Artificial Christmas tree brings festive joy to family for 82 years (From Stroud News and Journal)

Artificial Christmas tree brings festive joy to family for 82 years

12:02pm Thursday 20th December 2012 in News By SNJ Reporter

By Kate Wilson

COULD this be one of the country's oldest artificial Christmas trees?

Made from peacock feathers, it has been lovingly decorated for 82 years, bringing festive joy to generations of the same family.
 

It belongs to Hilary Kemmett, of Dr Brown's Close, Minchinhampton, who remembers it coming out every Christmas since she was a child.

Measuring just under a foot, it was bought by Hilary's parents from a Woolworths in Kent in 1930 for 6d.
 

"It is beginning to look a little worse for wear, which is not surprising as it is now 82 years old," said Hilary, who plans to carry on the family tradition of handing it down to the next generation.
 

"My son Mark will have it next and after that it will be passed on to one of my grandchildren," she added.

Until then, it will carry on being the centre of Hilary and husband Bryan's festive decorations.
 

According to the Guinness Book of Records, the oldest artificial Christmas tree in the world is 124 years old.
 

"Hopefully it will last as long as that," added Hilary, who has five grandchildren and a great-grandson.