Plymouth man covers house in thousands of Christmas lights
WHITLEIGH man John Phillips has smothered his home with thousands of Christmas lights to raise money for charity.
The house is covered with every conceivable illuminated decoration, including wall-mounted movement-activated Santas which sing and dance as you pass.
John, 55, caught the craze a decade ago when he lived in a bungalow in Plymstock.
And he has carried it on since moving to a rented house in Canterbury Drive, Whitleigh, five years ago.
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"I don't know how many lights I've got, but it's thousands," he said.
"I switched on in early November and will keep it going till the middle of January.
"My electricity bill is not too bad because these days they're nearly all LEDs."
Last year John, who does two jobs as a cleaner, used the display to raise £250 for Derriford Hospital's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Fund.
He hopes to do better this year, having switched on earlier.
Amazingly, the entire display is run off a single extension lead, and despite dreadful weather, the only problem John has had is the failure of one Santa climbing the chimney.
He stripped down and dried the waterlogged pump and soon had Santa scaling the heights again.
John has built up his collection over the years, his latest acquisition being six boxes of 400 lights each in a post-Christmas DIY store sale.
He even carries photos and a video of the display on his smart phone to show prospective supporters.
Are your festive illuminations bigger and better? Contact the Herald newsroom on 01752 765529.
Comments
by PAFCOK
Saturday, December 29 2012, 5:59AM
“All that 'tat' for two months.....glad I'm not a neighbour!”
by timplymouth
Wednesday, December 05 2012, 9:40PM
“Cheap and tacky, perfect for Whitleigh
red arrows here I come ...”
by bluebell2
Wednesday, December 05 2012, 4:52PM
“Nice to see hope you do well how about doing it for animals one year they do need it .bluebell”
by PL1Plym
Wednesday, December 05 2012, 10:48AM
“All off one extension lead? Hope that's safe! Hope he raises plenty for a good cause.”
by trumanmark
Wednesday, December 05 2012, 10:14AM
“Good on you fella, nice to see someone doing good for a change, will drop by will a few £ for ya.......”
by shamomf01
Wednesday, December 05 2012, 9:40AM
“i'll be taking the long route around whitleigh now. why dont you take up a decent hobbey like trainspotting, taking bus numbers down or if you dont want to go out take up knitting i could do with a balaclava just a thought jonny boy.”
by Asyouwouldbedoneby
Wednesday, December 05 2012, 8:56AM
“An inspiration to us all. Well done that man for thinking of others at this time of year and for making the evenings a bit brighter in Whitleigh.”