Features / KNowle West

Santa comes early to Knowle West

By Charlie Watts  Monday Dec 21, 2020

It’s the last weekend before Christmas, but in Knowle West Santa has come early.

On his sleigh are a pile of presents, and signs saying ‘Noel West’ and ‘Joyeux Knowle’, as well as red and white letters spelling out ‘Knowle’.

Socially-distanced carol singing is taking place on Filwood Broadway, and up the road comes a cycling Santa. “Merry Christmas!” he shouts as approaches the carollers, who start singing Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer to celebrate his arrival.

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Excited children start tugging their parents’ hands, wanting a closer look at the big man in red, who is also giving out 100 books from BookTrust.

“It’s been a very difficult year this year but it’s nice to see all the people attending today,” Santa exclusively tells Bristol24/7. “I’ve heard all the children in Knowle West have been particularly good this year.”

His sleigh is really a cargo bike from Redcatch Community Garden – which has undergone a festive makeover.

“The reindeers are all getting fed up on their carrots, so we’ve had to ride the bike today to give them a rest, but they’ll be all fit on Christmas Eve,” Santa explains.

“The beard’s been growing since October – you can’t pull this one off!”

Santa’s ‘sleigh’ was a cargo bike from Redcatch Community Garden, borrowed for the occasion. Photo by Claudia Collins

The carol singing, accompanied by a Salvation Army brass band, was organised by the Lee Abbey Small Missional Community in Knowle West.

Local resident Tim Jones, of Lee Abbey, says: “It was really good that so many people turned up, and we were all able to do something together in Knowle West for once this year.”

Accompanying Santa – who also goes by the name of Mark Griffin – is his niece and Knowle West resident Claudia Collins, who’s dressed up as a reindeer for the occasion.

Santa, AKA Mark Griffin, and his reindeer, niece Claudia Collins. Photo by Charlie Watts

Before ending up on Filwood Broadway, the pair took a trip around the streets of Knowle West, and Claudia says waves from Santa made people happy.

“You could see everyone taking photos, and even people that looked like they could potentially be grumpy weren’t grumpy, which was really nice,” she says.

“It will be lovely to do this every year and make it a Knowle West tradition.”

Those that missed Santa may have another chance to see him in Knowle West before Christmas – on Tuesday, December 22. He and his elf this time will be performing on people’s doorsteps as part of BS3 Santa – a Christmas show in association with Tobacco Factory Theatres that’s coming to BS4 for one night only.

Charlie Watts is reporting on Knowle West as part of Bristol24/7’s community reporter scheme, a pilot project which aims to tell stories from areas of Bristol traditionally under-served by the mainstream media

Main photo by Charlie Watts

Read more: A new festive show will bring ‘music, sleigh bells and bucketloads of Christmas cheer’ to BS3

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