Two lucky children had the opportunity of a lifetime this week, when they won the Heritage Homes Christmas art competition for the chance to switch on the lights at the company’s two ‘Christmas Cranes’ in Douglas.
Ryan Carey from Braddan Primary School took the honours in the 4 to 7 year-old category, with his colourful drawing of a house with Christmas decorations. Ryan switched on the lights at the 111 foot-high Potain tower crane at Heritage Homes’ Quay West site on Bridge Road.
In the 8 to 12 age group, William Draper of Onchan Primary School impressed the judges with his highly creative picture of Santa waving from a crane and switched on the lights at the Spectrum development on Douglas Promenade. The 130 foot-high Liebherr tower crane with its 180 foot long jib is covered in over 500 feet of shining Christmas lights.
Both lucky winners were given an official countdown by the site crew before pushing the button to light up the cranes. Ryan and William were then presented with £25 in Christmas money and a £100 cheque for their respective schools by Marion Taggart from Heritage Homes.
Commenting on the competition, Lin White, Associate Sales & Marketing Director of Heritage Homes said: ‘We’ve been decorating our cranes for many years now and it has become something of a tradition. In the run up to Christmas many people ask us when the lights will be going up, so this year we thought it would be nice to offer local school children the chance to undertake the official ‘switch-on’ at Spectrum and Quay West.
She continues: ‘The response to the competition was amazing and the standard of entries was very high, however we felt that Ryan and William’s pictures had a little extra Christmas sparkle. We’re delighted that the boys enjoyed their experience and we’d like to wish them a very Happy Christmas.”
