The only way is Thame’s at Christmas!

DESPITE TOWIE star, Jasmin Walia, failing to turn up to help turn on Thame’s Christmas lights, due to personal circumstances on the day, eight year-old Holly Stafford did a sterling job turning on Thame’s Christmas lights with the help of the Mayor, Linda Emery, Father Christmas, Police Pup, Tink the Green Fairy and Panto star, Danny Colligan as Aladdin.

Holly had earned the honour of helping to push down the plunger by spotting the biggest number of Go-kart Santas hidden in shop window around the town.

Thame hosted its annual Christmas Lights Switch-On event on Friday, December 2, attracting a throng of local families and visitors to welcome in the yule-tide season. The town centre hummed with festive stalls of crafts, toys and gifts, stilt-walking Colonel Custard, Christmas balloon making, donkey rides on Morris and Holly, go-kart rides and Santa’s grotto, while live enterntainment was provided at various venues in the town centre by Louise Jane school of Dance, Thame Youth Theatre, The Thame Pop Choir, Stagecoach Thame, Thame Players and Thame Concert Band who accompanied the community carols sing-along.

Thame Lions Club helped keep everyone warm with mulled wine, and as well as other refreshment stalls selling hot drinks and food, the bar in the Masonic Hall was open too! A group of Thame’s French friends from the town’s twin town of Montesson, set out their stall of French wines, cheese and other produce and kept the crowds happy with their wonderful crepes and galettes, a Breton pancake made with buckwheat flour with a savoury filling of ham and/or cheese.

A glowing parade of lanterns, created by students from Thame’s primary schools to designs courtesy of Windles Thame, was lead to the giant Christmas tree, by the Police Pup and Tink, the Mayor of Thame and Holly Stafford. Here the crowds gathered to hear Father David Hartley’s Christmas blessing, before the big switch on and community singing, accompanied by Thame Primary School Choirs and Thame Concert Band – a perfect way to round off a fantastic, festive evening.

It’s worth acknowledging that without the generous support of local businesses and sponsors, the event just wouldn’t be possible. So, a big ‘shout out’ to: ASM Auto Recycling, Kubota, Risborough Carers, JJ Plumbing and Heating, The Air Cadets, Wally’s Toy Shop, Fisher German, Thame & District Housing Association, Lucy Electric, Newitts, Fairy Dust Entertainment, Windless Group, Kubota, Thame Lions, Waitrose, Haddenham Garden Centre, Paddy Harris, Thame’s Primary Schools, 3B Vechicle Hire & Servicing, the Co-op and Aylesbury Waterside Theatre.