With months of planning and scheduling behind the scenes the Aashton Town Team were all set to host their Christmas Lights Switch On for Saturday November 23rd. However, Storm Bert had other plans when heavy showers and over 40mph gusts started to hit the Northwest forcing the volunteers to cancel the actual switch on just over 24hours to the event itself.

Devastated that all their work would come to nothing the Town Team discussed a plan with Tameside’s Market Manager to see how feasible it would be to host their entertainment inside the Market Hall. It was aghreed the best area was the space alongside Bow Street inside the Market that had once hosted Baileys hardware stalls. So the plans swung into action for the Town Team to still have a Christmas event after all on that Saturday.

So on November 23rd Ashton Town Team maintained the majority of their stage entertainment in the relative comfort of Ashton Market Hall presented by Andy Hoyle. They welcomed Laurel & Hardy, singer Tom Stevenson, the talented youngsters from Blaze Street Dance Academy and vocalist Roger DeGenero who generously supported the evbent with his PA Equipment. Also visiting during the afternoon was Miss Endeavour Great Britain who was on hand to assist santa giving out gifts to a large group of children who recieved a selection box.

Ashton Town Team said “It wasn’t the event we planned but we were delighted to still proviode an afternoon of entertainment to town centre shoppers during the miserable weather that we faced that weekend. Our thanks to all our performers, especially Roger DeGenero, for braving the elements to still come to Ashton. Our sincere gratitude also goes to the team at Tameside Markets for hosting us at such short notice and the team at Lifeline Ambulance for keeping everyone safe.”

The other switch on event of the day, Mossley, also fell victim to the weather with the event reluctantly cancelled.

Images by Howard Murphy