Town Mayor hits the button to start Christmas in the High Street

9 December 2014

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Town Mayor Nick Hodges performed the official lighting up ceremony at the Rotary Clubs’ High Street Christmas tree at the weekend watched by a throng of onlookers who had turned on a cold but sunny afternoon to get into the mood for the upcoming festivities.

Before he hit the button, Nick – who grew up in East Grinstead – recalled how he had made decorations for the tree as a child attending St Mary’s.

The Rev Clive Everett-Allen pulled a topical Christmas cracker of a joke about a man from East Grinstead – the home of the carol Good King Wenceslas – who just wanted a pizza that was deep-pan, crisp and even – which earned him a well-deserved groan from the crowd, before he said a word or two about the real meaning of Christmas.

The town band played carols, the Sackville choir sang, and everyone had a good time chatting to their neighbours and exchanging wishes for a Happy Christmas – which is pretty much what it’s all about really…