Lymington Community Christmas

I just wanted to say how great it was to see the Mayor showing up and helping out with taking down our community’s Christmas Lights yesterday.

In the years that I have helped put up our Christmas lights and, for that matter, in the time that I have been volunteering locally, I have never stood side-by-side, tackling a local issue hands on, with any town councillor.

As a young voter, tax payer and employer who experiences the apparent misanthropy from our political leadership meeting behind closed doors and political representatives (at all levels) being negatively reported on in the papers, her virtue and continued leadership as our town Mayor gives me hope for the future.

In this new year, when we need to be working together for a prosperous new British decade, I have not doubt that it is those people choosing to behave and engage with the community as she does, that we need in local politics.

We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give. When the town councillors engage with the community - indeed, rolling up their sleeves with the many local volunteers, ongoing cynicism will change. Thank you Jan.

Great we will both be there. Can help for about an hour but have to collect parents later. Well done it looked fantastic over Christmas and particularly in the snow last Tuesday. Thanks to everyone

I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate both you and your team on the excellent evening on the 27th November - bringing Lymington together. You can all be justifiably proud of all your hard work.

Lymington at its best. The New Forest Dixieland Band were privileged to play at a wonderfully organised event on the 27th Nov.
The Lymington Community Foundation did a great job. Looking forward to next year.

I write belatedly to comment on the Christmas Parade and Fireworks in Lymington High Street on the evening of Friday 27th November. I was loosely involved in the event and helped as a marshall on the evening. I firstly wanted to echo the vast majority of comments I've heard and congratulate those who were of real assistance in organising such a good event. The fact that all parts of the evening went ahead without significant delay or incident, despite the huge numbers in attendance, is tribute to a job well done. I would also congratulate the people of Lymington who turned out in numbers which must have approached 10,000 and showed their support for their town and their community. Despite the congestion caused by the fabulous level of support, the vast majority of the crowd were helpful and understanding in ensuring the marshalls were able to keep activities safe and flowing. Finally, to the very few who voiced the opinion that the event was not well organised I would extend an invitation to get involved and add your support and experience to the events in future. You will be a most welcome addition to a small group of volunteers who work very professionally.

Lymington is a beautiful town and at this time of year the Christmas lights that adorn the Georgian High Street make it a special place. Christmas, however, is about people and that's what really made last Friday a special occasion for the town. It felt as if the whole of Lymington had turned up to warmly support and enjoy the events of the evening. We think that the Lymington Community Foundation should be applauded for achieving such a wholehearted demonstration of community spirit through their hard work and excellent organisation. Their work in building the Lymington Community Foundation website also puts people first. As such Lymington will have something special, not just a typical town website that simply lists local shops and businesses but a real vehicle to support, engage and help foster community spirit for the benefit of Lymington.

I just want to say what a great time we all had at the Lymington Lights switch on. The thought and consideration and no doubt weeks of planning organisation reflected in a truly wonderful event. With whole evening going off so well and without incident reflects the care and attention that has gone in to the whole event. Despite the large crowds I was impressed by the management and control. I was on the parade and even though it took a time to pass through as we had to wait for Marshalls to move some people further back, the patience and care taken was outstanding and reflected by a wonderful crowd. It was worth the wait. Congratulations to all involved and thanks to all the Marshalls and the people that brought our community together.

I wish to express my sincere thanks to all the people involved with organising this year’s fabulous Christmas Lights & Fireworks Display held in the High Street last Friday 27/11/09 The event created a fantastic evening for all the community to come together, embrace and enjoy. The “feel good factor” could be felt throughout the crowd on the evening and served as a brilliant tool for cementing community spirit. Congratulations to all of the teams involved. Well done Lymington – Be proud of your achievement!

WHAT A FABULOUS, FESTIVE, FUN EVENING WE WERE SO IMPRESSED WITH THE PROCESSION, LIGHTS AND FIREWORK DISPLAY NOT TO MENTION THE GRAND RESCUE OF SANTA (A RELIEF TO EVERYONE YOUNG AND OLD I AM SURE). IT WAS SO NICE TO SEE LYMINGTON TOWN COME TOGETHER IN A RARELY SEEN COMMUNITY EVENT WELL DONE LYMINGTON COMMUNITY - HERE'S TO MANY MORE SUCH EVENTS.

From dancing on the street to the team of local firemen rescuing Santa Claus, the sense of community spirit was visibly apparent on the main street of Lymington on the 27th of November. The bustling crowds filled with every generation of Lymington clearly demonstrates the community's shared interest in attending quality run free and fun events run by the community for the community. I look forward to enjoying the development of Lymington Community Foundation who did a fantastic job on the 27th.

I just wanted to write in to say how much I enjoyed the lights switch on in Lymington and the other festivities on the 27th. It was really inspiring to see so many people turn out and enjoy a really well organised event. The steam car was fantastic and Santa's rescue went down really well with the children. It was also really nice to see so many volunteers helping through Lymington Community Foundation. The website is very informative and easy to use and I'm looking forward to seeing the photos etc from the night on their soon.

What an amazing turnout on Friday, I am sure everyone was delighted with the event. We wondered how far down the High St the crowd actually went...... Brilliant work on your part and congratulations to the team who helped you.

I just wanted to say what a wonderful effort was made by all the volunteers to make the evening a great success with the lights being turned on, parade, Father Christmas and firework display. The evening was very well attended and was a great achievement as commented to me by many people.

Many thanks indeed for Friday evening, it really was a tremendous thrash. I couldn't believe just how many people you could fit into the High St. Well done.

Well done to the Lymington Community Foundation for organising
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.

I thought the Lymington Community Christmas on 27 November was the best of its kind I have ever seen -- and I particularly like fireworks and son et lumiere. The decision to make St Thomas church the centrepiece was inspired, and the roman candles which poured in silver waterfalls from the church tower at the height of the firework display were spectacular. I didn't see the procession because I was at the upper end of the High Street -- where I got an even better view of the church -- but I heard from some friends with young families that was splendid, too. Meanwhile, the lights will give good cheer over the Christmas period. I hope the organisers at Lymington Community keep it up next year.

After all the recent bad weather it was wonderful that on Friday night for once, all was on our side for the celebrations on Lymington High Street.

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.

Well done! I thought Friday night was fantastic. I don’t remember seeing Lymington out celebrating in such a positive way since the halcyon days of the 1970’s Lymington carnival. And I know all the Priestlands students had a wonderful evening.

Thanks again and well done – this all bodes well for Lymington.

My son, James Butterworth, was very fortunate and delighted to have won the raffle prize and got to ride in the cockpit of the Steam Car at the Lymington Community Christmas Street Party on Friday 27th November. The whole event was amazing and James was given the experience of a lifetime by the Steam Car team; they and the Lymington Community Organisers were just great!

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.

What a great evening, it must have taken a lot of organising. So thank you - to all the volunteers who made it happen. It's the sort of thing that makes us all feel proud of our town, and glad to be a part of it. Well done.

Thank you all at Lymington Community Foundation for you're kind message of thanks and all the hard work and organisation you must have put into arranging everything. It was a wonderful evening and enjoyed by all.

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.

I won! Many thanks to all the organisers for a brilliant evening in Lymington and to the Steam Car team who made sure I had a great time.
Good luck to everyone at Priestlands in Year 11 with their mock GCSE exams.

Thanks again, James