Dead and berried (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Dead and berried

Santa meets funeral director Maria Ubhie-Webb (17484/02)There will be no doom and gloom in Wootton Bassett's funeral directors this Christmas, thanks to the arrival of Santa.

For the first time ever Santa will be setting up his grotto and undertaking his festive duties in the front room of Maslin Funeral Service on the High Street.

And owner Maria Ubhie-Webb can't wait to see the building come alive with excited children. "I'm looking forward to it and it should be a bit of fun," she said.

"One of my funeral directors is going to be Santa, not that he knows that yet, and we'll have the normal things like mince pies and hot drinks."

The grotto is part of the town's Christmas Lights evening organised by the town council that takes place on December 2 and sees the High Street lit up with colourful bulbs, street entertainers and stalls.

Mrs Ubhie-Webb said she was delighted when the town council asked if they could use her premises. She said: "I think it's a wonderful idea.

"We've got a chapel which would be perfect for it but we don't want to have it there in case the children find it a bit spooky.

"It will be in the arrangement room, which is just like anyone's front room, and we'll have a colouring competition and we'll also be selling handmade holly wreaths."

Deputy town clerk Wendy Marchment said: "We couldn't,t have it in the same place as last year because Bob the Baker is closing and so we were very pleased when Maria agreed.

"She is a very community-minded person and I just think it takes away some of the fear of walking through a funeral director's door. It's not all doom and gloom, it's actually quite cheerful."