Town Gardens Christmas Event this weekend. South Swindon Parish Council is set to bring free festive cheer to Old Town, and it’s all starting this weekend. On 13th, 14th, 20th and 21st December, from 12pm until 4pm, the historic Town Gardens is transforming into a lively hub of:
Christmas activities
performances and family fun …
And it’s all open to the public, and at no cost.
Ensuring that no-one needs to miss out on the festive fun this year, the parish council has arranged for RevoLOOtion to attend all the Christmas in Town Gardens dates. They’ll bring their fully-accessible mobile toilet. It comes complete with lift, grab rails, hoist and adult changing bench.
Winter wonderland
A winter wonderland welcomes visitors. It’s filled with creative workshops, live entertainment and seasonal treats. Families can drop into Santa’s craft corner. There they’ll be guided through a range of hands-on craft sessions. All designed to keep the little ones busy with delightful make-and-take activities.
A variety of local performers and community groups will take to the iconic bandstand, showcasing Swindon’s vibrant cultural scene. Acts include Emma Doupé, JGMusic, the Swindon Welcomes Ukraine Choir, Emily’s Dance Academy, SALOS and many more.
Adding a touch of winter magic, you’ll find Air Giants’ captivating larger-than-life interactive plants around the Town Gardens bandstand. Meanwhile, Swindon Culture Collective invites visitors to explore their Magical Lantern Forest, featuring work from outstanding Swindon-based artists.
Town Gardens Christmas Event – brass band in the town gardens bandstand
Gastronomic delights
Food lovers can enjoy a variety of food from around the world, with a selection of local traders available on each day. The line up includes:
Hungry ‘n’ Thirsty
Lizzy Bakes
Soul Flava
Zapiekjanki
ZuDuzo Kitchen
And it’s all complemented by the much-loved Town Gardens Café.
No advance booking needed. All you have to do is arrive between 12pm and 4pm on 13th, 14th, 20th and 21st December. Free parking is available at The Commonweal School.
Make sure to keep up to date with event details by following @SouthSwindonParish on Facebook and Instagram.
Stilt walkers dressed as candy canesFather Christmas
Something Different is 10. A Swindon family business, that began life as a market stall is now celebrating its first decade. Something Different, based in the town’s Brunel shopping centre, was the brainchild of brothers Lee and Ross Mulholland. They wanted to bring Swindon shoppers products not available on the high street. Both with a background in retail, the duo opened Something Different in Swindon’s old tented market. But they soon moved into The Brunel as trade took off. And now Something Different is 10.
Something Different is 10 – the Something Different giftshop in the Brunel Centre Lee Mulholland, left, and brother Ross, owners of Something Different
It’s a family affair
Now celebrating ten years in business, Something Different is a real family affair. Lee’s partner, Tazmin, is the shop manager. Their uncle Keith fitted out the shop and makes some of the products on sale and their dad Ian is also involved.
‘I was in retail, and Lee had also worked in sales. We worked in a variety of different organisations, but always found we lacked job satisfaction,’ said Ross. ‘Our Dad ran a furniture business, was his own boss and we saw the freedom that offered. So, we decided to set up Something Different.’
In its ten years, Something Different’s range has expanded hugely. The shop offers gifts for all ages, from collectables, jewellery and fragrances, to ornaments, toys and cosmetics. Ross and Lee always strive to sell ranges not usually available in regular high street stores. Popular brands include Loungefly, Squishable and Joma Jewellery. And they’ve recently become a Nomination stockist.
While they also have an online shop, they find at least three-quarters of sales are from their ground floor store in The Brunel.
‘We have some loyal customers, who’ve been coming here for years and we’re on first name terms with many of them,’ said Lee. ‘Despite what’s said in the media, people want to shop in person still, there is huge demand, and it’s growing. We’re optimistic for the future.’
Laura Hepple, centre manager, said: ‘We have some amazing independent businesses at the Brunel. And it always makes me happy to see small businesses succeed and grow.
The team at Something Different are innovative and adaptive with their business. They offer thoughtful gifts you may not find in the larger stores, with a friendly customer experience.’
You’ll find Something Differentlocated on the ground floor of The Brunel, Swindon. They also run an online store at https://www.somethingdifferentuk.co.uk/.
