The Grinch-themed Santa Truck spreads Christmas cheer to local children

Date published: 24 December 2023

Graham Poole’s annual Santa Truck has been spreading Christmas cheer to children across the Pennines villages.

The truck is run over two nights in December, stopping off in local areas such as Queensway, Milnrow, Littleborough, Hollingworth Lake, Wardle, Summit and Walsden.

At each stop, Graham kindly provides selection boxes for local children, handing out around 1,800 each year.

When handing out the selection boxes, the elves go around with charity collection buckets; this time they raised over £1,200 for the Jolly Josh children’s charity.

Other charities supported by Graham over the years include Springhill Hospice, Fund Polly, Reuben's Retreat, Littleborough Boxing Club and Littleborough Rugby Club.

The local businessman has run the Santa Truck for five years now with more and more people turning out to see Santa riding in his sleigh on the back of the decorated truck, with this year’s theme being ‘The Grinch’.

Graham’s daughter, Shivaun Poole-York, decorates the truck and sleigh each year during her spare time, with The Grinch proving to be a favourite with all the children.

Graham and Shivaun thanked everyone involved, including Andrew Reed (Santa), Angela Metcalfe (Mrs Claus), Natalie Daveron (photographer), Andrew Rothwell and Daniel Shackleton (escort vehicles) and all the helping elves.