Christmas Victorian Evening in Richmond

10 years ago I went along to the last Richmond Victorian evening. I remember that the streets were so packed that I was afraid my daughter (then in her buggy) would get crushed in the crowd. I remember the High Street without traffic but filled with happy, celebrating people browsing in the brightly lit shops and admiring the food and fares of the many stalls along the way. There was a machine that made artificial snow that cascaded over everything – making things really Christmassy. The procession was excellent – the Mayor and other local dignitaries and an excellent Queen Victoria lookalike. It was a great evening.

Last Friday I took my daughter (now a teen) and a friend along to experience it again – an evening organised by The Victoria Foundation (a Richmond based medical assistance charity). We arrived a little before the start at 530pm and so wandered around the shops – the folk at Don Fernando’s had set up a stall outside and were cooking a huge paella, the women in Claire’s Accessories were in top party form with great (pink) costumes and so were the women selling raffle tickets for the charity in House of Fraser (which had a fantastic two day 20% off promotion which meant I saved quite a bit on one of the presents that I had to buy). And there was another woman in a Victorian outfit singing in the cosmetics department “Dream a little dream for me”. Outside, the rain had started.

We walked down the narrow side street to Richmond Green. Here there were just a few stalls and some thin crowds. The Police had a van and display on Operation Lockout, a large marquee selling coffee and mulled wine was doing a brisk trade. There were colourful balloons everywhere. Sadly, there weren’t many stalls – a few charities were doing their best to raise spirits and funds – FunnyWomen.com, Whizz Kids and INS amongst them. Kids were gathered around the glow sticks and light stars stall.

It was a little disappointing that other retailers and local organisations hadn’t lent a bit more support – I seem to remember in the past old fashioned rides and lots more stalls.

What did cheer us up was Brewers Lane – the lights across this alleyway were amongst the best I’ve seen. The chocolate shop on the corner looked really festive and was packed. Toko the jewellers drew a crowd with its rings on strings. JV Side Retreat was also causing a bit of a stir – two handsome King Charles spaniels overdosing on happy adults and kids trying to get a stroke. Gelateria Daniels offered an Italian treat whilst the Tea Cup Tea room provided a traditional English parlour with pretty cake stands and smart tea pots.

Back on the High Street, it was disappointing to see some of the shops shutting up early – wasn’t the point of the event to take advantage of all the extra footfall? Outside the now closed Habitat there was a throng of extremely happy kids watching Punch and Judy and just near the splendid Christmas tree outside Hobbs there was a Radio Jacky stand providing music and organising games and competitions for children – some of whom had joined in the fun and dressed up Victorian style. The flower stall here added to the seasonal flavour with lots of Christmas greenery and sparkly branches. I’m afraid that there wasn’t enough to keep us there until 7pm so we missed the procession and The Royal Military School of Music band playing carols – I hope it was good.

Here’s hoping that next year a few more people get behind it and restore it to the marvellous event it used to be. Meanwhile, you can support the Victoria Foundation’s other charity events in 2012 – The Scarlet Ball, the Diamond Jubilee Ladies Lunch, the Golf Day and the Great River Race.