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Wales Online
Wales Online
Entertainment
Lydia Stephens

Man converts mobility scooter into Coca Cola van for Christmas

This year is the first that many Christmas events have been able to return since before the pandemic. And children's entertainer Chris "Roly" Gibbins has taken that opportunity to do something a little different.

Always one to think out of the box, Chris, who is playing a "rock n roll elf who has lost his Christmas spirit" this December, wanted to come up with a unique and fun prop to use alongside his character. What did he come up with?

A mobility scooter that has been transformed into a replica of the famous Coca Cola van. Chris, from Pontypridd who owns Roly Poly Entertainments said: "I came up with the idea for the show and I thought it would be good to go alongside it, and it is honestly brilliant. I did the parade in Treorchy on the weekend and kids absolutely loved it. We have seen thousands of children so far and I'm attending more parades over the next month.

Read more: The magical place in Wales where you can pick up your freshly cut Christmas tree

"I am doing a Christmas show and it is about this elf who has lost his Christmas spirit. I come in on this Coca Cola truck and then the kids in the audience have to help me get my Christmas spirit back. It is great, they absolutely love it."

Chris admitted he has been thinking about doing it for a long time and bit the bullet and had the former mobility scooter transformed this year. Chris, at 6 foot 6" tall, just about squeezes into the Coca Cola tribute truck and makes for a fantastic elf.

You could hardly tell it's not the real Coca Cola truck (WalesOnline/ Rob Browne)
This is what it looked like prior to its makeover (Chris Gibbins)

"We try and do things differently so its not a pantomime it is a bit different, and at the end Mr and Mrs Claus come out and have a dance with the children," he said.

Chris is performing the Christmas themed show alongside Bespoke Princess Parties at Gower Fresh Christmas Tree farm from December 1st right up until December 23. Tickets cost £13.95 for children and £2.95 for adults. The farm also hosts a Santa's grotto and has reindeer for families to visit.

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