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A RIGHT SOAKING!
The late-night shopping evening got off to a lively start with kids enjoying the rides in the Square and the Bazaar in the Town Hall packed to the rafters. Shops that had stayed open seemed to be getting lots of visitors. An absolutely superb performance on the Town Hall steps by the Primary Schools Choir of a specially commissioned carol "Light" was much enjoyed and loudly applauded. The Mayor's light procession departed from the Town Hall - wending its way down to the Common to see the magical cones (hmm). It was amazing just how many people were out on such a miserable evening. But at that point the heavens opened. Windswept families - drenched to the skin gamely braved the storm to see the light show and then fought their way back up New Street through the rivers of rainwater to the cover of the Co-Op arcade and the Town Hall where a huge collection of stalls were open for business. The pubs were doing a brisk trade. Wet and bedraggled I was nearly back at the top of New Street when somebody kindly invited me to a free coffee in a nearby cafe. "Thanks all the same" I said " but I'm nearly home now. I need to dry out. I'll take a raincheck"

(Pictures by The Webmaster and Jim Crease)