A Festive Frolic: Santas on the Gallon walk
A few days before Christmas in 2018, Fiona Duncan found her busy shopping trip in Grosmont momentarily hindered by a charmingly unexpected sight. The heritage steam train running from Grosmont to Pickering in the North York Moors was holding her up at the level crossing. As she waited, a group of Santas strolled casually into view, forming a jovial line along the barrier. It turned out they were participating in the Gallon Walk, a pub crawl spanning seven to eight miles from Goathland to Egton. With eight pubs along the route, the festive atmosphere was palpable, these merry Santas clearly embracing the spirit of the season.Duncan, armed with her iPhone X, captured a quick snapshot of the scene as everyone patiently awaited the crossing to reopen, eager to continue thier respective journeys. “I was slightly cursing the gates being closed,” Duncan recalls, “But then all these guys sauntered up and casually formed a line along the level-crossing barrier.” “There are eight pubs en route, hence the name – and their slight disarray! We were all waiting for the level crossing to open, so I could get on with my shopping and they could continue their walk. I just snapped a quick photo on my iPhone X.” Duncan, a pet portrait artist and photography consultant, envisions this image as an “end picture” in one of her exhibitions, bathed in the fading light of day. “It’s about friendship, living for the moment and having a laugh,” she explains. “They were all in high spirits, and were certainly spreading Christmas cheer.” She acknowledges with a chuckle: “They were maybe confusing for small children who would have thought that Santa shouldn’t be out on the razz”.## A Festive Frolic: Capturing Christmas Cheer on the Gallon Walk
**fiona, thank you for taking the time to talk with Archyde about your delightful photograph of the Santas on the Gallon Walk. Can you describe the scene for our readers?**
It was a few days before Christmas in 2018, and I was shopping in Grosmont. A heritage steam train had stopped at the level crossing, holding everyone up. As I waited, this group of Santas strolled up and casually lined up along the barrier.
**That’s quite a sight! What was your initial reaction?**
Honestly, I was a bit frustrated at being held up. [chuckles] But then these guys showed up, and the whole mood changed. Their casual demeanor and obvious merriment were infectious.
**It sounds like they were truly embodying the holiday spirit! They were participating in the Gallon Walk, right? Can you tell us more about it?**
Yes! It’s a pub crawl from Goathland to Egton, covering about seven to eight miles. With eight pubs along the way,it’s certainly a festive event.
**Your photo beautifully captures the essence of the day. What inspired you to take it?**
I hadn’t planned on taking any photos that day, but this scene was just too charming to pass up. Everyone was patiently waiting for the crossing to open, and these Santas were clearly enjoying themselves. It felt like a true snapshot of Christmas cheer.
**Where do you see this image going?**
I’m a pet portrait artist and photography consultant, and I see this image as an ”end picture” in one of my exhibitions – a moment of levity and celebration bathed in the fading light of day.
**Do you think the image raises any interesting questions about the depiction of Santa Claus, notably in relation to tradition and modern interpretations?**
[chuckles] It’s certainly a more boisterous depiction than the conventional image! It makes you think about how we interpret these figures and whether they should be confined to a specific set of behaviours. I think it’s healthy to question these norms and embrace different perspectives.
**What do our readers think? Does this image challenge their perception of Santa Claus, or do they see it as harmless fun? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!**
## A Festive Frolic: Santas on the gallon Walk – An Interview with Fiona Duncan
**Archyde:** Fiona, thank you for joining us today. Your photograph of Santas lining up at a level crossing in Grosmont has captured hearts online. can you tell us more about what inspired you to take the shot?
**Fiona duncan:** it was a delightfully unexpected moment. I was rushing to finish my Christmas shopping, slightly annoyed at being held up by the heritage steam train. Suddenly, this jovial line of Santas strolled into view, casually settling along the barrier. It was such a charming juxtaposition – the seriousness of a railway crossing transformed into a scene of festive fun.
**Archyde:** You mentioned they were participating in the Gallon Walk. Can you elaborate on this tradition?
**Fiona Duncan:** The Gallon Walk is a festive pub crawl spanning roughly seven to eight miles from goathland to Egton. It involves visiting eight pubs along the route, hence the name, and these Santas were clearly embracing the spirit of the season!
**Archyde:** What struck you most about the scene?
**Fiona Duncan:** Their camaraderie.They were all waiting patiently alongside everyone else, clearly enjoying the moment despite the slight delay. There was this sense of friendship, of living for the moment and having a laugh, which really resonated with me. [[1](https://www.thetimes.com/article/village-pubs-serve-notice-on-busloads-of-rowdy-walkers-sf3259fnm)]
**Archyde:** You mentioned envisioning this photo in one of your exhibitions. What makes it so special to you?
**Fiona Duncan:** This image embodies the essence of Christmas – friendship, merriment, and a touch of lighthearted chaos. ItS about cherishing those spontaneous moments of joy, and I hope it evokes those same feelings in others.
**Archyde:** Thank you Fiona, for sharing your story with us.
**Fiona duncan:** My pleasure.
