The 2005 ‘Favourite Carols for All’ service will be held in York Minster at 1.45pm on 13th December, the event is hosted by United Response, a national disability charity. Last year United Response, BBC Radio York and York Evening Press launched a competition asking people to submit their favourite Yuletide readings, the winner of which was read out during the service.
This year the competition is asking you to search your aural memory bank to find that one song that sums up Christmas-time for you. Be it memories of school days droning out ‘Gloria’ in squeaky pre-pubescent voices from the cold wood-floored assembly hall, to the exultant Christmas carollers at your door beaming ‘Jingle bells’ at you with outstretched hands. How to enter To enter, send your name, address, daytime telephone number and email address (if you have one) to Yorkshire's Favourite Christmas Song competition, Care of United Response, 113 123 Upper Richmond Road, Putney, London SW15 2TL or email the address below.
This could be your chance to hear your favourite Christmas song played out in the beautiful surroundings of the York Minster! Calendar TV Presenter, Christine Talbot who will be hosting the service says of the competition: “I’m really looking forward to finding out which song the people of Yorkshire choose. My favourite Christmas song is Wham’s ‘Last Christmas’ because it reminds me of all the parties and celebrations in the run-up to Christmas. Yours might be something else. “It might be a traditional song or something a bit more modern. If it makes you think of Christmas then that’s what we’re looking for. And you never know, it could be your song that is performed at the Minster, so get voting!” United Response's ‘Favourite Carols for All’ service is an opportunity for the whole community to come together at a time where much of the national population adopts similar traditions or at the very least, experiences ‘Christmas-ness’ in one form or another. Christmas is not a time that one can avoid. What better way to find a positive link between people at this time of year than through music? Another piece of evidence that the UR’s ‘Favourite Carols for All’ service truly does have an all-inclusive community ethos is that the charity Community Network will provide the Minster with more than 100 phone lines so that people who are unable to attend the service because of mobility, disability or caring responsibilities can listen in from their own homes. So, even if you cannot make it to the service in person, your favourite music can still be heard through the grace of modern technology. This competition is open to anyone, of any age and of any Christmasy-disposition who would like to hear a song of their choice, with a Christmas theme, played out in the York Minster. Last year’s service had an audience of around 1500 people, this year’s will have many local people taking part, including the All Saints School Choir and some people supported by UR, so now all that’s left to do is to wonder whether York citizens prefer tradition, Bing Crosby or Slade. Doors for this free-of-charge carol service will open at 1.15pm. People should be in their seats by 1.45pm for a prompt start on the hour. No ticket is required and people are advised to get to the Minster early. The service is accessible to all. If you have any particular requirements such as if you use a wheelchair, or if you need to see a signer, please contact UR on 020 8246 5208. Braille programmes will be available on the door. If you would like to listen in to the carol service, free of charge, please contact Community Network on 020 7923 5250 for more information. All you need is a phone. Places are limited. | 
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