How to contact the Association

To help out with any of the many tasks needed to be done or for more information please contact any member of the Committee listed below:

Chair: Brian Roberts Tel: 260330
Vice-Chair: Rex Davis Tel: 415286
Secretary: Gill Dunkley, The Old Malthouse, Gloucester Road, Thornbury BS35 1LH, Tel: 281801 or email:
Membership Secretary: Terry Ray, Hollybush Cottage, Clay Lane, Thornbury BS35 3UA, Tel: 412272
Treasurer: Fred Macey, 39 Squires Leaze, Thornbury, BS35 1TB Tel: 418827
Publicity: George Jackson Tel: 01454 884099 or e-mail:

Latest News

International Aid for Thornbury's Christmas Lights

At their recent meeting, members of Thornbury Christmas Lights Association reviewed the 2011-12 lighting campaign and what Chairman, Brian Roberts, described as, ‘Probably the most successful switch-on evening ever.’

A record sixty seven properties in the town centre had had lighting fittings connected and around two thirds of all displays had now been converted to the the low energy LED type. This process would be continued as funds permitted.

Another record had been set with some thirty stalls being set up by local traders and voluntary organizations in the Christmas Community Fair organized by Thornbury Chamber of Commerce, to whom sincere thanks were recorded.

Almost certainly, the attendance at the switch-on was also a record. Although impossible to count numbers accurately, several experienced members were of the view that it was the biggest crowd ever seen for the event. Ben ‘The Stig’ Collins had attracted a great audience and had proved to be a genuinely nice man.

Thanks were expressed to all those who had made the display possible by approving grants, making cash donations, providing equipment, donating the tree (RMB Hydroseeding), permitting lights to be attached to buildings, providing the electricity to run them, paying subscriptions, working on erection of displays, their maintenance, dismantling and storage and in so many other different ways.

It is impossible to list all those involved but they know who they are and they have the sincere thanks of the Association and of all those who enjoyed the lights over Christmas and the New Year.

Recent donations were reported to the meeting by the Treasurer and included generous sums from regular supporters Thornbury Magazine and the Lions Club of Thornbury but much more unusual was a gift of £110 from the Seaview Schools at St Elizabeth in Jamaica. The Schools regularly raise funds for good causes worldwide and through a Thornbury connection, staff and pupils were aware of the town’s voluntary Christmas display and decided that TCLA was a worthy cause for support.

If any readers enjoyed this year’s lights and having actually seen them would like to join our Jamaican friends (who haven’t) in showing appreciation and helping to enable the show to go on, they should send their cheques to TCLA Treasurer Fred Macey at 39 Squires Leaze, Thornbury, BS35 1TB.

Local Charity Benefits from Christmas Lights Switch On in Thornbury

Each year Thornbury Christmas Lights Association chooses a charity to benefit from the proceeds of the switch-on evening and in 2011 the chosen charity was the Jessie May Trust.

The Charity’s officials and their supporters were out in force with collection buckets when the town’s lights were switched on by the former ‘Stig’ Ben Collins on 22 November and the proceeds of that collection were supplemented by a very significant donation from Albert Rogers Funfair which provided a large part of the entertainment that evening.

As a result, cheques totaling £779.00 were presented on 6th December to Emma Kenton, the Trust’s Fund Raising Officer, appropriately under the Christmas tree in Thornbury High Street. Albert Rogers was unable to attend due to business commitments and his cheque was presented on his behalf by Tony Wilcock of TCLA. On receiving the cheques, Emma said how much she had enjoyed participating in the switch-on and praised Thornbury’s excellent community spirit.

For more information on the Jessie May Trust visit www.jessiemay.org.uk

Pictured left to right:- Fred Macey (Treasurer TCLA), Tony Wilcock, Emma Kenton and Brian Roberts (Chairman TCLA).

How to join TCLA

The town’s Christmas Lights are purchased, erected, serviced, maintained, taken down, stored, lovingly cared for and renewed as required entirely by the volunteers of the Thornbury Christmas Lights Association.

Each year the display costs a lot of money which must be raised by grants and donations and each year the display costs a lot of time and effort but we feel it’s all worthwhile and benefits Thornbury greatly.

We do realise that a number of TCLA members are unable to offer any practical help with the lighting displays, but we are grateful to all our members and value your moral support.

Family Membership to include all those in the household is £5 annually. Life Family Membership is a single payment of £40.

To join the Association, please click here to download a membership form or send a cheque together with your name, address, telephone number (and e-mail address) to the Membership Secretary Terry Ray, Hollybush Cottage, Clay Lane, Thornbury BS35 3UA.

To make a one-off donation please send a cheque direct to the Treasurer Jim Footman, 42 Knapp Road, Thornbury BS35 2HF.

TCLA Meetings

Click here to download the standard TCLA meeting agenda

Click here to download the minutes of the 2010 AGM

Click here to download the minutes of the January 2011 meeting

Community Christmas Market

In collaboration with Thornbury Chamber of Commerce, we have a Community Christmas Market.

Any traders, charities or local organisations interested in booking space should email , telephone Penny Skinner on 01454 858007 or call in at Bonds of Thornbury, 14 The Plain, Thornbury.

History of TCLA

Thornbury Christmas Lights Association was formed in 1991. Historically, Christmas lights displays had been provided for many years by the then Thornbury Chamber of Trade but when that body decided that it was no longer able to organise the annual High Street display, a group of volunteers came together to seek to rescue and continue what had already become a firm Thornbury tradition.

Almost twenty years later TCLA is still run by volunteers and with a number of the originals still among the ranks. Sadly some are no longer with us, including Terry Press who worked tirelessly to keep the town’s Christmas lamps alight and chaired the association until his untimely death in 2007.

Throughout its history TCLA has continued to improve and extend the displays and the cooperation of the St Mary Centre management has ensured full coverage of the town.

Although very much independent, the association could not carry on its work without the support of both Thornbury Town and South Gloucestershire Councils and also the many businesses, organisations and individuals who help in so many ways.