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Santa confirms Sark visit

Santa confirms Sark visit

Tuesday 28 November 2023

Santa confirms Sark visit

Tuesday 28 November 2023


Father Christmas will be in Sark in a couple of weeks to turn on the island's festive lights after a number of businesses and residents joined together to ensure they can go on this year.

There had been concerns they may not go ahead, after Sark Electricity Limited asked others to help pay for them.

SEL has previously paid for the lights and all of the maintenance and installation costs which included the equivalent of three weeks work for the company's three employees putting them up and taking them down.

In a statement shared via social media earlier this month, SEL's owner explained how it can no longer cover all of those costs itself.

The costs include all of the associated manpower as well as fuel and installation.

Sark.jpg

Pictured: Bustling in the summer, Sark's Avenue is usually lit up with colourful garlands during the Christmas period. 

SEL's owner, Alan Whitney-Price wrote that the current cost of living squeeze is being felt by everyone, including businesses offering vital services such as his.

"SEL budgets are being squeezed all the time in an effort to bring down the price of electricity and we can no longer fully finance this charitable work without support from the community, should it wish the Christmas lights to continue," he wrote.

"Elsewhere these costs are covered by donations from local business and Government and SEL would fully support such an initiative to be adopted locally.

"The Christmas lights on Sark are managed by the Sark Chamber of Commerce and we encourage residents, business and Government to reach out to them with your support. SEL has offered a donation to get the process rolling and we encourage those that can afford too, to do the same."

Sark's Chamber of Commerce and others immediately stepped up in response to this rallying call with confirmation that the lights will go on on Friday 15 December. 

2021 Christmas lights switch on

Pictured: Father Christmas visits the Bailiwick each year to turn the festive lights on in each of the islands usually starting in Guernsey before travelling to the smaller islands.

Sark Chamber of Commerce has now confirmed that the light switch on will happen at 17:30 in La Petite Poule Courtyard.

Santa Claus will be there with singing from the Sark school choir along with other entertainers to be confirmed.

"We have been overwhelmed by the way the community has pulled together to make this event happen," said Chamber.

"Special thanks must go to Sabrina and her tea at the Island Hall and Cerys and Harry Knight for their fundraising efforts which have seen over £3,000 raised towards the ongoing maintenance of the Christmas Lights."

Sark Chamber said this year's festive lights have been supported by - among others - Sark Electricity Limited, Rossborough Insurance Bel Air Inn, Sark School and Sark Estate Management.

Further donations can be made to the Sark Chamber of Commerce directly. 

READ MORE...

Sark Christmas lights under threat

The lights WILL go on! 

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