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How we make it all happen…
Where do we get our lights?
A majority of the lights are made for us, by us! For example the flashing stars on Lamp posts are built by Paul from Steel, welded, the fitted with rope lighting, this is the main reason they are all slightly different ( each one as design tweeks, and depends what mood we were in when building! ) More about the lights we use and how we make the lights can be found in the links above.
A majority of the lights are made for us, by us! For example the flashing stars on Lamp posts are built by Paul from Steel, welded, the fitted with rope lighting, this is the main reason they are all slightly different ( each one as design tweeks, and depends what mood we were in when building! ) More about the lights we use and how we make the lights can be found in the links above.
How much does it cost?
Usually around £5000 per year to buy new lights, replace old, and pay for the collossal amounts of wiring and switchgear. But remember we actually are limited only by funds, so we can make things better with your help. Nobody is payed in any way for the work they do and in some cases this involves weeks off work, doing 12 -15 hour days in all weathers! Other local towns spend as much as 4 times that amount on lesser lights, all payed to contractors! Melksham really gets a bargain!
The Cherry Picker...
We use a 'Nifty Lift' Cherry Picker to install a majority of lights over a certain height, this machine is capable of safely reaching heights of 12m from ground to working floor. This machine is often the talk of passers by, it provides a safe working platform for Paul to work from and enables access where ladders simply would not be used. Without this machine the Town Hall, Procol, Christmas Tree and many other buildings could not be decorated to the standard they are.
Control of this machine is quite complex, hydraulic legs provide stability and allow the 2 arms to move over 300 degrees around, and outreach from the machine. The machine is capable of carrying 2 people with a full tool kit, but is usually manned by just one person in our case, a ground man is always kept around for safety, and full control can be seized from the ground if required in the event of a accident.
Usually around £5000 per year to buy new lights, replace old, and pay for the collossal amounts of wiring and switchgear. But remember we actually are limited only by funds, so we can make things better with your help. Nobody is payed in any way for the work they do and in some cases this involves weeks off work, doing 12 -
The Cherry Picker...
We use a 'Nifty Lift' Cherry Picker to install a majority of lights over a certain height, this machine is capable of safely reaching heights of 12m from ground to working floor. This machine is often the talk of passers by, it provides a safe working platform for Paul to work from and enables access where ladders simply would not be used. Without this machine the Town Hall, Procol, Christmas Tree and many other buildings could not be decorated to the standard they are.
Control of this machine is quite complex, hydraulic legs provide stability and allow the 2 arms to move over 300 degrees around, and outreach from the machine. The machine is capable of carrying 2 people with a full tool kit, but is usually manned by just one person in our case, a ground man is always kept around for safety, and full control can be seized from the ground if required in the event of a accident.
Who are we?
All volunteers. A very small team, usually split into 2. You can meet us all here
How are we funded?
We rely totally on donations, we receive grants from the Town Council and other organisations but desperately need other funding.
When do we do it?
Work on the lights takes place all year, but generally the first lights are installed at the end of October, beginning of November time. Although the main team work on Sundays, a huge amount of work goes on during the week, over night, and at our workshops in Bowerhill.
In some cases we have to use a Cherry picker machine to safely install lights at high levels or difficult places,where possible we try to avoid using this when town is busy. Sadly despite the work we do for the town every year we still receive complaints from passers by, and even some shopkeepers that we are in the way, or wasting their time - luckily the good comments outweigh these and inspire out workers to carry on.
Work is carried out all year, even during the summer months we are maintaining, testing and cleaning old lights and designing and building new ones - as this was written, in June 2011, a afternoon was spent wiring new ideas at our workshop!
All volunteers. A very small team, usually split into 2. You can meet us all here
How are we funded?
We rely totally on donations, we receive grants from the Town Council and other organisations but desperately need other funding.
When do we do it?
Work on the lights takes place all year, but generally the first lights are installed at the end of October, beginning of November time. Although the main team work on Sundays, a huge amount of work goes on during the week, over night, and at our workshops in Bowerhill.
In some cases we have to use a Cherry picker machine to safely install lights at high levels or difficult places,where possible we try to avoid using this when town is busy. Sadly despite the work we do for the town every year we still receive complaints from passers by, and even some shopkeepers that we are in the way, or wasting their time -
Work is carried out all year, even during the summer months we are maintaining, testing and cleaning old lights and designing and building new ones -
We test ideas and often build many versions before settling on the final version!
A Motif is born
Let there be light!
Our Christmas Tree
Click below to find out more about how we make the lights happen!