29 November 2009The Excitement of the Christmas Lights Turn On.
Down among the People: As the big moment arrived after an endless day of fantastic celebration here in downtown Dover...the rain poured down in streaky stair-rods as you can see in the top picture. Huddled youngsters put the hoods of their anoraks over their heads in a fruitless effort to keep dry..while the dj on stage bellowed out the final countdown to the big switch-on.
As he did last year, he stopped the count in mid flight to produce something of an anti-climax. Some of the lights came on and were switched off again.We were urged to shout louder and so we did...and then in fabtastic style, an array of glorious multi-faceted multi-coloured lights, lit up our sodden streets. Comedian of household legend Ade Edmondson (see his pic below) did the necessary. He was accompanied by Mayor Sue Jones and whooosh! in an instant we were awash with colour...and of course rain, as we shivered together on the notorious floodplain that is central Dover!
The picture above shows the swirling mass of people as they hustle down towards Market Sq from the centre of town, and as you can see, it is the biggest of big crowds, proving of course that if you get a big name with a big turn on, the crowds will come to see. A great pity that the heavens opened with 10 minutes to go with a tumultuous downpour, but there we are. We the people toughed it out and saw the lights come on.
You have to hand it to the Town Councillors. They worked above and beyond the call of duty. Yours truly tried to follow the Mayor herself around all day but wilted in mid flight, one could hardly keep up as she powered through various appointments like a Labourised Margaret Thatcher. Earlier in the day we started with the
Wedding Fayre at Farthingloe Farm We will also have pictures from that excellent event in a day or two(Tuesday...as sadly its not possible to run everything at once). And she went on to do a whole series of events on a punishing schedule. But many of the Councillors did similar, all manning the entertainment pumps all day in spectacular hard working style. None more so than the guy in the pic above?? But Who is it?? Who is playing the man in the red suit....answer at bottom of page shortly. After his day long stint around the town, this particular Councillor was off to present awards at the ATC Annual Parade, again at the behest of the Dover Town Council. Exhausting schedule indeed.
One of the items on the Mayor's schedule was to present Business Awards at La Salle Verte, the popular coffee/restaurant. La Salle Verte continues to be popular with its customers, the ambience is very good and the regular customers have voted the establishment tip-top once again for its Exceptional Customer Service. The runner up in the Awards, which were presented by the Best of Dover website, was Busi Print. Both are very popular and successful local businesses...and good luck to them for an equally successful future.
In the picture we have left to right... Cllr Sue Jones Mayor of Dover, Haydn Bilsson owner La Salle Verte. Cllr Ronnie Philpott Mayoress, and Patrick Acarnley owner of Busi Print.
Local hero and Councillor, and top Doverforumite to boot, John Goodwin, is seen here on the left with the supremo of the London Road Community Forum, Jeanette Harper. In the recent much publicised housefire in the Folkestone Road, John while passing on his bicycle saw the beginnings of a nasty situation and managed to rally everyone up, so that they could escape the possiblily of severe danger or even death. John was featured bigtime in the Dover Express this week. He was also involved with the London Road fire rescue a year or two back..so yes a definite local hero. John also raises money for injured military heroes, hence the poster in hand. John is putting on a series of shows at the Town Hall with this aim.
I hope all the boys and girls out there are aware that these are the very reindeer that will be delivering toys all over town on Christmas Eve. In fact they will be doing it all over the world. So yesterday they were having a bit of a rest in Cannon St, while waiting for the big day to approach. They are all looking very healthy and in good shape, so feel re-assured that all toys and presents will be delivered on time...and not within 28 days as is often found with some stores!
Top four pictures (some sadly very rainswept) and all words by Paul Boland, fifth picture by Colette Boland, and sixth and seventh picture by Howard McSweeney.
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Karol Steele and Ade Edmondson.
Sat 28Nov:This picture is just in from local actress Karol Steele and it shows herself and TV legend Ade Edmondson at the DEAL Christmas Lights Switch-On. This event took place on thursday night and was a great success with Ade and the cast of Peter Pan, which is playing currently at The Marlowe Arena, doing the necessary with the giant switch. There was a spectacular Road Show prior to the Big Switch-On, and afterward Ade and cast and all the various dignitaries ambled along to the Mayor's Parlour at the Town Hall where they were entertained further. Karol Steele is working with Ade in the Marlowe production.
Its Dover's turn today November 28...with the Event beginning in earnest at Mid-Day, and with the BIG SWITCH-ON Dover style coming at 6pm. Ade will do it in Dover. I can see the T-Shirt now! Ade does it in Dover! Many thanks to Karol for the picture.
And now..what you have all been waiting for...The Councillor and top forumite in the 'red suit' is none other than ...David Hannent.
