Everybody! Come down to Penny’s Walk on Saturday 24th November from 1pm and see us. There are children’s rides and live entertainment all afternoon. Hot and cold drinks, food and stalls. All culminating in the switching on of the lights at 5pm by the Mayor Cllr Jean Read.
Your little ones can talk to Father Christmas and get a goody bag; and you get a photograph by a professional photographer. And all for £5. Santa will be there from 1pm until 4.45pm, and he gets busy so do come early. FREE entry to the market. All profits go to charity. I look forward to seeing you!
George Phillips Event Director
A big thank you to our sponsor Hearnes Estate Agents 3
Welcome one and all to Ferndown’s 2018 Christmas Lights Extravaganza! his year has seen changes at Ferndown Chamber: a new president, a new direction and many new plans for the future. We are ending the year on a high and look forward to an exciting 2019 for Ferndown. Over the years, Ferndown Chamber has always played a key role in the Christmas lights switch-on event and this year is no different. Working tirelessly with Ferndown Rotary Club, Ben Pulford and I have helped grow the event and each year it is getting bigger and better. This year we welcome back family favourites such as amusements, hot food, games and stalls, along with Ferndown Chamber’s ever-popular mulled wine, mince pies and raffle stall. We also have live music and we must
not forget our guest of honour Father Christmas who will be in his grotto. Raffle tickets for our now famous Christmas hampers go on sale from Xerocad Print Centre from 1st November 2018 and they will be available to buy on the day too. Don’t forget to get yours! I would like to take a moment to say a big thank you to the following: Ferndown Town Council who do an amazing job each year in organising all the street lights and Christmas tree lights; Townsend’s Amusements for supplying the rides and game stalls, and to all of the stallholders for helping to make the event great. So please add Saturday 24th November to your diary and come along to enjoy the festivities with us. Start the Christmas season in style! We look forward to seeing you there.
Stuart Fleetham
President of Ferndown Chamber of Commerce From all of us at Ferndown Chamber of Commerce, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and hope you have a fantastic New Year!
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Cllr Mrs Jean Read It’s hard to believe that it’s that time of year again to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. The town’s Christmas lights switch-on is certainly the highlight in my festive calendar and I am truly looking forward to turning on the Christmas Lights this year and launch Ferndown into the festive season. This all wouldn’t be possible without the financial contribution from Ferndown Town Council and the time and effort devoted by Ferndown Chamber of Commerce and Ferndown Rotary Club in organising what will be a great afternoon of festivities for the whole community. I’m looking forward to meeting as many people as possible on the day. This time of year always brings reflection upon the year gone by. When I look back at 2018, I can say it has been quite a year for Ferndown and for me it has been a privilege to serve as the Mayor of Ferndown for a second time. I am proud to say that Ferndown continues to be a great place to live and work and, all in all, I’ve been bowled over by the generosity, goodwill and commitment evident in our town. A few highlights for the town this year include Fete on the Field, which was bigger than ever with great entertainment, food stalls, the 5k and 10k runs (for the energetic amongst you!) and the unforgettable pram race. Thanks to all those involved who made it such a success. Other highlights include the success of the youth centre which has been so well utilised by the town’s young people, and also the outstanding GCSE and A Level results of students from Ferndown Upper School.
2019 is set to be another exciting year for the town with the continued improvements to the King George V Playing Fields which will see the planned upgrade to the children’s play area, the refurbishment to the tennis courts and the creation of a Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA). 2019 will also see the implementation of the Dorset Local Government Review with a new Dorset Council, and there will be a Local Election on 2 May 2019. Although next year will inevitably bring challenges, the town is in a strong position to meet these challenges and it will be the Council’s priority to ensure that the needs of Ferndown and its residents are met. As Mayor, I will continue to visit as many places and people as possible during the remainder of my term, to raise the profile of local charities and voluntary organisations, all of whom work tirelessly to help others and make individuals lives just that much better and brighter. Christmas is a magical time for many of us when we are surrounded by our loved ones. However, for some, it can be a very lonely and upsetting time of year. I would hope that we can all take time to think about those who are less fortunate than ourselves and lend a helping hand to any neighbour in need.
