SWAM

07/12/2023

Also coming to SWAM in 2024 is the ex Newquay Varsity T.1 G-BEDV / WJ945 ..we need another hangar ! ..pic credit Neil Brant.

07/12/2023

SWAM just keeps on growing ....Another new exhibit coming 15th December to our wonderful Aviation Museum ..Percival Provost T.1 G-MOOS / XF690 ....and it's a runner !

07/12/2023

🎉✨ Our museum is back to its usual self after an amazing weekend! Huge thanks to all the craft stall holders, the lovely visitors, and our fantastic volunteers for making it such a memorable time. Your support made all the difference! 🙌

02/12/2023

Absolutely brilliant day at the SWAM Christmas Fayre today! Loads of fabulous visitors, all having a fantastic time. And guess what? We're doing it all again tomorrow! We'd love for you to join us for more festive fun! 🎄✨ Don't forget to tag us in your pictures—we love seeing them!

St Athan Community Council Visit the Vale

01/12/2023

Thrilled to share our record-breaking evening with the 45th Cardiff Scouts at SWAM! On Thursday 30th November, we warmly welcomed 73 guests—a mix of Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, plus leaders and parents—for an engaging hangar tour and card spinner activity.

Huge thanks to our incredible volunteers, for steering the event to success.

Delighted by the positive feedback from our guests, with many families promising a return visit on an upcoming weekend. And, of course, we captured the evening's essence with a group photo in front of our iconic Tornado!

29/11/2023

🎄🚫 Attention all! 🚫🎄

This weekend, our museum won't be open as usual due to our annual Christmas Fayre! 🎅🎁✨ There'll be no access to the exhibit rooms and aircraft. BUT, join us at the fayre for some festive fun at just £1.00 entry!

Don't miss out! 🎉 See you there! 🎅🎄

24/11/2023

The recent performance at the museum left us absolutely captivated! The play was impeccably crafted, and the talented cast delivered a truly unforgettable experience that had us laughing and crying in equal measure. This production by A48 Theatre Company undeniably deserves a place on the big stage. Congratulations to the entire team for a job exceptionally well done!

Congratulations to all who contributed to the enormous success of 'AVIATRIX'. Below is a review by Darren Freebury-Jones.

A48 Theatre Company’s latest offering is written by local playwright Jim Blythe and is titled ‘Aviatrix’. The play has toured various venues this Remembrance Week and I had the good fortune of seeing it performed at the extraordinary venue of South Wales Aviation Museum. Weaving amongst a range of aircraft and exhibitions towards the playing space was a unique experience for this reviewer.

Blythe, a former Merchant Navy officer, tends to base his plays on real people and events, and ‘Aviatrix’ tells the fascinating stories of five women who joined the Women’s Air Transport Auxiliary during the Second World War. It is a script full of wit, offering keen insights into the past but also frequently nudging the modern-day audience with historically recurring themes. It’s also a play full of pathos.

The director Ray Thomas and the company do justice to Blythe’s considerable storytelling abilities. We begin with exchanges between Pauline Gower (Regina Levkovitch), who established the women’s branch of the ATA, and Wing Commander Wright (Damon Gibson), one of several male characters in this play who seem to suffer from misogynistic foot in mouth disease. We are then introduced to: Winifred Crossley (Jessic Gittins), one of the first women to join the ATA who also served as a Stunt Pilot; Margaret Fairweather (Cressida Ford), one of the first women to fly a Spitfire; and Joan Hughes (Isabella Davies), who achieved the remarkable feat of taking her first flight at aged fifteen.

It would be easy for a play broadening knowledge of past events, featuring personages speaking in clipped RP, to come across as stiff, but the company clearly cherished their roles, and there was a wonderful sense of the interactivity and burgeoning friendships between these figures. The relationship between Amy Johnson (Alison Shephard), celebrity pilot who made history as the first woman to fly from London to Australia, and Harry West (Geraint Dixon) also brimmed with touching humour. Our sense of time and place was enhanced by contemporary music and excellent costume and prop choices from Mari Gruffydd and Howell Thomas respectively.

