Festival of Lights starts Christmas festivities

Dec 7 2009 By Vicki Eltis

THE start of the Christmas festivities got under way in Walton on Friday for the fourth Festival of Light.

Hundreds of residents filled the town centre for the annual parade and Christmas light switch-on organised by Walton Business Group, The Heart and the RC Sherriff Trust, which promotes the arts in Elmbridge.

The parade was led by Walton army cadets followed by the Inspire Works samba band, school children from Ashley School, Grovelands School, Walton Oak, and Walton Leigh, in Walton, Cardinal Newman and Bell Farm in Hersham, Cleves in Weybridge and Chandlers Field in Molesey.

Among the 300 children and residents who took part in the parade were 320 lanterns made from willow and wet strength tissue, each filled with candles to light the dark night. Large scale lanterns this year included a snowman, a Christmas Tree, the traditional ice queen, seven swans and a huge Santa.

Also taking part in the parade were members of the Viking Sea Scouts, Hinchley Wood Samba band, members of Walton Centre for the Retired, and the Rotary Club of Walton with Father Christmas in his motorised sleigh finishing off the parade.

Project manager for the RC Sherriff Trust, Sam Thompson, said: "This year was the biggest and best festival of Lights we've had.

"There were two extra school's taking part and it was just amazing.

"This year we used candles in the lanterns instead of battery operated lights, which we have used in the past and they resulted in a much better glow.

"The army cadets were brilliant and so were Surrey Police who helped out."

Although this year there was a slight gap in the parade caused when a member of Surrey Police let out a couple of vehicles on New Zealand Avenue. But it did not dampen spirits as many families lined up on the streets to make it a community-spirited event culminating in the switch-on of the Christmas tree lights in the plaza, in which Elmbridge Mayoress Rosemary Vickers gave a short speech, giving two count downs from 10 and turning them on.

Walton businesses also sponsored lanterns this year including Wilkinson's, who also contributed to lights for the Christmas trees on the buildings in High Street, FW Chitty, PAL valeting services, Lloyds TSB and G&Co chartered accountants.

Director of Walton Business Group Sarah-Jane Shellard said: "We are going to become more reliant on local businesses supporting the event. This would not be able to happen without their help and contributions."