I read with interest ‘Have Your Say’, dated June 29 2012.
A letter commented how much Bill Bryson liked Weymouth. As a local I likewise found this pleasing.
Having just read this book for the second time, of interest is Chapter 22, whereby Bill visits Blackpool.
Bill outlines how much he’s been looking forward to seeing Blackpool illuminations. A sample of his quotes as follows: “Blackpool illuminations are nothing if not splendid and they are not splendid. In terms of a letdown it would be hard to exceed Blackpool’s light show.
“I thought there would be lasers sweeping the sky, strobe lights tattooing the clouds and other gasp making dazzlements, instead of several miles of paltry decorations on lampposts.
“I suppose if you had never seen electricity in action, it would be pretty breathtaking, but not even sure of that. It all seemed tacky and inadequate on a rather grand scale, like Blackpool itself.” In my opinion, these quotes demonstrate Bill is not particularly interested in light bulbs, rather lasers sweeping the sky.
Isn’t that precisely what Weymouth has strived to achieve?
Unfortunately Weymouth’s lasers shine seawards.
Think of a car headlight – they face away from the driver and on to solid objects, so that the driver can see the way and oncoming cars can be seen.
When there is fog, rain or snow in the air, the beam becomes more visible and brighter due to particles in the air.
Likewise, the better the weather on Weymouth seafront, the less visible the display becomes as fewer particles exist to get illuminated.
The solution as mentioned in previous correspondence would be the lasers shining towards the Esplanade i.e. out at sea, which is not feasible. Bright ideas anyone?
DAVID FOOTE Abbotsbury Road Weymouth
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