A tall challenge for Santa!

December 18, 2007: Climbing up a 100ft chimney in below-zero temperatures the week before Christmas isn’t everyone’s idea of a satisfying job, but to do it dressed as Father Christmas is certainly beyond the call of duty.

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	l Santa — alias steeplejack Gary Williams — makes his way up Arkell's chimney

However, that’s just what Gary Williams, a Bristol-based steeplejack did to help Arkell’s Brewery kick off the festive season.

Gary, who works for LA Steeplejacks in Staplehill, Bristol is carrying out routine maintenance work on the 80-year old brewery chimney, the tallest in Swindon and was happy to celebrate Christmas with the brewery.

“It’s not often you get the opportunity to play Father Christmas on such a tall chimney, and the extra bulk of the outfit was certainly welcome in this cold,” he said.

Don Bracher, head brewer at the Swindon-based brewery, said: “Gary was a great sport, especially as we’re brewing our seasonal beer, Noël Ale this week, so we were delighted to reward his sense of humour with a couple of crates of ale to take home.”

Noël Ale was Launched in 1987 and named in honour of the present Chairman's father, Sir Noel Arkell, who was born on Christmas Day. The strongest of Arkell's Ales, this full-bodied beer is cleverly disguised by its distinctive light colour and slides down very easily, rather like the agile steeplejack, Gary.

Noël Ale, at 5.5% ABV, has a full malty and hoppy flavour and leaves drinkers with a warm tingling feeling; just what the brewer ordered after the steeplejack has finished the job.

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