A VOLUNTEER group that for the past two decades has ensured a Gaunless valley village is illuminated at Christmas has organised a celebratory bash to mark their 20th anniversary and raise extra funds for more festive lights this year.
Tickets for Cockfield Christmas Lights Group’s 20-year celebration night at the village’s Workingmen’s Club, on Saturday, June 25, are already selling well with residents keen to show their support after a two year fundraising hiatus due to Covid restrictions.
Singer Jamie Tinkler will be providing entertainment throughout the evening with several houses of bingo planned and a tombola.
The group’s big prize draw, which has a top prize of £100, will also be drawn on the night.
Formed in June 2002, armed with a donation of £125 and an aim to bring a bit of festive sparkle to Cockfield, the ten-strong committee has gone from strength to strength. The group now has 11 committee members, three of whom are from the original group, as well as a wider band of supporters. Founding member Brenda Singleton said: “When we first formed the committee down in the old community centre, we thought we would give it a try and we didn’t know how it would fly.”
The first year the group concentrated their efforts organising a Christmas tree on the village green and they built up from there.
Margaret Bainbridge, another founding member, said: “We’ve got a lot of support from the school giving us ideas on what we should do and they played a central part in our Santa’s grotto that we had on the green for many years.”
For many years the group organised a lantern parade during their annual switch on, but rising costs for road closures and insurance, saw activities moved to the workingmen’s club.
Changes in rules means the committee is no longer allowed to attach overhead cables to lampposts and members have been investing in laying electric cables and installing junction boxes to continue their displays.
While unable to do much fundraising during the Covid pandemic, the group received cash from the Co-op community fund and the village’s county councillors James Cosslett and Robert Potts to help fund the necessary work.
Christine Watters said: “We are looking at two new junction boxes and new lights up at Mount Pleasant.
“We are going to look at the wrap around lights because they don’t have to be tested. If we have to use the motifs, they all have to be tested and the cost adds up.
“But we’re working closely with Paul Gledhow, at Durham County Council, and have worked well with Scott Ellwood from Street Lighting.
“We get support from the whole community and people really rally round and that’s why we have some of the best lights in County Durham.”
Cockfield Christmas Lights’ 20-year celebration tickets cost £10 and are available by ringing 07729 629809 or visit https://bit.ly/3aqBypD.
Tickets for the big draw raffle cost £1 and are available from committee members.
