Acocks Green’s Christmas Lights were switched on this evening by Ray Newton. There was a good attendance with children from local schools, their parents and many others coming along. The weather played its part with the rain just holding off until after the switch on and no-one seemed to mind the delay between the finish of the countdown and the lights actually coming on! Well done to Melinda Brown, our Town Centre Manager, Rev Vicki Atkinson, Dave Swingle and everyone else who helped to make it happen.

It was good to honour Ray’s tremendous contribution to the community in this way. Ray has been an active member of several local groups for many years. He has been a driver for the local Luncheon Club and played a key role in making the Acocks Green Carnival happen this year, being on site at 4am to supervise the putting up the marquees and then organising the street procession, making sure everyone who took part were safe. Its the Ray’s of this world that make communities work and its good to be able to show our appreciation for his efforts.