Carol Crisis Calmly Cancelled

For a worrying moment this month, it looked like Christmas might not be coming to Marown at all.

The parish’s much-loved annual singalong around the Ballagarey Christmas Tree in Glen Vine, a festive fixture that reliably draws half the parish, several scarves per person and at least one enthusiastic but wildly off-key rendition of Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, was at serious risk of being scrapped altogether.

Gasps were heard across the island’s only landlocked parish. WhatsApp messages were exchanged. Brows were furrowed.

With the ever-reliable Crosby Silver Band sadly unavailable this year, the thought of a December without community carol singing left many Marownians wondering whether Christmas itself had quietly been cancelled.

‘Is Christmas still coming to Marown?’ asked one deeply concerned five-year-old lad from Crosby, reportedly worried that a festive failure might see him receive coal instead of the go-kart he has very reasonably requested.

It was, by all accounts, a worrying time for everyone involved.

But fear not. Christmas has been officially saved.

In a late festive twist worthy of a Christmas special, local residents, alongside the heroic efforts of Manx Concert Brass and the Manx Youth Band, have stepped in to rescue the event and restore peace, goodwill and festive cheer to the parish.

The carol singing will now take place outside the Crosby Co-op instead tomorrow night (Thursday 6pm), proving that if there’s one place capable of saving Christmas in Marown, it’s the Co-op car park.

Marown Parish Commissioners confirmed the good news, sharing the following message:

‘Great news! Thanks to local residents, we have the pleasure of welcoming members of Manx Concert Brass and the Manx Youth Band to the Crosby Co-op on Thursday this week (18th) at 6pm for community carol singing.

‘Please do your best to attend and have a sing and spread the word about this.

‘Thanks to Sarah for organising the music.’

And fear not Crosby Silver Band fans, as Gef’s reliably informed they’ll be performing, as normal, in the Crosby Pub once again on Christmas Eve.

So dust off your woolliest hat, warm up your vocal cords and head for the frozen food aisle tomorrow, as Marown’s Christmas spirit is alive, well and very much happening.

And as for the five-year-old lad from Crosby? Gef’s sources suggest that go-kart dream is very much back on.