From: Lymington Community Christmas
Dear School Staff,

The theme this year is “I am Lymington” and the World Record Breaking Steam Car will join Father Christmas and his amazing steam powered sledge, together with Youth Sports Groups, The Royal British Legion and community groups.
There will be fantastic fireworks, a laser & shooting flame display with live music and the grand countdown to the official switch-on of the town lights. Last year culminated in the largest ever Lymington street party of over 3500 people, in a brilliant Community Christmas celebration. A straw poll on BBC Radio Solent voted Lymington ‘top Christmas Lights destination’ in 2008. So impressed by our community activities, BBC Radio’s Julian Clegg, Desmond Swayne MP, World Record Holder Don Wales and others are coming along - including a film crew - to join the community and experience the fun first hand. Here is a video of last year's fun on YouTube.
Entry Details
- Download and print our Competition Poster for display.
- As there are limited numbers, please confirm ASAP if your School would like to participate.
- Funds are being raised solely for children's groups in the Lymington area, many of which will be represented on Friday 27th.
- Your School can nominate a local children's group for Lymington Foundation to support.
- Each child can enter once, by donating just £1.
- Senior Staff should pick your School's Winner, and email the name by 6pm Thursday 26th November.
- Your School's Winner and accompanying adult need to be at the Lymington Town Railway Station at 5:40 pm on Friday 27th November wearing warm clothing, to join the World Record Holder for the evening parade.
- One School's Winner will be picked at random by the World Record Holder to travel in the Car for the Parade. Though in the driving seat, the Steam Car will be on a large flat-bed lorry, so no wheelies down the High Street!
- Your School's collective donations can be officially presented to Lymington Foundation along with a photo opportunity to publicise your contribution to the Community, if you wish.




Comments
The Lymington Community Foundation did a great job. Looking forward to next year.
a dazzling Christmas Lights Celebration last Friday evening!
As a local resident, I experienced a rare sense of sheer community standing
amidst the crowd outside the Post Office. Safety was paramount: the DJ
was on form and a little boy was lost and found. St. Thomas' Church
historic Tower became the centre point for a sparkling firework display.
As the cold night set in the doves returned to Scott Bailey's facade.
Father Christmas was rescued by Lymington Fire Brigade from Cauldwell's top window
and the crowd peacefully dispersed.
A lot of hard work, organisation, and planning must have gone on behind the scenes to make the night such a success and it was a delight to see so many people turn out to witness the event. The lights on the High Street and Gosport Street are stunning, the Church amazing and to see the steam car we have all read about and seen on the television, just the icing on the cake.
The only downside was a small number of the crowd who took so long to respond to the announcements and volunteer Marshalls courteous request, which delayed the fireworks. But it was well worth the wait.
Thanks again and well done – this all bodes well for Lymington.
It was just fabulous to see so many people on the High Street in Lymington and it shows what a vibrant and supportive community we have around us. Seeing so many young people enjoying the atmosphere was fantastic... it's good to know that young people want to be involved and be a part of their community too.
The crowd numbers were amazing and I wasn't surprised that the parade had to go fairly slowly so that no one was hurt, actually James got longer in the cockpit and didn't mind at all. Along with James we have a young daughter, Chloe, who loved seeing Father Christmas being rescued, in fact she is still talking and giggling about him having one leg out of the window!
We're all still talking about this event with our friends and I think that's a real sign of success for what I thought was one of the best (and biggest) events Lymington has seen for ages.
Friends I've spoken with were amazed with the response from the public, many coming from far and wide despite the weather, plus the rain managed to hold off until we started to pack up. Thank you again.
Good luck to everyone at Priestlands in Year 11 with their mock GCSE exams.
Thanks again, James