For many, a birthday falling on Christmas Day might seem like a festive misfortune, but for one woman, it's a double celebration she wouldn't change for the world. Sheila Bond, who entered the world on 25 December 1953, shares her unique perspective on the joys and occasional challenges of sharing her special day with a global holiday.
A Festive Arrival and Cherished Beginnings
Sheila wasn't meant to be a Christmas baby. She arrived two months early, with her mother going into labour late on Christmas Eve in 1953. This surprise arrival made her the first baby born that Christmas at Hammersmith Hospital in London. The hospital marked the occasion by gifting her mother a Rosebud doll, a treasured keepsake Sheila still owns nearly seven decades later.
"It desperately needs a visit to the Repair Shop," Sheila admits, noting the doll's clothes have disintegrated with time. "But I know how much it meant to my mum, so I've kept it all this time." Her birth also influenced her name; her middle name is Mary, and her mother briefly considered calling her Noella.
Childhood Magic and Making the Day Special
Growing up, Sheila's parents were determined to make her feel celebrated. Despite not having much money, they always ensured she had separate birthday presents from her Christmas gifts. "I always woke up early," she recalls. "My older brother, William, had one small stack of goodies, however, I always had two piles."
Her parents would sit at the end of her bed as she opened her birthday presents first, guaranteeing her a moment in the spotlight. She also loved the festive atmosphere leading up to the day, enjoying that people were generally in high spirits. As a teenager at Christmas parties, she would endure the "agonising" but secretly enjoyable moment when a hush fell and the room sang Happy Birthday to her.
Navigating the Downsides and Family Focus
The overlap isn't without its drawbacks. While close family and friends make the effort, Sheila notes that other acquaintances often combine gifts and cards. "I've always liked to have separate cards, but a lot of the time I just get one Christmas card with 'and happy birthday' as a hastily scrawled afterthought," she says.
When she had her own children, Matthew and Kimberley, her birthday naturally took a backseat. "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 explains. Now that they are adults, it means the world to her that they travel back to the family home in Slough from London to celebrate.
Her Christmas Day routine is a labour of love. She rises at 5am to prepare the roast dinner, relishing the chance to choose the menu on her special day. The family enjoys a birthday cake—usually her favourite coffee and walnut, bought by Kimberley—alongside the Christmas festivities. Last year, Matthew broke tradition and bought a second cake, prolonging the celebrations right up to New Year.
Overcoming Challenges and Cherishing Togetherness
There have been difficult years, often involving seasonal accidents. In 2016, she broke her hand a week before Christmas but was determined to cook dinner, enlisting Matthew's help at dawn. Two years later, she sprained her wrist on an icy patch days before the holiday. "Slipping on snow is probably not something summer-born babies tend to deal with," she wryly observes.
The only birthday she spent without her full family was during the Coronavirus pandemic, when Matthew couldn't visit. However, Kimberley formed a support bubble with her, and they managed a Zoom call, a large dinner, and a cosy sofa evening watching Bridgerton and The Vicar of Dibley.
Despite the occasional joint present or winter slip, Sheila's sentiment is clear. "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 states. "It's lovely knowing I will have my family there no matter what. I wouldn't change it for the world."
