Portslade: Annual Christmas lights display returns for another year

Tina and Bill Symmonds, in Thornbush Crescent, Portslade, switched on their lights along with more than a dozen of their neighbours on Friday evening to bring in the festive season. 

The couple and fellow residents have been lighting up their homes and the green in front of it for more than 15 years.

Tina’s husband Bill is from Barbados and their Christmas displays are “brilliant”, Tina said, with lights everywhere, so he wanted to bring some of that spirit to their home in Portslade.

The green in front of the houses is covered in decorations and lights (Image: The Argus)

When the pandemic hit in 2020, Tina and Bill decided to start taking donations for The Purple People Kitchen food bank, which is based at Portslade Town Hall. 

In the three years since then, they have raised more than £6,000 and donated 500 large bags of food to the food bank. 

Tina said the food bank needs help this year now more than ever.

She told The Argus: “People’s generosity is always humbling and overwhelming. We will be so grateful for anything we get this year. 

“Everything we get this year is going to be an added bonus for the food bank because their client base has gone up and donations have gone down.”

The Christmas lights display is on every night from 5pm till 8pm, now until Tuesday, January 2. 

Tina and Bill Symmonds have been fundraising since 2020 (Image: The Argus)

Throughout that time, Tina and her husband will be collecting donations for the food bank including tinned food, dried goods, long life milk, juice and squash and toiletries.

Donations of laundry and cleaning products, pet food and seasonal treats and gifts for children, as well as wrapping paper, tags and Sellotape are also gratefully received. 

Tina and Bill will leave plastic boxes outside their house at number 37 for visitors to leave donations throughout the weeks. 

Tina said: “Each year Purple People Kitchen give us shopping lists so we try and purchase everything to ensure their clients enjoy a great Christmas and New Year then in January, we use any remaining cash to purchase store cupboard essentials for distribution during the year ahead.”

Thornbush Crescent is a cul de sac so visitors are told to park on Bush Farm Drive and walk up – it takes around two minutes. 

Brighton and Hove Buses number 6 also stops nearby at Sycamore Close.