COLOURFUL and noisy students from Ellesmere Port joined a historic Christmas parade.
Pupils of the University Church of England Academy, Ellesmere Port, joined Chester’s Winter Watch Parade on Thursday.
The parade was also staged the previous Thursday.
Led by Chester’s Karamba Samba and the Lord of Misrule, it featured dragons, devils, angels, a unicorn and a stag.
The Ellesmere Port performing arts diploma students took centre stage as The Cooks group performed a Sweeney Todd-inspired dance routine in Eastgate Street.
The Winter Watch is loosely based on the ‘setting of the watch’, a tradition from the 1400s that saw the city leaders handing over the keys of the city to the City Watch – the early police force – after processing around the city to ensure it was secure. There followed a banquet and celebration of Christmas, knowing the city was safe.
The final Christmas parade sees Chester’s Roman army marching through the city bearing torches for the Saturnalia Parade tomorrow (Thursday).
Cllr Richard Short, portfolio holder for culture and recreation, said: “Christmas in Chester is always something special but this year, with the big wheel, ice rink, grotto and Victorian village plus the host of festive parades, there’s a real sense of magic for children and adults alike.”
