CHRISTMAS LIGHTS

 

The Christmas lights in Aberdeen were switched on in Aberdeen last Friday. The start of the function was delayed by over an hour, and the excited children became rather restless during the entertainment programme.

Items of enterainment included enthusiastic dancers, choirs and a most interesting fashion show. The mayor of Camdeboo, cllr Hanna Makoba, arrived with Father Christmas, to a tumultuous welcome. By this stage the children’s behaviour had become uncontrollable, despite several attempts by members of the ward committee present to quieten them down.

For this programme to be  an unqualified success in future, perhaps the organizers need to look again at the practicalities of having hundreds of unaccompanied overexcited children, many of whom had arrived well before the event was due to start, being expected to sit through over an hour of entertainment that was more suitable for adults. Children openly heckled performers from other schools, and by their sheer numbers, proved impossible to control. More planning was also needed to ensure that the performers were ready at their allotted time, so that the programme could flow smoothly. Perhaps one or two of the performers should also have been auditioned beforehand, and the weaker groups limited to one song or dance. It appeared that only a few of the ward committee members were actively involved, and several of these are teachers, who are under tremendous pressure already at this time of year.

There is so much talent in Aberdeen, and excellent organizational skills available from members of the ward committee, as seen at other functions, that it is a pity that the behaviour of the children and some adults who were the worse for drink could spoil what should be a festive occasion for all the residents.

The harmonious choir from Luxolo

The Troublemakers dance group

Father Christmas with the Mayor

Father Christmas handing over bags of sweets to the excited children