THE much-loved ‘Farnham Christmas House’ will be raising funds for Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice this festive season in memory of one of its chief elves Chris Meacham who has died after a short battle with cancer.

It was Chris, 71, who together with his then-partner Gail Whattingham, decided to elaborately decorate their house at 82 Greenfield Road in 1989 inspired by that year’s festive blockbuster The National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.

Since then the duo have amassed a collection of more than 100,000 bulbs, and raised more than £25,000 for an array of charities thanks to admiring passers-by posting donations through Gail’s letterbox.

Chris and Gail separated around a decade ago, but remained close companions and Chris continued to help put up the display each December until physically unable to do so.

Having struggled with back and knee injuries since he was a boy, Chris spent three months at Frimley Park Hospital last year battling an infection in his knee joint, and in July was diagnosed with an aggressive form of acute myeloid leukaemia.

After a three-week spell at Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice - one of the many charities he and Gail have supported over the years - Chris died at 7.30am on Monday, October 16. having spent the previous day surrounded by his loved ones at his bedside.

Gail and her family are now planning a year of fundraising for Phyllis Tuckwell in Chris’s memory, beginning with the switch-on of the Christmas lights on Friday, December 8, followed by Gail’s son Alex running the London Marathon and a golf day organised by Gail and Chris’s son Elliot.

Born and bred in Grosvenor Road, Aldershot, Chris was an avid Aldershot Town fan and was a firm fixture for many years behind the goal at the Recreation Ground. His family were grateful to receive a card of condolence from the club’s joint founder Graham Brookland after his death.

Chris was also an international roller hockey referee, travelling across Europe to officiate at matches as well as the World Championships in Britain, and a long-serving member of the Farnham Roller Hockey Club.

The club wrote on Facebook after hearing of his death: “It is with great sadness that I have to report that Chris Meacham passed away this morning.

“Some may remember him playing in goal for the club. Others will remember him running the senior team and working as treasurer for both the club and for South Eastern Counties Roller Hockey Association. Still others will remember him as a great referee.

“We will all remember him for his enthusiasm and joy for the sport of roller hockey. All of us at Farnham Roller Hockey Club will remember him. Our thoughts are with Gail, Elliot, and all of his family.”

Gail said the cancer was “very aggressive and very quick”, and paid tribute to Phyllis Tuckwell for its outstanding care and support of Chris and his loved ones, first on behalf of its community care team at Chris’s home in Hadrians and then for his final three weeks at the hospice.

“They were just marvellous,” she said. “You hear about it, but it isn’t until you actually experience their devotion, it is just amazing - even down to the volunteers who run the cafe. When we ordered 14 rounds of sandwiches they didn’t bat an eyelid. They were all just lovely, lovely people.”

Chris was also an avid gardener and, together with Gail, scooped a number of awards over the years - including a Secret Gardens of Farnham gong for their hanging baskets and courtyard, and the Waverley Tenant’s award for the best private garden.

He also helped run the Farnham Park cafe for a number of years in the mid-2000s with then-manager Ron Jones.

Gail continued: “Chris was there for you all the time, nothing was ever too much for him. He might have been an old moany groaner sometimes, but if you wanted something done he would just do it.

“We had to stop him going up the ladder and putting the lights up in later years, because if he’d had the chance he would have still done it despite all his health problems!”

Chris is survived by his son Elliot, 35, daughters Michelle, 47, and Karina, 37, along with 11 grandchildren, one great-grandchild and his beloved 18-year-old cat Maddy.

His funeral will take place at Aldershot Crematorium on Friday, November 3. at 11.30am with a request that mourners avoid wearing black, instead donning ‘a touch of blue’, an flowers be restricted to family only.

A tribute page has been set up online at christopher-meacham.muchloved.com, with donations welcomed to Phyllis Tuckwell in Chris’s memory.