Christmas Light Switch On – 2024 – What a Night!

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So fabulous that Santa, his reindeers and helpers (Elf, Snowman and Reindeer) were greeted by so many people as the lights were turned on for Christmas 2024 on Saturday, 30th November.  The Village Hall (inside and out) was turned into a Christmas Wonderland, tinsel and bunting (from our lovely Craft Club) and the stage and Christmas tree was adorned with an array of donated raffle prizes – a perfect start to the Christmas season.   

Thanks to your incredible support, we raised an astounding total of over £2,000 through raffle ticket sales and generous donations – Every penny of which will be shared between Dover Outreach and Ami Modi’s Shree Sava Foundation. Hats off to St Margaret’s Primary school for selling £222 of tickets in advance and even donating a lost £20.

Judith Shilling (chair of trustees) and our own VJ spoke passionately about their respective charities and a slide show ran continuously showing their good works. Judith kindly drew the raffle at the end of the evening. 

DJ Kentastic started the celebrations with a spectacular family disco with lots of games and dancing before everyone headed outside to listen to some amazing singing by our village choir, whilst having the opportunity to get up close and personal with a police car courtesy of the Dover Community Support Unit!  The blue flashing lights added to the festivities.  

We hope everyone enjoyed mulled wine and mince pies outside as you waited for the arrival of Santa.   Following Santa, inside a hot meal was served and everyone took time to relax and have a bite to eat whilst The St Margaret’s Players entertained us with an array of Christmas songs.

What an amazing spread of delicious food, curry, rice, chicken stew, burgers and hotdogs, we had on offer all donated by Chef-de-Mumbai, The Coastguard and The Village Shop, expertly served by our amazing volunteer team.

Nothing went to waste! Any leftover food was packaged and delivered to Dover Outreach which includes the Night Shelters.

Our community really shone through and without YOU the event would not be worthwhile.  We are so fortunate to live in such a place! We also reunited a child with his missing polar bear, and one poor mother discovered her child is a budding pianist when he wandered onto the stage to tickle the ivories and left her alone causing a mild panic! 

The event is not possible without our exceptional volunteers – a massive thank you to all of you!  We are attempting the impossible now – recalling everyone involved. If we’ve missed someone, please let us know, and we’ll ensure they’re rightly recognised!

  • Mulled Wine donated by Nikki & Barry Fulford with Heidi & Paul Mitchell, Sue Head & Tracey Wickham helping on the day

  • Carols sung beautifully by our amazing Village Choir

  • Christmas Songs – St Margaret’s Players

  • Sound System and skills provided by Hayden Smith

  • First Aid by Clive Harding

  • Team Raffle – Amber Smith, Sophia Muir, Jim & Sue Rayner, Richard & Jane Phillips, Anne Wheeler,  Sandy Liggins, Penny Bailey, Aunty Gill and Anna Newton.

  • Team Car Park Lights – donated by Terry Gilham with set up support by son Tom

  • Scouts – who let us their use their hut for raffle folding or just for a quiet sit down

  • Raffle Prizes donated by The Village Shop, Smugglers, Coastguard, St Margaret’s Holistic Therapies, The Pines Tearoom, FirstLight, Bluebirds Café, St Margaret’s Holiday Park, Salon Beau, St Margaret’s Cosmopolitan Cricket Club, Dave Pilcher, Chef du Mumbai, Dover Leisure Centre, Christine Waterman and Lisa Smith

  • Food provided by Chef-de-Mumbai, The Coastguard and The Village Shop

  • Cooked / Served by Jani & Atharv from Chef de Mumbai, Kelly from The Coastguard, Tejal, VJ, Ashish, Rakesh, Komal, Kunal, Rignesh, Vishal, Vijay, Akash, Nirav, Vasu, Barry Fulford, Harry and Diane Lowe, John Martin, Lynne & Jim Harrison, Courtney Birtwell, Jake Claringbould, and Mark Checksfield 

  • Additional Sponsors: John Orchard, Shelagh Vines and Marshall & Clarke

  • Nursery / Safeguarding Team – Laura Cory, Stacey Mills, Scarlet Clarke. Kirsten Ashby, Tracey Purchase, Becky Baker Hollis and Jade Hayes   

  • Family Disco – the one and only – fantastic DJ Kentastic

  • Father Christmas St Margaret’s On Location Team – Mick & Mel Luckhurst, David & George Simcox, Chris Little, Jensen Smith and Spencer Connelly

  • The Owl House Stables – Ponies Cindy & Lacy carefully led by Gracie, Harriet, Bev & Michelle

  • Village Hall venue – The Village Hall Committee

  • Marshalls – Phil Head, Daryl Wickham and Brian Pearce

  • Dover Community Safety Unit – PC Sophie Bramble, her two colleagues and a rather smart police car.

  • Village Christmas Decorations – Dave Hart, Ross Purchase, Phil Holyer, Lisa & Hayden Smith, Dave Hall, Micheal Lyons and Ashley Claringbould

  • Chief Photographer – Phil Holyer 

  • The Spirit of St Margaret’s volunteers – for decorating the boat on the turning circle

  • The Craft Club – not only for the wonderful bunting around the hall but also the post box topper 

  • Organising and running round in pink high viz jackets on the day – The Parish Council 

Thank you to everyone who joined us, contributing to an amazing atmosphere