Tucked away in the Afan valley, a Welsh village has embraced new Christmas traditions to honour the friends and family they have sadly lost over the years. With a 30ft Christmas tree decorated with 'memory teardrops' for lost loved ones and a festive bus tour in honour of a local young man who lost his life to cancer, the community of Cwmafan are coming together this year in a magical way.
John Richards, who was born and bred in the village, sadly lost his 26-year-old son Jamie six years ago after he was diagnosed with cancer. The 54-year-old's "gentle giant" son was studying philosophy at the open university at the time and was described by his father as someone who had a dry sense of humour but never had a bad word to say about anyone.
When John heard about the Christmas bus tour being held in his community this year, he decided to donate £150 to help spread some festive cheer for the children in his village. Ward councillor Charlotte Galsworthy dedicated the bus tour to John's well-loved son Jamie and the whole family came to celebrate on Wednesday, December 7, including Jamie's mother and sister. You can read more stories about Neath here.
The open top bus, donated by First Cymru, was transformed into a winter wonderland by Cllr Galsworthy and her team of volunteers. With Santa waiting on top deck to meet the children of Cwmafan, Oakwood and Bryn, John's ex-wife and daughter joined him on the bottom deck dressed as elves to hand out gifts to hundreds of children.
The festive bus was decorated with Christmas lights, candy-cane style handrails and even had Mrs Claus serving hot chocolate and cookies. "It felt like Christmas as a child again, everyone was so welcoming and happy," said John. He added his son Jamie would have found it hilarious to see him decked out as an elf as it is so out of character.
Local children met Santa Claus and gave him their Christmas lists on the bus. The inclusive event included a quiet stop for children with autism and one mother told Cllr Galsworthy that she was so grateful that her daughter who is deaf was fully included in the festivities. When the little girl signed "thank you" to Santa, he signed back to her.
The community has also raised thousands over the past five years so they can put up a 30ft Christmas tree outside Cwmafan library each December. Cllr Galsworthy has even got her own cherry picker license so she can put the lights up herself and spent eighteen hours in total decorating the tree even battling hailstones in the process.
"I do it because that's what the community wants," said Cllr Galsworthy, who added that the tree has brought the community together. "It all stemmed and got stronger since this Christmas tree. Christmas isn't all about the gifts, it's about being together."
"People want to bring their children up in a community with so much spirit," she added. Last week, over a hundred people queued up to hang a 'memory teardrop' on the tree for those who are no longer with them. This a tradition that Cllr Galsworthy started in her own home but has proved to be a special way for the community to gather around the tree and connect with one another.
The tradition has also raised £3,000 through donations made for each star decoration which all gets put back into funding the festivities each year. Other celebrations have taken place in Bryn Park with the chance for families to see reindeer and there will be Christmas carols in Tabernacle Church in Cwmafan on December 21.
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