PICTURE PERFECT . . . Annan Camera Club member Caroline Legg is presented with a framed copy of her Lights photograph by lights team secretary Don Barty. Caroline’s winning shot was taken on her Nikon D800 camera, with a long exposure and using a tripod
With only seven weeks to go until the switch-on of Annan’s Christmas lights on Friday December 1st, the all-volunteer organising team are pulling out all the stops to ensure that this year’s event is another resounding success.
The lights will be switched on by Annan’s Young Citizen of the Year, Poppy Graham, and it is hoped that organisations and clubs in the town will play their part too in making the lanterns and lights parade a bit special.
Secretary Don Barty outlined the plans for the parade.
He said: “We are really pleased to have a different mode of transport this year for Santa. That will be provided by Chariots of Fire, a local charity from Lockerbie.
“The Annan Riding of the Marches principals will be there, of course, and some surprise costume characters as well.
“We recently ran a workshop for the making of large lanterns and several youth groups and schools took part. We are grateful to Iain Graham of Annan Boys Brigade for passing on his expertise. There will also be another workshop in November for smaller lanterns.
“But we want to include lights this year as well and would encourage groups and organisations to think of ways that they can join in the parade and highlight their group with creative lights ideas. Anything which makes the parade lighter and brighter will add to the enjoyment of the evening.”
He added: “After the switch-on there will once again be a Christmas craft fair at Annan Academy and Santa will be there to distribute a free gift to children.”
- THE ANNAN Christmas Lights team have once again produced calendars and Christmas cards with a distinctly local flavour.
After running a competition for calendar entries, the ‘Around Annan 2018’ shows a range of local scenes and the cover photograph was taken by Andrew Taylor from Eastriggs.
The two Christmas cards are on Annan High Street contrasting the old with the new.
Caroline Legg’s photo of the Annan lights is original and, for nostalgia lovers, there is an evocative reproduction of an old Annan postcard showing the snow-covered High Street around 1900.
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