Pictures: West Bridgford’s Christmas House lights switched-on for charity

For the past 11 years, David Carter has put on a mesmerisingly festive Christmas display outside his home to raise money for charity.

The event was attended by hundreds of residents last weekend.

This year David started installing the thousands of lights on 29 August.

David’s interesting facts about the house 

I started by putting the electrical distribution boxes up on August 29th.

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I used to log how long it took me but have given up, probably 85 plus hours this year.

I did 95% of the work myself with some help from a neighbour. I usually have my mate Barry to help wire it all up but he was not well this year.

I now have a 10ft Santa although I still would like a 20ft Santa but my wife is NOT very keen.

I now can measure accurately what the whole system costs to run and it is £5.00 / night.

I have lost count of what I spend on new lights/replacements, cables etc, every year but in the region of £300-£400.

New lights this year include another reindeer on the porch and a stack of Christmas parcels on the lawn.

This year we had the largest turn out at the switch on with approx. 300 – 350 people, the road was solid with people and the adjoining road was a carpark!

We gave away 200 lollipops to children.

Santa did genuinely break down this year, it was a flat battery and ended up walking to the switch on.

This will be the 8th year he will raise money for the RSPCA Radcliffe Animal Centre.

David said:

“My display will be raising money for the RSPCA Radcliffe Animal Centre to which I am affiliated.

“All donations go towards helping to care for all the wonderful animals and the running of the centre and they will be very much appreciated.

“The Centre is funded independently and costs £800,000 to run annually and receives no financial aid from the RSPCA National Society.

“Last year I raised nearly £4000. This year I would like to exceed this amount especially because of the cost-of-living crisis our costs have skyrocketed.”

David’s Christmas Display will be on daily from 4pm – 9pm until December 31st at 4 Sandale Close Gamston Nottingham NG2 6QG.

Donations can be made by popping money into the red collection box outside the house or you can simply text for example to ‘RSPCALIGHTS 5’to 70085 to donate £5, or text ‘RSPCALIGHTS 10’ to 70085 to donate £10, or any amount, alternately one can use the QR code on the notice board this uses the just giving system and utilises the gift aid.