A JOHNSTONE couple have become the town’s Christmas stars, thanks to a spectacular festive lights display at their home.
Billy and Maureen Reid delight in turning their house in Huntersfield Road into a winter wonderland, with every wall space decorated to maximum effect with illuminated Santas, reindeer, bells and holly.
The display, which the couple have put on at Christmas for around 40 years, has become a much-loved highlight of Johnstone’s festivities, with people travelling from miles around to admire the show.
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Billy, 80, told The Gazette: “People have been telling us they used to come to see the lights with their parents when they were younger and now they are coming with their own children.
“We reckon it must be at least 35 years that we have been doing it but it could easily be closer to 40.
“There was nothing behind it really when we first started to do it and I was just putting up lights outside my house but it has grown and grown since then.”
Maureen, 79, added: “When you see how excited it makes the children, it makes you feel really nice.
“We’ve just added more and more lights over the years.
“I’ve even picked some up from Canada when we’ve been over there to visit our family.”
The couple say a number of townsfolk have told them Johnstone’s official lights are a disgrace in comparison to theirs.
Billy added: “People come up to us and say they used to have to go into Glasgow to see proper Christmas lights but now they can just come round the corner to enjoy them.
“Our son William came to visit for the first time in years last week and it was the first time he had seen the lights as an adult.
“He couldn’t believe how good they are.”
The couple are well known in Johnstone – and not just for their Christmas lights.
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Billy drove trucks for haulage firm WH Malcolm but has been retired for about 20 years, while Maureen has done a number of jobs, including a stint as a lollipop lady.
They have four children, seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Maureen said: “Every year, I say this display is going to be the last one but then people ask me when the lights will be switched on and I just keep going.”
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