But here is a picture which confounds their scepticism. It is of young FB - he is the one at the front, by the way - at an important meeting in his early childhood.
Readers might wonder why there is not a look of enchanted and excited wonder on the young FB's features.
For he had entered Santa's Grotto in one of Aberdeen's more prestigious stores with an appropriate level of excitement and had sat on Santa's knee with that excitement still high.
'Have you been a good boy all year,' Santa asked.
'Yes Santa.' FB answered with his usual complete honesty.
'And do you know what you want from Santa?'
'Yes. A Gray Nicolls Scoop.'
'Dinna be daft, loon - it hisnae been invinted yet fitiver it is.' Santa's accent slipped nearer the Aberdonian belying his claim to be from the frozen north. 'Ony thing else?'
'A guide to how to play leg spin bowling.....' said FB on the verge of tears.
'Nae chance - it'd be wasted on you onywye. Hae a couple o' tin sodjers playing bagpipes...an' mak sure an' smile for the phottie.'
Is the look on FB' face of a dream broken - an illusion shattered? Even at that young age the threat of leg spin bowling hung heavy over him.
His scepticism about the claims made on Santa's behalf may have begun on that day. These deepened shortly afterwards when an older child told him 'Santa - he's really your Dad.' FB looked wide eyed at this world shattering revelation. He failed to comprehend it. He should be proud of course but how could his Dad get round all the children in the world? He only had an Austin 7.
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