The beautiful blue-white star that magically hangs in the black winter sky over the Folly Tower at Christmas has become almost as iconic as the tower itself. We’ve taken it for granted. We’ve simply expected it to appear every year, and not surprisingly we were then very disappointed when, last year, it didn’t appear.
Let’s start with a bit of background. Since the millennium (when the tower got power) we've been able to have a Christmas beacon shining over the Vale to cheer us up during the cold wet winter months – thanks to the amazing work of Peter White. Thank you, Peter.
In those early days, it was a different light every year. For the millennium, uniquely, the tower became the world’s only lighthouse that couldn’t be seen from the sea, with its very own beacon signature, registered officially with the Hydrographic Office of the UK. In the years that followed, we’ve had a whole range of different beacons, from piercing searchlights to pulsating pink. But then we somehow settled on our favourite: the Christmas Star.
It was built by Peter with fluorescent tubes before LEDs were even an option. This meant chunky fittings and a heavy frame. It required scaffolding to keep the 2.5m high star aloft - more than 4m above the viewing platform so that it was visible above the tower turrets. In those days, health and safety also took a back seat, which helped when erecting the scaffolding. To cut a long story short; the original fluorescent-tube star was on its last legs; prone to failure - and it would have been unsafe to re-erect it. So, we're starting again.
This time, we’re using cutting edge LED technology; lighter, more robust, easier, and safer to erect. This is not available off-the-shelf and does require specialists to make the LED tubes and controllers for us. As for the frame and the means of holding it aloft, RAC on Park Road have very kindly offered to help us build this and put it together which will keep the costs down.
Clearly, one of the many challenges is to build it in such a way that it’s easy to get up those narrow stairs, and easy (as well as safe) to erect. If you wish to contribute to the cost of the new star, then you’ll find the bank transfer details (ref: STAR) on the website: faringdonfolly.org.uk
We look forward to our new Christmas Star that will again bedazzle the Vale for many years to come.
