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As the big October storms recede into the history books, Mousehole, like
the nearby town of Penzance and the port of Newlyn has mopped up the damage
and got on with the job in hand - preparing for Christmas 2004.
In Mousehole's case that has been largely restoring the damage done to
the village's famous Christmas lights which ran into several hundred pounds
and resulted in the loss of around 800 individual bulbs and varying degrees
of damage - from major to minor - to some of the established and new set
pieces. For the village's hard-working 'Light Brigade', work continues
apace in readiness for the switch-on at 7.30pm on Saturday, December 11,
which is once again expected to draw thousands of people into the village.
Last year, the 40th year of Mousehole's Christmas lights, over 4,000
visitors came for the big switch-on.
Village newsagents Joan and David Redhead will this year share the joint
honour of switching on the lights and this traditional formality will
be followed by the customary open-air carolaire which will feature community
hymn singing and the combined choirs of Mousehole Male Voice and Chapel
choirs. Pendeen Silver Band will be providing the musical accompaniment.
There will also be a punch and mince pies stall.
On the switch-on night the usual road closures will occur and take place
between 5pm and 9pm, with closures affected at Lower Green Street, Newlyn,
the bottom of Raginnis Hill, Mousehole and the Square at Paul.
There will be a free 'park and ride' scheme in operation with buses picking
up passengers at Penzance bus station, Jubilee Pool, Wherrytown and the
Fishermen's Mission at Newlyn - and the only cars permitted to enter the
village will be those belonging to residents who will be issued with passes
beforehand.
Erecting around 40 set pieces and making sure that 8,000 bulbs are in
full working order is a massive task for the lighting team - all local
volunteers who give hours of their time and talents for the ultimate delight
of not only the village folk themselves - but the 30,000 plus visitors
who will visit the village during the duration of the lights.
The lights apart, there is plenty on offer in Mousehole during the run-up
to Christmas.
The village is well catered for with eating establishments and visitors
can partake of simple snacks or a full-blown meal.
Galleries and craft shops will also be open in the evenings.
The year 2004 marks the 23rd anniversary of the loss of the Penlee lifeboat
Solomon Browne and all her crew, on the night of December 19, 1981.
As an act of remembrance the Christmas lights will be dimmed, save for
the cross on St Clement's Island, between 8pm and 9pm on that night.
The last night of the Christmas lights will be on Sunday, January 2
article copyright © THE CORNISHMAN
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