Santa Claus arrived in style on a trike when a broken down sleigh didn’t stop him helping Fleet residents spread some extra Christmas cheer this year while raising a grand for the parish church.
The village has looked to boost community spirit via the Christmas Cheerfulness Campaign which was launched this year.
But the potential obstacle to last week’s celebrates came at the last minute when Santa’s sleigh broke down just before he was due to tour the village.
Step forward Faith Pearson of the Unicorn Diner in Long Sutton, who offered Santa the use of her Harley Davison trike.
The event was the first that’s been organised by The Fleet Residents Events Committee, which was only formed in the Autumn.
The group’s Eileen Gilliatt said: “The trike was all lit up and playing Christmas songs which delighted the children.
“Mums, dads and members of the Fleet Residents events committee distributed sweets whilst the children watched from doorways.”
Another big draw was the community raffle which has raised £1,000 for work needed to reopen Fleet Parish Church.
More than 70 local businesses got in contact to provide prizes for the draw.
On top of that, the Fleet Residents Events Committee is organising Christmas hampers to be delivered to sheltered housing residents in the village and those elderly living alone.
Residential home Capricorn Cottage is also set to receive a bundle of gifts to go under its tree, a donation of teddy bears is going to local nurseries and Fleet Wood Lane Primary School and staff at Field House Nursing Home have also been given a treat.
Mrs Gilliatt said: “With a Christmas tree planted and lit and residents lighting up the parish decorating their homes with even more splendour this year, Fleet’s community is not to be beaten and will smile this Christmas.
“All is being made possible with the support of Fleet’s community, local businesses, district councillor Peter Coupland and the parish council which Fleet Residents Events Committee and its support group have co-ordinated and brought to fruition.”
