Going into Leicester to see Father Christmas and the Grotto at Lewis’s

Many people in Syston will remember being taken to see Father Christmas at one of the big department stores that Leicester boasted in the last century. Lewis’s on Humberstone Gate was particularly famous for its wonderful Christmas windows and Santa’s grotto. The window-dressing team created all sorts of festive scenes such as Santa’s elves in their workshop, surrounded by a wonderful selection of toys, as well as Christmas trees, reindeer and always lots of (artificial) snow! The outside of the shop was festooned in hundreds of twinkling lights and all of the window displays were brightly lit and beautiful, (except for the ‘black out’ years of WW2, of course). Apparently staff responsible for the store’s window displays and Santa’s grotto would start planning in January for the next Christmas!

Tim Meadows, who was brought up in Syston, remembered Christmas through the eyes of a child of the 1950s. The family lived on Wanlip Road at that time.

‘Mum and Dad would take my brother Rick and I to Santa’s Grotto in Lewis’s department store in Leicester. There were wonderful Christmas displays in their shop windows all along Humberstone Gate. Having looked at all these we entered the store and went up the escalator to the first floor where the toy department and Santa were. Having seen Santa and told him what we would like him to bring us on Christmas Eve, we went to the row of lifts, (all operated by men), and took the ‘express’ lift to the top floor. The doors opened and the man said, “Ladies hairdressing on the left, restaurant on the right, cafeteria down the centre.” As part of this Christmas treat we went to the restaurant for lunch where they had a live band playing Christmas music. One year I asked Mum if they would play ‘Teddy bear’s Picnic’. She asked them and they did, which I thought was wonderful!

There was great excitement when Dad came home with the Christmas tree. We spent ages decorating it with tinsel and homemade bits and pieces. Homemade decorations were hung around the lounge together with sprigs of holly which we had picked from the local country lanes.

Although we had seen Santa at Lewis’s and told him what we wanted, we were encouraged at home to write a request list and send it up the chimney a few days before Christmas. The draught would draw it up the chimney as we watched and we were convinced that Santa would receive it. On Christmas Eve we would leave a carrot for Rudolf and a mince pie for Santa out before we went to bed. Then we put pillow cases at the foot of our beds to be filled with presents. We always tried to stay awake to see Santa, but we never succeeded. On Christmas morning we would wake up at about 5 a.m. and as we felt the filled pillow cases at the foot of the bed we’d shout to Mum and Dad, “HE’S BEEN”, “HE’S BEEN” !!!!!

Our Grandparents would join us for Christmas dinner which was always a large turkey, with a variety of vegetables, followed by Christmas pudding which Dad would pour brandy over and set fire to. My brother and I always got a silver six pence in our portion of pudding. So many special Christmas treats made it a magical time.

David Fox also recalled Christmas in the 1950s, when he attended the annual party for children whose fathers were in the local police force. ‘Each Christmas a children’s party was arranged for all the police children. This was held at the Syston Assembly Rooms (now the site of the pet shop). We watched cartoon films and a magic act, and each received a present from Santa, together with an orange and a brand new shilling piece!’

Readers who were brought up near Leicester will recall that Santa’s grotto was done each Christmas to a different theme. In 1977 Santa was to be found in his Magic Roundabout grotto surrounded by models of Dougal, Florence and Zebedee, when the Magic Roundabout was a popular children’s show on the television.

If anyone in Syston has a photograph of themselves or their children visiting Father Christmas at Lewis’s or another big Leicester store at any time in the 50s 60s or 70s, that they would be willing to lend to the history group for the book they are working on, please get in touch with the editor of Stn: fiona@systontownnews.co.uk or telephone: 0116 269 3221.