For the third year running, a Swanage family, who’s donated the Christmas tree on Swanage Pier in memory of their mum, is urging the town to hang baubles on the tree on the pier in memory of their own lost loved ones.
Jean Holmans who regularly visited and loved Swanage Pier, sadly passed away in December 2014 aged 67.
Since then, her daughter Julie Terry and granddaughters Natalie and Joanne have donated the Swanage Pier Christmas tree in memory of Jean.
Julie said:
“We lost my mum very suddenly. We decided to move to Swanage where we’ve been coming for years. We used to visit the pier a lot with my mum.
“We noticed that all they ever had was just a very large branch of a tree for a Christmas tree. The following year we approached them and said could we donate every year?
“We’d buy a Christmas tree every year for the pier and dedicate it in memory of my mum, because she died at Christmas and she loved Christmas.”
Jean Holmans
Natalie Terry, Julie Terry and Joanne Avery – who donated the tree
In memory of Jean
The family was originally from Kent, and decided to move to Swanage after Jean passed away.
A keen visitor to Swanage, Jean was nicknamed Barnet because of her immaculate hair – and the tree has adopted a similar nickname.
Julie explained:
“Mum was very lovely and very giving. She had loads of friends. Sadly she died of pneumonia, and nobody knew she had it.”
Brightening Swanage Pier
The memorial Christmas tree stands at the far end of Swanage Pier, where visitors can enjoy the festive spirit while looking out to sea.
Swanage Pier Trust has expressed its gratitude to the family for the gift.
A spokesperson for the trust said:
“Swanage Pier Trust would like to say thank you to Julie and Natalie Terry, and Joanne Avery for the kind donation of the Christmas tree, in memory of Julie’s mum and Natalie and Joanne’s grandmother, Jean Holmans.
“It’s lovely to have the tree at the end of the Pier and to see it being filled up with baubles in memory of loved ones this Christmas, makes it really special.”
