One middle-aged man standing in the High Street crowd was heard to ask a teenage girl: “Who’s this band?…I won’t have heard of them will I?” She had the good grace not to reply. Ten minutes later his partner was doing a fetching hand-jive-thing to Scouting for Girls’ Christmas number and he was singing some of the words.
As we have reported Scouting for Girls were the headline-if-secret-feature of the Christmas Lights Switch-on. After three takes of a sequence for the video of the three of them walking up Hilliers Yard, they were introduced by the Mayor, sang their Christmas song, their top ten number She’s So Lovely and more.
And then the crowd were encouraged to do some more waving and clapping and just a bit of Marlborough-style screaming for the video cameramen. By the way, last week they were switching on the Christmas lights in Manchester – but Manchester did not get the privilege of being the back-drop for their Christmas video.
Before the group came on stage, the Town Mayor, Councillor Margaret Rose announced that the Citizen of the Year was Mrs Jenny Smithers – long-time resident of Manton and stalwart supporter and fundraiser for the local branch of Mencap.
The crowds were huge – estimated by one police officer as much bigger than last year. And since the Scouting for Girls appearance had been so secret, that is very encouraging. But it was after all a dry if chilly evening – and the new-style market had lots of good and appealing food stalls.
The evening’s musical entertainment – MC’d by Nigel Kerton wearing what he called his ‘Bultin’s red jacket’ – began with the St John’s Brass Band. They were followed by the Marlborough Academy of Dance and Drama who jumped up and down so enthusiastically that the excellent stage rocked with them.
After them came the Marlborough Community Choir with Christmas songs. And after the Scouting trio had finished, the Phoenix Brass Band struck up.
This year’s market was certainly larger than before. It had Newhouse Game, MYO (for ‘Make Your Own’) Italian street food , Thai food, hats, soap, Bry’s Cup Cakes, hot waffles, jewellery, the Kennet and Avon Brewery (with a very good stout called ‘Savernake’), Wok Fresh Noodles, Farmhouse Kitchens (‘Free range food for free range people’)…and much else.
Unlike the layout for the Community Market, this year’s market stalls all faced north – leaving the south side of the street somewhat empty. Perhaps next year all the stalls will face south…
And, of course, Father Christmas was in the Town Hall.
http://www.marlboroughnewsonline.co.uk/news/all-the-news/4989-scouting
Sorry for the late notice… but hurry if you want to catch Scouting for Girls’ top secret performance at the Christmas lights
