Santa's Sleigh

New Year 2023

Good day and a happy new year to all. I hope it will be good for you and for yours.

We now have to decide the share of the £2222 raised by the Santa Sleigh in December, always given to local good causes.

Amongst the pie, I wish to give a slice to Buerton Residents Association .

May I suggest AoL readers come up with ideas so that we may plan a day when we spread the good cheer.

A potted Santa history

Joan and I arrived in Buerton after buying Buerton House. Totally by accident, as we were looking to move from Lancashire to Cheshire as I no longer needed to be near my place of work in Liverpool .

We went to Malpas and Wybunbury courtesy of Peter Wilson , Estate Agents.

On June 6th we were at the door of Buerton House, raining . It took us just an hour to say that we wished to buy the house and by Friday we had exchanged contracts!!

We set about being part of this small hamlet and involved ourselves closely with Buerton School.

My first Santa duties were there.

In about 2000/2001 we got together with Round Table of Crewe and Nantwich to tour on the Santa sleigh around Audlem and all districts. Founder members were Matt Bonnell, Kev Mort and Geoff Stretch.

And they still are the backbone of the team.

The Sleigh was good but on one night , as we turned into Long Lane from the white Lion, the back end fell off , spilling me onto the road with great loss of dignity. We knocked on the door of a bungalow and wonder of wonders, the resident was in business that including the sale of nails! Rapid repairs and we carried on .

Since then, the famous Ice Cream Van makers, Whitby Morrison built a state of the art sleigh -- free gratis and for nothing

Over the past 22/23 years we have raised about £32,000 -- with every penny going to local deserving groups hereabouts. Record sums of £2400 in 2021 and £2222 in 2022 were so welcome.

In rain, cold winds, snow storms ,we have battled through -- with many volunteer elves joining us in our efforts. Many welcome warming drinks and mince pies given by happy residents.

Big thanks to Round Table and the members . Now George Walley is Chairman and he and his family happily live here in the village.

I also have been Santa for Newcastle School, Sound School, Audlem School and Bridgemere School and have sailed down the canal for ADAS and to the Grotto.

Now.

A crossroads for myself. After the last tours of Santa in November and December, I realise that my days as the fellow in red are over.

Accordingly , there will be a new Santa next winter.

Will miss the joy on the faces of the children and the feeling of warmth that greeted us everywhere..

I do wish the new incumbent the very best for many years to come .

Ralph Warburton

AKA Santa