Local News

Christmas lights maps help you find the displays

08/12/2020

Plan to chart which houses have festive illuminations really takes off

As we head towards Christmas a vast number of light display have appeared at houses throughout the Banbury FM area. Now a Banbury woman has drawn up a series of maps so you know where to go to gaze at the festive illuminations.

Initially Lorraine Lloyd from Hardwick thought about creating a map to help her and her children find the festive displays. She put a post on social media asking for suggestions of where to find Christmas light displays and said she might create a map if there was enough interest. Lorraine was amazed by the response and now has created a series of maps for different areas covering around 50 streets.

Lorraine said: “I didn’t think it would take off the way it has and I’ve been really surprised at the number of people who have said it’s a brilliant idea and have also sent through their street details.”

After a taxing year Lorraine feels people are really looking forward to Christmas and have started celebrating earlier than usual. She said: “I was seeing Christmas trees going up in November on my Facebook feed. I think everyone’s just looking forward to a bit of cheer.”

Currently the maps are split into several areas: Grimsbury and the town centre; Easingston, Calthorpe, Bodicote and Longford Park; Hardwick and Hanwell Fields; Ruscote and Neithrop; Cherry View. Lorraine adds more displays as she is told about them and when a map gets full she splits it into two.

Lorraine, who owns Elite Garage Doors with her husband, isn’t making a charge for the maps, but hopes people will make a donation to the charity Clean Slate. She said: “They are an Oxfordshire based charity that support both men and women that have been subjected to domestic abuse. Particularly this year, more than ever due to the lockdown situation, charities like Clean Slate have really struggled. There’s been a huge increase in the number of people that are needing their services.”

Lorraine is now looking forward to getting out to see some of the displays herself having been sent some pictures. She said: “There was one of Lansdown Close just off the Bloxham Road and its beautiful. The whole close has done something. It looks really lovely.”

You can find the maps on the Banbury Christmas Lights Maps 2020 facebook page. Donations to Clean Slate can be made here.

You can listen to our interview with Lorraine Lloyd here: