CHRISTMAS: All ready for the switch-on

This year's switch on of Alnwick Christmas Lights will take place at 7pm on Friday, November 23, in Alnwick Market Place '“ we invariably select the penultimate Friday in November for the event.

The Duchess of Northumberland, aided by a local schoolchild, will perform her traditional switch-on role and low-key Christmas entertainments will be laid on before and afterwards.

Carol singing is to be led by The Bailiffgate Singers, who invite the members of other choirs to join them at 6.15pm in front of the stage, where the excellent Playhouse Concert Band is to play. Alnwick Lions will follow up with Santa immediately after the switch-on.

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The team is now out every weekend in all weathers putting up displays and lights that have been refurbished by them in our unit since May. None of this could happen without the support of local people, businesses and institutions, too numerous to mention, whom I thank here on behalf of the team.

We are particularly grateful to Alnwick Town Council for enabling us to replace decades-old cabling by granting us a generous amount of extra money this year.

There will be some inevitable minor disruption to vehicle movements on Sunday mornings, and apologies for needing to close the tower last Sunday to mount the displays on top. I regret any inconvenience, but there was no alternative to enable the hoist to operate safely.

So please make a note in your diaries and the team look forward to seeing the Market Place as full as ever on November 23.

Gordon Castle,

Chairman,

Alnwick Christmas Lights Committee