NURSES Mandy and Chris Gadd are lighting up Wiveliscombe with a spectacular Christmas display that is drawing the crowds and bringing in cash for charity. The couple, who live in Spring Gardens in the town, have raised at least £5,000 over the last six years by giving the front garden of their bungalow a festive make-over. With their local doctors' surgery and the children's cancer charity CLIC benefiting from their efforts in the past, donations sparked by this year's decorations will boost the funds of the British Heart Foundation. The Gadds, who have two daughters, hope to raise enough to allow the charity to buy a defibrillator for emergency use locally. "One of our family members has had a heart scare over the past year so we thought it would be a good cause to support," Mandy told the Free Press. The display takes three weeks to set up, with a further week set aside to sort out the electrics. "But it only takes a week to get it all down," said Mandy. "We've got well over 100 different decorations this year, with Santas on bikes, helicopters, trains and sleighs, as well as snowmen, teddy bears and shooting stars." The couple always make sure that they have at least one new impressive decoration each year and the 2005 addition is a magnificent train on a nine-foot track which rocks from side to side. The annual switch-on at the beginning of December brings onlookers in their droves and this year's was no exception with almost 100 people turning out despite torrential rain. Mandy baked 150 mince pies and 200 sausage rolls for the event and in the run-up to Christmas is handing out balloons and BHF stickers to youngsters who visit the outside grotto. "We love doing it and our neighbours are really supportive," said Mandy. "It brings a bit of enjoyment to people and raises money for something that any of us might need at some time in the future." Photo: Steve Guscott.
