Twas New Year's Eve and the last LNL shift of 2025 took to the streets armed with hot drinks, an assortment of biscuits, mince pies, Christmas cake and a box of Quality Street... no half measures with us for such an auspicious occasion.
There was definitely a chill wind blowing as we 'set up shop' in our usual space, a good few people were around though it all seemed to thin out within the next 40 mins. We had brief convos with the lovelyTaxi Marshalls (very nice people doing a cracking job in restoring some semblance of order on the Friary Street corner).
We had a young trainee as part of our team tonight, who was soon proving her worth, dispensing hot drinks like a pro. Via a couple of brief patrols around, we discovered that many of the venues were already full as the clocks edged closer to that all important time of the night...in the meantime we had a couple of ladies who were already well 'fuelled up' as one of them could not stop thanking us for the job we do in serving other people (this was after she felt she had to give all of us a hug!). We were also briefly entertained by a small group of twenty something lads, one of whom managed to position himself on the barrier just as it was coming back up to its prohibiting position...
A young lady Taxi Marshall came over for more hot drinks for the crew... she told us that she lived in Leicester(!) and as well as doing the Marshalling until 4am her job straight after that was providing security for the newly built Leisure Centre off Curborough Road...we thought we were committed by being out on the (rather chilly) streets till 1.30am ...but she was on a whole other level of commitment...we were in awe, we know its their job but nevertheless, these guys are the 'real deal'!
Although our regular, friendly doorman, Bobby, was not on duty this night, we had a visit from his boss, the owner of Millenium Chicken who came out to say hi and offer us anything we needed, (use of the toilet, hot chips etc) and to wish us a HNY. BID coordinator, Paul also came by for a very brief visit to thank us for all we do and have done over the past year.
Two of our former volunteers dropped by on their way to and from a midnight event at the Cathedral, it was good to see them again. We noted that there were no homeless people out tonight and presumed it was because of the freezing temperatures, where a cold weather protocol (severe weather emergency protocol or SWEP) kicks in and some form of accommodation is made available for them, we prayed that is the case for them as temperatures fell to below freezing.
At midnight the team toasted in the New Year with cardboard cups of Prosecco amid a myriad of ear-splitting fireworks blasting off in all directions, as they echoed through the City streets and buildings. There was an atmosphere of good humour, and pleasantness as strangers wished strangers a Happy New Year. We rescued one lady from cold feet with the issuing of our standard flip flops and dispensed many hot drinks to those on their way to catch taxis home.
So it just remains to wish all of our readers and those who know about us, support us, pray for us or even who just come across us once, a happy and blessed 2026. during which we will still be out every other Saturday serving our community.
If you feel you would like to volunteer alongside us, you can contact us via email dwestmullen@gmail.com or come talk to us at the Volunteers Fair on Sat Jan 10 at Lichfield Cathedral 2-4pm...
Blessings and stay warm!