Each year, Fletcher Jones held a staff Christmas party and lots of people have wonderful memories of these parties and the Christmas presents they received. Since 2014, alongside the restoration of the Fletcher Jones Pleasant Hill site, community picnics have been held in the gardens annually in December to echo and celebrate this aspect of Fletcher Jones history.
"Each year, we received a Christmas present. One year the men got socks and the women got a box of chocolates, the next year it was stockings for us and chocolates for the men!” Patricia Campbell
"Each child had a name tag and they were given a present that was wrapped with their name on it. Margaret Dunne, who worked in Mail Order was the woman who used to organise the Christmas presents.” Eleanor Anderton who worked for 16 years from 1966-1982 in the FJ office.
"My dad, George Doreian, used to go and buy the Christmas presents and the kids would all get books each year and I loved to read, so it was wonderful." Marg O'Connor
"Bernie Davey from the Fletcher Jones cutting room was the train driver for the train rides at the Christmas parties! Kids got a book and when they got a bit older they got a pen! Lots of people have really great memories of these staff parties in the FJ gardens."
"My best memories as a kid are of the Fletcher Jones Christmas parties in front of the factory and dancing the hokey pokey!" Terry Cronin
"I'm still using the casserole dish and ramekin I received as a Christmas gift many, many years ago. The gifts were always of exceptional quality." Tim Carlton
"I've still got the book I got as a kid." Claire Jennings (see the little movie below)
