May Revels

Oakridge School held its annual May Revels on Saturday 18th May. It was a fun, family friendly event that helped raise vital funds for the school.

There was a fantastic line up of activities, including go kart racing around the village green, welly wanging, worm racing, tug of war, live music, a reading corner, a petting area, a well stocked bar and a sizzling BBQ. There were also traditional crafts that included pottery.

Traditional wooden stalls decorated with colourful bunting were dotted around the village green, creating the feeling of a quintessential country fair. Delicious home made cakes adorned gingham table cloths, while other stalls sold plants, toys and books. There was a raffle and tombola, giant bouncy castle, stocks, hook a duck and face painting.

The petting area was a new addition to this year's Revels. There was a variety of different animals for children to stroke and hold including rabbits, chickens, lambs, stick insects and a tortoise.

The reading corner provided a cosy hub situated close to the bar so people could peruse and purchase at their leisure with drink in hand. Old library shelves stocked an extensive collection of pre loved books, while straw bales, deck chairs, bean bags and rugs provided a snug for chat and stories.

The bar was well stocked with traditional craft ales, ready made cocktails and a selection of gins. An extended bar and bistro ran late into the evening, creating a lovely chilled atmosphere. There was a fabulous line up of activities, and it was a real joy to photograph.

If you have an event coming up and would like it professionally photographed, then please get in touch using my contact page or send an email to info@mouseabouttown.co.uk. Alternatively, give me a call on 07983 465414. Thanks!

Townswomen's Guilds AGM

Last month I was booked to cover the Townswomen’s Guild’s AGM. The venue was Cheltenham Racecourse. It was a full on day starting sharp at 7.30am. The shot list was extensive and there was a very special guest to photograph too: HRH The Princess Royal.

The day began with setting up shots of the stalls and stands followed by the arrival of the townswomen. Proceedings got underway with the main speakers introducing the banner procession, of which there were fifty plus, all of which required individual photographs. Guest speakers followed and voting commenced. HRH The Princess Royal made a speech and handed out awards, after which there was a break for lunch and a meet and greet. Proceedings resumed with further speakers and culminated in a short cabaret performance from the some of the townswomen.

It was a full on day, but extremely good fun and I met some lovely people. The highlight, personally, was of course photographing royalty. Very special.

If you have an event coming up and would like it professionally photographed, then please get in touch using my contact page or send an email to info@mouseabouttown.co.uk. Alternatively, give me a call on 07983 465414. Thanks!

Prostate Cancer Ball

I was recently asked to cover a prostate cancer ball in Cheltenham. It was a charity event so I wavered my fee. I was booked for an hour to capture the arrival of guests and some mingling before they went into sit down for the meal and silent auction. There was a Prosecco bar on arrival, followed by canapés and the opportunity to enter the raffle. Everyone was dressed to the nines and I could see they were going to be in for a good night.

If you have an event coming up and would like to book something similar then please get in touch using my contact page or send an email to info@mouseabouttown.co.uk. Alternatively, give me a call on 07983 465414. Thank you.

Energist UK

This is the second time I have been asked to photograph Energist UK. It was a very similar set up to before - I was booked for thirty minutes to take some informal photos of company employees enjoying dinner together. They had booked a private room at The Ivy, Cheltenham. Towards the end of the session they requested a couple of group shots.

If you have a company event and need some professional photographs then please get in touch using my contact page or send an email to info@mouseabouttown.co.uk. Alternatively, give me a call on 07983 465414. Thank you.

Lilliput Christmas Concert 2018

It was lovely to be invited back to the Lilliput Christmas Concert. I’ve covered a number of these fantastic baby friendly classical concerts over the years and they never disappoint. To view the 2014 concert please click here, to view the 2015 concert please click here and to view the Summer 2015 concert please click here.

If you have an event coming up that you would like professionally photographed then please get in touch. I can price according to budget. Just get in touch using my contact page or give me a call on 07983 465414. Thanks!

