Boo-ckle up. It’s about to get scary!
A kind-hearted fundraiser is doing what comes (super)naturally by staging another of his spook-tacular Halloween celebrations.
Neil Potter raises funds for East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) by putting on a ghoulish garden display at his home near Great Yarmouth.
The 63-year-old certainly gets in the spirit and, over the years, has made props including polystyrene gravestones and even a 7ft Grim Reaper.
He and his family dress up, handing out sweets to trick or treaters, and raise funds for EACH. He initially supported Help an East Coast Child, until it closed in 2018.
They then switched their efforts to EACH, which was in the process of building The Nook. In the years since, they have raised a phenomenal £4,263. The display is free to view but donations are welcome.
“We’ve been decorating for years but only the usual bits and pieces, like pumpkins,” said Neil.
“Then, in 2011, I decided to up my game and scratch my creative itch, making decorations including polystyrene gravestones and a 7ft Grim Reaper.
“He’s always the first prop out every year and normally on display for a week before Halloween, just to remind my neighbours of what’s coming!
“The following year, I added a DIY 7ft Jack Skellington and his dog, Zero, from The Nightmare Before Christmas.
“We became popular with trick or treaters, and someone asked if I did it for charity. I hadn’t really thought about that but decided to give it a go.”
Neil, who served in the RAF Regiment for 22 years and now works for Bradman Lake, in Beccles, says it is a pleasure to support EACH.
“We decided from the start our chosen charity must be for children, as it’s all about creating memories and having fun,” he said.
“We add more and more bits every year, but, due to the fact nearly all my decorations are homemade, I don’t like leaving them out for long periods.
“I start putting all the props together the day before, about 6am, and move them out the front about 9pm on the 30th.
“It’s a routine I’ve followed every year since, and it takes a lot of work.
“I get the main props out during the night, and then, in the morning, my son and nephew join me for the hectic day ahead.
“The rest of the family don costumes and become part of the display, either dishing out sweets or holding collection buckets.
“During the evening, there’s a constant stream of visitors – the majority dressed as witches, ghosts and vampires, all getting in the Halloween spirit. It’s great fun.”
Neil’s wife, Angela, packs over 1,500 bags of sweets for hungry trick or treaters – even handing out dog biscuits for canine friends – and there are normally around 2,500 visitors during the evening, starting from 4.30pm. Neil begins the monster task of dismantling the display about 10pm.
Neil lives in El Alamein Way, in Bradwell, near Great Yarmouth (NR31 8SY).