Grand day out for lights switch-on
Reporter: MARINA BERRY
Date published: 21 November 2011
Photo: Chris Sunderland
SAY cheese: Wallace and Gromit switch on the lights.
SANTA never fails to pull the crowds, and yesterday was no exception.
A sea of youngsters hoisted high on their parents’ shoulders cheered as he arrived in town on an open top bus to get Oldham’s Christmas lights switch-on under way.
He was accompanied by his friends, including Mrs Christmas, Mickey and Minnie Mouse and the Gingerbread man.
And they paved the way for cartoon characters Wallace and Gromit to press the magic plunger which simultaneously turned on the town centre Christmas lights and sparked a fabulous firework display from the roof of Oldham Parish Church.
The Mayor and Mayoress of Oldham, Councillor Richard Knowles and Mrs Valerie Knowles and the youth mayor, Chantel Birtwistle, took their place on stage.
And they helped draw some of the winning tickets which resulted in five lucky people each taking home a £50 shopping voucher.
Wallace and Gromit attracted record numbers to the lights switch-on.
Among the crowd were Paul and Karen Mayor, there with a friend’s daughter, eight-year-old Sophie Taylor.
Paul said: “It’s absolutely brilliant, fabulous. It makes me want to come back next year.”
Karen added: “It’s very impressive, and young Sophie said: “It’s good. I love Wallace and Gromit.”
Linda Hill, from Higginshaw, said: “It’s fabulous, really good.”
And her son, Anthony Hewson, of Greenacres, said: “I think it’s better than last year. There is a bit more for the children.”
They were with Anthony’s 18-month-old daughter, Aimee-Jayne, and the father said: “She loved it. She said ‘wow’ when the fireworks went off and barked like a dog when Gromit came on.”
