The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
Lights displAy rAises £18,000 for chArity
An incredible Christmas lights display has raised more than £18,000 for Cancer Research UK after attracting huge crowds. With more than one million bulbs on show people were queuing for up to two miles to get in at Willow House, Duncombes Road, Turves in December.
Thelights wereshowcased byRobertandAmandaDempseywho, forthethirdyearrunning, welcomed thousands of guests into their home every night in the weeksrunningup to Christmas.
And such is the demand to see the remarkable display that the money raised has increasedfrom£2,200twoyears ago to £18,270 last month.
Robert ( 49) said: “One night they were queuing to the bridge which is a mile away, and halfway to the second bridge which is two miles away.
“We welcomed everyone with Celebrations, and we got through 100 tubs this Christ- mas.
“I’ve been accused of havingOCD- ObsessiveChristmas Disorder. I do try my best to better the display every year.
“The most common reaction we got was, ‘we have never seen anything like it in our lives’. No end of people came more than once.
“We raised more than I expected. I expected £15,000.”
The electricity for the lights is run off two big diesel generators which cost the Dempseys between £700 and £800 a month.
They are also indebted to John Watson Electrical And Property Services which helped them get the lights out of storage. It then takes a month for them to be wired up.
Local supermarkets were also generous in donating the Celebrations for the visitors.
Andnotonetorest, Robert is already prepared for next Christmas. He added: “I’ve alreadyboughtalotofnewlights in the January sale. I’ve spent about £4,000 in the last week but it was all half price!”