An official handover of a Christmas tradition stretching back two decades has happened in Welcome Bay.

New owners of Welcome Bay Vet Clinic, Dr Hannah Bain and vet nurse Sarah Wilson, are determined to maintain the animal-centric light decorations that have been iconic in the community for the last two decades.

“That’s the main thing people ask about when they find out the business is changing hands,” said Bain. “Every single friend, family and client has immediately checked that we’ll still be doing the annual [Christmas light] display.”

Former owner Dr John Drummond said his first attempt at constructing a dog pulling a cat on a sleigh out of aluminium rods and fairy lights about 20 years ago failed horribly.

“It was a mess,” said Drummond, who began the vet clinic light display for his community.

“There was too much detail in the design and the lights were all over the place, but the following year rope lights came out and we simplified the design. It was really good,” said Drummond. “Then we learned how to do time switches to create motion and we were away.”

Welcome Bay vet Clinic former owner Dr John Drummond said his first attempt at constructing a dog pulling a cat on a sleigh out of aluminium rods and fairy lights about 20 years ago failed horribly. Photo: David Hall.

Drummond has fond memories of his now-adult son as a young fella dressing as Santa and standing out outside the clinic to hand out lollies to people following the city’s light trail.

“He would disappear into the minibuses from retirement villages and dish out the chewy toffees and we realised he needed a bag full of soft lollies too,” said Drummond.

“As a team, we love the Christmas lights and putting up decorations,” said Bain. “John has been amazing because most of the lights are animals, like Santa Cat, and he’s designed them himself. He’s a very clever man.”

The boxes of decorations take up most of the attic space of the clinic, so residents will have noticed a growing display as each decoration is switched on as it’s put in place. Bain describes it as a “project of stages’”.

This year is special because Drummond is passing on the legacy he created before he retires.

“We’re learning the ropes of how it’s all unravelled, placed and plugged in and then how to pack it all down again,” said Bain.

The Welcome Bay Vet Clinic is part of the 2024 Tremains Christmas Lights Trail, which runs from December 1-17. The trail winner will be announced on December 18.

Meanwhile, as is tradition, an address list of all house participants is published in this edition of The Weekend Sun on pages 16-17 so the public can view the trail.

Or find the address list at: https://thehits.iheart.com/win/bay-of-plenty/tremains-christmas-lights-trail/

- SunLive