George's Church, Patmore Street SW8, with the final window leading into a magical "Crib & Carols" for all ages. From Christmas Day to 5th January, all the windows will be open and available for residents and visitors to view as a trail (most being illuminated each evening). The trail provides a festive way for residents of Prince of Wales Drive and incoming visitors to explore Nine Elms. Other landmarks taking part in the calendar include Battersea Power Station; New Covent Garden Market; the new American Embassy and the South Bank of the River Thames.
At a time when many of us are enjoying delicious festive food, Prince of Wales Drive is proud to be involved in the Nine Elms Advent Calendar, where the window opening events will also be providing opportunities to support two great charities who are working to support families in crisis and end food poverty, Wandsworth Foodbank and Action against Hunger.
Nine Elms Arts Ministry, is an emerging community exploring the arts, spirituality and social justice in the heart of the Battersea Power Station/Nine Elms Development. It is a project of the Anglican Diocese of Southwark and led by Revd Betsy Blatchley, Pioneer Minister in the Arts. Last Christmas they presented Refugee: A Christmas Story at the Village Hall venue in Battersea Power Station, which saw 50 children performing a dance piece inspired by Anne Booth and Sam Usher's beautiful Christmas children's book Refuge.