CHRISTMAS has come early for Lymm pensioner Albert Youd after his local community rallied following the theft of his prized Holly tree.
While he was ill in hospital just before Christmas last year his mature holly tree, which had been in his tidy garden for decades, was stolen – presumably so the holly could be sold.
His family and friends were distraught, and the story went viral on social media, making it into warrington-worldwide’s sister publication Lymm Life.
Locals from throughout Warrington and further afield donated into a fund to replace the tree, and within hours enough was raised to replace the tree with a full sized replacement.
Being winter the tree couldn’t be planted immediately, but Albert and his daughter decided on a replacement – a smaller tree that Albert could keep trimmed, with no prickles and berries.
It has now been planted by a local gardening firm.
Albert said “I’d like to thank everyone who did this – I was so touched with the response and it really makes you realise how many lovely people are out there.”
Being a smaller tree, there are some funds left over from the donations, and these will go to the Luncheon club at Oughtrington Community Centre.
