Saving the Stornoway Christmas lights event 2/12/13
Members of the local community have pulled together to save the Stornoway Christmas lights switching-on ceremony.
Last week Hebrides News revealed that there will be no festive illuminations adorning the town streets this year due to a lack of money.
After severe cutbacks to its own funding, the Comhairle was forced to divert its contribution to the overall £38,000 cost to other public services. Island businesses which often help out have also been hit by the economic downturn.
However, there will be a lit Christmas tree in the civic square in Perceval Square after Stornoway area councillors and council convenor Norman Macdonald donated cash from their ward funds, boosted by a grant from the Comhairle’s civic fund. Smaller trees around the square will also be lit.
But the annual switching-on ceremony was cancelled.
Local fiddle player Jane Hepburn was disappointed to learn the event was not happening.
She posted the Hebrides News story on social media sites with the message: "We should just put on our own show! I'll take down my fiddle. Anyone else?"
She said: “I was very surprised to see the reaction. Within a day, hundreds had pledged they would support it.”
When event organisers Kyle Smith and Iain Macphail of Syber Promotions offered their services, Jane realised it was something that could be done and has been busy ever since.
Stornoway Amenity Trust which organises the Christmas lights event was overwhelmed by the offers of help.
Now a switching-on ceremony and street ceilidh will now go ahead at Perceval Square in Stornoway on Thursday after all.
The ceremony will begin at 6.55pm with the lights being turned on at 7pm.
After an address by councillor Charlie Nicolson, who is also chairman of Stornoway Amenity Trust, a local minister will then tell about the very first Christmas by relating the nativity story. The musical group Faram will then take to the stage from 7.30pm.
Song sheets will be handed out before the carol service begins at 8pm. It will feature many local singers including Colin Macleod, Willie Campbell, Josie Rose Duncan, Eleanor Nicolson, Sophie Davies, Tim Durbin and many more. The vintage dance troupe Candy Canes will do their stuff around 8.25pm before the street party gets under way.
Some shops will stay open late and some of the members of the Lewis Pipe Band will be along to help make it a Caledonian Christmas too.
Santa Claus will be in his grotto in the former Wee W store in Cromwell Street.
Anyone who plays an instrument is invited along to join in. The ceilidh and party will wind up by 9.30pm.
Joint organisers Stornoway Amenity Trust will look after many of the practicalities of such an event like the light installation, traffic management, insurance, and Red Cross cover, as it has done previously. It will also look after the window prizes to the shops and attend to the logistics of the running event.
Tony Robson said: “The amenity trust is delighted to be involved in partnership with everyone working to make the event possible.”
The Perceval Square car park will be closed to traffic from 6pm.