A tour on the sleigh
Delight at seeing Santa
All pictures by Clare Damodaran Scott McGregor and his helpers will be poring over catalogues to select the new illuminations Keith Reid
S a n t a ’s t o u r o f t h e s t r e e t s o f Blairgowrie and Rattray in his sleigh continues this week.
Icy weather and treacherous ground conditions forced him to reschedule some of his visits on Wednesday and Thursday last week.
Weather permitting, the man of the moment is expected to be in the Manor Gardens, Moyness Park Gardens, William Geddes Place and Woodlands Park area from 6pm to 8.30pm on Wednesday, December 20, and, if enough volunteers can be mustered to help out, the Douglas Road, Cedar Drive, Paterson Drive and Elm Drive area on Thursday at the same time.
Meanwhile, Santa had a very busy morning at Tesco on Welton Road on Saturday, delighting youngsters of all ages, and he has also visited dozens of children in the town in recent days.
His tour of the local area has been organised by volunteers from the Blairgowrie and Rattray Illuminations Committee.
And the committee is celebrating this week after bagging £4000 from Tesco’s Bags of Help community grant scheme.
The initiative is run in partnership with environmental charity Greenspace Scotland and sees grants raised from the sale of carrier bags awarded to thousands of local community projects every year.
Voting in the latest round of funding took place in stores throughout September and October.
Keith Reid, chair of the committee, said: “Our Bags of Help grant application was specifically for enhancing Rattray’s Christmas lights in the form of at least eight lamp post-mounted shapes.
“Our community obviously appreciated this project by voting with their tokens and we are very grateful for that support.
“Scott McGregor of the Old Cross Inn and his Rattray helpers will be poring over catalogues next month to select the new illuminations for the community.”
Anyone who wants to volunteer to help out on any of Santa’s trips this week can contact Margaret Wotherspoon on 01250 870372 for more information.
Please follow the ‘Blair and Rattray Christmas Lights Switch-On’ page on Facebook for regular updates on Santa’s tour of the town this week.