John Nurden

Standing in for a sick Santa 11 years ago changed Duncan Dewar-Whalley’s life.

The 78-year-old had 24-hours’ notice to rustle up a costume when Father Christmas fell ill.

Now stepping into the big man’s shoes has become a way of life for the pensioner.

Every year about this time he makes sure his distinctive white beard is bushier than normal and sets off to tour local schools.

He brings delight as he hands out presents, listens to what little boys and girls are hoping to find at the bottom of their beds on Christmas morning, and sometimes even turns on village Christmas lights.

He said: “I don’t know what it is but young girls seem fascinated by my whiskers and want to pull them to see if they are real.

“One girl was so delighted I learned later that she had burst through the door into her home and announced to her mother she had met the real Father Christmas.”

But the Bobbing resident added: “Sometimes it can be quite sad what children tell me. One girl didn’t ask for any presents at all.

“All she wanted was her family to get back together for Christmas.

“I think her father was serving abroad and she was being looked after by her grandparents. It brought a tear to my eye.”

Since his baptism of fire as Saint Nick in Sittingbourne he has invested in a high-quality costume and learned to begin cultivating his beard in September.

He said: “Many really young children cry the first time they meet me. I can understand that. I never liked the Seven Dwarfs very much as a child.

“But the older children squeal with delight when they see me.