Rutland couple’s 60-year-old Christmas tree still going strong

When David and Betty Balmford brought home a new Christmas tree, little did they know that it would still be proudly on display six decades later.

The couple bought the imitation tree back in 1964 while David was stationed in Gibraltar with the Royal Air Force.

The 3ft silver tree, which is fitted with lights on each branch, was bought originally with their son Andrew in mind.

“He was three years old and it was Christmas so we had to have a tree,” said Betty.

“Gibraltar wasn’t quite the place then where you would go and buy a Christmas tree, but we found these artificial trees and we bought one.

“It’s absolutely amazing - it’s gone on year after year after year.”

Aside from the odd errant bulb and a faulty bulb holder, the trusty tree has remained in perfect working order every year since.

However, disaster did almost strike this year when the festive decoration was unpacked for its 60th anniversary outing and the switch was flicked.

“It’s only twice failed to light the lights in all that time, and this time it decided it wasn’t going to work,” said David.

“So I spent two-and-a-half to three hours with a volt meter checking all of the bulbs, bulb holders and the wiring, and I got it going.”

After a faulty wire was found to be the culprit, the tree has once more been given pride of place on a table in the front room window of their Oakham home.

The fate of the tree has become an annual cliffhanger for the family.

“The kids always ask ‘has the tree lit?’,” said Betty.

“A couple of days ago we had to tell our other son in Henley-on-Thames that the tree wasn’t working - it would be a Christmas disaster in this house if it wasn’t working.”

The couple have only ever resorted to a real tree during a three-year stay in Iran while David was working for British Aerospace.

The well-travelled couple moved to Rutland last year after 25 years in Cornwall, to be closer to Andrew, grandson Edward and great-granddaughter Milly.

They celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary this year, having met in Singapore where David was posted with the RAF and Betty was with the Princess Mary's Royal Air Force Nursing Service.

“We met in an amateur dramatics group and it’s been amateur dramatics ever since!” said David.

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