Keith’s Supporter Story

Keith has lived in Basingstoke and has been a part of the community for over 57 years, although being aware that the Hospice was located in his local area, he wasn’t introduced to St. Michael’s Hospice until 2007. Sadly, Keith’s Managing Director, David Stacey of John Stacey & Sons Limited, the company he was working for at the time, and still is after 40 years, was admitted to the Hospice for end-of-life care. Keith visited him a number of times and saw the facilities and care that St. Michael’s offers to support people with life-limiting illnesses.

“That was my first experience of seeing the care that St. Michael’s offers – which is absolutely remarkable…it was a very nice, tranquil environment for him to spend his last days,” explained Keith.

Prior to visiting the Hospice, Keith had only had experience with the hospital. He was surprised to find how different the Hospice environment was. Keith said, “The hospital is so busy, but coming to the Hospice – you could have been in your own home. It is so family-like in the way it feels, so calming. When I left, I just thought, what a nice place and the care was wonderful.”

Keith had supported local charities through Stacey’s Fishing Club in relations with the Basingstoke Railway Club for many years. However, it was from that moment that he decided to take a more active role in raising funds for the Hospice.

“After talking to people about David’s passing, and the Hospice, I found out that there were so many people that had been in contact with the Hospice over the years. It was a good cause and we all wanted to come together and support.”

Keith amalgamated the two clubs and started running an annual fishing day event, where all local fishing clubs, fish Stacey’s lakes in Tadley. He then agreed to run the Basingstoke Championship fishing competition, both events now include a BBQ and raffle, and bring all the local clubs together. Keith is well supported by all the local fisherman and the  local tackle shop Tadley Angling. All funds raised from these events, approximately £3,500 per year, are donated to the Hospice.

Keith Brown’s Christmas Baubles

In the Basingstoke community, Keith is also famous for ‘Keith Brown’s Christmas Baubles’ annual Christmas light display throughout December! It started as a family tradition that grew each year. In 2012, Keith decided to take donations for his Christmas light display and donate them to St. Michael’s Hospice.

“I think we raised just over £1,000 the first year. So, the next year I went out and brought a few more. Then, my son-in-law, who owned a stage lighting company, had been involved in setting up lights to music shows, for places like Glastonbury, put me in contact with SyncroLight, a lighting, controller and software company in Fleet. Craig, the owner, helped me set up my first boards with software for the lights to be set to music.”

It started with pre-programmed music and lights, but Keith has taken it to another level with now over 10 boards, running 8 different lighting areas around the house, he now has 64 extension leads running from his home. Over the years, Keith’s had the electrics in his house re-wired four times to keep up with the ever-increasing power demand of his amazing displays.

Every year, Keith is looking for bigger and better ideas. It has been a wonderful way to bring the whole Basingstoke community together to help support Keith’s visions! Keith’s neighbours have kindly allowed him to access their roofs and driveways. In 2022, Excalibur Scaffolding supported the expansion of lights, by installing scaffolding all the way round Keith’s home. In 2023, Butler Carpentry helped Keith to construct framework to hold all the lights for the 2024 display.

“I don’t know if they regret offering to help now as obviously it’s a massive operation now!” Keith laughed.

Keith lights up his display on the 1 December every year at 6pm, drawing big crowds throughout December to witness the 25-minute displays, played three times a day, including Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. The display includes loads of Christmas songs with snowmen, Rudolf, Christmas trees, Olaf from Frozen and so many more characters singing.

On Christmas Eve, Keith dresses up as Father Christmas, taking photos and handing out sweets – ensuring every child that sees Santa gets a present. In 2022, Keith even constructed his own sleigh from his granddaughter’s old Frozen sleigh bed and greeted over 200 children on Christmas Eve. It is now a complete family operation with his grandchildren and wife dressing up and his mates from Butler’s carpentry being Santa’s elves and handing out presents.

“It started because my dad always used to dress up as Father Christmas, for the family and then for clubs and schools where my sister worked. So, I decided to keep the tradition going – last year we had people queueing all the way down the street!”

Keith is now turning his hand to the programming too, with a pod set up in his garden to create different shows and learning how to maintain the light to keep the show running smoothly.

When asked, what gives Keith the motivation to keep going, he said:

“Seeing the youngsters arrive and their little faces watching and singing along is tear-jerking. Then you see the money going in the donation box and see how much is raised for such a worth-while cause, definitely makes it all worth it…also I think the inner child in me just wants to keep the Christmas spirit alive.”

Keith’s been supporting St. Michael’s Hospice for over 10 years, and as of January 2024, Keith has raised an incredible £63,573.59 from his Christmas lights and the fishing matches he hosts every year. Keith’s support and dedication to the Hospice is truly inspirational and has supported countless patients and their families across the years with life-limiting illness, end-of-life care and bereavement support.

Follow Keith’s extensive process on how he sets up his wonderful displays by following his Facebook page – @KeithBrown’sChristmasBaubles