Sir,

Through your Letters page, the Saundersfoot Chamber for Tourism would like to explain to all your readers why the Christmas Market was not held this year.

After nine years of successfully organising the St. Nicholas Christmas Market, the chamber committee decided that as so many other towns and villages in the surrounding areas had these last few years followed our lead and held their own markets and usually on the same weekend as Saundersfoot, we thought it was time for a change.

This change produced The Saundersfoot Switch On last Saturday, with events throughout the day, including Santa's Grotto, fireworks, laser shows and a fun fair, which we thought would incorporate something for everyone.

It was a gamble, as we only had the limited funds that had slowly grown over the last 10 years of the chamber's existence, so it was decided to concentrate on illuminating the centre of the village and to keep the lights on throughout the Christmas period until Twelfth Night to attract additional late evening Christmas trading.

We were delighted with the wonderful show that our efforts had achieved. With several of the businesses buying the lights that were displayed on their premises, it enabled us to put lights in the Strand as well.

We would like to thank everyone who has helped us in this new venture, including Saundersfoot Community Council; Saundersfoot Harbour Commissioners and their very helpful staff; Bracey's Decking for providing Santa's Grotto and the beautiful wooden stall; Glyn Stephens for spending all those cold hours up on the cherry-picker putting up all the lights in the village; West Coast Fireworks; LM Productions for the laser shows; St. Brides Spa Hotel, The Mermaid and The Marina for purchasing their lights; the following businesses who have let us have use of their electric - The Spar, The Mermaid, Third Rock, The Lounge, Mr. Gray at 8 The Strand, Harbour Gift Shop at Beddoes Court, The Marina, Tony Upham and Partners (because all the lights have very low energy bulbs, the electricity used will be very small); and not forgetting the small band of helpers who were always there on the day.

Our next big event will be the St. David's Day Food and Craft Festival and Cawl Cooking Championships of the World and Elsewhere, to be held next year on February 28 and March 1. If anyone would like to book a stall, please telephone (01834) 812610.

Finally, Saundersfoot Chamber for Tourism would like to take this opportunity of wishing everyone in Saundersfoot a happy and holy Christmas and good luck for the New Year, and invite everyone to welcome the New Year in at the firework display on the harbour as usual. We also look forward to your contined support in our events during 2009.

Lilian Lang,

On behalf of the committee,

Saundersfoot Chamber

for Tourism.