Village nativity scene rises from the ashes

A Monmouthshire community has vowed not to let mindless vandals, who fire-bombed its £10,000 village nativity scene on Christmas Eve, deter them from its efforts to bring festive cheer to residents.

A life-sized wooden nativity scene has decorated the rural village bus shelter in Raglan every Christmas for the past three years. Miguel Santiago, owner of the nearby Beaufort Hotel, has spent thousands of pounds funding the displays, whilst costume expert and resident, Liz Friendship is the creative force behind the figures and costumes.

The display has had terrible misfortune since it was first thought up in 2018 when Mary was stolen. Then in 2019 two shepherds were stolen, and last year it was completely destroyed in an arson attack on Christmas Eve, leaving the community devastated.

This year, Mr Santiago and Ms Friendship were more determined than ever to ensure the nativity scene returned to Raglan. With a boost of an anonymous donation of £1,000 and a handful of volunteers, including electricians and carpenters, a nativity scene has been created at the front of The Beaufort Hotel for families to enjoy over the festive period, with extra security measures in place. Ms Friendship, a visiting lecturer on the history of costume at the Royal College of Music and Drama, spent six months lovingly creating the figures and colourful costumes with assistance from her neighbour, Sue Whitehouse.

The heart-warming display, valued at around £20,000, features three kings, Mary, Joseph, three shepherds, a ram and a ewe, with baby Jesus due to arrive on Christmas Eve.

Ms Friendship said: “What happened last year was devastating.” “Following generous donations from the community towards this year’s display, I was determined to put in as much effort as I could.” “I started cutting the patterns in July and have very much enjoyed making them with help from Sue,” she said.

Mr Santiago added: “After a difficult year with the continuing pandemic and the fi re attack we felt we wanted to do something to bring back that festive cheer to the community and for everyone to enjoy the display.”

Last year, CCTV footage captured the moment vandals launched a firebomb at the shelter on Christmas Eve, destroying the entire display. Mr Santiago, who was at the hotel at the time of the arson and put the fi re out, said he couldn’t believe what had happened. He said: “We added three kings which really made it a great sight, made sure the figures couldn’t be taken, and we put CCTV in the bus stop.”

“It’s a shame the display was destroyed by mindless vandals because so much effort went into putting it together for the community to enjoy.”