Pals send same card since 1975

For more than 30 years the same slightly worn but treasured Christmas card has travelled backwards and forwards between two Black Country homes.

Every December, Raymond Pearson, of Wordsley and Steve Ford, of Kingswinford, take it in turns to deliver their festive greeting – a tradition they started in 1975.

The friends met while working for Royal Mail in Dudley. Raymond first sent the Father Christmas card to Steve who decided to post it back to him writing a new message inside. Little did they know it at the time but they had started a ritual which was to continue every Christmas for the next 33 years. They have both become very attached to the card over the decades and this year it was Steve's turn to hand-deliver it to his pal.

The 50-year-old of Ash Crescent, said: "It is in quite good nick considering it's age. It has three protective envelopes to keep it safe. We keep the messages short but sweet because we are running out of room. We don't send it in the post any more because it's become too valuable to us and we'd hate for it to get lost."

Raymond, aged 68, of Swan Lane, who is now retired, said: "I never thought we would carry it on for as long as we have done."

The comments they write in the card are often 'in' jokes, clever rhymes and jibes about saving cash. . Over the years they have included "Over to You in '92" and "The Saving is Mine in '79".

Steve added: "We are doing our bit for the planet. Just think how many trees we have saved over the years!"