Glasgow children enjoy 'Christmas in June' filming with top author

Pupils from Highpark, Antonine and Knightswood Primaries joined Thumble Tumble writer AJ Proctor and Clubhouse Animations for the project, which aims to raise money for Shelter Scotland.

The short animated movie, Arthur’s Christmas Tale, features a live action scene starring the Glasgow children. It will be released in November to raise funds for the charity, with a premiere at Glasgow Film Theatre.

Eleanor Stewart of Clubhouse Animations (Image: Gordon Terris/Newsquest)

Angela said: “I am thrilled to see one of my stories being brought to life in an amazing animation created by Clubhouse Animations based right here in Glasgow.

“It is all the more wonderful that the story will help raise awareness of the plight of homeless families and children in collaboration with Shelter Scotland, and vital funds for the charity over the festive period and beyond.”

Angela and the pupils at the filming session (Image: Gordon Terris/Newsquest)

The filming took place at Strathclyde University Library, which was transformed into a festive wonderland for the occasion, with Christmas trees, sparkly decorations and Santa hats aplenty.

Angela is a best-selling author from the East End of Glasgow, most famous for her series of stories for children, Thumble Tumble, about a little witch on the island of Arran.

Angela, who writes as AJ Proctor, is famous for her magical Thumble Tumble books (Image: AJ Proctor)

The fantasy adventure series, which prompted some reviewers to call Angela the “next JK Rowling”, is a huge hit with younger children and the Glasgow author is in great demand at book festivals and signings.

She is also passionate about reading education and donated a novel study pack to Scottish schools, in a bid to help boost literacy and support teachers with limited budgets. She also uses the profits from her books to support the Beatson in Glasgow, having raised tens of thousands of pounds for the cancer charity.

Arthur’s Christmas Tale, which started life as a poem Angela wrote to raise awareness of homelessness, is her first short story.

Nicola English, from Shelter Scotland, said the charity was “very excited” to have the opportunity to work with Angela.

Angela's books are loved by younger children (Image: Newsquest)

She added: “The amazing story, Arthur’s Christmas Tale, hits home to children and adults everywhere in Scotland the seriousness of homelessness, while also bringing joy through the beautiful animation of Arthur and Jack Frost.

“We want a Scotland where a safe, permanent home is available for everyone. However, at present Scotland doesn’t have enough affordable housing for everyone who needs it. 

“Every day, we hear from people who are struggling to pay the rent, stuck in housing that is unsuitable, or worried about becoming homeless.

READ NEXT: 'Everyone matters': The story behind the Glasgow school which dazzled inspectors

“We believe home is everything, but thousands of children in Scotland have never felt that kind of security. They’ve been forced to move and change school multiple times.  This cannot continue. Together, we can keep their child in the same school for the long-term and take a stand against homelessness for good.”

The excited pupils were over the moon to have the chance to appear in a movie.

Hollie Robertson, from Antonine Primary, said: "It was a great experience to be filmed and be on TV. I think homeless people don't have a lot, so it would be good to donate to the Shelter charity."

Children from three Glasgow schools took part (Image: Gordon Terris/Newsquest)

Her classmate, Jimmy Chen, added: “I felt really happy being filmed, because I can finally be on TV. This story will hopefully inspire people to be kind to those who are homeless.”

Knightswood Primary pupil Georgie Gaston said: "I think this movie will really help with the homeless and people will know where to go if they want to donate. It was so exciting finding out that I would be in a movie! It was a great feeling and I'm glad that I was in it.”