We have been astounded by the fantastic community spirit that is being shown by the people of High Town as they decorate their windows to create an Advent Calendar for everyone to enjoy.
We publicised this project a few weeks ago, but we are revisiting the subject now that we are at the end of the first week and the eighth window, out of a total of twenty-four, has been revealed.
During what has undoubtedly been a difficult year for everyone, we have heard some negative stories about community strife, so it is nice to hear about, and be involved in, an event in which the community is coming together to put a smile on everyone’s faces.
Every day in December, until Christmas Day, twenty-four window displays are being unveiled one by one, providing those who see them with an opportunity to reflect on a small aspect of the Christmas story.
Photographs of the windows are being published each day on Instagram and Facebook. Follow the links below to see the collection so far.
But don’t just look at the photos … if you’re near the High Town area of Luton, why not have a wander around and see the windows for yourself? Come along and share in the great community spirit that we who live and work in High Town get to experience every day!
The High Town Windows Advent Calendar definitely seems to have caught the interest of not just the residents of High Town but also radio listeners and TV viewers. There have been at least four media reports about the project in the past few days in which one of the participants and organisers, Andy Flannagan, has had the chance to explain all about the scheme and the philosophy behind the idea. Andy’s wife Jenny is a parent governor of our school; their children are pupils in Year R and Year 2.
BREAKFAST, the BBC1 morning news programme, included a report about the different ways people were celebrating Advent, and High Town’s Window Advent Calendar was one of the ideas featured.
LOOK EAST, the BBC1 regional news programme, sent their roving reporter Theo Chikomba to talk to the entire Flannagan family about their involvement.
Andy has also spoken to BBC Three Counties Radio’s Nana Akua and BBC Radio Four’s You and Yours programme.
BBC Three Counties Radio
BBC Radio 4
The map below shows the locations of each of the twenty-four advent calendar windows.
This is just a screenshot, but you can see an interactive Google map by clicking the button below.
It seems that other communities have had similar ideas. An article in The Guardian on Saturday 12 December includes a comment from Andy Flannagan, plus some photos of advent windows in North London and news of another project in Gloucestershire.
The Luton News caught up with the story on Wednesday. Click the button below to read the online report.
The document published below contains a series of FOOTPATH REFLECTIONS – giving a brief background to the relevant part of the Christmas story and something to think about when you see one of the advent windows. Click on the double arrows in the top right corner to open the document menu from where you will be able to download the document.