THE SLEIGH bells were ringing in the centre of Basingstoke yesterday, as Father Christmas made his annual journey through the Top of Town. The merry old man and his big sack of presents were pulled along by a well-behaved pair of miniature Shetland ponies. Mayor of Basingstoke Rose Wellman defied the drizzle to wish him well along with the crowd of people lining London Street and Market Place. And most of them followed the red-coated wonder on his progress into the Malls where a succession of performers took to the stage, including a pearly king and queen and an insolent puffing dragon called Rodney. With Father Christmas were the eye-dazzling musical clowns from the Basing Corps of Drums and the cast of Pickwick The Musical. Sir Ralph Luvvie dispensed wisdom from his armchair and Brownies from 2nd South Ham and 26th Basingstoke were also out in force, some of them in interesting fancy dress. The track-suited youngsters from Basingstoke Ice Skating Club also took part and further back, Shopmobility followed in their powered chairs and Victorian bonnets. But making the most noise and creating the biggest spectacle were the splendid pipers who played traditional airs despite the antics of a fluffy pink female clown.