Children may be getting more sophisticated but Father Chriistmas still seems to have the same appeal.

He arrived at Vanbrugh Castle, the RAF's boarding school in Blackheath, last week, to a welcome by 60 excited boys.

It was the school's annual Christmas Party and a group from the United States Embassy were there to join in the fun.

Father Christmas, alias an American airman [No! its John Corner - ed], presented each boy with a present from America.

A party from the United States Embassy, led by the Assistant Air Attache, Lieutenant-Colonel Frank Redman, took a gift of American toys to the Vanbrugh Castle School, Blackheath, last week.

In the picture Santa Claus gives one of the toys to a pupil of the school, which is a residential establishment of the R.A.F. Benevolent Fund.