ROSE Hill’s oldest resident switched on the lights on the Oxford estate’s first community Christmas tree, as hundreds of neighbours watched the event.

The switch-on, at The Oval, was followed by music from local primary schools and a multi-cultural food extravaganza at the community centre.

A search for Rose Hill’s oldest resident had ended at Desborough Crescent, where 96-year-old Marian Shaw has lived for more than six decades.

Mrs Shaw, pictured with her eight-year-old great-grandaughter Megan Rees, said: “It is quite an honour, and I never expected this.

“I have lived in Rose Hill for 64 years, and all the neighbours have changed.

“But it has always been a friendly place, and I have always been very happy here.

“They have done a wonderful job with this Christmas switch-on.”

She was also joined by daughters Diane Cox, 63, and Wendy Rees, 68.

Rose Hill staged the event after winning £361,714 of National Lottery funding for community work on the estate for the next five years. It also included the first cultural food night, with hundreds of people queuing up to eat at the Rose Hill Community Centre.

Ambimbola Solebo, from Dashwood Road, pictured top with sons Martin, seven, Matthew, six, Michael, four, and Malachi, two, was part of the African Women’s Group which prepared food.

She said: “I hope we can have this every year.”

Community worker Fran Gardner, from Oxford Citizens Housing Association, said: “This has never been done before, and none of the older residents can remember there being a community Christmas tree on The Oval.”

Pictures: OX494410 David Fleming