News / Glasgow & West

Does this street have the best Christmas display in Scotland?

Street transformed into winter wonderland after neighbour diagnosed with terminal cancer.

4th Dec 2021

Lavender Drive in Newton Mearns must surely be Scotland’s most festive street.

After more than two months of planning, neighbours have switched on their street-long Christmas display.

The idea to transform Lavender Drive into a winter wonderland came during the depths of lockdown last year when one resident, father-of-two Fred Banning, was diagnosed with terminal bowel cancer.

By asking for donations from those who come to see the 16 spectacular homes, the neighbours raised more than £5500 for the Beatson Cancer Charity last Christmas and hope to collect even more this time around.

“I was going to and from chemotherapy and the first time I turned the corner and saw the whole street lit-up was just fantastic,” Fred, 38, told STV News.

“It was really quite moving, it is like nowhere else I’ve ever lived.”

The street Christmas lights were switched on after two months of planning. — The street Christmas lights were switched on after two months of planning. STV News

Lavender Drive has been transformed into a winter wonderland. — Lavender Drive has been transformed into a winter wonderland. STV News

The decorations are lighting up the night in the Newton Mearns street. — The decorations are lighting up the night in the Newton Mearns street. STV News

Money is being raised for cancer research. — Money is being raised for cancer research. STV News

Neighbours came out to single Jingle Bells during the big switch-on. — Neighbours came out to single Jingle Bells during the big switch-on. STV News

The display aims to raise money after father-of-two Fred Banning was diagnosed with terminal cancer. — The display aims to raise money after father-of-two Fred Banning was diagnosed with terminal cancer. STV News

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