VISITORS basked in the sunshine over the weekend at the Richard Jefferies Museum as it held its annual Steam and Cream Teas event.
Now in its fourth year, the event featured a range of activities including live music, a blacksmith’s forge and steam-powered vehicles.
Director Dr Mike Pringle was delighted by the numbers which meant that more scones had to be ordered to keep up with demand.
He said: “I don’t know how many hundreds of people have come through. 
“We ended up selling the entire weekend’s worth of scones on the first day so we had to get a whole load more for Sunday.
“People are just keen to get out, with the event being outside, it’s great because people can keep to their own space which means they can just relax and enjoy themselves.”
“This has been the most popular event of the year, it’s been absolutely amazing. 
“We started off small and are just growing it each year so that one day Swindon could end up having a country fair.”
Dr Pringle said outdoor community events were important in the pandemic. “It’s fundamental, so much emphasis on activities is online-focused.
“This is about taking things back, not even historically, but just back to basics within the community.
“Our volunteer numbers are always increasing, we’re all volunteers here at the museum, this is a proper community  event in the town.” 
“We need to have these things in our lives, otherwise everyone is just going to stay at home and spend their time online.”
The event took place over a blistering weekend in which temperatures hit up to 30 degrees.
For Dr Pringle, the setting made it a glorious occasion.
He said: “Being here and seeing all the people, it’s beautiful.
“The vibrancy of the colour at this time of year, everything is lush.
“We haven’t got to the time of year where the grass is brown because everything has been scorched from the summer.
“We’ve still got the spring gardens, the colours are fantastic, and to fill it with people who are smiling and enjoy themselves, it’s great.
“The feedback has been all smiles, everyone has just been saying wonderful things. 
He added: "Some people are amazed that the museum has been here, saying ‘all the years I’ve lived in Swindon, I’ve never been here, it’s amazing’.”
“More and more people over time are starting to discover this place which is fantastic.”