Warwick Brass entertain crowds at Leamington lights switch-on

Leamington’s Christmas lights were set aglow on Sunday 16th November, with the University of Warwick Brass Band providing live entertainment.

Hundreds of people flocked to the Parade in Leamington Spa for the festive switch-on, where a traditional fun fair and local performers amused the crowds.

The Christmas spirit started at 1pm, with live entertainment from some of Leamington’s newest talent, including singers, dancers and drum soloists, as well as a balloon modelling contest introduced by the cast of the Royal Spa Centre pantomime, Jack and the Beanstalk.

Leamington mayor Councillor Kailash Chander threw the switch to light up Leamington in an array of glowing colour.

The countdown to the switch-on was presented by Royal Spa Centre pantomime actor Jonathan Rilley, who is starring as Silly Billy in Beauty and the Beast.

Pam Dunsdon, Leamington’s town centre manager, commented on the success of the event, and said that “it seems like the whole town turned out for the switching on of the Christmas lights”.

Another noteworthy performance was that of the University of Warwick Brass Band, who were involved with the turning on of the Rotary Club’s Tree of Lights.

The band, part of Warwick’s Brass Society, played Christmas music during the occasion, and were joined by the Baptist Group Choir for the switch-on of the tree’s lights.

Brass Society president, Rick Dewhirst-Lister, said: “We had an amazing reception from the crowd. The band played pieces such as A Disney Fantasy by Goff Richards and a traditional march entitled Barnard Castle”.

The Tree of Lights is part of a scheme run by the Rotary Club, where local residents can sponsor a light on the Christmas tree in memory of friends and relatives, past or present. The scheme has been running for eight years, and last year raised £4,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support.

Dewhirst-Lister also added that “The society has also recently started a Beginners Brass Group, teaching people who have never played brass instruments before, and we are still keen for more people to come along and get involved with this”.