‘May these lights, which are so beautiful, shine during the festive season and bring much joy and happiness to the citizens of Stirling’ – Stirling turns on its Christmas lights, 1962

As we enter December, many towns and villages will have already turned on their Christmas lights as part of their winter festivities. This celebration is a relatively recent tradition and Stirling celebrated its first Christmas lights event on 21^st November 1962. Large crowds turned out for the event and watched Provost William McFarlane perform the official switching on.

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The event was co-organised by Stirling Town Council, Stirling Christmas Lighting Committee, shopkeepers and traders. The local traders had bought £2500 worth of decorations from the Buchanan Street Lighting Committee. Mr C. B. Quiggins, Manager of Woolworths and Chairman of the Stirling Christmas Lighting Committee, and Mr John W. M. Farrer, helped organise the event and work with local shops to keep their shopfront lights on until midnight to maximise the schemes effect.

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The decorations were centred around Port Street, Murray Place and King Street. Steps were also taken to illuminate a Christmas tree outside the Municipal Buildings. The Town Council procured a 40ft tree and decorated it for £110.

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At the event, Provost McFarlane spoke to the crowd and said that the lights of Stirling were a shining example of co-operation and enterprise by the shopkeepers of Stirling. He remarked ‘‘May these lights, which are so beautiful, shine during the festive season and bring much joy and happiness to the citizens of Stirling’.