'Local hero' holds last Christmas lights switch-on

A charity fundraiser whose Christmas lights displays have been drawing the crowds for over two decades has said this year's display will be his last.

The lights at Derek Highe's home in Mirfield draw thousands of visitors every year from all over the area and he has so far raised more than £80,000.

Described as a "local hero", Mr Highe, 66, has also organised a visit from Santa Claus every Christmas Eve for neighbouring children and has put on firework displays.

But he said that the lights switch-on he held on Sunday was the final one and it was now time to "end on a high" and finish the project while he was still fit and healthy.

Mr Highe started the displays in 2002 as a tribute to an old friend who was diagnosed with, and later died of, cancer.

He explained: "It just took off. I never envisaged it would become so big and it would mean so much to so many people."

Mr Highe's house has also acted as a free attraction for families that may be struggling financially over the festive period.

He said his outdoor Christmas tree alone had 10,000 lights and he kept them lit every day from 16:30 until 22:00 from the first Sunday in December.

Mr Highe said it took him six weeks to fit all the lights and while his electricity bill used to be very high, newer LED lights meant he could power 1,500 lights from a single socket for under a penny an hour.

He said that as part of his fundraising efforts over the years, he had raised about £59,000 for Kirkwood Hospice in Huddersfield.

Mr Highe described the hospice as a place that had "helped and supported so many local people".

Michael Crowther, chief executive of Kirkwood Hospice, said: "With over two decades' worth of fundraising, he's a local hero.

"You can see by the turnout on Sunday just how much it means to the people of Mirfield."

These days, people can donate money using a special "money chute" which Mr Highe created by removing some panelling in his house.

He said it was something he started during the pandemic when everyone had to social distance.

"We raised the most money ever in a year during lockdown, around £7,000, and I hope to beat that this year," he explained.

"When Covid hit, it was something for children to do at Christmas and it means so much to them.

"And over the years some of the children are now bringing their children, so that's very special."

Mr Highe's neighbour Roger Stephenson said there was no need to visit the famous Blackpool Illuminations because "it's just like it outside our front door".

Mr Highe's daughter, Lucy, also said his family saw first-hand all the hard work that went into setting up the lights.

"We are so very proud of what he has achieved over the years," she said.

Mr Highe, who is about to retire as a cabinet maker, said he realised how much the local community would miss his display and it was not an easy decision to bring things to a close.

"But I want to go out with a bang while I am still fit and healthy," he said.

Mr Highe said he planned on taking part in a triathlon in 2025 - and hoped to qualify for Team GB for his age category.

He said that would be "a new, albeit different, way of fundraising".

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