Let there be (reliable) light on the Tree of Joy
Workers have been busy putting the finishing touches to a new electrical system which will help ensure the Tree of Joy lights will stay on reliably this Christmas.
The 32-light strings on the Weighbridge roundabout make up the largest light tree in Europe each festive season.
They are exposed to the worst of Guernsey’s weather and the basic electrics on the roundabout has resulted in a struggle to keep the lights on in the past.
The Rotary Club of Guernsey is behind the Tree of Joy and member Nigel Dorey said the club was pleased to see the electrical work going so well.
‘We had the ducting installed last week and then the cabinet went in on Monday,’ he said.
‘This week they are connecting the power to the box.’
The job was complicated by the power cable under the roundabout being encased in concrete, which meant quite a large hole had to be created to be able to get to the cable.
The new distribution box is about a metre high and green.
‘We have hoped to get it smaller, but there are so many switches for the 32 light strings, we could not,’ Mr Dorey said.
It was confirmed yesterday afternoon the work had been completed. The light strings are set to be installed in mid November, ready for a pre-Christmas switch-on.
‘It is a huge relief to have the system in place,’ Mr Dorey said.
‘We will still have the odd one go, but hopefully that will only be one string – not half the tree.’
The tree is sponsored by three businesses, Butterfield, Guernsey Energy and PwC, each year, which contribute to the tree's costs, ensuring that all other donations go to the Rotary’s Christmas present drive.
Mr Dorey said the charity had kept some of that maintenance money aside, which had now been used for this work.
‘It’s a massive thanks to them.’
