Santa with snow machine spreads festive cheer

MORE than £800 was raised for two charities during the annual Santa on a Tractor run in Sonning Common on Sunday.

On board a trailer being pulled by a tractor, “Santa Claus”, accompanied by several volunteers, travelled through the village starting in Bay Tree Rise.

Volunteers handed out sweets and collected donations from onlookers along the route who donated £831.50. All funds raised were donated to the Ways and Means Trust, which runs Greenshoots Nursery in Manor Farm in Peppard, and the Oxfordshire Foster Carers Association.

Santa’s convoy travelled through Westleigh Drive and Lea Road, and then made its way around Grove Road, Kennylands, Baskerville, Woodlands, Crowsley Way, Wood Lane, Widmore Lane and Churchill Crescent. Helen Coyne, who has organised the event for the last 10 years, said a new snow machine, which had been used to spray onlookers with snow, had been a “hit”.

She said: “The event was amazing. Despite a few last-minute changes prior to the event, it went without a hitch.

“It was widely supported in the village and we raised a whopping £831.50 to split between the two village-nominated charities.

“There were so many people out watching Santa pass by and the new snow machine was definitely a hit with children and adults alike!

“I love doing this event and cannot thank all those who help make it happen enough. We look forward to doing it all again next year.”