TV stars to switch on Christmas lights

The school summer holidays have just begun and the forecasters say there may be a change in the weather and sunshine may be on the way.

So it's just the right time to begin thinking about... Christmas!

Even if you're not quite getting into a festive mood, Boston BID and Boston Borough Council are.

Plans for this year's Christmas lights switch-on and the Christmas Market are already well advanced.

Thanks to a chance meeting on a train back from London, stars from ITV's Emmerdale soap are to officially switch on the town's Christmas lights this year.

Boston BID chairman, Alan Ellis, and his wife, Moira, who run Harmony Music in West Street, were travelling home on the Leeds train from London, where they had been to see the musical Rock of Ages, when they shared a carriage with actress Fiona Wade, who plays Priya Sharma in Emmerdale.

Moira said: "I recognised her because I love Emmerdale, but I didn't want to bother her by saying anything. But she chatted away to us for ages and in the end I told her that I recognised her from Emmerdale.

"She was really lovely and chatted to us all the way to Peterborough where we got off.

"Just before we left her I asked if she made personal appearances and gave her our card. She said she would have to check with the Emmerdale producers.

"Then, just as we thought we'd never hear from her again, she sent a text to say she could switch on Boston's Christmas lights, and would bring her Emmerdale dad with her."

Actor Bhasker Patel plays Rishi Sharma in the series, father of the two brothers who run the village's chocolate factory.

They will switch on the Christmas lights at 7pm on Friday, November 30, signalling the start of the festive season.

Other events in the planning stage include a craft market, a children's carol concert and procession with a band, a Polish choir in traditional dress, a staged performance area, fairground rides, a professional Vanessa May-style violinist with piano accompaniment, internationally-acclaimed circus performers and multi-cultural festive food and drink spread across the lights switch-on evening and the Christmas Market weekend, Saturday and Sunday, December 1 and 2..

Activities are planned to take in the Market Place, West Street and the coach park.

Mr Ellis said: "We want to really put Boston on the Christmas map and make these events which include all in our communities. We've made a good start."

Community groups and anyone interested in having a stall for quality craft products, both with a Christmas focus, on the Friday and the Sunday should contact Mr Ellis on 01205 355366.