The tradition of having Christmas lights in Bourne started in the late 1960s with the relevant council at the time paying for the equipment and the former Bourne Chamber of Trade (CoT) organising a switch-on event and grotto with Father Christmas. The CoT always invited the Town Mayor to assist Father Christmas to switch the lights on. During these years there was no market or other form of entertainment. This format continued for many years.

In the early 1970s, when the cost to install the lights through the electricity boards was too high, the Bourne and District Lions Club offered to take over this work on a voluntary basis. A few years later (about 1977) they also started to provide Father Christmas. The market stalls were introduced in the late 1990s by the CoT which has applied many changes to its event over the years.

Bourne Town Council introduced professionally installed lights on a hire basis in the late 1990s and purchased its own, current equipment in 2001. Installation continued to take place through a professional company. However, the Lions have continued to erect the trees.

As can be seen from the above, Bourne Town Council has always taken responsibility and paid through taxpayers’ money for the provision of the Christmas lights display. The council also ensured that the display would be switched on at a mutually agreeable date and in 2005 has successfully introduced carol singing by school choirs.

The former CoT has always taken responsibility for all other activities and entertainment at the time of the lights being switched on.

In 2009, when the commitment and involvement of the CoT appeared to be unclear, Bourne Town Council resolved to arrange its own independent Christmas lights switch-on at the rear of the Town Hall and agreed to increase the lighting level in this area. This action ensured some continuity of the tradition regardless of whether the CoT was going to arrange something or not. Fortunately for the town, the CoT arranged some market stalls, other entertainment and Father Christmas in a grotto inside a shop of the Burghley Centre.

Having considered the 2009 switch-on as successful, the council decided to continue with this venue and format and improve on it on an annual basis.  Lincolnshire Police and the primary schools confirmed that they preferred the new venue. The council wrote to all voluntary organisations, including the new Bourne Business Club which had amalgamated with the CoT, and asked for input towards the 2010 Christmas lights switch-on. Unfortunately the support was very limited and therefore Bourne Town Council decided to organise the grotto and presents for the very first time. More lighting equipment was fitted to various sides of the car park to increase the impact and whilst this needs to be increased even more, it is generally agreed to be a safe and suitable area for such an event although limited in what can be accommodated within it.

With only very few traders being members of the new Bourne Business Club, the council believes that the future of any Christmas shopping event may be uncertain.

In the majority of towns, these kind of events are organised through a joint committee consisting of voluntary organisations, e g chamber of trade or business club and town centre manager, town centre management partnership and the council. This kind of partnership brings in more ideas and connections and spreads the workload and cost.

I hope the above clarifies the situation to those who have been inclined to put the blame for the lack of late night shopping and other facilities fully with Bourne Town Council.

On behalf of Bourne Town Council, I would like to take this opportunity to thank every volunteer, organisation and business that was involved in the event of Friday 26th November 2010 to wish you all a wonderful Christmas and a healthy and happy New Year.

Mrs Nelly Jacobs
Clerk to Bourne Town Council
23rd December 2010