Here comes the annual Christmas ritual involving that second (maybe even third) helping of turkey on the big day. It’s the time of year when we have an excuse to overindulge, to buy that second cheese board on offer in M&S, and generally accept the fact that our noses will be leading the way, shamelessly, to the nearest dessert trolley all season long. But in 1914, the citizens of Stamford were putting aside their own Christmas cravings, instead thinking of the rumbling tums of the troops in the trenches…
“STAMFORD AND THE PLUM PUDDING SCHEME.-
Miss Richardson will be grateful for a little help to conclude the work of providing the local men serving with the colours with Christmas puddings. The 900 puddings are now ready, but £8 or more will be needed for the postage of the same. About 60 parcels, separately packed, will be sent to the front, besides those dispatched to the different towns in England. On each pudding a label bearing the solider’s name and number will be placed, and a small label on the pudding basin will be inscribed : “With best wishes from Stamford.””
Their efforts appeared to be a success as, one year later, another mention was printed in the Stamford and Rutland Guardian –
“PLUM PUDDINGS FOR FIGHTERS
–
Successful Effort in Stamford.
The collection made in Stamford on Saturday in order to send plum puddings to our soldiers and sailors resulted in £65 2s. 2d. being obtained. Small flags on which plum puddings were illustrated were sold in large quantities by well-known local ladies and wounded soliders from Lady Battie-Wrightson’s Hospital, the Infirmary, and Burghley House Hospital. The sale was admirably organised by Mrs. Stanley Brotherhood, of Thornhaugh.”
Excerpt 1: Stamford and Rutland Guardian, 5th December 1914.
Excerpt 2: Stamford and Rutland Guardian, 1st December 1915.