Tills ring, are you
listening?
In the rain, neon's glistening.
In the rain, neon's glistening.
A beautiful sight,
We're happy tonight.
Christmas lights by TESCO
Addlestone.
 |
| December 2011 |
Ho, ho, ho Addlestonians!
The festive season is upon us and since 1st December Addlestonians have been
starting off their days by prising open an advent calendar window to reveal one
of 25 chocolatey treats in the run up to Christmas day. Multiplied by however
many advent calendars they have.
Many will go on to spruce
up for a day of Christmas shopping, which will typically involve leaving town
in favour of Staines or Woking where potential gifts are easier to come by.
With the exception of household electronics, cards and wrapping paper which
TESCO and Primart have covered nicely between them.
Addlestone hasn't been
hanging about in preparation for these festive times. Buildings up and down
Station Road have been sporting twinkly Christmas trees for weeks, adding
an extra bit of graceful magic to the high street. Yes, even more magic!
In fact, the glitzy Christmas trees
hanging up along Station Road bring a party atmosphere to Addlestone as much as
enchantment. Flickering away alongside each other in hues of red, green
and blue and illuminating the street through the long winter nights,
pedestrians might think themselves in a nightclub and drivers maybe a scene
from Tron. Either way, it's an impressive sight for the late-night ambler to
behold and a welcome ingredient in Addlestonian life.
 |
| Last year's Christmas light switch-on, November 2011 |
On 24th November
Addlestonians from far and wide and a few special guests gathered next to the
TESCO roundabout to witness the enchanting Christmas lights switch-on and
partake in the carol-singing and mince pie munching along with the Addlestone
Salvation Army Band, all to the backdrop of TESCO's entrancingly festive neon
sign. Once again the lights were made possible by generous contributions from
local businesses who dug deep into their pockets, putting together thousands of
pounds in a commendable display of community spirit. I don't have precise
figures, so can't highlight what percentage of that might have come from the
world's third-largest retailer, but if nothing else the superstore has
contributed in her own way by putting her party hat on this Christmas. If you
thought the blazing glow of the TESCO neon sign over the heart of Addlestone
was convivial enough as it was, think again.
Special guests at the
Addlestone Christmas lights switch-on included Mayor of Runnymede Cllr Linda
Gillham...
 |
| Cllr Linda Gillham, Mayor of Runnymede (image from @DontLetYourTea) |
As well as old St. Nick
himself, who took a day off fom making iPads and reading letters in his Lapland
chalet to sing carols in Addlestone, a town he allegedly holds dear to his
heart. "After a busy Christmas, there's nothing I enjoy more than to come
down to Addlestone for a nice curry in my favourite Indian restaurant" he might
have said.
 |
| Father Christmas (image from @DontLetYourTea) |
Hold your reindeers Santa, Christmas
hasn't even started yet!
Whereas parts of the county have
already experienced a light dusting or two, Addlestone is yet to be touched by
snow this December. If previous years are anything to go by then there's every
chance Addlestonians might wake up to a coating by the end of the month, but
for the time being it looks like we'll be sticking with predominantly crisp skies and the odd cloud or shower. Leave the sledges in the garage for now, folks.
On that note I leave you with this video from a few years ago filmed by King's Church which I thought it was only appropriate to share. God rest ye merry, Addlestonians. God rest ye merry.
