He has been making festive dreams come true for almost a decade.
And now one of the UK’s best Santa’s helpers, who lives in Marsden, has revealed his hectic schedule to keep all good boys and girls happy at Christmas.
He has been travelling the length and breadth of the country by sleigh to perform to thousands of people live and on TV, including the 2012 X Factor final, famous races and city light switch-ons.
Santa Pete, who lives in Carrs Road, got the call to help out his world famous pal in 2005 and has so far made over 250 appearances.
He said: “I was very nervous at first, after all, it’s big boots to fill. But we all know that the big man can’t be everywhere at once, so I jumped at the chance to lend a hand.”
His popularity has sky-rocketed since his first event, where he welcomed a family into their new home on Christmas Eve.
“I didn’t expect to end up appearing in so many places - it’s a great way to see the country.
“I go everywhere, from grottos and light switch-ons to greeting families at Aintree racecourse and showing Santa’s support for the Butterley Spillway campaign.
“The biggest appearance I’ve ever made live was this year for the Leeds Christmas lights’ switch-on, when I and Harry Potter performed to 20,000 people, but the most high profile TV appearance I’ve done was in 2012. I was asked on to the grand final of X Factor’s Xtra Factor, where I gave out presents and joined Olly Murrs, Caroline Flack Kylie and Gary Barlow on the couch, which was great fun.”
He has been so busy with his high profile work he has even had to turn down offers such as becoming Harrod’s resident Santa and even bringing Christmas to the desert in Dubai.
Santa Pete also works around the clock in some of the region’s best-know grottos and ones closer to home, which has already won him awards.
He said: “I’m in my grotto every weekend now at Weston Park Museum in Sheffield, but it’s wonderful to greet children closer to home too, such as at Woodlands Play Gym in Meltham.
“They ask me for all sorts of things-I think my strangest request though was when I was asked by a five-year-old boy for a laminator so that he could laminate everything; I said I’d have to ask Santa about that one.
“Doing the job is such a wonderful experience and I feel so honoured to be asked to help bring a smile to families’ faces.”
But it is not just children that queue up to see Santa Pete.
He added: “It’s definitely not just children who want to have their photo taken and tell me their Christmas wish. I get lots of grandparents who are just as keen.”
Santa Pete’s next big event is this weekend, which will see him greet families in the boxes at Royal Ascot’s Christmas Races, where he could even end up granting Christmas wishes to little princes and princesses.
But of course, his work will not stop there, as he races to make Children’s dreams come true before Christmas Day dawns.
