Sheila Bond, born on Christmas Day in 1953, embraces the unique joy of celebrating her birthday during the festive season. The first baby born at Hammersmith Hospital on December 25 that year, Sheila fondly recalls waking up as a child to find two piles of presents by her bedside, a tradition her family maintained to ensure she felt special on her birthday.
Sheila’s early arrival, two months premature, surprised her mother, who recounted the moment her waters broke late on Christmas Eve. In addition to receiving a Rosebud doll from the hospital, which she still cherishes nearly 70 years later, Sheila has always appreciated her birthday’s proximity to Christmas festivities.
Family Traditions and Birthday Joys
Growing up, Sheila’s parents worked hard to create a sense of celebration around her birthday. Despite financial constraints, they made sure she had separate gifts from those received for Christmas. “They would sit at the end of my bed as I opened my extra ones first, so I got my moment as the birthday girl,” she said. This thoughtful gesture left a lasting impression.
As she entered her teenage years, Sheila enjoyed the festive atmosphere that accompanied her birthday. At Christmas parties, she experienced the mixed emotions of embarrassment and delight when friends sang “Happy Birthday” before toasting her. “It was embarrassing, but I did secretly quite enjoy it,” she admitted, particularly when it led to receiving drinks from well-wishers.
While her immediate family ensures her special day is acknowledged, Sheila notes that friends often overlook it. More frequently than not, she receives joint birthday and Christmas presents. “It’s never about how much a gift is worth, but I know that if I was born during any other time of the year, I’d get separate presents,” she explained.
A Shift in Celebration
With the birth of her children, Matthew and Kimberley, Sheila prioritized their joy over her own birthday celebrations. “When they were young, I would get more joy seeing their excitement on their little faces than I did at opening my own presents,” she reflected. Now grown, both children travel back from London to Slough each Christmas, reinforcing the importance of family during the holiday season.
Each Christmas Day, Sheila rises early at 05:00 to prepare the traditional roast dinner. “I don’t mind the early start – I enjoy cooking the Christmas dinner because I get to choose what we have on my special day,” she said. Although her children prefer not to have Christmas cake, they ensure she has a birthday cake, often a coffee and walnut flavor selected by Kimberley. Last year, Matthew surprised her by purchasing a cake as well, extending the celebrations.
Despite her love for the festivities, Sheila has faced challenges on her special day. In December 2016, she broke her hand just days before Christmas but remained determined to cook dinner with her son’s help. Two years later, a slip on ice resulted in a sprained wrist. “Slipping on snow is probably not something summer-born babies tend to deal with,” she joked.
The COVID-19 pandemic posed another challenge, as it prevented Matthew and his girlfriend from joining the family celebrations. However, Sheila was able to form a bubble with Kimberley, and they still managed to celebrate with a virtual toast. “It was still a wonderful day, even though I couldn’t see my son in person,” she recalled.
Despite the unique challenges of having a birthday on Christmas, Sheila expresses unwavering affection for the timing of her birth. “I know some people born on Christmas Day choose to celebrate their birthday at a different time, but I genuinely wouldn’t change when I was born,” she stated. For her, the joy of being surrounded by family during the holiday season is the greatest gift of all.
