Coventry couple cover their house with 30,000 Xmas lights

[dutchman]

A Coventry couple are covering their house in a whopping 30,000 Christmas lights.



Paul Grant and Richard Burbidge spend weeks on end decorating their home in Barkers Butts Lane, Coundon, every year for the festive period.

And this time around they have really pushed the boat out and even spread out the eye-catching display to include their next door neighbour’s house - with their permission of course.

Their incredible efforts will once again be raising money f or Zoe’s Place Baby Hospice, in Ash Green, and the charity will be hosting their Light up a Life tree at the couple’s home.

The tree allows people from across the city and beyond to ignite a light on the Christmas tree in memory of a loved one.

The big switch-on of Paul and Richard’s festive creation will be on December 1 at 7pm, when the patron of Zoe’s Place, Bob Brolly, will do the honours.

Electrician Paul, who also runs his own Slimming World group, said: “We are aiming for 30,000 lights this year having done around 22,500 last year.

“We will also have a grotto this time which will be open on December 1 and then every Tuesday running up until Christmas.

“The Light up a Life tree from Zoe’s Place will also be on our property this year, rather than at the hospice so that hopefully more people will see it.

“There are lots of things in the pipeline and we hope that one night can act as a night of remembrance.

“People can come along and bring a candle and we will turn all the lights off except for the ones on the tree and then light all the candles.”

The big switch-on will also see a raffle take place and Paul and Richard are keen to hear from anyone who can donate prizes to the draw.

They are also after donations of mulled win, tea, coffee and other refreshments for December 1.

Mick McCann, fundraising manager at Zoe’s Place, said: “We are absolutely delighted that Paul and Richard have again chosen us as beneficiaries of such a wonderful community activity.

“People go along and take their children to see the fantastic lights, and even their small donations help to support the charity.

“A lot of time and effort - and also the cost of the energy bills - go in to this and we are really excited.”

[dutchman]

Coventry couple receive HATE MAIL over extravagant Christmas lights



Coventry's most Christmas-loving couple have revealed they received hate mail for their extravagant festive lights.

Paul Grant and Richard Burbidge spend weeks on end every year decorating their home with thousands of lights in Barkers Butts Lane, Coundon.

But not everybody appreciates their efforts to brighten up the area, and Mr Grant has revealed the pair have received nasty anonymous letters in the past accusing them of ‘bringing the area down’ with their ‘tacky’ lights.

Speaking to the Telegraph, he said: “We had an anonymous letter put through the door saying it was tacky, a waste of electricity and brought the area down.

“It just makes you want to go straight out, buy more and put them up right away.

“It’s obviously just someone being a bit of a scrooge.

“In this day and age, the lights are just a way of making themselves feel more festive. It get you in the mood for Christmas.

“It’s probably just someone who doesn’t like anything different, but they weren’t brave enough to put their name on it!”

Mr Grant was speaking to the Telegraph after someone in the appropriately named Light Close, in Wiltshire, received a similar anonymous note slamming their ‘tacky’ icicle lights.