WELL, they have done it again! I’m referring, of course, to the Lyme Regis Christmas Lights Committee who have delivered once again a fantastic set of festive illuminations for the town centre, the Cobb and for the first time the Town Mill.
Year after Year they seem to improve on the previous year’s display and every year we say: “the best ever”!”
I’ve written dozens of times about how poor the town centre lights used to be. That was until six-times Mayor Barbara Austin decided to do something about it.
A great community fundraiser, Barbara formed a committee and set about raising the money to make the lights the envy of other Dorset towns.
Chris Lovell picked up the cudgels after Barbara’s death, leading the committee by example to maintain the standard that the people of Lyme had come to expect.
Rob James now chairs the small group of volunteers who work tirelessly to finance the illuminations, starting on New Year’s Day with a duck race. Rob’s marketing expertise has done wonders on promoting the lights and I’m pretty sure helped to generate the huge crowd who turned out in inclement weather to watch the switch-on by Father Christmas who led the lantern parade down over the town. It was the biggest crowd I can recall for this event, stretching right back to Tesco at the top of town.
The parade down Broad Street was accompanied by Santa on his sleigh included the Lyme Regis Majorettes and the Lyme Morris dancers and there was also a samba band taking part. As aways, town crier Alan Vian was on hand to keep the crowd informed.
Earlier in the afternoon the lantern workshop at the Baptist Church was well supported as usual with one family travelling all the way from Cheltenham to take part along with several visitors who always make the journey to Lyme.
The Mayoress and I helped local businessman Ben Matthews to judge
the various entries and present the prizes, a lovely start to a number of Christmas events we will be attending over the coming weeks.
I would like to pay tribute and say thank-you to the Christmas Lights Committee for their fundraising efforts throughout the year to finance the lights and I am pleased that the town council also weighs in with a significant donation every year
There’s plenty of Christmas magic to enjoy in Lyme in the run-up to the Big Day with the Big Christmas Weekend (December 13th/14th) being promoted by the local shops and businesses with help from the “Love Lyme Regis” and “Visit Lyme Regis’ websites run by Rob James and the Regatta and Carnival Committee. Events include the Christmas Tree Festival at the Baptist Church, a Santa’s Grotto for the kids, a maker’s market and the best dressed shop window competition.
And don’t forget my favourite Christmas event, Carols Round The Tree, organised by the Rotary Club on December 23rd, not forgetting the duck race and Lyme Lunge on January 1st.
This is my last blog until January so it just remains for me to thank you for the support you have given Jackie and I and to wish you a very happy Christmas and all you would wish yourselves in the New Year.
Photograph by Rob James.