Wellington is now officially ready for Christmas. The town’s Mayor, Councillor Gary James, his wife Bee and the Head Boy and Head Girl of St John’s Primary School, Jonathan Devey and Lucie Tooze, pressed the big red button to switch on the Christmas decorations at precisely 6pm on Saturday 24 November.
Despite rain, big crowds had gathered for 2 hours of free fun in the town centre before the formal ceremony and were entertained by community groups including Wellington Majorettes, Bollywood dancing from Avtar Panesar and the choir of Beech Grove Primary School. Father Christmas arrived to be installed in his grotto in the Wellington Weekly News Office, Reminiscence Learning’s Archie was present in person and members of Wellington 1st Scouts served burgers and hot dogs. A free roundabout attracted queues of small children.
The whole event was compered in typical exuberant style by Wellington Pantomime Group’s Richard Matravers who will be seen on the stage of the Wellesley Theatre in January as Buttons in ‘Cinderella’. Richard provided a farewell to long-serving Town Clerk Greg Dyke who is retiring after 10 years in the role. His successor, Kathryn Hemensly, was introduced to the crowd.
Many of the town’s shop windows are already beautifully decorated and with the huge tree donated by Langford Lakes Christmas Tree Farm and smaller trees bought with the proceeds of last year’s show ‘Christmas at the Wellesley’ all now illuminated, the town is in full festive mode.
Taunton Deane Borough Council has announced that parking will be free at Longforth Road, North Street and South Street Car Parks on Saturday 2nd, 8th, 15th and 22nd December.