As everyone knows, bad weather never stops Father Christmas or Tenby RNLI and so it proved on Saturday when the man himself arrived in Tenby in style on board the town’s lifeboat, the Hayden Miller, to kickstart the popular coastal resort’s festive celebrations.

Tenby Town Council, Tenby Chamber of Trade, Tenby LVA, Tenby RNLI and Tenby Lions have joined forces to create a feast of festive fun for young and old as the town counts down to the big day, with Saturday marking the official switch-on of the lights of the Christmas tree in the grounds of St. Mary’s Church.

Local DJ Steve Briers was on hand in the Square from 4 pm to lead the festivities, before Mayor of Tenby, Clr. Paul Rapi, and his mace bearers headed down to Tenby Lifeboat Station to join the crew of the Hayden Miller as they launched to head out towards Caldey to meet Father Christmas.

Making his first official public appearance, new Tenby town crier, Tyfion Powell, was on hand to keep the town informed of when the Hayden Miller arrived back on shore and when Father Christmas and the Mayor jumped onto the ILB to be towed through a festive flurry of snow from the roof of Tenby House Hotel to be greeted by large groups of children and their parents waiting in the Square.

After distributing sweets to the children, generously donated by Oakwood Theme Park and LG Leisure, Father Christmas and the Mayor then turned on the Christmas tree lights.

The evening concluded with a community performance of Handel’s Messiah in St. Mary’s Church.

“It was a fantastic evening and it was great to see so many people from all around the area turning up despite the weather,” commented Clr. Rapi.

“I must personally thank the RNLI, the police and everyone else who helped, for all their support in making it such a success.”

The Festivities committee would like to thank Tenby RNLI, Oakwood, LG Leisure, Tenby House Hotel, Griggles and Steve Briers for all their support.

They would particularly like to thank Dyfed-Powys Police for their assistance on the day, especially for allowing Steve to set up in the community policing support vehicle after the weather proved too windy for the planned gazebo.

While there will be no activities in the Square tomorrow (Saturday), there will be a Christmas Table Top sale in the De Valence Pavilion, while Tenby Round Table will be hosting their ever-popular Senior Citizens Christmas dinner in the De Valence on December 9.

On December 12, Steve will be back in the Square spinning some more festive tunes, when he will also be joined by the Salvation Army Band, the Friendship Club carollers and Peppa Pig, George, Bob the Builder and a surprise Minion (Kevin, Stuart and Bob aren’t sure which of them can make it just yet!). There may also be another surprise visit from Father Christmas.

The ever-popular Tenby Ladies Circle Santa Run through the streets of the town takes place the following day, December 13, setting off from the grounds of St. Mary’s Church at 12 noon, while Tenby in Bloom will be hosting Christmas bingo in the De Valence on Wednesday, December 16.

Father Christmas will again be roaring into town on December 19, courtesy of The Three Amigos, while DJ Steve Briers returns to the Square, this time to be joined by the newly-formed Tenby Community Wind Band, the Friendship Group carollers and Frozen favourites, Anna, Elsa, Sven and Hans.

At every event there will also be an opportunity to place Christmas wishes on two special trees, at the Tenby in Bloom fundraising stall, while Tenby Carriage Rides will also be festive themed throughout.

The festive fun does not stop at Christmas either, with the annual Boxing Day Swim on December 26, a combined Renaissance/Tenby Rugby Club New Year’s Eve Party at the De Valence on December 31, and the pantomime Robin Hood in the De Valence on January 2.