Festive cheer Brailsford family light the way
IT’S officially Christmas season in Bristol – with the city’s most festive house now covered in lights to provide some festive cheer.
Lee and Paul Brailsford have been bringing Christmas magic to Brentry since 1994, when they first decorated their mum’s house in Trevisa Grove.
Now in its 26th year, the annual tradition which lights up the neighbourhood has raised over £74,000 for Wallace and Gromit’s Grand Appeal, which supports sick children and their families at Bristol Children’s Hospital.
The Brailsford family spectacle, which features more than 50,000 Christmas lights, takes six weeks to build and boasts Santas, snowmen, rope-light shapes, trains, elves and a large reindeer family in the garden.
This year’s virtual switch on was streamed on the Brailsford Lights Facebook page.
A programme of events to mark the occasion featured St Georgebased Josh Morton singing to mark the occasion.
The teenager, who has autoimmune hepatitis, took to his selfconstructed garden stage every
Thursday during the clap for our carers earlier this year to entertain his neighbours and raise money for The Grand Appeal during the first lockdown.
Lee Brailsford said: “After everything we’ve all gone through this year and as the pandemic has had such an impact on the charity’s fundraising income, we were determined to still put on a show and spread some festive cheer.
People are welcome to visit the illuminations in person but are asked to adhere to latest Government guidance, social distancing requirements and use the hand sanitiser provided near the collection boxes.
“We will then continue to switch on the lights every night until the new year, with clear social distancing guidance in place to make sure those that wish to see the display in person can do so safely,” added Lee.
“If for any reason crowds do form during the festive season, we will simply switch off the display.”
The property will light up every night until Saturday, January 2 2021 from 5pm until 10pm.
To make a donation text 5lights to donate £5, 10lights to donate £10 or 20lights to donate £20 to 70450.
You can also donate on the Brailsford’s Just Giving page or via the collection boxes outside the property.
This year, due to the Covid-19 restrictions, Christmas at Bristol’s Children’s Hospital will look a little different.
The Grand Appeal’s Christmas appeal is asking for donations, however big or small, to help give patients the very best Christmas possible this year. To support the campaign visit http://grandappeal. org.uk/christmas-appeal