Dartford Living - December 2021

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CHRISTMAS LIGHTS RAISE THOUSANDS FOR HOSPICE CHARITY

five years our Christmas lights have helped raise £6714.54 or ellenor. The lights will be turned on again this year by ellenor mascot Ellie on Friday November 26 at 7pm. Then they will be on a timer – during the morning school run until 9am and then from 3-10pm weekdays. On weekends the lights will be lit from 10am to 10pm. Paul said: “If it’s not too windy, I hope to have the snow machine going for the opening. I also have something special this year – a train will be going around the garden, with all three carriages lit up and a Father Christmas waving!” Paul first saw a Christmas train lit up in someone’s garden about 10 years ago and had always coveted it. But he wanted to go a step further and find a train which moved.

Fundraiser Paul Matthews’ stunning display of festive lights embraces everything that is wonderful about Christmas – from the magic and sparkle to remembering others at this special time of year.

eyes light up.”

Now the couple’s own five children and 10 grandchildren enjoy the Christmas displays they create as much as all the other children who visit. Lisa is even known locally as For the past 11 years he and his Mrs Christmas. wife Lisa have created a display to make passers-by stop outside their Paul said: “We built up the display in house and gasp in wonder. Their our own garden each year -- and about hard work and dedication have six years ago we really got noticed. also helped to raise thousands Two elves who were travelling round of pounds for their local hospice the neighbourhood with Santa charity ellenor. decided to photobomb our display and the picture was viewed by so Paul said: “I absolutely love doing many people on Facebook that we the displays. I’m the biggest kid suddenly become very well known. around – I’m certainly the biggest We got hundreds of messages and kid on this whole estate!” some people were saying we should raise money for charity. The couple have been decorating their house and garden in Romney “There was no contest really; without Road, Northfleet, every Christmas hesitation we chose ellenor. It was a since 2009 and their displays now charity we had been involved with in also raise vital funds for ellenor. the past and it’s our local charity – just up the road. It is mostly supported by Paul said: “It all started when we fundraising and charitable donations. took our first grandchild around We didn’t want to go to some big the neighbourhood to see the organisation, and we have definitely Christmas lights and we saw his made the right choice and in the last

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He said: “I eventually spoke to someone at Chalk Garden Rail in Gravesend, and they ordered it for me last November. It finally arrived about three weeks ago – just in time for this year’s display. It looks a bit like the train from Polar Express. I love it!” Paul, who is a self-employed inspector for oil refineries, is often away working and has to plan his Christmas creations around the times he is home. He has been known to start setting up his displays in August or September! He said: “I’m lucky that my work has been well paid over the years and this is a way of giving something to the community and to other people around me. A lot of the time I am away working but when I am here, the reaction to what I do is wonderful.” Paul likes to introduce a fresh angle to the display every year. He said: “I’m always looking out for something new, but I don’t really have a plan – a lot of the time I’m just winging it. I usually start building


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