Christmas lights switch-on is saved as sponsors found
THIS year’s Christmas lights switch-on and festive parade will go ahead next Saturday after Ravenscroft, TPA and Agilisys stepped in as last-minute sponsors.
The whole event was in jeopardy until last week due to lack of funds. The switch-on, which will be one of the few happening across the British Isles, traditionally sees thousands of children head to St Peter Port to welcome Father Christmas.
Four youngsters, who will be chosen through a competition, will switch on the lights.
The switch-on and Christmas parade is organised by a committee of volunteers from the Young Business Group, a non-profit organisation, in collaboration with Market Place managing agents Bailiwick Estates Ltd, the St Peter Port constables, St Peter Port Christmas Lights, States Works and the police.
‘The Christmas lights switch-on parade is the official start to the festive season in Guernsey and has been a highlight of the calendar for decades,’ said YBG vice-president Josh Payne.
‘Unfortunately, 2020 has been a tough year for so many retailers and companies and we simply didn’t have the money and faced the really hard decision that we were going to have to cancel the switch-on.
‘Thankfully, Agilisys, Ravenscroft and TPA have come to our rescue and saved the day so that we can have the switch-on as normal and everyone can begin the Christmas celebrations.’
Father Christmas’s essential worker status, which has been approved by Dr Nicola Brink, covers his visits to Guernsey.
The Fire and Rescue Service will transport Father Christmas from his secret landing spot to the Model Yacht Pond, where he will arrive at 3.55pm. He will then board Le Petit Train at 4.10pm and travel down to South Esplanade, towards the Albert Pier, up to Fountain Street and into Market Square. A huge screen will be erected on the terrace so that people can watch the switch-on from Church Square and the slope and steps down to the Arcade. The lights will be turned on at 5pm.
Agilisys Guernsey chief executive Richard Hanrahan said: ‘It’s an important event for the whole community and even more so this year as a way of supporting local businesses in the run-up to Christmas.’
TPA has designed this year’s banners and map, which incorporate three elves who each represent a sponsor: Angel from Agilisys, Robin from Ravenscroft and Tinsel from TPA.
TPA managing director Tony Tostevin said: ‘If ever there was a year to celebrate and be thankful for what we have then it is 2020.’
Ravenscroft group managing director Mark Bousfield said the investment services company had honoured all of its charitable and community commitments this year and had found extra budget for the lights.
‘Many of our 2020 commitments haven’t happened as planned, but we have honoured as many of them as we could because we recognised that in some circumstances our financial support was vital in allowing lots of essential services to continue operating. We had already exceeded our budget but, as a local business with thousands of local clients, we simply couldn’t say no to ensuring the lights switch-on happened.’
Children can drop their letters into one of the elves’ sacks during the parade or put them in a special postbox that will be in Market Square until 5 December.
