Frome Valentine Gas Lamp
14th February 2026
The 2026 ceremony, signalled by a Queen of Hearts rocket at 5.30pm, started with the gathering crowd being serenaded by accordian player Tom Woolman and the Selwood Bounds musicians, accompanied by the Selwood Bounds morris dancers who were captivating. At 6pm sharp the town crier, Martin Scott, exulted the crowd with words about love. Four poems were read by Jane Hughes, Mike Rogers, Caroline Rose and Roz Dace. Eddie Young, the new lamplighter, said a few words and lit the lamp! The mayor, Anita Collier, said the thanks and presented Reg Ling with a specially commisioned hand painted illustration, by Paul ‘Mutartis’ Boswell, which will be featured in the upcoming book about Reg and the creation of the Valentine Lamp, to be published later this year. Mulled wine and hot berry juice was imbibed. The weather was dry and mild, a much needed break in the long wet winter we had all endured. The crowd dispersed happy and full of love.
Poems read aloud:
Lover’s Lament
Love barged into my life in muddy boots.
‘You’re not on the list, you can’t come in,’ I said
and Love just laughed, strode in anyway,
blundering through my pristine solitude,
stuck its feet under my table, chucked its socks
beneath my bed, left a ring around the bath
and didn’t even care. I tell you, love sucks.
Impudent as an alley cat, bold as a busker,
Love is a brazen thief. Stole from under my nose
my precious hoard of loneliness.
(Written by Crysse Morrison and read by Jane Hughes)
LAMPLIGHTER, LAMPLIGHTER…
Lamplighter, lamplighter, light me a lamp
give me a guide through the dark and the damp
I’ll give you a light, but what you see
depends on you and not on me
When two people meet in the lamplight’s ring
will they both be looking for the same thing?
Under the lamplight, on the empty street,
see each other clearly, and really meet?
What does each one bring, that they’ve seen before?
Want the same, or different, or something more?
To want and to wish are different demands,
and only the second is in your hands,
To change yourself, as your partner does too,
combining to be something joined and new.
(Written and read by Mike Rogers)
No Birds Sing
No birds sing
As you walk by.
They hardly even tweet.
No flowers abound
On barren ground
Where you have set your feet.
The sea won’t freeze.
The sun won’t dim.
For you no eagles soar,
And yet, to me,
My precious love,
You’re everything.
And more.
(Written and read by Caroline Rose)
On Valentine’s Night
The Valentine Lamp thought deeply, while gazing at the stars,
‘Are there are other lamps like me on Jupiter or Mars?
Do they light the way for lovers, embracing young and old,
ignite the fires of passion, warm hearts that have turned
cold?
In those spangled heavens would they shine as bright as me,
caught in sparkling stardust for all in love to see?’
And in that cobbled night as she shone her glowing light,
a beacon on the hill above Frome’s velvet night,
she wished upon a star which fell from far above,
that all who were alone should receive the gift of love,
and all those sad and lost should find the warmth of bliss,
and feel the hug of happiness with the touch of a sweet kiss.
(Written and read by Roz Dace)
14th February 2025
The 2025 ceremony, signalled by the traditional firework at 5.30pm, started with the gathering crowd being serenaded by an accordian player, Tom Woolman. At 6pm sharp the town crier, Martin Scott, exulted the crowd with words about love. Three poems were read by Dom McDonald, Jane Hughes and Ethan King. Reg Ling, the inventor, creator and custodian of the lamp for the last 32 years, handed over his lamp lighting duties to the new incumbent Eddie Young, who lit the lamp. The mayor, Andy Jones, presented Reg Ling with a civic award to commemorate his commitment and dedication. Mulled wine was imbibed. It was cold and rained but the record crowd left happy and full of love.
Poems read aloud:
Without
Without both, the worlds are cold
unforgiving and hard.
Without both, we cannot touch
we do not flourish.
Without one, a dark enfolds the earth,
without the other, we are alone.
Without either, we wither
diminish and fade.
With the two, light and love,
we have life, we have warmth.
(Written and read by Dom McDonald)
Lamplight
I sense you, feel you, by my side.
Hold me, wrap me in your arms.
To feel your beating heart, in time
with mine, I surrender to your charms.
Your eyes, under lamplight, shine.
Valentine’s magic encircles us.
Shine, lamplight on my eyes.
Am I yours? Charmed and cherished?
Our hearts, as one, beat in time
as I’m held, secure in your arms.
You feel me, sense me, by your side.
(Written and read by Jane Hughes)
The Valentine Street Lamp
The sign is on a slant: I like that.
Love is never a level track.
Lamp post could do with a lick of paint;
Not one of us stays at our permanent best.
Bulb’s grown a bit dim;
That can happen too.
Look deeper:
Lasting Love is a wild briar,
Wrapped round a column of steel.
(Written and read by Ethan King)
