Carol singing, Market Square, Stafford

Description:A popular feature of the festive season in Stafford has been the singing of carols around the Christmas tree outside the Shire Hall in the Market Square.

Over several evenings in December 1951, hundreds of people took part in singing carols around the tree. In this picture taken on Sunday 23 December, the singing is being led by the local British Legion Band and the Holmcroft Singers. On the previous Friday, up to 70 members of the Stafford and District Choral Society turned out to sing carols, old and new with the band of the RAF 16 Maintenance Unit, who were conducted by Miss Mary Higgs. On Thursday evening the Stafford Madrigal Choir, conducted by Mrs Chrystabel Hazell, sang and were accompanied by the British Legion Band.

Not many of the bystanders who joined in the singing realised that they were being painted at the time by Mr T H Higson, the Borough Engineer. On two of the evenings he set up his canvas in an upstairs room at the Guildhall overlooking the Market Square and while the carols resounded through the streets, his paint brush was busy.

This photograph was published in the Staffordshire Newsletter on Saturday 29 December 1951. Reproduced by kind permission of the Staffordshire Newsletter who retain copyright.