“It’s the best advertising I’ve ever done,” smiles the villa’s owner, Roscoe Thorby. “… especially at Christmas. I always sell whatever’s hanging in the window.” That’s because, every December, thousands of people flock to this tree-lined Ponsonby icon to take in the largest public display of Christmas lights in the country. And without Roscoe, it would never have happened. “It all started right here,” he explains, pointing to his dining room table. “I was having a Christmas dinner party with some friends and I’d put some lights up on the front of the house. I suggested we all traipse outside, glass of wine in hand, and turn on the lights.” Among Roscoe’s guests that night in 1993 was Dame Cath Tizzard. “I said, ‘here you go Cath, you do it’, and that’s where it all started,” smiles, Roscoe, through his bushy moustache. What started as a whim, one Christmas, is now an Auckland institution, regularly involving over one hundred households along the whole length of Franklin Road.

Over the next few years, more and more neighbours started decorating their houses in Christmas lights and Roscoe’s parties got bigger. “Instead of being a dinner party for eight or ten, it was now a full-on party for fifty or more,” he says. “That’s when I decided to give it back to the street.” Roscoe says the reason why it works is because there are no rules. There are no guidelines and, despite rumours to the contrary, there is no committee. So that’s the story of Roscoe and the Franklin Road Christmas lights. How do the chandeliers fit into the story? “I used to be a stockbroker in Australia, so you can see the natural progression,” he laughs. “It all started when my partner and I went through an open home in Sydney, and I noticed that chandeliers were filthy. I said to the lady, ‘have you not thought about getting the chandeliers cleaned?’ She said that there was no one she knew that cleaned chandeliers so I offered to clean them for her.

I knew what to do because I used to clean my mother’s when I was a kid.” Turning a niche into a profession And everything grew from there. He helped out friends, and friends of friends, then friends of their friends. chandelier equitation boisThat was in Australia, and when he came back to New Zealand in 1990, he thought he’d give it a go over here. chandelier threaded nipple“It was meant to be a retirement job, but it’s turned into something more full-time.”chandeliers yallingup And the scope of what he does has expanded, too. Roscoe now offers a bespoke design service, restoration, and redressing. “People come to me to commission chandeliers, or have one built – and that’s the really interesting part of the job.”

“There’s been a real resurgence in interest in chandeliers, certainly over the past 10yrs. When I first started, I used to pick chandeliers out of skip bins. Some of the developers were shockers,” he adds. “They’d go into those big homes in Remuera, rip out all the chandeliers and chuck them into the bins. I’d pull them out, tidy them up, then on-sell them. It was easy money in those days. They’ve wised up – they don’t do that any more.” The one chandelier that Roscoe will never part with hangs anonymously in his front room, along with the other lights. What’s so special about this one? “Many years ago, the Baron de Rothschild’s had a farm down in the Waikato and I got a call to come down and take a look at the chandeliers that were there,” remembers, Roscoe. “So I went down there and ended up buying a few. One in particular caught my eye. It was an early chandelier, from the 1700’s, in ormalu – a technique where gold is laid onto bronze.

I just love it,” smiles Roscoe. “They fit into any environment – modern or traditional.” “I did a house in Takapuna a few years ago. It was an amazing, concrete, glass and steel design, right on the beachfront, with blue sea on one side, a blue swimming pool on the other and a dining room in the middle. I built this giant Swarovski crystal chandelier for the room. It was a huge thing, completely covered in crystal. It was the only bit of glitz in the whole house and it looked magnificent! “I love Ponsonby Central. All credit to Andy Davies, he’s done amazing job there,” says, Roscoe. “Over the past few years, Ponsonby has tended to become a bit Newmarket or Parnell, but Ponsonby Central has kept things interesting. It’s not like a shopping centre, though, it’s more of a community,” he adds. “There are so many different little businesses in there – grocers, a fish shop, butchers, plus all those great eateries. My favourite there is Foxtrot.

At the weekend they do the most amazing cakes. My partner and I go there every Saturday for their cakes – no one in Auckland does cakes like them.” And to burn that cake off, Roscoe’s favourite walk is just a short distance from the foot of Franklin Rd – Westhaven Marina and around Wynyard Quarter. This article is part of a series brought to you by Angela Saunders featuring some of the characters and personalities that live and work in our neighbourhood.#9000-0014Coquette Chandelier30rd x 20h #9000-0025Charisma Lantern, Large30rd x 47h #9000-0013Lynworth Lantern, Gold17rd x 24h #9000-0008Bastian Chandelier37rd x 35h #9000-0018Eduardo Chandelier30rd x 32h #9000-0006Bansari Lantern19rd x 33h #9000-0003Gambol Chandelier39rd x 25h #9000-0032Pavilion Pendant9rd x 13h, Adjustable from 17.5 to 62h #9000-0001Adelle Rectangular Chandelier49w x11d x20h #9000-0004Dawlish Chandelier23rd x 28h #9000-0017Eduardo Pendant13rd x 12h

