A RECORD number of people came to Tavistock for Dickensian Evening last Friday and made the event the busiest the town has seen in the past four years. Tavistock was alive and buzzing, even a downpour did nothing to dampen people's spirits. Morris Dancers, brass bands, and a donkey from the Tamar Valley Donkey Park were just some of the street entertainers during the evening. Shops were packed full of people Christmas shopping, as was Tavistock Pannier Market which staged its own craft fair. Nigel Eadie, treasurer of the Chamber of Commerce which organised the event, said: 'It went spectacularly well. It was the busiest Dickensian I have seen in four years. 'It was a huge success and the town look very festive. We received lots of positive comments from the public and from visitors to the town. 'The event was calm and relaxed, and the whole town was a safe environment to be in. It was brilliant. We couldn't have expected anything better — it was beyond our expectations. It has set us up to do an even better one for next year.' Nigel said a total of £7,293 was raised by the chamber for the Christmas Lights and Dickensian appeal, thanks to generosity of traders, the town council, the sale of 1,500 draw tickets and donations from the public. The winner of the window display was the Victorian Parlour. Second was Crebers and third Natural Nomads. Highly commended was Odds & Suds. The winner of the costume competition was Café Liaison, second was Four Seasons, third was the St Luke's Hospice Shop. Highly commended were Lakes Pharmacy, A Scent-Sation and Soft Touch.
