Festive switch-on at Fleetwood house launches Brian House lights trail

Paul, with his mum Elaine, has been making Christmas lights for his Beach Road home for the last eight years, using his festive display to

raise money for Brian House Children’s Hospice.

To date he has raised more than £12,000 from his efforts, creating new wooden decorations each year.

Paul said: “I started building this year’s display in May.

“We’ve got a train, Santa’s sleigh, a giant gingerbread man, Christmas trees, reindeers, elves – you name it; if it’s Christmas, I have it.

“I’ve been building on it each year, but when Covid hit I just thought ‘let’s go for it’ and I went all out.”

Paul, who works as a nurse in Intensive Care at Blackpool Victoria Hospital, gets a lot of his wood donated by friends and family, and after cutting them and painting Christmas images on them, he adorns them with plenty of festive lights.

And while the energy price hikes are restricting many Christmas lights displays this year, Paul is ahead of the game as every

single one of his Christmas lights is battery-powered.

As well as a twinkling lights display, Paul puts on carnival games with prizes for little ones who pay a visit, and even offers a letter to Santa service, with each letter receiving a personal reply.

The display’s official switch-on is this Saturday, November 26 and will also feature Lightning McQueen, the Ghostbusters and other superheroes, raffles and games, will start from 3.30pm.

Paul added: “I do it because I love to see the kids’ faces and if I can do it all while raising money for an important charity like Brian House, well that’s just everything.”

It is the first home to officially switch on as part of the Brian House Christmas Lights Trail, when other homes across the Fylde coast will be decked with fancy festive displays in support of the children’s hospice.

Community fundraising manager at Brian House, Michelle Lonican, said: “Paul’s enthusiasm for Christmas and supporting Brian House is absolutely wonderful.

“We owe so much thanks to both him and his mum.”

For a map of Christmas lights displays for Brian House, visit www.brianhouse.org.uk/christmas.