Helston lights switch on 'busier than Flora Day'

Crowds, including many families with young children, filled Coinagehall Street, where the main stage was set up.

People were encouraged to head into town ahead of the 7.30pm switch on, to look at the stalls and sample the food on offer from the various vendors.

Inside the Guildhall, charity groups had set up fundraising stands and were running games, while on the main stage there was entertainment from the Culdrose Military Wives Choir, Helston Town Band leading carols and Samba Celtica.

This year the stage was moved to a more central position outside of Barclays Bank and made bigger thanks to RGB at Porthleven, who donated materials, and Derek, Ian, JP and Bob who built it.

There were also pony rides and children’s rides.

The street was at its fullest in time for the countdown to the lights being switched on, with people spilling into Meneage and Wendron streets.

The twinkling colours of the fairy lights were then reflected in a fireworks display immediately following the countdown. The display was widely considered by spectators to be of a particularly high standard this year.

Thanks to a dry night and clear skies, conditions were perfect for the Five Minutes of Mayhem display sponsored by Borlase & Co Solicitors and set off by Bobby Eustis and David Eva, with Tristan climbing to the top of the Monument to let off the first rocket.

One of the most popular new additions to the night was Santa’s Grotto in the basement of Bowden’s Home Hardware, where there were long queues of families.

Here children could enter a magical winter wonderland, complete with “snow,” before meeting Santa and his elves to receive a gift.

Outside, set up on the road in front of Helston Museum, two of Santa’s reindeers were there to meet the youngsters as they waited, looked after by staff from Gwel An Mor at Portreath.

Lights committee chairman Rob Williams said: “I hope that everyone enjoyed themselves. Thousands of people poured into town to experience the event. It was busier than Flora Day!

“The wind calmed down and the skies remained clear to provide perfect weather conditions. Traders, coffee shops and food outlets have spoken of busy sales throughout the evening and the pubs were packed too.”

An appeal has already been launched to help refill the lights fund, following the purchase of 1,000 new low energy coloured light bulbs and new features including a Welcome To Helston sign for the grass corner at the junction of Monument Road with Furry Way.

Anyone wanting to make a donation to the fund can send a cheque, made payable to Helston Christmas Lights to Mr Williams at 10 Meneage Street, Helston, TR13 8AB.

Mr Williams said there were lots of people he wanted to thank, including Amanda Boxer and a large team of helpers who helped set up and pack away the gazebos.

He also thanked MDG Mobile Disco for providing a PA system on the stage, Mark Upton for compering prior to the switch-on, Nitoe Security for manning the road closures, the police and fire brigade for their attendance, Bob, Tim and Wilf for putting up small Christmas trees and brackets on the shopfronts, and Allye and Greg for painstakingly attaching the light sets to the trees. Thanks also went to RNAS Culdrose for loaning crowd control barriers and big foot cones, Harlequin Design for donating signage and Scott Hesketh and Fred Angove for collecting through the evening.

Businesses that are donating their electric to power the lights are Pryor, Begent, Fry & Co, Pictures & Things, Whirlwind Sports, Superdrug, Boots, The Bell, W H Smith, J C Williams, Rackys, The Godolphin Club, The Guildhall, Bowdens, Jill Ramsey in Church Street, The Seven Stars, J J News, The Blue Anchor and Bullock Lane Garage.

Efforts now turn to Helston’s second festive event, on Friday, Decemebr 12, when Santa will be coming into town and Harry Kazzam will be providing entertainment.