Christmas Lights Switch-on, Stirling District Council, 1988

The Document of the Month for December takes a look back to the festive celebrations of thirty-seven years ago.

Stirling District Council held a celebration for the big lights switch on in the centre of Stirling that was very similar to the one organised by the current Council today. Photographs were taken by Whylers Photographers and are kept at the Council Archives as part of the series of records that relate to the District Council

The street decorations and tree were put up beforehand.

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On the night, Council Convener – the District Council did not have a Provost at this time – John Hendry, switched on the lights with the help of Kerry-Anne McGurk and John Martin, both pupils of Whins of Milton School.

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The fun events that took place after the lights went on included carol singing, theatrical antics from characters dressed as Victorian street urchins and a flower seller, along with comedy policemen. Councillor Eddie Carrick, Chair of the Council’s Leisure and Recreation Committee made a short speech to the crowd before Santa appeared to the delight of the children present.

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Councillor Carrick was quoted in the Stirling Observer as saying ‘The Council aims to make Christmas special for everyone as well as attracting people to our town from all over Scotland’, sentiments that remain true today.