Derbyshire pensioner appeals for help to solve mistaken Christmas card mystery

A Matlock pensioner is appealing to our readers to help solve a Christmas mystery after someone has been mistakenly sending cards to her address every year.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

The arrival of the card has become something of a festive tradition for Stanton Moor View resident Lesley Wyld but this year things are slightly different.

Lesley, a former manager of Crich Tramway Museum, said: “I can’t remember when it started but it’s at least six or seven years. Previously the cards always arrived by Royal Mail with a Sheffield postmark, but this year it was delivered by hand and, for the first time, there was also a £10 gift voucher inside.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“I’d like to get the card to the right person first of all because it’s so baffling I now have a real interest in figuring it out, but also I can’t sit here in good conscience and continue to receive gift vouchers every year and worrying about why. It’s a bit of a responsibility.”

This year's card came with a £10 One4All gift card. (Lesley's address has been pixelated in this image.)This year's card came with a £10 One4All gift card. (Lesley's address has been pixelated in this image.)
This year's card came with a £10 One4All gift card. (Lesley's address has been pixelated in this image.)

She added: “I think it was delivered on Friday, December 9, and I can’t understand why they wouldn’t have rung the doorbell. Given my age, the cold and Covid, I’m very rarely out.

“It seems extraordinary that this could just go on and on without these people communicating between Christmases and figuring it out. If I send cards out and don’t hear anything back for five years or so, I cross people off my list.”

When the cards first began arriving, they were addressed to a ‘Miss D Antoram’, but this time around the envelope appears to read ‘Daromy & Brian’.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The greeting inside always seems to come from the same person, who signs the cards as ‘Pilly’, and the address and post code are always correct for Lesley’s home.

Lesley said: “I’ve lived here about 15 years and never known anyone with those names. I’ve asked neighbours who have been here longer and they don’t recognise the names either.

“The neighbourhood doesn’t change much, but whenever new people have moved in I do ask them. I’ve tried searching online too, but not had any luck. I have no means of tracing this mysterious annual delivery.”

Anyone with clues as to the identity of the card’s sender or rightful recipient can contact Lesley via preferredpeopleonly[at]hotmail.co.uk.

Support your Derbyshire Times by becoming a digital subscriber. You will see 70 per cent fewer ads on stories, meaning faster load times and an overall enhanced user experience. Click here to subscribe.