Sandhurst Bridge’s Christmas Greeting Repainted After Community Appeal

A cherished local landmark has undergone restoration and now once again displays the greeting “Happy Christmas”, despite the festive season being some time away. The phrase was initially painted on the crossing connecting Yorktown Road and High Street in Sandhurst by college students in 1967. This past February, numerous residents, numbering in the hundreds, advocated for the repainting of the deteriorating graffiti, with many expressing its personal significance. Sandhurst Town Council and Network Rail have since collaborated to restore the graffiti to its original appearance. Harriet Fraser, a Sandhurst resident, informed the Local Democracy Reporting Service that her uncle, Martin Malorie, was among the seven college students who painted the bridge in the 1960s following a Christmas party held nearby. She recounted: “They went to the Rose & Crown pub and then to a house for a party. “My grandad was painting something in the garage and the boys took it with the piano.“They wheeled the grand piano to the bridge and then dangled down and painted it.” Mrs Fraser noted that the landmark frequently serves as a reference point for directions within the town and expressed her “really pleased” sentiment regarding its repainting. She stated: “It’s a really happy message throughout the year.” Network Rail had painted over the initial graffiti, but in 1988, Ian Langston and a friend repainted it. Mr Langston recalled being 23 years old at the time and discussing the landmark at the New Inn, which is now identified as the Village Inn pub. He recounted: “The pub regulars all bet my friend and I one pound from each of them if we repainted it. “We went to my friend’s Dad’s house, got a large paint brush, a broom handle and sticky tape. Off we went – it took about an hour.“We did one side each, hanging over the top, whilst being held by the trouser waistband.” Mr Langston expressed his delight at the repainting, considering it “part of his legacy” and a story he intends to share with his grandchildren. Bracknell Forest councillor Guy Gillbe proposed the bridge’s repainting in February, describing it as having become “iconic”. The cabinet member responsible for planning, transport, and countryside commented: “I love the memory of coming back in the car and seeing ‘The Happy Christmas Bridge’, and it was that feeling of coming home.” BBC Berkshire can be followed on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC does not assume responsibility for the content of external sites. Information regarding its approach to external linking is available.