Maidenhead & Windsor

Maidenhead Town Partnership has welcomed the news that ever-popular artist and entertainer Rolf Harris will be switching on the town’s Christmas lights this year.

Maidenhead’s festive celebrations start on Friday November 23 at the Boy and the Boat statue, High Street. Rolf will start the countdown to the switch-on of the new £120,000 illuminations at 6pm. Also sharing the spotlight will be a local school who will be on stage at the start of the evening from 5.30pm. Following the lights switch-on, there will be a performance by headline act The Velvet Hearts, Europe’s most subscribed band on YouTube.

Cllr David Burbage, town partnership chairman, said: “We are absolutely delighted that Rolf Harris will be switching on the 2007 Christmas lights. It is fitting to have a huge household name for this big event in the town’s calendar and we thank him for setting aside the time to give our festivities such a great start.”

Jane Wright, vice-chairman of the partnership and member of Maidenhead Christmas Lights Committee, said: “We are delighted that Maidenhead will enjoy new Christmas lights this year and look forward to joining Rolf Harris when he launches the Christmas season on Friday November 23.”

The new state-of-the-art LED lights, which use less power and will last longer than their predecessors, replace all those used throughout the town in recent years. In addition, new lights have been added along Market Street to link to Sainsbury’s.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead