by Alan Quick

CREDITON’S Christmas mini-parade and Lights Switch-On, held on Saturday, November 25, was hailed a resounding success.

It saw almost 2,000 people attend the event, everyone taking part in the countdown for the grand Lights Switch-On ceremony for the big Christmas tree in the Square, all led by Father Christmas who arrived on the back of a Harley Davidson motorbike.

The lights were switched on by the child winners of the Children’s Fancy Dress competition, which was judged by Crediton Chamber of Commerce chairman, Mrs Tara Conabeare and soon-to-depart from the town, Crediton Rector, the Rev Preb Nigel Guthrie.

The winners they selected were both dressed as dragons, Alexi, aged four and Jo, aged nine years.

The Mini Parade included musicians, lanterns made by children at workshops at Crediton Arts Centre, Crediton Scouts and other organisations and individuals in Fancy Dress.

It included Crediton Scouts and their cart, the Exeter Street Band, all the fancy dress competitors and the Crediton Guides carrying illuminated arches. The Town Crier, Kevin Payne made the announcements.

Lights on trees on shop fronts and businesses and the cross-street decorations were lit, as well as the lights in the trees at St Lawrence Green.

Prior to the Grand Lights Switch-On in Crediton’s Town Square, there was a programme of entertainment which included singing by the joint choirs from Hayward’s and Landscore Primary Schools, performances by Winkleigh Morris, Sandford Sings, Exeter Street Band and the Charles Academy of Dance.

There was much fun to be had watching the Chamber of Commerce Traders Race and hundreds of people enjoyed rides on the Land Train up and down Crediton High Street.

This year, there were Christmas images to hunt using augmented reality, which, it is believed, was a “world first” for such an occasion.

Christmassy themed images were placed around the town square, that when viewed via a handheld device such as a smartphone or tablet, came to life as Christmas animations.

Electricity from a "green" provider for the lights on the main tree was generously provided by The Green House.

Volunteers from Crediton Chamber of Commerce and Crediton Tesco put up the lights around the town.

Crediton firefighters attended with a fire engine.

The Christmas in Crediton committee is a sub-committee of Crediton Town Council, all volunteers, individuals and organisation representatives, which has held meetings regularly all year-long to plan the lights and town celebrations.

Crediton Town Council makes a financial contribution to the project and sponsorship also came from a number of businesses in Crediton.

Main sponsors were Create Storage, Crediton Dairy, Mole Avon Trading Ltd, Yellow Mouse Studios Ltd, Hedgerow Print and Crediton Chamber of Commerce.

Crediton Town Council has extended a huge "thank you" to everyone that took part or helped with this year’s event.

Crediton Town Clerk, Mrs Dalley, said the event had been “the best ever”.

She added: “I would like to thank everyone involved in organising or helping to make the event a success, as well as all those who came along to enjoy it.

“It still amazes me how much the community come together and it makes me extremely proud to call myself Crediton Town Clerk.

"I would also like to thank the following: Crediton Chamber of Commerce, Crediton High Street Traders, Create Storage, Crediton Dairy, Mole Avon, Hedgerow Print, Yellow Mouse Studios, Crediton Town Council, Crediton Arts Centre, Crediton Scouts/Cubs/Beavers, Crediton Guides and Brownies, Winkleigh Morris, Landscore and Hayward’s School Choirs, Charles Academy of Dance, Exeter Street Band, Sandford Sings, Beatnx, Crediton Tesco, Crediton Lions, All Marshals and Stewards, All High Street Traders that made a donation and stayed open late, "Crediton Courier", Crediton Methodist Church, Rev Preb Nigel Guthrie, Jo and Philip Ward, Peter Brewer, Crediton Coffee Company, Nicki Chivers and Kayleigh Jones, Crediton Air Cadets, Local residents that volunteered and gave their time freely, David Oliver of Oliver’s Bakery, The Green House, Natalia Letch, Crediton Fire Service, The Three Little Pigs, Marion’s Deli, Market Café, Union Road Moto Velo and the Mayor’s Cadet Lewis Cook.

Cllr Letch paid special thanks during the Lights Switch-On ceremony to the chairman of the Christmas in Crediton committee, Mrs Elizabeth Brookes-Hocking and overall event manager, Mrs Clare Dalley.