The Storytellers
Switched On Stories held a series of community workshops and invited everyone with memories of the original festival to share and contribute to this important archive.
To hear the individual stories, click the name to link to the film
A scamp with a reputation for being at every event and getting into places for free. - he discovered a genius way of entering the lights festival!
Discovered a wonderland of illuminated trees and magic - something bright and cheerful in what was a drab world.
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After the austerity of the war, remembers a magical, unusual, entertaining and very enterprising adventure in Leamington.
Coming from a village with no electricity, seeing the lights was a magical mystery - and the firework displays a spectacle to behold.
Travelled in her father’s famous fish van from Stratford to the lights and shares a special coronation picture.
Found great joy and happiness at the lights - but her mom wasn’t too happy with her pinching the sugar to starch her lace petticoats!
The festival created a vison of Leamington as an interesting, imaginative and artistic place.
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​Was courting Pete, an electrician who worked on the lights, so got to know the mystery of the big switch on!​​
Loved every kind of dancing and found the big bands and ballet dancers captivating.
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Found the lights a marvel, a revolution and was in awe of everything from the New York Skyline to the musicians on the lake.
Whittle Productions would like to thank everyone who generously gave their time to share their memories and mementoes of the Lights of Leamington Festival. Special thanks go to the people above for providing oral history interviews.
Discover more
Switched On Stories have created a film and series of podcasts - click the links below to find out more