OVER 200,000 LIGHTS: Homeowner boosts festive installation to raise further funds for the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans
- Perry Richardson
- 56 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Richard Iles is set to unveil what could be one of the largest domestic Christmas light displays in the UK, expanding his Winterbourne Down installation by an additional 85,000 lights for 2025.
The upgrade follows last year’s event, when more than 150,000 lights helped generate over £15,000 for the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans.
The display, located on Church Road, Winterbourne Down in Bristol, will be switched on at 6pm on Saturday 29 November. It will remain illuminated throughout the day and night until Twelfth Night, continuing a local tradition that has grown to attract steady public interest and charitable support.
Iles has worked closely with the Taxi Charity after travelling to Normandy each year for the D-Day commemorations and attending the charity’s Christmas lunch for veterans in 2024. His association with the organisation has shaped the direction of the annual display, with fundraising efforts firmly focused on supporting veterans across age groups, including those who served during the Normandy landings.
The charity, run largely by volunteer London cab drivers, provides transport, social events and international trips for veterans. Iles’ display has become a significant seasonal fundraising point, helping bolster resources at a time when many military support charities continue to experience rising demand.
Contributions can be made directly through Iles’ fundraising page, with proceeds again going to the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans. The charity has encouraged those attending the switch-on or visiting throughout December to donate if they are able to, noting the continued importance of community-led support.
Richard Iles said: “A display of this scale simply wouldn’t be possible without the incredible support around us. Our sponsors are unbelievably generous year after year, and I can’t thank them enough for helping us make this vision a reality. I’m also hugely grateful to my incredible father-in-law, who works tirelessly alongside me, often in the cold and rain, late into the night, to build, test and perfect every part of the display. His dedication is what brings these lights to life, and I’m so proud of what we’ve achieved together. Supporting the Taxi Charity means a great deal to me; their unwavering commitment to veterans, is inspiring, and I’m honoured to play a small part in helping them continue that vital work.”
Paul Cook, Vice Chairman of the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans, said: “As a small, niche charity that is wholly reliant on donations, we are incredibly grateful to Rich for choosing to support the Taxi Charity again in 2025. The effort that goes into creating this spectacular display is truly Herculean, and we can’t wait to witness the big switch-on.”
