Unofficial Christ's Hospital Forum

Katherine’s comment about a box of grapes triggered memories of the arrival of a tuck parcel, always a momentous occasion for the individual and closest friends. Ones from my aunt Margaret were always special. Not only did she include the best items (Rum/raisin Toblerone, dark chocolate digestive, candied ginger in syrup) but provided an hours anticipation. She was a nurse and the parcel was wrapped in layers of Elastoplast. With no scissors on hand, finding each loose end and peeling it off bit by bit until, finally, getting to the contents just built the suspense. The other end of the scale was one from my great-aunt Lilian which contained Rich tea biscuits, a half-empty box of oatmeal and some apples.
Do other readers have memories worth sharing? What was your best and worst experience?

Strange to say, I have no memory of ever receiving a tuck parcel, nor of seeing one being unpacked! Perhaps 6s girls were just deprived!

Highly unlikely I ever got one; my mother would not have been able to get to a post office even if she could get anything to send

I don't remember tuck parcels at all.

I can't recall anyone ever receiving a "tuck parcel" in my time (1953-60). However, the concept must have been similar to the "food parcels" that some of our families (like mine) used to receive from relatives in North America at the end of and just after the Second World War. As I recall, these contained all sorts of non-essential but nice-to-have items, aimed at easing our lives in the hard days at the end of the War. I remember only one specific item in the parcels: the tins of Spam (spiced ham), which made a nice change from the cans of rather dreary Fray Bentos corned beef that were the usual standby at the time.

brian walling wrote: ↑Sat Feb 29, 2020 11:30 am ... Spam (spiced ham)

Was Spam spiced? If it was, Mrs Keeley managed to boil that out of it before it got to the table.

I fondly remember tuck parcels.

When I missed a family birthday, I would get a parcel in the form of an empty plastic butter container containing a slice of birthday cake.

I would also get the occasional refill of Penguins, Wagon Wheels, biscuits, etc.

brian walling wrote: ↑Sat Feb 29, 2020 11:30 am that some of our families (like mine) used to receive from relatives in North America at the end of and just after the Second World War.

My mother's employer "sponsored" an eastern European refugee in a camp, I think in western Germany. On one occasion they sent some tea with other foodstuffs; this was returned with the comment that refugees were not allowed luxuries - only coffee! We couldn't get luxuries like coffee at that time.

Otter wrote: ↑Tue Mar 03, 2020 8:37 am I fondly remember tuck parcels.

When I missed a family birthday, I would get a parcel in the form of an empty plastic butter container containing a slice of birthday cake.

I would also get the occasional refill of Pengiuns, Wagon Wheels, biscuits, etc.

I am relieved to read this. I was beginning to think I had imagined it all as some psychological coping mechanism.

Otter wrote: ↑Tue Mar 03, 2020 8:37 am When I missed a family birthday, I would get a parcel in the form of an empty plastic butter container containing a slice of birthday cake.

Had a surprise for my 21st when I was working in Gib; a silver cigarette case from my sponsor's son - first ever birthday present. (My birthday was in mid term)