This year’s Christmas lights switch on and festive parade will go ahead on 21st November after Agilisys, Ravenscroft and TPA stepped in as last minute sponsors.
The switch on, which will be one of the few happening across the British Isles, will see thousands of children head into St Peter Port to welcome Father Christmas as he travels from the Model Yacht Pond through to Market Square. There he will be joined by four youngsters, who will be chosen through a competition, to switch on this year’s Christmas Lights.
The switch on and Christmas parade is organised by a committee of volunteers from the Young Business Group (YBG), a non-profit organisation, in collaboration with Bailiwick Estates Ltd, managing agents of The Market Place, St Peter Port Constables, St Peter Port Christmas Lights, States Works and Guernsey Police. Until last week, the whole event was in jeopardy due to a lack of funds.
“The Christmas lights switch on parade is the official start to the festive season in Guernsey and has been a highlight of the calendar for decades. Unfortunately 2020 has been a tough year for so many retailers and companies and we simply didn’t have the money and faced the really hard decision that we were going to have to cancel the switch on,” said YBG vice-president Josh Payne.
“Thankfully Agilisys, Ravenscroft and TPA have come to our rescue and saved the day so that we can have the switch on as normal and everyone can begin the Christmas celebrations.”
Father Christmas’ essential worker status, which has been approved by Dr Nicola Brink MBE, covers his visits to Guernsey and he will be calling on his locally-based elves to help collect letters from children. Dr Brink has asked the elves to wear gloves and is advising the organisers on how everyone involved can work together to keep the island safe.
This year the Fire Brigade will transport Father Christmas from his secret landing spot down to the Model Yacht Pond where he will arrive at 3.55pm. He will then board Le Petit Train at 4.10pm and travel down to South Esplanade, towards Albert Pier, up to Fountain Street and into Market Square. A huge screen will erected on the terrace so that people can watch the switch on from Church Square and the slope and steps down to the Arcade. The lights will be turned on at 5pm.
“We are so pleased that we’re able to support this year’s switch on. It’s an important event for the whole community and even more so this year as a way of supporting local businesses in the run up to Christmas,” said Richard Hanrahan, Agilisys Guernsey chief executive.
TPA has designed this year’s banners and map which incorporate three elves who each represent the sponsors. Angel from Agilisys, Robin from Ravenscroft and Tinsel from TPA.
“We wanted to focus on the fun of Christmas and the elves certainly do that. We’re also using the slogan ‘We’re switching on the sparkle for a magical Christmas’ because that’s what all of us hope we do this year. If ever there was a year to celebrate and be thankful for what we have then it is 2020,” said TPA managing director Tony Tostevin.
Ravenscroft group managing director Mark Bousfield said the investment services company had honoured all of its charitable and community commitments this year and had found extra budget for the lights.
“Many of our 2020 commitments haven’t happened as planned but we have honoured as many of them as we could because we recognised that in some circumstances our financial support was vital in allowing lots of essential services to continue operating. We had already exceeded our budget but as a local business with thousands of local clients, we simply couldn’t say no to ensuring the lights switch on happened.”
Presenters from Island FM and the BBC will also be present on the day to entertain the crowd and prepare them for the big countdown at 5pm.
Co-event organiser, Nicki Harrison from YBG, said that children had plenty of time to get their letters to Father Christmas. “Children can drop their letters into one of the elves’ sacks during the parade or post it in a special post box which will be in Market Square until 5th December. All of the letters will be magically delivered to the North Pole for Father Christmas to read before Christmas Day. Father Christmas has asked us to remind everyone to include their address so that he can reply.”
