It has been an exciting year for Beverley-born TV star, Ben Shires.
As the host of CBBC’s BAFTA Nominated Officially Amazing, Ben has travelled the globe in search of record breakers, he has taken to the stage with Prince William, Prince Harry and the Duchess of Cambridge to present the BAFTA’s Charity Forum event last month and he also took part in the CBBC Digital event at Hull City Hall.
Now things are looking even brighter for the TV presenter, literally, as he will be doing the honours of switching on the Beverley Christmas Lights at an event later this month.
Ben says – “I am hugely excited to turn on the Beverley Christmas Lights this year. I have missed the big switch-on due to work commitments over previous years but I always get reports from my parents who tell me the lights and the event gets bigger and better every year, so I’ve a lot to live up to.”
The newly opened Flemingate shopping development is participating in the Beverley switch-on with and Ben and the Mayor of Beverley, Peter Astell arriving at 2.15pm to light up their tree.
A procession will arrive in Wednesday Market at 3.00pm where Ben will present the winners of the Beverley Christmas Lights Appeal Group’s school Christmas colouring competition, accompanied by Christmas carols and prior to lighting the QualitySolicitors Lockings cone tree at 3.30pm.
Led by the Beverley Pipe Band, the procession will progress to where Toll Gavel and Butcher Row meet to switch on the lights of a brand new cone tree which has been funded by the Beverley Christmas Lights Appeal Group before heading into Saturday Market Place for Ben to switch on the peripheral Christmas lights around the square. The final ceremony takes place at the Market Cross at 4.15pm where the mayor will switch on the lights of the Beverley Lions’s tree.
Ben says – “Beverley has changed so much since I first left home. I used to work in the town when I was at college and loved the atmosphere over Christmas but the lights always left a lot to be desired. Now it is great to see the different groups working together for the good of the town and its traders to make sure Beverley lights up during the festive period.”
“I’m excited to be seeing the new Flemingate development on the day for the first time and it’s a huge honour to be asked to turn on the lights throughout the town. I’ve actually been practicing for this all of my life – when I was growing up, my Dad was always telling me to turn the lights off and in a twist of fate, he and my Mum are going to be turning out, with what I hope is a huge crowd, to watch me turn them on.”
The switch on event takes place on Sunday 29 November.
