Community spirit comes to Waterlooville at Christmas lights spectacle

IT was a Christmas celebration with a difference because for the organisers of Waterlooville town centre's festive gathering, it was also about uniting new families and drumming up some community spirit.
Santa and Deputy Mayor Elaine Shimbart start the countdown for the lights to be switched on                     Picture: Habibur RahmanSanta and Deputy Mayor Elaine Shimbart start the countdown for the lights to be switched on                     Picture: Habibur Rahman
Santa and Deputy Mayor Elaine Shimbart start the countdown for the lights to be switched on Picture: Habibur Rahman

A whole range of activities were laid on for guests who thronged the precinct at the weekend.

The street was aglow as children paraded through the high street with lanterns they had made especially for the occasion.

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Mark Read, of boy band A1, performed before helping to turn on the Christmas lights.

A fair, face-painting, hog roast, craft market, ‘swing sling’ dancing in the precinct and a ‘Fit n Funky’ dancing performance helped to bring the magic to life.

Jackie Buckley, chairwoman of Waterlooville Community Forum events team, said: ‘It’s a real community celebration and the community have pulled together to do this, and so have the businesses which have contributed to the cost of the installation of the lights.

‘We have had so much new build in Waterlooville - community spirit has been lost. So what we are doing is bringing people together and bringing a sense of pride in the town centre.’

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Talented young musicians from Ready to Rock School also performed Christmas songs with a rock twist.

Steph Fleet, of family run dance and fitness group Fit N Funky, said: ‘We are all local people and this is very much a community thing for us.’