HE was guest of honour at the grand opening of Santa’s Magic Castle grotto where nearly 700 children turned out to see him.
There was a £1 entrance fee for the grotto, based in the then-new Swan shopping centre, Eastleigh.
All takings on the day of the grand opening –November 15, 1989 – went to the BBC Children in Need Appeal with the Swan Centre doubling the total.
Fees for the rest of the festive season went to local charities.
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