Canterbury's Lord Mayor unveils Christmas bus

Canterbury’s annual ‘Christmas Bus’ has been unveiled by the Lord Mayor. This year the bus features the Lord Mayor herself in full regalia on the rear design, settled amongst falling snow. 

The bus promotes the Mayor of Canterbury’s Christmas Gift Fund; a charity that helps people living in the Canterbury community who may be elderly, vulnerable, or facing hardship.

The Lord Mayor, Councillor Anne Dekker, was joined by Stagecoach South East’s Managing Director, Joel Mitchell at the launch of the bus at Canterbury bus station last week. The Lord Mayor said “In the run up to our festive season it is comforting to feel that, after a couple of years of uncertainty, we can now experience, once again, the Christmas of our expectations.

“Let us welcome all who join us and expand our Canterbury family so that no one feels isolated or alone. Let us smile and cheer and wish well to all around us.”

The bus heralds the first in-person ‘Open Air Carols’ since 2019. Last year’s event was cancelled due to Covid restrictions, and in 2020 the event took place online to continue the festive cheer.

As one of Kent’s largest community carol singing events, this annual family occasion is a traditional part of Christmas in Canterbury and has been organised each year since 1952 by the local charity, The Lord Mayor of Canterbury’s Christmas Gift Fund. 

With the help of volunteers, the charity delivers 500 festive parcels to elderly, disabled and lonely people as well as families and young people who need help at this special time of year.

This year’s Open Air Carols will be sung in Canterbury’s Rose Square (outside Primark) on Christmas Eve from 6.15pm with singing led by St Stephen’s Church Choir and music from the Salvation Army Band.

The Christmas bus can be seen on local Canterbury city bus routes until the end of the year.

The Lord Mayor of Canterbury, Anne Dekker with Stagecoach managing director Joel Mitchell unveiling this year’s Christmas bus at Canterbury Bus Station on 17th November.