IN the hectic last weekend before Christmas there was a festive feel to events around Worcestershire.

Shoppers grabbing last-minute gifts and bargains in the city centre were entertained with Christmas cheer thanks to the efforts of a 14-year-old girl who was remembering her baby brother.

Corah Lewis and some friends from King’s School, Worcester, played Christmas classics on their flutes for six hours on Saturday.

The teenager, supported by her family, arranged for the group to play in the city’s CrownGate Shopping Centre for charity Acorns Children’s Hospice.

Saturday was 10 years to the day Corah lost her little brother Fraser after he was born with severe epilepsy.

Fraser’s twin brother Hayden also performed solo on his clarinet and was watched by applauding shoppers, as well as mum and dad Sadie and Guy Lewis and his grandparents.

Corah said: “It’s to give something back to Acorns because they have helped me and my brother so much.

“I still go to the support group.”

She spoke to hundreds of charity well-wishers at the hospice’s 21st anniversary celebrations earlier this year.

Meanwhile, at the Comm-andery in Sidbury, Worces-ter, Mr and Mrs History had a steady stream of visitors to the Victorian Christmas event with many punters following their nose to sample freshly made Christmas pudding and twelfth night cake. Youngsters were also able to meet Father Christmas to get in last-minute orders before Friday.

But shoppers might have been forgiven for thinking two of Santa’s reindeer had dropped in a few miles away for the Christmas Market in Pershore on Sunday.

The pair – Radar and Ivy – had been brought along by handlers from Smart Trees at nearby Bishampton. Stall-holders were doing a brisk trade on jams, ciders, chutneys, local meat, arts and crafts.

The Pershore Community Choir were also in fine voice serenading the gift-hunters and Pershore Town Council had even deployed a snow machine – although the real stuff had been falling only a few miles to the north and east overnight. Jolly town crier Robert Speight, in blue coat, gold brocade, and tricorne hat, captured the festive mood by wishing all season’s greetings.

At the Arthouse Cafe in Worcester there was a vintage craft fair in aid of the British Red Cross, with live acoustic music from Rich Clarke, of The Task In Hand records and promotions.

The Red Cross’ Louise Watkins, event organiser, said money raised could end up going to support the 270 emergency support and response volunteers across Worcestershire, Hereford-shire and Shropshire.