THE COMMUNITY

HOLMFIRTH Christmas Parade and lights switch-on had faded in recent years ... but it has now been dramatically turned around into a spectacular event.

This was because Holme Valley Parish councillor Rachel Hogley decided to step in to transform it into a major community celebration.

She heads a five-strong committee and 20 volunteers who realised the Christmas lights needed a major revamp and so they asked all 191 businesses in Holmfirth if they could help by donating towards an £8,000 target for new lights.

Three-quarters gave money and the tally reached £12,000, so 35 sockets are now on walls throughout the town to power the new LED lights which stretch for 2km.

But that was just the start for Rachel, who wanted the switch-on to be a real community event and so hit on the idea of using iconic Holmfirth symbol Fenella the tiger to lead the parade.

And, in the end, it was a huge success with crafts such as face masks and lanterns made before the event and hundreds of people turning up to celebrate the start of Christmas.

Fenella, a Sumatran tiger, arrived in Holmfirth in 1939. She had been given to the Overends, a family of entertainers, as a cub when they were touring South Africa and died in 1950.

She could regularly be seen being walked through the streets, and a giant model of her was the highlight of the parade led by Hope Bank Youth Band and featuring Santa and his sleigh, sponsored by Holmfirth and Meltham Lions.

The giant model of Fenella was made by volunteers during Holmfirth Art Festival in June.

Following Fenella were around 70 children dressed in Jack Frost and ice fairy costumes which were made at Hope Bank Art School, led by Chloe Williams.

Behind the art school was local artist Barry Russell and volunteers carrying lanterns made by pupils from Holmfirth Junior, Infant School and Upperthong Junior and Infant School.

Following the lantern troupe were Holmfirth young farmers with their tractors and trailers.

Then came several vintage tractors, Holme Valley Mountain Rescue and engines from Holmfirth Fire Station.

Rachel said: “Switch-ons are inherently disappointing so that’s why we did a community event to make people feel part of it. The lights and parade needed lots of time and energy putting into it.

“We’ve had a huge amount of positive feedback from people delighted to see such a good community effort and the parade had lots of colour in it.

“It was bringing the community together to celebrate all that’s good about Holmfirth. We are already working on next year’s event.”