Post by Admin on Oct 30, 2007 1:06:22 GMT
Light shows for 2007 by Welcome Street Lights
Halloween Saturday 27th October -
Children In Need 11th November - 17th November
Christmas 24th November - 6th January
This Christmas's display centrepiece is set around toys and a sleigh at the north pole. A teddy, a puffing train, a drumming drum, a saluting soldier a rocking horse and a wrapped present surround a sleigh full of presents and two reindeer, a elf waits with more presents.Santa waves to passers by, a snowman helps with the greeting, elsewhere penguins skate on a frozen pond, Victorian carol singers gather under a lamp post to sing carols, snowman decorate the shops and welcome street. Roofs glisten with icicles.
Thanks to the following...
Sponsors
Shakespeare Couriers
8 Queens Road, Atherstone, CV9 1JU
Tel: 07970 884506
The Old Swan Public House
175 Long Street.Atherstone, CV9 1AH
Tel: 01827 712523
J.N.Electrical
Atherstoneforum.co.uk
Donations
Patrons of the old Swan - £300!
other individuals who have donated £80
Suppliers
All Makes Motor Services Ltd
Unit 2 5 Carlyon Road, CV9 1JE
Tel: 01827-717272
Sign services supplied the sponsorship sign boards for the boxes.
Shakespeare Couriers
8 Queens Road, Atherstone, CV9 1JU
Tel: 07970 884506
supplied transport and fuel to collect lights from Ramsgate without charge.
Christmas Trees
Hemdale (close)
Nuneaton
Saturdays and Sundays Before Christmas
Any tree £7.95
Permissions
North Warwickshire Borough Council
Bank House, Atherstone
Tel: 01827 715341
Atherstone Unionist & Conservative Club Ltd
155 Long Street, Atherstone, CV9 1AD
01827 713128
The Atherstone Garage & Electrical Co. Ltd.
157 Long Street, Atherstone, CV9 1AD
Tel: 01827-713169
Maginnis Opticians Ltd
163 Long Street, Atherstone, CV9 1AD
Tel: 01827 716633
Dental Surgery
165 Long Street, Atherstone, CV9 1AD
Tel: 01827 714166
The Barber Shop
167 Long Street, Atherstone, CV9 1AD
Tel: 01827 720417
The Old Swan Public House
175 Long Street.Atherstone, CV9 1AH
Tel: 01827 712523
1-35 Welcome Street, Atherstone
169-173 Long Street, Atherstone
FAQ
Why do you do it all. - 3 main reasons, I enjoy the design aspect of it. I do it because the kids like it and that fact gives me great satisfaction, it's important for children to enjoy Christmas, those memories last a life time. I also do it because the adults like it. I get a great sense of satisfaction from seeing it all set up at the end of it.
I'm really an artist that works with pre made components to make a bigger picture, occasionally adding my own made components in. Something which I intend to go into more in the future, I made some for Halloween which I was pleased with.
Why so many over so many buildings. - To answer that i'll go back to the beggining.
I'm very very lucky, when i first started out doing this type of thing at Queens road I had one set of broken indoor static lights that were given to me by a friend which I fixed and put in the back bedroom window. I was then bought a set of 20 static woolworths lights that I got after christmas, the next year I bought a set of 80 chasing mr christmas lights outside lights from wilkinsons, which was probably the first time they'd been available in this country. I put neither up again because I couldn't work out where to put them or how to put them where I could as the leads where so short. weather proof anything for electrics was expensive back then in 1986. When i aquired two weather proof junction boxes I set them up. I'd thought about where to put them and how to so much that this continued with everything I bought. I always tried to keep it symetrical and neat and for it to make sense, not 6 santas on one wall, not snow men at the top and stars at the bottom, and not covered like a shop display. This gives far less space than most other people that decorate their houses, they just cover every square foot and think it looks nice. When I came to Welcome street I still did queens road so i started with no lights for here, I repaired a set of 1960's 12 bulb christmas light that dad bought from ac Farmers and placed them inside on the landing. Two days later they got stollen, they had great sentimental value as they were on the tree when i was a kid. That put me off so I didn't bother the next year but it got me thinking, if lights weren't safe on the landing where could I put them that would be safe. Half way up the building outside of course. Then i asked the neighbours if they'd mind if I put some on the next block, which they didn't. I suddenly realised I'd got all this canvas and a huge blank wall on the end of the block.
