Gold medal canoeist helps launch Xmas in Wooburn Green (From Bucks Free Press)

Ed McKeever helps launch Xmas in Wooburn Green

6:36pm Saturday 24th November 2012 in News By Lawrence Dunhill

DOZENS packed into the Wooburn Club this evening as Olympic gold medallist Ed McKeever helped launch the village’s Christmas celebrations.

The lights in the big oak and ash trees on The Green were switched on at 4pm, followed by carols, mulled wine and mince pies.

There is also a kids’ disco until 8pm with live music for the grown-ups later on.

McKeever moved to village two years ago, but while his training regime meant he hardly got out before the Olympics, he has since been busy getting involved in events at the Wooburn Club.

The London 2012 kayak sprint champion said: “It’s been quite nice to go to things like this and meet the community and give something back.”

Margaret Amos, who launched the village Christmas lights three years, said: “There was nothing really here before so we did a big grand draw which raised the £10,000 to pay for the lights.

“Now we do this event every year so we can maintain them. It’s so dreary this time of year so it’s nice to have something to do on a November evening.”