Horsfall House turns 30!

It was a real honour to have the opportunity to photograph HRH The Princess Royal, who is the patron for Horsfall House, a care home in Minchinhampton. I last photographed Princess Anne in 2019, and if you’d like to see the photos from that shoot, please click here.

This time around, I was booked for an hour, to capture Princess Anne’s arrival, and short tour of the care home. She has a lovely way with people, and some of the patients were clearly very overwhelmed by meeting her. I was extremely discreet, but managed to get some nice photos of the Princess interacting with staff and patients. Below is a small selection that Buckingham Palace have approved for public release.

I do lots of different commercial jobs all throughout Gloucestershire and the Cotswolds, if you have something you would like 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.

Bikes Through The Ages

I was recently booked to cover The Bikes Through The Ages Exhibition held at Museum In The Park in Stroud. It was a brilliant celebration of bicycles as part of Cycling September. The brief was simple - to capture candid shots of the event. It was a lovely day, and even the Rinky Dink made an appearance! Below are just a small selection of shots from the sixty one that the client received.

I do lots of different commercial jobs all throughout Gloucestershire and the Cotswolds, if you have something you would like 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.

Lilliputs Christmas Concert 2014

This is the second time that Kate Skeet, founder of Lilliput Concerts, has asked me to come along to photograph her wonderful child friendly classical concert. 

Lilliput's Christmas concert was truly magical. 

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

“Gill is the regular photographer for Lilliput Concerts, taking great pictures for us. She is always friendly, discreet & efficient, getting great shots of performers & audience alike whilst respecting the wishes of those who don’t want to appear in photos for our publicity. Whenever I publish a selection of Gill’s photos, our concert page hit rate increases.”
— Kate Skeet, January 2015

Cheltenham Connect Show

Cheltenham Connect is a highly successful local community initiative that was founded in 2009 and that has gone on to be one of the fastest growing and most active initiatives in Cheltenham. It was set up with the aim of strengthening and empowering the residential and trading community of South Cheltenham ( Leckhampton, Naunton Park, The Bath Road, The Suffolks, Tivoli and The Park). Anyone in Cheltenham can become a member, especially if you are interested in supporting the area.

Over the last few years, Mouse About Town has formed close connections with this organisation. I shot their 2012 village show, which was held in the Bath Road Market at the time, so I was thrilled to be invited along this year to document their 2014 show!

Bakers, makers and growers were all invited to come along and exhibit their talents, and maybe even win the 'best-in-show' award for their pumpkin, cake, jam or needlework! There were children's categories and a fancy dress parade too!  

It was a great afternoon with lots going on. I hope their next show will be as big a success.

The Little Bump Company

Last Thursday I attended the Cheltenham On Trend Fashion Show at Pittville Pump Rooms. There was a drinks reception, catwalk show and auction all in aid of Family Action. I was there taking photos for The Little Bump Company, who were showcasing their new occasion collection. To find out more about The Little Bump Company please visit their website at www.thelittlebumpco.com.

Paws In The Park 2014

Last year Mouse About Town was invited along to cover Paws in the Park, a dog festival of enormous magnitude that takes place in Pittville Park, Cheltenham, once a year in August.

It was my usual documentary style of photography; capturing candid moments by simple observation. A few other factors play key parts too, of course, lighting and position being two elements that spring to mind instantly. 

It was a great morning. A fantastic variety of characters, and that was just the owners! Being a dog lover and owner myself, it never surprises me how often the dogs look like their owners. Some similarities were scarily uncanny! 

I hope you like the photos in this series. I hope to be back there again this year. Watch this space!

Montpellier Day

Last weekend, Mouse About Town popped down to Montpellier Day; a celebration of our talented local traders, who with their passion and craft, are what make the Montpellier District of Cheltenham so very special. 

Montpellier is a bustle of quirky, independent shops. From the cavernous vintage treasures in Pink Vintage to the cool and contemporary delights in Pod, there are home stores, children's clothes boutiques and fabulous kitchen houses. 

The Montpellier association are always putting on local events, so I hope to be involved this year in some of them.

Eastcombe Gnome Hunt

Each year, the picturesque village of Eastcombe, Gloucestershire, is invaded by gnomes as part of it's annual gnome hunt. It's a family event following a trail around the beautiful village and gardens to track down hidden gnomes.

This year I had the pleasure of going along to photograph it and I soon found myself distracted, peering under bushes and turning over stones! The event starts at Eastcombe Primary School, where there are stalls, refreshments and face painting in the playground, and finishes at The Lamb Inn for cream teas. There's even an ice cream parlour in one of the gardens, if you can find it!

The Eastcombe Gnome Hunt is an absolute must, I'll definitely be bringing my children along to it next year! 

Lechlade Duck Race

The Lechlade Duck Race is an annual charity event, held in Lechlade at The Riverside Wharf on the River Thames.

At the last minute, I was approached by the organisers and invited to come along. With two very young children in tow, (my husband was away working), I hiked the buggy and my camera equipment around and managed to get some lovely shots, which I hope portrait how much fun and how successful the event was. 

Sir Matthew Pinsent CBE launched the race at 1400 and 6000 local people cheered on the ducks until their finish line.

In addition to the main duck race, there were fun fair rides, inflatables, independent trading stalls, children's games, BBQ and ice-cream!

Local businesses could get involved by entering 'Duck Idol' and of course, not forgetting the fantastic 'Bob The Duck' mascot, who the kids adored!

It was a great day out for everyone, including myself and my children. I've been invited back to next year's event as their roaming photographer, hopefully my husband will be able to join us and we can enjoy a family day out in between all the photos I'll be taking! 

The Big Lunch @ The Junction

The Big Lunch is a very simple idea from the Eden Project. The aim is to get as many people as possible across the whole of the UK to have lunch with their neighbours annually on the first Sunday in June in a simple act of community, friendship and fun. Since starting in 2009, thousands of Big Lunches have taken place in all types of communities. 

This photographic coverage I took is from the big lunch that was held on our street, at the junction between Commercial Street and Gratton Street in Cheltenham. It was a terrific afternoon, spent with friends and neighbours. The children had the most fun I can ever remember - racing each other on scooters down the road, playing 'drivers' in Daddy's van, writing all over the pavements in chalk, eating huge wedges of cake. Just a total blast!