The family business has been supporting the hospice since before it opened 40 years ago when Fred had a shop in Monkwick in the 1980s and would donate raffle prizes and attend fundraising events to raise money to start up the hospice.

Fred’s son Tim Smith, who now runs the business on Straight Road in Boxted, said:

“St Helena Hospice is a wonderful asset to the community. You never know when you're going to need the hospice and we support it so you can have what you need for your own dignity when you're in the 11th hour. 

“Our trees could bring back happy memories of years ago for people at the hospice for the families and children. Christmas time is a time for giving and when it comes to an organisation like the hospice, we do anything we can to help and to try and make it better for the people that need the hospice. You never know if it's going to be your last Christmas, do you? 

“We're great supporters of it all and long may it go on.”

George Smith, Fred’s grandson, delivered the four large non-drop Nordmann Firs to the hospice early on Monday morning ready for patients and families, nurses and volunteers to decorate.

Kirsty Smith, hospice matron, said:

“We always love seeing the Fred Smith van pull up outside to deliver the beautiful Christmas trees, and we are incredibly grateful for their generosity and wish them a Merry Christmas from us all.

“We try to make Christmas at the hospice homely for our patients and families, and the real trees give a warm feeling to the hospice.”

Fred Smith Christmas Trees is also supporting the St Helena Hospice Tree-cycle scheme where for a donation to the hospice, people within postcodes CO1-CO9 and CO11-CO16 can register their real fir to be collected by volunteers in January to be sustainably disposed of, all while raising vital funds for the hospice.