Retired carpenter Warren Ockwell is already preparing for the preschool’s yearly contribution to the Dunedin Santa Parade, set to be held on December 4.
The 86-year-old spent time yesterday fixing a small float he had made as part of a series inspired by Thomas the Tank Engine.
Other floats he has built for the preschool over about two decades include a Postman Pat-inspired van, aeroplanes and a spaceship.
"I’ve got about 14 floats in the Santa Parade, and this is just one of them," Mr Ockwell said.
The floats would be used by Rainbow Preschool, where his daughter worked and where he spent two to three hours a day.
He had a "granddad effect" on the children, who knew him only as "Poppa".
The preschool’s annual tradition of taking part in the parade began when he built a replica of Noah’s Ark for a children’s church service.
Someone suggested it could go in the Santa Parade, an idea he liked.
"I only had one side of the ark, so I had to make the other side, that’s how it started off."
Daughter Wendy-Anne Jarvis, Rainbow Preschool’s family support co-ordinator, said it was the preschool’s 19th year in the Santa Parade.
It was an "amazing feeling" for families of the Christian school to take part in the parade, she said.
It gave families the chance to come together, celebrate and enjoy life.
There was a main float with a theme that changed every year, as well as a collection of smaller floats her father added to each year.
"We just like to be bright and cheerful and brighten up everybody’s day."
Both as a handyman and a grandfather figure to many children who had come through the preschool during the past 20 years, her father had been amazing, she said.
"We’re very lucky to have him."
The parade is set to start beside the Night’n Day in Regent Rd and continue down George St and through the Octagon to First Church in Moray Pl.
The Dunedin City Council is carrying out roadworks along the route at present.
However, parade organiser Thomas Dodds said he had been assured the road would be open in time.
