VISTORS to Wokingham on Sunday stopped to enjoy the unusual sight of a donkey in the town.
Parishioners there were re-enacting Jesus’s final procession to Jerusalem at the start of the Easter story.
They were led through the streets by Samson, a rescue donkey.
His handler, Elaine, from Kelly’s Donkeys Ltd, in Frome, Somerset, brought him to Berkshire for the day.
“It’s great that it’s not raining,” she said.
“Donkeys aren’t waterproof, so they don’t like the rain.
“They’ll do anything they can to get out of it, but today in the sunshine, Samson is very happy to be out walking.”
Samson led members of All Saints Church to visit Wokingham Methodist Church, Wokingham Salvation Army, and Wokingham Baptist Church.
Associate priest at All Saints Church, the Rev’d Hannah Higginson, said: “It was a lovely event and a great success.
“It was so nice to see people joining the procession from other churches, and to give people in the town the opportunity to enjoy Samson.”
In previous years a donkey has made just a short walk from All Saints primary school to All Saints Church prior to their Palm Sunday service.
“But we really wanted to share Easter with our community,” said Ms Higginson.
“So this year we decided to extend the procession, and to hold it after the Palm Sunday service so that more people would be likely to be in Wokingham to see it.
“Samson was lovely, really well-behaved, and the children loved him.”
Samson, aged 12, was very gentle, and a willing walker.
His handler, Elaine, chatted with people about him.
“Samson was rescued from Ireland, along with most of our donkeys,” she said.
“We have 22 donkeys out and about today, some visiting churches for Palm Sunday celebrations, others trained to visit homes and hospices.”
Samson didn’t seem to mind being loved and petted by children, and enjoyed every opportunity to snack on churchyard grass.
“You’d think he hadn’t been fed at all,” said Elaine.
“As soon as he’s finished here, he’ll have a big breakfast with his friend Barney, another donkey out in the community today.”
The event was organised by Churches Together Wokingham.
For more information, visit: www.wokinghamchurches.org.uk www.kellysdonkeys.co.uk www.allsaintswokingham.org.uk www.wokinghammethodist.org.uk www.wokinghambaptist.org.uk and www.salvationarmy.org.uk/wokingham
