Sandy Town Council lights up the town
Date Added: 06/12/2023
Despite the great British weather, members of the public turned out in force on Sunday 3rd December to visit the market square, Sandy, for the annual Christmas Lights Switch On event. This year it was organised by Sandy Town Council via their Events Working Group.
The local school children had been practicing hard and entertained the crowds on stage with their Christmas songs. Laburnum School opened the event, followed by Maple Tree, Robert Peel and St Swithuns school. Quintessential Brass played a selection of classic tunes and carols, and were later joined on stage by the sublime Sandy Community Choir. The lights were switched on by Sandy Mayor Cllr Joanna Hewitt with the help of the two Carnival Stars Gabriel Jai Dalmeida (age 11) and Ennis Dowler (age 10). The stage set was concluded by the brilliant Blue Rinse band who played us out with popular tunes and Christmas songs getting the crowd dancing and singing along with festive cheer.
It may have been cold and wet but Father Christmas, with the help of his elf, Holly Pricklepants, was snug in his grotto where children could tell him their wishes for presents and each came away with a small gift, courtesy of Sandy’s local branch of Tesco. Bringing delight to visitors and stallholders alike was Simon the naughty Snowman and our Christmas fairy replete with lit-up wings and stilts. The event supported many local independent businesses and community groups with their home made items for sale and delicious fayre, while the Sandy Scout Group provided particularly warming nourishment with traditional burgers and hot dogs.
Cllr Joanna Hewitt said; “It was great to see so many people brave the weather and come out to show their support for the event. I want to thank the customers of Brittania Chemists for the fundraising to purchase the wonderful Christmas tree. I would also like to thank the town council staff, Councillors, and volunteers, including the 22nd Sandy Air Cadets, for their help with setting up the event and packing away at the end of a long day.”
The stage, grotto, selfie wall, Santa’s helper and Simon the Snowman were all provided by Event Production Live with Darren Woodhouse as the MC. They did a fantastic job with their great organisational skills.
In order to put the event on Sandy Town Council relies on fundraising through its raffle, and the proceeds from this year will go towards paying for the Town Council’s event in 2024. The raffle will be drawn at the next Town Council meeting on Monday 11th December so there is still time to purchase a ticket (at £1 each) or a book of 5 tickets. Simply pop down to the Town Council offices before Monday evening. There are some fantastic prizes to be won included £150 in cash, an amazing bottle hamper, a meat hamper (worth £70) from Franklin’s Farm Shop, Christmas goody hampers from Gunns Bakery and the Co-op and a beautiful festive wreath from CK Nurseries.
Photographs from the event are on display in Sandy Library.