Lighting up the market…
BY NEWS REPORTER
shuz@slpmedia.co.uk
Schoolchildren created special lanterns with a festive food theme which were the highlight of the turning on of the Christmas lights in a town centre.
Pupils from Invicta, Meridian, St Matthews and James Wolfe Primary Schools were invited by Greenwich estate owner, Greenwich Hospital, to build the lanterns for the Greenwich lantern parade procession on November 22.
Art group Arty Party worked with the children in school to create the lanterns from tissue paper and wire displaying the traditional Christmas dinner in all its glory – a massive turkey, pigs in blankets, Brussels sprouts, carrots, knives , forks and candelabra, Christmas puddings, gingerbread men, a Christmas cake and crackers.
The Greenwich Lantern Procession and Lights On is the yearly start to the festive season in Greenwich and celebrates local creativity and the community – bringing together children, teachers, parents, arts and craft stalls, the local pantomime, Trinity Laban Music Conservatoire and local business people.
The procession started at the ORNC, and was led by a jazz band from Trinity Laban with the Mayor of Greenwich, moved up to the Painted Hall, round the town centre and into the market where the countdown, masterminded by actor Stewart Wright and local pantomime characters from Cinderella, could be heard all around the town. After the lights were turned on, the audience was treated to a ballet and street dance performance by dance group Angélina Jandolo and festive jazz music by Tunnel Chops, the student group from Trinity Laban.
Gillie Bexson, from Greenwich Hospital, said: “The lantern parade is a real celebration of local creativity – and it is very special to see the community come together for this event.
“This year’s lanterns were very beautiful and we had a record turnout as well as more lanterns than ever before. Greenwich Market looked beautiful when the lights went on, just as London’s finest arts and crafts market should.”
PHOTOS: JACQUI HAWKING