Recognition for a man with a passion for Christmas lights

This year’s winner of The Heathfield News Christmas lights competition, is Brian Austin. Nominations were collected on Facebook and Brian’s house in Alexander Road was the one that most people thought the most deserving.

We caught up with Brian and his wife, at Trading 4 U when he collected his winner’s voucher from the store. It came as no surprise, that Brian decided to quickly snap up some more lights to add to his display for next year. It turns out that Brian has been steadily building up his lights over the last 20 years and especially since he retired from his job as a BT engineer, he has found more time to indulge in his festive passion.

This year it nearly didn’t happen, as he was taken ill in the run up to Christmas, but with the support of his neighbours Ian and Leigh it all went to plan. Brian expressed his gratitude for all of their help. “I am so grateful to everyone who supports my lighting display, it’s great seeing the expressions of joy on the kids’ faces when their parents bring them by, so lovely to know that it brings so much pleasure to people from Heathfield and further afield. I’m touched that people thought mine were worth a mention and I hope that everyone comes to see them again this year.”

Brian won a £25 voucher kindly donated by Heathfield retailler Trading4U, who always have a very comprehensive selection of lights in their store at Christmas time.