Marlborough is twinkling through the November drizzle as just after 5.30 pm this evening, Friday November 20, Marlborough Town Council turned on the Christmas lights in the High Street and on The Green. Simultaneously the Town Council released several videos on Facebook to mark the occasion which in non-Covid days would have been a Christmas extravaganza, with a market, entertainment and a celebrity to switch on the lights.
Starting with a Christmas video message from Mayor Mark Cooper, the Town Council announced, “While we can’t be together at the moment, we can be sure that Christmas isn’t cancelled so we’ve decided to make Facebook our virtual High Street stage this year.”
Mayor Mark thanked all the volunteers who helped us through lockdown and the teams who work at the Town Council and he appealed to everyone to support “Our brilliant local retailers.”
“There are a lot of challenges ahead in 2021 but I know that the people of Marlborough will battle through them and things will get better soon…together with my fellow councillors I would like to wish everyone in Marlborough and Manton a very happy and safe Christmas and hopefully we can all look forward to a much happier 2021.” To listen to the Mayor’s Christmas message in full, click here
Firm favourites at the usual Christmas Lights Extravaganza are the performances from the members of Cheryl Heuston’s Marlborough Academy of Dance and Drama. It will take more than lockdown to stop these youngsters performing their Christmas celebration and their video can be viewed here.
Finally, it wouldn’t be a Marlborough Christmas without the appearance of the Rotary Father Christmas who this year was found in Woodborough Garden Centre doing some shopping for Mrs Christmas. He is sad that he won’t be able to visit Marlborough Town Hall this year but don’t worry. As long as you are fast asleep on Christmas Eve even Coronavirus won’t keep him away! Watch his special Christmas message here.
Rotary will be collecting for Children’s Hospice, Helen and Douglas House on the following dates: Marlborough High Street, and at the back of Waitrose, on Saturday 12th December and Thursday 24th. Tesco on Friday 18th and Sunday 20th December, and at the Co-op in Pewsey on Saturday 19th December.