YOUNG choristers have earned their school a special place in the festivities with a performance to remember of a Yuletide classic.
Cockerton Primary School pupils wrote two new verses for Silent Night, which captured the essence of Christmas for Darlington’s Mayor Gerald Lee, who awarded them the top prize in a carol writing competition.
Teacher Helen Mason said: “We couldn’t separate the work of the three pupils so they worked collaboratively and produced some wonderful verses.”
The 20 strong choir will now have the honour of performing at next year’s lights switch on in Darlington after pupils Zoe Mann, ten, Ryan Walton, nine, and Sarah Jewitt, nine, wrote the special verses.
The choir was one of five schools to take part in the annual St Cuthbert’s Carols for Kids event to raise much-needed funds for the town’s St Teresa’s Hospice.
More than 100 pupils took part from Reid Street, Mowden, Heathfield, and Red Hall primary schools. This year the contest had added poignancy as it also marked the 100th anniversary of the Christmas truce on the front during World War I.
Organiser Naomi Potts said: “All the choirs sang beautifully in what is always a magical occasion. All the school choir leaders did a fabulous job supporting the event.”
The choirs rehearsed in the afternoon under the direction of compere Darlington Choral Society’s Richard Bloodworth, who has been working with each choir in the run up to the event.
As well as raising welcome funds for St Teresa’s Hospice, the competition is designed to encourage young people to sing and join a choir.
Mrs Potts added: “It provides them with the opportunity to perform in a beautiful church, mix with children from primary schools across the town and get into the Christmas spirit.”
