Christmas Switch-on 2019
Marlborough's Christmas Switch-on event has become a firm fixture in the town's calendar and we hope everyone who came had a wonderful time.
Our hardy market traders started the day with a Christmas smile despite the rain! The weather improved as the event warmed up, with Santa and the elves dropping into the Town Hall to read children a story, a mini fairground in the High Street after school and the Christmas Nutkins - giant red squirrels - charming everyone they met and leading the dancing near the stage as darkness fell and it was time for the entertainment to start.
BBC Wiltshire's James Thomas rushed over to Marlborough after presenting his afternoon show, and Roger Grant invited him to join our Mayor, Cllr. Mervyn Hall and his two special guests Ted and Genevieve to lead everyone in the traditional count-down to the switch on at 6.30.
By now it has become a tradition for the St John's Band to open the live entertainment and they got everyone in party mood followed by the ever popular Marlborough Academy of Dance and drama. The Marlborough Community Choir then took to the stage followed by a puppet show from Tom Foolery (sorry Tom, our photograper was called away so we didn't get a photo). After the switch-on acapella group The BlueBelles delivered some beautiful harmonies, then Wilding cranked up the volume (it wouldn't be Christmas without a bit of Slade!) and there was a bluesey finish from BarrelHouse who really got people jumping.
Our thanks to T H White for their help with the trees and the Matts from Wheelers of Wesbury for putting up the lights (and more). Thanks also to Jones Robinson, SLCA, Charles Winchcombe & Sons and Pino's Ristorante for powering it all!
Our thanks to everyone involved on the day - members of 4MI Battalion once again came over to Marlborough to join the Marlborough Rotary team, Town Councillors, staff and residents Emily and Chris who helped steward the event and keep everyone safe, with Five Star Security ensuring everyone was safe at the stage. Marlborough Lions not only helped out with the stewarding duties but also brought a VIP - Santa himself. Cedric and his team from Rotary co-ordinated all of this often unseen but vital work, and the event simply couldn't happen without them. Our thanks too go to the Showmen's Guild for the fairground rides and the very generous and appropriate donation of a polar bear for the Mayor's charity. Marlborough Police and Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue joined in the fun and our hard-working staff kept things running smoothly right through the day.
Many local shops joined in the festivities with late-night opening in many - we hope they and our market traders had a successful day.
The market
The stage