One of Santa Claus’ remarkable Reindeer class 0-4-0s hauling a light load through deep snow, with its owner at the regulator. As Saint Nicholas comments, the runners of the sleigh make tracks in the snow very like railway lines! (Photo courtesy Lapland News)  


Snug in his Winchcombe grotto, Santa Claus entertains a young guest (Photo: Jack Boskett)  

The familiar figure of Santa Claus or Father Christmas is our latest 'Five Minutes With' and we are delighted to have had the opportunity to bring you this exclusive interview.  We have asked him the usual questions we ask everybody.

My business card if I had one, would say:

Everyone knows me - I don't need a business card!

I first got interested in railways because:

I've been around a very long time - actually well over a thousand years.  But I remember Victorian days when train travel first enabled people to move longer distances than they could easily do before.  Ho ho ho, I confess I was a bit worried that people moving about would make my job more difficult, but as Rudolph and the team travel at the speed of light, it wasn't a problem!  But I love steam railways - there is that romance of train travel that goes so well with Christmas that sadly, has faded over the past few decades.

What I do for the railway today is:

Deliver presents and chat with your young and young-at-heart visitors of course!  I am invited every year and it is such a pleasure.  This year has been especially enjoyable  Not only have I had to be there at Winchcombe for the arrival of the steam services but nip over to Toddington too for the new diesel on-train experience.  Oh, ho ho ho! It has been great fun!  The other day, some of my reindeer escaped for a run around the fields - I think they were looking for me because they came right by the train and everyone was thrilled to see them.  But they came back again, thank goodness!

I can usually be found:

Normally I'm based in Lapland, near the North Pole but, as Christmas approaches, in my grotto at Winchcombe.  I must say it is very cosy - the railway has done a splendid job in converting a railway coach especially for me.  It's one of the best grottoes I visit, I must say!

I first was prompted to get involved with the GWSR because:

I was invited!  The railway was only three miles long when I first came - look how it has grown!  I do hope to be invited many times again in the future!

The thing I like most about our railway is:

How friendly everyone is.  The Elves who help are absolutely marvellous, as are the train crews, station staff and the footplate staff too.  And how everyone has rallied round during difficult days - not least last December!  Then there was so much snow no-one could come and the trains were stuck.  I had no problem of course, but it was very lonely, I can tell you!

The thing I like least:

There's nothing to dislike!  Everyone seems to enjoy my visit - especially the children.  Lots of grown-ups like to visit me as well: there is a lot of poppycock talked about Santa and whether he is real.  But here I am and everyone can see that I really am the real thing!

I think the greatest achievement of our railway is:

Its wonderful growth over the years.  I can't wait until the railway runs Santa trains from beautiful Broadway!

My 'real job' or profession was/is:

A Christian Saint, doing good deeds in the Roman diocese of Asia: my early life has gone down in history.  But as for my job today, I don't think I need to answer that one!! To be associated with Christmas around the modern world is wonderful.

I always read (newspapers or magazines):

All of the trade toy and gift magazines of course.  I need to keep up with what children want for Christmas!  I read an awful lot of letters from youngsters, too.  I also like to keep up with the GWR as well, by taking the 'Cornishman' and visiting this website!

The headline I would most like to read in the media is:

The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway breaks all records with its Father Christmas visits!

My favourite railway company / operator is or was:

Well, that is a difficult one.  I suppose the Santa Fe in America would be an obvious start but, to be honest, I like all of them!

My favourite motive power is:

The 'Reindeer' class of course.  Even though it's an 0-4-0 it runs at lightning speed and is very economical.  I can use just one for local trips around my home, or several to haul the huge delivery sleighs.  The class doesn't even need rails (although the sleigh does make tracks that are satisfyingly like rails in the snow!).

If I was lucky enough, I would invest a £1 million windfall on:

Helping disadvantaged children have a happier Christmas!

If I wasn't involved with the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway I would probably:

To be honest, I get involved with most railways who ask me to come along.  But this one is my favourite!

In other spare time I also enjoy:

DIY, doing good deeds, looking after my fast staff of helpers and drinking the odd glass of Port or Brandy, but not when I'm driving the sleigh of course!

If an MP3 player really only could play three pieces of music, I would choose:

Not easy. But how about 'I saw mummy kissing Santa Claus' - if only I had time!!  Then the song about my reindeer - 'Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer' always makes me smile.  And, because of the true meaning of Christmas, 'Silent Night'

And your favourite Christmas film?

Well over the years there have been hundreds - some very bad and some very good.  Many show that the makers have no idea about how I live and work!  But for pure magic and a well-animated steam locomotive, I'd go for Polar Express!

My greatest achievement is:

Visiting millions of homes around the world in just a few days!  Fortunately, in some countries the day for giving gifts is before Christmas Day which certainly helps with the logistics of delivering all of these wonderful presents.

What my family thinks of my railway interest:

They are always supportive, especially my wife Mary.  They know I love railways, whether they are steam, diesel or electric.  That's why I like giving model trains as Christmas presents.

In ten years' time I think the railway:

I'm sure it will be successfully running between Cheltenham Race Course and Broadway, enabling even more people to enjoy Santa Specials.

Not many people know this about me, but:

I'm actually a Greek saint - Saint Nicholas!  Even though I am the Patron Saint of Russia and the Patron Saint of Greek sailors (and Saint of all sorts of other places and traditions), I originally lived in a part of modern-day Turkey!  The idea of leaving gifts in stockings came from a time when I helped a poor, desperate widower trying to bring up three daughters - I gave each of the daughters, on different occasions, a purse with a gift of money to help secure their future. On the third occasion, to avoid confrontation with their father who didn't want to accept charity, I dropped the purse down the chimney.  Amazingly, it happened to land in a stocking the daughter had put by the fire to dry!  That's how the tradition started - over a thousand years ago!

Do you have a special message for readers?

Yes of course!  A very happy Christmas to everyone!