John Berry puts on a festive show at his home in Woodhouse every winter, and the 38-year-old father-of-five, who this year became a grandfather for the first time, believes his 2020 decorations are the best yet.
He’s spent the last four weeks stringing up more than 14,000 lights at his house on New Cross Way and assembling the recycled decorations he has lovingly created over the year from items destined for the dump.
The coronavirus pandemic sadly means there will be no big switch-on this time but John believes the decorations are needed more than ever to bring some socially distanced joy at the end of such a challenging year.
He and his wife Michelle are raising money for Dementia Yorkshire and Sheffield Mind, and they have asked people to donate online via the links here and here.
John, who is in the process of setting up a window cleaning business, hasn’t just been busy with his own decorations either.
He’s been helping neighbours put up their lights too and took responsibility for hanging the village lights this year.
“The way this year’s gone I thought people needed cheering up more than ever,” he said.
"People haven’t been able to do half the stuff they’ve wanted to but at least they can enjoy the decorations while sticking to Covid rules.
"I don’t care about the electricity bill. It’s just money, which everyone worries about too much, and Christmas isn’t about money.”
1. NSST-26-11-20-Xmas Berry 3-NMSY-upload.jpg
The amazing Christmas decorations at John Berry's house in Sheffield (pic: John Berry) Photo: John Berry
2. Recycled decorations
The decorations were made using reclaimed materials destined for the dump (pic: John Berry) Photo: John Berry
3. Raising money for a good cause
John and his wife Michelle are asking people to donate to Dementia Yorkshire and Sheffield Mind (pic: John Berry) Photo: John Berry
4. 'Needed more than ever'
John Berry says the decorations are needed more than ever given what a challenging year it's been for everyone (pic: John Berry) Photo: John Berry