Lights signal start of festive season

Brumba Samba from Truro get the Angarrack lights crowd into the Christmas spirit.

 

 

Angarrack Christmas Lights 2010. Oohs and ahs from the crowd as the lights go on and the fireworks go off at Angarrack.

 

 

Santa's Elves, from left, Megan Penberthy, Shannon Bray and Jane Keast at the Angarrack Christmas lights switch-on.

 

 

CRISP winter weather added to the merry atmosphere as Christmas lights were switched on around west Cornwall marking the official start of the festive period.

The big switch-on was one of the key events in St Ives, where traditional carols were sung around the Christmas tree outside the Guildhall on Friday evening.

The pirates-themed evening continued with Santa's procession through the town, with prizes for the children in the best fancy dress costumes.

Samba

In Angarrack, which is famous for one of the best Christmas lights displays in the county, a samba band from Truro got the crowds into the Christmas spirit on Saturday evening.

This year Pirate FM's breakfast presenter Bob McCreadie switched the lights on, and this was followed by a spectacular fireworks display lighting up the sky.

As night fell and the heavy frost descended on Sunday evening, some 70 supporters of Cornwall Hospice Care gathered at the West Cornwall Shopping Park for a short service of carols, readings and prayers to remember loved ones.

The service, one of four Light Up A Life events organised around the county by the charity, was led by the Reverend Canon Martyn Trembath, Rector of the Godrevy team, who was joined by Hayle Town Mayor John Bennett and charity trustee Liz Anderson.

There were readings by Sister Maureen, of St Mary's Convent in Hayle, charity volunteer Mary Truran and Sam Pleasants who is a sister at St Julia's Hospice.

At the end of the service, those gathered on the Costa Coffee forecourt witnessed the switching on of the Christmas tree lights representing the Tree of Life. Thanks were also given to Hayle Town Band, Hayle Rotary and Trevaskis Farm Shop for their support of the Light Up A Life event which also helps raise vital funds for Cornwall Hospice Care, the charity that provides adult hospice care within the county, through St Julia's Hospice in Hayle and Mount Edgcumbe Hospice in St Austell.