Haze's strangers: No.25: Father Christmas aka Alan
Alan was driving the buggy today at Mottisfont Abbey, ferrying visitors who needed a bit of help around the estate. He usually works here as a volunteer guide on Saturdays but had responded to a call for help today as they were short staffed. Lucky for me!
When Alan saw my camera, he made a comment to me about the possibility of photos whilst the Christmas event is on. So it was not hard to ask if he'd let me take his portrait. He agreed willingly and then, after I'd taken a couple of shots, he offered to put on his Father Christmas hat.
Alan and his wife used to run a post office and general stores on the outskirts of Winchester. Then, again with his wife's support, he became a publican. By coincidence the pub in question was The Bell at St Cross. I know it well as it's right by the almshouses and my friend, Valerie, and I had some nice lunches there.
When he's not busy volunteering at Mottisfont, Alan enjoys genealogy and has traced his family history back to the mid-1600s and has shared this with relatives all over the world.
Your stranger pictures are always very interesting hazel, thank you. Alan also has a gnome like qualiry in that santa hat which adds to the charm of it
Well..... who knows?!