Ferring Christmas lights hailed as ‘great success’

MP for Worthing West Sir Peter Bottomley was on hand to officially turn on the lights on the village green, Father Christmas made an appearance and Christmas carols were sung by the sea scouts, cubs and beaver groups.

The Reverend Gary Ingram blessed also the lights and a prayer was said by baptist minister Stuart Robinson.

Sir Peter said: “It was a great success. I thank the scouts, the cubs and the beavers for helping me light up Ferring.

“The organisers expected 80 people but the crowd was about 400. My thanks go to the organisers, to the vicar and the baptist minister for the prayers and the blessings at the ceremony. We all enjoyed excellent refreshments in the church hall. It was a reminder of the story of the loaves and the fishes and nobody was left hungry.

“I congratulate the parish councillors and the shop keepers for this initiative.”

Ferring parish council installed an electrical point on the green and the lights were financed by the Ferring branch of ASDA.

Parish Clerk Nadine Phibbs said: “It exceeded our expectations and was a great success. We have had very positive feedback, the villagers were pleased there’s something in Ferring and the plan now will be to build on this year’s event.

“I understand that over the last few Christmases nothing had happened so the idea was to get something done this year.

For me as parish clerk I would like to see it as an annual event.”