VIDEO: Family’s charity lights return to Horsham for sixth year

Spectacular Christmas lights that delight young children and raise money for charity are lighting up the night sky for the sixth time this year.
By The Newsroom
Published 8th Dec 2014, 10:36 BST
Xmas charity lights. The King family, who have lite their house in Cottingham Avenue to raise money for, "Make a Wish Foundation", for the past 3 years. Pictured are L-R Carrina King (19), Grahame King, Sallyanne King and Carmel King (22). Horsham. Picture : Liz Pearce. LP051214XLT11 SUS-140512-192831008Xmas charity lights. The King family, who have lite their house in Cottingham Avenue to raise money for, "Make a Wish Foundation", for the past 3 years. Pictured are L-R Carrina King (19), Grahame King, Sallyanne King and Carmel King (22). Horsham. Picture : Liz Pearce. LP051214XLT11 SUS-140512-192831008
Xmas charity lights. The King family, who have lite their house in Cottingham Avenue to raise money for, "Make a Wish Foundation", for the past 3 years. Pictured are L-R Carrina King (19), Grahame King, Sallyanne King and Carmel King (22). Horsham. Picture : Liz Pearce. LP051214XLT11 SUS-140512-192831008

The King family, of Cottingham Avenue, Horsham, have seen the display become bigger and better each year since they began raising money for charity in 2009.

Sallyanne King, 50, explained that she, husband Grahame and their daughters Carmel and Carrina enjoy the display despite the hard work involved.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

She said: “Every year it is a lot of hard work and I say ‘shall we not do it this year?’, and I am outvoted and we have got to do it.

Xmas charity lights. The King family, who have lite their house in Cottingham Avenue to raise money for, "Make a Wish Foundation", for the past 3 years. Pictured are L-R Carrina King (19), Grahame King, Sallyanne King and Carmel King (22). Horsham. Picture : Liz Pearce. LP051214XLT11 SUS-140512-192831008Xmas charity lights. The King family, who have lite their house in Cottingham Avenue to raise money for, "Make a Wish Foundation", for the past 3 years. Pictured are L-R Carrina King (19), Grahame King, Sallyanne King and Carmel King (22). Horsham. Picture : Liz Pearce. LP051214XLT11 SUS-140512-192831008
Xmas charity lights. The King family, who have lite their house in Cottingham Avenue to raise money for, "Make a Wish Foundation", for the past 3 years. Pictured are L-R Carrina King (19), Grahame King, Sallyanne King and Carmel King (22). Horsham. Picture : Liz Pearce. LP051214XLT11 SUS-140512-192831008

“Even though my daughters are a lot older now I am still outnumbered. They love it and they are 19 and 22.

“If you can raise some money to help a charity, then it is good for everybody.”

In its early years, the display raised funds for St Catherine’s Hospice.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

However, when Sallyanne, who works at a local nursery, became aware of a young girl who was cared for by the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the family were inspired to change charities.

Sallyanne said: “We had a young girl at the nursery whose sister was very ill, and Make-A-Wish were very good to her and gave her some lovely, lasting memories, but she passed away.

“We then decided to change the charity and it has been Make-A-Wish for three years.”

The lights display has gained popularity over the years as Sallyanne encourages the nursery children to visit with their families.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

She said the Kings get a lot of enjoyment from the excitement of their younger visitors.

She added: “Because I work with the nursery group I am guaranteed 40 little visitors and sometimes word gets around.

“We encourage the children to come into the garden and touch them and look at them so things do get a bit broken, but half the fun is them coming in.

“Every time we hear the letterbox and hear somebody put some change through, we listen to the children’s excitement, and parents and grandparents just love it too.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Reindeer, penguins, snowmen and Father Christmas figures highlight this year’s display, while laser lights provide another attraction.

The family normally raise around £200 but hope to beat that total this year.