last updated on Tuesday July 01, 2008 15:41           

Santa's Sleigh on Tour 2007

The main fund raising effort of our club is the tour of the various local villages using the sleigh and Santa to collect money door to door for the years chosen charities.

Past Presidents Graham White and Santa (Past President Steve Powys) with Wendy Baskerville (associate Rotarian and wife of Phil Baskerville.

Dressed in warm clothing, the club's tabard and the ubiquitous Santa hat with the flashing lights the troops move into a village playing suitable music from the sleigh and the little elves, well perhaps not so little, members of the club and friends knock on the doors and ask for donations from the residents.

In past years the collection has raised over £3000 in a single year and  the 2007 collection was as good.

The sleighing relies heavily on the stamina of the members and friends and the good will and generosity of the residents of the various villages, Loggerheads, Gnosall, Great Bridgeford, Seighford, Woodseaves and of course Eccleshall itself.

Traditionally Eccleshall is divided into two halves, east and west and alternate them over the years. In 2007 West was visited first then on Christmas Eve East was completed.

East includes Stone Road, Badgers Croft, Hartlands Road, The Burgage, Bishops Court, Redhills, Claremont Road, Poplar Close, Linacre Road, Green Lane,  Greenway and Green Park.

The West includes, High Street, Kerry Lane, Churchfields Road, Gaol Butts, Cross Butts, Oak Road, St Chad's Road, Perle Brook, Trinity Road, School Road, Newport Road and usually Southwell Estate.