Date: 3rd December, 2021
Firefighters from Westlea fire station will be out and about in West Swindon this month, helping Santa visit local streets in a vintage fire engine.
As well as providing sweets to local children and playing Christmas carols, the crew will be collecting donations for the Fire Fighters Charity.
Father Christmas and a 1943 turntable ladder fire appliance have raised thousands of pounds for the Charity over many years.
This year, Santa will visit Westlea on Monday 6 December; Eastleaze and Shaw on Tuesday 14 December; and Sparcells, Peatmoor and Ridgeway Farm on Monday 20 December. The approximate timings for all three evenings will be 5.30pm to 8pm – just listen out for him!
Group Manager Dave Adamson said: “After a break last year due to the pandemic, we are delighted to be back out and about this December with our Santa float. We are also incredibly grateful to Audrey Wannell and family for continuing to support our fundraising by loaning us the vintage appliance. We look forward to seeing lots of families over our three nights, and hope to raise much needed funds for the Charity.”
The Fire Fighters Charity provides help to serving and retired personnel, their widows/widowers and young dependants through the provision of sheltered accommodation, recuperative facilities, rehabilitation and therapy, as well as giving financial support to those who need it.
The charity works with some 11,000 beneficiaries every year at a cost of £10 million per annum, and these services are financed almost exclusively by fundraising. More information can be found at www.firefighterscharity.org.uk