The Santa's Grotto event by Friends of Hadlow Road Station (FHRS), was provided completely FREE as one of the contributions back to the local community, and the event was very kindly supported by a donation from Councillor Myles Hogg's councillor's fund.
Chris Hampshire, Chair of the Frank Field Education Trust (FFET) and Chair of FHRS, has been in touch with an update from the Friends' group:
Friends of Hadlow Road Station is a group of community volunteers who work hard throughout the year to keep Hadlow Road Station as a beautiful place for all to enjoy and as a ‘go to' historical location to visit.
Thank you to everyone who came and visited Santa at Hadlow Road Station in his signal box Grotto which was held at Hadlow Road Station on 11th December 2022 with the signal box grotto looking really fantastic for Santa to welcome all the children. It was a very cold day, but the sun was shining and it was dry, so we can't complain.
Cllr Myles opened the event at 12 noon by welcoming Santa with a countdown, following which Santa then walked down the platform to the excitement of all the children. John W was also dressed up for the occasion, with the best "carrot nose" you will ever see!!.
A balloon man gave every child a fabulous animal balloon of their choice, or a sword, etc. Thanks to Simon Le Barber who sang lovely songs and carols all afternoon for four hours, that everyone really enjoyed.
The FHRS café team worked solidly, again starting at 10.30am with the set-up ready for a noon start for four hours, serving hot drinks and mince pies. Ruth H was kept busy registering all the 120 children, with the help of seven elves, together with two volunteers who then took the children and parents into the signal box grotto to see Santa. What a great team, and a great event. Thank you ALL.
Santa surrounded by FHRS volunteers and Simon Le Barber.
Our thanks also go to Station Master's House, who are donating 50p from every cake they sold that afternoon to Friends of Hadlow Road Station. As you know every penny we take is put back into the station improvements, for the benefit of the community.
Cheryl's Facebook feedback sums up this year's FHRS Santa's Grotto community experience when she said: "Such a wonderful day today, thanks to all the wonderful people involved!".
We'd also like to say thank you, and acknowledge, the fantastic Year 7 pupils from Ellesmere Port Church of England College who were our elves and dressed for this event. The elves escorted the young children with parents and grandparents along the platform to see Santa in his signal box grotto.
And of course none of this would be possible without our wonderful FHRS volunteers who give their time for free - ALL year round. They are definitely on Santa's Good List!
We look forward to seeing you all once again in 2023 when the weather is good enough for us to open the FHRS pop-up café on the platform every other Sunday from 10am to 1pm following a kitchen deep clean that will be undertaken in January 2023.
Merry Christmas and a Very Happy New Year to you all.
