An annual Christmas lights show in St Austell has helped to raise a dazzling £5,189.74 for the Cornwall Air Ambulance appeal to purchase a second lifesaving helicopter.
The lights display is the brainchild of Arran Gandy, who has been organising and exhibiting the lights at his house in Manor Close for the past nine years.
Christmas 2024 marked his fourth year of raising vital funds for the Cornwall Air Ambulance and the illuminations proved very popular again with children and adults alike.
Arran, who is a carer that looks after people who have been rescued by the Cornwall Air Ambulance, spoke to the Voice about the increasing popularity of his lights display.
He said: “We had people coming out in big groups to see us and from the moment schools broke up my road was non-stop from 4.30pm until 9pm. I would go out and literally see a queue of cars down the road.
“I don’t think a lot of people knew we were here last year and so I thought I’d go further with advertising. We had people come from as far down as Falmouth, Camborne and Redruth area to see us and so the word has definitely spread this year.”
This year’s setup saw over 16,000 LEDs lights brighten everyone’s Christmas spirit, while a snow machine and inflatable festive characters helped to further liven up proceedings under the backdrop of Christmas music.
During the festive period, every donation made to the Cornwall Air Ambulance is doubled. This meant that the £2594.87 that was raised through the lights display has now become a grand total of nearly £5,200. All the money raised will be going directly towards the HELi2 appeal to help the charity purchase its second helicopter in an effort to save more lives.
Arran adds: “It started off as a bit of fun really and then into a lights competition with a friend of mine on who could outdo who. We then had people coming round and asking if I was going to be putting the lights up again this year.
“I have kind of made a rod for my own back in that if I don’t do it people will be disappointed. A lot of people were saying this year that it’s part of their Christmas tradition to come along and see the lights.
“When people send you pictures of them at the display, whether it’s of people playing in the snow or just running up and down the drive, you get to see their perspective of it which is what makes it so worthwhile doing.”
“I’d like to thank all the neighbours of Manor Close for their continuous support and putting up with all the extra traffic over the five weeks the display was on.”
The popularity of the display and the fundraising efforts achieved is a testament to the hard work and dedication Arran has put into the lights extravaganza in St Austell. But as he takes down the decorations this week, Arran is already planning for the next festive period which will mark his tenth year exhibiting his lights show.
He explains: “The planning starts as I’m taking the light down, because then I can see what’s working, what’s broken, what needs fixing and what’s being chucked out.
“As I am taking them down, I will come up with a rough plan for next year’s display and then I can start putting a list together of jobs I’ve got to get done throughout the year. It’s then just a case of putting it all together come October.”
“It takes all year to put this together and buying different bits here and there before putting it together all in one go. I have already been gifted several bits which will go on the lawn next year as well which is already going to make the display bigger without even planning anything yet.”
For the latest news on the Manor Close Christmas lights display, visit: www.facebook.com/ManorCloseChristmasDisplay