Christmas lights show raises more than £2,000 for Rosemere cancer charity

Dave Robertson, left, and Al Ashley present the cheque. Pic: Rosemere.

Visitors to the dancing Christmas decs of Merlin Close in Heapey village donated £2,778.52 to Rosemere Cancer Foundation.

Throughout last December, the decs – 16,503 festive fairy lights adorning the home, garden and garage of software company project manager and electronics maestro Dave Robertson and his wife Tracey – flashed on and off in show mode to a musical medley of Christmas songs and party tunes on Friday and Saturday evenings, to visitors’ jukebox selections early on other evenings or in silent disco mode the rest of the time.

Dave debuted his decs the year before, raising just over £2,000 for Rosemere Cancer Foundation in thanks for treatment Tracey had received at Rosemere Cancer Centre following a diagnosis of breast cancer at the beginning of 2023.

He then decided to keep his decs supporting the charity last Christmas to honour the memory of neighbour and retired teacher Jan Ashley.

Jan had worked at St John’s CE Primary School, Pemberton, for 35 years until retiring. She passed away of secondary breast cancer in September last year.

Dave said: “Tracey and I were good friends with Jan and her husband Al. We had many things in common, not least a connection to Rosemere Cancer Centre and Rosemere Cancer Foundation.

“Al helped me put up the lights at Christmas and we had our switch on on what would have been Jan’s 60^th birthday, which seemed fitting. We are very grateful to everyone who donated. Al and I presented the donation to Rosemere Cancer Foundation in Jan’s name and memory.”

Yvonne Stott, community and events fundraiser for Rosemere Cancer Foundation, said: “Thank you to Dave, Tracey, Al and everyone who visited Dave’s dancing decs and gave a donation.

“The decs really are very clever and lots of fun. They have to be seen to be truly appreciated. Dedicating the festive display to Jan, who spent her entire career working with small children for whom Christmas is just the best time, was a lovely tribute.”

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