Christmas is almost here!

Published: 19 December 2025

The run-up to Christmas in Sevenoaks starts with the Christmas Lights Switch On, organised by Sevenoaks Town Council on Saturday afternoon November 29th. With lots of help from Sevenoaks Scouts, the Sevenoaks Panto cast, Amherst and Granville school choirs, Green Street Blues and many others - I got to press the magic button. Thousands of people turned out to see the High Street and London Road lit up - and to meet Santa. Thanks to all who helped - especially the sponsors and the shops who stayed open late.



The most atmospheric event of December was the launch of Bob Ogley’s 'The Story of Knole Park’ in the Great Hall at Knole on Tuesday 2nd. With a fire roaring in the fireplace, Christmas lights twinkling, and four centuries of Sackvilles looking down on us in the twilight, Bob gave a magical talk on how the great deer park grew since the 1300s. Bob has lived and worked much of the last 80 years on the edge of the park - so he knows every inch of it.



Community carols at St Luke's followed later the same evening, and the next day we switched on the Christmas lights designed by school students. This years’ winner, Edeline, and last year’s winner, Caleb Wood, were there to help. You can see them lit up over House in the Basement at Stag



On the evening of Friday 5th, the Bat & Ball Centre was full for the Holly Party - an ‘affordable’ Christmas party for local organisations, with great music by Jonah’s Wail, and an excellent spread by Perfect Cuisine. Thanks to the Town Team for a very enjoyable night. More concerts and parties followed including ‘Wintersong’ at West Heath, and the Town Council's own Christmas reception for volunteer groups in the Town.

Another carol concert at St Luke's, a Christmas event with Sevenoaks Almshouses residents, and a trip around Waitrose for their Christmas Tasting Event got us thoroughly in the Christmas mood - if we weren’t already!

Sunday 14th was the most spectacular charity Christmas concert we were invited to - by Eynsford Concert Band and Canterbury Ukrainian Choir at Pamoja Hall. Raising money to help Ukrainian refugees, and other charities, this was a brilliant program.

On Tuesday 16th, Dawn Blee from Sevenoaks Chamber of Commerce and I visited all the winners of the Best Dressed Window Competition - armed with certificates and bottles of fizz. Almost all the best windows were by independent shops - with Sevenoaks Bookshop and Dulce's Patisserie as outstanding examples.

More carols and concerts are coming up this week - until I sign off by reading the lesson at St Nicholas midnight service on Christmas Eve.

All best wishes for a very Merry Christmas, and for a Happy New Year

Tony Clayton
Sevenoaks Town Mayor