The Oldest Woolworth’s Christmas Tree in The World?
Published by Charles Moorhen on December 7, 2008 in Europe-
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An 80-year-old artificial Woolworth’s Christmas tree.
Many of us are in the habit of keeping our Christmas decorations year after year, stored in a cardboard box in the attic or at the back of a cupboard. Each year the dusty baubles are given a quick rub to bring back their shine, the fairy that sits at the top of the tree is spruced up once again, and the artificial tree is held together with a bit more sticky tape until it is no longer serviceable and consigned to the bin.
However, there is one lady in Cheltenham, England who has taken frugality to the extreme, or so it may first appear. Frances Fearn has used the exact same Christmas tree every year for the past eight decades.
The aged tree, which every year takes pride of place on top of a cupboard in the living room, was bought in a local Woolworth’s store for the princely sum of 3d, (approximately 1.5p), back in 1929 by Mrs. Fearn’s late husband Geoff’s grandmother.
78 year-old Frances, who is a retired home-help, still decorates the little tree with three of its original pieces, bought at the same time – a pipe, a bell and a figurine Father Christmas.
Of the 18-inch high artificial tree, Mrs. Fearn says “It’s so threadbare, but it was my husband’s pride and joy. I think it’s the oldest tree in the country”.
She added “I have to admit it’s getting a bit tatty now. I just hope I don’t do any damage to it this year”.
Apparently Geoff Fearn loved everything about Christmas, and always ensured that he spent it with his family and with his little tree which was given to him when he was a small boy. It was always on view in pride of place, although there was also a full-sized tree in the house.
Frances has vowed never to part with her proud possession, saying that she knows her late husband would want to keep on using it.
Sadly, that great stalwart of the high street may have succumbed to the global economic crisis, but it is comforting to know that there will always be a part of England, albeit only eighteen inches high, that is forever Woolworth’s.
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Further church, history and railway-related articles by Charles Moorhen:
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The Winding Country Lanes of England
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Did Charles Dickens Really Invent ‘Miss Havisham’
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Bricked Up Heart and a Ghost in Woodford Church
The English Church: The Baptismal Font
The English Church: Exploring the English Churchyard
English Churches: Selborne Church in Hampshire
English Churches: Cheriton Church in Hampshire
English Churches: Brixworth Church in Northamptonshire
English Churches: Clifton Hampden Church in Oxfordshire
English Churches: Charwelton Church in Northamptonshire
She Became the Fastest Typist in Europe
Timothy Dexter: Emperor of America
Timothy Dexter: Farm Boy to Millionaire
The Popularity of the Railway Camping Coach
Origin of the ‘Humpty Dumpty’ Nursery Rhyme
The Tudor Origin of the ‘Mary Mary Quite Contrary’ Nursery Rhyme
The Intriguing Origin of the ‘Little Jack Horner’ Nursery Rhyme
The Great Little Brownie 127 Camera
Smith’s Crisps and the Little Blue Salt Bag
The Grisly Murder of ‘Sweet Fanny Adams’ (and the origin of the saying ‘sweet FA’)
Britain’s First Railway Murder
The Historical ‘Uffington White Horse’
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15 Historical Railway Facts You Possibly Never Knew
Superstitions Surrounding Babies
Five Easy Steps to Improve Your Cycling Enjoyment
‘Pure White Crosses’: World War One Poem
‘Pure White Crosses’: (The Musical Version of the Poem)
‘They Made Me Stay Behind’: World War One Poem
‘I Believed You Honourable’: World War One Poem
Autobiographical stories of the 1950’s and 1960’s by Charles Moorhen:
Santa Claus is Hiding Behind the Curtain
A Double Decker Mystery That Lasted Nearly 40 Years
The ‘Bread-Roll Lady’ Visits Our Prefab Estate
Every Cloud Has A Silver Lining
Along Dover Promenade For a Walk In My Past (Part fiction)
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