The King to turn on Whitnash’s Christmas lights

The town has been urged to turn out and celebrate for the annual event, which will feature two hours of live music and entertainment before the town’s own Elvis impersonator Little Elvis Sylvain turns on the town’s lights at 6pm.

The hip-swinging Old Town youngster, who won the European Elvis Championships’ novice section in Birmingham in January, will be among singers and bands entertaining crowds in the car park of the Plough and Harrow pub from 4pm.

Compere Cllr Simon Button, who chairs the Christmas lights committee, said: “We have some wonderful artists in a variety of different styles.

“I hope everybody comes along, has a wonderful time and gets together to celebrate in the style a small community like Whitnash should.”

As well as singers Melissa Emeney, this year’s switch-on ceremony will include twice as many stalls as last year, including the chance to make donations to the Whitnash Charitable Trust, which helps townspeople with sporting or academic ambitions.

Former Whitnash Primary School deputy headteacher Janet Roberts will be signing copies of her children’s book The Misadventures of Chico Chugg (see story, right).

There will be a bouncy castle, magic and juggling from Mr Juggler, and Father Christmas will be meeting children in his grotto at 4.30pm and 5.30pm.

And there will be the usual fairground rides in Whitnash Road, as well as seasonal ales as the Plough and Harrow pub holds a beer festival from Friday until Sunday.

The event’s organisers are hoping to raise money for a new set of LED Christmas lights, which will be more durable than the existing tungsten bulbs and use less energy.

The event has been sponsored for the first time by environmental engineering firm Natural Energy Control.