Happy ending in saga of the Holmfirth Christmas lights

Nov 30 2009 by Barry Gibson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Kirklees Council, the Full Life Church in Holmfirth and local businesses pulled together to fund the event, which included a Christmas market, a Santa’s grotto and a festive procession as well as the lights.

Church minister Ian Gooch, said: “There was a tremendous sense of community spirit which saw people pulling together. I think there was more of a sense of pride than relief that, despite some of the negative circumstances leading up to it, the community rose up and made it happen.”

Mr Rogers paid special thanks to Holmfirth and Meltham Lions, Holme Valley Parish Council, Charlesworths newsagents and other businesses in Holmfirth, T W Birks funeral directors for providing a limousine, the Huddersfield Giants, the Turn Again Theatre Company, Cafe 100, Trevor Bellamy and his family and greengrocer Andrew Bray.

He added: “We are not looking back now, we are looking forwards.

“We are a very strong community and we have shown we can pull together.

“What we have pulled off shows we are made of strong stuff and no-one can stop us.”

He said preparations would now begin for next year’s event.

But he said the business association needed donations to pay for this year’s lights to be taken down. Any money left over would go towards Christmas 2010.