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Custom 'Tree Rex' designed by John aged 6 to star in Horsham Christmas Lights 2019

Visit Horsham > News > Custom 'Tree Rex' designed by John aged 6 to star in Horsham Christmas Lights 2019

Horsham's Christmas Lights this year will feature a custom-made illuminated "Christmas T-Rex" designed by 6 year old John from Horsham.

John's design was carefully selected, by a panel of judges, from dozens of designs entered into a competition run by Visit Horsham on behalf of Gala Lights and Horsham District Council.

Visit Horsham asked the judges to make their choices based on criteria that included "originality and imagination".

The judges were impressed with the standard of all the entries and choosing a winner was difficult. 

In the end though, the unique combination of a traditional Christmas Tree with a dinosaur (always a favourite with children!), was the design chosen by most judges.

As 'Lego' Steve of Master Builder Club put it: "I love the unique Christmassy version of a T Rex, it had traditional festive bits plus it encapsulated the spirit of a child's creativity - dinosaurs are always awesome!"

Gary Marlow of Woods for Learning said "It was a pleasure to choose a CHILD"S interpretation of Christmas so well done John."

A spokesperson for Gala Lights limited who will be manufacturing Tree Rex said "it's one of the best ones I’ve seen. It’s very different and cool".

On completion, the Tree Rex will be installed in The Forum for display to the public this Christmas. We will publish information about the planned Switching On Ceremony when we have it.

Visit Horsham would like to thank the following members who had the difficult role of picking a winner from the many high-quality entries:

Fiesta Tots

Sport4Kids

Woods for Learning

Master Builder Parties Master Builder Club

Ceramic Shack

FairKind Child

By Gavin Hewins

Published Oct. 21, 2019, 7:30 p.m.