Rather than keep adding to those buildings though I decided i'd make the display as spread out as possible so I then asked the pub who said yes ok we'll provide the electricity if you want to put your lights up.
Why do you have to have insurance. - Because the Borough council threw a wobbly, someone reported me, I suspect maliciously because it was the first year of the new lights in the town centre after we'd had non apart from mine the previous year. It was also the first year I did the shops using the old chamber of trade lights which I adopted and repaired. The Borough Council were worried that I didn't know what I was doing and that someone may get hurt or property damaged and they'd go looking to the council to claim. The worries were unfounded, I provided all the requirements, proved my set up complied with the electrical regulations and the head of the housing dept wondered why there'd been such a fuss.
Everything is still done safely regardless of cost and the display covers so many buildings now some of which are shops and pubs that I'd not do it without insurance.
Are they really all your lights Joe - Yes I started buying them when I was still at school. I'm 36 now so thats about 22 years of buying and collecting.
I also own all the cables, plugs, sockets and junction boxes, which add up considerably with over 70 sets to connect up, it costs about £6 per light set.
Do the council pay for the electricity - No, they're either connected to the flat or the Old Swan Pub.
Why do you have to put cones barriers and signs out. - Health and Safety. I have to make sure that people and children won't wonder under where I'm working in case the lights fall when I'm installing them, or drop a screw driver on some ones head. Setting up, putting barriers, cones, signs out and getting ladders, ropes and the lights on site is what takes the time. Putting them up is the easy part. Before I bothered with H&S and insurance they were a lot easier and a lot more pleasure to put up.
In the past I've been installing cables on the closed shops at about 9pm in an evening. People have purposely come up the steps and stood under where I'm working when it's obvious what I'm doing, there's cable all over the floor for them to trip over. That says a lot about people nowadays.
Christmas should be in December so why do you switch them on in November. - Because part of the display is for Long Street. The Town Councils Christmas Lights finish at Somerfield this year so I try to decorate at least part of the South End of the town centre. Town centre is Long Street from Station Street all the way to what used to be the regal stores by the Old Swan. Town Council claim to provide electricity points for Christmas lights and this year actual putting up of the lights in the town centre, but that clearly isn't true from the above.
Why are some on and others not on. - The lights on the Old Swan are on a different electricity supply and is paid for by the pub. The Old Swan raises money to pay for the insurance. Therefore I do a display and feature at the pub but the electricity is still paid for by the pub and they chose not to have them on until they open for business at 6.
How do you get that picture on the wall/access road. - well if I told you that it would ruin it wouldn't it. Well okay then it's a projector somewhere on one of the surrounding buildings.
Why did you do Halloween and Children in need displays. - I wanted to do something that nobody else does. I intended to do a summer display, but couldn't see the pub agreeing to it as it has no purpose or reason. Therefore the bear in the garden got shelved. I'd decorated the flat window before and the landing window last year with a rope light pumpkin that I'd bought. A woman I bought a load of Christmas lights had it , I though that looks good I'll have that. Same with the flowers I used for Pudsey's garden. I searched this year for more lights and found some. I decided to go for it and thought that maybe if i could get a half a barrel as a wishing well I'd be able to collect donations too. I asked the herald for help in getting a barrel but I never got any offers. They did publicise the Halloween display though which meant I had to go through with it.
By this time I'd decided that my bear looks like Pudsey and if i made him an eye patch I could put him in his garden over the pub.
Both displays went to plan, looked fantastic and were enjoyed and appreciated by a lot ofd people. Welcome street saw steady flow of parents with children on Halloween, whereas the previous year there'd been half a dozen.
Halloween cost me about £400 pound, Pudsey cost about £250.
How much does it all cost. - about a thousand a year, but I do get donations and sponsorship with either funding assistance or both. I'm certainly not making a profit from it.
Is that Pudsey bear that's where the pudsey display was. - No it's another new bear, much smaller than Pudsey, Pudsey is sleeping in daddy bears bed.
Why is my question not answered here. - Because I can't remember any more questions I'm asked at the moment.
