Winter and the Christmas season has always been marked by Littleport’s skating enthusiasts.  

And Littleport must have the only village sign in England with another village’s name inscribed on it! Yes, it says ‘To Welney’!  

These days, there is a Welney and Littleport division of the Fen Centre, the Fen skaters‘ association affiliated to the national skating organisation.  

And founded in the 19th century, the Littleport Bandy and Skating Club took part in many national and local bandy matches and speed skating races at Welney, and here in Littleport, too.  

For possible skating at Welney, visit Fen Skaters on Twitter, or the ‘Fen Centre for all fen ice skating’ Facebook page by this columnist. 

Having no stretch of standing water, Littleport’s benefactor who opened his shirt factory in 1881, keen skater Thomas Peacock leased 28 acres called The Moors near Littleport railway station in 1891.

And he flooded it to establish the first ever ‘Ice Ground’ when temperatures fell.  

And so Welney then came to Littleport! (And skaters and spectators from other places too!). 

Fittingly, the woodland garden opened for Littleport citizens’ benefit in Limes Close, has been named Peacock’s Meadow.  

And on Saturday, December 17 at 4.30pm, there is a wonderful event for children and their accompanying adults.  

Santa and his ponies hope to fill their cart with donations for the Littleport Independent Foodbank brought by attendees, Carol Singers led by Kathryn Buck, Millfield Primary School Choir, and ThePORT youth club will hand out free goodies!  

And at 3pm this Saturday, Littleport Brass are giving their annual Christmas Concert at Littleport Village Hall; Santa and refreshments too.  

Tickets are £7, concessions £4, U14s go free.  

All the local shops are welcoming to their esteemed customers in the old-fashioned Christmastime way, as are the many restaurants, cafes and pubs! 

You can get your hair done, have a tattoo or buy something to wear or a present or two. 

This is before you have an evening out in any of Littleport’s jolly hostelries, like the historic Crown Inn, Plough & Harrow, or reopened on December 15 with new owners at Sandhill Bridge, The Swan!  

Littleport’s festive Saturday morning parkrun sets off at 9am.