On behalf of the town councillors and staff at Ferndown Town Council, the Deputy Town Mayor and myself, I’d like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year.
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Christmas
Market and Amusements Come down the Christmas Market organised by the Ferndown Rotary CIO. There will be lots of stalls offering great Christmas gift ideas, food and drink. With also the possiblity of meeting some live animals for the children to interact with. Fun and games will be provided by our friends from Townsend's Amusements. They will be joining us again this year and providing the children’s rides, fairground games, candy floss, roasted chestnuts and much more.
A Christmas Craft Fair will also be held at the Barrington Centre from 10am-2pm.
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Luxury Hamper Raffle
Ferndown Chamber of Commerce will once again be holding their Christmas raffle to win a luxury hamper. There will be 3 prizes of giant hampers full of Christmas goodies to won - all in time for Christmas. Tickets are on sale now from Xerocad Print Centre or you can buy them on the day from the Chamber stall.
At ÂŁ1 a ticket it's well worth entering. 20
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e've had word from Santa's elves that he will be visiting Ferndown for our Christmas lights celebration. From 1pm-4.45pm. Come and meet him so you can let him know what you would like for Christmas.. Santa is really excited to meet you all so come early as he does get busy. He will have a small gift for everyone he sees and there will also be an opportunity to have your photo taken with him by Paradox Photography and printed by Ferndown Photographics.
A charge of ÂŁ5 per child is payable and includes the photograph and gift.
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ainment 2018 entert
Ferndown Concert Brass 2018 The present band was reformed in 1990 when a small group of players began to rehearse in a band members cellar, looking for larger premises the band moved to various halls and eventually its present location of Stapehill Village Hall, rehearsing every Tuesday evening at 7.30pm. The band has performed extensively in Ferndown and the wider Dorset area for many years and has often travelled to France and Germany in conjunction with the Twinning Associations.
The band play a wide selection of music from Traditional Brass Band to Pop, Musicals to Jazz and other Genres in between, this enables them to satisfy the musical tastes of most audiences. They are a small friendly noncontesting band and would always welcome new members, (a loan instrument may be available) so if you would like to join or engage the band, please contact Peter on 07802-686916
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ainment 2018 entert
Ferndown Upper School Choir
The Ferndown Upper School choir comprises of approximately 40 students aged 13-18 and is open equally to anyone attending the school. This current group has only been rehearsing together since September 2018. The Ferndown Upper School choir regularly performs for a number of school events, local performances and community events. Students rehearse weekly in addition to all their studies and have a large say in the performance repertoire of the group. Our main aim is for everyone to
enjoy the collective act of singing. We have been very luck over the past 3 years to be involved with the composition and performance of some innovative and exciting choral compositions with performances in Bournemouth and London. The choir is run by Ferndown Upper Schools Director of Music Mrs Sarah Clay and accompanied by A-level Music students. Both staff and students at Ferndown Upper School would like to take this opportunity to wish all in the community a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We hope you enjoy our performance!
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Poole Borough Band The official brass band of the borough of Poole, is available for concerts and events in Poole and the surrounding area. The band's repertoire spans from the newest movie soundtracks, to classic brass band and classical pieces. They perform at Christmas parties, summer fayres, formal
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concerts, and accompany singing groups. Poole Borough Band rehearse at the RNLI two nights a week and welcome new players. If you would like to hire, or join them, visit their website at www.pooleboroughband. co.uk or call 01202 427230, because any event is special in glorious brass!
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u o y k n a Th everyone
Ferndown Rotary CIO and the Ferndown Chamber of Commerce would like to thank all our volunteers who helped put together the Christmas Market and Lights 2018, and all the acts who performed.
With special thanks to:
The Ferndown Rotary CIO is pleased to support local, national and international charities, including: Lewis Manning JTYAF Cancer Research UK
Bournemouth Sea Cadets Foundation 1st Ferndown Scouts Stroke Club
Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance
Literacy in a box
RFUK
URC Ferndown
KGV Trust
Montacute School
Shelterbox
PramaLIFE
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SSAFA Bournemouth Brandon Care High Mead Farm Wateraid Barrington United Reform Church Youth Cancer Trust
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