Llandaff High Street lit up with Christmas spirit in biting cold weather with help from local Assembly member Rhodri Morgan.
Above the shops along the High Street, small Christmas trees adorned with lights waited for the former First Minister to flick his first Christmas switch. Rhodri joined in the festive carols, singing along to favourites such as Silent Night and We wish you a merry Christmas.
Watch Rhodri turn on the Llandaff lights:
Llandaff lights up from Llandaff News on Vimeo.
From 7 pm as police shut off the High Street from traffic, people emerged from houses, restaurants and pubs to sing along with the Cathedral School brass band and the Oriana women’s choir.
The crowd of roughly 100-plus people – and a few pets — gathered around 17 High Street. This address is home to Katie and John Palmer, along with their children Morgan, 5, and Luke, 2, who opened their doors to friends and a few strangers for a glass of mulled wine.
See who was out and about:
As 7:20 pm neared, more people came out into the cold for a sing song until Llandaff Society chairman Geoffrey Barton-Greenwood took to the microphone to introduce Rhodri.
Rhodri revealed that in his long public service career, this was the first opportunity he’s had to turn on Christmas lights. Then Tracey Enright, the manager at the Llandaff Surgery and organiser of the switch on, leaned in to prompt the countdown.
After the lights came on, Geoffrey thanked a long list of people, groups and businesses for their support, giving credit to the Llandaff “coalition”.
“The whole point is to revive the trade here in and encourage a sense of community spirit,” Oriana singer and Chapel Street resident Pauline Granger said after the festivities.
Watch Pauline talk about her take on the night:
Pauline Granger talks about the Llandaff Christmas switch on from Llandaff News on Vimeo.
Italian restaurant and wine bar Kalla Bella passed out cups of free hot chocolate, while K2 Coffee House served up mince pies and mulled wine. The private members club, the Llandaff Institute, opened its doors for the evening, treating guests to roasted chestnuts and sausages.
Father Christmas even landed on the High Street, pulling out sticks of sweet treats from his bag. Some children devoured the sugar while others used the sticks for faux sword battles.
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