A Honiton singer has achieved his lifelong goal of performing at one of Exeter’s biggest festive events of the year.

Cameron Lemmer, of Banfield Way, pipped more than two dozen others to clinch a singing spot at the city’s Christmas lights switch-on, held on Sunday, November 18.

The 24-year-old, who has been singing since the age of nine, performs in the style of old-school crooners such as Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole.

Cameron said: “I remember walking past the singers at previous lights switch-ons and seeing the big band and thinking ‘I want to be up there doing my own Christmas songs’.

After an audition in front of four judges at Exeter Phoenix, Cameron had a nervy three-day wait to see if he had bagged one of the two ‘adult performer’ slots.

Finally, he received an email inviting him to sing at the switch-on, which attracts thousands of visitors each year.

“I couldn’t believe it when I saw the email,” Cameron said. “I thought I was seeing things.”

Cameron was booked into the 3pm slot, and sang classic songs such as ‘Santa Claus is Coming to Town’, ‘The Christmas Song’ and a different spin on ‘We’re walking in the Air’.

He said: “It was amazing. There was such a big turnout and I had a lot of people come and support me as well – friends and family which was really nice.

“For me, I get a huge adrenalin boost when I go up on stage and I love it. I perform better under that pressure.”

Following his Exeter performance, Cameron said he would jump at the chance to perform in his hometown at Christmas time.

He added: “I would love to make a big show of the Honiton Christmas lights switch-on. Every time I go the Honiton light-switch on, it would be great to see a bit more pizzazz.”

Cameron said his long-term goal is to fill the shoes of modern-day crooner Michael Bublé.

He added: “In the old days, you had millions of crooners such as Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole and Dean Martin.

“Nowadays, it’s pretty much Bublé. When he retires, there will be no crooner around so I want to like to step into his boots and keep the swing music going.”

For more about Cameron, check out www.cameronlemmer.com