By Tim Binnall
A grinch in England got an early start to their holiday season by smashing an Ebenezer Scrooge gravestone that has been something of a beloved community fixture after it was featured in a Christmas Carol movie adaptation forty years ago. The vandalism reportedly occurred over the weekend in the town of Shrewsbury, where the 1984 George C. Scott film was shot. A fond reminder of the community's moment of movie magic, the prop providing a glimpse into Scrooge's future remained at a graveyard after the movie was released, becoming a popular tourist destination during the holiday season. However, a dark cloud has been cast over Christmas in Shrewsbury this year thanks to the coal-worthy creep who smashed the gravestone to pieces sometime on Saturday.
"It's one of those things that's very dear to everybody's hearts," mused local official Helen Ball, reminiscing that "a lot of us go on a Christmas pilgrimage to see it. Whenever we have any friends or family who come to stay we always make a point of taking them to it." Her consternation over the crime was echoed by others living in the community as a resident named Christine told the BBC that she was "really furious" about the incident. "It's a tradition, an old tradition and they've ruined it," she lamented, calling the tombstone "one of those things that's very dear to everybody's hearts."
Meanwhile, Shrewsbury tour guide Nigel Hinton observed that the vandalism was particularly ill-timed as it was to be one of the star attractions for his Christmas Carol-themed events celebrating the film's 40th anniversary next month. Beyond being angry over the loss of the cherished prop from so long ago, many residents expressed bewilderment over the crime that seems to be particularly thoughtless. "What was the point in it," wondered one community member, "I don't know, absolutely disgraceful." As one might imagine, authorities are investigating the vandalism, though it remains to be seen whether or not they will be able to bring the real-life Scrooge to justice.