Ipswich family to light up their home with Christmas lights in tribute to St Elizabeth Hospice and lost loved ones

A Suffolk family will make a touching tribute to lost loved ones by lighting up their home this Christmas for a good cause.

Julie and Neil Stout from Ipswich will put on an illuminating Christmas lights display to raise funds for St Elizabeth Hospice, which looked after Julie's mother in her last months.

From December 1 to January 5, the pair will light up their house in honour of Jacqueline, Julie's father William, as well as the Stout's late daughter, Jessica Mai, who died a few days after the birth of her second child.

This will be the second event for the couple, having paid tribute to Jessica with a similar display last year.

Julie said: “All the hospice staff are angels, they made mum, dad and our whole family feel more comfortable and assured during a very difficult time for us."

The couple first became aware of the charity after they looked after Julie's father for one day.

Since her mother's passing, the family have become donors for the hospice, taking part in fund-raisers, including the Christmas day dip and midnight walk.

The public can even pay a visit to their house in Purdis Farm and view the switch-on event first-hand.

Hospice officials said they were grateful to the couple for choosing to support the work they do.

On any given Christmas it could look after over 1,000 people with life-threatening illnesses and their families – and for many of whom, it will be their last together.

Julie added: “Christmas has always been a special time for our family, but especially Jessica Mai.

"By organising our fund-raising Christmas lights, we are able to pay homage to her love for the season, while also giving back, which is very important to us all."