Joy of Christmas

There could be a glimmer of hope for Gloucester fundraiser Dick Sheppard after the plug was pulled on his charity festive lights display.

Every Christmas for the past 15 years, Mr Sheppard has decorated his house and garden to bring joy to hundreds of children and families.

But this year, the 77-year-old said he would not be lighting up Stroud Road with his spectacular scene because new Government regulations meant it would be too costly.

Mr Sheppard said the new laws meant he must get every one of the 150 extension cables he used checked by a qualified electrician. At a cost of up to £25 each, he could face a bill of £4,000, which he cannot afford.

However, Gloucester City Council is now looking into the matter to see whether the new regulations apply to his display and a spokesman said he might only have to pay little more than £250 to get the necessary checks carried out.

But until further notice, Mr Sheppard has a sign in his garden saying: “No more Christmas lights due to Government restriction.”

He said: “I’m absolutely gutted. I’ve just finished cutting up my Victorian carousel that is usually in the garden and one of the saddest parts was disassembling the clown that cycles up the lawn. I’ve been quoted between £5 and £25 for each connection and I will have to have it done every year.”

Mr Sheppard has been putting on his own winter wonderland for the past 15 years and has raised more than £40,000 for charity.

He said the only thing that was cheering him up at the moment was that a plaque was about to be unveiled in the children’s ward at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital thanking him for his donations.

He said “I rewired my house from top to bottom when I first got it and I have never had any problems. I also have an iron fence all the way round the garden so no child could come in and touch anything unless I released the gate.”

After spending his whole life entertaining people, firstly as a stuntman and more recently spreading his festive spirit, Mr Sheppard said he was completely heartbroken.

“The law has decided to make what I am doing totally illegal,” he said. “I get letters from children addressed to the Christmas House thanking me and saying how wonderful it is. But now it’s over.”

Last year’s winners of The Citizen’s Christmas Sparkler lights competition, Harry and Marlene Phillips, said they would continue with their tradition this year.

Mrs Phillips said: “We already get all the electrics checked, but our son is an electrician, so he can help us out. We have quite a few extensions and we have to make sure they are all safe as otherwise it could be dangerous.”

A spokesman for the city council said the buildings regulation department was looking into the rules.

He said: “We are checking whether the regulations apply to this type of installation. Rules were set up to prevent rogue builders completing shoddy work.

“If it is the case that Christmas lights are included, all Mr Sheppard would have to pay is £250 plus vat to get a city council contracted worker to check the connections.”

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