Man finds mother wrote 100-year-old-letter to Santa

Hannah 'Annie' Howard

A man has discovered his mother, Hannah “Annie” Howard was the author of a letter written to Santa and hidden in a chimney for almost 100 years.

Sitting at home in Co Down yesterday while his wife read out details of the story from the Irish Times, it was when Victor Bartlem heard the name Hannah that he realised the girl in the letter was his mother. “I simply couldn’t believe it. I never knew about this letter. I never even knew it existed.”

As the letter was signed “A or H Howard”, it was initially thought to be jointly from Hannah and her younger brother, Alfred.

However, Mr Bartlem confirmed his mother Hannah went by the name “Annie”, hence the “A or H Howard” on the letter.

Mr Bartlem said his mother, who died in 1978, had been an expert baker of cakes.

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This capsule was curated by Rosita Boland