Sostrene Grene Store Opening

May 04, 2023 by gill thomas

International Danish retailer, Søstrene Grene, is the home of beautiful homewares and creative DIY inspiration at very affordable prices. I was hired for 90 minutes to take photos of the grand opening of their brand new store in Cheltenham, and what a busy occasion it was! There was a 4 piece orchestra, the town mayor, an interior designer from TV series This Morning! plus a massive queue stretching all the way back through the Brewery Quarter.

My brief was to capture natural shots of the crowds, the queue, shoppers, the interior, the check outs, plus of course the ribbon cutting and various group shots of staff and managers. Below is just a small selection of shots.

If you have an event coming up that you require a professional photographer for 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!

May Revels

July 26, 2019 by gill thomas

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

July 24, 2019 by gill thomas

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.

Prostate Cancer Ball

June 06, 2019 by gill thomas

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.

Victoria Cross Centenary

September 21, 2018 by gill thomas

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!

Mulligan's VIP Night

November 11, 2017 by gill thomas

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.

High School Prom

July 11, 2017 by gill thomas

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.

Playhouse Theatre Family Day

July 17, 2015 by gill thomas

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!

Suffolk's Street Fair

June 02, 2015 by gill thomas

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.