Winter Wonderland And The Two Santas

A Memory of Welling.

Christmas as a young child at home in Welling during the Fifties was the happiest time of the year. When looking back to that magical winter wonderland where it was often snowing on Christmas Day, I can still recall the joy of it all. Early on Christmas morning I was woken by my dad, dressed as Santa Claus carrying a pillow case full of presents including a traditional orange hidden at the bottom. At Christmas we made homemade paper chains, and decorations for the tree, hung with pretty glass baubles, tinsel and soft coloured period lights, and everywhere the glorious smell of Christmas dinner, with an epic home baked and iced Christmas cake with snow figures on a snow landscape to follow at teatime. Yet for all the magic there was one tradition missing anywhere in Welling - a visit to Santa's Grotto in Winter Wonderland. For that we had to travel further afield and there were two choices, a trollybus ride to Woolwich and Cuffs big department store in Powis Street, or an 89 bus to Lewisham and Chiesman's flagship store in the High Street.
At Cuffs Winter Wonderland, the sleigh to Santa's Grotto had cut-out reindeer on each side of the seats and featured a mechanical noise that mimicked the sound of a real sleigh. Having arrived at the grotto you got to sit on Santa's lap where you received a small present and I still treasure the Santa-shaped paintbox set from my first visit. At Chiesman's Winter Wonderland you reached Santa's Grotto by 'travelling' on a fixed sleigh, surrounded by the scenery that moved until 'arriving' at Santa himself. No present but you were asked what you wanted for Christmas. There were sculptured penguins in the Grotto, a throwback to when Chiesman's spectacular Winter Wonderland often featured live animals.
Of the two Santas, Chiesman's was easily the best.

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