Norwegian ambassador to switch on Hungerford lights
Invite sent after shooting tragedy to symbolise hope for the future
HUNGERFORD mayor Martin Crane has written to his counterpart in Oslo, Norway, following the July attacks there by a deranged gunman.
Mr Crane has also invited the Norwegian ambassador to Britain to switch on the town's Christmas lights display this year.
He said he wrote following the tragedy after taking advice from predecessors include Jack Williams and Gwynneth Bullock and also informed Ron Tarry, who was mayor at the time of Hungerford's own tragedy.
Mr Crane said: “It seemed appropriate to demonstrate that, although the memory lingers, towns that have undergone such a tragedy can nevertheless survive and flourish.
“The light switch-on, in particular, can be seen as a symbol of hope.”
Norway's tragedy came in July when a deranged gunman targetted youngsters at a summer camp.
The announcement that the ambassador had accepted the invitation was made at a meeting of the town council's highways and transport committee on Monday night.
At the meeting, Roger Thompson revealed: “Every November a lady in town places a wreath on our war memorial on remembrance Sunday for the Norwegian department of the Special Operations Executive - that would be a nice link, to introduce her to the ambassador.”
Mr Desmeules, who attended the meeting to report on the progress of this year's Christmas lights project, added: “Any Norwegian residents of Hungerford should also be invited to attend the after event.”.
Meanwhile an appeal is being prepared to help organisers keep up the standard of the display.
One thousand pounds was cut from the seasonal display budget this year and organiser Rod Desmeules revealed this has co-incided with a record number of dud bulbs.
He said: “We need to raise awareness of the problem. I'm currently still in the process of testing them and I will know exactly where we stand by the end of the week.
“Then I shall be looking for ways to fund raise to make sure we get the display people have come to expect.”
