SOME of the greatest things can have the most humble beginnings.
This is certainly true of the bustling display put up by Stuart Broadley each year. His complex displays are a far cry from the simple string of fairly lights stuck to the wall with black electrical tape that he first used to decorate his east Hull home almost 20 years ago.
Mr Broadley, 47, moved into his Medina Road house when it was a council-owned property and he decorated it to cheer up the area.
He has since bought the house and has not only kept up the festive displays, but has made them bigger and brighter every time.
He said: "It all started when my two kids were little and I did it to brighten the place up a bit. One of them still lives at home and the other now has children of his own.
"I have two grandchildren, Charlie is two and Daisy is six weeks old. She is too young to notice it really but Charlie loves it. Every time he comes he just goes wild for it."
It is very much a family affair, with Mr Broadley's wife, Carol, doing her part to help.
He said: "She does all the inside. I don't touch the tree, she does that. I do all the outside.
"She sometimes will say, 'Oh, do we need any more decorations?' but if she's out and she sees something she knows I'll like, she picks it up for me. I'll make a joke like, 'Oh, I thought you said we had enough?' but I like it really, that she does that sort of thing."
With his decorations mainly consisting of lights, Mr Broadley tries to avoid looking at his electric bill for December.
"It's best not to look and then you don't realise how much it costs," he said.
It is a lot of work as well, he says, particularly getting all the wiring right and then hidden away neatly.
The cost and effort is worth it, he says, because of the happiness it brings the community.
He said: "I had a little girl come to my door last year. She knocked and said, 'I'm sorry to be cheeky, but could you put your lights on?'
"She was only about nine or ten so I said, 'Of course I can'. She came back and knocked again a few minutes later and offered me £3, asking me to put it towards the charity.
"I explained I don't do it for charity and said if she wanted to donate the money to a good cause she should but I don't want any money for it.
"Her face was completely lit up because I'd done it, she was so happy, that's why I do it."
There was one year when he decided not to put the lights up, but his neighbours rallied together, telling him he could not deprive their children and grandchildren of the annual display.
It does feel a bit like a responsibility, he said. The one thing he does wish is that other people would follow his lead and decorate their houses.
He said: "If I had a chance, I would decorate both sides of the street myself."
There is something about Christmas that appeals to Mr Broadley and its this passion for the festive season that keeps him going year after year.
He said: "I love Christmas, maybe it comes from when I had young kids, watching them and their faces when they were opening presents, I just loved it. Even though they have gotten older, I've carried on doing it. It's my favourite time of the year."
Tell us about your Christmas decorationsIS YOUR house a feast for festive eyes? Are your decorations attracting people from miles around? Take part in the Mail's competition to find the best-decorated home in East Yorkshire.
We will feature a selection of entries in the run-up to Christmas. A shortlist of the best homes will be drawn up and judged by staff at Coletta and Tyson and the Mail, with the winner unveiled on Christmas Eve.
To take part, email a photograph of your home, along with your name and a contact telephone number, to news@mailnewsmedianews@mailnewsmedia. co.uk. You can also contact us on our Facebook page.
