Doncaster woman organises social distant light switch on

A Doncaster woman wanted to spread cheer to the village that she lives in so she organised a socially distant Christmas light switch on.
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Karla Kirton wanted to do something nice for the residents of Wadworth village as she knew that no one would be having a normal Christmas this year.

Karla, 34, said: “I asked a few people in the village if they would be willing to chip in for some lights and before I knew it we had 74 trees sponsored by individuals or families.

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Karla wants to spread festive cheer in her village.Karla wants to spread festive cheer in her village.
Karla wants to spread festive cheer in her village.

People stood by the tree they had sponsored and we all switched the lights on at the same time.”

Karla added tags to the trees so that people could remember which trees they had sponsored and could return to them on a nightly basis if they wanted to.

“It was really nice to get the whole village together again,” she said.

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“We were socially distant of course but the community spirit was just lovely.”

74 trees were decorated with lights.74 trees were decorated with lights.
74 trees were decorated with lights.

Karla has only lived in Wadworth for two years and hoped that this would be a nice way to connect with neighbours she had not met before.

“Get people out of their houses because during these lockdowns many of us are not seeing others at all.”

The lights switch on every night at 5pm and Karla said that it had raised community spirit in the village greatly.

Residents of Wadworth who took part in the light switch on.Residents of Wadworth who took part in the light switch on.
Residents of Wadworth who took part in the light switch on.

In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Nancy Fielder, editor.

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