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21
Dec 2024
Meet Nigel - the Pannal donkey with an important festive job
Father Christmas is obviously booked and busy on December 24, but there’s a Pannal resident whose schedule might just rival that of the man in red.
The key difference? He just happens to have four hooves, a tail, and a pair of fabulously fluffy ears.
No, Rudolph and company haven’t made the move from the North Pole to Yorkshire – we’re talking about Nigel the donkey, local equine celebrity.
This Christmas Eve, he’ll be donning his Santa hat and putting his best hoof forward at Crib services across Pannal, Beckwithshaw and Birstwith.
Those familiar with the nativity will know a donkey is the mode of transport to Bethlehem for Mary and Joseph, in many ways a crucial part of the tale.
Nigel’s owner, Cathy Burrell has been taking a donkey to crib services and other community events for many years now. Before Nigel took up the mantle, there was Banjo, who lived to the ripe old age of 18 and is still remembered fondly by locals.
Cathy explained:
A few years ago we got chatting to someone who used to live in the area and was back visiting his family for Christmas.
He must have been in his thirties, and he was asking if the donkey would still be making his festive appearance. He said: ‘he’s still coming, isn’t he?’ and it was lovely that he obviously remembered it from growing up.
Nigel has an important job at Christmas (Image: Cathy Burrell)
While Cathy can’t quite recall how she became the go-to contact for local churches and their festive equine requirements, she can remember clearly how she first came to be a donkey owner in the first place.
It was actually my mum who suggested we got a companion for our horse, but he hated the donkey! However, I really loved having one – they’ve got such personalities.
Nigel is actually named after the previous vicar at St Robert of Knaresborough Church, Rev. Nigel C. Sinclair who served from 2002 to 2013.
During his tenure as festive four-legged celeb, he’s not only fulfilled the role of guest of honour at crib services but has also lent a hand – or hoof – to switching on the Christmas lights at Harrogate District Hospital.
This Christmas Eve, his shift starts at 10am and ends around 5.30pm. He'll be donning his Santa hat, which has been customised to accommodate those magnificent ears, and visiting each church for their service.
It's a full working day, albeit one with plenty of rest and snack breaks in between. Of course, it goes without saying that he takes his job very seriously – in no small part helped by the attention he gets.
Cathy joked:
He seems to enjoy it, so much so that he practically drags me into church. But who wouldn’t like being made a fuss of, and getting lots of pats and scratches?
363 days of the year, he does his own thing. Imagine that; two days of work all year. He’s really got that work-life balance sorted.
Nigel on duty (Image: Cathy Burrell)
When he’s not being the star of the show, Nigel lives a quiet life in Pannal, doing what donkeys do best – grazing and napping, with the occasional flash of mischief.
Cathy added:
That saying ‘stubborn as a mule’ certainly applies to donkeys in general! But he’s truly lovely, and so well-loved in the community.
So, when Christmas Eve arrives, spare a thought for Nigel.
He might not be embarking on an impossible delivery route on a time crunch à la Father Christmas, but he’ll be putting in his hours too, spreading festive cheer to Pannal and the surrounding areas.
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