WATCH: Virtual light switch-on attracts thousands of viewers from around the world
A town that moved its annual Christmas lights switch on event online because of the coronavirus pandemic has seen its celebrations viewed more than 18,000 times by people around the world.
Each year revellers of all ages flock to Stone town centre to watch the lights switch on and enjoy Christmas songs sung by local schoolchildren, funfair rides and other entertainment.
This year the Covid-19 restrictions meant the physical event could not go ahead. But two former Staffordshire University students – Olivia Bethell and Amber Mottershead – were determined that the town would not miss out on festive fun.
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The pair, who studied for Masters degrees in digital marketing, approached Stone Town Council to offer their services producing a short video of the lights being switched on. And the idea soon snowballed into a town-wide effort, featuring local families, community groups and schools helping with the big countdown at a safe social distance from one another.
Santa and colourful character Dolly Daydream also took time out of their busy Christmas schedules to help switch on the lights and Jose Camacho from The Mill restaurant provided a rare opportunity for residents to see the town lit up from above. The video made its debut on a Thursday evening – the time the physical event would normally take place – courtesy of community website A Little Bit of Stone.
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At this month’s general purposes committee Stone Town Council members heard the virtual event had attracted the attention not only of locals but viewers overseas. It had also brought Christmas cheer to town residents who had previously been unable to get out to see the switch on in previous years.
Councillor Jill Hood, chair of the tourism and town promotion committee, said: “It was quite a big effort by the two students who are both alumni of Staffordshire University. They did all of it for not a penny – incredible volunteers.
“At five in the morning on a Monday, in the freezing cold and the rain, Councillor Jonathan Powell, myself, the two students and Jose Camacho from The Mill stood with our Christmas lights organiser Paul Mitchell and we did a small film. Jose did the drone works – that was the aerial shots – and it was incredible to have Father Christmas and Dolly Daydream, who both coincidentally turned up at the same time, outside The Mill.
“The town looks absolutely incredible and I have to also thank the Stone in Bloom volunteers who stood one Saturday morning wrapping all the trees with lights. Particular thanks go to Councillor Rob Kenney who, the following week, went up and down the ladder 100 times switching on the lights of the Christmas trees and they look absolutely beautiful.
“To date the video has received over 18,000 viewings from all over the world; Australia, Turkey, Spain and Italy, and there’s still lots of viewings going on. One of the things that was highlighted from the virtual Christmas lights switch on is the amount of people who got in touch with us and said this is the first time they have been able to see the lights being switched on because they can’t get out.
“That never occurred to me before but that’s highlighted it now. The town looks beautiful, we have a video that has gone all over the world and it’s all down to the two students, Father Christmas, Dolly Daydream and the team that joined in.
“Will we do it again next year? I think that’s a question to be asked. I loved the gathering in the town, but maybe we can work something out. It was a huge success and a big thank you on behalf of Stone Town Council to everyone who was involved – in particular Amber Mottershead and Olivia Bethell.”
Councillor Philip Leason offered thanks to Councillor Hood for her efforts too. He said: “The light switch-on was absolutely fantastic.”
