Thanks to the generosity of three borough councillors, Sunbury Christmas market will be a genuine community affair.
Better Neighbourhood grants have been given by Buddhi Weerasinghe, Matthew Lee and Kathy Grant. This windfall for the Lower Sunbury Business Community (LSBC) will allow volunteers to put on the market, get insurance, make sure the lights are looking great and that Dennis’s mag-nificent window is looking its best for Christmas.
It is a big job putting this on, and sadly, community events are very expensive to put on too. The LSBC is a voluntary organisation, representing businesses in Lower Sunbury. Volunteers from the group plan and execute the market, from selling stalls, ensuring all due process has been fol-lowed and the correct licences and permits have been obtained. We are also responsible for ar-ranging any performances, publicising the event, getting carol booklets printed, looking after stall holders on the night. We put road closures in place and deal with motorists who find they can’t get through and can’t park outside the shops. We liaise with the shop keepers, keeping them up-dated on our plans for the evening. We also put the lights up on Avenue Parade – or specifically Paul Underwood from Platinum Roofing does! Thank you once more Paul!
We do all this and STILL we run our own businesses too. Many people think the Christmas event is put on by the council. It is not. So here is a big shout out to John Carey, who never turns down a community project, to Dennis van Wonderen, who really DOES need to put his Elf outfit on this year please, and to Andy Wilmott from Spelthorne Borough Council who has taken on the role of dealing with the dreaded red tape!
Thanks to all the volunteers who help out on the night. If you want to get involved, do get in touch with John and he will be happy to find some jobs for you! Tel 07801 635106.
The Sunbury Christmas market will be on Thursday December 7th from 5-8pm