Thousands watch the big Christmas switch-on in Barnstaple
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| • JOSS Stone sings “Son of a Preacher Man” in Barnstaple Square. Ref: AK0071 (wk47) |
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• JOSS Stone presses the plunger to switch on Barnstaple’s Christmas lights, watched by compere Seth Conway.
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Joss Stone does the honours - 2007
PICTURES BY ANDY KEEBLE
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INTERNATIONAL soul star Joss Stone thrilled the crowds at Barnstaple's Christmas lights switch-on.
The superstar — fresh from a US tour, a gig in Germany, and a special appearance on Friday night's live Children In Need event — joined North Devon band Sonic Fusion for an impromptu performance in front of nearly 10,000 people enjoying the first ever event to take place in the town's newly opened Square.
Before hitting the plunger to light up the town and a beautiful 30ft Christmas Tree Joss, 20, lit up the stage with a rendition of Dusty Springfield's Son of a Preacher Man.
The singer, from Ashill, near Cullompton, had agreed to turn on Barnstaple's Christmas lights after Barnstaple Town Centre Management adopted Amigos as its chosen charity for a month of fund-raising leading up to the big event on Sunday.
Joss told the Gazette that she was visiting Barnstaple on what was the first of only four days off following a whirlwind of tours, and appearances during 2007.
"I'm touring in New Zealand and Australia in a few weeks' time and then I'm back home for Christmas," she said.
"It's been pretty hectic, but I was last back in Devon about two months ago and did manage to get up to Barnstaple this summer.
"I always come up to North Devon for the beaches — Putsborough's my favourite."
The star — who is more used to performing in front of much larger audiences than the one in Barnstaple on Sunday evening — admitted that she was just a little nervous about turning on the town's lights.
"I've only ever turned on Christmas lights in my own home — what if the button doesn't work?" she joked.
But she did have a serious message about the fantastic job that Amigos does for Ugandan orphans, a charity she became closely involved with after visiting the country in 2005.
"The charity is doing some fantastic work by focusing its attention on a small area of Uganda. Amigos is making a real difference to people in that community and I will do anything I can to help the charity," she said.
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| • Joss Stone Ref: AK0086 (wk47) |
• Joss Stone
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• THE magnificent Christmas tree in The Square, provided by Barnstaple Town Council.
Ref: AK0118 (wk47) |
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