As December 25 rapidly approaches, Christmas festivities are in full swing: from present shopping to pantomimes, it seems that the widespread holiday is as present as ever despite pandemic restrictions. This can be seen as soon as we step out into the winter season- homes across London are adorned with outdoor lights, brightening up the darkness as 2021 comes to a close.
Countless households take part in the tradition, but few decorate their homes with such festive, flashing colours as two properties at the top of Mickleham Road, Orpington. Each year commencing December 1st, the Parkins and Batney family come together to create a joyous scene- completed with a sleigh that visitors could take pictures in alongside Santa and Olaf the Snowman, who made visits every night of December leading up to Christmas prior to the pandemic- which attracts a multitude of onlookers: many getting off at the nearby bus stop just to see the magic for themselves.
While the families strive to give all who visit an exciting experience and love to see ‘the children’s faces light up when they see the lights and dance with Olaf and sit on Santa’s sleigh telling him how excited they are,’ since their beginnings in 2015, they have also been collecting donations for a local charity important to them: the Chartwell Cancer Trust. Both households involved have loved ones who have been treated by the foundation and wanted to show their appreciation for them as ‘Without support, it could not operate like it does.’ Their efforts have been met with wide acclaim from visitors, who managed to raise £3995 last Christmas season, and £12,700 total in the years before this!
Although the display brings plentiful joy to visitors and neighbours alike; the process can be a real challenge: putting up the decorations up and taking them down in the new year as well as making sure the lights stay on during the festive period- at such a large scale- is no easy task. The families involved also had to arrange their schedules to greet visitors and dress up as beloved characters (in the years before 2020) in the evenings of December, which could be particularly difficult as a result of the harsh winter weather.
Despite the challenges, the Mickleham Road Christmas Lights are going strong: still raising funds for the Chartwell Cancer Trust and accepting visitors this Christmas, the families mention the most rewarding and moving aspects of fundraising to them: ‘When we have patients from the Chartwell children’s ward come, that’s inspiring as well as sometimes heartbreaking- but it makes it worth all the hard work and cold nights.’
A huge thank you to all involved in the continuous support of charities like The Chartwell Cancer Trust, especially at this time of year when so many are in need of their aid.
