Merry Christmas Happy New Year to the past members in contact and the ones who we are still searching for.

Here is a seasonal story from the Club Archive
circa late 70s

One year Terry Reynolds decided the Leicester Phoenix MCC should support a local children's home at Christmas and enquiries found a transit home where the kids were shuffled through and never had time to form supportive friendships.

Terry organised a Toy Disco; entry was by toy to be given to the children. The event was a huge success and even drew paying customers so we were able to buy extra items and wrappings.

Because we collected so many gifts we were invited to join the children on Christmas Eve for a party and to distribute a few of the presents during the festivities. Member Nigel Staley provided a pickup truck to deliver the gifts during the evening and we tried to persuade Big John Beccles to dress as Father Christmas.

John was adamant that he would not take the part despite being the ideal candidate in every way down to the long wavy silver hair and bushy beard. Down further than that. He claimed to have a very sensitive beard which he did not want the children to pull.

We eventually prevailed upon his good nature by promising that he could wear a cotton wool beard to protect his tonsorial appendage.

His arrival at the party was met with delight from the children except for one youngster, suspicious beyond his years, who loitered at the back and councelled the other children that this was not Santa but a man dressed up. When all the children except him had received presents he was at last coaxed to approach Santa for a gift.

Father Christmas's kind questions were rebuffed or received surly answers. At last the lad could hold his scepticism no longer. His little fingers took a grip on Santa's cotton wool beard and he jerked it downwards to reveal Big John's grizzled beard underneath. The lad's eyes widened with wonder and belief.

"Why are you wearing a false beard, Santa?" he asked.

Big John was completely honest.

Click in the box for Santa's reply.

 

What memories do you have of Christmas?

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