Ilkeston - What The Dickens!
w/e 30 November 2014
All this week's pictures were taken
with a Fuji FinePix L50
 The illuminated
facade of Dalby House (left) stood out like a beacon in the night
sky as droves of people made their way to the Erewash Museum
on Friday night and the uninitiated may well have asked "What
the Dickens is happening?" or more probably used fruitier
language to phrase the same question. The answer  whichever way the question was asked would
have been "It's a Dickensian Christmas event" which
was held in conjunction with the switching on ceremony of Ilkeston's
Christmas lights.
In the old kitchen at the museum, a table was filled with tempting
festive food (right) and a cook dressed in Victorian costume
was allowing youngsters to stir the Christmas pudding mix before
asking them to make a wish.
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There were more people in costume outside and these two were
depicting Bill Sykes and Nancy from Charles Dickens' "Oliver
Twist".
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We left the museum to the sound of more costumed characters who
were singing Christmas carols.
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Making our way to the Market Place we encountered three stilt
walkers who were part of the entertainment on offer. There was
also a juggler and a number of fairground rides to keep the assembled
crown entertained throughout the event.
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The Lower Market Place was full of charity stalls where numerous
goods were on sale and games available to play all with the intention
of raising funds for local charities.
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As we neared the Town Hall there was a pen containing two reindeer
and their handlers. While we were there it was a case of heads
and tails but if the reindeer were there, then Santa must be
close by.
(The rear view of one of the reindeer also brought to mind
Mike Harding's amusing tale "You Can See The Angel's Bum, Miss Worswick!")
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Not long after, Santa actually appeared on the Town Hall balcony
but soon came down to switch on the Christmas lights as the bells
at St Mary's struck seven o'clock.
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The switching on of the lights also signalled the start of a
firework display emanating from the roof of the Town Hall.
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As the noise of the fireworks died down, Ronnie and the Rockits
took their places to continue the entertainment with a selection
of music playing songs mainly from the 1960s.
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As the music played parents queued with their children to visit
another clone of the man in red sitting in "Santa's Cabin".
I always wonder if the children ever find it confusing to have
two "Santas" in close proximity but judging by the
length of the queue I don't suppose they are that bothered especially
if he makes another visit to their homes on the night of December
24th/25th!
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