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Family to honour 'Mr Christmas’ with lights

Mr Baker's house in Leafy Glade, Wigmore, decorated last year.
Mr Baker's house in Leafy Glade, Wigmore, decorated last year.

Every Christmas, families have marvelled at Roy Baker's dazzling lights display and Santa's grotto.

The extravagant spectacle in Leafy Glade, Wigmore, earned the 79 year old the nickname Mr Christmas.

Roy Baker
Roy Baker

But this year, Mr Baker's family will put up the decorations without him after he died following a short illness.

His wife of 59 years, Greta, said he began putting up the decorations when they moved into their home in 1981.

"We started off small," she said. "The decorations used to be in all the bedrooms, you could not move.

"We'll keep some of them and make an effort - there's bound to people coming round who think he's still around."

Mr Baker, who was born in Faversham, continued working up until his death as a salesman at Fine Line Double Glazing, in Commisioner's Road, Strood.

He initially worked at Ridham Dock, in Sittingbourne. It was a chance meeting with a friend that led to him turning to glazing.

Glenis Smith, one of his colleagues at Fine Line, described him as a "workaholic" and a "real character".

"He just loved Christmas," she said. "He used to be blue in the face by the time he'd finished putting up the decorations."

Mr Baker leaves sons Philip and Richard and a daughter Teresa. He also leaves seven grandchildren: Claire, Paul, Faye, Lewis, Liam, Amy and Asa and two great-grandchildren: Kyron and Evie.

His funeral was held yesterday at Vinters Park Crematorium, in Maidstone.

Did you know Mr Baker? Leave your tributes below.

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