Beatty Avenue residents have been bringing a little light and cheer to their neighbours during these dark December days with a community advent calendar display.

Each day this month has seen a different advent calendar display in a different window at a different house. One of those bringing Christmas spirit to Jesmond in this way is local resident Caroline Fieldsend.

“Neighbourliness, for me, is a fond memory I have from growing up in my village in Durham, so I think it’s amazing to see the unity of communities, despite the socially distanced nature of life at the moment,” said Fieldsend, who works as an NHS orthopist.

“COVID has brought hardships and difficulties to so many over this year, but from my experience, it has also been an amazing chance for communities to engage and interact. All the windows displays have been wonderful and so varied and the kids have just loved walking around to see them. It’s bringing a little bit of extra magic to the street.”

Fieldsend first heard of the advent calendar idea from a friend, Lindsey Davey, who also lives on Beatty Avenue and proposed the idea in a local residents WhatsApp group.

Davey says she was inspired by the Window Wanderland festival held throughout this year which encouraged neighbourhoods to set up illuminated art trails to help reduce social isolation during the pandemic.

“I think the circumstances around COVID-19 helped everyone get to know their neighbours a bit more,” said Davey. “I never had the courage to ask people if they needed something as I was afraid of bothering them, but this is a lovely upside to the landemic as it has helped me get the courage to go and ask and help.”