Sleigh Drive's the next stop for this Santa

Published on Tuesday 8 December 2009 08:52

IT SHOULD be the standard festive uniform for a bus which takes in Sleigh Drive on its route.

Passengers on the No 13 service will find an extra-special driver at the wheel in the run-up to Christmas.

The jolly bus driver, who is actually Santa's helper Brendan Davanna, from Prestonpans, decided to trade in his regular bus uniform this season to spread the festive cheer.

He said: "I asked the boss if I could dress in my Santa uniform until Christmas Day and he gave me the nod.

"I wanted to cheer up commuters up on cold winter mornings and it seems to have worked.

"Adults do a double-take, laugh and take pictures on their mobile phones and children love it too. Several of them have told me what they want for Christmas and I say I'll see what I can do."

Since he first donned the red and white attire a week ago, Edinburgh Coach Line, the company running the service from Leith to Blackhall, has received dozens of letters, e-mails and gifts thanking Santa for brightening up their day.

Mr Davanna said: "I'll accept Christmas wish lists from kids if they want to send them, and I'll make sure the elves at the station offer a reply.

"On the bus I greet everybody with a 'ho ho ho' and I make sure the kids have been good."

He also joked that Santa needed to do something extra to keep the reindeer fed and watered this season due to the recession.

"It's not all about flying around the world. Santa needs to make a quick buck too so that the reindeer are stocked up with carrots. They do have a particularly difficult job in a few weeks after all."

Although Mr Davanna, who joined the company in July, is performing his Santa role for fun, he is accepting donations for Radio Forth's Cash for Kids appeal. He said: "I've been dressing up for three years now. Before taking over the No 13 I worked in Musselburgh and it was just as popular there.

"I'm hoping more workers will join me next year and dress up as elves."