Secret Santa at Work

Readers are familiar with our Rotarian Ken Smith’s activities as a “Blood Runner” delivering urgent blood supplies on his motor cycle all around Essex.  He’s now concentrating on supporting supplies to the Essex & Herts. Air Ambulance, so is just as active as ever.  However, there is another string to Ken’s bow.  He is really Santa in disguise!

To round off our Christmas Celebrations we’ve persuaded him to drop the secrecy (don’t tell the kids!) to tell us more about this last Christmas.

So, after a year of slumber, I was again on duty in December 2024. It had been a busy year preparing for this annual event but, as always, I and the reindeer were up and ready for the Christmas deliveries.

Last year though, I was doing a number of personal appearances. Well, as the cost of reindeer fuel rises, an occasional sideline helps.

Extremely Welcome

First stop was to see the children of Highwood Primary School near Writtle. I was made extremely welcome and my grotto had been set up in one of the classrooms. Then a procession of some 50 pupils came to visit. They brought with them greetings for Christmas and a list of their hope for presents this year. My oh my, how technology has become a major focus and the call for my hobby horses has reduced significantly. But my requests for biscuit, milk and mince pies were welcomed and I looked forward to a “full” night on Christmas Eve.

Later that week I paid a visit to Roxwell Primary School. The welcome was loud and enthusiastic and my grotto this time had been established in a cabin in their playground. It was a little “fresh” but as a native of Lapland, it was nothing. Again some 50 children came to visit, each with their thoughts about Christmas, where they would spend the holidays and what they would like me to deliver. Many promises of mince pies, biscuits and milk (and a wee dram on occasions) were made. All without exception were looking forward to December 25.

A Lovely Turnout

Finally, the day arrived for the big event; a sleigh ride around the village of Roxwell to wish all the local families the happiest of Christmases. Many children came out to wave and see me and to receive a sweetie from the tub.   We travelled all the streets of the village finishing at the village hall where I was presented with a welcome mince pie and cup of mulled wine.  A lovely turnout of people who, after I had to bid them goodbye, went off wassailing (singing carols to you) around the village.

The reindeers and I hooked up and waved goodbye to all and made our way back home ready for the main event in a couple of days.

And thus was another festive year over for me. I needed to spend the next year preparing to do it all over again. And it takes that time to work off all those biscuits, mince pies and other treats that are left for me by all those generous folk.

I wish you all the very best for 2025 and will see you all again in December.