Mayor David Skaith switches on Burn Christmas lights

Mayor of York and North Yorkshire David Skaith turned out at Burn Methodist Chapel Christmas Tree Festival before switching on the Christmas lights in Burn village, just south of Selby on Saturday (November 30).

David Skaith pulls a pint in Burn’s Wheatsheaf pub with landlord Andy Howdall (Image: Bill Hearld) Mr Skaith visited the Christmas Tree Festival in Burn Chapel where he was entertained by Paula Marie, the Vintage Vocalist, before he joined locals at the village green for carols and the lights ceremony.

He was welcomed by Burn Parish Council chairman Alice Houlden and presented with the traditional ‘freedom of the village’ golden key and scroll.

Mayor of York and North Yorkshire David Skaith receives the ‘freedom of Burn’ scroll and golden key from Burn Parish Council chairman Alice Houlden (Image: Bill Hearld) Mr Skaith said: “Switching on the Christmas lights at Burn was a lovely way to kick off the festive season.

“Life as the first Mayor of York and North Yorkshire is busy, so to be able to attend such a wonderful event like this was second to none.

“It was a privilege to see a small village come together and celebrate their area. Events like this bring people together, making communities resilient and thrive, which is key to my vision as mayor. Visits to small rural villages like Burn are as crucial as visiting our larger urban areas, making sure I can represent and champion all areas of our region.

“I want to thank everyone who made the evening so magical. It certainly reminded me how lucky we are to have so many talented residents in our amazing region.”

Mr Skaith with Santa, elves and villagers (Image: Bill Hearld) Burn Parish Council chairman Alice Houlden said: “Burn was delighted to welcome our new mayor to our event and to add him to some illustrious names in the Burn Lights Hall of Fame – such as actress Jean Alexander who played Hilda Ogden in Coronation Street, the BBC’s late Harry Gration, York panto legend Berwick Kaler, the Yorkshire Rows trans-Atlantic team, our long-serving ‘postie’ Myles Boothman and a number of ‘local heroes’ from the police, fire and ambulance services – and the first ever ‘switcher-onner’ in 2007, Yorkshire Air Ambulance’s Lee Davison.

“We are a tiny village but we keep on getting lots of celebrities. I think it’s because we have such a fantastic community spirit and we are very proud to be Yorkshire.”

Mr Skaith with Burn Wheatsheaf pub’s Hall of Fame– previous famous ‘switcher-onners’ (Image: Bill Hearld)