Family’s festive decorations raise smiles and donations
PUTTING the Christmas lights up takes time for consultant Ian Williams.
Most families probably wait until December, but Ian starts to decorate the outside of his Tytherington home once the autumn leaves start falling.
It is worth the effort, though, with his festive lights spectacular entertaining neighbours and raising funds for East Cheshire Hospice.
Ian said: “Most people think we’re crazy when my son-in-law Ben Alcock and I start putting the lights up in October, but we like to take advantage of the good weather before it gets cold.
“It probably takes us eight half days to arrange the thousands of lights but our big switch-on isn’t until December 1.
“There are five sets of lights on the tree alone and 113 plugs altogether.”
Daughter Praha, six, and son Bentley, who was three on Saturday (December 16), prompted Ian and wife Keely to set up their winter wonderland a few years ago.
Ian added: “The kids love the lights and each year our display has got bigger, so this time we decided to do it properly and raise money for charity.
“East Cheshire Hospice does such a good job and depends on donations to care for patients so we’ve set up a Just Giving page, raising more than £750.”
Daughter-in-law Pippa Williams is ward sister at the hospice’s inpatient unit.
To donate go to justgiving.com/ fundraising/ianwilliams69.