NOSTALGIA WITH ROBERT HEAVEN

I'M SURE many people can remember a childhood visit to see Santa at one place or another.

The best one in my memory was the was the Santa Claus at Baileys Department store in Ciren's Cricklade street.

Santa's visit back then was a much heralded event. In 1939 he arrived at Cirencester Town station on the 2.38pm train from London and was greeted by the Ciren Silver Band.

After being paraded firstly to the Gaumont picture House on the corner of Victoria Lane and London road, he was then enthroned in his grotto at Baileys for the duration.

In 1953 he seems to have caught an earlier train and it was simply announced in the Standard that he would be in the Store from 2.15pm on November 28th. Baileys was a 1920's building which occupied the site where Bishop's Walk is today.

It was a large department store with it was claimed; as many departments as the big London Stores.

It was rumoured in the Lewis Lane School playground that the “real” Santa was actually up at a big shop in London and he gave out proper toys like “Blow football” and “Yo-Yo’s” that actually worked.

That's not to say that the toys from Bailey Bros didn't work; but in the 1950's and 60's most of the contents of Santa's sack were produced in the Far East which at the time were not renowned for today's high quality.

English made toys were widely regarded as being the best available and of course Baileys sold the full range -Tri-ang, Hornby, and Dinky toys to name but a few.

Other places on the train line to London also had Santa and many Ciren families would travel to Swindon to see Santa as well as general shopping.

It was a bit a of change to go “up Swindon” shopping but also exciting: unlike Ciren shops; Swindon Bon Marche had a moving staircase!