Mary has always been a coveted role in the Christmas play.

Parents across England wait for their little daughters to come home as the parts for the Nativity are dolled out. Who can still the flutter in their heart when they hear that their little girl has bagged the prime part?It doesn’t matter if they are staunch atheist; that blue dress and veil on a little tot  make her look little short of angelic. She positively gleams.

It doesn’t get much bigger than the mother of Jesus because the Messiah himself is usually played by an aged Tiny Tears Doll wrapped in a festive Christmas old sheet.

In Maddie’s businesslike way, at the age of about six, she went about preparing for what to do, were she ever chosen.

She needed a Mary outfit.

Asking Mummy was a dead loss. Mummy would look at the price of Mary outfits, and…