Video: Xmas lights switch on with Shane Richie (From Bucks Free Press)
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Video: Xmas lights switch on with Shane Richie
9:42pm Thursday 19th November 2009 in News By Simon Farr
THE stars were out in force in High Wycombe tonight as hundreds of beaming smiles welcomed the switching on of the Christmas lights.
Former EastEnders star Shane Richie and X-Factor contestant Daniel Pearce pressed the plunger at 7.30pm to bathe Frogmoor in the bright glow of thousands of fairylights.
They were joined on stage by High Wycombe mayor Julie Pritchard, Wycombe District Council chairman Alan Hill and Santa Claus.
Band Ear Candy kicked off the main stage entertainment before Totteridge singer Pearce wowed the crowds with a fantastic live set of classics and new material.
A theatrical adaptation of A Christmas Carol, featuring fire jugglers and dancers, kept the atmosphere building, before panto star Richie took to the stage to a huge roar from the crowd.
Earlier in the evening, more than 150 children from south Bucks schools, stilt walkers, dancers and fancy dress-clad performers marched along the High Street into Frogmoor as part of the dazzling Christmas Lights Parade.
Meanwhile, Eden welcomed talented choirs from eight south Bucks schools in the first heat of the hotly contested and highly popular Eden Christmas Choir Competition.
While the Chilterns Shopping Centre also got in on the festive fun, with staff adopting a Charles Dickens theme to re-work some of the author's classics.
The event, organised by the High Wycombe Town Partnership, also marked the beginning of late night Christmas shopping – with further festive events planned for the following three Thursdays.
Comments(10)
Plus ça change...
says...
8:30am Fri 20 Nov 09
What programme was he on?
yog
says...
9:07am Fri 20 Nov 09
Walking to the event I thought I had missed it because all the Christmas lights were .... on!
Arrived in Frogmore to be greeted by tacky fairground which drowned out all the noise coming from the stage.
Father Christmas looked drunk and the chair of the Council was pushing people out of the way to get in the photo!
Someone tried to do a mexican wave but no one further than 5 meters away from the stage could hear anything.
Countdown started and the very few lights that were not already on were turned on.
Pretty shambolic really.
Went to the Pub and then had to wade back through the litter and burger wrappers.
ferrellcat
says...
9:27am Fri 20 Nov 09
SDJones
says...
9:41am Fri 20 Nov 09
WhoCares?
says...
9:42am Fri 20 Nov 09
DeepThinker
says...
10:01am Fri 20 Nov 09
WhoCares? wrote:Bah, Humbug!
you lot are never happy are you? it was supposed to be a bit of fun, as it is every year and all you do is complain about everything. life's too short to moan and whinge, just enjoy it!
-
Get back to work Cratchit!
demoness
says...
11:00am Fri 20 Nov 09
Why not move then to somewhere that meets your high standards if there is such a Utopia.
sai-diva
says...
11:45am Fri 20 Nov 09
As I understand it, this was the first year that this event team had organised this, so any short comings can be improved next year.
And the fact that the lights were already on was down to bad organisation by council, of course,lol.
Best light switch on so far imo, well done.
faisal mahmood
says...
9:47pm Fri 20 Nov 09
sai-diva wrote:i agree with u?
I'm a long time Wycombe resident, and I have never seen so many people in the town at one time, the atmosphere was very positive and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves, there was free food and beer, how much do you want?
As I understand it, this was the first year that this event team had organised this, so any short comings can be improved next year.
And the fact that the lights were already on was down to bad organisation by council, of course,lol.
Best light switch on so far imo, well done.
ferrellcat says...
2:14am Fri 20 Nov 09
Arrived at side of stage from chiltern centre due to natural flow of people.
Ended up being in a good position as it happened.watched fire eater almost reignite as he didnt account on the southerly wind, and shane signing autos for the crowd 5 ft away.
When it finished the natural flow took us all into the chiltern and we were dumped out at its exit on Queens square.Jobs a good one.Oh and they turned the lights on