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Victoria Cross Centenary

Last week I was booked to cover the commemoration ceremony to honour Lance Corporal Allan Leonard Lewis VC, who was awarded the Victoria Cross for his acts of bravery during WW1. The ceremony marked the Centenary of this special event with the unveiling of a statue in his honour along with a very poignant service.

There was a big turnout as members of the public lined the streets and soldiers performed the guard of honour. The gorgeous sunshine didn’t last long, but despite the deluge of rain, (I don't think I've ever got quite so drenched on a shoot!) men, women and children stood united to remember and celebrate the achievements of this remarkable soldier.

If you have an event coming up that you would like professionally photographed then please get in touch. I can price according to budget. Just get in touch using my contact page or give me a call on 07983 465414. Thanks!

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Lilliput Concert 2018

It had been a while since I was last at one of Kate Skeet's fabulous Lilliput concerts so it was lovely to be invited back on Monday and soak up the wonderful music along with all the other parents and children in the audience. 

Kate was playing and did a super rendition of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, which everyone joined in with. Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes was another hit! There was the usual clamour and chaos as the little ones danced, laughed and sang along. Really super to see them enjoying the music so much.

If you have an event coming up that you would like professionally photographed then please get in touch. I can price according to budget. Just get in touch using my contact page or give me a call on 07983 465414. Thanks!

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Babel Babies Italian Fiesta

In March I joined my friends at Babel Babies for their second Fri-yay Fiesta! They had teamed up with Babel Bar in the Brewery Quarter in Cheltenham, which hosted this wonderful event where families could relax, enjoy lunch with their friends, and practise a bit of Italian in a sociable setting.

The event began with a Babel Babies multilingual music family session at 11am, with songs and stories in languages from around the world aimed at parents with babies and children from birth to school age. 

At 11.45am everyone sat down and ate lunch together around a long table. It was just like a convivial family gathering, with sharing platters of Italian cuisine, and everyone chatting about languages. 

Cate Hamilton, founder of Babel Babies, invited me along to capture all the fun. I've worked with Cate on numerous occasions and her sessions are always vibrant and full of energy. That's what I try and capture in the photos. It was lovely to observe the little ones and see them engage so well with the music and the languages. It was even funnier watching them try some of the food that was served up afterwards!! Scroll down to see some of the highlights from the morning.

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Babel Babies French Fiesta

A few weeks ago I joined my friends at Babel Babies for their first Fri-yay Fiesta! They had teamed up with Babel Bar in the Brewery Quarter in Cheltenham, which hosted this wonderful event where families could relax, enjoy lunch with their friends, and practise a bit of French in a sociable setting.

The event began with a Babel Babies multilingual music family session at 11am, with songs and stories in languages from around the world aimed at parents with babies and children from birth to school age. 

At 11.45am everyone sat down and ate lunch together around a long table. It was just like a convivial family gathering, with sharing platters of French cheeses, charcuterie, bread and olives, and everyone chatting about languages. 

Cate Hamilton, founder of Babel Babies, invited me along to capture all the fun. I've worked with Cate on numerous occasions and her sessions are always vibrant and full of energy. That's what I try and capture in the photos. It was lovely to observe the little ones and see them engage so well with the music and the languages. It was even funnier watching them try some of the food that was served up afterwards!! Scroll down to see some of the highlights from the morning.

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Mulligan's VIP Night

I was recently booked to cover the VIP night of the new Mulligan's Adventure Golf Course that has just opened in the Brewery quarter of Cheltenham. It was a super fun night. I spent the first hour capturing the setting of the golf course and the remaining three hours photographing people in full swing, (excuse the pun) enjoying the different holes and tees. No flash was used in any of the pictures.

If you have an event coming up that you would like professionally photographed then please do get in touch using the form on my contact page. Alternatively please call me on 07983 465414. Thanks.

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High School Prom

Last Tuesday evening I was at Manor By The Lake for St Andrew's High School prom. I'm more accustomed to photographing weddings at this lovely venue in Cheltenham but it's always nice to get a job that's a little bit different.   

If you have an event coming up that you would like professionally photographed then please do get in touch using the form on my contact page. Alternatively please call me on 07983 465414. Thanks.

