Newbattle Abbey College celebrates successful Christmas fair

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23^rd November 2012

Newbattle Abbey College celebrates successful Christmas fair

More than 800 people joined in the fun at Newbattle Abbey College’s annual ‘Christmas at Newbattle’ fair last weekend.
The event held on Saturday 17^th November was a great success with families and local residents attending the festive celebrations.
Scotland’s only adult education residential college hosted a variety of unique stalls selling beautiful Christmas Crafts and an array of delicious festive treats in the College’s historic building.

Festive music, song and poetry readings drew in the crowds to the College’s exquisite Drawing Room and Chapel with Newbattle Abbey College’s very own ‘Rough and Ready Choir’ leading the carols. The choir, made up of 30 staff, students and friends and local residents, performed a repertoire of Christmas songs, old and new, from around the world.

Santa’s dramatic entrance into the drawing room during The Rough and Ready Choir’s rendition of ‘Rudolph’ was a particular highlight for the younger visitors as were the craft workshops led by Forestry Commission Scotland.

This year the College proudly welcomed a couple of successful additions to the day’s programme. Local Gaelic singer and tutor, Gillie McKenzie, produced and co-ordinated a very well attended Gaelic singing workshop for beginners. There was also a fantastic performance from local harmony singing group, ‘Linties’ who took the opportunity to showcase traditional and modern songs from their recently released CD ‘Frae the Forth’.

Deputy Principal at Newbattle Abbey College Marian Docherty said: “The College was delighted with the large turnout from local communities across Midlothian. It was an excellent opportunity to involve local businesses and to sell the produce from our own Rural Skills programme. This festive family event also brought Newbattle’s 75th anniversary celebrations to an enjoyable conclusion.”

-ENDS-

Image 1 – One of the craft stalls on display in the College’s Crypt. 

Image 2 – Newbattle Abbey College’s Rural Skills course stall

For more information, contact:

Fiona Miller, Halogen Communications, (T) 0131 202 0120 (F) 0131 225 3757 (E) fiona@halogencom.com