An Angus couple have been lighting up the lives of people in their village and show no signs of giving up after 40 years in the illumination game.
Jim and Beth Smart from Tannadice first began putting up Christmas decorations outside their home for their young family, and began to put up more elaborate displays with the arrival of their grandchildren more than 20 years ago.
The South Esk Road couple originally intended to rein in their reindeer when the children grew up, but granddaughter Louise Smart said the pensioners are finding it hard to disappoint the village’s children, who make a special point of visiting the garden every year.
Now aged 80 and 77 years old, Jim and Beth are finding it harder to get up ladders to individually thread each light through their fittings, and Louise has started to lend a hand.
Louise, now 21, said: “When granddad first started he had three different sets of lights up but it wasn’t until his grandchildren came along that he put on more of a larger display.
“He has one Santa Claus that sits at his door that is over 40 years old.
“They always said they would stop once we got older but each year they continue to do it. Each year it looks brilliant and people pass by their house just to see the lights. The local school even took the pupils down to get photographs.”
Mr Smart said: “We started out with one Santa and he’s been here every year — we’re only on the second bulb for him. It takes more than three days to put up and it is getting harder. Every year I say, this is the last year.
“It’s not the biggest display but it looks awfy bonny when it’s night-time.”
Louise, who also lives in the village between Kirriemuir and Edzell, contacted The Courier following a Facebook appeal for Courier Country’s best festive lights displays.
“Just this past year I helped my grandparents out a little in putting them up. Even though I was helping them for about a day, only a small portion of the lights were finished.
“Each light is tied properly, the wiring is squeezed through small holes and rewired to the plug again. I didn’t realise how much work goes into it and I am so proud of them.”
