Leigh984, The creative portfolio of Leigh Spencer

The Christmas season is well underway at food central fosse park with a Christmas Market adding to the festive atmosphere and performances from various groups such as the BBC Songs Of Praise Gospel Choir of the year and Britain`s Got Talent finalists, award winning EAGA Gospel Choir. We start our visit meeting new resident Polar Bear Fozzy P before the unmistakable sound of the EAGA choir fills the air and as the shoppers pass through many stop to watch and listen to them sing. Stalls at the Christmas Market include local brewers Mill Hill Brewing Co. A Churros stand, Mulled Wine and House of Cheese among others. As darkness falls the market takes on an even more magical appearance as lights shine and laser light projections flicker across the walls, and who is that dressed in red could it be Santa himself ?.

  The annual visit from Santa and his Sleigh to the village of Newbold Verdon sees the jolly man in red tour the streets with his helpers from the Rotary Club of Market Bosworth. We join Santa and his sleigh as he sets of around the village with exited calls of "Santa`s Here" from children and families who have braved the wet weather to come and see him. We follow him through the streets decorated by the villagers with a festive smile and wave he greets old and young, his helpers taking donations for charity as they go.

At Newbold Verdon Baptist Church village community groups, individuals and business come together to decorate Christmas trees for the annual Christmas tree festival. We begin outside the church and make our way inside where the trees are lined up along either side of the room with a theme of carols there`s a holly and the ivy tree by Coffee house Liberteas, a we three kings themed tree by Newbold Knitting Group, the BBC Make A Difference Winning Newbold Community Christian Choir have created a tree featuring all the members as angels. There is a loving tribute to Mr Barry Phillips a truly community minded man who the village lost this year after a battle with cancer in the form of a Muppets Christmas Carol tree, (Barry was a big fan of Disney films and The Muppets). Various other trees from the Scouts, Guides, Craft groups and more also fill the room.

Created by the Girl Guiding groups of Newbold Verdon the Christmas Yarnbomb is back in the village and this year features a showstopping edition. The Newbold Verdon Rainbow, Brownies and Girl Guides their leaders and friends have once again bought festive cheer to the village of Newbold Verdon with a Festive Christmas Yarnbomb. The display opposite the Library features pompoms, wreaths, and all manner of festive creations strung between and wrapped around the trees on a village green space, But this years show stopper piece is Santas sleigh and reindeer attached to the fence at the back of the display, featuring all the reindeer and Rudolph guiding the way at the front it adds a spectacular centrepiece to the yarnbomb.

It`s Christmas in Newbold Verdon and the Newbold Knitsys have been at it again this time creating not one or even two festive postbox toppers but three on all the postboxes in the village. We start with the corner of Preston Drive and Dragon Lane where two gnomes are opening Christmas presents, then into the village and beside Liberteas Coffee shop a Naughty Elf on the shelf is relaxing in front of a fireplace complete with mince pie all rendered in yarn. Last up on the Main St the man in red himself is stuck in a chimney. All three toppers bring festive cheer to the village and add to the decorations throughout making the village magical for visitors and villagers alike.

I was invited by Visit Leicester to the opening of Leicesters ever popular real Ice Rink. The Ice Rink, in a first for the UK ,features over 20,000 lights in the ice itself and an all new lighting rig suspended above the to create a magical festive environment for skaters. My film shows the rink ready for the skaters before the City Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby officially cuts the ribbon and declares the Ice Rink open for the festive season in the city. The ice soon fills up with skaters of all ages enjoying the atmosphere of #ChristmasInLeicester . To book your tickets visit: www.visitleicester.info The rink is open daily from 10am to 10pm from December 5th 2024 to January 5th 2025.

With a theme of around the world, Desford Residents, Businesses and Community Groups came together to decorate Christmas trees for the annual St Martin`s Church Christmas Tree festival in 2024. With trees featuring decorations detailing Christmas greetings from around the world, knitted flags of the world, we even got to say Allo Allo to a French themed tree !. After enjoying a cup of tea and a slice o` Cake, I take in trees depicting the tulips and windmills of Amsterdam, plus a very unique use for pasta on a Italian themed tree. As I venture back out into the winter air the church entrance is glowing with the warmth of lights and decorations created by the amazing volunteers and Desford Heritage group who make this fantastically festive festival possible.