AHOY me hearties. Actor Ashley White, the Johnny Depp – Captain Jack Sparrow lookalike from Pirates of the Caribbean, thrilled the hundreds who turned up at Drum Clock Corner, Newton Abbot, on Wednesday, as he switched on the town's Christmas lights.
Unfortunately, the displays in Queen Street and Courtenay Street could not all be switched on together because of the timing of the event. Town mayor, Cllr Daphne Watts, explained that there was not a central switch to bring them all on at once. 'Each block of lights has its own box and each of them had to be switched on separately by hand, because it was around 6pm.
'From now on they will all come on each day by timer at around 4pm. 'I think it all went very well and everyone is pleased with the lights.
There are not quite as many as last year, but they are of a higher quality,' said Cllr Watts who thanked all those who had contributed towards them. The cost of the Christmas lights, which includes erecting and taking them down, electricians, maintenance, storage, electricity, etc, is some £15,000, the bulk of which is found by the town council.
This year the new Asda store put £3,000 into the kitty, along with the annual support from local businesses. It was the first of the four late night shopping evenings in the town.
Next Wednesday it is Victorian Evening, which includes a draw in aid of the mayor's charity – tickets will be on sale throughout the day in the Anglian Windows kiosk in Market Walk.