IT WAS nine years ago that Councillor Barbara Austin decided to do something about Lyme’s pathetic Christmas lights.
In her usual enthusiastic style, Barbara set about raising enough money to make the Lyme Christmas illuminations something special.
Since then our festive lights have consistently been the most spectacular and admired in the area.
These days it costs around £8,000 to put up the various illuminated displays and Barbara and a small committee raise this through grants, donations and fundraising.
The turning on of the lights has marked the beginning of the Christmas season in Lyme and over the years has attracted a huge crowd in Broad Street.
Down the years the weather has been kind to the switching on ceremony – until Saturday.
Driving rain late afternoon severely reduced the lantern parade prior to the switching on by Mayor Michaela Ellis and the Junior Band and Majorettes had to drop out of the procession.
But as is always the case in Lyme, the show did go on and I was amazed so many people turned out to see the lights flicker into being to give the town centre a festive look.
The heavy winds have played havoc with some of the displays and there will be some running repairs this week.
Covering the switch-on, particularly from a photographic point of view, was a nightmare and I ruined one camera which got a soaking.
Thankfully, local photographer Peter Wiles was on hand to help me out.
Barbara and her team are to be congratulated for raising the money for the lights and a special word of thanks goes to Colin and Judith Pothecary for their support of the lantern workshop and procession.
Judith introduced a very nice touch this year by providing baskets festooned with fairy lights for the helpers to give out sweets to the children.
Judith is a perfectionist but shies away from publicity. Her organisational skills, however, and enthusiasm for all things Lyme, supported by Colin, should not go unrecognised.
New look for shelters is essential
THE news that Lyme’s application for funding from the Government Seachange programme for the regeneration of the Marine Parade had been rejected was disappointing but not wholly unexpected.
According to its website, Sea Change aims to “drive cultural and creative regeneration and economic growth in seaside resorts by funding inspiring, creative and innovative projects, bringing a sense of pride, enjoyment and celebration”.
The £1.2 million Lyme project certainly met most if not all of these criteria but there was a big demand for the available funds. Seven projects up and down the country have just won financial support, including St Ives and Plymouth, but unfortunately Lyme was not among them.
But the project is far from dead. The working party set up by the town council, designed the regeneration scheme so that that it could be phased and the council will come up with £750,000 for the shelters to be given a new lease of life. Further funding to complete the full scheme may be forthcoming in the future.
The necessary cash to start the project has come from reserves of £250,000 built over a number of years, some of which has been allocated for design costs, and a loan of £500,000 which will be financed by the leasing of two seafront retail outlets included in the new-look shelters.
Following the remodeling of the public gardens above the beach, as part of the coastal protection scheme, the parade’s 1970s shelters are in dire need of a facelift and will complete the new look seafront which has proved so popular with visitors.
Hundreds of man hours have been put in by the council’s working party which includes non-elected volunteers, people like Stephen Wilkins and Chris Boothroyd, who have given their services free, saving the council taxpayer many thousands.
A good example of the council utilising skills and experience of residents for the wider good of the town.
Junior Band and Majorettes do the town proud
THE storm that erupted just before the lantern parade, prior to the Christmas lights ceremony on Saturday, resulted in both the Junior Band and Majorettes having to drop out at the last moment.
Lyme owes much to these two youth organisations.
The Majorettes are enjoying a period of great success, although I hear a new chairman will soon be appointed to take over from Sue Higgs, who is standing down after doing an excellent job.
The Junior Band is going through a period of rebuilding and is looking for new members.
With the town band a non-marching outfit, the job of leading the various parades in the town has fallen to the Junior Band for several years.
Despite being low on numbers and repertoire, they nevertheless turned out for the recent Remembrance parade and did themselves proud.
When I was secretary of the Regatta and Carnival many years ago neither organisation was in being and we had to bring in marching bands. These included the famous Dagenham Girl Pipers on one occasion and the Romford Drum and Trumpet Corps, who stayed in the town for the whole of regatta week.
Hiring in bands and marching troupes can be financially prohibitive these days which makes the existence of the Junior Band and Majorettes essential in a town where parades and processions are so prevalent.
Long may their reputations go before them.
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