Henley Living Advent Calendar doors close for another year with £10,000 raised

ABOUT £10,000 was raised for charities during the Henley Living Advent Calendar.

The annual event ended on Christmas Eve after 24 nights of entertainment at different venues across the town, each in aid of a good cause.

Charities supported included the Royal British Legion, the Nomad youth and community project and Riverside Counselling Service.

The total raised was slightly below the record £11,000 raised in 2024 and it was the first time Henley Town Council had organised the event, taking over from Richard Rodway, a partner at THP Solicitors, who stepped down last year.

The final event took place outside of St Mary’s Church in Hart Street with a performance by the church choir.

The penultimate night was due to take place at Hof’s in Market Place on Tuesday last week but the Go Agains pulled out due to illness.

On Monday last week, the Buddies Choir, formed of members of the Chiltern Centre, performed Christmas carols led by Gill Aitchison, of Aliquando Chamber Choir. Other members of the chamber choir also sang and played guitar.

The group performed carols such as Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer, Jingle Bell Rock, White Christmas and All I Want for Christmas is You in front of the Christmas tree in Market Place.

Some of the Buddies Choir members played instruments such as maracas or tambourine. They performed a song written by Ms Aitchison for the occasion. The lyrics were: “Christmas time in Henley, the tree is in the square. Children’s eyes light up with glee to join the festive fair.”

Ms Aitchison said she was enlisted to help the choir prepare for the event and has been rehearsing with the group since October.

She said: “We had great fun for many, many weeks. Working with the young adults, they have been so responsive and have really enjoyed the music. They have been making suggestions which is where we got the tunes. We decided what type of music they wanted to sing and it was definitely the fun, Christmas ones really.

“We would take in different instruments, and they would choose different instruments to play, maracas or a tambourine or something, and some of the group are really very good. They either learn some of the words or they know the tune.”

Mayor Tom Buckley said each night had seen audiences of 50 to 100 people, with one night welcoming 150 and thanked all the performers.