Christmas in the world of Ford will always be an important time.
Here in New Zealand the Ford dealerships have celebrated Christmas in the same way that most businesses do, looking after their staff and customers. Back when Ford vehicles were built here in New Zealand, Christmas at Ford was a huge family affair. The festivities began during December and the latest edition of the Ford network news magazine Newzeaford News carried the Christmas message from the very top....
As you can see in the above image, this edition of Newzeaford News passes on the Christmas greetings from Ford President in Detroit Henry Ford II, who says "In a world beset by fear and beleaguered by strife, the season of Christmas once again offers its ago-old promise of peace to men and women everywhere." Sound familiar? Back then the world feared communism and was suffering from war in Korea.
Also offering Christmas cheer and hopes for the new year are Rhys Sale, the President of Ford of Canada (photo, bottom left). The Ford Motor Company of New Zealand was a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ford of Canada. That explains the goodwill message also coming from George Bates, President of Overseas Operations for Ford of Canada. Finally, the newly-arrived Managing Director of Ford New Zealand, Brock Jamieson (pictured at right), extended his hearty Christmas cheer to the New Zealand Ford people and their families.
In those days the Ford New Zealand head office was in Wellington, at the Seaview assembly plant. A highlight each year was the wonderful Ford family Christmas Party held on the weekend before Christmas, when the plant would shut down for the holiday season. As I researched for the book "Ford in New Zealand" I noted that the children of the former Ford workers still speak so warmly of their memories of the wonderful annual Ford Christmas Party!
There was fun, food and entertainment for all the Ford families laid on by the company in a gala atmosphere. A merry-go-round, miniature railway, Punch and Judy shows, ice cream and soft drinks (at the time, these were still considered a very special treat) and, of course, Father Christmas would arrive to hand out presents for each child!
To give you an idea of the numbers, in 1953 there were 600 children who attended the party. In 1954 it was 800. But, back in 1947, the party was forced to cancel because of the infantile paralysis nationwide outbreak. Not to be outdone a bunch of Ford workers formed themselves into a task force to assemble more than 400 Christmas parcels containing a gift, lollies, a balloon and party hat which they delivered to each of the parents throughout the factory and head office to take home for their children!
Here we are now in 2024 with Christmas upon us once again. Whilst the shops seem to have run out of supplies of it, a limited number of the Ford in New Zealand book is still available via this website directly from the author, signed if you wish. The usual price of these is $60 but I'm offering it as a CHRISTMAS SPECIAL OF JUST $40. First in, first served. See $40 Christmas Special
Happy Christmas to everyone.
