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

The Lido Family Fest

The Lido Family Fest, held at The Lido outdoor swimming pool in Cheltenham, was great fun to photograph. It was raising money for Motor Neurone Disease and despite the inclement weather, nothing could dampen everyones spirits as they splashed and played!

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.

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.

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!