Today is a very big day for us at Campbeltown Christmas Lights Group. We have taken delivery of new lights for every street crossing and existing pole lights, as well as new tree lights complete with a shiny new star for the top of the tree!
Thanks to the efforts of one man, Darren Kelly, Managing Director of McFadyens Contractors Campbeltown.
After hearing the plea from our Chair, Raymond Harvey, about how we need to repair and purchase new lights, Darren was quick to approach his contacts in managerial positions in various businesses to ask them to take part in his idea for a new community initiative. With thanks to McFadyens Contractors, McFadyens Transport, Glen Scotia, Springbank, West Coast Motors, Jewsons Campbeltown, Huws Gray, Dawson Wam, AM Transport and McKinven and Colville who all donated to the appeal for lights on the street crossing and poles and Campbeltown Community Windfarm Trust who funded tree lights and a new star light in memory of those we have lost as a community, all these lights have been renewed.
We cannot express how grateful we are to each of these businesses for contributing to this appeal. The provision of the lights, has eased the stress of obtaining funding to replace the lights.
Last year, 14 out of the 29 fixtures were broken and needed replaced. By having these new lights, which should last a good few years, the worry and disappointment of broken lights has been taken away.
This also gives us room to start running competitions for new young people to design their own light. The existing children’s lights were given back to their designers last year as they were no longer cost effective to repair.
We were so disappointed to have to cancel our winter ball last week, but the support shown from businesses and the community have far surpassed anything we could have envisaged. We hope you all like your new lights, each crossing will have signage stating the business responsible for sponsorship of the light. It really is so heart-warming to have so many people supporting the towns lights to keep them shining brightly.
Our lights should be starting to be installed tomorrow with the tree hopefully arriving on Sunday for the Switch On next Friday 22nd November.
