17 Jan 2018 Community

Derek Highe lights up Kirklees

Mirfield man, Derek Highe,’s annual Winter Wonderland raises £45,000 towards patient care at Kirkwood Hospice

Every year for the past 15 years, dedicated local man, Derek Highe, has dressed his home head to toe with hundreds of Christmas lights and festive decorations to create a magical Winter Wonderland at his home in Mirfield.

The beautiful light display, which takes over six weeks for Derek and his family to set up, attracts hundreds of wide-eyed children and Kirklees families every year as part of their festive celebrations.

All Derek asks for in return is a donation to Kirkwood Hospice.

The Robin Royd Avenue display in Mirfield peaks a lot of interest annually with particular backing from local press and radio stations, the Huddersfield Examiner, Pulse Radio and BBC Radio Leeds.

This year, Derek’s lights were listed as one of the top displays to visit in Kirklees and Calderdale and its switch on marks the start of Christmas for many local families.

Over 100 people attended the switch on back at the start of December and the lights continued to illuminate the dark December skies from 4:30 – 10:30pm every day throughout the festive period.

Since its inception in 2002, Derek’s Christmas lights have raised over £45,000 towards patient care at Kirkwood Hospice and this year was no exception.

Thanks to online giving, donations at his home in Mirfield and support from local companies including £594 in raffle ticket sales from Dominic and all the staff at Capri Bistro, Hudderfield, the 2017 Robin Royd lights brought in a whopping £5,075.

Derek, dad-of-two and owner of  a bespoke kitchen and bedrooms firm, has been honoured for his amazing contributions with multiple awards over the years including the 2016 Pulse Radio ‘Contribution to Charity’ award and the MyMirfield ‘Best Community Event or Attraction’ award.

Derek Highe (centre) presenting the cheque for £5,075 to Kirkwood Hospice Fundraiser, Lyndsey Richardson, and Staff Nurses Anna Wilkinson, Helen Benn and Katie Laycock

 

The big cheque will be available to view at Derek's home in Mirfield throughout January.

Charity champion Derek, who is now taking a well-earned break before beginning training for a cycle challenge in aid of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, has something special planned for 2018 as he aims to reach that next milestone.

Derek said: “I would like to thank the public again for how they support what we do every year, knowing that at the end of it, it’s supporting such a great cause.

"It's great to create some magic at Christmas time." Derek Highe

“People come on foot and travel from all over to come and see the lights. It’s great to create some magic at Christmas time, which is what we feel we do.”

Kirkwood Hospice Community Fundraiser for North Kirklees, Lyndsey Richardson, said:

“Everyone from Kirkwood wants Derek to know that his contributions really do make a huge difference, and we never take it for granted. Without it, the Hospice genuinely wouldn’t be able to do what we do.”