Mirfield and Holmfirth shine bright as Christmas lights switched on - gallery
Nov 29 2010 Huddersfield Daily Examiner
Mirfield and Holmfirth shine bright as Christmas lights switched on
A SCHOOLBOY had big shoes to fill as he stepped in for Hollywood film star Patrick Stewart at a Christmas lights switch-on.
Harry Crowther, 11, is the world’s only sufferer of a genetic form of Atypical Progeria Syndrome – which makes his body age five times faster than normal.
The Castle Hall School pupil has already been diagnosed with arthritis in his fingers, toes, knees, elbows and wrists and has to take strong painkillers four times a day.
But Mirfield ambassador Harry didn’t let any of that stop him doing the town proud as on Saturday he pulled on the lever and lit up the streets in sparkling festive multi-coloured lights.
Just earlier this month Harry was stunned when his star-struck brother whispered to him that Sir Patrick Stewart was on the phone.
The Star Trek celeb had rang to ask Harry if he’d do him the honour of switching Mirfield’s lights on as he couldn’t make it back to Mirfield.
The X-Men actor, who is from Mirfield, is starring in a Broadway play until January 2011 and will be spending Christmas in New York.
Mum Sharron Crowther said: “Harry really enjoyed the light switch-on it but it got really cold that night.
“First he judged the elf competition at the fire station and then he rode in Santa’s sleigh – he absolutely loved that.
“Before he switched on the lights he gave a little speech thanking Patrick Stewart for asking him to turn on the Christmas lights.
“He was grinning from ear to ear and I’m really proud of him. We were all watching from the front. There was quite a turn-out and the lights looked lovely when they were on.”
Earlier that night in Holmfirth, PCs Cooper and Walsh – the dozy comic cops from Last of the Summer Wine played by Ken Kitson and Louis Emerick – turned on the lights.
Children got to meet Father Christmas in the grotto at Towngate car park.
