Staffordshire Village Nativity Walk Features Donkey After Previous Year’s Issues

A three-year-old donkey is set to be the primary attraction at a Staffordshire village’s nativity walk this year, following animal-related difficulties encountered last year. For the past eight years, a procession comprising Mary, Joseph, their donkey, and over 200 individuals has paraded through Rocester on Christmas Eve. Last year, a nervous donkey led church volunteers to secure the participation of a Shetland pony, but they express confidence in this year’s animal selection. Olivia, Dexter’s owner, commented, “He’s the man for the job,” adding, “a really good temperament but he can be a little bit stubborn – I’m hoping he doesn’t get stage fright.” Church volunteer Mandy Ellis disclosed that an alpaca is prepared as a backup option if needed. Real-life couple Richard and Megan will portray Mary and Joseph, with their children Ella and Oscar also participating. Richard remarked, “It brings everyone together,” and further noted, “It started off much smaller than it is now and it’s great to see so many people getting involved.” Neil Hutchinson is responsible for the sound engineering of the procession as the participants move through the village, passing the pub and entering the church. He stated, “It’s a great way to involve people who would not regularly come to church,” and continued, “We have had Spider-Man by the crib, we’ve had Superman by the crib, but also lots of shepherds and angels – it’s wonderful.” Both Neil and Richard acknowledged that incorporating animals and children into the church environment could present certain challenges. Richard recounted, “One year, there was a big pile of mess on the floor. It was a donkey,” clarifying, “Not the children – it was absolutely hilarious.” The procession is scheduled to commence at 16:00 GMT on Tuesday and will conclude at St. Michael’s Church with carols, a performance, and refreshments. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.