Colourful Christmas lights display at two Cambridgeshire homes raise money for charity

adrian.peel@iliffemedia.co.uk

Published: 00:01, 25 December 2021

An eye-catching Christmas lights display outside a home in Sunset Square, Cambridge has attracted numerous visitors.

Sunset Square, Cambridge, Julie Hardiman with her Christmas lights. Picture: Keith Heppell

The decorations are the work of Kevin Hardiman, who is helped by his wife Julie. Kevin’s amazing displays have been raising money for Cancer Research UK for the past four or five years – he’s been fundraising for various charities in total for 12 years – and this year more than £500 was donated on the first night alone, which was November 27.

Kevin reveals that between 30 and 40 people turned up on the opening night, which was sponsored by VW Cars.

He added: “I had the aid of Cambs City Scaffolding, who helped me by putting up scaffolding so I could do the roof of the house, and they apparently want to sponsor me next year.” Visit Kevin’s JustGiving page at bit.ly/3J5Eip3.

Meanwhile, a Soham couple who have raised thousands of pounds for charity have once again turned on their fantastic display of Christmas lights.

Helen and John Attlesey decorated their home and garden again this year, having seen their charity collections double last year. They ‘officially’ switched their lights on back in November – hoping to avoid the large crowds that have assembled there in recent years – and the Cambridge Independent went along on Monday (December 20) to see it for ourselves.

Helen and John Attlesey’s house in Soham. Picture: Keith Heppell

Helen is very grateful for all of the support they have received over the years and said: “We start [doing the lights] at the beginning of September and then turn them on in about the middle of November.” She adds that she and John have been doing it for “about nine or 10 years” – “we started off small and then we go back to them each year.”

All of the money raised in 2020 was divided as follows between three charities: East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (Each) – £4,298.52, Dreamflight – £4,298.52, and GOSH (Great Ormond Street Hospital) Children’s Charity – £4,298.52.

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