Team work helps bring Christmas tree to town

A team effort has ensured that visitors to Lerwick will be able to enjoy a Christmas tree at the Market Cross.

The tree is being re-instated to its favoured spot and will be switched on during the Winter Festival parade on Saturday.

Plans for the Living Lerwick Magical Christmas Light Switch-on event are well under way. It will begin with the light switch-on parade at 3.30pm.

The parade will start at Victoria Pier, where Santa will arrive by lifeboat. Bairns from Peerie Foxes will switch on the Christmas lights with their wands as the parade progresses through the town centre. The parade will end at the Market Cross with the switching on of the Christmas tree lights.

For the second year running, Living Lerwick has worked in partnership with the SIC, haulage firm Northwards and NorthLink Ferries to reinstate the popular big Norwegian Christmas tree at the Market Cross.

Two trees have traditionally been gifted to Shetland as a gesture of goodwill from Norway to commemorate the Shetland Bus. These are erected in Scalloway and Whalsay.

Until 2012, extra trees were bought by the council to be erected in the town, including at the Market Cross. But austerity cuts put paid to that, leading to the other organisations getting involved.

Living Lerwick chairman Gary Bain said: “It’s clear everyone wants a tree at the Market Cross. Buying, transporting, erecting and decorating a large Christmas tree is hugely expensive, so we had to look at how to provide that without blowing our budget.

“Working in partnership, we have managed to find a solution which benefits everyone. Northwards and NorthLink have transported all three trees from Aberdeen for us free of charge and Shetland Islands Council Roads Department have erected our one at the Market Cross. Living Lerwick are decorating the tree.”