Neil would just like to say a big thank you for the good humour Father Christmas displayed following our recent gala at Glossop station when unknowingly he put him on the wrong train back to Lapland!! Santa's sleigh and reindeers were waiting at Dinting station ready to whisk him back to Lapland. However Neil put Santa and his elves on a train to Hadfield!! Which just goes to show that even friends of stations need to consult timetables and information screens carefully!! Fortunately follwowing this unexpected detour the elves helped reunite Santa with his sleigh and all was well!
  A very Happy Christmas from all of us at FOGS.

A record number of families turned up to see Father Christmas arrive on the Northern train from Lapland at Glossop station yesterday! Santa spoke to over 120 children and their families as he greeted them individually in the station's Victorian Waiting room. Each child was given a small free gift.
Adding seasonal music to the occasion was popular folk group SPINDRIFT making a welcome return to this event. Children were also happily engaged making decorations for the station's Christmas Tree kindly donated by Glossop Garden Centre. Andrea and Laura were kept very busy! Thanks to Simon Denvers for template bauble and crown decorations! An interactive model railway layout provided by Glossop Model Railway Club caught the eye of many children as they moved Thomas and Percy around the tracks! The first prize for the Christmas raffle was a Family Day Out ticket kindly provided by Northern. Mettrick's, Glossop's Award winning Butchers, also kindly supplied festive vouchers as prizes.
Our guest from Northern was LIAM SUMPTER Regional Director for Northern Central area. Liam switched on our tree lights to mark the start of the Gala. Liam proved a most amenable and interested guest. He commented on the vibrant atmoshere of the occasion as he walked alongside Santa through throngs of happy and excited children! We very much appreciate his support and that of Northern and we thank Matt Worman Client and Stakeholder manager who kindly helped supply the gifts. (And the flyers which complemented Paul Marsh's excellent posters!)
So many thanks to all our helpers on the day and for all the preparatory work beforehand to decorate the station ready for the Gala. The new vintage lights set the Christmas wreaths off splendidly! Our thanks too to Dave and Graham in the Booking office for their patience and good humour and to Todd, checking the tickets, for all his cheerful assistance too. And thanks of course to Theo McLauchan, Glossop Line Manager for ongoing practical advice and support and for joining us again! David Jones, Editor of the Glossop Chroncle, also joined us on the day - much appreciated at what must be a very busy time for him.
To Joy, Sue, Chris and Barbara  - thanks for good humoured marshalling! To our train passengers thanks for patience and good humour. To Friends of Rose Hill for supplying us with extra gifts - we were very grateful! And lastly to Father Christmas and his hard working elves who proved a big hit! Good luck in the busy season ahead!
Click here for a selection of photos from the event