Spectacular day

A festive welcome was waiting for all in the shops, museum (with a free, traditional Punch and Judy show, stalls in the garden cafe, mulled wine and mince pies).

We even had a visit from Santa himself in the newly-empty Edlows shop, decorated as a tree-lined grotto, and with a gift for every child at a very affordable £2, there was still a queue at 4.30pm, and out on the streets, hot chestnuts and a snow machine. What a brilliant start to the festive season.

I hosted the coffee and mince pie event at the Rustington Village Information Centre as an employee of the parish council and would like to mention the couple who came into the centre and apparently waited until there was a full house, and for me to turn my back serving coffee, so they could swiftly empty the newly-replenished mince pie plate and children’s sweets into their carrier bags and disappear into the busy, crowded shopping centre!

If I had known you were so hungry, I would have given you the £2.50 from my own pocket to buy a box of mince pies, it being Christmas and a time of giving, not taking.

Julie Covey

Rustington Information Centre