A festive tree bought for a baby girl’s first Christmas and planted in a garden by her proud grandparents now stands 30ft tall almost 30 years on.
Grandfather Keith Turner bought a tiny potted fir tree from a small local shop on his way home from work on in December 1990.
It was granddaughter Charlotte’s first Christmas, and the little tree took pride of place in the middle of the dining room in Rotherham.
Keith Turner, now 77, planted the 4ft fir tree he bought from a Rotherham shop in 1990 for granddaughter Charlotte (left), now 29, and planted it at the bottom of his garden, before it got too big. The festive tree now stands at 30ft tall
Charlotte is pictured here with the tree on her second Christmas. She says it’s ‘really lovely’ to see the tree at her grandparents’ house every year and know it is ‘more or less’ the same age as her
Then 10-month-old Charlotte could barely take her eyes off the twinkling lights and glittering baubles, and the proud pair vowed to never forget the special day.
They planted the little 4ft tree at the bottom of the garden and, before it got too big, little Charlotte, now 29, diligently wrapped her tinsel around the branches.
Now 30ft tall, the family still give the giant Christmas tree a nod every December 25 and remember the special day nearly three decades ago.
Still living close to her grandparents in Rotherham, Charlotte sees them regularly, especially at Christmas time, and loves to see her tree stood proudly in the garden after almost three decades.
Carer Charlotte said: ‘I always see my grandparents on Christmas Day – my mum lives over the road and we normally go there for our Christmas dinner.
The former shuttering joiner bought the tree to mark his granddaughter’s first Christmas (pictured), planting it in the garden 12 days afterwards
The tree took pride of place in the middle of the dining room in Rotherham. Charlotte, pictured as a little girl with her grandfather, wrapped tinsel around the tree on the special day in December 1990
‘I have three children now and we decorate a fake Christmas tree at home each year, but I’d love to do something similar or the same for my kids or grandchildren if I ever have any.
‘It’s really lovely to go to my grandparents’ house and see the tree and know it was planted for me and is more or less the same age.
‘It’s really sentimental and just makes it extra special that it was planted by my granddad as we are very, very close.’
Keith, now 77, bought Charlotte’s tree in December 1990 in Doncaster when he was working as a shuttering joiner.
Alongside grandmother Alice Turner, 70, he decided to plant the Christmas tree in their garden after realising 10 month old baby Charlotte had fallen in love with it.
Mrs Turner, Charlotte’s grandmother, said she ‘never expected’ the tree to grow so tall, with everyone who visits ‘always commenting on how big it is’
Still living close to her grandparents in Rotherham, Charlotte sees them regularly and loves to see her tree standing tall in the garden after almost three decades
Now almost three decades later, Charlotte’s tree has grown far bigger than ever expected and is a wonderful reminder of her first ever Christmas.
Grandfather Keith said: ‘I bought Charlotte’s tree in December 1990 in Doncaster when I was working as a shuttering joiner.
‘I’ve always liked real Christmas trees over the fake ones, and so we had them every year, but usually they were without the roots.
‘We had all of our close family members round for Christmas Day and Charlotte just loved the tree, she never left it alone when it was in the house, always staring at it and wanting to be near it.
‘She loved the tree so much that we decided to plant it in our garden twelve days after Christmas, and I’m so glad we did, it’s very special to us.’
Grandmother Alice said: ‘We never expected it to grow so tall, and everyone who visits the house comments on how big it is!
‘It’s a nice reminder of Charlotte’s first Christmas and we always think of her when we look at it as it is her tree and it has grown with her for all these years.’
Now a mother of three herself, carer Charlotte remains infatuated with the festive holiday and makes the special day just as wonderful for her own children.