A PENSIONER has had his very modest Christmas wishes granted 70 years later after a kind-hearted builder, who found his Santa list in a chimney, bought him everything he asked for.

    David Haylock, 78, from Reading, Britain, wrote the letter in 1943 when he was 6 years old and had not seen it since.

    His touching handwritten note read: “Dear Father Christmas, please can you send me a Rupert annual, and a drum box of chalks, soldiers and Indians, slippers, silk tie, pencil box and any little toys that you have to spare. Love David.”

    Astonishingly the letter was kept safe in the chimney of his childhood home, which is currently being renovated.

    Workman Lewis Shaw, of Shaw and Son Builders, found it while he was demolishing the chimney in the 1930s semi-detached home in Caversham.

    He was touched by the simple nature of the youngster’s requests that harked back to an age when children wanted less.

    He said, “The list is very humble and modest.

    “It is quite sweet really, he has asked for things he actually wants whereas children now just want what other kids have.

    “Reading it has made me realize how ungrateful we are these days, kids requesting expensive electronic toys from Santa.

    “It touched a nerve and it makes you think how we really take things for granted now.”

    The festive find sparked an online hunt for the owner of the letter, with Shaw promising to buy David all the items on his list if he could trace him.

    When he was put in touch with Haylock, the pensioner arranged to return to his old home with his wife Carol and was surprised with all the gifts he had asked for 72 years ago.

    Haylock on Friday took the builders on a nostalgic tour of the house, bringing back the memories of his childhood.

    He told Get Reading, “It has been a very long time since I sent this list, but it has definitely been worth the wait, it’s amazing really.

    “I am quite excited to open them now but I will have to wait until Dec. 25, if I can.”

    (SD-Agencies)