Halloween Saturday 27th October -
| Saturday 27th- | Halloween spooktacular, Illuminations and spooky house |
| Sunday 28th | " |
| Monday 29th | " |
| Tuesday 30th | " |
| Wednesday 31st | Halloween " |
| Thursday 1st | TBC |
| Friday 2nd | TBC |
| Saturday 3rd | TBC |
Children In Need 11th November - 17th November
| Saturday 10th | Small Children in Need light display - Pudsey Bear in his garden |
| Sunday 11th | " |
| Monday 12th | " |
| Tuesday 13th | " |
| Wednesday 14th | " |
| Thursday 15th | " |
| Friday 16th | Appeal day |
| Saturday 17th | " |
Christmas 24th November - 6th January
| Saturday 24th | Dickens Night - Switch on time 7.00 |
| Sunday 6th | Last night |
This Christmas's display centrepiece is set around toys and a sleigh at the north pole. A teddy, a puffing train, a drumming drum, a saluting soldier a rocking horse and a wrapped present surround a sleigh full of presents and two reindeer, a elf waits with more presents.Santa waves to passers by, a snowman helps with the greeting, elsewhere penguins skate on a frozen pond, Victorian carol singers gather under a lamp post to sing carols, snowman decorate the shops and welcome street. Roofs glisten with icicles.
Thanks to the following...
Sponsors
Shakespeare Couriers
8 Queens Road, Atherstone, CV9 1JU
Tel: 07970 884506
The Old Swan Public House
175 Long Street.Atherstone, CV9 1AH
Tel: 01827 712523
J.N.Electrical
Atherstoneforum.co.uk
Donations
Patrons of the old Swan - £300!
other individuals who have donated £80
Suppliers
All Makes Motor Services Ltd
Unit 2 5 Carlyon Road, CV9 1JE
Tel: 01827-717272
Sign services supplied the sponsorship sign boards for the boxes.
Shakespeare Couriers
8 Queens Road, Atherstone, CV9 1JU
Tel: 07970 884506
supplied transport and fuel to collect lights from Ramsgate without charge.
Christmas Trees
Hemdale (close)
Nuneaton
Saturdays and Sundays Before Christmas
Any tree £7.95
Permissions
North Warwickshire Borough Council
Bank House, Atherstone
Tel: 01827 715341
Atherstone Unionist & Conservative Club Ltd
155 Long Street, Atherstone, CV9 1AD
01827 713128
The Atherstone Garage & Electrical Co. Ltd.
157 Long Street, Atherstone, CV9 1AD
Tel: 01827-713169
Maginnis Opticians Ltd
163 Long Street, Atherstone, CV9 1AD
Tel: 01827 716633
Dental Surgery
165 Long Street, Atherstone, CV9 1AD
Tel: 01827 714166
The Barber Shop
167 Long Street, Atherstone, CV9 1AD
Tel: 01827 720417
The Old Swan Public House
175 Long Street.Atherstone, CV9 1AH
Tel: 01827 712523
1-35 Welcome Street, Atherstone
169-173 Long Street, Atherstone
FAQ
Why do you do it all. - 3 main reasons, I enjoy the design aspect of it. I do it because the kids like it and that fact gives me great satisfaction, it's important for children to enjoy Christmas, those memories last a life time. I also do it because the adults like it. I get a great sense of satisfaction from seeing it all set up at the end of it.
I'm really an artist that works with pre made components to make a bigger picture, occasionally adding my own made components in. Something which I intend to go into more in the future, I made some for Halloween which I was pleased with.
Why so many over so many buildings. - To answer that i'll go back to the beggining.
I'm very very lucky, when i first started out doing this type of thing at Queens road I had one set of broken indoor static lights that were given to me by a friend which I fixed and put in the back bedroom window. I was then bought a set of 20 static woolworths lights that I got after christmas, the next year I bought a set of 80 chasing mr christmas lights outside lights from wilkinsons, which was probably the first time they'd been available in this country. I put neither up again because I couldn't work out where to put them or how to put them where I could as the leads where so short. weather proof anything for electrics was expensive back then in 1986. When i aquired two weather proof junction boxes I set them up. I'd thought about where to put them and how to so much that this continued with everything I bought. I always tried to keep it symetrical and neat and for it to make sense, not 6 santas on one wall, not snow men at the top and stars at the bottom, and not covered like a shop display. This gives far less space than most other people that decorate their houses, they just cover every square foot and think it looks nice. When I came to Welcome street I still did queens road so i started with no lights for here, I repaired a set of 1960's 12 bulb christmas light that dad bought from ac Farmers and placed them inside on the landing. Two days later they got stollen, they had great sentimental value as they were on the tree when i was a kid. That put me off so I didn't bother the next year but it got me thinking, if lights weren't safe on the landing where could I put them that would be safe. Half way up the building outside of course. Then i asked the neighbours if they'd mind if I put some on the next block, which they didn't. I suddenly realised I'd got all this canvas and a huge blank wall on the end of the block.
