Bumper display of Christmas lights put on by East Yorkshire mum living with a brain tumour is back – and it’s bigger than ever

An East Yorkshire mum living with a brain tumour has ramped up a festive display of lights at her home that brings joy to others each Christmas.

Bev Fennell’s aim is to raise money for the Brain Tumour Charity, but she said: “People are more than welcome to come and see the lights, even if they haven’t got the money to donate. Children especially are welcome, it’s just nice to put a smile on their faces.”

Six giant inflatables on the lawn, plus another on the Fennell family car roof, a 6ft Christmas tree, penguins and a family of swans all help to make up the show at the house in Sherbuttgate Road South, Pocklington, this year. Plus, there are strings of thousands of lights to help make it a standout show for the season.

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It will be the fifth such lights display organised by mum-of-eight Bev, who was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2018. The tumour is benign but her condition caused her to lose most of the sight in her left eye and she also suffers with bad migraines.

“We just got all the lights put up yesterday,” said Bev, who also has rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. “We checked every single one of them first, and they worked; we put them up and one string of 1,750 lights didn’t work.

“Luckily they were among the last to be installed so we went straight to B&M to get another 2,000 to replace them. I’m still fiddling with bits outside, I keep seeing a bit of bare wall and that won’t do at all.”

Bev said: “Last year our lights went really, really well. Since we started collecting, not only for the Brain Tumour Charity but also for the Sue Ryder charity in Pocklington and York special care baby unit, we’ve made £800 to £900.

“Literally all year we have had people coming by and asking, will you be doing the lights again this year? Someone asked us if the inside of the house is as decorated as the outside; it isn’t!”

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Bev said: “People don’t realise how many are affected by brain tumours. A good friend of mine has just been diagnosed and of course there has been Davina McCall who has just had surgery for a brain tumour.

“I never thought for a minute I would have a brain tumour – I don’t think you do. My eyesight went in one eye so I went to the optician, who referred me to the Hull Royal Infirmary eye clinic, and they were talking about MS; then it came back that it was a brain tumour.”

Just after her diagnosis of an optic nerve meningioma, Bev had another health worry to overcome when she needed surgery on her back for slipped and “crumbling” discs. The mum, whose children range in age from seven to 30, puts out a collecting tin at the front of the house for anyone wanting to pop in donations, and she also invites people to visit a JustGiving page if they fancy supporting The Brain Tumour Charity.