Grand Day Out Event Raises over £800.00!

Visitors to Thornbury enjoyed a “grand” day out on Saturday as the St Mary Centre hosted a vibrant community event to welcome the arrival of The Secret Keeper—a stunning Gromit sculpture inspired by The Secret Garden and painted by acclaimed local artist, Hannah McVicar.

Sponsored by The Peer Group Plc, owners of the St Mary Centre, the event celebrated the sculpture’s unveiling with a variety of family-friendly activities and fundraising efforts in support of The Grand Appeal, the official charity for Bristol Children’s Hospital.

The sculpture, part of the popular Gromit Unleashed trail, features cleverly hidden themes from The Secret Garden, delighting visitors with its intricate design and storytelling. Thornbury Brass Band added to the atmosphere with live performances of familiar tunes from the beloved Wallace & Gromit films.

Children were invited to take part in a creative colouring competition, designing their own Gromit or Secret Garden scene. The competition runs until 25 August 2025, with prizes awarded to the top three entries.

Local business Calm Nessy hosted a raffle with generous prizes donated by fellow Thornbury traders, while Dee’s Cakes and Nadine’s Kitchen tempted attendees with themed cupcakes and sponge cakes. All proceeds from the day’s activities went to The Grand Appeal, raising over £800 to support sick children across the South West—a truly “cracking” result!

“We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who came out to support this event,” said Centre Manager Alan Cole. “It was a wonderful celebration of creativity, community spirit, and charitable giving.”

The Secret Keeper will remain at the St Mary Centre as part of the Gromit Unleased 3 Trail until the 31/08/25.