Many thanks to all in the village who expressed their delight in having the lampposts decorated for the Millennium. People in cars who stopped and said encouraging words, Mums with pushchairs, people walking dogs, Paul Jackson who needs no excuse to escape from his newspapers and Frank Jones who had nothing better to do (only joking).

Since then we have been asked to do the same this December as it cheered up the village visibly for the festive season. We have also been asked how we came by this idea and we thought we would share this with you. We went skiing to Breckenridge, Colorado one February many years ago, and marvelled at the community effort transforming the main street by decoration and ice sculpture into a winter wonderland. It was an uplifting experience and indeed a joy for all to see, being a celebration of personal effort to enrich everyone’s life.

Therefore when we retired in October 1998, we set about thinking of how we could contribute in a small way to the lovely village of Christleton which is now our home again after ten years away in Rickmansworth. We have lived and worked in Yorkshire, Surrey, Kent, Berkshire and Hertfordshire, and have never felt more at home with the folk in the village.

Many had thought the decorated lampposts would not survive, but all were pleasantly surprised by the appreciation from the young, the old and the more boisterous members of the village community who all took time out to support us. We say a grateful "thank you" for the coffee and tea which appeared unsolicited from households in the village.

" Are we going to do it again ?" "You bet we are !"

So when you see a bedraggled little group carrying ladders and holly, it is not the Seven Dwarfs, but Brian, Hilary, David, Jan & Ally who would love you to say "Hello".

Feel like a bit of fun ? Come, Join in !!!!

Brian & Hilary Devenport