Rather than keep adding to those buildings though I decided i'd make the display as spread out as possible so I then asked the pub who said yes ok we'll provide the electricity if you want to put your lights up.
Why do you have to have insurance. - Because the Borough council threw a wobbly, someone reported me, I suspect maliciously because it was the first year of the new lights in the town centre after we'd had non apart from mine the previous year. It was also the first year I did the shops using the old chamber of trade lights which I adopted and repaired. The Borough Council were worried that I didn't know what I was doing and that someone may get hurt or property damaged and they'd go looking to the council to claim. The worries were unfounded, I provided all the requirements, proved my set up complied with the electrical regulations and the head of the housing dept wondered why there'd been such a fuss.
Everything is still done safely regardless of cost and the display covers so many buildings now some of which are shops and pubs that I'd not do it without insurance.
Are they really all your lights Joe - Yes I started buying them when I was still at school. I'm 36 now so thats about 22 years of buying and collecting.
I also own all the cables, plugs, sockets and junction boxes, which add up considerably with over 70 sets to connect up, it costs about £6 per light set.
Do the council pay for the electricity - No, they're either connected to the flat or the Old Swan Pub.
Why do you have to put cones barriers and signs out. - Health and Safety. I have to make sure that people and children won't wonder under where I'm working in case the lights fall when I'm installing them, or drop a screw driver on some ones head. Setting up, putting barriers, cones, signs out and getting ladders, ropes and the lights on site is what takes the time. Putting them up is the easy part. Before I bothered with H&S and insurance they were a lot easier and a lot more pleasure to put up.
In the past I've been installing cables on the closed shops at about 9pm in an evening. People have purposely come up the steps and stood under where I'm working when it's obvious what I'm doing, there's cable all over the floor for them to trip over. That says a lot about people nowadays.
Christmas should be in December so why do you switch them on in November. - Because part of the display is for Long Street. The Town Councils Christmas Lights finish at Somerfield this year so I try to decorate at least part of the South End of the town centre. Town centre is Long Street from Station Street all the way to what used to be the regal stores by the Old Swan. Town Council claim to provide electricity points for Christmas lights and this year actual putting up of the lights in the town centre, but that clearly isn't true from the above.
Why are some on and others not on. - The lights on the Old Swan are on a different electricity supply and is paid for by the pub. The Old Swan raises money to pay for the insurance. Therefore I do a display and feature at the pub but the electricity is still paid for by the pub and they chose not to have them on until they open for business at 6.
How do you get that picture on the wall/access road. - well if I told you that it would ruin it wouldn't it. Well okay then it's a projector somewhere on one of the surrounding buildings.
Why did you do Halloween and Children in need displays. - I wanted to do something that nobody else does. I intended to do a summer display, but couldn't see the pub agreeing to it as it has no purpose or reason. Therefore the bear in the garden got shelved. I'd decorated the flat window before and the landing window last year with a rope light pumpkin that I'd bought. A woman I bought a load of Christmas lights had it , I though that looks good I'll have that. Same with the flowers I used for Pudsey's garden. I searched this year for more lights and found some. I decided to go for it and thought that maybe if i could get a half a barrel as a wishing well I'd be able to collect donations too. I asked the herald for help in getting a barrel but I never got any offers. They did publicise the Halloween display though which meant I had to go through with it.
By this time I'd decided that my bear looks like Pudsey and if i made him an eye patch I could put him in his garden over the pub.
Both displays went to plan, looked fantastic and were enjoyed and appreciated by a lot ofd people. Welcome street saw steady flow of parents with children on Halloween, whereas the previous year there'd been half a dozen.
Halloween cost me about £400 pound, Pudsey cost about £250.
How much does it all cost. - about a thousand a year, but I do get donations and sponsorship with either funding assistance or both. I'm certainly not making a profit from it.
Is that Pudsey bear that's where the pudsey display was. - No it's another new bear, much smaller than Pudsey, Pudsey is sleeping in daddy bears bed.
Why is my question not answered here. - Because I can't remember any more questions I'm asked at the moment.
