For me, Christmas only starts when the Christmas tree at Selwood on Bournemouth Road in Chandler’s Ford is erected.
This year, Selwood once again welcomes Christmas with a spectacular Christmas tree.
This handsome Christmas tree with a striking star not only arouses Christmas spirit, but also welcomes travellers.
The most stunning Christmas tree in Chandler’s Ford, at Selwood. 2014. Image credit: Selwood
Peter Manley, Marketing Manager of Selwood, told me the company’s first tree was erected in 1953 and there has been a tree outside Selwood’s Chandler’s Ford offices every year since.
I asked Peter this year about the journey of its Christmas tree 2014. Below is Peter Manley’s reply:
The journey of the Selwood Christmas tree
“The tree’s journey does not really vary from year to year.
It is bought from the Longleat Forestry Commission where we go in October to choose the tree. This year we had to go to a slightly different location as our normal location was running out of trees!
It is always difficult to pick an attractive one as you are choosing from ground level to the top of a tree high in the air. However, I do think that the tree this year looks good.
We collect the tree on the last Friday of November and install it ourselves. It is then dressed by an outside company over the weekend who also service the lights as they do the Eastleigh lights.
Thank you Selwood for this stunning Christmas tree for Chandler’s Ford, 2014.
Once again, let’s compare Selwood’s 2014 Christmas tree to its Christmas tree in the 1960s.
Selwood’s Christmas trees in the 1960s. (Image credit: Selwood)
How did Selwood keep the Christmas tree upright for us to enjoy?
For Christmas tree ‘geeks’ out there, Peter also explained what it took to keep the tree upright.
“The tree is brought here on one of our lorries that has a crane on it, or to use the proper term a hiab. This is used to pick the tree up which is counter balanced and with a man on an aerial platform is guided into place. The tree is then secured by guy ropes that are attached to metal hooks that are cemented in the ground. This ensures that the tree remains upright.”
However, it is a shame that the Fryern Arcade, despite its prosperity as a trade centre in Chandler’s Ford, does not display a Christmas tree.
The Central Precinct, however, has a mininalist Christmas tree, paid for by the traders, who also held a warm and cosy “Lights Switching On” ceremony last week. Local residents and customers were invited for mulled wine and mince pies.
However, for me, at Christmas time, the centre of Chandler’s Ford is always where the most spectacular Christmas tree is.
Thank you Selwood for illuminating the winter night sky in Chandler’s Ford.
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The local myth is that the Selwood Christmas tree gets smaller each year! I think however that this isn’t true. If so, by now the tree would be a standard house sized tree!
We maybe forget just how substantial a task this is, & I’d like to thank the Directors at Selwood for keeping the spirit of Christmas alive.
I feel that the Selwood Christmas tree has become an important landmark for Chandler’s Ford. It beckons travellers, and also local residents. The tree is gorgeous, the decoration is always pleasing, and the lights warm a traveller’s heart.
[…] my schoolmates did just that, to take up an apprenticeship with William R. Selwood & Co., the plant-hire and engineering company, which was then family […]
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The local myth is that the Selwood Christmas tree gets smaller each year! I think however that this isn’t true. If so, by now the tree would be a standard house sized tree!
We maybe forget just how substantial a task this is, & I’d like to thank the Directors at Selwood for keeping the spirit of Christmas alive.
Paul,
I feel that the Selwood Christmas tree has become an important landmark for Chandler’s Ford. It beckons travellers, and also local residents. The tree is gorgeous, the decoration is always pleasing, and the lights warm a traveller’s heart.