17,000-bulb Christmas lights display shares festive love in Ross-shire town
IT’S beginning to look a lot like Christmas…
Or at least it is in one corner on an Easter Ross town where a family’s festive lights display has well and truly signalled the countdown to Christmas.
And for the Gregory family on Tain’s Viewfield Road, it’s all part of a Christmas tradition dating back more than quarter of a century.
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It started off in 1997 as a couple of sets of lights illuminating 1 Viewfield Road in the historic royal burgh. John Gregory and his Dad Fergus gradually built up an impressive display year on year which gained hundreds of visitors over the festive season.
Since leaving home in 2006, the display continued with John carrying on the tradition with his wife Dawn and sons Andrew and Archie at their Jubilee Drive home.
And now it has come round full circle with a family flit to Viewfield Road where, fittingly, the display is bigger and better than ever.
Asda Tain home shopping employee John said the house move had left them “even more land to cover”.
But it’s a challenge he has willingly risen to, much to the delight of by-passers -some making the detour just to see the dazzling display.
The display now at 7 Viewfield Road has an impressive new stag and deer and lots of new inflatables.
Said John: “We had a few casualties light wise last year so I’m glad we bought more in the sales. With even more lights than last year I'm avoiding looking at the Smart meter this month.
“We have already noticed one big benefit and that is that it has slowed down the traffic!”
And as one who loves the season and is energised by the positive comments, he decided to take things a step further.
He said: “With many people asking about what other displays there were around Tain it gave me the idea of making a Christmas map pinpointing locations round the town with displays.
“I also take a drive round the town looking for displays and mark that down on the map as well. The finalised map will be shared on the local Facebook pages around December 6.”
He reckons the display includes up to 17,000 bulbs mostly LED with a few inflatables thrown in for good measure. The family adds to the collection every year.
John previously told us the lights typically take about three or four days to sort out and put up “and then a further day to sort out the electrics”.
The pleasure experienced by others does, however, make it all worth it.
Do you have a display you would like us to know about? Email caroline.mcmorran@hnmedia.co.u
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