Trip down memory lane in Coventry as big kids relive their Christmas youth

[dutchman]

Adults enjoy Coventry Transport Museum's iconic tradition at a vintage sleigh and dine experience



Big kids relived their younger days as they took part in one of Coventry 's great festive traditions. Coventry Transport Museum's vintage sleigh ride has been delighting children during the Christmas period for almost 70 years.

But this year the venue, on Millennium Place, welcomed a slightly older audience as it held a vintage sleigh and dine experience on Friday, December 13. Visitors enjoyed a festive lunch and seasonal singalong as well as a ride on the famous sleigh with a chance to meet Santa in his grotto. The nostalgic idea attracted people from other parts of the country, including mum and daughter Barbara and Maria Sealey who took a trip down memory lane.

Maria said: “Every Christmas we talk about our annual childhood visit. I genuinely couldn’t believe one of the sleighs still existed after googling it, trying to find images and videos. When I found out about the Coventry sleigh, I put a reminder in my diary nearly a year before to ensure I remembered to book tickets for me and my 79-year-old mum to enjoy. The sleigh ride was very emotional and still felt absolutely magical at the age of 45. We made new friends and shared stories of the past."

Originating from the Co-op in Coventry, the sleigh ride dates back to 1956. Though the Co-op initially had dozens of mechanical sleighs up and down the country, the one at the museum is the last functioning ride. Barbara said: “This was an amazing gift from my daughter. We have happy memories of the sleigh, my children loved it every year.”

Lisa Ford, head of learning and engagement at the museum, added: "This will mark the first of many of these types of events. The magic of Christmas goes beyond children and it’s important that audiences from a different demographic feel included in our festive celebrations centred around such an iconic Christmas tradition. The sleigh ride always gathers interest from adult audiences, who have memories of riding on the sleigh as children, or with their children from the 1950s onwards."