Father Christmas with Thomas


What starts in early December, runs nearly every day until Christmas with only 3 days off, involves 178 man/women shifts, a total of 534 hrs, travels (Walks) 125 miles and importantly collects in excess of Seven Thousand pounds? Yes it’s Thomas with Father Christmas.


I enjoy all the fund raising events that Faringdon & District Rotary club involve themselves in and there are quite a few, but Thomas is the one I enjoy the most. Donning that Red suite, the beard and the wig, filling the red bag with sweets and instantly being turned into a character that all children, no matter what nationality, seem to believe is REAL. This character has a licence to shout (very


loudly) Christmas Greetings in the Oxfordshire Towns and villages we tour.


The Faringdon Rotary Santa's (and the collectors) know all the songs/carols on the single CD that we play , they know the order in which they are played, sadly how long the interval between each song is, as this is the period when we can all speak to each other and be heard. (Fact - on the basis that we are out for a total of 60+hrs, and the CD takes 30mins to play, then there is the potential to hear the CD 6 times a night, that’s over 120 times every year.) The Faringdon Santa also gives away approximately 39,373grms of sweets to the children encountered and, in exceptional circumstance, some adults.


Our first night was the Watchfield housing estate where the officers in training at Shrivenham College live. The fact that the college is an International school is highlighted by the different nationalities we meet: British, Nigerian, Libyan, Swedish, Swiss, Indian and German to name but a few. Every evening our visit is preceded by an announcement of the times of our route on social media and hasn't that made a difference!? This year, every street corner had a group of children and parents; over fifteen in the first group we


encountered, it really does make this event feel very “Christmassy”.


Not only are the folk from various countries, but also members of many different religions, including Christian, Muslim and Sikh, but irrespective of religion all the children really love Father Christmas. They want to hug him, tell him what presents they are expecting, feed him mince pies and sherry, have their photos taken with him: or sometimes they take just one look and disappear indoors screaming not to be seen again. Well, you can't win 'em all.


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