SANTA and his elves are visiting homes across Woodley and Earley, raising vital money for local causes and aided by a very special ‘sleigh’.
The Woodley & Earley Lions Club’s Christmas sleigh pull has been a festive favourite in Woodley for more than three decades.
Money raised from this year’s visits will go to the food banks of Woodley and Earley, the Woodley Lunch Bunch – which delivers free packed lunches to school children during the holidays – and the Lions’ locally-supported charities.
And for the second year running, Father Christmas’s sleigh will be pulled by a pick-up donated by Select Van Leasing – the commercial vehicle arm of local firm Select Car Leasing – with the vehicle being christened ‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Ford Ranger’
Late last month, members of the Woodley & Earley Lions Club gathered at Select Car Leasing’s Reading HQ to take delivery of the Ford Ranger Wildtrak pick-up.
The club’s Christmas co-ordinator, Philip Barry, said: “Every penny that we raise during the Christmas sleigh pull goes to local causes – and that’s really important to us.
“We want everyone that donates to know that their money really will be put to good use in their local community.
“We are also extremely grateful to Select Car Leasing for its continued support of the Club, as the loan of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Ford Ranger is absolutely vital for us.
“Santa’s sleigh is heavy, especially when it’s loaded with presents, and Santa’s love of mince pies only adds to the heft/
“Having a tow-vehicle like the Ranger to rely on is extremely reassuring.”
The Sleigh pull ends on Saturday, December 23, with a visit to the Woodley Shopping Precinct.
Mark Tongue, director and co-founder of Select Car Leasing, says: “We’re thoroughly delighted to be supporting the Woodley & Earley Lions Club again in 2023, as it’s an amazing charity driven by fantastic volunteers, and which is making a real difference in the local area.
“This friendship forms another essential part of the local community work we are committed to as a business, which includes supplying vehicles to Sue Ryder nurses and our work with Reading Football Club’s Community Trust, as well as initiatives like giving away free tickets to youngsters to watch Reading FC and donating soccer kits to grassroots players.
“We hope Rudolph the Red-Nosed Ford Ranger helps Santa to put a smile on the faces of all who get to meet him in the coming weeks. And let’s just hope that Santa remembers to put diesel in our Rudolph’s fuel tank, and not carrots…”
Here’s where you can see Santa’s sleigh:
On Tuesday, December 12, his tour starts at 6.15pm in Silverdale Road, then Allendale Road, Lakeside and Andrews Road.
On Thursday, December 14, the tour starts at Vulcan Close, Lindberg Way, Phillips Close, Anthian Close, Hurricane Way and Mohawk Way.
On Monday, December 18, his tour will be: Comet Way, Rose Close, Tiger Close, Mitchell Way, Dowding Close, and Victor Way.
On Tuesday, December 19, he starts in Vauxhall Drive, then Austen Road, Hudson Road, Millbank Crescent, Fitzroy Crescenta and Renault Road.
His final tour is on Thursday, December 21: Millers Grove, Bakers Place, Loddon Bridge Road, Addington Gardens, Loddon Bridge Road and ending at The Good Companions.
Between 11am and 5pm he will visit Asda in Lower Earley on Wednesday, December 13, Sainsbury’s in Winnersh on Friday, December 15, and Waitrose in Twyford on Saturday, December 16.
He will then be in Woodley Shopping Precinct on Wednesday, December 20, back at Waitrose Twyford on Friday, December 22, and returning to Woodley shopping precinct on Saturday, December 23.
All routes are weather dependent.
For more details, log on to: https://www.e-clubhouse.org/sites/woodleyearley/