He aint heavy, he’s my brother! Lee Mulholland gives brother Ross a lift inside their shop, Something Different
The Mini Watchers. Right before I talk about the mini watchers I should first explain about The Watchers. The full sized ones that is. The Watchers, the work of Carleton Attwood, is a sculpture that resides at Toothill village centre. You can find out more about them/it here:
A few weeks back I got a message via this blog from the proud owner of the miniature version of this sculpture that comprises part of the West Swindon sculpture trail. You can see it in the picture below – isn’t it lovely? I’m quite envious.
My correspondent said that her statuette was a gift to her aunt from, as far as she knew, the artist. It seems that every councillor at the time.
Toothill Primary School receives a model of The Watchers, the sculpture installed at Toothill Village Centre 27 years ago.
The Mayor Steve Wakefield made an appeal in the January Link for one of the small versions presented to councillors and VIPs at the unveiling on 8 June 1982.
Sculptor Pat Elmore donated resin versions that got given away. Marion Prior from Stratton contacted us as her son had found a cement version in the garden undergrowth of his new house. Meanwhils artist Ken White uncovered the poster he designed for the opening event.
In the March Link, Pat Elmore described how she worked with the late Carlton Attwood in his last months to make the finishing touches to The Watchers. He used the features of her daughter Heidi, who now lives in Redhouse, and her husband to shape the faces out of cement fondue.
The original statue has suffered from vandalism and the weather. But the maquettes used to develop the full-scale version remain in good condition. Pat said it didn’t surprise her that the sculpture suffered. Thamesdown Council wouldn’t pay for a bronze casting. It’s a commission I would like to take on to give The Watchers a permanent presence in Toothill.”
In the meantime, Toothill Primary headteacher Martin Cowell expressed delight at having the models in the school. “They give the children a sense of the history about their community. I’m sure we’ll use them in our curriculum work in some way.’
2009 – Presentation of a mini watchers sculpture to Toothill School with Mayor Steve Wakefield. Photo courtesy of Roger Ogle
Holiday Club in the Swim this Christmas. Swindon-based Just for Fun Holiday Club is opening a new venue at Dorcan Leisure Centre this Christmas. And, for the first time, the team will be offering swimming sessions as part of the day.
The club already runs at five sites across Swindon and Dorcan becomes the sixth. The venue includes:
a large sports hall
an all-weather pitch
daily bouncy castles …
… and full access to the pool – something that co-founder Sean Harper is most excited about.
Sean said he’s wanted to add swimming for a long time because many families cannot afford lessons. When Dorcan became available, the timing felt right. ‘Swimming is a life skill,’ Sean said. ‘So many children never get the chance to learn. If we can build this in for a fraction of the price, we’re taking pressure off parents who want their children to feel safe in the water.’
Holiday Club in the Swim- Sean Harper of Just For Fun Holiday club
What’s on offer
The club will offer a mix of water play and simple structured sessions. Dorcan’s lifeguards will supervise and instructors can be brought in when needed. Groups of around 18 children will take part, with space for up to 25 in the water. And a member of the JFF team will also be in the pool to support anyone who needs it.
Figures from Sport England show 1 in 4 children leave primary school unable to swim. And activity levels remain below pre-pandemic levels. 40 per cent of children who cannot swim have never had lessons in school. Sean said these numbers underline why the new sessions matter.
His own childhood lessons, provided for by his grandparents, gave him confidence in the water. ‘You take things like that for granted when you’re small,’ he said. He has also watched his daughter grow braver after private lessons. ‘Before, she wouldn’t let go of me in the pool. After a few weeks she was going down slides on her own on a family holiday. That confidence is what we want children to feel.’
The club has already seen how adding something new can boost interest. The cycling sessions at Moredon Sporting Hub this summer brought in a wave of children learning to ride for the first time. Sean believes swimming at Dorcan will have the same effect.
Just for Fun’s Christmas HAF programme is now open with limited availability.
Dorcan, Moredon Sporting Hub and Holy Cross will run on 22 and 23 December from 8am. While Goddard Park will run on 29 and 30 December from 10am to 2pm. Private bookings are also open with many places take already. Children can expect Christmas Jumper Day, a visit from Santa, games, competitions and a Christmas dinner on the Monday.
The new Dorcan venue will continue into 2026 with swimming remaining part of the programme. For more information visit www.justforfunholidayclub.co.uk
There’s Nothing Like a Dame. Oh yes there is! And, this festive season, Swindon’s Wyvern Theatre once again welcomes back everyone’s favourite dame, David Ashley, for his eleventh year.As he returns to the stage as Nurse Nellie Nurofenna Nightcap, David takes us through his typical day as the larger-than-life, fabulous star of the show,Sleeping Beauty.
