'We'll be back': Organisers of cancelled Oswestry Christmas parade vow return in 2025

The huge Oswestry Christmas Parade was cancelled the day before it was set to bring joy to the streets of the town earlier this month due to Storm Darragh.

Borderland Rotary Club has run the Christmas Parade for many years and it has become a major focus for the town's build up to the festive season.

A spokesperson for the club said the pre-Christmas knees-up could not have been put back for a week because “it doesn’t work like that.”

Jonathan Jones, who organises the parade said “We’ll be back – no doubt about it but it’s been very disappointing as lots of planning goes into big events and people had been planning, preparing and building their floats for days and weeks before the big day so it was very hard to pull the plug the day before the event but, safety must come first – and the storm proved to be as bad, if not worse than forecast.”

Mr Jones added: “Many suggested we just postpone to the next weekend but unfortunately, it doesn’t work like that as all the licences would have to be reapplied for and that can’t be done in a week, transport companies have their businesses to run and numerous other things that have to be in place to make it a success.

“We had already received many generous donations from local shops and businesses and this money will be carried over till next Christmas when we will once again, fill the streets of Oswestry with good cheer and the sound of music and laughter.

“But for now, we at Borderland Rotary Club would just like to thank everyone who has supported us throughout the year wish you all, a very happy New Year.”