Wiltshire in Focus: Royal Engagement, Storm Aftermath, and Cathedral Accolades

The lingering effects of Storm Darragh continued to be felt across Wiltshire this week, with power outages still affecting some residences on Friday. As Christmas rapidly approaches, seasonal festivities gained momentum, including a royal engagement with soldiers in Bulford. Additionally, Father Christmas made an appearance at a supermarket. Below are some of the most notable images from around the county. Longleat: The wildlife and safari park was compelled to close for two days after sections of its festive light display sustained damage from high winds during Storm Darragh. Military welcome: The Prince of Wales, serving as colonel-in-chief, was observed sharing a laugh with Fijian soldiers of the 1st Battalion Mercian Regiment during a Christmas event for families held at Picton Barracks. Breathtaking: A drone photograph showcasing the 13th Century spire of Salisbury Cathedral emerging from the fog prompted one parishioner to remark that the edifice should be regarded “in the same breath as the Great Pyramid or Angkor Wat or Macchu Picchu both as an object of beauty and as a feat of engineering. It is every bit their equal”. Honour: Concurrently, the cathedral received an award from The Stone Federation for its 37-year restoration project, acknowledging the skilled craftsmanship of the stonemasons on the high east end gable. Sing and Smile: Pensioners from Elizabeth House in Swindon were observed fully embracing the Christmas spirit, enjoying festive cheer with others at Coleview Community Centre. On Sunday, Salisbury Cathedral upheld a long-standing tradition dating back to the Middle Ages, wherein one of the choristers is selected to be Chorister Bishop. Senior chorister Emmie Piper delivered a sermon during Evensong, wearing replica robes and utilizing the staff and mitre of the Right Rev Stephen Lake, Bishop of Salisbury, for the ceremony. Red breast: A robin was sighted in Nightingale Wood, South Marston. Despite common belief, a robin’s chest colour is actually orange; a term that was only introduced during Tudor times, alongside the fruit, by which point the bird was already known as the robin red breast. Stained glass: A new window, themed around “seeing” and crafted by glaziers at Salisbury Cathedral, has been unveiled at St John’s Church in Tisbury. Connect with BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, X, and Instagram. Submit your story ideas to us via email or WhatsApp at 0800 313 4630. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content of external websites. Information regarding our approach to external linking is available for review.