The not-so-secret Santa
Sixty-three years, 12 Santa suits and somewhat of a gradual growth spurt later, Ray has many stories to tell, but there is one in particular that he loves to recall. ‘It was about 1984 when I was Santa Claus at the then Little People’s Play Centre at the Richards Bay Presbyterian Church,’ said Ray
HIS love of children, families and the festive season has seen Empangeni resident Ray Peyters don his Father Christmas outfit for 63 years – and this festive season will be no different.
Sixty-three years, 12 Santa suits and somewhat of a gradual growth spurt later, Ray has many stories to tell, but there is one in particular that he loves to recall. ‘It was about 1984 when I was Santa Claus at the then Little People’s Play Centre at the Richards Bay Presbyterian Church,’ said Ray.
‘There were between 60 and 70 children who each received a wrapped present from Father Christmas. ‘There was great excitement, thankful hearts, gasps and shrieks amid paper explosions as the children excitedly opened their gifts.’
Emerging from the streamers and fanfare were twin sisters, one distraught and in tears with her sister hugging her.
Approaching Ray, the twin who consoled her sister said through the gap where her two new front teeth were yet to start growing, ‘Thanta, you didn’t bring my thithter a prethent’. ‘In the chaos that is endemic to a children’s Christmas party, the identical watches meant for the twins had become separated and one was nowhere to be found.’
Attempting to alleviate the little girl’s broken heart, Ray remembered a watch that he had bought some weeks previously, which he had left in the cubbyhole of his car. ‘I bought the watch on a business trip to Cape Town and, as the small watch barely fit my wrist, I had discarded it when I no longer needed it.
The six-year-old’s face lit up when Ray gave her the watch and her beaming sister said, ‘Thank you Thanta, I knew you loved my thithter and all the children, like Jesus loves us all’. Later in the day the missing watch was found among the rubble of wrapping paper and packaging, and given to the little girl.
‘I often think back to this caring sister who hugged and comforted her twin while the other children celebrated, and wonder if they are still in the area. ‘Perhaps they are or perhaps they, like many others, have relocated or even emigrated.’
The 82-year-old international boxing referee and judge enjoys playing Father Christmas as much now as he did 63 years ago, and is still in high demand for festive season functions. ‘Christmas is a glorious time of the year when families reunite and celebrate, I am just thankful to be a part of that.’
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