The team at David Mellor Family Jewellers have their work cut out today.
They will be choosing the winner of this year’s Christmas Star competition. The winner will be asked to switch on Andover’s Christmas Lights next Friday (15th November 2019).
David Mellor Family Jewellers which has been trading for almost 45 years are this year’s event title sponsors. The business is now run by two generations of the family with stores in Andover, Eastleigh and Totton.
Local radio station 95.9FM Andover Radio asked schools and young people aged 11 and under to write a festive poem and this year there have been more submissions than ever before.
Almost 150 unique poems have been received this year and the team at Andover’s leading jewellery store will be making their choice before the end of school tomorrow.
“We love supporting all the great things that happen in town”, says Amy Mellor. “And this event is the greatest.
“It might be a late night tonight but we’re going to enjoy reading through all these excellent and colourful entries”.
The winner will have their poem recorded and turned into a video which will be played on the big screen at the lights switch on show, which is always ‘the greatest show in town’.
This year the event starts at 5:00pm in the high street – road closures will be in place – and the lights will be switched on followed by fireworks at 7.35pm.
The 2019 event is hosted by Luke Shearer from popular local band Funkline and Andover Radio’s rising star Luis Wyatt who recently graduated from Winton Academy to study at the Global Academy.
There are have been lots of entries from schools like Portway Juniors and Wellington Primary as well as a good number of individual entries.
David Harber from Andover Radio adds, “Because of the sheer volume and quality of entries we have had tis year, our DJ’s will also be choosing one poem each which will be recorded and broadcast during the day on Saturday 16th November”.
The event, as ever, features the best of Andover’s talent on stage. Organisers yesterday announced the full event running order:
5.00pm – Event starts
5.10pm – Portway Glee Club
5.20pm – Andover College
5.40pm – Stagecoach
5.55pm – Marie Ponting
6.10pm – Long Overdue Theatre
6.30pm – Steph Boulton
6.50pm – Andover Rock Choir
7.05pm – Rosie Merritt
7.20pm – Father Christmas
7.30pm – Switch on of Christmas Lights
7.35pm – Firework Display
To keep up to date on the event tune to 95.9FM Andover Radio or follow Love Andover on Facebook.
