This evening the Prime Minister will join NHS workers, military
personnel and members of the police to switch on the Downing
Street Christmas lights (Monday 2 December).
Public sector workers have been invited to Number 10 to celebrate
the countdown to Christmas ahead of the festive period.
Guests will enjoy mince pies and hot chocolate. They will then
hear carols sung – O Little Town of Bethlehem and Come All Ye
Faithful - by the NHS Choir from Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust
who have performed before at Glastonbury Festival and the FA Cup
Final at Wembley Stadium.
Prime Minister said:
“I am delighted to be joined by public sector workers at Downing
Street as the countdown to Christmas begins.
“From firefighters, NHS staff, hospitality workers, police
officers and our armed forces, it is important to remember those
who are away from their families keep the country running through
the festive period. On behalf of the whole country, we thank
you.”
The Prime Minister and Mrs Starmer will then switch on the
lights, before inviting guests for a reception inside 10 Downing
Street where a military woodwind quintet will play Christmas
music.
PO Kieran Glynn, Coxswain on HMS Tyne said:
“I grew up in a small mining town in East Lothian, Scotland and
would never have imagined I'd be standing outside 10 Downing
Street to see the Christmas lights turned on as a serving member
of the Royal Navy with my family.
“As a serving member of the military you don't stop at Christmas.
I'm very grateful to my wife for looking after my four sons when
I've been deployed over the festive period before, so it means
the world that we will all be able to celebrate the start of
Christmas together in Downing Street”.
Every year, members from the British Christmas Tree Growers
Association (BCTGA) run a competition to select the Christmas
tree and wreath which showcases the finest dedication,
craftsmanship and commitment of British Christmas tree
growers.
The winners have their tree sit outside 10 Downing Street and the
wreath which rests on Number 10's famous black
door.
This year's Champion Christmas Tree Grower of the Year was won by
Evergreen Christmas Trees – a family run business based on the
Welsh border who have been growing Christmas trees since 1992.
Outside Number 10 this evening the Prime Minister will swich on
the lights of their Nordmann Fir.
Stephen Reynolds, the founder of Evergreen Christmas
Trees said:
“We've entered the British Christmas Tree Growers Association
every year and are delighted to have won it this year for the
first time in our history. We won with a Nordmann Fir that we
have been growing on our farm for at least ten years.
“Supplying the tree that will stand out Number 10 is a tremendous
honour. We have taken plenty of time to make sure the tree is the
right one, especially knowing it will be seen and admired by so
many people."
Cadeby Tree Trust from Warwickshire are the runner up of this
year's Champion Christmas Tree Grower of the Year and have
supplied two Christmas trees which will sit inside Downing
Street.
The wreath on Downing Street's famous black door was provided by
Santa Trees, a Christmas tree farm from Cornwall, who are this
year's Champion Festive Wreath Winner. Ivor and Margaret Dungey,
and their daughter Helen hand make their wreaths using foliage
freshly cut from their farm. This is the second time Santa Tress
have received the Champion Festive Wreath award, and this year's
winning contribution is made from their own grown Noble Fir and
is decorated in the traditional Christmas colours of red and
gold.
