Elk hunting
Page 27
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If you don't believe in Father Christmas, don't say so to Chris Morris. He's convinced Santa lives and is a Swede. Before he left Gothenburg for Mora, in the north, Chris was sure Santa worked for Volvo.
At Mora he changed his mind for here, on the edge of a lake, was the Father Christmas village where the letters addressed to him from around the world are processed and answered. But Chris and the party had other things to study.
In the care of Lasso Bengtsson of Volvobil AB he was to fly in a helicop ter to study the movement of elks. These beasts, weighing almost a tonne, wander on to the highway in herds of up to 50 and ac count for more than 100 fa tal accidents each year. Safety conscious Volvo, through its insurers, is sponsoring the study to reduce the carnage.
The young Bristolian, who admits to be appre hensive about flying, overcame helicopter nerves and took a lively interest in the proceedings. A number of elk deterrents have been used in experiment — none has succeeded. One of the highway engineers present said: "They even lick the salt off the road surface!"
After a Christmas shopping expedition in Wasa, Chris Morris was ready for the long flight home. He was still in something of a daze. His comment "It's better than Jim?l fix it" was an apt summary. But the thrills were not over.
At Heathrow he was the only one going through the green channel to be stopped. The customs officer could not believe that the Swedish timber box he carried contained a bravery award. Chris left the box, passed through customs and recruited the help of John Dennis, who re-entered the customs area — brave man — and persuaded the official that Chris was telling the truth.
All's well that ends well. Alan Bateman, Chris's boss at UBM, was waiting to whisk him back to Bristol.