A family tradition has seen a Christmas card rack up 700,000 air miles after being posted back and forth between Britain and Australia for 68 years.
The same festive greeting card has been ‘ping-ponged’ around the world since it was first sent in 1949 by Phyllys Cashin to her brother-in-law and his wife.
A tongue-in-cheek message, penned by Phyllys almost seven decades ago, read: ‘This is our favourite, so you can send it back to us next Christmas!’
Merry Christmas! This special card has travelled 700,000 air miles since it was first sent by Phyllys Cashin to her brother-in-law back in 1949
Seasoned greetings: The festive card has been sent back and forth between the two families across seven decades, travelling annually between Wales in the UK and New South Wales, Australia
But her brother-in-law Bob Cashin emigrated Down Under in 1953 – and the tradition continued of sending the card back.
It has now been passed between the family for 68 years and has pages added to fit seasons greetings each year.
Elspeth Parry, 67, who is the daughter of the late Phyllys, now sends the card to her cousin Alan Cashin living in Newscatle, New South Wales.
Elspeth, of Mold, North Wales, said: ‘Mum and dad may have just been joking but Uncle Bob did just as they asked and sent it back the next Christmas.
‘Before we knew it, it’d become a bit of a tradition. A new message would be added each year and soon the card started to fill up with festive well wishes.’
The card was designed by cartoonist Roland Emett and showed a train of carol singers travelling through the snow.
Pictured: The late Phyllys Cashin with her daughter Elspeth Parry
Elspeth said: ‘Sadly both mum and my Uncle Bob have passed away but me and my cousin, Alan, still keep sending the cards to each other.
‘I take it seriously and make sure its always in the postbox on time – it can take up to two weeks to get to Australia.
‘We are determined to keep the family tradition going. I love reading the messages on the card.
‘We’ve added extra pages over the years and they give a lovely insight into the new births, deaths and marriages and special family occasions.
‘It’s like a step back in time.
‘We’ve figured out the original card has travelled around 700,000 miles – that is 24 times around the world and three times to the moon.’
The card will next be passed down to Elspeth’s daughter, Katie, 36.
Elspeth added: ‘It’s my favourite-ever Christmas tradition.’