Penny drops over my mystery kisser

About three years ago, our neighbour asked if I could be Father Christmas for her children’s school. I said yes. I arrived on the day and parked in the car park next to a big, black, chauffeur-driven car. I thought it must be the Mayor of bromley visiting the school for Christmas. the driver said hello, but I did not think of asking him who the car belonged to. I dressed as Father Christmas and sat in the wonderful grotto the teachers had put up for me. A bubbly blonde lady came and took photos of me, then said she must have a picture with Father Christmas. She sat next to me and the teachers took photographs. She was such a lovely young lady. She kissed me on the cheek and then left. I thought she must be the Mayoress of bromley, and it was her car parked outside. before I left, I was invited to the school’s Christmas party the next day. I told my wife that the Mayoress of bromley had been at the school. At the party, the teachers told me that ‘Penny’ would not be there, but that she would send me a signed photograph. ‘Who’s Penny?’ I wondered. Maybe that was the name of the Mayoress. My wife met our neighbour and mentioned that the Mayoress of bromley — Penny — was going to send me an autographed photo. ‘no’, said the neighbour, ‘it was Penny Lancaster — Rod Stewart’s wife.’ I received my signed photo of Father Christmas with the lovely Penny and her card. not long after, I suffered a stroke and heart failure and was unable, after more than 40 years, to become Father Christmas. I miss the joy on the faces of the children and their wonderful stories, but I have my treasured photo.

F. R. Simmons, Bromley, Kent.