Hull and it’s Friendship Christmas Trees, the early years

Today, the Christmas Tree in Hull’s Queen Victoria Square has become a very recognisable part of our city’s Christmas celebrations. This tradition goes back to the early years after WWII, when people and cities across Europe were reaching out to build bridges and develop friendship links. Using the council minutes, additional council records within C TMM/1/27 and the Hull Daily Mail, the early years of these trees are chronicled here:- 

1949   Hull's first Friendship Christmas Tree was from Ǻlesund (Aalesund), Norway who beat Haugesund to it. The gift was arranged by the resident Norwegian Consul in Hull, Mr T.A. Gjertsen. It was only the second gift of a tree to the United Kingdom, the first being for London. The tree was erected in Queens Gardens unlike the previous year when it had been on King Edward Street, which was unavailable, as it was being redeveloped. It was switched on by 18-year-old Aase Steffenssen, the daughter of  Ǻlesund Councillor Sigurd Steffenssen. Aase was in the UK studying English in Hertfordshire at the time.

Lights switched on, from the Hull Daily Mail 24th December 1949

1950   Another Christmas Tree from Ǻlesund (Aalesund), Norway, brought over by Councillor S. Krabbe Knudsen. Again, they beat Haugesund to it. Erected in Queens Gardens and described as the Friendship Tree.

1952   Christmas Tree from Ǻlesund (Aalesund), Norway erected in Queens Gardens and only set up and switched-on on Christmas Eve, due to unforeseen delays.

1953   Christmas Tree from Sweden but purchased from Billingham Urban District Council after they had transport problems. Lights were switched on on the 18^th December.

1954   52ft Christmas Tree from Helsinki (listed as Helsingfors, the Swedish version of the name, in the council minutes), Finland, along with a Finnish woman’s national dress costume. This was worn at the presentation by the then 24-year-old English language student, Kirsti Salakoski. The tree was officially presented by the Finnish Consul, Ambrose Good and switched-on the 17^th of December. In return for the tree, Hull hoped to give Helsinki 50 white rose bushes.

Hull Daily Mail 18th December 1954

1955   Christmas Tree from Aalborg, Denmark.

1956   Christmas Tree presented by Dr V.W.D. Hale of the Britain-Norden Society and grown on the estate of Maj. P.M. Stewart in Pocklington and erected in Queens Gardens, 11^th December 1956.

1957-1958   Like 1956, there were no foreign trees in these years, but there was still a tree in Queens
Gardens in 1957 and in the flower beds at Paragon Street and Jameson Street in 1958.

1959   Christmas Tree from Haugesund, Norway. Haugesund had tried to send one back in 1949-1950 but had been beaten to it by Ǻlesund. A 30ft tree, sited at the corner of Buckingham Street and Holderness Road and lit up on the 8^th December, again by the Norwegian Consul, Mr T. A. Gjertsen, who had done the same 10 years earlier. Like 1954, in return for the tree, a few months later, Hull gave Haugesund 120 white rose bushes.

Hull Daily Mail 8th December 1959

1960   No mention of a large tree, only small ones in various parks.

1961   Christmas Tree from Haugesund, Norway. No switching on ceremony that year as the weather was too inclement. Tree sited at the corner of Paragon Street and Prospect Street.

1962   Christmas Tree from Norway mentioned. Tree at the corner of Paragon Street and King Edward Street.

1963   Christmas Tree from Haugesund, Norway. Tree at the corner of Paragon Street and King Edward Street, same site as last year.

1964   Christmas Tree from Haugesund, Norway. This was to be the last as changes in legislation brought in by Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries (MAFF) under the Plant Varieties and Seeds Act, 1964 meant a licence would be required from the Forestry Commission which was going to cause issues.
 

How did the City Council get these trees from Europe? Delivery of the first tree, in 1949, was arranged by the Honorary Consul for Norway in Hull, Thomas A. Gjertson. But a note in the council minutes in 1957 gives us a clue as to the source of some of the others, as the Area Officer of the British Council reported that he had no knowledge of any offers of trees that year. This suggests the British Council, the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities, was involved in the process as well on occasions. However it was arranged, the Christmas Trees were immensely popular and as well as providing some brightness during the festive period, they perhaps captured the spirit of the times, a sense of hope after difficult years.

With thanks to Øystein Jonassen (Rogaland Municipal Archives), Juho Salonen 
(Helsinki Archives) and Andri Jonsson (Møre and Romsdal Archives) and the 
Hull Daily Mail.

Paul Leaver
Archivist/Librarian