Xmas greetings foiled by the Prints of Peace

There were printing problems of an unusual kind for Rose Associates, a recruitment consultancy, when it decided on a corporate Christmas card created by design group O Ltd.

The card featured an ad on the front cover, which read: ‘VIRGIN req’d. exp. not ess, own donkey prefd, carpenter & barn provided. Shepherds & 3 wise men with gold, frkcense & myrr desired but not ess. Full time post starting 25.12.98, rwd. will be in hvn.’

But when Rose Associates approached Chelmsford group Simmons Printers, it didn’t get very far. ‘As practising Christians, we cannot print the message you have included. We believe that Jesus is the Messiah and therefore to print this would deny our faith,’ wrote the printer.