Weymouth carol singers join voices from their doorsteps

Carolers in Weymouth won’t let COVID-19 stop them from spreading Christmas cheer.

Streets in Wyke Regis were abuzz with revellers singing carols by streetlight from the doorsteps.

It was in place of the usual Carols around the Christmas Tree event in Wyke Square.

Singers tuned in to a live-streamed service by All Saints Church, Wyke Regis through PA systems set up in the street.

Residents in Broughton Crescent were among them and came together in the rain with laminated song sheets.

We sent our reporter, George Sharpe, down to sing along with them:

Lucy Clarke was among the singers. She said:

“I think it’s fabulous to celebrate the community spirit that exists out there because it’s been really tough for many families out there.

“I think the one good thing to come out of this pandemic that we’re all faced with, is we’ve all localised and we’ve all celebrated family and close friendships that we have.

“So, here’s to celebrating and making more memories.”

But, they weren’t the only ones tuning in to the service. A number of streets, including Walker Crescent, Purbeck Close, parts of Portland Road and Chelmsford Street joined in. There were even some groups as far as Canada and Abu Dhabi.

Gary Hepburn is churchwarden at All Saints. He said:

"We thought this Christmas time it would be nice if everybody could join together from their own home singing carols so many carol events in churches and within the community have been cancelled.

"We thought it'd be nice if everybody could get together, so we came up with this concept of everybody going out onto their doorstep at a set date and time and have to provide in the music live in terms of a choir and band and having a website that they could print off posters and a carol sheet from and everybody join in safely from their own home."