Advertisement
Become a member of the Big Issue community
JOIN
News

Meet ex-homeless man ‘Mr Christmas’ who has decorated his house with 17,500 lights for charity

Mark Abbott spent time sofa surfing and in a homeless hostel, now he wants to raise cash for a Norwich charity by thrilling kids with his winter woodland home.

Mark Abbott formerly homeless now has Christmas lights

Mark Abbott's home stands out in Norwich. Image: Mark Abbott

A former homeless man has been dubbed ‘Mr Christmas’ after he transformed his home with 17,500 Christmas lights to raise funds for the hostel where he stayed 15 years ago.

Mark Abbott has covered his home in lights and set up a sleigh on his front garden which can seat four children. He also has a snow machine to ensure festive weather and a light-covered archway to mark the way to the front door.

Mark Abbott formerly homeless now has Christmas lights
Mark Abbott’s home has become a big hit with locals and beyond. He told The Big Issue a family had driven from Sheffield to see it. Image: Mark Abbott

Now, the dad-of-three has families flocking to see his home with some even travelling from as far as Sheffield.

Abbott is hoping the winter wonderland will raise funds for St Martins in Norwich, a homelessness cause that to him is close to home.

“I’ve always liked Christmas lights, they’re so pretty. And I’ve always liked the festive thing, even the cold weather,” said Abbott.

“I like how people are at Christmas, everybody seems to be so nice.

Advertisement
Advertisement

“I do really love it when I see kids’ faces. The biggest thing for me is that it’s bringing people together.

“I’ve added more lights in December [the decorations started going up in September] but I’m done now and I am thinking of what I can add next year.”

Dancer Abbott was juggling three jobs to keep a roof above his head but lost his rented home and was unable to get a new one after paying for work on his car he needed to get to jobs.

That meant he was forced to sofa surf and “keep a duvet” in the back of his car before he finally enlisted the help of St Martins in Norwich.

Abbott, now 44, stayed at the hostel for nine months which provided him with the grounding to save up funds and get on the housing register and he now runs a children’s dance company.

He has been putting up Christmas lights for eight years and now the decorations have become an obsession.

But his experiences of homelessness have stuck with him and when he was putting his Christmas lights up and two elderly passers-by told him he should raise money for charity, he instantly had one cause in mind.

Mark Abbott formerly homeless now has Christmas lights
The Norwich home features 17,500 Christmas lights and sleigh on the lawn with reindeer and a snow machine to get passers-by in the festive spirit. Image: Mark Abbott

The winter wonderland has been in place since September and now contains around 17,500 lights and 4,000 feet of wires after Abbott has continued to add to it.

“It’s with me now, I bring up my children to be grateful for what you’ve got,” said Abbott.

Article continues below

Current vacancies...

Search jobs

“When I was told people would donate the first thing I thought about was just the homeless instantly. I’ve heard stories that families have also been made homeless through no fault of their own because of the pandemic. I can’t even imagine. 

“So I knew exactly what I was going to do straight away. That was a no brainer for me.”

The fundraiser can be found here.

Advertisement

Become a Big Issue member

3.8 million people in the UK live in extreme poverty. Turn your anger into action - become a Big Issue member and give us the power to take poverty to zero.

Recommended for you

View all
Danny Dyer: 'I don't trust Keir Starmer. Why Angela Rayner's not leading things I don't know'
Danny Dyer in his Big Issue tabard
Danny Dyer

Danny Dyer: 'I don't trust Keir Starmer. Why Angela Rayner's not leading things I don't know'

These libraries and leisure centres faced disaster as councils cut services. Then volunteers stepped in
Libraries

These libraries and leisure centres faced disaster as councils cut services. Then volunteers stepped in

Sewage pollution levels in this river are 100 times safe 'limits'. The fight is now on to clean it up
Sewage pollution

Sewage pollution levels in this river are 100 times safe 'limits'. The fight is now on to clean it up

I'm an Israeli who helped survivors of 7 October attack. Here's why we need a ceasefire in Gaza
War in Gaza

I'm an Israeli who helped survivors of 7 October attack. Here's why we need a ceasefire in Gaza

Most Popular

Read All
Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits
Renters: A mortgage lender's window advertising buy-to-let products
1.

Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal
Pound coins on a piece of paper with disability living allowancve
2.

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over
next dwp cost of living payment 2023
3.

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over

Strike dates 2023: From train drivers to NHS doctors, here are the dates to know
4.

Strike dates 2023: From train drivers to NHS doctors, here are the dates to know