Byron Road in Barton set for 2024 Christmas lights switch-on
THE Barton street once dubbed ‘Britain’s most festive’ is set to be illuminated again this December in aid of Oakhaven Hospice.
Byron Road has featured in TV and newspaper coverage around the globe for its incredible festive displays, and this year organiser Ged Hollyoake hopes up to eight houses in the street will be lit up.
He said: “I keep thinking that I am all set for this year, and then see one of my neighbours who says they’d like to get involved as well. At the moment its six houses but it could be a couple more by the weekend.”
The lights will be officially switched on this Sunday at 5pm, when families are invited along to join a small disco and countdown before Ged’s grandson Dylan undertakes the official switch-on.
Ged, who sadly lost his long-term partner Sue and his neighbour and friend Mike last year, will donate all proceeds to Oakhaven Hospice in their memory. Last December a collection outside his house raised £1,516 for the Pennington-based charity.
For the past 14 years Ged has decorated his home and neighbouring properties with a dazzling display of twinkling LED lights, nativity scenes and lifesized festive creatures to raise over £87,000 for local charities. Popular features include two giant snowmen and a huge Father Christmas.
This year the elaborate display features woodland animals and thousands of festive lights. He has been hard at work on the construction since early November and is continuing to add finishing touches this week. A popular feature is a row of small Christmas scenes with moving parts which Ged displays along the side of his house.
Ged said: “My grandson Dylan absolutely loves the Christmas characters. He always want to switch everything on when he comes round so it’s lovely for him to be able to do the official switch-on.
“He loves it so much – this year I have also had to take some of my decorations over to his house to light up his garden as well.”
In previous years, Ged’s incredible festive displays have seen him featured on Good Morning Britain, ITV News and as the backdrop for a Cadbury’s TV advert.
In 2017, the display was judged to be the best in Britain in a contest in the Daily Mail, judged by Christopher Biggins, which won Ged an extra £10,000 for his chosen charity.
Over the years the lights have helped raise over £87k for various charities and featured on television stations in Australia, the US, Russia and Spain.
A small switch-on event and disco will take place at 5pm on 30th November. The lights will then be illuminated every evening from 4.30pm-8.30pm until New Year’s Day.
