Portishead Christmas Lights

Our Aims and Objectives

To provide and continuously improve the festive display throughout the High Street
To arrange the Victorian Street Fayre

Our History

The Portishead Christmas Lights Committee was formed from humble beginnings in the mid nineteen seventies when the Town Council could no longer afford to erect the Christmas Lights, a small band of volunteers decided to ensure that the tradition of the lights would continue, and set about organising and maintaining them to a high standard, which is regarded by many as the best in North Somerset.

The Future

Each year we seek to extend and improve the lighting display, a recent example would be the Tree of Light, on Somerset Hall, that we felt brought much pleasure to the people of Portishead. The continued expansion of the Town will bring us challenges which we hope can be overcome, with the display growing as the high street does, to continue the excellent tradition seen over the years. We are now planning for 2006, and looking to extend the display further, by perhaps lighting more of the trees, or increase the numbers of lights in the trees.

Health and Safety Legislation

Much has been said and written on this topic, and how it was a real threat to the continuation of the display, but as always we could rely on the local people to support a worthy cause. The response to the “Save our Lights” events was excellent, and in total over £12,000 was raised, on top of this a grant of £6000 from North Somerset Council ensured the festive display could continue.
These funds are being put to very good use, to update the equipment to the required standard, on such things as molded cables, and low voltage lights for the Christmas tree in the Farm. Further to this all the wall fixings require load testing by a qualified Company on an annual basis, as well as the pole holes in the pavement needing to be moved back from the kerb, some have already been done with further ones still to do. At first glance you may not feel that anything has changed, but with a few pointers mentioned above you will be able to appreciate firstly the amount of work that has gone on behind the scenes, but also the considerable cost involved in purely keeping things as they were. None of this would have been possible without the huge effort from the volunteers of the “Save our Lights” committee, and most importantly the support of the residents of Portishead – A HUGE THANK YOU TO YOU ALL!!!!!!

Funding

The cost of staging Portishead’s wonderful lighting display increases each year, and currently stands at £7000. Monies are raised from the generous support of the local community, and in the form of collection boxes in all the local shops – look out for them, donations and a sizeable grant from Portishead and North Weston Town Council.

2006 Display

This years Christmas lights will be erected on the weekends of the 19th and 26th of November – volunteers always welcome. The grand switch on will take place on Monday 27th November at 5.30pm by a celebrity guest accompanied by Father Christmas and his entourage of the Carnival Queen, Princess and King. Father Christmas is looking forward to receiving letters from all the local children, and guarantees that each one will receive a reply.

Victorian Street Fayre

The centerpiece of Portishead’s celebrations is the Victorian Street Fayre. This years fayre will be held on Friday 15th December from 6.30pm when the High Street will be closed to traffic. We look forward to support from all the shopkeepers and hope they will take the opportunity to meet and greet the people of Portishead in a less formal atmosphere. Many local charities will have stalls in the street selling traditional Christmas novelties. We hope traders and members of the public will enter into the spirit of the evening by dressing in Victorian Costume. The High Street will be filled with music to suit all tastes, children will be able to visit Father Christmas in his Grotto and make their Christmas wishes.

The Committee

A loyal band of volunteers who meet regularly throughout the year at Clarence House, to plan and organize the festive events. We actively seek suggestions and welcome new ideas from the Local Community, and any support either manual or financial would be gratefully received.

How can I get involved?

Please contact the Chairman on (01275) 843778, who will gladly answer any questions you may have, or why not come to one of our meetings as a visitor. There you will be able to talk to other members of the committee and see if you would like to join.

The Officials

President Mr. C Freeman
Chairman Mr. S Hamer
Secretary Mr. M Schneider
Treasurer Mr. B Randall