Melksham lights up for Christmas, in a 70-year-old tradition

THOUSANDS of people gathered in the Market Place on Saturday to watch the spectacle of the switching on of the town’s Christmas lights – this year marking the 70th anniversary of the town’s first Christmas tree, in 1953. This year, the town’s digital Christmas tree had a surprising starring role, speaking to the crowds.

The Market Place was packed for the big switch-on of the lights and spectacular fireworks on a bitterly cold night and people from around the world also watched as Melksham News live-streamed the event. 

Over 60 stalls were in the Market Place and Assembly Hall selling festive crafts, produce, gifts and cards, plus face painting, stilt walkers, fairground rides and a special appearance from Frozen star, Olaf. 

Father Christmas arrived on his sleigh and there was a special Santa’s Grotto with storytime-themed sessions throughout the day, presented by Melksham Carnival Team.  

Mayor of Melksham, cllr Simon Crundell said, “It was wonderful to be able to attend and see so many Melksham residents enjoying the Christmas lights switch on over the weekend. As we have come to expect, the lights switch on and Christmas Fair has once again stepped up another level in both scale and brilliance. It is all the more poignant this year, as we mark 70 years of having a Christmas tree in Melksham’s Market Place. I would like to thank all those who make this event such a special event every year.” 

Entertainment to keep the crowds warm was by local acts including: The Sunnies, Red, Plan of Action, Bell’s Angels, In 2 Dance and Melksham School of Dance. There was also entertainment in the Melksham Assembly Hall with an Avon Bowls Club sing-a-long and performances by Melksham Rock ‘n’ Roll, Melksham Music and Drama and vocalist, Hannha Glencross. Andy Baker was MC and DJ all day. 

Today, Melksham is renowned for its Christmas lights display, which are put up around the town by dedicated volunteers, the Melksham Christmas Lights Group.  

However, Melksham’s Christmas spectacular hasn’t always been this way, and back in 1953, newspaper reports show that Melksham was one of the last towns in the area to get a town Christmas tree.  

When the first town Christmas tree was illuminated in 1953, there was singing by Melksham Male Voice Choir and then local church choirs would sing around the tree each day until Christmas Eve. A collection box was set up under the tree for people to donate toys and money, which was donated to the charity Dr Barnardo’s, Sampford Place boys’ home (now Blenheim House Care Home) and elderly people in need. 

Len Bealing, who today continues to be a volunteer for the Melksham Christmas Lights Group, recalls seeing the town’s first Christmas tree. He said, “I was here in 1953 and I remember the first tree going in, I was about 18 or 19 years old. The first tree was a non-event. It was put up and there was a very small crowd. Travelling was difficult in those days for lots of people to come and watch the lights of the tree being turned on.” 

In a break with tradition, last year the Melksham Christmas Lights Group introduced a new custom-made digital ‘interactive’ Christmas tree for the town, which stands at over 10 metres tall. The group said that the decision was made due to the increasing difficulty in sourcing a large Christmas tree, with soaring costs, and its impact on the environment. 

Paul Weymouth, who leads the Christmas Lights Group said, “The Christmas trees originally always came from Longleat Forest and then Longleat stopped doing it because they didn’t have the supply. We then got one from somewhere near Scotland. You can’t get a large tree without travelling a long way, or without paying a significant amount of money.” 

The town’s Christmas Lights Group, who also won Melksham News’s Group of the Year this year, deliver a dazzling display around the town centre and this year was no exception, drawing in thousands to watch the lights being turned on at the town’s annual Christmas Fair. 

Len said, “I joined the group in 1977 when the tree and lights were done by Chamber of Commerce. The light switch on started from a small event and then gradually built up. I am 84 and still doing the Christmas lights now. It’s been a lifetime of Christmas in Melksham!”