At the time of writing, it would be nearly 4 weeks until Big Tree Night 2021.
But sadly, as you all know Big Tree Night is not taking place this year.
The committee have been bombarded with the ‘why nots’ and ‘really, we are not in lock-down’ and ‘we have our freedom so what’s the problem?’ The reader may well ask has COVID become an excuse for so much not happening in our community, including Big Tree Night? Well, my answer to that is a firm no!
COVID is not an excuse but the very reason why Big Tree Night is not taking place this year!
This is my 13th year of being involved in organising one of Shepperton’s biggest events of the year. I cannot begin to tell you how much planning goes into organising such an occasion. Preparations start to be put into place at the beginning of August, when the financial outlay also begins.
Not only is it at this time that Santa, his elves, reindeers and sleigh are booked, but road closures applied for, bus schedules addressed with diversions requested. Then there are the stall holders, stall planning, food and drink orders, children’s rides, schools, choirs, stag-ing, entertainment, dance groups, rehearsals, Christmas trees, sponsorship, programme planning, poster design competitions to organise, shop windows to be designed, dressed, and judged, advertisements put together, editorial written, liaison with Surrey County Council and Spelthorne Council and local businesses… Need I go on?!
In short when the decision was reached to cancel Big Tree Night it was following gov-ernment and local guidelines at the time. Judgement needed to be made early as there was no clear message as to how the winter and Christmas would play out with regard the COVID passport question. With so many op-tions to access the High Street and not enough volunteers it would make it an impossible task to police the event should COVID passports be required.
As Big Tree Night is a non-profit making event that relies solely on sponsorship and donations, to go ahead without that financial support in place and with so much uncertainty revolving around COVID would have been a financial disaster. Not to mention a virtual impossibility to obtain insurance for the night.
It may possibly have been the easier decision to go ahead but in the end the more responsi-ble decision not to.
Christmas is still happening even without Big Tree Night! For our part this includes the erection of nearly 60 Christmas trees in and around the village, all organised by the Big Tree Night Committee. These trees are dressed by volunteers every year. It is the same group of volunteers that make Big Tree Night happen so thank you, you know who you are! However, my personal special thanks go to Carl Phillips, Chantal Mitchell, Rita Nunn, Niki Molnar and Nigel Gray.
Whichever events you choose to attend this festive season, stay safe. The issues of mixing unvaccinated children and individuals with older people and the more vulnerable of our community still exists. COVID is still with us, new cases are being reported every day and sadly deaths too. So, forgive us for being re-sponsible and cancelling Big Tree Night 2021 we stand by our decision that it was the right thing to do!
Until next year from all of us have yourselves a very merry Christmas and a healthy and safe 2022.
With best wishes,
Barbara Unsworth
Secretary Shepperton & District Business Community/ Big Tree Night Committee.
For Big Tree Night 2022 details please visit – https://bigtreenight.uk/