I would like to extend my grateful thanks to all those people whose hard work contributed to the successful Christmas lights turn-on evening last Friday in Marlborough.

This was a real community event. Local primary school children sang in a choir event in St Mary’s Church organised as usual by Nigel Kerton and then they joined a lantern parade around the town behind Santa’s sleigh. The Rotary Club arranged and ran the Father Christmas grotto in the Town Hall. The children of the Marlborough Academy of Dance entertained the crowds on a stage in the High Street.

The Lions Club supplied and manned Santa’s sleigh and both the Rotary and the Lions supplied stewards to patrol the High Street and also the barriers at each end of the High Street that kept the High Street clear of cars.

The community market added to the festive spirit and the Showman’s Guild delighted the children with their rides and stores.

The town clerk and her staff had a very full day as did several councillors. The police were amazing, they co-ordinated the street closure, arranged stewards and then patrolled the High Street to make sure that all enjoyed themselves.

The whole event took a small team of six people several months to arrange and was over in a few hours but I believe that those 
people and the volunteers who gave their time so freely created memories that will last a life time for the town’s children.

So thank you one and all for giving your time to make this a happy occasion.

Marian Hannaford-Dobson,
Mayor of Marlborough.