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Widow's lights tribute to husband 'who loved Christmas'

Greta Baker
Greta Baker

A family have granted their father's last wish by decorating his home with a dazzling display of lights.

Roy Baker, 79, of Leafy Glade, Wigmore, who died in October, had decked out his house with the decorations every year since 1981, much to the delight of local children.

Mr Baker, pictured below, nicknamed Mr Christmas because of the colourful display, would work outside for more than a week to help spread Christmas cheer.

His wife of 59 years, Greta, above, said the bedrooms were so full of decorations during the year that it was hard to move around them.

The couple’s sons Richard and Philip, daughter Teresa and son-in-law Ashley Barton spent a week stringing up the lights in memory of their dad.

roy baker
roy baker

Richard said: "We thought we would do this as it was his last request.

"Last year he struggled through ill health but he still did it for the look on children’s faces."

One year Mr Baker decided not to put up the decorations, but when children looked disappointed, he relented and carried on with the tradition.

Richard said: "He just loved Christmas and put everything into it to make it good.

"He used to come in with blue hands, but when we did it we had glorious sunshine.

"The lights are up and it is a good display and it’s like he is looking down on us."

This year one of the neighbours in Leafy Glade has also put up a display in memory of his friend.

Richard added: "The young man across the road, Tom, would talk to dad every year and dad would let him switch on the lights. He has done a very good display this year out of respect to dad. He normally does it every other year, but this year he said ‘I’m going to do a good display’ and it looks lovely."

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