Turton Rotary Club call on University of Bolton to create sleigh

The talented students and staff stepped up to create the sleigh.

The club approached the Bolton's SFX model making department to help design and build a replacement after the sleigh, along with Rudolph, was destroyed in a warehouse fire.

Farnworth-based timber merchant Anthony Axford Ltd generously provided the wood for the stylish herd of reindeer that pull the new-look sleigh and Bradshaw Sheet Metal built the trailer for it to sit on.

This year is the first time in three years that the Turton Rotary Club will be able to tour the streets with Father Christmas The festive tradition stretches back three decades and has raised thousands for charity.

Jim Turner from the rotary's community projects team said: “It was a difficult process, but the new sleigh is fantastic, thanks to the university kindly offering to create a new sleigh.
“They really took on board what we wanted it to look like
“When we were told we could finally go and see it, it was just magnificent.

The new sleigh is now ready to go (Image: Public)

• Turton Rotary Club back with Father Christmas and new sleigh

“I would also like to thank Anthony Axford’s and Bradshaw Sheet Metal, whose support was invaluable.”
Jim Costello, Programme Leader on the University of Bolton’s SFX Model Making programme, said: “It was a pleasure to be involved in this project.

So much hard work has gone into the process of building the new sleigh (Image: Public)

“We and the students were well aware of its significance in the community and the affection with which it is regarded by the public of north Bolton.
“It was a challenge for us to design and create something that was both new and modern but retained the traditions of the festive season.
“We are delighted with the end result and hope that the club manages to raise lots for charity on the new sleigh which is now being ‘pulled’ by several reindeer, rather than just poor old Rudolph on his own.”

The original sleigh was designed and built by students at Turton High School and the Rudolph was drawn by one of the club’s former members, John Haslam.

The wagon is similar to the old one that everyone came to know and love.

Martin Axford, owner of Anthony Axford timber merchants in Farnworth, said: “We were pleased to donate the materials for such a worthy cause – it’s great that the sleigh will be back out and about in the area in the run-up to Christmas.”

And now the rotary club is appealing for help in storing the sleigh when it is not in use - from the end of December to the end of November.

Once they have found a permanent place to store the sleigh when it's complete, the team will be collecting donations for local charities at Asda in Astley Bridge and Morrisons, in Harwood, as well as other areas across Bolton this December.

For more information or to help call 07976395157.

The route will be published beforehand, as families usually like to know when Father Christmas will visit their area.

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If you have a story and something you would like to highlight in the community, please email me at jasmine.jackson@newsquest.co.uk or DM me on Twitter @JournoJasmine.