Ymlaen Rhuthun will have deemed yesterday's Christmas "festival" a success. The Christmas food market (which didn't actually have that much food, though no one seemed to mind or notice) was busy and the Square full.
By midday, all car parks were (largely) full and on-street parking taken. There were, however, civil enforcement officers about, much to the disquiet of some on the town council. But, surely, on a day such as this, it was essential to ensure that on-street car parking spaces were rotated. They were, after all, at a premium.
And bigger crowds than ever attended the tree lights switch-on. Remember the days when there'd be a brass band and a miserable gathering of 20 or 30?
Of course, the crowds came to see the third parade of lights, when a convoy of over 100 trucks threaded its way through town to the accompanying hoots and honks of their horns. Larger than anticipated crowds came, some out of support for the Rhuthun families of those killed in a car crash on the Lower Denbigh Road near Denbigh.
What an incredible site that was. There were some 40 more than the previous year and about 70 more than the first year.
Any downsides? First, the market wasn't fully operational early so, at 9.30am and even 10am, customers were vying for space with traders and their vehicles setting up. A potential safety nightmare. Secondly, St Peter's church fair opened even later, at 11am, and yesterday morning, not realising this, it was the only time I ever recall being asked to leave a church... though there were no signs to suggest it was closed. Oddly, we were asked "How did you get in" and the answer was "through the door". D'oh. I didn't return at 11am or indeed at anytime thereafter. Thirdly, the cacophonous and sometimes dissonant music on the Square was just too loud to be comfortable but I accept I was probably in the minority.
You can't please all the people... but, overall, this was a well-attended, well-considered and well-planned event. Thank you to the organisers.
There were, however, up to 20 complaints made to the police: about the volume of truck, the gridlock and the blaring of horns. For every complaint, there must've been hundreds who were satisfied. Gridlock was only for half an hour, if that.
Next Saturday in Rhuthun/Ruthin will be very difficult. For yesterday, having enjoyed ourselves and slapped ourselves on the back, we all now have permission to carry on our shopping as normal, at Cheshire Oaks, Greyhound park and Broughton retail park...
Of course, the crowds came to see the third parade of lights, when a convoy of over 100 trucks threaded its way through town to the accompanying hoots and honks of their horns. Larger than anticipated crowds came, some out of support for the Rhuthun families of those killed in a car crash on the Lower Denbigh Road near Denbigh.
What an incredible site that was. There were some 40 more than the previous year and about 70 more than the first year.
There were, however, up to 20 complaints made to the police: about the volume of truck, the gridlock and the blaring of horns. For every complaint, there must've been hundreds who were satisfied. Gridlock was only for half an hour, if that.
Next Saturday in Rhuthun/Ruthin will be very difficult. For yesterday, having enjoyed ourselves and slapped ourselves on the back, we all now have permission to carry on our shopping as normal, at Cheshire Oaks, Greyhound park and Broughton retail park...