A charity Christmas lights display in Watch Elm Close, Bradley Stoke has been voted the second best in the UK in a national poll conducted by ITV This Morning.
The extravagant display, put up by house owners Terry James and Mike Checkley, has been on since 1st December. Since then, it has attracted huge interest, initially through social media and the local print media, but latterly also through live broadcasts on local radio and television.
The attention led to Terry and Mike’s display being nominated for the Best Christmas Lights in the UK poll organised by breakfast television show ITV This Morning, in which they finished as runners-up.
Terry said:
“The media interest has been phenomenal, with live broadcasts on BBC Points West, ITV West Country News and BBC Radio Bristol.”
The couple set themselves a target of raising £4,000 for St Peter’s Hospice but this was passed on 10th December, so it has now been raised to £6,000!
Mike said:
“We have been overwhelmed by the fantastic support from everyone so far and we continue to be amazed each evening when we count the money. St Peter’s Hospice is such a great charity and it is fabulous that the local and wider community have been so generous with their donations. We would like to thank everyone who has so kindly made a donation, either online or in the buckets on the gates.”
You might still just be able to catch the lights, as they will be on every night from 5pm to 9pm until 1st January 2019.
Donations can be made in the collecting buckets put out every night for the use of visitors who come to see the lights. They can also be made online via a My Donate page:
https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/watchelmchristmaslights
Watch Elm Close is off Baileys Court Road. Postcode: BS32 8AN [map]
Photos: 1 Still from the live broadcast on ITV West Country News on 11th December. 2 Mike (centre) and Terry (right) with the ITV West Country crew.
This article originally appeared in the January 2019 issue of the Bradley Stoke Journal magazine (on pages 4 & 5). The magazine is delivered FREE, EVERY MONTH (except August), to ALL 8,700 homes in Bradley Stoke. Phone 01454 300 400 to enquire about advertising or leaflet insertion.
Postscript (1st Jan 2019)
After more than £1,000 was collected in a single night on Christmas Eve, the target was raised to £10,000.
With one more night to run, the amount raised currently stands at £10,075.
