The countdown is well underway to that other eagerly anticipated countdown – the chanted countdown to the switch-on of Marlborough’s Christmas lights on Friday, November 21 at 7.00pm.
For the first time this event is being co-ordinated by the Town Council and also for the first time, the High Street will be closed between 5.00pm and 8.00pm.
The closure follows last year’s event when the crowds were so large they could not be properly controlled and spilled over the roads.
This year the High Street will again be hosting the Christmas edition of the Marlborough Communities Market (12 noon to 8.00pm.) Not just good food to eat on the hoof or food to keep for Christmas, but good gifts as well.
And there’s an innovation spreading westward along the High Street in the form of small-scale children’s rides and fun stalls. These are being provided by the Western Section of the Showmen’s Guild – the same people who bring their rides to the annual Mop Fairs.
The Marlborough and District Rotary Club is playing a big part in the evening – as their president, Gerry Hooper, told Marlborough News Online: “Our Rotary Club is delighted to be contributing once more to Marlborough’s Christmas celebrations.”
“Our Rotary Christmas tree will once more be lighting up the centre of the High Street, and this year we will also be offering the Father Christmas Experience in the Town Hall. “
In the Town Hall the grotto will be open for business from 3.00pm and children will be able to spend 10 minutes with Father Christmas who will be reading stories – while parents can enjoy mince pies, teas, coffees or mulled wine in the Christmas café.
All profits from Father Christmas, as well as Rotary’s street collections on other days, will go towards the renovation of Naomi House children’s hospice, as well as other Rotary charities. The Lions Club will be colelcting in the High Street during switch-on evening.
Parents can book a slot with Father Christmas at this Rotary website and payment of the £4 charge per child can be made at the door. “If children just turn up,” says Mr Hooper, “the Elves will try to fit them in, but a booked slot saves disappointment and waiting about.”
At 6.30pm Father Christmas leaves the Town Hall and joins the Mayor on the Marlborough Lions Club’s Christmas sleigh – two red robes together and some of those reindeer. The sleigh will tour the High Street in the lead up to the lantern procession.
The annual Schools Christmas Carol Event organised by Nigel Kerton in St Mary’s Church starts at 5.30 and these children will form the lantern procession. At the time of writing six schools are signed up to take part in this event.
Once Father Christmas, Mayor and procession have reached the platform, the name of the Citizen of the Year will be announced. And then the real countdown will begin to the big switch-on.
It should be a fun evening full of the best sort of Christmas spirits. As Gerry Hooper says: “This is an occasion where our local people can see Rotary in action – serving the community, having fun, and helping a charity that needs all our help and support.”
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