Maldon Nub News has been running UP CLOSE in Maldon features with businesses and organisations in the town and district over the past weeks and will continue to do so as we head into the New Year.

However, this week we have cleared the stage for a special guest, who with the help of the Rotary Clubs of Maldon and Heybridge Blackwater has been riding on his sleigh through our streets.

Here we find out more about what Father Christmas and the two local Rotary Clubs have been up to in the local area in the run-up to this festive season, despite 2020.

When Maldon Nub News caught up with Father Christmas on Wednesday afternoon, he was just about to pull his sleigh into the car park of St Nicholas Primary School in Tolleshunt D'Arcy with the help of Heybridge Blackwater Rotary Club president, Malcolm Myles.

Small children were already looking out through the glass windows and doors of the school with great excitement as he drew up. Then the first door opened and one bubble of the excited youngsters charged across the grass. It was a rare moment of real seasonal joy in a year where things aren't otherwise much like they usually are.

"Ho, ho, ho, hello and Merry Christmas," Santa said as the

children came out, group by group, with chocolate coins dished out.

"The teachers, parents and children at this school really are on my good list," he added, "as they've help Heybridge Blackwater Rotary Club raise another £1,025.88 for local

good causes."

Afterwards and once Father Christmas had nipped back home to give the reindeer a mince pie and some carrots, we caught up with him again on a Zoom call.

"I have a message from the Rotary Clubs of Maldon and Heybridge Blackwater," Santa said.

"They want to thank everyone who has supported Santa's sleigh rides over the last month.

"I was very pleased to see you all. You were very generous with your donations which the two clubs will put to good use this year. I was particularly pleased to see all the children who came out of their homes to greet me."

But the pandemic hasn't made it an easy year for Santa during his evening trips to Maldon, Heybridge and the surrounding villages.

"I am sorry that Santa had to stay on his sleigh and the elves on the pavements, but this was done to ensure that everyone was kept safe and to make certain that I am fit and well for my all-important deliveries on Christmas Eve."

Not all the all the donations from the sleigh rides have been added up yet, but Father Christmas was delighted that Maldon Rotary Club had already made a donation to Kids Out, a charity which provides toys for children in refuges at Christmas.

He added: "The members of Maldon Rotary Club supported the Café at St. Peter's Hospital, too, by donating £140 and Christmas puddings to help Julie Taylor, who runs the café to

provide hampers to needy families in Maldon.

"Julie does a magnificent job in organising Christmas meals for elderly people in her café so the Rotary members were pleased to be able to help install a piano there to create some festive spirit."

Before Santa left to get some more presents wrapped, he provided us with a photo of Maldon Rotary Club president

David Denyer handing the puddings to Julie.

"I will be back next year, don't worry, "Santa said, "and I am

quite sure that by then everyone will be able to get back to something more like normal and celebrate Christmas together, as we used to do."

Father Christmas will be making a few more trips before he heads back to the North Pole, but now he will have to drive round while children wave from houses or gardens. Included in these trips will be the Temple Way estate on Monday, 21 December, Heybridge Basin on Monday, 21 December and Tolleshunt D'Arcy on Tuesday, 22 December.