Last updated 01:05, Thursday, 13 November 2008

Talk about arriving in style. In a clearing deep in the heart of Ae Forest, near Dumfries, a hot air balloon lands. The passenger, dressed in red velvet with white trimmings, has journeyed all the way from Lapland but that doesn’t stem his boundless energy. Stuart Thompson set up the Santa School this year and teaches the course, assisted by Forestry Commission worker Peter Ford.

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In training: Left, Stuart Thompson dressed as Santa, centre, who has opened the first Santa School in the north in the Forest of Ae with helpers from left, Philip Whitelock, John Martin, Jim Callaghan, Peter Waterson, Rod Barlow and Ben Gilbert. Below left, preparing for the reindeer ride

His thick black boots leave a trail of frosty footprints as he bounds across the field and climbs into an awaiting horse-drawn carriage.

The horses trot along the muddy path and take this special visitor the few hundred yards to Ae Forest Training Centre.

Training centre? Yes indeed. With the millions of children across the world visiting grottos and shopping malls, and expecting presents to be delivered after dark on Christmas Eve, Santa Claus relies on a band of helpers to give him a hand.

But not just anyone can be a helper, because the role requires a special sort of person.

Neither is it an easy task. These helpers will be working long, demanding hours. There are health and safety issues to think about and, these days, everyone must have background checks. There is a strict dress code too, and they must be neat and groomed at all times.

Today, 11 recruits have assembled at the centre for a one-day training course.

They are greeted with a ho-ho-ho and a shake of the hand by Santa. Then it’s time for him to retreat with a glass of sherry, and sort out some important tasks that need sorted before the festive season kicks into action.

Stuart, from Gretna, has been providing Santa’s helpers for places like Houghton Hall garden centre near Carlisle, Talkin Tarn, and Gretna Gateway for the last few years.

He explains: “The important thing to stress is that I know that there’s only one real Santa Claus. But he obviously can’t be everywhere at once so I’m training helpers to man his grottos while he’s busy.

“And it is important to find guys of the right calibre, who love Christmas and love working with children, so I decided to set up the school.”

The trainees here today have come from across Cumbria, south west Scotland, and as far south as Bolton. Rod Barlow, 68, works as a driver for Eden Valley Hospice and this year will also be one of the resident Santas.

At 27, Ben Gilbert is the youngest helper here. He has worked at Center Parcs at Whinfell Forest near Penrith for the past few Christmases and wants to brush up on his Santa skills. “I love doing it, it’s very satisfying and it’s like being a celebrity in a way,” he explains. “You’ve got a large crowd of people waiting to see you, taking pictures and waving.

“Today I hope to get tips from guys who have been doing it for longer than me.”

John Martin, 72, will be helping out at Houghton Hall this festive season. “I’ve been doing it for the last few years,” he says. “I love Christmas and seeing children enjoying themselves. They are very funny and very clever too.”

They go upstairs to the training room, and it’s down to work. The recruits will learn about the history of Santa Claus, the outfit, using make-up (mainly needed for rosy cheeks) and even be given some assistance in perfecting their ho-ho-ho-ing.

Stuart gives tips on keeping the outfit in tip-top condition when it’s not being worn. And as they will be spending hours meeting hundreds of people, they need to make sure they can keep cool and comfortable. Mandy Smith, from Perfect Retreat beauty salon in Annan, demonstrates how to apply white and pink make-up, to enhance that special Father Christmas glow.

In the afternoon, the trainees take part in a role play session, where they are posed questions kids might ask, to see what their response is. Children can ask all sorts of questions, so it’s important for them to think on their feet and know how to answer appropriately.

Then there is a multiple choice test, to see just how much the group have learnt during the day.

At the end of the day it’s good news: all the recruits have successfully completed the course.

“They have all really enjoyed it and got a lot from it,” Stuart says afterwards. “There was good camaraderie and exchanging of ideas. I think today can be hailed as a great success. It is the only one we are doing this year, but I’d like to roll it out in the future, and cover more of Scotland and Northern England.”

Now fully versed in Santa’s code of conduct, these men are ready to go forth and carry out important duties in grottos and at parties leading up to Christmas Day.

A clearly delighted Santa comes into the room and issues a certificate of competence to each of the group.

This is a man with much to do, though, and before long it’s time for him to travel back to his snowy wonderland. He says farewell, heads back down to the field and jumps into the hot air balloon, which has come back to take him home.

He waves as it rises into the sky, the red and white becoming more blurred as the balloon slowly disappears across the horizon.

To find out more visit www.santaschool.co.uk

RGibb@cngroup.co.uk