Ramsey still has streams of unlit fairy lights and Christmas tree decorations hanging from buildings and lampposts in its main street more than FOUR MONTHS after the festive period finished. A large golden crown hangs on the side of the Town Council office, there are shooting star lights on the lampposts and a large Merry Christmas light-up sign on the library.
Decorations are traditionally removed in Britain on Twelfth Night at the start of January. But, despite the heatwave, it still feels like Christmas every day in Ramsey because the Christmas Light Committee, which is made up of volunteer residents, cannot afford to remove the decorations.
Lisa Renfree, an ex-chairman of the committee, said they needed a cherry picker to remove the strings of lights and high up decorations and would have to wait until one is offered to them for free.
She said: “The committee runs on a very tight budget and tries to keep the costs down so it can use the money on the actual decorations. If they don’t have to pay out for a cherry picker, which is expensive to hire, they can spend more money on lights for the residents to enjoy. We only have two volunteers who can go up in the cherry picker so we have to wait for them to be available and for a cherry picker to be offered before we can take all the lights down.”
Jade Aubin, deputy chair of the Christmas Lights Committee, said the committee of local volunteers worked hard all year to achieve a brightly decorated town centre and a very popular 'Switch On Event' for the festive season.
She added: “The erection and dismantlement of the lights and tree is undertaken by a small number of volunteers, many of whom are not members of the team but willing residents, who are keen to help. It is not always easy to bring a group together, who can have other commitments, but it is hoped that the lights will be removed this weekend. Volunteers are always vital and are welcomed for their support.”
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