The company have successfully taken on the challenge of altering performances for very different venues, from the Temple of Peace in Cardiff to what practically amounted to an in-the-round performance at the Museum. The means of alternating scenes was deftly done, as we occasionally shifted to characters sitting in a prop aircraft accompanied by the roar of propellers, with sound and lighting used effectively by Carl Jones and Tom Seymour. Considerable credit must go to not only Set Designer John Stidard but also Production Coordinator Kathy Thomas and Deputy Stage Manager Eluned Thomas.

While the first half was a heartwarming and frequently humorous affair, the post-interval performance tugged at the heartstrings through an unsuspected narratological choice: the entrance of journalist Peter Tuttle (Howell Thomas), who interviewed the members of the ATA. Here we were given insights into the struggles female pilots faced in terms of pay and maternity; the terrifying ordeals they had faced transporting aircraft; and the loss of dear friends in horrific accidents. The production ended with a powerful speech delivered by Shephard charting the lives and deaths of the fascinating characters with whom we had grown so close over the past hour and a half. Upon boarding this production, I must confess that I had no knowledge of these historic figures. I walked away feeling not only enlightened but also grateful to have been whisked away on a fabulous storytelling journey.

19/11/2023

18/11/2023

17/11/2023

🌧️🛩️ Weather forecast got you down? No worries! Escape the gloomy skies this weekend and head to the South Wales Aviation Museum! ✈️ Let your little ones explore real aircraft, hop into cockpits, and unleash their imagination.

Plus, we've got the perfect treat to warm you up! Visit our SWAM Café for this weekend’s special 'cosy pigs in blankets', paired with any hot drink for just £6.50. It's the ideal way to make the most of a not-so-sunny day! ☕

15/11/2023

Get into the holiday spirit at our spectacular SWAM Christmas Craft Fayre, where magic and merriment come to life!

🎁 Santa's Magical Grotto 🎅 Visit Santa and his enchanting Sea King grotto, where wishes come true, and children's dreams are made real!

🛍️ 50+ Craft Tables 🎨 Explore a winter wonderland of unique handcrafted gifts, decorations, and treasures from our talented artisans and crafters.

🍔 Delicious Food & Drinks 🍷 Savour the flavours of the season with delectable food and festive drinks that will warm your heart and fill your belly.

🎫 Exciting Raffle 🎉 Enter our exciting raffle for a chance to win fantastic prizes and help support the museum.

🎲 Fun and Games for All Ages. Enjoy a day filled with games and entertainment for the whole family. There's something for everyone!

📅 Date: 2nd & 3rd December 23
🕒 Time: 10am to 3pm
📍 Location: South Wales Aviation Museum
🎟️ Admission: £1.00 entry

Discover the perfect gifts for your loved ones. See you there! 🎅🎁🌟

Visit the Vale

Wales' largest award-winning aviation museum.
The perfect day out for all the family.

11/11/2023

🌺 Honouring Remembrance Day in an incredible way! 🌺

A heartfelt salute to 614 County of Glamorgan Squadron - RAF Reserves, one of our biggest supporters. Your unwavering commitment to remembering and honouring the sacrifices of our heroes is truly commendable. We are grateful for your support and proud to stand alongside you. Thank you for what you do. Together, we remember. 🇬🇧🤝🎗️

11/11/2023

🎉 A heartfelt THANK YOU to everyone who joined us at the Sabaton premiere today! 🎬 We hope you had an incredible time enjoying the movie and exploring the museum. A special shoutout to Sabaton for graciously allowing us to preview the film and introducing a fantastic audience to our world. 🙌 Your support means the world to us!

We can't wait to do it all over again tomorrow! See you at the next showing.

Yarnhub🎥

07/11/2023

Sabaton are premiering their film collaboration with YarnHub in museums worldwide, including South Wales Aviation Museum, making it the biggest global museum event of its kind.

Commemorate the 105th anniversary of Armistice by watching this nail-biting animated film. Screened on 11 and 12 November in a unique setting. Whilst the movie does display scenes of violence, it is deemed suitable for ages 12+. Anyone under the age 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

Follow the link to view dates, times and purchase tickets.

https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/south-wales-aviation-museum?fbclid=IwAR18dyzOTO4mDI8ieqvsrZJu5U1PqBkpK2bo0JqmmF6kkwKNLfE1S96Yg6k

29/10/2023

In response to the great interest, we are continuing our creepy Halloween theme and opening on Wednesday, 1 November. 👻

So come and visit us for an amazing day out, let the kids climb aboard and explore our many aircraft.

