THANKS to generous sponsorship from the village business community, and some individuals, Crossgates will have Christmas lights this year and fulfil the wishes of their late chairperson, Liz Beattie.

The festive season of 2018 lacked sparkle in the village because most of the Christmas lights had become unsafe so Crossgates and Mossgreen Community Council committed themselves to raising enough funding to get the lamp standards on Main Street fitted out to take the new Christmas lights and replace the lights units.

They faced having to raise £11,500 to achieve it but everything is now in place to see an official switch-on at 7pm on Friday November 29.

Said community council treasurer John Wylie: “It was a tough job but we have managed to put the funding package together to ensure that Crossgates will have Christmas lights this year and the wishes of Liz, who died two years ago, have been fulfilled.

“We are indebted to Collier Haulage and Quarriers for their very generous support and also Fife Council, Lodge St John 540 Crossgates, Mossgreen Service Station, the Coaledge Quizzers, the Crystal Bar, and Mr and Mrs Faulds, for their backing and making it all possible.”

Mr Wylie explained that a major investment had to be made to get the appropriate fittings attached to each lamp standard to take the Christmas lights but now that this had been done these should last a number of years.

He added: “The backing of the Colliers and our other sponsors has been outstanding and we are now ready for the big switch-on on Friday November 29, it will be a grand occasion and one Liz Beattie would be proud of.

“We would also say a big thank-you to Lee Easdale, of Fife Council, for his assistance in making this all happen.”

The Community Council’s second senior citizen’s Christmas party will take place on Thursday November 28 in Lodge St John 540 from 1pm to 6pm, thanks to sponsorship from Asda, Fife Council and Lodge St John and it is already sold out.