#9000-0002Garamond Chandelier71rd x 56h, Adjustable from 36.5 to 73h #9000-0029Basilica Pendant13rd x 30h #9000-0034Leandre Chandelier40w x17d x28h #9000-0021Gallerist Chandelier12rd x 35h #9000-0030Conversation Chandelier35rd x 38h #9000-0044Epine Chandelier30rd x 27h #9000-0019Volta Pendant7rd x 18h #9000-0038Corniche Chandelier, Large27rd x 60h #9000-0016Eduardo Orb Chandelier27rd x 30h #9000-0026Galactica Chandelier38rd x 32h #9000-0028Nido Orb Chandelier24rd x 26h #9000-0033Arboria Chandelier42rd x 31h #9000-0039Granby Chandelier50sq x 11h #9000-0007Porte de Fer Chandelier30rd x 52h #9000-0036Aubade Chandelier42rd x 36h #9000-0027Seaforth Orb Chandelier34rd x 42h #9915Maximus Rectangular Chandelier16h x 13d x 47w #9494Grand Lotus Chandelier30rd x 16h Adjustable from 16 to 100h #9160Fitzjames Lantern33h x 25w #9454Fantine Chandelier30rd x 16h Adjustable from 25 to 54h #9872Denison Lantern, Small40h x 26d x 26w

#9927Middleton Chandelier28rd x 39h Adjustable from 56 to 115h #9267Saxon Chandelier29h x 63rd #9840Zenda Orb Chandelier34rd x 34h #9490Ringmaster Chandelier46rd x 16h Adjustable from 21 to 132h #9515Shelly Chandelier39rd x 23h Adjustable from 23 to 59h #9451Fen Chandelier38rd x 31h #9857Admiral Pendant20rd x 18h #9291Muirhouse Pendant6rd x 13h #9229Corsica Lantern, Small21h x 13rd #9055Regatta Pendant6rd x 12h Adjustable from 22 to 49h #9699Vitrine Pendant15h x 11d x 11w #9360Cosette Lantern18sq x 21h #9004Bettina Pendant19h x 9.5rd #9902Crisscross Pendant/Semi-Flush16h x 22d x 22w #9056Manuscript Pendant13rd x 9h Adjustable from 19 to 49h #9015Axel Orb Chandelier, Large40-5/8h x 32w #9455Aerial Chandelier31rd x 34h Adjustable from 45 to 75h #9716Anywhere Pendant7rd x 15h Adjustable From 19 to 132h #9218Seaward Chandelier, Small27h x 29rd #9005Roundabout Pendant13.5h x 12.5rd #9514Aquaterra Pendant10rd x 16h Adjustable from 29 to 98h

#9742Longhope Rectangular Chandelier18h (w/Chains: 91h) x 6d x 55w #9868Lumley Pendant13rd x 14h Adjustable from 20 to 54h #9706Percy Chandelier25rd x 25h #9878Fitzjames Pendant/Semi-Flush15h x 20d x 20w #9961Tartufo Chandelier22h x 20rd #9634Ingénue Chandelier14rd x 28h #9528Gramercy Chandelier33h x 37rd #9045Grayson Lantern/Semi-Flush20h x 14w #9892Panorama Pendant/Semi-Flush15h x 9d x 9w #9948Elegance Chandelier34h x 29rd #9816Houndslow Rectangular Chandelier32h x 22d x 40w #9010Waterloo Chandelier59-3/8h x 41w #9414Forum Chandelier25rd x 18h Adjustable from 27 to 59h #9133Axel Orb Chandelier, Small32h x 24w #9750Broxton Orb Chandelier32h x 24d x 24w #9881Crystal Light Chandelier36h x 31rd #9694Palm Beach Lantern28h x 25d x 25w #9743Metro Square Chandelier18rd x 22h #9869Moorsgate Multi Pendant36rd x 69h Adjustable from 72 to 105h #9120Hannah Chandelier, Medium43h x 40w #9003Dream Pendant11h x 13rd

#9969Beckett Trio Pendant18w x 12h Adjustable from 16 to 108h, Globe 9" diameter #9890Crystal Lights Chandelier33h x 27w #9007Rainforest Chandelier77.5h x 46-3/4d x 74w #9256Simplicity Chandelier, Small41h x 25rd #9293Bevilacqua Chandelier, Small18rd x 24h #9375Bevilacqua Pendant13rd x 10h Adjustable from 18 to 47h #9600Beckett Pendant9rd x 15h Adjustable From 19 to 132h #9348Abercorn Pendant/Semi-Flush13rd x 19h #9330Florence Chandelier28rd x 30h #9081Sebastian Chandelier35h x 30w #9139Salvage Lantern27hx 15d x 15w #9972Beachhouse Chandelier29h x 26d x 26w #9054Veneta Pendant43.12h x 10.5w #9530Innsbruck Chandelier67h x 55rd #9799Bonfire Chandelier34h x 32w #9346Bellario Orb Chandelier26rd x 32h #9735Lone Star Pendant21rd x From 15 to 57h #9921Novella Chandelier28h x 35d x 35w #9467Godfrey Lantern23h x 14d x 24w #9040Adara Chandelier38-5/8h x 32.5w #9078Driftwood Orb Chandelier31h x 29w

