 I
love Cirencester, it's a fantastic place. |
| Melinda
Messenger |
Eight
thousand people swarmed into Cirencester Market Place to see celebrity
guest Melinda Messenger switch on the Christmas lights and officially
herald the start of the festive season.
Actress
and model Melinda is often spotted shopping in the town and was
honoured to be asked to perform the lighting up ceremony;
"I love Cirencester, it's a fantastic place, and we're just
up the road so I thought it would be good fun", she said.
Family
affair
It
was a family affair for Melinda who was accompanied by husband Wayne,
their three children, Evie, Morgan and Flynn Jefferson as well as
Melinda's Mum, Avis.
 |
| All
smiles from Melinda |
In
just a few years the Advent Market and the Christmas lights ceremony
have become a permanent fixture in the town's calendar and have
grown to become Cirencester's biggest community event of the year.
As
artificial snow showered the Market Place, The Cirencester Salvation
Army Band and the Church Choir entertained the crowds with Christmas
carols.
Festive
feeling
Euphonium
player, Peter Grace, joined the Salvation Army Band in 1962. He
said: "The music gives a special festive feeling. A brass band
of some sort in the open air always makes a difference".
| The
music gives a special festive feeling. A brass band of some
sort in the open air always makes a difference. |
| Peter
Grace |
Then
ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Radio Gloucestershire presenter Vernon Harwood encouraged the
audience to countdown from ten to one, and Melinda pressed the plunger
which illuminated both the Christmas Tree and the thousands of bulbs
strung around the town.
Vernon
said: "Christmas isn't Christmas until Cirencester says so!
We've had a lovely crisp night, the crowd are loud & lively
and the place is bursting with colour - the perfect ingredients
for Advent Market".
Memorable
day
The
lights switch-on was the highlight of a memorable day which began
at 8.00am.
 |
| Father
Christmas greets the 8,000 strong crowd |
For
the first time the Advent Market was an all-day event with the town
centre transformed to accommodate fairground rides, the Festive
Farmers' Market in the morning and the hugely popular Advent Market
stalls later in the day.
The
Market Place was dominated by an enormous stage featuring live acts
including local band Santa's Little Helpers, Siddington Primary
School Choir and Cirencester Town Band.
Festive
fun
But
the entertainment wasn't just confined to the Market Place. The
festive fun included Morris dancing at the Woolmarket, children's
entertainers at the Wheatsheaf Inn, a party in Castle Street with
an Irish band and Chinese lion dancing.
| We've
got a really good party atmosphere going. |
| Lizzie
Pearson |
There
were also story tellers at Brewery Court, carol singers and a special
Christmas quiz at the Corinium Museum, Father Christmas and his
grotto in Bingham House, and street entertainers including an eight
foot snowman and a fire-eater!
Party
atmosphere
Lizzie
Pearson who runs 'Willow' in Castle Street said: "We've got
a really good party atmosphere going. All the traders should really
benefit with the event being held through the day and the tills
will start rattling for Christmas".
The Advent Market was 12 months in the planning and was a joint
venture between the Chamber of Commerce, the Town Council, the Wilts
& Gloucestershire Standard, and ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Radio Gloucestershire.
 |
| Vernon
Harwood and the Mayor Deryck Nash in ridiculous get-up! |
Last
year another famous local resident grabbed all the attention.
Actress
Elizabeth Hurley switched on the lights in 2003. Look back at Liz's
guest appearance with our picture gallery:
But
which star will be doing the honours next year?
When
the news breaks we'll let you know on the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Gloucestershire website
and on ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Radio Gloucestershire - 95FM (Stroud), 95.8FM (Cirencester),
104.7FM and 1413AM.
If
you would like to comment on this story get in touch at gloucestershire@bbc.co.uk
or have your say on our
|
Melinda Messenger came to the Cotswolds at the weekend to switch on
Cirencester's Christmas lights.
