Panto stars light up Tadley
Tadley's Christmas tree is brightening up the town after hordes of people gathered for the big lights switch on
TADLEY's Christmas tree is twinkling, after hundreds gathered for the countdown to switch on the lights on Friday evening (November 25).
More than 500 people, including the north west Hampshire MP Sir George Young and mayor and mayoress of Basingstoke and Deane, David and Amanda Leeks, turned up to see three actors starring in a local Christmas pantomime switch on the Christmas tree lights.
Peter Pan is this year's pantomime at The Anvil, Basingstoke, and actor Ben-Ryan Davies, who plays Peter Pan, Pete Hillier, who plays Smee, and Gary Turner, who plays Captain Hook, all led the celebrations for the Tadley lights switch on.
Davies is known for his role in the BBC 1 series Waterloo Road, while Turner stars in the ITV1 soap opera Emmerdale and Hillier is best known for his role as Boogie Peter on the Cbeebies programme Boogie Beebies.
The trio were presented with a besom broom, a symbol of Tadley, by the chairwoman of Tadley Town Council, Jo Slimin. This was in line with the tradition of broom makers in the town and afterwards Davies tweeted that he was “loving my broom”.
“My hotel room has never been cleaner in my opinion,” he added.
The entertainment started at 6pm with carol singing by Burnham Copse primary school, followed by more festive songs with Tadley band, the Hurst singers and the Tadley singers.
A Christmas market, raffles and tombolas, a stilt walker and juggler, merry-go-round were also part of the festive fun. Sainsbury's' Tadley branch distributed 300 free mince pies.
The whole event was organised by Tadley town council and cost around £1,266.
The cost of the Christmas lights was £7,200; additional decorations on lighting columns in Mulfords Hill were this year were extended along Franklin Avenue to the Town Council offices, where the switch-on took place.
The lights were funded by the town council and donations received from Tadley & District Chamber of Trade and Rainbow Double Glazing towards the purchase of new tree lights.
Elm Park Garden Centre provided the tree, Budget Fork Trucks erected it, and barriers were provided by Contractors Plant & Tool Hire.
AWE Aldermaston provided the lighting and stage for the event, while charity fundraisers, Loddon Valley Lions - who had a santa's grotto at the event - funded the PA system and St John's ambulance.
“The evening was a great success,” said clerk to the town council, Nicki Barry.
For more pictures of the event, click on our online picture gallery. For more coverage, see this week's Newbury Weekly News.
