CHRISTMAS 2001

Yes! We did it again! Pressure from the villagers made us get out of our comfy warm armchairs to brave -5c temperatures! We were glad we did because the village looked cheerful and festive when we finished.

This year we wanted to do the decorations in a different style to the previous two years, believing that a change will breathe fresh air into the final presentation. As funds were only limited to what we ourselves and a handful of friends can contribute, it would have been a lacklustre result. Hence the decision not to do it this year. However, whilst collecting our own Christmas tree at Waterways, we noticed a 70% sale taking place of all Christmas decorations. Brian was innocently handed a huge trolley into which Hilary loaded sways, bells ribbons and boxes of bright red shiny baubles. Enough was bought to decorate the centre 8 lamposts in the village. This we duly did, gleefully photographed by a very cold and shivering Richard Nicholson. The resulting photographs were accompanied by a short piece of narration on the website, by Richard, bringing awareness to all, that funding would be gratefully accepted.

The next day we received a phone call from a villager of many years, offering us funds to complete the lamposts for the whole village and to decorate the Christmas tree on the green. After the phone call Brian and I just looked at each other totally overwhelmed with such generosity. A substantial amount was received and we hot footed it to Waterways and loaded up 2 trolleys, came home and immediately set about putting up the decorations. In all we managed to do 16 victorian lamposts and also decked the village tree with bells and baubles. Regretfully we failed to persuade Frank Jones to get dressed up as a fairy and stay on top of the tree for Christmas. He thought it might be too cold!

The project for December 2002 will be to also dress the lamposts with fairy lights but we need your help. We need to source solar powered fairy lights, in the event the Parish Council are unable to persuade MANWEB to install or for permission to install a dual point on each lampost to facilitate normal lighting and to take the fairy lights. If we can achieve this it will be the icing on the cake! At the moment the funds will not accommodate this latest project but if permission is granted we will be requiring more village help in fund raising to do this. Fund raising can also be FUN RAISING!

We thank Ally and Paul for the help and support with the lamposts and also in storing the decorations in their loft. We also thank David Cummings, Ricky Bridges, Margaret Deacon, Paul Anson, Mr. King (discovered gardening in pitch dark in Birch Heath Lane but quickly relieved of £10 ) and Christleton Village Fete Committee for donating funds. A massive THANK YOU to our benefactor who have made our efforts possible for the enjoyment of the village, and who wish to remain anonymous. We spent £246.54 this year and have a credit balance of £58.46 for our future project. Those who promised funds but ran away when approached, will be entered in the 100 meters final at this year’s Commonwealth Games!!!

Our commitment to enhancing village life stands and we welcome support form everybody who can spare a little time or enjoy a little spontaneous fun with us,once a year at Christmas.

Finally we would like to thank all the village, young and old, for disproving fears that the decorations would be vandalised. All the decorations were as intact as the day they were put up. It says a lot for the quality of Christleton life.

Brian & Hilary