The village that sparkles at Christmas
Janet Harris, 76, lives in Haughton, staffordshire, and every christmas, the electricity meter goes into overdrive in the village.
at Christmas, my village is transformed into a glittering, twinkling mass of lights – and it’s all thanks to one of our late, great residents, burt moore.
back in 1983, burt wanted to make Christmas extra special for his grandchildren. He pulled out all the stops, decorating his home with thousands of lights.
soon, other households started to get involved, and things quickly snowballed. now, our entire village sparkles throughout Christmas.
I’ll start preparing in october. once one of us starts in the village, everyone else gets twitchy, and out come the boxes of lights! It’s so much fun and there’s a real sense of community spirit.
everyone lends a hand. some go up on their ladders to pin up the strings and signs, while others call out instructions to get them in the perfect position, and make endless cups of tea and coffee.
my own Christmas display started with a few fairy lights around my door, trees and hedge. but I add to them every year. I used to get excited about a new winter coat, but now
I’m like a child when I find a new light display or neon sign. the light-up nativity scene is a real showstopper, and the snow machine is also a hit.
as the village display has grown, so has the number of visitors we get. some come back every year, as it has become a Christmas tradition for them and their children.
everyone knows that we’re raising money for local causes – Katharine House Hospice and West midlands air ambulance.
Christmas is so commercial now, and I think that’s why Haughton is so popular – it’s good old-fashioned fun for all ages.
every year the Christmas lights get brighter and the money raised keeps growing – what a wonderful tribute to the magic that burt created in Haughton. w&h
Join in… Find out more on the Haughton christmas Lights at haughton-staffs.org.uk/page9.html
‘Preparing for it is so much fun and there’s a real sense of community spirit’