When is Christmas coming? In Chandler’s Ford, it’s when the Selwood Christmas tree is up.
The Selwood Christmas tree has been lighting up Chandler’s Ford since 1953. It’s been 70 years. Thank you Selwood for doing this every year, and keeping this wonderful tradition alive for the joy of the local community.
Selwood Christmas tree has been an annual local landmark and a highlight of Christmas in Chandler’s Ford. It boosts our spirit. It brings a smile to commuters, to the young and to the old. The lights bring hope and comfort. Selwood Christmas tree has been with us through some challenging years, especially during Covid. For many of us, a Selwood Christmas tree is a shared memory that we all cherish.
With changes at Selwood and they are due to move out of the headoffice, it’s our hope that we’ll still see a Christmas tree there in the coming years. We hope it is not the last Christmas tree.
What’s your memories of the Selwood Christmas tree?
When I moved to Chandlers Ford a friend from Sparsholt told me when the family was little their dad would drive them every year to see the Selwood tree. I noticed today that it’s already up and lit. A welcome sight! Merry Christmas
Hi Deeyon,
Thank you for sharing this. These days people still come to see the magnificent tree. There is something special about a beautiful, illuminated Christmas tree that lights up the sky. Long may the Christmas tree tradition last.
I think it is one of the best they have done, really festive. Long may they continue, I always look forward to seeing it.
It’s so beautiful, and it’s not wonky like the one in in Cambridgeshire 🙂
They have had a tree ever since I worked there in 77-79. Always exciting seeing it arrive. Happy memories.
Hi Jill,
I can imagine the excitement seeing the tree being delivered and put up, decoration and all that!
I think we can all agree that this tree brings such a lot of joy to everyone, and let’s hope we have another tree next year.
As a 7 year old, I remember the “Selwood for Plant” tree from when we arrived in Chandlers Ford in 1954.
In those days the offices etc were in the old school buildings used by Selwoods at that time.
Selwood supplied much of the plant (diggers, dumpers, cranes, etc) used in the 1950/60s building boom in the area.
Good to see this year’s multi coloured lights spreading cheer.
Long may it continue!
Hi Martin,
I also like the multi-coloured lights! I would like to hear more of your childhood Christmas memories.
I was born and lived in Station Lane and was 11 years old when the first one was put up and lit up watching it arrive and going up , made the old school building look good behind nice to see its still going strong .
Hi Roger,
Wow! Thank you for sharing. The tree is stunning. Was the tree then as tall as today’s? Yes the tree has made the whole area look so good (never mind the traffic jam) 🙂 . I hope you are keeping well.
Hello Janet,
Keeping well thank you as I hope you are. I think it has got taller over the years, street lights weren’t as big and certainly no traffic jams in 1953!!! 47 or 47a bus every hour and about a dozen cars a day even on weekends!! Much quieter, pity really the old school house was not restored somewhere as it was the first purpose built school in Chandler’s Ford.