21/12/2024
Today I want to share a little bit of nostalgia with all of you. Since Christmas tide is approaching and I won't be celebrating at all until the end, let's have a trip down memory lane. For a couple of years back in the mid 2010s I was based as a tour guide solely at the Great Hall in Wi******er. Every year we had one of the most popular Santa's grottos in the country with the Official Father Christmas.
This gentleman is also the guy who plays the Official Henry VIIi at Hampton Court and had been reprising his role for decades. I've heard unfortunately that this year, the trust that has taken over the site and one of the reasons why I can't show you there anymore, have changed the grotto and Santa, leading to the disappointment of thousands of people. The tickets and experience are a pretty penny and we had regulars that came because with the decor atmosphere and actual knowledge our Father Christmas had, kids legitimately thought he was the one. In fact many were repeat customers, year after year and Father Christmas KNEW THEM.
It really broke my heart because for me those days were so special. For the days the grotto was up I wasn't Lilly the tour guide, I was Santa's head elf. This is one of the costumes I wore one year, all clothing provided by the Hampshire Wardrobe, a lovely historical and theatrical institution we have in the county (and for those of you who have visited with me, all the costumes at the great hall are done by them). Instead of giving tours, it was my role to ensure this enchanting 13th century medieval hall, home to one of the most important law courts in the country, was a place of magic.
I spent HOURS wrapping presents for over a month at the back of the hall when we were closed. Selecting stickers. Finding candy cane. I'd come down to the cafe area of the hall and speak with the kids. I will never forget the year a very young couple arrived with their little ones, but one of them had broken his limb recently in a very silly accident and was very sad. His older brother told me it was his fault cause they were playing and he didn't took good care of his brother 😭 Santa at this moment was only speaking with some grown ups so, I took it as part of my job to make this situation known to the chief, and the kids essentially skipped the adult queue and spent 15 mins with Father Christmas feeling much healed after that.
I love being a tour guide, and I love being a historian. But if I ever had to retrain and relocate, I'd so happily become Santa's head elf again💜
Happy holidays Everyone
