Santa’s Sleigh

Dereham Times Press article (12-1-2012)

The members of Dereham & District Round Table had a well-earned break with their families over Christmas after helping Santa on his annual Sleigh visit during December to the Dereham area. In total they spent nearly 480 hours and covered almost 500 miles while visiting children in and around Dereham, Swanton Morley, Shipdham and Scarning.

Dereham Round Table’s Community Officer, Mark Older told The Dereham Times “It’s always a challenge to organise the collections and to make sure that everything is in place in time for Santa’s visit.” Mr Older also went on to say “The reaction from the children when they realise that Santa is on his sleigh and coming to see them is absolutely fantastic. Mind you, a great deal of adults too thoroughly enjoyed hearing the carols and seeing Santa riding on the back of his sleigh”.

This year’s Round Table Santa’s Sleigh collection was almost a record-breaking year. In total Dereham Round Table collected £4,863.95 this Christmas. David Westgate, Dereham Round Table PR Officer told The Dereham Times “I would like to take this opportunity to say a big thank you to all of the residents of Dereham and surrounding villages for their incredible generosity this year and also for very kindly providing on the odd occasion warm mince pies and drink while we were collecting. Despite everyone having to tighten their purse strings currently, we actually collected more this year than we have for the last few years”. Now that Dereham Round Table has collected the money, they now have the job of distributing it between local worthy causes”.

Mr Older explained “When we collect the money we always tell people that it will be used to make a difference to their local community and its residents. For instance we have helped a number of local play groups, schools, sports clubs, care homes and individuals over the years. The sorts of things that we have helped purchase has ranged from buying mobility equipment such as tricycles and wheelchairs for individuals, sensory play equipment, gardening equipment, music lessons, wet weather clothing and more recently we paid for deserving children to visit Santa and travel on the Mid-Norfolk Railway Santa Special”.

Mr Westgate went on to add “I would urge any individuals, organisations, clubs or societies in and around the Dereham area to contact us via our website if they wished to be considered for a donation”.

A few pictures from the 2011 collection

Santa during his visit to the Dereham area

A well-earned curry and a beer at the end of another year's collection

Santa and helpers on Robertson Barracks

Santa and members of Dereham & District Round Table with the recently refurbished sleigh before setting off for the collection in Mattishall.

This year’s charity collection got off to a cracking start with Santa visiting children in Mattishall on a cold and wet Sunday night.

Santa said “I love doing my job. I get to see so many happy children in the run up to Christmas day and they are all so excited about what I may be bringing them on the 25th” he went on to add “I have the easy job, sitting on my new sleigh talking to children and handing out chocolates. The Round Table Elves are the ones that do all the hard work on nights like these”.

Santa outside just one of the many illuminated houses during his recent visit to Mattishall

The Tabler that helped Santa organise his visits this year, Mark Older, agreed with Santa that it is hard work adding “When we see the excitement and pleasure that Santa creates amongst the children it just makes it so worth while.”

After a long 4 hours of walking around Mattishall, Dereham Round Table collected just short of £600 thanks to the generosity of the residents of the village.

Dates for December 2011

• Sun 4th 4pm>8pm – Mattishall village
• Tues 6th 6pm>8pm – Littlefields, Moorgate, Jentique Cl, Russet Wy & South Green
• Thur 6th 6pm>8pm – Robertson Barracks
• Sat 10th 4pm>8pm – Shipdham village
• Sun 11th 4pm>8pm -Scarning estate
• Mon 12th 6pm>8pm – Greenfields estate (Ladies Circle)
• Thu 15th 6pm>8pm – Wavell Road (Ladies Circle)
• Sat 17th 9am> 3.30pm – Tesco
• Sat 17th 4pm>8pm – Hillcrest estate
• Sun 18th 9.30am>3.30pm – Tesco
• Sun 18th 4pm>8pm – Highfields, Winsor Pk, Swanton Rd, Kings Pk, Quebec Rd & Townshend Rd
• Tue 20th 6pm>8pm – Norwich Rd
• Fri 23rd 4pm>8pm – Middlemarch estate

January 2011

The members of Dereham & District Round Table would like to thank all of the residents of Dereham and surrounding villages who so generously donated money this year.

It was so nearly a record breaking year again with a total of just over £4,800 being collected, despite the current economic climate affecting so many people.

The money we have been entrusted with will be donated to a wide variety of LOCAL worthy causes over the next 11 months or so. Anyone can apply for a donation from Dereham Round Table. All they need to do is email chairman@derehamroundtable.org.uk with an indication of how much money is needed, what the money would be spent on and how this would benefit the local community.

Other thanks go to Tesco for once again allowing Santa to stand in their lobby, Cadbury (UK) Ltd for supplying some of the chocolates and various businesses and organisations across the area that help to promote Santa’s Sleigh.

A special mention and thanks must go to the Light Dragoons, their families and Colonel Gus Fair for their warm welcome when Santa visited Robertson Barracks. This is now the second time that Santa has been to the barracks, but the first time he’s been to the Sergeant’s Mess. We all know what a brave and courageous bunch of lads the Light Dragoons are, but they proved they can belt-out a good tune too. While Rudolph and the sleigh were resting outside the Mess, the sergeants joined Santa on his sleigh and sang ‘The twelve days of Christmas’.

Outside the Sergeant's Mess during Santa's visit to Robertson Barracks

November 2010

This page will contain all of the details relating to the 2010 Santa’s Sleigh Collection.

Details will include dates, routes, starting times, pictures and amounts raised.

Amelia Westgate with Santa during 2009's collection in Scarning

Traditionaly the first Sleigh collection of the year is Mattishall village on the first Sunday of December. Starting at Cafe Verde we will depart at 16:00h and finish at the other end of the village at 20:00h.

Other areas that we will be collecting in are:

• Littlefields, Moorgate & Southgreen Gardens
• Shipdham village
• Scarning Estate
• Middlemarch Estate
• Hillcrest Estate
• Highfields, Windsor Pk, Northgate, Swanton Road, Kings Park, Quebec Road, Townshend Road
• Norwich Road
• Tesco
• Swanton Morley