Berkshire Man Adorns Van with Lights to Spread Cheer

A man who, with his partner, adorned a van with thousands of Christmas lights, has expressed his desire to “put a smile on people’s faces.” Scott Dickens and Katie Clarke, residents of Woodley, Berkshire, “spent hours” decorating the vehicle with 6,000 fairy lights, a 7ft inflatable dinosaur, and a bubble machine. Mr. Dickens operates the van in the local area and described the public’s reception as “heart-warming.” He stated, “To see some of those children’s faces light up… they’ve never seen anything like it before.” Mr. Dickens explained that he and Ms. Clarke had to develop a plan to ensure all the lights could be attached while still allowing the doors to open. He commented, “People just think you chuck a lot of lights on the van and drive around [but] you have to plan it.” The lights are secured with duct tape and powered by an inverter. In total, the project took the couple 10 hours and cost £210, according to Mr. Dickens. He mentioned that he initially considered an inflatable Santa for the top but opted for the dinosaur instead because he “wanted to be different.” While Mr. Dickens conceded that the display was not “everyone’s cup of tea,” he expressed being overwhelmed by the local community’s reaction. He remarked, “I didn’t know it would get this much attention.” He added, “People think it’s magical and wonderful.” He also noted some unexpected benefits. “People let me go at junctions,” he said, adding, “I don’t have traffic anymore.” To date, Mr. Dickens has driven his van to Windsor, Woodley, and participated in a four-hour charity parade through locations including Tadley and Reading. He intends to be out daily throughout the Christmas period, including Christmas Day, and into the New Year. After this period, he stated he would remove the lights and repair the paintwork damage caused by the tape, but affirmed his return. He declared, “I’m going to go bigger next year.” He further commented, “It wouldn’t even bother me if I spent my last penny on it… I want to just be happy.” You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.