A Christmas-mad dad who has decorated every inch of his house with lights for 18 years says he’ll never stop and the rising cost will never put him “off”.
Paul Bibby is a local legend in Chelmsford, Essex, having lavishly adorned his house with Christmas lights every year for the past 18 years.
This year saw him string up over 30,000 lights with 70,000 bulbs as well as an eight foot gingerbread man, nutcracker and Christmas tree.
He also covered the house in a blow up Santa, penguin, polar bear, and a six foot reindeer and dog.
All the inflatable props take 45 minutes to be blown up every morning and deflated every night by Paul – with help from his son Aaron Bibby, 36.
Despite the $376 December electricity bill, Paul doesn’t plan to stop anytime soon.
Paul, who is a full-time carer for son Aaron, and lives with him and partner Linda Cummings, 60, said: “Doing my house every year, it’s like a jigsaw puzzle.
“It’s a lot of work for one person, but I love doing it.
“Last year the cost was well over $376 in electric just for the lights, it might be even more this time but that would never put me off.
“People will think that I’m crazy, but I do it for a good cause, one year I might need them.”
Paul began the tradition in December 2005 with a single string of lights and goes bigger and better every year.
This year he has added four sets of new icicle lights and an 9-foot snowman.
He said: “I tie them to my car with string, it’s alright if it’s not windy.”
For the fourth consecutive year, Paul is raising money for Essex & Herts Air Ambulance, and is hoping to smash his previous fundraising record of £1,500 and has already raised £310.
The light show requires 90 switches to turn on, which, coupled with blowing up each inflatable, can take the best part of 35 minutes each day.
Paul’s festive commitment has seen people come to visit his house from miles around.
He said: “I get people come from Harlow to visit, they say it’s amazing and they’ve never seen anything like it.
“I’ve even had people visiting the UK from South Africa come to see the lights!”
“But I’ll do my lights every year and I don’t even care about the cost because people love it and it’s a good cause.
“People around here probably think I’m crazy – but I love doing it because just want to make people happy.
“I’ll carry on until I’m too old to get up the ladder!”
Paul has also previously decorated his house with over a hundred union jacks to celebrate the King’s coronation, and as a mark of respect for the passing of Queen Elizabeth II.
Produced in association with SWNS Talker
