From Dorking’s BID Manager, Jo McGowan
It is the Thursday after the DorKingdom Fairytale Christmas Festival and it has taken me this long to process just what a special day last Sunday was. Events like the Christmas Festival to an outsider probably look like they spring up from nowhere, but they take months of planning and the generosity, hard-work and kindness of our suppliers, volunteers, BID members and the wider community to make it happen, and boy did it happen!
We had a day of two halves, pouring rain in the morning (not sure I’ve ever been damper!) and then a gloriously dry afternoon with even a hint of winter sunshine. The crowds flocked in the afternoon but we are very grateful to all the stallholders, volunteers, suppliers, performers and the community that came out to support us even in the pouring rain.
The day for me started at 6am, standing in South Street with our fabulous traffic management company, Chevron, our beautifully cheery recovery company, Surrey Recovery and a chirpy PC from Surrey Police. For an event like the Christmas Festival we have to close roads, and that also means suspending parking within the road closure zone. Road Closures and Parking Suspensions involve a lot of form filling months in advance, and to make sure the event is safe we have to ensure the roads are clear before closing. The team above work together at a very early start for a Sunday to ensure vehicles are moved and the roads are safe.
Once the roads are closed our Surrey Hills Enterprises stalls swung into action, setting up their beautiful wares. They had a great day despite the early rain and comments like this were common – “Turned out to be our best market of the year, Thank you!” As the traders set up our main stage was being put together by the amazing Trafalgar Marquees and STLS Sound ready for our performers and for Mark Carter and the fab team at BBC Radio Surrey to compere the day. BBC Radio Surrey has been such a great supporter of the festival, not only compering but giving us such generous on air coverage. We are lucky to have them. We also had Surrey Fire and Rescue rock up to fill the water butts to keep the marquee weighted down and, amongst all this, bins were delivered by the wonderful ESS while Mole Valley District Council lent gazebos and ensured clean streets and empty bins to start the day.
As well as the many community performers that shone on the main stage and around the town we also enlisted the help of some professionals to bring some extra magic to the town. From Miss Ballooniverse to a team of amazing face painters and glitter artists, Dancing Stilt Walkers and a Giant Snow Globe, to Bensons Funfair, these professionals produced magic moments for our visitors. Keeping the town safe and making sure everyone had a great day were our marshals from Cronos and a team of young stewards who totally dispelled the stereotypical myth that teenagers are lazy. These guys worked tirelessly in all conditions. And to the Churches, St Paul’s providing on the day volunteers, St Martin’s opening their doors on the day and loaning chairs, and the URC for hosting our art competition and many other activities.
But the above is just the day. The work that goes on before and after the event cannot be underestimated and that is where the real community heroes come into play. A huge thank you to the volunteers, our lead stewards Rick and Nick, and BID board members that helped set up the grotto and other festive rooms, put up signage and posters, gave out maps and flyers, erected gazebos and generally ensured we got the event ready and taken down in time – we really couldn’t have done it without you. To the Friends of Dorking who make sure our lights are on and Christmas trees are up and that Dorkers makes an appearance, and to Dorking Men’s Shed, who under cover of darkness deliver our beautiful sleighs, but who also have a direct line to Father Christmas, ensuring he visits our grotto every year!
We also benefitted from the generosity of our sponsors. HJP Financial and Surrey Solicitors sponsored our competitions and enabled us to promote them far and wide, with Waitrose and The Works donating prizes. Ralph James Estate Agents supported Santa’s Grotto ensuring some extra sparkle was possible. Bucher Municipal, Abbey Field Care Homes and Dorking Butchery showed their love for their wider community along with Downs Solicitors, who also turned their office into a winter wonderland for the day. Evolve who manage St Martins Walk enabled us to host a fantastic Santa’s Grotto with Dorking Travel providing space for our Balloon Modellers.
As a new BID Manager only joining the team in late September I relied upon the guidance and support of the team already in place. Liz, Chas and Andrew at SC Fullers have supported every crazy idea I’ve had, allowing their premises to become a makeshift winter wonderland as more props and signage were delivered by the day. Dorking is very lucky to have them. Lisa Clancey has created the most amazing copy for the event, making my life easier to promote the event across multiple channels, and Averma Consulting, our web managers, have helped pull together a central hub for competition voting and all the other content for the event.
I could not have managed the event without the unending support from our community manager Rosie Riordan. From beautiful signwriting to social media management, to joining me in overthinking every element so that we were prepared for anything, Rosie is the right hand woman any BID manager needs at their side. She is a true gem in Dorking’s crown.
Finally the event would not happen without the support of the BID members. It is their levy that funds all these initiatives that bring life to the town centre and give the community an opportunity to come together and celebrate Dorking. One of the best parts of the day for me was seeing all the mini events and initiatives coming to life in the individual businesses. From snow machines in West Street, Dorking Library and Dorking Nursery storytelling sessions in Narnia at the Old House at Home, live music in pubs, Pets Corner hosting our Snow Globe, White Horse hosting extra market stalls, plus BID businesses providing additional decorations, and generally spreading Christmas cheer around the town. Thank you for making my first Christmas in Dorking magical.
So What Does Christmas mean to Dorking? Anecdotally I have heard people say how much they loved being in the middle of their town centre High Street, enjoying performances and festive cheer with their family and community. I could see a renewed sense of pride from businesses for their town centre as they joined in with their own events and giveaways, and for me it cemented how community doesn’t just mean where you live. Where you work, where you find your tribe or where you feel at home can be just as important a community. As I get to almost 3 months in my new role I’d like to say thank you Dorking for welcoming me whole-heartedly into your community.
Merry Christmas to you all and here’s to a prosperous and healthy 2025!
All photos – George McGowan/Jon McGowan/Hello Dorking
