Daisy the Donkey to lead Palm Sunday parade again

As usual, she will be leading the annual procession from the church to the seafront.

A stop is always made at St Mary Magdalene's Roman Catholic church. where those just leaving Mass will join the procession.

However, this year it is planned that more churches will take part, so the procession will be leaving St Peter's slightly later, at 12 noon, already joined by members of St Michael's Church.

The procession should arrive at St Mary Magdalene's at about 12.15pm, and will then continue along Station Road to be met by members of Beulah Baptist Church about12.30pm.

It is hoped that members of other nearby churches such as St George's United Reformed Church, St Andrew's and Sackville Road Methodist Church may also join the procession, and even other churches further from the town centre are invited to join at an appropriate point.

Palm Sunday commemorates Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, riding on a donkey, acclaimed by people waving palm branches.

A few days later he was put to death and rose again on the first Easter Day. Palm Sunday now begins Holy Week when churches, often dramatically in their services, commemorate these events. Daisy the donkey is always popular with passers-by as she leads the Palm Sunday procession to the seafront.

Small palm crosses are handed out to anyone in the town centre who is interested. A hymn is usually sung at the seafront and then the procession will disperse.