Elves tackle Covid-19 in Boyes's Christmas window display, one of Scarborough's great festive traditions

The Christmas window display at Boyes store in Scarborough has been revealed, to spread some festive joy during the Covid-19 pandemic.
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This year's display, masterminded by Creative Director Elaine Truman, has used the coronavirus pandemic as the inspiration for the windows.

Store manager Chris Golder said: “It’s very themed this year, along the lines of, unfortunately, the coronavirus pandemic and we’ve tried to tie it all in.

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"When you have a look at the window the elves are social distancing and using hand sanitiser

The window display this year is themed around the Covid-19 pandemic.The window display this year is themed around the Covid-19 pandemic.
The window display this year is themed around the Covid-19 pandemic.

"It’s a nice feeling that Santa will be coming on Christmas Eve still, but he has been isolating!”

The window display at Boyes has become a Scarborough institution and this year features elves wearing face masks and signs supporting the NHS.

“The reaction has been fantastic because I think everybody needed a little bit of cheer and everyone is used to seeing the Christmas windows. Obviously everyone was wondering whether we were going to do one, whether it was possible to do one.

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“But we have done it, we thought it was the right thing to do for the community and for everyone to put a bit of cheer and festive sparkle into Scarborough for the festive period.”

There is plenty of hand sanitiser for the elves.There is plenty of hand sanitiser for the elves.
There is plenty of hand sanitiser for the elves.

Mr Golder said that planning for the Christmas windows usually begins in March but because of the pandemic that had not happened this year.

He said that Elaine had been busy dreaming up the theme and storyboards early in October, and it had then taken two to three weeks to finish off the windows.

Fortunately, the pandemic has not impacted putting the window display together.

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“Elaine’s been working in the windows so it’s not so bad because when you’re in the windows you’re separated from everybody else.

Store manager Chris Golder outside the store.Store manager Chris Golder outside the store.
Store manager Chris Golder outside the store.

"We’ve not had as much time to plan but we’ve still managed to get it done in the time frame.”

Santa's arrival by boat and the grotto inside Boyes have been cancelled this year due to the ongoing restrictions.

Mr Golder added: “I think the windows are really important because we couldn’t do the Santa’s grotto, we couldn’t get Santa to arrive by boat this year so the window has become more important for everyone in Scarborough, just to try and put that little bit of sparkle into our lives at this difficult time."

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