The Christmas lights

The Christmas lights

Christmas lights in 1968

The Christmas lights in 1968 (above) and 2001 (below)

Christmas lights in 2001

Bourne has always been lit up in recent years for the Christmas celebrations and the illuminations extend from the front of the Town Hall to the surrounding main streets and the official switching on is a cause for celebration. Children and their parents throng the town centre for the occasion one Saturday afternoon early in December when the police stop the traffic to enable youngsters get a closer look and Father Christmas arrives to hand out gifts. North Street is also closed the following Friday evening for late night shopping with stalls and fairy lights and fun fair rides for the children because this is the start of the festive season.

The first Christmas illuminations were switched on in Bourne as a trial in 1967 with a ceremony outside the Town Hall and they remained on between dusk and midnight each evening until New Year's Day. Although only the market place [now the town centre] and part of North Street were lit up with little more than strings of fairy lights, the experiment by Bourne Urban District Council and the Chamber of Trade proved to be so successful that it was repeated the following December when the council chairman, Councillor Ted Kelby, told the assembled crowd: "It is gratifying to see so many people here for the second year of this venture. It is also pleasing to know that towns from all over Lincolnshire have asked for particulars of our arrangements. This lighting system has started something Bourne can be proud of. In five years, we hope to have lights all along the shopping centre."

By 1974, the festive lights had become such an attraction that a record crowd of 3,000 turned out for the switch-on in the market place on Saturday 7th December 1974. So popular was the event that over 700 children visited Santa Claus at his grotto in the Corn Exchange and at one stage he ran out of presents but his stock was quickly replenished by members of the Bourne Chamber of Trade. Mrs Shirley Cliffe (now Councillor Cliffe), their secretary, said afterwards: "This was the best and most successful switch-on we have ever had. We intended it to appeal mainly to children and so it has."

The event was also marked by a procession around the town to the steps of the Town Hall with a police patrol car at the head and followed by a carol wagon manned by members of Bourne Round Table and a vintage car belonging to Mr Ted Moody while a waiting band played a selection of carols. The illuminations were eventually switched on by the mayor, Councillor Mrs Margaret Cooper, from the steps of the Town Hall, who welcomed all of the visitors. "In the seven years since this event began", she said, "it has become a firm favourite with the people of Bourne and so is quite definitely here to stay."

Town Hall illuminations in 1998
The Town Hall illuminated for the Christmas season in 1998

The extent and quality of the illuminations increased over the years but the old system was soon in need of replacement and by this time, Bourne Town Council was responsible. By 1998, there had been some criticism of the quality of the illuminations and so new ones were purchased with the task of erecting them each year being carried out by volunteers from the Bourne Lions organisation, a system that worked well but there were concerns over health and safety and the authority therefore decided that professional help was needed.

In June 2001, the town council announced that they would be solving the problem by spending £40,000 on new Christmas lights although the money was being borrowed from South Kesteven District Council over a five-year period at an agreed interest rate of 5.5%. Councillor John Kirkman, chairman of the town council's finance and general purposes committee, explained: "This is something which hasn't been done before." This meant that the council would now own its own Christmas lights that would be erected and dismantled each year by a commercial company and the new scheme was introduced the following December.

The new lights were launched on Saturday 1st December 2001 amid general approval although there were some complaints that the bulbs were all the same colour, namely natural, with a distinct absence of reds, yellows, blues and greens, and one housewife suggested that it was like switching on the kitchen lights, "all brightness of no colour and therefore lacking in warmth". Nevertheless, the consensus was that the ultimate effect was a great improvement on the previous year.

Christmas lights in 2001

The new £40,000 Christmas lights that were switched on in December 2001 but were improved the following year with the addition of coloured motifs after complaints that the all white illuminations were not sufficiently seasonal.

There is little doubt that preparations for Christmas now begin far too early and the first signs can be spotted in the shops by late October when greetings cards, wrapping paper and ribbons first go on sale. The commercial pressure to buy continues until December by which time tape recorded carols are playing in many shops and during Christmas week, shop assistants can be seen wearing reindeer horns and Santa Claus caps and other seasonal adornments.

