One Last Hoorah For Terry as Long Lane Lights Prepare For 25th Year

Long Lane's iconic Christmas lights display, organised by Islanders Terry and Sue Ramplin, are set to 'switch on' for the final time.

The 24 previous festive displays have seen the couple raise more than £45,000 for a host of local charities.

The big 'switch on' will this year take place next Saturday (November 30) at around 5.45pm, with the usual mince pies, sausage rolls and mulled wine accompanied by the Wight Diamonds Marching Band.

The pair have been lighting up their home at 68 Long Lane, Staplers since the turn of the century and Terry says the time has come to hang up his sleigh:

"My age is one reason why I'm stopping — I'm 74 now — and it's a lot of work every year.

"I do get some help from the likes of Wightfibre, but generally it's just me (setting everything up)."

This will be the third consecutive winter season that Terry has selected the Isle of Wight Prostate Cancer Support Group to support.

He explains:

"This year we are once again doing this for the IW Prostate Cancer Support Group, who we raised £5,774 for last year. 

"We tested 1,800 men on the Island as a result of those funds, with 167 of them (testing positive).

Never a shrinking violet, Terry wants the final 'big' light up to be a memorable one which raises a lot of money for charity.

He concludes:

"A lot of the charities we've supported over the year have been invited to attend this opening night.

"I've supported them over my 25 years, so I'm asking them to come along to this final 'big' Christmas switch on.

"Through lockdown if I didn't help charities such as Care in the Garden then they would have had to shut the door as they couldn't raise money any other way."

Anyone unable to attend who would still like to donate can do so by contacting Terry on 526089.