We visited Haddon Hall last week and saw their halls really decked out with gorgeous decorations.

Next to a roaring log fire, we listened to Tideswell singers and talked about the historic links between Buxton and Haddon Hall.

There’s still more to come on this story, but if you have never been to this beautiful historic building then do go and visit the Haddon Hall website to find out their opening times.

I love the connections between Mary Pickford and Haddon. It is hard now to understand just how powerful this woman was who, along with Douglas Fairbanks and Charlie Chaplin, founded United Artists. When visiting Haddon, in readiness for the filming, they stayed at the the Palace Hotel in Buxton.

The photo of Mary and Douglas at the Palace, we believe, was taken in 1925 when they came again to visit the Buxton Opera House to watch Anna Pavlova, the famous Russian prima ballerina and choreographer dance the Dying Swan. Pavlova, like Pickford, was an extraordinary woman. The company she founded in 1911 was the first to tour ballet around the world.

We also have our version of the 12 days of Christmas and some of the very best of 12 months of recording and listening to the memories of local people.

We also feature part of our ‘present from the past’ interview with local 99-year old Betty Allan.

So sit back and enjoy our festive offering and from all the team at Discover Buxton tours, a very merry Christmas.

Listen on Soundcloud here or play it below.