Every year
as a token of their gratitude the people of Norway present Britain with a 70
foot Christmas tree which stands in Trafalgar square.
However the tree has not always been received in the same spirit as it was
given at times the discord has soured the season of goodwill.
In 1960 Westminster City Council wanted to charge the Norwegians for the
electricity used to light the tree but thankfully Parliament intervened.
While In 1980 the very same council tried to stop the tradition altogether by
refusing to accept the tree in an attempt to save the £5,000 cost.
Good sense again prevailed and now the costs are met by the Greater London
Authority.
Other bureaucrats have tried to interfere and spoil Christmas this time from
Brussels and they complained about the breaking of import restrictions.
The tree has also over the years suffered physical damage, on a number of
occasions from high winds and on one occasion it was attacked with a chain saw
by anti-war protestors.
In 1987 protesters actually chained themselves to the tree although I don't
know what their cause was.
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