Joe Ayling pays a visit to Father Christmas optometrist Peter Mitchell
There’s an icy chill in the air as Optician heads out for one final Remarkable Roles assignment before the festive period begins.
The destination is not Lapland but south-east London, where ‘the Deptford Santa’ resides in a residential complex across the Thames from Canary Wharf, close to the restored Cutty Sark.
Peter Mitchell has only recently moved to the area, but is close to landing a role as the resident Santa on river cruises to and from Greenwich. The charismatic optometrist fills his December working diary with lucrative appearances at street grottos, Christmas events and staff parties – plus pulling the occasional prank on his new neighbours.
In true Christmas spirit, he is willing to act as various types of Father Christmas, happily donning the Edwardian, 20th century Coca Cola-style or 19th century green suits. He greets Optician in traditional attire.
Mitchell’s magical rise to festive fame comes just a couple of years after first trying out the bearded look. ‘A few years ago I just decided not to shave,’ he says. ‘I looked in the mirror one day and saw the resemblance. I thought “you could be Santa” and I had the belly for it as well.’
All presents and correct
Having nailed down the resemblance, Mitchell was put in touch with some acting agencies, who reacted positively. He then secured a place at a Santa school in Suffolk, where the curriculum includes vocal training for key phrases, perfecting the all-important ‘ho ho ho’ greeting and preparing responses for curve ball questions children commonly throw at Santa. ‘Santa doesn’t exist’ and ‘We don’t have a chimney so how will you get in?’ are to be expected at most sittings, hopefuls are warned during their education.
Well-versed in answering difficult questions and engaging with different personalities thanks to his main occupation in optics, Mitchell passed with flying colours and quicker than he could say ‘Dasher’ was chaperoning a herd of reindeers at a busy farm shop Christmas event in Hull.
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He says: ‘The first time was pressurised because I had to come up with the goods. It’s got parallels with optometry because when you are in front of a patient you have a short time to figure out what they need and offer a solution.
‘It doesn’t work if you do it routinely. The more engaged you become in what you are doing the better. It’s just like if someone’s worried there is going to be something wrong with their eyes, so I always try to give them a positive experience.’
Further bookings followed, to the point where this year Mitchell cleared his diary of optometry work in the month of December to concentrate on Father Christmas opportunities. This decision could not have been taken lightly given the level of expertise and experience Mitchell delivers as an optometrist. He works as clinical manager at Homerton University hospital, providing diabetes screening services for patients across north-east London.
Being a hospital optometrist enables him to continue learning each day and see a vast range of patients across Hackney and surrounding boroughs. He says: ‘You learn shed loads. You see lots of retinal images and it enhances your clinical excellence.’
Together with retinal screening, Mitchell runs slit lamp clinics as part of his role in the community. He also takes on locum work and is a regular contributor of CET articles for Optician.
[CaptionComponent="2048"]His career in optometry began 36 years ago when he qualified from Manchester University, before briefly taking up a share in a Specsavers practice. Soon, Mitchell decided to fulfil his ambition to see the world, boarding a truck with 26 people heading to Katmandu.
‘The pressure built and I just thought I had to go,’ he says.
The Katmandu tour was followed by a round-the-world expedition.
Upon his return he decided to work as a locum, selling his share in the practice to take on a more flexible lifestyle.
‘My life has always taken twists and turns that were unforeseen,’ adds the Deptford Santa.
He has lived in London for 21 years, eventually taking on the position of chair at City and Hackney Optometry Forum and then working in Homerton after learning it needed an optometric adviser for its eye clinic. ‘I had been doing some domiciliary work as well, which is a good thing but a challenging way to practise,’ he adds.
Generous spirit
Another important part of Mitchell’s life is volunteering for charity Vision Aid Overseas, for whom he is a trustee and has been on seven assignments in the past 11 years.
‘It’s been interesting being at the charity and steering it in the right direction,’ he says. ‘The one thing I will say about VAO is it is driven by the passion of the people involved. There is something special about taking your skills and using them in a place where they are really needed.’
He also trains new volunteers, who are taught to be sympathetic to natural reactions to aid and the cultural nuances of developing nations VAO is trying to help. The charity itself has transformed from spectacle provider to trainer of eye care professionals during the past decade.
‘One of the first talks I do in training is set the context. It is about taking the position there in the best way,’ he adds.
Meanwhile, staff Christmas parties present the opportunity for Mitchell to indulge his Santa Claus persona. A high-flyer in his two professions, he is proud to be one of the top three Santas on the books of top national agency Hire Santa. The role undoubtedly draws on communication and personal skills Mitchell has developed in optics and volunteering for VAO. It also appeals to his spiritual side, while many of his festive philosophies can be equally applied in practice.
He says: ‘Last year’s was the most fun Christmas I have ever had. There was something about bringing the magic, but you have to realise we are just a catalyst. The children will always be left field so you can’t prepare for them every time, but I try to change the story a little to make it more real. I say I have a reindeer in the North Pole, but that I find a sherry and mince pie a bit rich and so prefer toast and a cup of tea.
‘You have to make it very personal and that’s what makes it magic for the kids. I feel it is part of the role of Santa to give them a glimpse into that world of mystery. The older I get I realise life becomes very routine, but there is a mystery to what it means to be alive.’
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