Battersea Christmas lights switch on
Christmas is getting off to an early start in Battersea on Tuesday 1 December with Carols in the Square, organised by Friends of Battersea Square and sponsored by estate agents John D Wood and Co. The Master of Ceremonies will be Ben Thomas, headmaster of Thomas’s Battersea. The festivities are kicking off at 6:30pm.
Professional brass quintet Mardi Bras will provide seasonal musical entertainment from the soundstage near the trees before accompanying the singing of carols and other festive songs. To help things along they are hoping to be joined by the choir of St Mary’s Church, Battersea, Thomas’s Choral Society and singers from local primary schools and Thomas’s Battersea as well as a community choir. Keeping them all in time will be John Haythornthwaite, Director of Music at Thomas’s.
There will be plenty of refreshments on offer from Sambrooks beer, mulled wine, mince pies, hot chocolate, soup and a stall selling delicious cakes and Christmas decorations.
The Mayor of Wandsworth, Nicola Nardelli, will be joined by the three member comedy group Sleeping Trees and the members of the Battersea Arts Centre Beatbox choir to help with switching on the tree’s lights at 7pm. This will be followed by ‘snow’ and other festive surprises and more carols before the event finishes around 7:30pm.
Carols in the Square is always free to all but they do organise a collection on the night, the proceeds of which are shared between two very important local charities.
1 Countdown to Christmas Accessed online 27 November 2015 http://www.batterseasquare.org.uk