For 42 years W Bro Dave Edwards of Croxley Green Lodge has been decorating his house with Christmas lights and has raised thousands for local charities and good causes, helping to send ill children abroad for life saving treatment and funding local projects.
Featured twice on TV he was known locally as Mr Christmas, and at the switch-on event last year attracted over 3200 people, who were entertained by fireworks, a snow machine, music, Heart Radio DJ’s as well as characters from Star Wars.
In recognition of his extraordinary work he received an invitation to a Buckingham Palace garden party, but unfortunately Covid put paid to that. Sadly, just 24 hours before he was due to switch the lights on for this year, W Bro Dave passed away having battled cancer.
Despite such an enormous loss to his family and the wider community, his daughter Sharon carried out Dave’s final wish and on the 14th November the lives and eyes of the community lit up once more as Sharon turned on the lights. Only a few members of the public were allowed to witness the event, and they responded with two minutes rapturous applause in Dave’s honour.
Three Counties Radio provided a Christmas tree in the driveway for the local community to decorate and pay tribute to Mr Christmas and this was filled within 24 hours, so another was erected and this also was decorated with baubles and messages thanking Dave for all he has done for the community and charity over the years. Santa has a new helper and the heavens will shine more brightly now. The fraternity has lost a wonderful Freemason and the community has lost a wonderful man.
If you would like to support W Bro Dave in his final fundraising event please donate via this bank account (in the name of P Markham, his son-in-law):
Account Number: 39435063, Sort Code: 23-05-80.
All donations will go to charity and not to pay for the electricity bill – Dave paid that himself!
