Paddleboarding to church in the dark

Paddleboarders crossed the canal in the darkness to be sure of a place at the third annual canalside carol service at Saul Junction.

In total, 150 people came along to an evening of carols, mince pies and mulled wine on the canal side at Saul Junction. This was almost double the number of people who attended the last service in 2019, signalling a quick growth in its popularity.

Reader Charles Garven and his wife Pat organised the carol service, as a way to share some of the Christmas spirit with the canal network community.

He said, “Frampton Silver Band did us proud, as usual, as did the Severnside Singers who attended for the first time this year. I think we all had a very enjoyable evening and thankfully the rain held off for long enough!”

Charles is a Waterways Chaplain with the Waterways Chaplaincy organisation.