Every greeting card publisher loves to receive positive feedback as to how their cards have brightened someone’s day, but few can lay claim to the fact that one of their Christmas cards have played an active part in a mother and son relationship for the last 30 years.
Roseleen Walsh, an NHS worker living in Chirk in Wrexham, wrote to Simon Elvin recently to pay tribute to the quality of the cards he publishes, well one Christmas card in particular, as it has been passed between her son Jay and herself for the last 30 Christmasses.
“Some 30 years ago, I received a Christmas card from my son, who had saved his pocket money to spend on a £1.00 card, which was the earth to us 30 years ago. He was 10 years old at the time and I was very happy to get it,” said Roe, little did she know then that was the start of a family tradition that was to span three decades.
“The following Christmas he handed me the same card, and has done every year since,” she continued about the Mum card which features a cute pussycat and mouse. “The card has become a big part of our family Christmas traditions.”
Struck by how “the card has endured numerous house moves, the endless handling of children, grandchildren and now great grandchildren, it’s a either a minor miracle or testament to the quality of your cards,” she wanted Simon to know about the card’s connection to her family life. “I thought you might like to know that you can certainly advertise durability on any future advertising campaigns!” she suggested.
As soon as he received the email from Roe, Simon responded saying how delighted he was to hear such a “positive story in the current gloomy climate” and immediately recognising the design, made contact with Kevin Sheppard, the artist who painted the original card who was “chuffed” to hear the news. “Kevin is now producing fine-art prints, mainly of animals; not cats though!” Simon told Roe.
But the story does not end there, as unbeknownst to Roe, her son Jay also got in touch with Simon with an idea of a special Christmas present for his mum – a framed print of the card.
While his personal delve into the company’s archives to try and find the original design was not successful, Simon arranged for a print to be made that was sent in time for Jay to surprise Roe on Christmas Day.
Exclaiming her joy to Simon on Boxing Day, Roe wrote: “Well, you certainly know how to make someone’s Christmas very, very special. I had no idea at all that Jay had been in touch with you and that our special Christmas card exchange would make anyone go to the extraordinary lengths you went to, to make Christmas 2021 so very memorable for us both. I want to thank you so much for the fantastic effort you and your team made to make this magic happen. It is going to make a fantastically interesting focal point in my house.”
Roe is now also planning a visit to meet Kevin Shepherd, the artist who painted her special card design, in his studio gallery in Ferrers Centre for Arts and Crafts in Ashby-de-la-Zouch.
While clearly very touched that one of his cards has been a thread in a mother and son relationship for three decades, Simon joked that, businesswise, he hopes this practice does not become the norm.
“I don’t think we will be encouraging the habit of re-posting cards for 30 years or we will be out of business in no time!” he quipped.
Top: Roseleen Walsh with her son Jay and the 30 year old Christmas card.
