A couple entertain their entire neighbourhood with stunning moving Christmas decorations in their garden - all hand-made from scratch.
Martin Pyke, 64, and wife Allison, 62, are well-known in Westcliff for their stunning festive garden displays in Westbourne Grove.
Allison developed breast cancer in 2022 - so Martin, who is retired, got busy in his shed making a motorised ferris wheel for their garden to cheer her up.
It was such a success that two years on, Martin has hand-made a further 15 moving displays as well as three light-up static ones.
They're made mainly of wood, and are powered by windscreen wiper motors that can be ordered online.
And Martin has even made it so he can switch everything on and off from a control panel.
They had their annual light switch on yesterday (30) - after five weeks of setting everything up in the garden, which Martin started doing in October.
He said: "The ferris wheel took me three months to make, but most motorised displays take two to three weeks to make in my shed.
"I don't think I'll be able to make any new ones after this year though - I don't have the storage space for them all!
"The number one question I'm asked is whether I have a background in engineering - no I don't, I worked for a bank.
"I just like making things!
"People ask 'where did you buy that?' and I get to tell them ''I made it!"
Their 11-foot moving ferris wheel is the star of the show, but the garden also features a candy cane machine that drops candy canes, a magic toy box with a lid that opens, and a teddy bear ski lift.
On their switch-on night, they invite neighbours over for hot chocolate and sausage rolls - as a thank-you for their support.
And Martin and Allison's twin grandsons, aged four, are their biggest fans - and love to come over to switch on all the lights.
]
Now Allison is in remission - but the pair still display Martin's incredible creations each year to raise money for Macmillan, who provided support to them throughout Allison's illness.
Last year they had over 6,000 visitors to look at the displays and raised a whopping £5,100 for the MacMillan team at Southend Hospital.
Allison said: “I am in remission and am as good as I can be. We are still raising money for Macmillan as their support has been amazing.
“We have four new attractions added this year, that Martin has made.
"There is an Elf photo board, a toy factory display, as well as projector screen showing Santa and his elves in their workshop.
“It is such a joy to see the pure innocence of children appreciating just something so straight forward.
“They can operate everything themselves with a press of a button, and it is so lovely to see everyone enjoy it.
“It is a really magical time.
"We know financial times are hard, so for us, just to see people come along and enjoy it, and then make any donation they can, is amazing.
“The idea is just to give back to the children and their families at a special time of the year."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel