Camden News - by STEVE BARNETT and CHARLOTTE CHAMBERS Published: 4 December 2008
Ronnie Wood with Christopher Mason in Hampstead
Light me up! Stones’ star turns Santa’s little helper
ON Saturday it looked like Hampstead was having all the luck; not only did the area have a stunning set of lights to be switched on but it also had a rock’n’roll icon in the form of Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood to do it. Primrose Hill, on the other hand, had neither, following a less than festive row over how much their lights cost.
Mr Wood, who lives in Belsize Park, was joined at the Hampstead switch-on by a host of top Hampstead entertainers, including the Junior Branch Choir from University College School and opera singer Christopher Mason.
Organised by NW3 Hampstead, the event raised £1,133 for the Theodora Children’s Trust.
But at Primrose Hill on Tuesday, as the area held a Christmas fun day to make up for the gloomy state of affairs in the area, it was announced that a group of mystery benefactors had come forwards to cover the shortfall. The group, made up of between five and 10 local residents, are fronting half the bill at just under £3,000 while businesses and shopkeepers are paying the rest. The lights switch-on is expected to take place on Sunday.