Our fabulous staff at the SWAM Café are also ready to serve you breakfast and lunch!

📶Guest wifi
🧒Child friendly
🐶Dog friendly (not in Cafe)
🅿️Free Parking

Visit the Vale IVisit Wales

27/10/2023

Are you ready to say, ‘Bone Voyage’ and travel the spooky 737 with Captain Skully?

25/10/2023

Are you game for a challenge? Grab your passport from SWAM and visit six museums before 14 April for a chance to win an amazing prize. Find out more at https://museums.wales/passport

23/10/2023

Welsh Museums Festival is back! Held between Saturday 28 October and Sunday 5 November, this year’s festival will be over half term week.

There will be something for everyone during the festival, with special activities being held at SWAM.

Why not bring the children in their Halloween costume? There will be more than enough to keep them entertained, from puzzles, challenges, and plenty of facts about Halloween in Wales and across the world.

Welsh Museums Festival is funded by Welsh Government. It is an annual event presented by the Federation of Museums and Art Galleries of Wales.

If you cannot make the weekend, we will be opening especially during half-term on Wednesday 1st November 23

Visit the Vale St Athan Community Council Love The Vale

23/10/2023

Looking for a Scary Good Time this Halloween?

Dare you enter the Haunted Helicopter, lair of the Pumpkin Man? Or enter the spooky 737!

Take part in the Eerie-on-Sea Monster Museum Tour or visit the Witches Colouring Cauldron!

Join us for a fang-tastic Halloween event with lots of spooky fun, activities, and treats to be had!

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09/10/2023

ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL SCHOOL VISIT

On Monday 9th October we welcomed 28 Y6 (10-11yrs) children from St Joseph’s RC Primary School, Penarth for their third annual SWAM visit.

The children were very knowledgeable and enthusiastic and learned a great deal from their SWAM visit in support of their ‘20th Century Development of Flight’ topic.

09/10/2023

We will be hosting a play in November by Cardiff based playwright, JIM BLYTHE - the play tells the true story of 5 women, all very experienced fliers and their fight to be recognised as R.A.F. pilots. A parallel story recounts the last moments of renowned Aviator, Amy Johnson, who was also changing attitudes to the potential and status of women. This is a Cabaret-style production touring to venues related, in some way, to the theme of the play.

Special Offer - Half Price museum entry with every ticket purchased!

Book tickets via https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on?q=aviatrix

09/10/2023

Congratulations! Llongyfarchiadau to South Wales Aviation Museum on winning Third Sector Organisation of the Year!

06/10/2023

Looking for a Scary Good Time this Halloween?

Dare you enter the Haunted Helicopter, lair of the Pumpkin Man? Or enter the spooky 737!

Take part in the Eerie-on-Sea Monster Museum Tour or visit the Witches Colouring Cauldron!

Join us for a fang-tastic Halloween event with lots of spooky fun, activities, and treats to be had!

03/10/2023

We're taking part in the Eerie-on-Sea Monster Museum Tour from Kids in Museums & . Join us this October half term to search for strange creatures & spooky spectres. Plus you could win a bundle of all five Eerie-on-Sea books!

02/10/2023

Hi Everyone,

As the winter months draw ever nearer, we would like to take this opportunity to remind you all that we will be closed on a Wednesday until the Spring. This will also allow us to accommodate for school trips and private visits.

We are still open every weekend as normal. ☺

SWAM Café remains open from Wednesday to Sunday 🙂

25/09/2023

We are proud to announce that we have achieved another prestigious award as best Third Sector Organisation at the Vale of Glamorgan Business Awards 2023.

It was an another amazing evening, and we are honoured to have been recognised in such a tough category of worthy winners!

A big thank you to all the trustees, employees and volunteers who are constantly working on improving the museum and ensuring our visitors have the best experience. Congratulations!

The Vale of Glamorgan Business Awards winners were announced on Friday 22nd September at a fabulous black-tie awards ceremony at the Vale Resort. This

20/09/2023

Another successful organised group visit!

Clevedon Probus paid a visit to us today despite the terrible weather.

This group of 13 enjoyed a guided tour of the museum followed a lovely meal at the SWAM Café

Thanks to our fabulous tour guides 😊

If interested in booking your very own group visit please email [email protected] for more information.