Memories of town's post-war lights festival

The Lights of Leamington Festival drew crowds from across the West Midlands each year

Memories of a major lights festival that lit up a town for a decade will be brought to life at an exhibition that opens this weekend.

The Lights of Leamington Festival was said to rival Blackpool Illuminations between 1951 and 1961.

Now a project to capture the memories of people who visited the event in Royal Leamington Spa's Jephson Gardens has been completed.

It provides stories of rainbow-lit trees, magical animal installations, spectacular skylines, music, dancing and fireworks in the post-war era.

Lights of Leamington story tellers include Reg Boucher, Pam Cowper, Christine Kenny, Jim Murphy, Val Steele, Maria Murphy, Dalbir Kaur Khaira, Wendy Shear and Anne-Marie Insley

After securing funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Leamington Spa-based events company Whittle Productions held workshops and met with the community to gather personal memories.

"It has been a privilege to hear such an incredible array of interesting and fascinating recollections about the lights festival and know that by documenting this project it will create a legacy and become part of the town's cultural and heritage narrative," said co-director Carole Sleight.

Switched On Stories – The Exhibition opens at All Saints Parish Church on Priory Terrace, Leamington Spa, on Saturday and runs until Sunday 23 February.