Rob carves a festive niche for himself

LABOUR OF LOVE . . . Rob Knotts with some of his hand-carved figures.

IT’S probably one of the last places you would expect to find Father Christmas's workshop . . .

But nestling in the hills of Austerlands, one of Santa’s little helpers is carving beautifully-crafted Nativity and Father Christmas figures.

Rob Knotts, a former RAF squadron leader and one of the public faces of the Birks Quarry Action Group, started his hobby 40 years ago while stationed in Singapore.

He started by concentrating on wooden dishes and candle holders, but progressed to Welsh love spoons and animal figures.

Now he is crafting Nativity and Father Christmas figures in an absorbing hobby which includes researching the history of Christmas gift-givers.

Rob, a retired university lecturer, gives talks on this subject and also the celebration of Christmas in many different countries.

He says England’s Father Christmas became part of the greater European story in the 1950s.

“Until then he was quite a different character,” he explained. “His origins were steeped in Viking lore and evolved from their god, Odin.

“In December, Vikings believed Odin would come to earth disguised in a long blue hooded cloak and join groups around their fires.

“Occasionally, he would leave bread at a poor homestead. England eventually adopted this custom and, after the advent of Christianity, called him Old Father Christmas.

“However, global Santa Claus evolved from Nicholas of Myra, a much earlier Christian bishop in the Middle Ages, who was the historical figure behind Santa Claus.

“He was very shy, and wanted to give money to poor people without them knowing about it.

“It is said that one day he climbed the roof of a house and dropped a purse of money down the chimney.

“It landed in the stocking which a girl had put to dry by the fire – explaining the belief that Father Christmas comes down the chimney and places gifts in children's stockings.

“The Dutch pronunciation of St Nicholas is Sinter Klass and the colonists in America pronounced Sinter Klass as Santa Claus, hence the name.”

In his carvings, Rob tries to capture the distinctive Christmas gift-givers from England, America, Russia, Germany, the Czech Republic and Scandinavia.

And every year he carves a different Christmas gift-giver in pine for his granddaughter, Jessica (6), using simple knives and gouges.

The carvings are sanded, painted and polished to give a soft, warm and slightly-aged appearance.

“I’ve got quite a little task force,” he said with a smile. “And I plan to make a lot more.

“I give them as gifts to friends and family because they are unique.”