It is a song sung by school children in nativity plays, in different languages, right around the world. But, a little known fact is that the man who wrote it came from Sunderland.

Four books of his songs have been published, as well as a children's song book called Little Donkey, with illustrations by J. Patrick Lewis.

Likewise the American composer James R. Murray, who wrote the music for Away In A Manger in 1887. But Eric Boswell, to whom we owe Little Donkey, is still very much with us.

Born Eric Simpson in 1921 in Millfield, he published songs as Eric Boswell and, following the success of Little Donkey, formally changed his name by deed poll. His father was a tailor, his mother ...

With song and venue decided, Sheila needed another element for her annual Christmas single – children. “There is no doubt that children lend that special touch of magic to any Christmas Song ...