A MAN living in France has been inspired by a Christmas tradition hailing from Bridgerule.

Mike Watts, originally from Dorchester but who now lives in a village in the Limousin region of France, contacted the Post to tell us about his desire to create wooden reindeer to display around his home after being inspired by the Cholwills’ Christmas reindeer, which are made and sold each year by the Cholwills from Bridgerule, near Holsworthy, to raise funds for Children’s Hospice South West.

Mike and his wife were both born and brought up in Dorset. After getting married in 1970, they spent the first part of married life in Dorchester where their son was born, then moving to Bridport where their daughter was born.

The couple have always had a love for animals, and used to breed and show flat-coated retrievers, with Mike’s wife and daughter also having a passion for riding. Eventually, they bought some land near Bridport and erected their own stables. However, it was after this that they started to become disillusioned with their country way of life.

Mike said: “In our area people from London and the south east were moving in and changing the way of life that we knew and loved. Complaints about the church bells, cockerels crowing and farmers moving their cows through the village were common place. They disregarded the fact that on country roads and lanes the horse had the right of way. It was becoming too dangerous!”

Mike and his wife were fast losing the life they loved, so decided to move — to France!

In May 2002 they moved to the Limousin region of France. This area is renowned for Limousin cattle and of course Limoges for its porcelain.

“With us we brought three horses, three dogs, two cats and a budgie called Bertie,” Mike continued. “We live in the village of Le Mas and from our house we can see our small town of Bessines sur Gartempe. Our house is surrounded by land and we have our own woods. Our lifestyle here is what we were used to in the UK and we love it.”

But the couple’s move to France does not mean they have forgotten the quirky traditions of the UK. Mike discovered the Christmas reindeer, made by the Cholwill family from Bridgerule, after some online research.

He said: “Last December I was searching the internet — I cannot remember for what — and I stumbled upon Cholwill Christmas reindeer. Well, that was it — I was hooked!

“I had been playing around with some ideas on how to make our entrance gate and drive more welcoming in the festive season. My prayers had been answered!

“Next Christmas I would like to place four ‘Cholwill’ reindeer at our entrance — two adults and two children. This will then get the villagers used to where they have come from. Subsequent Christmases I would like to start placing them around the village so everyone can enjoy. Mind you, I shall have to be careful with the Chasse!”

The Cholwill Christmas reindeer first came about in 2012, when the Cholwill family began making decorative wooden reindeer to raise money for Children’s Hospice South West, and in memory of Colin and Sheila Cholwill’s son Mark. Since then, the entire family has got involved in creating these festive masterpieces for people to purchase at Christmastime, bringing a little joy to their homes while raising much-needed funds for the charity, with the funds supporting Little Harbour Children’s Hospice in St Austell.

With their own woodland, Mike will have no trouble sourcing materials to make the reindeer. However, he says he is ‘stuck on noses’.

Can our readers help? Email [email protected] to make some suggestions on noses for Mike’s reindeer!