Information on Loughborough

Blue Horizon Hits Right Note to Win

Posted on 20/12/2008

BAND Blue Horizon is rocking after being named the winner of Charnwoods Got Xmas Talent " and following in the footsteps of the guitarists and keyboard players dad!

The Hathern-based group claimed the first prize of £300 after hitting the right note with around 10,000 people who crammed into Loughborough Market Place for the Christmas Lights switch on.

And no-one was more proud than Ian Fuller, the father of Blue Horizon band members Lewis and Liam, who won a Charnwood Borough Council-run talent competition himself back in the late seventies when he was performing as a DJ.

The other Blue Horizon band members are Mathew Morris and Martin Clayton.

Singer Kieran Fowkes picked up £150 after taking second place, while Danni Savage won £75 after finishing third.

The lights switch on and Charnwoods Got Xmas Talent contest was the first event of Loughboroughs 12 Days of Christmas, which has been arranged by the Loughborough Town Centre Partnership supported by Charnwood Borough Council

Adrian McInnes, the chair of Loughborough Town Centre Partnership, was delighted with the success of lights switch on, performed by Peppa Pig and her brother George.

He said: "The town centre was as full as I have seen it and the atmosphere was great!

"It was fantastic to see so many families packed into the Market Place and Peppa Pig was a huge hit with the youngsters.

"Hopefully, the rest of the Christmas Programme will prove to be as popular and people take advantage of the free parking at weekends and flock into Loughborough to do their festive shopping.

Cllr Stephen Hampson (Conservative councillor for Syston East), Charnwood Borough Councils Cabinet member for Regeneration, added: "Congratulations to all those who performed in the Charnwoods Got Xmas Talent contest " it provided fantastic entertainment for the huge crowds.

"Events such as this " and those that are lined up in the countdown to Christmas " are the reason why Loughborough is the perfect place to do all your festive shopping!

"Free parking at weekends as well in all Council car parks except Browns Lane between 9.30am and 6.30pm means its cheaper to stay local rather than visiting a city centre.

Meanwhile, hundreds of Santas will be dashing through the streets of Loughborough this weekend in the latest festive fun event in the 12 Days of Christmas Programme.

Organised by the Loughborough Rotary Club, the charity fun run starts at Loughborough University at 11am on Sunday, December 7th and everyone taking part will be dressed as Father Christmas.

They will jog through Loughborough Town Centre where there will also be live entertainment as Charnwoods Got Xmas Talent entrants, including winners Blue Horizon, perform.

Childrens character Noddy will be entertaining youngsters during an appearance at Carillon Court and there will also be a Christmas Star Service by Loughborough Churches Partnership in the Market Place between 4pm and 5pm.

To find out more about the Santa Fun Run, call (0116) 229 0495.

Copies of the 12 Days of Christmas Programme can be obtained from Charnwood Borough Councils Southfields Offices, Loughborough Town Hall, Loughborough Leisure Centre and Charnwood Museum.

It can also be viewed online by logging on to www.charnwood.gov.uk.