Kent couple's dazzling Christmas display in memory of son raises thousands of pounds for charity

  • Ross and Michelle Clark have been telling Joe Coshan about their mission to bring joy to their community whilst raising money for charity.

A couple from Kent who spread joy every Christmas with enchanting light displays.

Every year Ross and Michelle Clark from Kent, decorate their house with hundreds of thousands of Christmas lights in memory of their son Jack who was born premature.

Their enchanting light displays have helped raise more than £50,000 for various children's charities.

It's become a bit of a festive tradition for many to visit the Clark family in Boughton-under Blean.

The Clark family decorate their house with thousands of bulbs every year lighting up their village to raise money for charity. Credit: ITV Meridian

Over the last few years, the family have built up a collection of more than 100,000 lights.

It’s their way to remember their son Jack, who died at just 2 weeks old after being born premature in 2002.

As part of the huge display, they’ve included a memory tree, so the community can remember their loved ones too.

  • Ross and Elisha Clark, fundraisers

Speaking about the death of her son Jack, Michelle Clark said: "Over time you want to celebrate his life, not grieve it.

"So we started off with little things...."

"We started off with a candle for his birthday," Ross Clark added. "And with the light of that candle we started putting lights up around the door, then around the windows.

"Since then it's just progressed and progressed."

Ross and Michelle Clark's son Jack, died at just 2 weeks old after being born premature in 2002. Credit: ITV Meridian

Every year the couple choose a different children’s charity to fundraise for.

Last year’s recipient was the Oliver Fisher Trust - a neonatal unit based at Medway Maritime Hospital, that cares for the most vulnerable babies.

  • Hannah Grout, Oliver Fisher Trust

Hannah Grout from the charity said: "As a small local charity, local support means the world to us, and people like the Clarks make all the difference.

"The money that the Clarks raised went directly to fund oxygenation modules to go on our breathing machines which cost £14,000.

"Without people like the Clarks we wouldn't be able to fund applications like that at the drop of a hat."

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