CDS - Alex Chalk Presentation

This job was for CDS, a Cheltenham based defence support service company who were awarding a member of their staff a scholarship award. Local MP Alex Chalk was there as special guest. I've never met him before but he came across as a very nice chap. He was well rehearsed with his speech and took the time to meet each member of staff. I was impressed. After the 60 minute presentation coverage, which combined some formal and reportage shots, I was asked if I could stay on a bit to do some head shots for their new website.

If you have an event that you would like professionally photographed then please get in touch using my contact page or give me a call on 07983 465414. Thanks!

Fit Inside Out

Last Thursday evening I attended the launch night of Fit Inside Out. This new fitness studio is the brain child of Nikki Ryder, who is also a Mum to 9 month old Jasmine and 9 year old Livvy.

Fit Inside Out is all about giving women the strength they need to get through every day life more easily, and the way to do that? Encouraging women to be fit from the inside out.

Nikki offers personal fitness programmes put together by herself to help women achieve whatever targets they are aiming for. It's about being positive and loving who you are. Her launch night oozed this positivity, and Nikki's natural charm rubbed off on everybody in the room!

After informal mingling, drinking and canapes Nikki made a great speech as her daughter Livvy looked on at her admirably.

A few weeks prior to Nikki's launch night, I also photographed her in action in her studio. Scroll to the end to see the pictures. She invites women into her home for studio work in her converted garage as well as baby/mother stretches in her living room.

It's a great business with a concept that I think many women can relate to. Go check out her Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/fitinsideoutltd/

CheltenhamMaman Launch

Last Friday morning I attended the CheltenhamMaman launch event at Pittville Pump Rooms, Cheltenham. 

CheltenhamMaman is a brand new website and events management site established in 2016 by Kate Starkey, local girl and Mum of three.

Kate spent the months following the birth of her new baby watching the social media accounts of London City mummies and grew increasingly frustrated by the lack of local networking, support and events for Mums who just want to hang out with and learn from other Mums but with a difference.

CheltenhamMaman is a parenting site and support network for Mums who are less interested in debating the merits of breast or bottle and more interested in surviving the day without getting baby sick on their brand new funky trainers that they bought with the last of their emergency savings. These Mums love their kids, but they won’t forget who they are. They are unique, true to themselves and just doing the stuff they got to do to get them through the day. Some of them are thriving; building brands and empires, others are just finding their feet and need a little support and that's where CheltenhamMaman comes in!

It was a great event with a fantastic turn out. Coffee and cake greeted people on their arrival and various stalls and fundraisers enticed the ladies to pamper themselves whilst raising money for good causes.

As people took to their seats, the 'Loose Women' style panel entered on stage. They debated a wide variety of mother and parenting topics, entering into discussions between other members of the panel and their audience. Advice was freely shared and given with time at the end for questions and answers. 

If you haven't already checked out CheltenhamMaman then visit their website at http://cheltenhammaman.co.uk/.

Village Show 2016!

Last Sunday saw the return of the very fabulous Cheltenham Connect Village Show! It takes place once every two years. This year it was held at The Exmouth on the Bath Road. This is always such a fun event that gets the whole community involved. If you're chuffed with your chutney or proud of your punch, then you should have got your entry in for a chance of winning top prize and Best in Show!

There was heaps to entertain young and old! Hook the fish, bobbing apples, story telling, face painting, wood fired pizzas, a human fruit machine, guess the weight of the pumpkin and of course the ever popular dog show!

I took my whole Mouse family down and we spent a lovely afternoon in the sunshine with friends. I was half on duty too as the organisers of the event had asked if I could come along and take some pictures. They also invited me to judge the 'Home brew and Horticulture' category! After all the entries were dropped off, (including my own mini mice paintings and selfies for which they won joint 3rd and 2nd and 3rd!) the judges began the difficult task of picking their favourites.

The dog show took place towards the end of the afternoon and as usual it was a riot of wagging tails and boisterous barks! I was particularly proud of our own dog, Remy, who won 1st prize for best 'Golden Oldie'!! She is 10 years old  and still going strong, despite the many children and animals that have joined her along the way!

