Community spirit brings the Fenny Bridges winter wonderland to life

The Disney-themed Christmas light display at Fenny Bridges near Honiton is a widely regarded festive treasure in the local area, bringing untold joy to passers-by.

All lovingly hand-crafted and erected by a man who risks life and limb to bring the colourful characters to life each December.

This year, however, is extra special and really exemplifies the true meaning of Christmas.

Honiton Nub News went to meet retired couple, Sue and Arthur, at their Christmas grotto in Fenny Bridges - to find out the story behind their iconic Christmas light display and why this year they want to say thank you.

Sue begins: "It all started when our first grandson was born, around 36 years ago and we decided to do something special for Christmas.

"So, I painted this great big Father Christmas and we put it on the garage roof in Hertfordshire, where we were living at the time, and one night he disappeared – it turns out he had been 'borrowed' by the Met Police – because Arthur was a policeman you know.

"It was done as fun, but at the time it wasn't that funny," Arthur intercepts with a small chuckle.

He continues: "Once we had done that, as each year went by, we kept adding to it.

"The Round Table used to come by with their Father Christmas and sleigh – I knew quite a lot of them anyway.

"They would make our house the last stop on the Saturday night and we used to feed them mince pies and hot mulled wine.

"It was quite entertaining when they all came in and you had an Italian Father Christmas sitting on your stairs, pulling his beard down having a drink!"

"It was fun," Sue adds laughing.

"Then in 1990, I retired, and we came down here – not quite sure how people would take it, so I put it up and people liked it.

"Of course, it's grown a lot since.

"The oldest out there is Snow White and Seven Dwarfs, but it's not the original – I've done three of those."

Arthur explains the making process: "How they're done, is I go and buy and eight-foot by four-foot sheet of ply – Sue, with a felt-tip pen will draw the outline of what she wants.

"I cut it out, line it, back it, undercoat it – then Sue paints it all."

He jokes: "You see – madam here draws pictures of what she wants, and idiot here has to do it."

When I respond that they make the dream team, Arthur smiles and says: "Well we've been together a long time." Married for 62 years no less.

There is no denying Sue's artistic talent, which is what makes the couple's creations truly magical.

Arthur proudly explains: "It's something she's always been able to do – she's always been able to draw, which is a lovely thing because I cannot draw at all."

"I have a vision of what the finished piece will look like and I draw it. It just materialises as I see it in my mind's eye," comments Sue.

Hearing Sue and Arthur speak about their creations over the years, you would think they were old friends: "We've had Cinderella with her ugly sisters and her coach, we had a Welsh choir in Victorian clothing, 101 Dalmatians (not all, but quite a few!), the characters from Frozen – which were really difficult to get right, their expressions and so-on."

Arthur exclaims: "We've always done Disney and now we get people turn around and say, but you haven't done so-and-so, and we've never heard of it!"

On the topic of this year and how the display came to be, despite ill health, Arthur said: "This year I have been incapable of putting them up.

"I used to do it all and it used to take the best part of three weeks.

"I just thought, we'll have to make do with only decorating inside the house this year, because I'm not up to it.

"But then, Sue heard a knock on the door."

Sue picks up the story: "Yes, the neighbours came and knocked on the door and said we've heard that Arthur's not very well – can we do it for you?

"And I just cried."

Sue wells up with emotion, so Arthur chimes in: "Down here there's three of them [referring to their neighbours] – Alan, Phil and Steve. We are so thankful for what they've done – words don't do it justice.

"It took our breath away.

"I hope that by next year I'll be able to do a lot of it myself."

Those who go to see the display are invited to donate any spare change to the Devon Air Ambulance, for which there is a collection box on the garden gate.

To see a video of the models up close - click the red button below.