Saintfield’s Christmas Tree

Have you ever wondered where Saintfield’s Christmas Tree comes from? Or how it is positioned in front of the Orange Hall, or who decorates it? Well, read on and you will discover the answers!

For the past number of years the Christmas Tree has been kindly donated to Saintfield by a committee member of Saintfield Development Association (formerly Saintfield Town regeneration Committee).  The trees come from the committee member’s own garden.

 The tree arrives in Saintfield and EJ Magee, the contractor approved and paid
for by Down District Council, slot it into its hole in front of the Orange Hall.
SDA members Sam and Bob “supervise” the operation.

Many pupils in Academy Primary School have been working on decorations for the Christmas
tree. These three lucky children escape school for a short time to deliver the decorations.
The decorations have been sealed in clear plastic by Masseys of Saintfield to make them waterproof.

The tree looks sad without any decorations …

… but with the help of headmaster Stephen Moore the children’s
decorations soon make the tree look like a real Christmas tree!

Children from the Assumption Youth Club show some of the
decorations they have made for Saintfield’s Christmas Tree.

The decorations are added to the tree, with one dad lending
his shoulders so that the higher branches can be reached!

The last Christmas decoration is placed on the tree.

That evening the Christmas Tree lights are switched on, and doesn’t the tree look bright and colourful? Additional lights were purchased for the tree this year from money raised at an autumn quiz in The White Horse Inn, organised by Saintfield Town Regeneration Committee (now Saintfield Development Association). The lights are powered from the Orange Hall, with the bill for the electricity paid for by Saintfield Development Association.

So the Tree is in place for another Christmas.  Now you know where it came from, who donated it, how it got here, who positioned it, who decorated it, and who pays for the lights and electricity.  It doesn’t just appear by magic each year!