Amble Christmas lights and parade: community celebration at its best
Thousands of people thronged Queen Street and the Town Square to see Amble’s Christmas Lights switch on and parade. During the afternoon there was music, stalls and children’s entertainment in the Town Square, and Santa and his Elf arrived to greet the children in the Harbour Village.
Caribbean Crew steel band entertained the crowds on Queen Street until the parade began. First down the street were the motorbikers many of whom had decked their bikes with fairy lights.
The lights were officially switched on by Angie Thompson (and her dog Jayz). Angie has raised thousands of pounds over the last twenty four years for the Christmas Lights so it was fitting she should be thanked in such a way.
As usual the Coastguards led the rest of the procession which consisted of hundreds of local people representing community groups. Amble Coastal Rowing Club’s magnificent Sea Serpent was joined by the fantastic creatures from Dry Water Arts’ recent Community Spirit event. Music was provided by Jayess Newbiggin Brass Band and Meze Mundo street band, both of whom played later on in the Town Square.
The parade this year included a tribute by John Sadler’s Time Bandits, to James Calvert Spence’s WW1 medical heroism, which saw him twice awarded the Military Cross.
Some of your comments:
JB: “Congratulations and well done to everyone who helped make this a wonderful event. Lovely to see the massive turnout of Amble people once again. Absolutely loved it”
MI: “Magical night… community, parade, volunteers, lights, parade, and holly, jolly spirit”
Photos: Andrew Mounsey, Anna Williams and Wobbly Fingers
If you would like to help with next year’s Puffin Festival and/or Christmas Parade, Amble Events Committee are always looking for volunteers. Please contact matthew@ambledevelopmenttrust.org.uk or ambleeventscommittee@gmail.com