Ah, the glamorous life of a pantomime dame. If you think it’s all glitter, adoring fans, and standing ovations, you’d be right. Except for the part where you can’t sit down under your eight layers of taffeta and wonder if your eyelashes will ever stay on…
Nothing Like a Dame – David Ashley as a pantomime dame
11 AM – WAKE-UP CALL
My day starts the way it always does, reaching for the alarm clock in a groggy state and knocking over a small mountain of glitter pots. I know what you’re thinking… ‘That’s a late start.’ Well, my darlings,for you perhaps. But when you’ve tottered back to your digs at 10 PM in your 6-inch heels after a two-show day, trust me, you need your beauty sleep! You see, being a Pantomime Dame comprises more than acting. I need to be extra from the moment my foot hits the floor.
After a quick coffee (extra strong of course), it’s time to glue on my identity. You may think putting on false lashes this early is overkill, but when your career depends on outshining a fairy in a sparkly leotard, you can’t take any chances.
12 PM – READY FOR MY CLOSE-UP(Mr De Mille)
Arriving at the stage door, I sneak past my adoring fans waiting to get a glimpse of me. I do so using the clever disguise of a trench coat and dark sunglasses (to hide those exceptional lashes) and head to my dressing room. It’s time for the pièce de résistance… my face. The transformation from mere mortal to pantomime dame requires more foundation than you’d find in a new housing development. And enough lipstick to paint a fence.
12:30 PM – DRESS TO IMPRESS
Now comes the real challenge: squeezing myself into the first costume of the day. And please, let’s get this straight, these are NOT mere frocks. They’re architectural masterpieces. Today’s number is, in essence, a replica fountain with a full gushing water feature. Because nothing says ‘leading lady’ like dressing as your town’s most glamorous plumbing problem. There are ten more wild and wacky variations I’ll need to get into over the next two hours (I genuinely believe there should be an Olympic category for this!). Nothing says “comedy” like watching a grown man in flesh-coloured undies and a 48F padded bra shimmy into a giant Christmas pudding dress! Finally, comes the wig, the towering masterpiece, my crowning glory.
12:45 PM – AND SO, IT BEGINS
It’s a school show, and it’s noisy. And when I say noisy, imagine a stampede of elephants and that’s before the curtain even rises. But here I am, standing in the wings, waiting for my big entrance. After years of perfecting my craft, my one-liners are as sharp as my contouring, and I’m ready. Even an unexpected cream pie to the face won’t faze me – but I’ll get my revenge before the season is out! And I’m already scanning the auditorium for my latest ‘Dad’ victim in the front row to tease for the next two hours.
Before I step into the lights, I take a moment to ask myself the age-old question: ‘Will this be the year I trip and fall into the orchestra pit?’
1 PM – IT’S SHOWTIME!
As I step (or rather, ‘slide’ in my gushy water number) onto the stage, I’m greeted by a collective gasp from the audience. It could be awe. It could be fear. But it’s most likely the water feature. But as the lights hit my heavily made-up face, I feel the magic of pantomime flow through me. This is my moment to shine, or at least sparkle rather aggressively. I deliver a well-timed quip, wink at the audience like it’s my last night on Earth (I’m sure my ‘Dad’ victim winked back), and they love it. Or they’re confused. Either way, they laugh, and we’re off!
3:30 PM – TAKING MY BOW
By the time the final curtain falls, we’ve told the story, and we have a room full of excited children and happy families. Our job’s done. I’m a walking human snow globe of glitter, exhausted but exhilarated. There’s nothing quite like hearing 1,000 people, from ages 5 to 105, belly laughing together. But wait, it’s a two-show day…
7 PM –WE’LL HAVE TO DO IT AGAIN, WON’T WE?
After a quick break and a Pot Noodle (other brands are available). It’s back into the birdbath outfit for me for another whizz around panto land with a whole new load of panto friends. All ready to be whisked of to a fairytale land… THIS time will I get the prince?
9:30 PM – AND SO, TO BED
With the final show of the day over, as the excited chatter in the auditorium fades, I peel off the eyelashes that now feel like they’ve been glued to my soul, and finally take a breath. Another day done, another audience have made memories with their families.
And tomorrow? Tomorrow, it’s all good versus evil, and the eternal search for a lipstick that won’t disappear mid-performance.
Because in pantomime, darling, the show must go on. Even if your eyelashes don’t!
You can catch David in Sleeping Beauty from Sat 6 Dec 2025 – Sun 4 Jan 2026.
