Keep Christmas out of Remembrance

I SEE from the article in the Derby Telegraph, that Derby City Council has organised this year’s Christmas lights switch-on for Saturday, November 13” (“Lights fantastic!”, October 14).

Once again no consideration has been that this is within the four days period of Remembrance (November 11, Armistice Day to November 14 Remembrance Sunday) when we remember those who gave their lives in two World Wars and other conflicts since then. There should be no Christmas related events prior to the days of Remembrance.

Councillor Ross McCristal (City Council Cabinet member for Leisure, Culture, Tourism and Wellbeing) does not speak for everyone when he talks of the disappointment felt last year at the cancellation of the Christmas lights switch-on event; that event was just one of many that had to be cancelled due to pandemic restrictions, not least Remembrance Sunday commemorations.

Already this year we have the ‘Derby Loves You’ venue in the Market Place which is close to the War Memorial where wreaths are laid in our time of remembrance. Was any consideration given to this when the site for this was chosen?

I am not against having the Christmas lights switch-on but any such event should be after Armistice Day/Remembrance Sunday (whichever is the later) so this year that would be November 20 (assuming it takes place on a Saturday). There are still 25 days after for festivities in the lead up to Christmas.

Some years ago the then council organised the Christmas lights switch-on to take place before Remembrance Sunday but there were so many complaints that they changed the date to after Armistice Day/Remembrance Sunday and I thought they had agreed that it would always be so. Let us hope they change the date again.

Brenda Green, Derby