News

Vintage Sleigh Ride to give donated Santa suit new lease of life

11 October 2024

Coventry Transport Museum has added a touch of festive charm to its popular Vintage Santa Sleigh Ride, thanks to a generous donation from the now-disbanded Birmingham Rotary Club.

The club, established in 1914, has gifted the museum a beautifully crafted Father Christmas suit, which will be used in the museum’s ever-popular festive offering.

The Father Christmas suit has a rich history, having been part of Birmingham Rotary Club’s festive fundraising activities for over 15 years. Initially showcased at the High Street shopping centre in Birmingham, the suit, along with a traditional sleigh, was a familiar sight for thousands of children every year.

But sadly the suit has sat unused since the Covid-19 pandemic.

Iain Wells, on behalf of Birmingham Rotary Club, was present at the donation, delivering the beautiful suit to its new home.

He said: “It’s wonderful to see the legacy of the club continue in this way. For many years, the Father Christmas suit brought joy to children across Birmingham, and now it will be part of creating special memories for families visiting Coventry Transport Museum.

“We were delighted with the reception we received at the Museum. The reaction of the whole team made it obvious how happy they were with the donation. It was a very uplifting experience.”

Matt Mullen, venue manager at the Transport Museum, said: “We are thrilled to receive this remarkable Father Christmas suit.

“The Vintage Sleigh Ride is one of the most treasured Santa experiences in the region, so to have a suit of this quality donated is fantastic.

“Our ride has such a rich history, making magical memories for Coventry families across almost seven decades, so to now have this lovely suit which has its own rich history is perfect.”

The museum is always on the lookout for festive donations to keep the Sleigh experience fresh and vibrant for visitors. Work is now underway getting the Sleigh ready to go and the museum is also seeking volunteers to help set up and maintain the display.

Those with festive donations or interested in volunteering can get in touch with the museum to offer their support.

Don't miss out on the latest from the Coventry Transport Museum

Home of Record Breakers

Coventry Transport Museum is home to the world's two fastest cars.

Marvel at these spectacular feats of British engineering.

Get up close to the two fastest cars in the world, Thrust SSC and Thrust 2.

Bring the curriculum to life!

Coventry Transport Museum's interactive exhibitions make the perfect venue for school visits in Coventry.

We offer a wide range of sessions for school groups, all 'Learning Outside The Classroom' quality assured.

We thoroughly believe there is no such thing as being too old for play!

Get involved in our ever-growing Family Programme around Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths.

We also have free to loan family activities which are available at the Box Office.