Shipston gets festive with a Victorian evening and lights switch on
THERE were smiles all round on the streets of Shipston and why not? The ever-popular Victorian Evening was back in town for the first time since 2019 because of Covid.
It really was a community effort supported by businesses in the town and by families with young children who attended the event and finally got to see how Shipston puts on a festive feast of fun for all to enjoy.
A human fruit machine saw elves and Santa’s helpers pluck assorted fruits from Christmas boxes in exchange for a 50 pence charge with the chance of winning £5 if the right fruits lined up. all round High Streetup.
Father Christmas was in his grotto, a harlequin on stilts dazzled the crowds below in a colourful and thoroughly eye-catching costume, there was carol singing on stage from pupils at Shipston Primary School and Shipston Town Band entertained with a selection of seasonal favourites.
A 24-foot Christmas tree representing a tree of life in memory of loved ones helped raise £900 for Warwickshire Young Carers and while the tree was switched on by Amit Patel, managing director of Pharmacy To My Door, based in Shipston, the town’s mayor, Marianne Westwood lit up the Christmas lights in High Street.
“It was a fantastic turnout and it was all for free – no charge to go and see Santa either. It really was a coming together of the town,” said Tony Joint, treasurer of The Rotary Club of Shipston, who was in charge of organising the Victorian Evening. “We’re still totting up the money for the evening but so far this year Shipston Rotary has donated £18,000 to charities in the area and some of that was even raised during Covid.”
