The Fire Station at Westlea is set to spread festive joy once again this December, marking the 25th year of their much-loved Santa charity float.
Over the past quarter of a century, this cherished annual tradition has raised more than £60,000 for the Fire Fighters Charity while spreading Christmas magic across the West Swindon community.
The station’s firefighters, supported by family members and volunteers, will escort Santa as he makes his rounds on a vintage 1943 turntable ladder fire engine. The festive float, complete with carols and sweet treats for local children, is a highlight for many local families.
Santa’s December Schedule
Santa’s route will cover various areas over four evenings:
- Thursday, 5th December: Westlea
- Wednesday, 11th December: Eastleaze and Shaw
- Sunday, 15th December: Grange Park
- Sunday, 22nd December: Sparcells, Peatmoor, and Ridgeway Farm
Each evening, Santa will appear between 5:30 pm and 8:00 pm. Families are encouraged to listen out for the festive music to know when Santa is near. Full route details for each evening will be shared closer to the dates on the Westlea Fire Station’s Facebook page: www.facebook.com/DWFRSWestleaFireStation.
A Community Effort
Group Manager Dave Slawinski expressed his pride in the tradition, saying: “This is the 25th year of our Santa float visiting communities in Swindon, and we are incredibly proud of the money we have raised for the Fire Fighters Charity over that time – in excess of £60,000!
“As always, we are very grateful to Audrey Wannell and her family for their continued support of our fundraising by loaning us their vintage appliance. We look forward to seeing lots of families over the four nights and hope to raise even more funds for the Charity.”
Festive Open Day
Adding to the Christmas celebrations, Westlea Fire Station will host a festive open day on Saturday, 14th December. It’s a perfect opportunity for families to explore the station and meet the firefighters who make the Santa float possible.
Supporting a Worthy Cause
The Fire Fighters Charity supports both serving and retired personnel, along with their dependents, offering vital services such as rehabilitation, therapy, mental health support, and financial assistance. With an annual cost of £12 million, the charity relies almost entirely on fundraising to provide for the 10,000 beneficiaries it helps each year.
For more information about the charity and its work, visit www.firefighterscharity.org.uk.
