Hear Ye! Hear Ye!

PREPARATIONS for Thame’s Big Switch On and Town Centre Christmas event are in full-swing, and were broadcast in truly traditional style around the town on Tuesday.
Specially made decorations have been put on the tree outside Thame town hall, festoon lights are being put up all round the town by a team of brave lightmen using ‘cherry pickers’ and ladders, and a Town Crier in full costume,including gaiters, tri-corn hat, buckle shoes and bell, shouted for most of the day throughout the market and town centre, to spread the news about the event.
Ex-soldier, now Prison Officer, Mr Anthony Church B.E.M., is officially the third best Town Crier in the country, and is Banbury’s official Crier. He will be around on the afternoon and evening of the event, this coming Friday, December 2, to spread the word to the hundreds of expected visitors about some of the exciting things being put by some of the shops and businesses in the town. For instance, the new owners of what was The Cottage Bakery in the Buttermarket will be selling hot soup, sausage rolls and sandwiches, hot cheshnuts (kindly provided once again by Waitrose) will be sold by the Scouts up by the Millenium Circle, Saphire Moon at the top end of the High Street (just past the French Market) are doing spray-on tatoos, Pied Pedaller are giving away balloons and other goodies, The Social, in North Street, will have their bar-b-Q going outside selling hotdogs and hamburger plus drinks, the Thame Information Centre (TIC) are expecting a very special visitor until 6.30 pm, who will be giving away sweets, and there will be 10% off everything just for the one night.
The Farmers Market will be setting up in the Upper High Street around 2.20pm and there will be a special children’s craft activity stall near-by. (The Donkey-led pageant sets off from around this area at 5pm) Look out for the very strange statues that will be appearing in Greyhound Walk.

THE MAIN PROGRAMME timings are as follows:

The event will begin at 3.00pm, with the Stage Special at 6.30pm and at 7.00pm; the lights will be turned on by “Elvis” and Linda Robson of “Birds of a Feather”. Before that, there will be Morris Dancing in Montesson Square from around 6pm to 6.15pm and the Morris Men will then process along the Cornmarket to the town hall.
There will be a donkey-led pageant around pubs; Thame Concert Band, street entertainers; fireworks; pantomime stars; carol singing; extended shop opening to 6.30pm; farmers’ market; community groups, charities and other stalls; French guests’ stalls from Montesson, Thame’s twin town; Father Christmas; Town Crier and lots, lots more!

A road closure of the High Street from the Black Horse roundabout at the end of Cornmarket, to the Rising Sun roundabout, and including Buttermarket, will be in place from 2.00pm.

5.30pm Children?s donkey-led pageant
DEPARTS MONTESSON SQUARE
6.00pm Morris Dancers in Montesson square until
6.20pm, when they will process along
Cornmarket to the back of the town hall

6.25pm Staged event plus Mayor?s welcome

6.35pm Thame Players special appearance

6.45pm Elvis Shmelvis!

6.55pm Linda Robson from ?Birds of a Feather? with
actors from Aylesbury Theatre

7.00pm Linda Robson and Elvis switch on the Christmas
Tree Lights

7.10pm Combined choir of local children accompanied
by Thame and a surprise visitor lead community
carol singing

7.30pm Joint Blessing by Rev I Mountford and Rev P
Godfrey ? event closes

The event is being sponsored by Waitrose, the Co-op, Thame Chamber of Commerce, Second2, Fusion, Thame Churches Partnership and Thame Town Council.