There might be no
rockin’ around the Christmas tree in Bromyard this year. That is the fear
of Bromyard and District Chamber of Commerce and Industry which is desperately
trying to find a Christmas tree to act as centrepiece to its lights display.
For the past 10 years the chamber has been given its Christmas trees –
measuring between 25ft and 30ft – from the National Trust’s Brockhampton
Estate.
However, there are
no suitable trees left in the estate’s woodland as all existing trees are too
old and no trees have been planted in recent years. Geoff
McGladdery, chairman of the chamber, is hoping someone will come forward
who can help save Christmas in the town.
He said: “We need the tree by mid-November in time for the big switch-on in the Market Square on November 23. “So many people come to see the lights in Bromyard, which many regard as some of the best in the area, and it would be such a shame if we didn’t have a tree.
He said: “We need the tree by mid-November in time for the big switch-on in the Market Square on November 23. “So many people come to see the lights in Bromyard, which many regard as some of the best in the area, and it would be such a shame if we didn’t have a tree.
“We are really
hoping someone will help us. We have had trees from Norway in the past given by
benefactors, and we are of course willing to help with transporting any tree
anyone can donate.
“We’ve looked at
the alternative of having a plastic tree, but they cost around £3,000 and it
just wouldn’t be the same. It costs between £3,000 and £5,000 for the Christmas
lights display and all money raised goes back to covering costs.
“The National Trust
has been nothing but brilliant in giving us trees for the past 10 years, but it
literally has none left to give us.”
If you can help,
contact Geoff on 07588 559698.
The first Bromyard Christmas Lights display was erected in
1965, then as now under the aegis of the Bromyard and Winslow Chamber of
Commerce and Industry. A small team under the leadership of Les Day
(Mayne Ironmongers), Bill Morris and others arranged a string of festoon
lighting running from the Square to the top of town. It was funded by
local collection.
This display incorporated many practices which are still in
use today (along with some of the lampholders – but little else!).
With Les Day retiring from the town quite early, leadership
passed to John Wilkins, who effectively organised the displays up until his
death in 2004.
The first small set pieces were plastic crowns inherited from
an early Hereford display, and further cast-offs extended the display to the
Tenbury turn. The first mechanised displays were a large star, bell and
robin, constructed by Tony Watkins of Bromyard Electrics. Thereafter,
there was a systematic extension to cover the main street, Church Street and
also Pump Street in addition. Various new set-pieces were bought, and
also self-built, starting with the Happy Xmas and Crown pieces.
More recently, the group has extended its skills to include
home-built programming equipment as well as electro-mechanical controllers, and
has also importantly acquired (at little or no cost) set pieces discarded by
Hereford and Leominster, rebuilding them (also adding mechanisation at times)
where necessary. In this way, the display is built up at a tiny fraction
of the costs where professional contractors are used, but at the same time
fully complying with the latest regulations, ensuring that Bromyard has a display
which is the envy of surrounding towns. The group has also benefited from a
most unlikely link with Blackpool Illuminations, with a visit to their
workshops and inspection of their practices, and culminating with their
director, Richard Ryan, turning on the 2010 display.
More information can be found here.