A gloomy Christmas for shoppers in George Street 1967 ...or was it ?

In town centres up and down the country festive Christmas lights were on display - except Luton's George Street and for the third year running the central shopping area of the town was to remain "gloomy".

Traders lacked incentive for Fairy lights and decorations blaming the introduction of parking meters, these restrictions they say encourage the public to shop elsewhere.

Luton Chamber of Trade never asked the George Street traders to support the idea of lights, there was no point they say, unless of course the Corporation rid the town of Parking Meters, then we might consider supporting the scheme.

Even the large multiples were unwilling to support the festive lights. "Why should we subsidise the costs for the smaller shops" was their answer.

The Chamber of Trade's President Mr Raymond Fox a local Fruiterer and Florist always supported Christmas displays in Luton, but after the dismissal again of festivities and lights in George Street, Mr Fox decided he would decorate his own Christmas Tree on the forecourt of his shop in Bishopscote Road.

He ended by saying the likelihood of seeing Christmas lights in George Street again is very very remote. He added Bury Park in Dunstable Road have made a huge effort with their brightly coloured display,- they were switched on last week.

Three weeks later nearer Christmas Eve 1967, the Luton News reports "It was a cash crescendo at the shopping tills in George Street. We could not have been busier they say, Shop Managers described business as booming".

Mr Fox admitted that Saturday was the happiest day we have had for a long time, but the day's figures will not help the losses local traders have sustained.

Normally build up for Christmas starts six weeks before. This year it narrowed down to two weeks. However there was no mention of the dreaded 'parking meters'.

Good Old George Street always rises to the occasion, lights or no lights!

Well it did in 1967.