Santa powered by steam

This year Santa and his team of helpers were cheered as they arrived on a steam-powered traction engine. A 1926 Aveling & Porter steam tractor called Smokey delivered Santa at his first stop at Christchurch. He later arrive by a second engine called Alice, a Wallis and Steevens steam tractor built in 1919, at the Broomhill centre near Wimborne.

Santa’s arrival was accompanied by the Dorset Youth Marching Band playing a variety of seasonal tunes to herald the opening of the popular grotto where boys and girls can tell Santa what they want for Christmas and receive a present. After Santa’s arrival, children had the chance to visit the Stewarts real reindeer who have been enjoying a relaxing year off in their field. The Christmas departments at Stewarts have already been opened with a charity preview evening where the Bournemouth Hospital Charity held a raffle to win £250 worth of vouchers and many of the visitors enjoyed their first Christmas dinner with all the festive trimmings.

Terry Head, retail and marketing director, said, “We had a record attendance for Santa’s arrival this year with hundreds of families enjoying the event. Our young visitors love to see Thomas the Tank Engine running on our displays at both centres and we have ensured that remains within our new brighter layout and a wider product range. We also have a permanent “Santa Selfie booth” at Christchurch for some fun photos.”