SOUTH SOMERSET NEWS: Ilminster lights up Christmas

THE chairman of Ilminster Christmas Lights Committee has said that last year's festive display received fantastic praise from people - now they have to try and do even better in 2015.

Clinton Bonner told the group’s annual meeting last Tuesday that the 2014 Christmas lights display was the most successful yet.

“We had more praise from the public for the lights display and the switch-on night than ever before,” he said.

He put this down to the introduction of the white snow-effect lights display on the four-sided roof of the Market House and also the new LED illuminated spheres in Silver   Street.

“We have had to make the move over from the non-replaceable old characters to LED and I have not had one negative comment,” he said.

“This display is very good for the town - there isn’t anywhere else like Ilminster and illuminating the Market House provided a great leap forward.”

The team also erected more than 70 Christmas trees around the town.

PHOTO - TOP: Members of the Sainsbury family switched on last year's Christmas festive lights in Ilminster town centre during the annual Victorian Evening.

PHOTO - RIGHT: Ilminster Christmas Lights Committee chairman Clinton Bonner.

The meeting heard it had also been a good year on the cash front. There were donations from Ilminster Lions £614, Ilminster Experience £100, Cottage Flowers £500 and Rotary Club £250.

In addition, after a collecting tin was stolen from a town shop, the pupils of GreenfyldeSchool decided to help out to replace the cash and raised £148.

Shop collecting tins and collections during the Victorian Evening were both up and an appeal was made for more collectors for the switch-on which this year will be one week later than normal, on November 27.

“With outgoings of nearly £10,000, all fund-raising is vital,” said Mr Bonner. “And, of course, it all helps to improve the lights for the following years.”

He announced further improvements would include a garland in East Street in memory of Ken Harper; a team of friends and family are raising money for a new banner across the entrance into Ditton   Street in memory of Viv Joslyn; a new LED banner in East Street; and further spheres in Silver   Street.

There are also plans to improve the lights in Swan Precinct and at the parish hall in North   Street, while new timers also have to be bought.

Mr Bonner paid tribute - and there was a minute’s silence - to Ronnie McQueen, one of the committee founders who died earlier this year; Victorian Night this year will be dedicated to him.

“He started the lights committee with my father Mike 20 odd years ago and without them we would not have what the town experiences today,” said Mr Bonner.

He also thanked Tony Davies who was standing down after 20 years as treasurer; secretary John Bishop and his team for all their work on the lights and trees, and all who had helped financially.

Committee elected: chairman, Clinton Bonner; secretary, John Bishop; treasurer, Ian Anderton; John Pallister, Glenn McQueen, Paul Huish, Roger Welch, Trevor Shaw, Mike Stephenson, David Jewson, Allen Day, Peter Childs, Rob Drayton, Andy Hopper, Parmen Leontovitsch, Graham Smith, Steve Western, Tom Clapp, Barry Allen, Roger Swann, Paul Sainsbury.

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