As December comes to a close…
What a month it’s been! It would be really remiss of me not to mention first and foremost the fabulous Christmas Festival that our Chamber committee managed to pull off on Saturday 4th December. And I say that in the nicest possible way. I know our committee were keeping an eye on those 40mph forecasted winds at the start of the week and keeping everything crossed that they wouldn’t materialise to hamper the day. We had a few hail showers and a couple of friendly gusts during the festivities but otherwise it all went so well to plan.
Many of you know Hilary Frank as a Cornwall Councillor, but I’m not sure how many of you know how busy she is every year with this particular Chamber event. Much of it is precise like a clock movement because of the time and energy she and our event organiser Diverse Events CIC put into making sure the planning is faultless. This year, more than any other, was an important one for her with the 10th lantern parade – and she has organised every single one. It was a poignant day – and also a groundbreaking one with the first ever Santa Fun Run bought to us through collaboration with the Tamar Trotters.
Every year Hilary goes above and beyond to make sure that Saltash gets a Christmas Festival to please the crowds, schoolchildren, stall holders and Fore Street retailers alike. I would personally like to thank her for again bringing us a stunning event. Thank you, too, to the Diverse Events Team and all our lovely volunteers – as well as the new ones who are willing to join our events committee next year. We can’t wait to start on the plans for what will be a bumper crop of events including celebrations around the Queens Platinum Jubilee in June, so watch this space!
The Saltash Chamber Window Wanderland
Again, this year the Window Wanderland windows in Fore Street and around the town wowed our VIP guests including the Mayor of Saltash, the Lord Mayor of Plymouth and the Mayor of Launceston. The displays made by our Primary schools for Guildhall windows and windows of Fore Street shops were superb, and anyone who has driven past St Stephens CP School at night can’t fail to have noticed the colourful adventures of the Stickman character adorning its many windows. With their window designs and the wonderful work on the lanterns for the festival parade by all our Primary Schools, we are very privileged to have such a creative bunch of schools in the town!
Car Parking Initiative
Just a quick reminder that the new Chamber initiative to subsidise car parking is up and running in all Cornwall Council Pay and Display car parks in the town. Charges of up to £1.60 will be able to be redeemed at participating shops against a purchase of £5 or more. At present, £1.60 gets you two hours car parking in Saltash, so that’s two hours of shopping time free of charge, at least up until the middle of February. We now have nine shops participating, so look out for the stickers in their windows. If it goes well we will be extending the scheme, so please make good use of it.
And the Best Dressed Window goes to…
Now it just leaves me to mention the two businesses chosen by the children from Brunel Primary Academy and St Stephens CP School who judged the Best Dressed Window and the Children’s Champion Window. Unanimously, the two groups involved chose the same two shops, with Nicky’s Glow Beads as the winner of the Children’s Champion for their wonderfully festive window, and Donna with her stunning Christmas scene at Eclectic at Home keeping hold of the Chamber Cup for a further year. Congratulations to both and so well deserved.
So, to all residents and our Saltash retailers from me and my excellent team at Saltash Chamber of Commerce, have a great rest of the year, and we look forward to seeing you all shopping locally in 2022! We wish you a prosperous New Year!
