Nine Lessons and Carols, Leek

The Christmas Nine Lessons and Carols service in All Saints, Leek

This evening Lyn and I went to the Christmas service of Nine Lessons and Carols in the magnificent church of All Saints’, Leek. The building, dating from 1885, is a stunning, Grade I listed, Arts & Crafts Church  designed by Norman Shaw, one of the leading architects of the movement. It has many examples of Arts and Crafts style decoration in the wall-paintings, stained glass (some by William Morris) and embroideries. 

Santa's Express

Black 5 "George Stephenson" at Cheddleton

(Canon EOS 60D, Sigma 17-70mm @ 25mm, 1/500s @ f/11)
This superb locomotive, an LMS Stanier Black 5, is based on the Churnet Valley Railway for the winter season. It is being put to good use during December hauling the "Santa's Express" specials. The loco was built for the LMS in 1947 and withdrawn from main line service in 1967. Since then it has been restored and has visited several preserved railways, most recently the North York Moors Railway. The loco was never named during it time in mainline service. The name was given in 1975 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of George Stephenson's Stockton and Darlington Railway.

First Snow

The first snow of winter

(Canon EOS 60D, Canon 55-250mm IS @ 250mm, 1/1600s @ f/5.6)
A light covering of snow lies on Morridge in the Peak District National Park while the lower slopes remain clear with the last of the autumn leaves on the trees. This photo taken today from my study window.

Gawsworth Church

Gawsworth Church

(Canon EOS 60D, Sigma 17-70mm @ 44mm, 1/400s @ f/8.0)
At last, a chance to get out for a walk! Windy, cold and bright today so I went for a 10Km walk in East Cheshire. I started from North Rode and walked to Gawsworth and then back via the Macclesfield Canal. This pastoral autumn view of the church tower of the 15th century Gawsworth parish church (St. James) was the scenic highlight of the walk.

Rudyard Woodland Track

Rudyard Lake Steam Railway line through woodland

(Canon EOS 60D, Sigma 17-70mm @ 22mm, 1/400s @ f/8.0 ISO400)
The track for the 10.25" gauge Rudyard Lake Steam Railway runs alongside the old trackbed of the North Staffordshire Railway branch line from Uttoxeter to North Rode near Macclesfield. This line was closed by Beeching in the 1960s but a few miles has been reopened the other side of Leek as the Churnet Valley Railway. I like the sun dappled track way in this photo.

Rudyard in Autumn

Rudyard Village

(Canon EOS 60D, Sigma 17-70mm @ 30mm, 1/1000s @ f/8.0 ISO 400)
Another photo taken last Sunday morning. Autumn colours still lingering on the trees though the leaves are falling fast now. The writer Rudyard Kipling was named after this village by his parents - perhaps he was conceived here! I might have told you this before. The weather is not like that today: dull and drizzly in Leek.

Waiting For The Off

"King Arthur" waits for the signal on a cold November morning

(Canon EOS 60D, Sigma 17-70mm @ 70mm, 3 images tone mapped in Photomatix)
King Arthur is one of four miniature locomotives on the Rudyard Lake Steam Railway. I was surprised to find that they continue to run on Sundays throughout the year, the only exception being December when they run a few "Santa Specials". All the engines have Arthurian names; King Arthur, Excalibur, Pendragon and Merlin.