By Megan Griffiths Christmas is the season of giving. Whether it is donating your money or giving your time, there’s many ways that you can get involved with charities during the festive season. With this in mind, here are seven Gloucestershire-based charities that you can support this Christmas. James Hopkins Trust’s Mega Raffle Founded in […]
Christmas
“Everyone welcome” at Carols by Candlelight
Students, staff, and the public gathered for a “magical” carol service. The University of Gloucestershire holds an annual service at their Francis Close Hall campus chapel, Carols by Candlelight. The service has been running for many years. This year it was organised by Reverend Canon Simon Witcombe, “It’s really nice to have our original service […]
Cheltenham Pantomime Forced to Remove Song Making Fun of Vegans
A pantomime in Cheltenham has backed its decision to drop a controversial song allegedly mocking vegans, in its latest production of Mother Goose. It follows complaints on social media about a song at the end of the show, which makes a dig at the vegan diet, using acronyms for each letter of the word vegan, […]
Cheltenham Children enjoy “Magical” Santa Express
The steam train at Gloucestershire and Warwickshire railway is once again hosting the Santa Express. The special Christmas service is a nod towards the popular Christmas Film The Polar Express where children who believe in Santa go on a Magical Journey to the North Pole. Whilst this particular Journey doesn’t take you to the North Pole […]
“This year I’m not buying any presents”: Christmas on a student budget
“This year I’m not buying any presents – I’ve had to ask my parents for a bit of help and so we are giving gifts as a family instead.” International student, Giorgia, is just one of many students facing cutbacks this Christmas. Christmas is always an expensive time of the year, but the cost-of-living crisis […]
Gloucestershire’s Christmas Traditions: The New, The Old, and The Wholesome
Even as more modern traditions are enjoyed, the ones from childhood stay with us to make the magic of being a kid at Christmas last. Whilst commonly, parents dress up as Santa, Iona, 19, said; “every year me and my sisters rotate who plays Santa – one of us stays up late, puts on a […]
Advent Calendars: are they worth the money?
Every year on the first of December people across the world start their advent calendars, but gone are the days of opening the doors and getting a small chocolate or even just a picture; now it is more common to have extravagant and expensive calendars. One of the most expensive calendars around this year by […]
Free Parking for Christmas Shoppers in Gloucester
With the festive season coming up, people are struggling to make the decision between gifts and bills during the cost-of-living crisis. Gloucester city council has offered shoppers free parking to encourage their custom to local businesses. Beginning on December 2nd, it will last all day in three major car parks – Westgate Street, Station Road, […]
Top 5 tips for a sustainable Christmas
Christmas is quickly approaching and as exciting as that is, it’s also a very frightening time for climate scientists. The Christmas period pumps out unrivalled waste figures across the world. So this year, if you can follow just one of these tips, we can breathe a small sigh of relief for the future of our […]
Cheltenham Craft Festival returns in colour at Town Hall
Cheltenham’s Craft Festival has returned for 2023, the town hall decorated in beautiful ornate creations once again. The elegance that is already present in the main foyer is magnified with Christmas decorations and beautiful fairy lights strung around the room. Despite the fair having only just opened it was bustling with people buying tickets […]
The Beginner’s Guide to Ice Skating in Cheltenham
Iona Leaf tackles Cheltenham’s long-awaited ice-rink, this is her advice for anyone who wants to don the skates themselves. 1. What to wear? Yes, the weather is cold, but the ice is colder – while you’re waiting in line, expect to be freezing, but once you’ve found your rhythm on the ice it can get […]