Staff at the Corporation of St George faced an unexpected challenge in the lead-up to the Onion Drop welcoming 2026 after they discovered rats had developed a taste for the iconic onion.

The corporation’s January newsletter noted that while the annual New Year’s Eve event was a success, staff had to make some emergency repairs to the onion after rodents decided to take a bite.

The newsletter said: “We pulled the famous onion out of storage only to discover they had eaten the electrical wiring.

“So yes, the onion looked a little different this year. It donned a gold centre adorned with multicoloured lights and the final product was nothing short of spectacular.

“Corporation staff succeeded again. Congratulations and thank you.”

In a new year’s message, Quinell Francis, the Mayor of the Town of St George, said 2025 stood out as a “momentous” year, noting the 25th anniversary of the Unesco World Heritage Site designation.

Ms Francis said: “We took the opportunity to spotlight major properties in the town, presenting the best of our business community and providing insights into their unique stories.

“While we were disappointed that weather and logistics forced the cancellation of two of our seven signature events — the Cup Match Extravaganza and Seafood Festival — the majority of our calendar was a resounding success. We even secured a full drone light show for NYE, an extended feature that many people were asking for.

“We look to 2026 with renewed focus and are currently seeking corporate partners to help realise an enhanced vision for the Town of St George, ensuring even greater national engagement.”

Candy-Lee Foggo, the town manager, said that even with two event cancellations, the corporation and its staff were able to host a variety of events and continue works to improve the town.

Mr Foggo said: “In 2025, we had to seriously evaluate our preparedness for extreme weather.

“With the increasing risk of major Category 5 storms in the Atlantic, discussions around recovery planning became essential, particularly as the town is primarily residential, with buildings dating back over 200 years.

“Additionally, the town successfully addressed infrastructure challenges, including a sinkhole and utility line breaks, while transitioning wastewater management to the BLMC as our new service provider.”

The newsletter also noted that work to repair a collapsed wall at Somers Garden, brought down by torrential rain in 2024, continued despite setbacks.

The newsletter said: “This has not been a simple repair, beginning with delays in receiving the necessary building permits and further setbacks from inclement weather.

“As an historic site where the original wall was a dry-stacked construction, the repair had to match the existing aesthetic. Modern building regulations meant the solution required rebar and concrete block, which is not exactly fitting for an historic landmark.

“The solution was to build the concrete wall and face it with the Bermuda stone saved from the original collapsed wall.”

The newsletter added that while inclement weather and events in the town had slowed progress, the project was nearing completion.