Chichester Canal illumination will 'brighten up the festive season'

Chichester Ship Canal Trust said it was 'delighted that the canal is illuminated again this year', thanking its volunteers for their hard work over the last few weeks to put up the lights.

Mike Lambert, volunteer trading director said, "We are thrilled to be able to put on a Christmas display to brighten up the festive season.

"The basin will be illuminated from 4pm to 11pm every day.

"The work party was moved by the number of people who thanked them for putting up the lights this year. It shows just how important the canal is to so many of its visitors."

Jeanne Maddison, wife of the canal’s late trading chair, Malcolm, 'did the canal the honour' of flicking the switch last Saturday.

"Malcolm would have been delighted to see the festive traditions continuing," a spokesperson for the trust said.

"The canal trust volunteers were so disappointed not to be able to run the Father Chichester boat trips this year. Father Christmas has still landed at the basin, as he does every year, along with his reindeer and a plump penguin."

The trust said November saw incredible support for the café’s takeaway offer, and the canal 'remained a popular destination for people to safely be outside'.

The café is open from 10am to 3pm until December 24 and is 'now able to provide limited indoor seating', subject to restrictions, alongside its takeaway service.

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