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Christmas-mad man launches ‘bigger and better’ display in Hibaldstow for the 18th year running

A North Lincolnshire man who loves the festive season so much that he starts listening to Christmas music in September has launched his annual charity light display for the 18th year running.

Ross Carrick, 28, from Hibaldstow, has supported countless charities over the years since he and his family began collecting donations in buckets at their iconic Christmas house when he was just ten years old.

This year, the display is “bigger and better” than ever before, with the additions of Santa’s sleigh and his reindeer on the lawn and a long line of nutcrackers at the front of the house. All proceeds raised from the display will go to the Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance.

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Ross said: “We’ve been doing the lights for a long time now and we’ve supported loads of different charities over the years. We’ve done it for things based in the village but not a lot of people know about it, so it’s quite nice that it’s a big and local charity and everyone knows about it and wants to support it.

“I went to get the collection bucket from the air ambulance last week and they said the paramedics are funded solely by fundraising, which is just bonkers, so that’s one of the main reasons why we’re doing it. You hope you’ll never need it but it is a lifesaving service, and if I can have a bit of fun putting some Christmas lights up and supporting such a worthy cause, then that’s great.”



Ross Carrick outside his home in Hibaldstow

The support from local residents has been fundamental to the success of the longstanding annual tradition, Ross said.

“Hibaldstow is very good for support, we do a lot of stuff for charity and they’re so good at supporting us. People who live up the cul-de-sac walking their dogs when we start putting the lights up at the start of November, they say, ‘it’s that time of year again’. They absolutely love it. We get a lot of donations from people in the cul-de-sac and wider as well. Everybody is so supportive of it.”

Ross, who began collecting Christmas decorations with his dad David when he was ten, said his parents thought he’d “grow out of” his passion for the festive season – but said he has only become more obsessed.



The house looks phenomenal

“My parents always said I’d grow out of it, but I’ve grown into it. I’m obsessed with it,” he said.

“Every year I do it, I absolutely love it. I start listening to Christmas music from September and watching Christmas films, and at the end of October I start putting the decorations up. I always have a moment every year doing it in the rain where I think, ‘What on Earth are you doing?’, but the moment it all lights up, it’s amazing.”



It’s bigger and better than ever before

You can see the impressive Christmas lights on Woods Meadow, Hibaldstow between 5pm and 9pm on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, as well as Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

Santa Claus himself will also be making a special appearance between 4pm and 5pm on Christmas Eve, where children can have their photo taken with him.

To donate to Ross’ fundraiser for the Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance, click here.

Original artice: https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/all-about/scunthorpe

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