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Published:
December 1, 2007
Santa arrives in style
in Burnham area onboard Chitty Chitty Bang Bang!
 A
Burnham schoolboy’s Christmas wish came true on Saturday
morning (December 1st) when he escorted Santa in the real Chitty
Chitty Bang Bang motor car to a local garden centre in time for
his first grotto appointment of the festive season.
Jack
Kilcoyne, 6, (pictured here with Santa) was nominated by his family
to win the chance to collect Father Christmas from Bristol Airport
in time for his 10am grotto at Sanders Garden World, near Burnham-On-Sea.
Big
crowds braved heavy rain showers to flock to the garden centre
on Saturday morning to see Santa arrive at the Brent Knoll, as
pictured here.
 Garden
centre Managing Director Peter Burks said: "We asked people,
and in particular children, to write in and tell us why they thought
they had the right attributes to help look after our Santa, be
a VIP for the day and ride in the real, roadworthy Chitty."
"We
had around 400 entries for the competition and found it incredibly
difficult to select just one winner but found the letter about
Jack very touching as it gave an insight into his world and how
he bravely copes with the life-threatening condition ‘hydrocephalus’."
The
Burnham Infants School pupil helped pick up Father Christmas from
arrivals at Bristol airport and then travelled with him on his
journey to the garden centre.
 Not
only did Jack escort Santa to the garden centre, but he also received
free entry to see Santa in his grotto and was the first child
to go into the grotto this season.
Jack’s
Mum, Nikki Kilcoyne said: "Three years ago Jack was rushed
to Frenchay Hospital in Bristol for emergency, life-saving surgery
to remove a four centimetre lump from his brain."
"He
underwent three more operations. He now has a mechanical shunt
permanently fitted to continuously drain the fluid. He
has worked hard to re-learn walking, talking and basic motor skills.
He has even helped raise £2,600 for Frenchay Children’s
Ward."
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