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History
of Regent Street Christmas Lights
The Regent Street Christmas
lights are one of London’s
major tourist attractions. They
are renowned worldwide and create
much press attention attracting
huge numbers of visitors each
year.
The Association
was prompted to organise Christmas
lights after an article in the
Daily Telegraph in 1954, commented
on how drab London looked during
Christmas.
The initial
design was lanterns on the facades
of the buildings and over the
years the designs have become
more elaborate and sophisticated.
There were
Lights in Regent Street from
1954 to 1971 and then, owing
to the economic climate and
escalating costs, there was
a gap of seven years. In 1978
the Lights were re-instated.
The Lights
are financed by the retailers
in the street and sometimes
specific sponsors including
American Express, Thorn Lighting,
British Airways, National Power,
The Disney Store and Cameron
Mackintosh. The costs are considerable
ranging from £75,000 to
£450,000 depending on
the design.
THE
SWITCH ON OF THE REGENT STREET
CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
The switching-on ceremony is a
memorable occasion. The personalities
who have turned the lights on
in the past are:
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| 2003 |
Daniel
Bedingfield rocks Regent
Street
shoppers packed Regent
Street to see million-selling
singer Daniel Bedingfield
switch on the Christmas
lights and perform a free
live concert in aid of BBC
Children in Need. |
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2002
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WILL
YOUNG LIGHTS UP REGENT STREET
FOR CHRISTMAS
An estimated 10,000 shoppers
packed Regent Street to
see Will Young switch on
this year's Christmas lights
and perform a free live
concert in aid of BBC Children
in Need. |
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2001
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DAZZLING
PINK AND WHITE LIGHTS
Russell Watson, the famous
tenor, switched on the lights
from a stage in the centre
of Regent Street after a
magnificent live performance.
Speakers on every balcony
enabled the whole of Regent
Street to hear his amazing
voice. Once again Regent
Street was closed to traffic |
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| 2000 |
ALL
WHITE LIGHTS DEPICTING CASCADING
WATERFALLS
AND STARS.
The lights were switched
on by Billie Piper with
the help of Ken Livingstone
from the balcony at Austin
Reed. Regent Street was
closed to traffic and giant
video screens; demonstrations
from Caterpillar and the
Sargent Cancer Care for
Children’s choir entertained
the crowds. |
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| 1999 |
ALL
WHITE LIGHTS DEPICTING CASCADING
WATERFALLS AND STARS
was the theme for this year.
The lights were switched
on by David Ginola, Footballer
of the Year, accompanied
by girl band Loose Chippin’s
who also gave a live performance
in Regent Street.
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| 1998 |
ORANGE
CHRISTMAS TREES decorated
Regent Street sponsored by BRITVIC
TANGO. All Saints, the girl band
turned then on from Dickins &
Jones |
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| 1997 |
| FLASHING
CROWNS WITH STARS and YVES
SAINT LAURENT was
the sponsor. World famous
jockey, Frankie Dettori
rode in to switch the lights
on at Hamleys
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| 1998 |
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FLASHING
CROWNS WITH STARS
for the first time ever
the Prime Minister, John
Major, switched on the
lights from Aquascutum
with the help of Barbara
Windsor and Steve McFadden
from the cast of Eastenders.
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| 1995
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FLASHING
CROWNS WITH STARS
With a Pantomime theme, Leslie
Joseph, Rolf Harris, Britt Ekland
and Lionel Blair, together with
the winners of the Prince and
Princess Regent competition, switched
on the lights from the balcony
of Austin Reed on November 14th.
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| 1994
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CELEBRATION
OF WEST END MUSICALS
Jonathan Pryce and some of the
cast of Oliver switched on the
lights from the balcony Liberty
on November 14th.
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| 1993
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ALADDIN
BY VANTAGE DESIGN
Sylvester Stallone pulled the
switch on November 12th from The
Disney Store. |
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| 1992
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MUSICAL
SCHEME
Sir Anthony Hopkins switched on
the lights from Waterford Wedgwood
on November 14th. |
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| 1991
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ILLUMINATED
BANNERS DESIGNED BY CAMBERWELL
COLLEGE OF ART
The students of Camberwell College
of Art hand-painted the banners
that graced the street and pulled
the switch outside Burberrys on
November 14th. |
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| 1990
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CLOWNS
JUGGLING BY VANTAGE DESIGN
The footballer of the year, ‘Gazza’,
switched on the lights from the
balcony of Liberty on November
7th. |
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| 1989
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REAL
CHRISTMAS TREES
Pop Star Kylie Minogue switched
on the lights from the balcony
of British Airways. |
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| 1988
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IMAGINATION
CHANDELIERS
The mega star from Australia,
the one and only Dame Edna, pulled
the switch on the balcony of Mappin
& Webb on November 7th.
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| 1987 |
TEDDY
BEARS DESIGNED BY THE CONRAN GROUP
HRH Prince Edward switched on
the Christmas lights from the
newly refurbished Jaeger building
on November 18th. |
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| 1986 |
COLOURED
STATIC LIGHTS
The Duchess Of York on her first
solo engagement switched on the
lights from Garrard & Co.
on November 13th. |
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| 1985 |
WHITE
LIGHTS DESIGNED BY PETER MISHCON
Joan Collins switched on the lights
from Liberty on November 23rd.
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1984
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WALT
DISNEY’S MICKEY AND MINNIE
MOUSE
On
November 14th HRH Prince Michael
of Kent performed the ceremony
from Dickens & Jones.
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| 1983
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CHRISTMAS
LIGHT SEQUENCE ANGELS
On November 16th from the balcony
of Austin Reed, HRH Princess Alexandra
accompanied by her husband Angus
Ogilvy. |
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| 1982
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REAL
CHRISTMAS TREES
HRH Prince Andrew, now the Duke
of York, just back from the Falklands.
He switched on the lights from
Jaeger on November 14th. |
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| 1981
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REAL
CHRISTMAS TREES FILLED WITH PARCELS
AND BAUBLES
HRH The Princess of Wales switched
on the lights from the balcony
of Austin Reed on November 18th.
It was HRH’s first solo engagement
since her marriage. |
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| 1980
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A
HEAVEN FULL OF STARS
Switched on by David Essex on
November 14th from Burberrys. |
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| 1979
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A
HEAVEN FULL OF STARS (Designed
by Butler & Wilson)
Switched on by HRH Princess Michael
of Kent on November 14th from
Burberrys. |
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1978
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THE
SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS
Switched on by His Royal Highness
The Prince of Wales on November
14th November (his birthday) from
Burberrys. |
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