The familiar jingle of festive bells will be returning to Meriden’s streets next month thanks to friendly local Rotarians.
Members of The Rotary Club of Meriden will be joined by volunteers when they take their sleigh out and about in December as children gear up for some pre-Christmas excitement – all in the name of fundraising.
It is hoped funds will top the £3,500 raised last year which saw the return of the sleigh run after missing the previous year due to Covid.
The local routes are as follows. . .
December 5th – Millisons Wood: From 5.45pm. (Albert Road, Grace Road, Bonneville Close, Olympus Close, Daytona Drive, Thebes Close, Armana Drive, Luxor Lane, James Dawson Drive, Main Road)
December 7th – Meriden 1: From 5.45pm. (Maxstoke Lane (The Green), Wyatt Way, Letitia Way, Jubilee Close, Main Road, Strawberry Fields, Glovers Close, Waterfall Close, Main Road, Old Road)
December 8th – Meriden 2: From 5.45pm. (Archery Road, Fillongley Road, Kittermaster Road, Highfield Road, Fillongley Road, Alspath Road, Arden Close, Fairfield Rise, The Croft, Leys Lane, Centenary Drive, St Laurence Close, Mons Avenue, Leys Lane, Fillongley Road)
December 12th – Hampton-in-Arden Lower: From 5.45pm. (Lapwing Drive, Nesfield Close, Corbett’s Close, Hampton Green, Meriden Road, Diddington Lane, Meriden Road, The Crescent, Old Station Road)
December 14th – Kingshurst (Routes to be confirmed near the time)
December 15th – Kingshurst 1 (Routes to be confirmed near the time)
December 16th – Hampton-in-Arden Upper: From 5.45pm. (Fentham Green, Engine Mews, Fentham Road, Meadow Drive, Fentham Close, Fentham Road, Marsh Lane, Elm Tree Rise, Marsh Lane, Bellemere Road, Solihull Road)
Static collections are also taking place at the Hampton-in-Arden Christmas Tree Switch-on event on December 2nd; Melbick’s Garden Centre on December 9th; Packington Hall Santa Fun Run on December 11th; Morrison’s in Sheldon on December 13th and 14th and at Morrison’s in Castle Bromwich on December 18th.
Spokesperson for the Rotary Club of Meriden, Geoffrey Arthur, said: “Since Santa last went around Meriden and District on his sleigh in 2019, The Club has been fortunate to have had some help from his little elves to refurbish and paint his sleigh. It has also been fitted with new lights and a new sound system and we hear that Santa is really looking forward to showing it off to all the little boys and girls.
“Last year we raised £3,500 and despite the difficult times we are hoping to improve on that this year. Our main beneficiary will be our president’s charity for this year which is DEBRA UK and there will be other donations too. (https://www.debra.org.uk/)
More ways to donate to the sleigh run, introduced since the pandemic, include contactless payments and QR codes.
More information about The Rotary Club of Meriden can be found here