#9996High Falls Lantern28h x 14d x 14w #9542Metro Rectangular Chandelier54w x 17d x 23h Adjustable from 26 to 132h #9552Medusa Pendant, Small8rd x 66h #9124Sethos Rectangular Chandelier23h (w/chains 98h) x 30d x 42w #9763Alberto Orb Chandelier33h x 28d x 28w #9994Billycart Chandelier29h x 14d x 35w #9973Crystal Bud Chandelier, Medium28rd x 27h #9685Highbrow Chandelier24rd x 24h #9836Metro Rectangular Chandelier54w x 17d x 23h Adjustable From 27 to 132h #9880Crystal Light Chandelier33h x 27rd #9883Crystal Bud Chandelier, Small18h x 18rd #9483Bella Luna Chandelier, Large34h x 21rd #9468Fergus Lantern30h x 15rd #9327Treetop Chandelier, Large25h x 26w #9538Petit Athena Lantern19h x 15rd #9578Firefly Rectangular Chandelier41w x 6d x 10h Adjustable from 14 to 96h #9410Haywood Chandelier28rd x 27h #9564Marmande Rectangular Chandelier36w x 10d x 15h Adjustable from 27 to 110h #9882Crystal Bud Chandelier, Medium27h x 28rd

#9582Lodestar Chandelier53h x 65rd #9870Tidewater Chandelier35rd x 29h #9974Crystal Bud Chandelier, Small18rd x 18h #9390Coronation Chandelier28h x 16rd #9239Corsica Lantern, Large33h x 20rd #9117Hannah Chandelier, Large62h x 53w #9536Bowline Chandelier33rd x 29h Adjustable from 52 to 119h #9341Beaumont Lantern17rd x 36h #9343Lavinia Chandelier30rd x 44h #9309Bevilacqua Chandelier, Medium27rd x 43h #9867Nebula Pendant12rd x 13h #9806Chadbury Semi-Flush Chandelier26rd x 31h #9223Shoreline Pendant13rd x 15h #9251Bayou Chandelier19rd x 16h #9119Hannah Chandelier, Small41h x 33w #9050Linley Pendant13h x 30w #9083Eufaula Lantern35h x 21w #9168Confetti Cube Pendant17h x 12w #9254Eminence Chandelier37h x 30rd #9400Meridian Chandelier21h x 18w #9469Rupert Lantern27h x 14rd #9380Pompeii Chandelier32h x 35rd #9748Beckmore Lantern37h x 20d x 20w #9406Elixir Rectangular Chandelier32w x 24d x 21h Adjustable from 30 to 69h

#9308Fainlight Chandelier34rd x 7h Adjustable from 16 to 46h #9108Brownlow Pendant, Large24rd x 31.5h Adjustable from 40 to 71h #9910Clifton Pendant22h x 10d x 10w #9647Darjeeling Pendant11w x 7d x 14h #9651Oolong Pendant10w x 5d x 15h #9299Bering Chandelier/Semi-Flush28rd x 22h #9321Greek Key Chandelier22rd x 20h #9633Hove Chandelier32rd x 32h #9646Anthology Chandelier30rd x 31h Adjustable from 66 to 95h #9584Stillman Oval Chandelier44w x 11d x 12h #9429Dockyard Chandelier42w x 30d x 39h #9489Bowline Pendant14rd x 18h #9311Bevilacqua Chandelier, Large27rd x 68h #9096Dado Semi-Flush23h x 28w #9099Carling Pendant17rd x 19h #9077Darden Chandelier40h x 34w #9008Paramour Chandelier18h x 19w #9608Chancellor Chandelier60h x 36rd #9920Airlie Pendant14rd x 17h Adjustable from 26 to 56h #9884Crystal Bud Chandelier, Large33h x 33rd #9558Medusa Pendant, Large15rd x 72h #9402Karma Pendant10rd x 16h

#9292Bonnington Chandelier40rd x 34h #9800Churchill Rectangular Chandelier44w x 10d x 20H Adjustable from 23 to 59h #9575Fairwater Pendant, Small7rd x 9h Adjustable from 13 to 132h #9503Jean-Louis Chandelier30rd x 27h Adjustable from 37 to 67h #9885Benson Lantern28h x 24d x 24w #9356Bevilacqua Trio Pendant49w x 13d x 10h Adjustable from 22.5 to 47h #9357Zara Pendant21h x 12rd #9202Chanteuse Chandelier32h x 25d x 25w #9110Orion Chandelier, Small27h x 29w #9174Priorwood Chandelier60h x 40w #9134Dauphin Chandelier, Small31h x 21w #9886Verne Pendant20h x 15d x 15w #9887Balthazar Semi-Flush21h x 18d x 18w #9597Frappé Chandelier24rd x 14h Adjustable from 23 to 53h #9831Etiquette Chandelier24rd x 31h #9318Imperial Bamboo Chandelier26rd x 26h #9944Grand Lotus Pendant/Semi-Flush20rd x 12h #9397Giro Pendant18rd x 22h #9729Horatio Chandelier27rd x 21h #9576Fairwater Pendant, Medium8rd x 10h Adjustable from 14 to 132h