The Big Saturday

Last Saturday I attended a very special music festival at my son's school, St James Primary, Cheltenham. 

This epic event was the first in St James' history. It was a massive fundraising effort, held to support Natalia Spencer, who is  currently walking the entire coastline of Great Britain to raise money for the Bristol Children's Hospital, and to remember her daughter, Elizabeth, who was a pupil at St James and who tragically died last year.

The festival was a huge success. The sun was shining and the air was filled with the wonderful sound of children's chatter and laughter. Happy faces beamed with rainbow smiles that dazzled in the sunshine. It was a vibrant and colourful carnival of fun that has created wonderful memories for all those who came along. Elizabeth would have been very proud and I think her smile was felt on each and every one of us.

Big thanks to all those who helped to organised the event and to the many local businesses who donated equipment and raffle prizes, (myself included). As you'll see from the photos below, there was a main stage with school productions going on all day followed by live music in the evening, (I sadly had to leave at 6pm to go onto another job) but I still captured lots of the action! School children ran their own stalls, there were ukulele workshops, reading work shops with the fabulous Tracey Courdroy , willow weaving, crafts and so much more!

If you would like to find out more about The Big Saturday, Natalia and her story or make a donation then follow the links below. Thanks!

The Big Saturday:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/951098191665676/

Elizabeth's Footprint:

http://elizabethsfootprint.com/

Donate:

https://www.justgiving.com/remember/257357/Elizabeth-Spencer

 

Lilliputs Christmas Concert 2015

Just before Christmas I had the absolute pleasure of catching up with Kate at her Lilliputs Christmas Concert. Kate had invited me along to capture all the fun! This is the fourth time I've taken photos for her. Check out the links below to view some of my previous work with Lilliputs.

Lilliputs Christmas Concert 2014

Lilliputs June Concert

This Christmas Concert was fantastic! Cotswold Brass got young and old on their feet and into the festive spirit with their brilliant renditions of many well known Christmas classics. At the end the children even got to try a few of their instruments out too! 

For more information about these fabulous, toddler friendly classical concerts check out their website at http://lilliputconcerts.blogspot.co.uk/

Playhouse Theatre Family Day

On Sunday 22nd March, The Playhouse Theatre held a family fun day, all in aid of Cheltenham's community theatre.

I managed to get down there for an hour or so, despite having my cake smash marathon event on the same day, (pics from that event being uploaded soon) and I've been so busy ever since this is the first chance I've had to get some photos on the website. 

I hope you like them, it was great fun!


Lilliputs June Concert

On Monday I went along to photograph the always fabulous Lilliput Concert - a classical concert series especially for adults and babies.  

This is the third time that Kate Skeet, the brainchild behind Lilliputs, has asked me along to photograph her wonderfully relaxed and child friendly concerts. Previously I have photographed their Christmas concert, (click here to view the photos). It's always such fun. There is heaps going on, with little ones often clambering onto the stage and clapping along to the music.

Concerts take place on a monthly basis at St Andrew's Church in Cheltenham. The music is proper grown up classical, but in bite sized, toddler attention-span friendly chunks. Each concert lasts for around 40 minutes. For more information go to http://lilliputconcerts.blogspot.co.uk/

If you would like to book me for an event you have coming up please send me an email using my contact page or give me a call on 07983 465414. I'd love to hear from you. Thanks!

Suffolk's Street Fair

Mouse About Town's photography studio lies in the heart of The Suffolks; Cheltenham's boutique shopping quarter. So when they approached me about taking some photos of their street party, I was excited to be able to help them. 

The weather was fantastic and people flocked en mass to enjoy the market stalls, children's entertainment, street food, fun fair and of course all the shops, bars and cafes. 

If you haven't visited The Suffolks before then get yourself down there. There really is something for everyone; spas, vintage clothing agencies, independent female boutiques, reto and antique shops, cafes, delis, bars, gift shops. There are new shops are opening up all the time, a reflection of how quickly this small trading quarter is growing in popularity.

I hope to come along to more events at The Suffolks this year, so watch this space.