A WIDOW is continuing her and her late husband’s 15-year Christmas tradition by covering the house in decorations to raise money for charity.

Theresa Williams, who is in her 60s, is raising money for St Luke’s Hospice for their support after losing her husband Peter Williams.

Peter was 63 when he sadly passed away in May 2020 during the beginning of the pandemic. 

The couple had been married since April 1977 and shared their loved for Christmas.

Every Christmas for the past 15 years, the couple had covered the house in decorations spreading joy throughout the community.

This year Theresa has again continued her late husband’s tradition, all while raising money for St Luke’s Hospice in Basildon.

She said: “We started around 15 years ago and it has just grown each year.

“The first year was just a few icicles and a couple of reindeers, which we started just for fun for our grandson to enjoy.

“But as we introduced more lights other children were invited to see the lights, and we just grew from there.

“Alongside all the lights now, we also have a snow machine out, visits from an elf, a reindeer, and even Santa.

“It is so nice to see the children’s faces, both the old ones from every year, and the new ones as well.

“After loosing Peter during the pandemic, people always thought I would not continue the lights.

“But he loved it so much and loved going out to meet the people and chat away, so it only seems right to continue something that he loved at such a family time of year.”

The house is located at 277 Southend Road, in Stanford-Le-Hope, and is open for anyone to visit between 4:30pm and 10pm every evening.

Visitors are welcome to just walk straight through on to the driveway and make their way around the Christmas decorations.

Donations to St Luke’s Hospice can also be made when visiting.

The reason Theresa chose the Basildon charity was because they have provided “much needed counselling” to her grandson due to family illnesses and bereavements over the past year.

Theresa’s daughter, Emma Cast, helps with the decorations each year and told the Echo she is so proud of her mum.

She said: “The hours she puts in is astonishing.

“She continues to head outside and meet the people every evening who take the time to come and look.

“She refuses to also do the same display each year and wants to create something different each time.

“I am super proud of her.”