From wartime treats to reindeer food, one family looks back over Christmases past
What are your earliest memories of Christmas?
Valerie My memories of the late war years are vivid. My father was away in the army, and we stayed with my grandparents, aunt and cousins. I remember three of us tucked up in a double bed, too excited to sleep.
We’d hang our stockings and there was always fruit, a clockwork toy and a book.
There was no Christmas tree. For lunch, we’d eat a chicken that had been reared in the garden.
Gayle My mum made everything fun. We’d spend hours crafting paper chains. For a long time, we didn’t have a tree. When we did get one, our tree topper was a Christmas angel made out of an empty loo roll tube. For lunch we’d have capon, which was cheaper than turkey.
Sophie Christmases were hosted by Nanny with loads of relatives. It was happy chaos!
What were your TV treats?
Valerie We didn’t have a TV – we’d listen to the King’s speech on the radio.
Gayle When we were young, Mum rented a TV – black and white, then eventually colour, and we’d watch Morecambe and Wise or the Top of the Pops Christmas Special. Nowadays it’s likely to be Strictly.
Sophie When I was younger we’d watch The Vicar of Dibley Christmas Special but now we don’t really watch much TV.
What was your favourite present?
Valerie A neighbour used to make crackers and my gran would put sweets inside. Sometimes we would be sent chocolate from family in America, which would be doled out square by square.
Gayle Mum gave me and my sister dolls the Christmas she had our brother so we’d all have a baby to cuddle that year.
Sophie A Barbie house with a swimming pool and a diving board. Last year my children had virtual reality headsets.
What’s your favourite festive song?
Valerie When a Child is Born by Johnny Mathis.
Gayle Bing Crosby singing White Christmas.
Sophie I love traditional Christmas carols, Slade’s Merry Xmas Everybody and Band Aid’s Do They Know It’s Christmas.
What kind of Christmas cook are you?
Valerie I used recipes passed down from my gran and my mother. Then, when Gayle was in her teens, we clipped recipes from magazines – I used plenty