In 2007, the annual Christmas shopping event was switched to daytime on Sunday 2nd December rather than Friday evening as in past years but opinion was mixed as to whether it should remain that way and although everyone seemed to enjoy themselves, there were many criticisms that the important missing feature was the Christmas illuminations which only shine at their best after dark.

There is certainly something seasonal about being out and about and in jolly company after sundown when the shops and streets are ablaze with coloured lights and so providing a mood of bonhomie and good cheer and it is difficult to create such an atmosphere in the middle of the day. Traders were aware of this and decided to debate the issue in the New Year when they will decide whether to continue with the new format or return to late night shopping.

Late night shopping in 1998
Late night Christmas shopping in North Street in 1998

SWITCHING ON THE LIGHTS THROUGH THE YEARS

This was the scene outside the Town Hall when the Christmas lights were switched on for only the second time in December 1968 by Councillor Ted Kelby, chairman of Bourne Urban District Council, and Mrs Kelby. As in later years, children were well to the front in the crowd that gathered as Mrs Kelby pressed the switch for the magical festive moment.

The switch on in 1968

Photo courtesy The Local newspaper

The shopping event in December 2007 which was switched from late night to a Sunday afternoon although not everyone was happy with the idea. Here, some of the youngsters helping to staff one of the charity stalls were oblivious of the time and thoroughly enjoyed the occasion. They are Kezia Kirtland, aged 7, and her four-year-old sister, Elara, with a visiting snowman played by James North from the Chamber of Trade.

THE SWITCH-ON IN 2008

Photo courtesy The Local newspaper

Switching on the lights in 2008 was a colourful affair with the Mayor of Bourne, Councillor Shirley Cliffe, resplendent in a scarlet cloak to match the traditional dress of Father Christmas who arrived to join her outside the Town Hall on Sunday 2nd December. This year was the second time the event was held on a Sunday but many thought this to be the wrong day and unlikely to remain a permanent arrangement.

THE SWITCH-ON IN 2009

Photograph courtesy The Local newspaper

Photograph courtesy Gordon Lack

Photograph courtesy The Local newspaper

In 2009, the switch-on was moved to the new market place behind the Corn Exchange on a Friday afternoon to coincide with late night shopping and the ceremony was performed by the mayor, Councillor Trevor Holmes.

THE SWITCH-ON IN 2011

Photograph courtesy The Local newspaper

Children's choirs from the town's two primary academies, Westfield and Bourne Abbey, sang carols during the switching-on ceremony in 2011.

THE SWITCH-ON IN 2012

Photograph from 2012 courtesy the Stamford Mercury

The ceremony this year was held on the steps of the town hall where the Mayor of Bourne, Councillor Helen Powell, switched on the lights, accompanied by Father Christmas. Thousands of people turned out for event which was also the start of seasonal shopping with traders staying open until late. There was also entertainment including market stalls, games, a funfair and Santa’s grotto with both North Street and Abbey Road closed off. Children’s choirs from schools in the town also sang carols.

THE SWITCH-ON IN 2013

Photographed by Gordon Lack

The switch-on in 2013 was performed on Saturday 30th November by the Mayor of Bourne, Councillor David Higgs, and again attracted a large crowd. The ceremony outside the Town Hall was followed by the usual late night shopping event with stalls and street entertainment in North Street which was closed to traffic for the evening. In the picture are the mayor and mayoress with Father Christmas and Gordon Cochrane of the Bourne Business Chamber.

THE SWITCH-ON IN 2014

Photographed in 2014 by Gordon Lack

The switch-on in 2014 was performed by local Paralympian skier Jade Etherington and attracted one of the biggest crowds to attend the event in recent years. The ceremony was the highlight of a day of celebrations in the town centre which was sealed off to traffic with a street fair and market, entertainment, dancing, music by the Salvation Army Band and carols.

REVISED DECEMBER 2014