Shining light Dr Brink places star on Tree of Joy
GUERNSEY’S shining light of the Covid-19 pandemic had the honour of placing the star on the top of the Tree of Joy.
It is the 26th year of the Rotary Club of Guernsey’s Tree of Joy campaign.
It has now become an intrinsic part of Christmas for the local community and drivers stared as the director of Public Health was lifted in a crane to plant the star atop the tree.
On her way back down, Dr Nicola Brink said it was fantastic.
‘The views are absolutely amazing,’ she said.
‘You can see all the way from the far end of Town right to the Bridge and all the way across to the other islands.’
The mast on the roundabout is about 30 metres tall, roughly the equivalent of a ten-storey building.
President of the Rotary Club Dave Parish believes it is the largest light tree in Europe, and possibly the world.
‘We’ve been saying that for a while, and no-one has disputed it yet,’ he said, laughing.
The whole operation of placing the star at the very top went smoothly thanks to Bob Froome & Sons crane hire and Marine and General who co-ordinated it.
It marks the start of Rotary’s Christmas campaign where they have tags in various retail outlets and corporate venues which have a local child’s name, age and gift idea on it.
‘We hope people will see the Tree of Joy and think, gosh, Christmas is coming fast, and will get involved in our gift-giving campaign for needy children in the island.’
The lights on the tree will be illuminated at 6pm on 26 November, thanks to sponsorship from the Bank of Butterfield, PwC and the International Energy Group to cover costs.
Every year, Rotary and the sponsors invite children to turn on the lights and this year sisters Amie, 11, and Emilie, 8, from the Young Carers Group will have the honour at a reception hosted by the sponsors at the PwC office.
