Deal Pier Winter Lights Lantern Procession
On Friday 15 December, Deal Pier was lit up with a beautiful lantern parade organised by local human rights charity Samphire in partnership with Deal Town Council and local school children.
The event began at the entrance to the pier and those assembled were joined by Deal Town Major Cllr Oliver Richardson. The parade walked to the end of the pier where all were treated to a carol performance and sing along by the Deal Landmark Choir. And there were festive refreshments for the school children too.
The date also marked one year on from a tragedy in the English Channel which saw lives lost and tragically the same happened this year too.
The procession was a celebration of life, light, hope and love.
Samphire have been working with local primary school children to learn about togetherness and welcome, and created beautiful painted lanterns to use in the procession.
Samphire spokesperson and event organiser Kay Marsh said of the event “Thank you to everyone who came on Friday night and helped us light up Deal Pier! It was a truly beautiful show of community, togetherness and love at a time when such things are so desperately needed but sometimes hard to find.
However you spend your festive season – do it with love, kindness and hope for a brighter 2024.”
“With this event we hope to share that message by coming together and sharing some festive cheer. We have been very lucky to have the complete support of Deal Town Council and we hope this will remain an annual tradition and grow each year”.
The Worshipful Town Mayor of Deal, Cllr Oliver Richardson said: “We have pledged to become a Town of Sanctuary and I cannot think of any better way to begin that journey than by supporting Samphire’s Winter Lights Lantern Procession.
“Children carrying aloft lanterns, sharing hope and sharing light is a message we can all appreciate, especially at this time of year.
“We have a proud tradition of ‘Welcoming the Stranger’ indeed, it is our town motto, so it seems more than fitting that our pier becomes a beacon of love and hope this Christmas.”