Christmas Lights of Hazel Grove
A street famed for its dazzling display of Christmas lights will this year pay tribute to a popular neighbour sadly no longer here.
The Boswell family are facing their first Christmas without father-of-two Christian who died of cancer in March, aged 39.
The family have already raised more than £10,000 for St Ann’s where Christian, an aircraft engineer, spent his final days.
That figure will hopefully go up when neighbours in Warwick Drive, Hazel Grove, switch on their Christmas lights from December 5.
Their lights are so spectacular they attract visitors from near and far and this year’s street display has added poignancy following Christian’s loss.
Wife Andrea, daughter Darcie (6) and son Alfie (3) intend to put up their lights as usual, as do Christian’s parents Debbie and Graham who live across the road.
This won't be a good Christmas for us after losing Christian, who was ill for two years and wanted us to raise money for St Ann's to thank them for the wonderful care they gave him. We asked for donations in lieu of flowers at his funeral and the hospice has been amazed by how much we've raised. Darcie raised £3,300 alone in sponsorship from a 32-mile walk. We'll have our lights up again. There's a very good community spirit here and that's been shown by the way friends and neighbours have supported our family. Andrea Boswell, Wife of Christian Boswell
Neighbour Tim Lyons is preparing to decorate his house again. The retired police officer said: “We’re hoping the entire street will once again join in and think it’s appropriate that this year’s display is in aid of St Ann’s.
“We’ve supported several charities in the past and I’ll be out with my collection bucket again, meeting and greeting people and explaining where the money is going.”
We are so grateful to Andrea, Tim and the whole street for getting involved. What a kind and creative way of supporting the hospice this festive season in honour of Christian. It means so much to us when the local community raise money for St Ann’s in memory of someone they love. We really couldn’t carry on caring for our patients without you, so thank you so much. Rachel McMillan, Chief Executive of St Ann's Hopsice
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