Franklin Rd lights up Auckland’s Christmas
Governor- General Dame Patsy Reddy kept a festive Ponsonby tradition alight with the 25th switching on of the Christmas lights on Franklin Rd last night.
Dame Patsy switched the lights on at nightfall to a crowd of hundreds, including long- time Franklin Rd resident writer Hamish Keith, who told the Weekend Herald her special role this year reminded him of the time, 17 years ago, when Dame Patsy gifted him a scooter for Christmas.
The pair have been friends for many years — Dame Reddy and husband Sir David Gascoigne have been heavily involved in the arts communities — and gifted Keith, then 64, the silver push scooter “as a prank”.
“And ( at Christmas) I just scooted up and down the road with four elves, handing out sweets,” he said.
“Patsy and David have been friends for a long, long time and thought it was a nice prank. I don’t think they imagined it would serve a practical use.”
Keith said the Franklin Rd community was excited to have Dame Patsy turn the lights on.
Previous famous guests have included former Prime Minister Helen Clark, America’s Cup skipper Dean Barker and musician Dave Dobbyn. The guest’s name is always kept secret until the night.
The popular tradition was begun 25 years ago by the residents of Franklin Rd, and wasn’t even halted by this year’s intensive roadworks.
“You don’t often get the head of state turning the Christmas lights on. I think it was very generous of her,” he said.