SEVEN thousand lights are on the 24 foot tall Christmas tree, lots more around the house and garden at Buck and Lisa Kingdon’s home in Heskane Park, Cheriton Bishop.

This is their third year of decorating the outside of their home for Christmas, the second year in aid of Devon Air Ambulance, raising nearly £800 last year.

Austin beside the 24ft Christmas tree.
Austin beside the 24ft Christmas tree. (Amber Bennett)

They had a big lights switch-on ceremony last weekend with eight-years-old Austin Bennett, who lives near Cheriton, singing a solo.  Those who gathered in Heskane Park for the ceremony enjoyed home-made sausage rolls, mince pies or mulled wine. 

Last weekend Cheriton and Tedburn YFC went along to sing carols under the big tree.  

Lisa said they chose to raise funds for DAA because theirs is a rural area with a lot of farms, the Air Ambulance being a really valuable service. 

The little house under the tree was made by Buck.

Lisa also thanked Barry Lamacraft for the 24ft Christmas tree, Gavin Coombes from Moretonhampstead who collected it and put it up and Hi-Line for putting the 7,000 lights over the tree and then everyone who went along and supported this worthy cause.   

The collecting tins went back to DAA that first weekend so donations now need to be made direct or into local collecting tins.  Lisa said this was the tree that brought everyone together, old and young.