Left in the dark: Sanderstead last night, where the Christmas lights switch on never happened
A crowd of hundreds of locals were left disappointed last night, when they turned out to see Sanderstead’s Christmas lights switched on… and nothing happened.
Thanks to the residents’ association and Rotary club, and with sponsorship from a local estate agents, this annual charity event had attracted families from around the area for a bit of early festive fun.
Father Christmas was there, albeit with his sleigh drawn by a posh-looking 4×4 (the reindeer had been given the night off).
According to one source, “In common with a lot of people in Sanderstead, and accompanied by my wife and daughter, we were looking forward to the Christmas lights being switched on,
Bright spot: Father Christmas arrived in Sanderstead on schedule, his sleigh pulled by a 4×4
“As has been the custom for a while, Paul Meakin estate agents and the Rotary club hosted a party, with some mince pies, mulled wine and Buck’s fizz.” There was even a church choir there to sing carols.
Father Christmas’s arrival signalled the start of the countdown for the much-anticipated big lights switch-on. Joined by more than a hundred others, Santa called out the numbers: “Three! Two! One!”
And then nothing happened.
“Then there was another countdown – and then nothing. And then the same thing happened again.”
According to the disappointed Sanderstead resident, “No one seemed to know quite what was happening.” They had all been left in the dark. Quite literally.
Branches of the Rotary club have been doing similar ceremonies around the borough in the past week or so, without a hitch. In Sanderstead, the Christmas lights were were supposed to be on a timer. Trouble was, someone at the council forgot to set it.
“Cue a lot of disappointed Sanderstead kids and parents gradually peeling off and going home,” said our source.
“So, yes, not the worst mistake anyone’s made at the council – but it doesn’t exactly inspire confidence, does it?”
The council’s press office is not open today, so no one was available to comment.
Or to apologise.
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