History

At 7:30PM on Friday 2nd December 1960 Earl Beatty of Chichley gave the command that would start the big switch on of Newport Pagnell's first Christmas illuminations. The illuminations were the idea of a number of local traders Including;

	Bob Leath of Summeries Stores (now the piano workshop)
	Bill Hunt of the Co-Op.

Now in 2001 we are approaching our 41st illumination and although the strings and features occupy a similar position now as they did in 1960 a great many things have changed.


The original invitation	The original scheme Photo taken from Canon Corner looking towards the Health Centre	Surveyors Letter

In 1960 the strings were paid for and erected by many of the store keepers and traders in Newport Pagnell in a very short time in deed, possibly less than 1 month as the original surveyors permission shows, whereas these days we only have a small team of volunteers who erect the lights over a three month period in the run up to Switch on Day in which is always traditionally the last Saturday in November - This year being 30th November 2002. Back then the lights were switched on manually by a member of the lights team stationed at the switch for each of the strings, today the lights are controlled automatically by a micro controller which controls the timing and sequencing of the light display. The switch on day itself is also very similar although the position of the street market and the switch on location have moved from Market Hill in front of the Dolphin public house to its current location at the top end of the high street in front of the Swan Revived Hotel.