The Stratton Peace Memorial Swindon So yesterday, together with two friends and two dogs, I strolled round Stratton following a Stratton history trail.
One of the things this trail takes in, is the Stratton Peace memorial, the main focus of this post. But I’ll come back to that in a bit. First a bit of info about the Stratton treasure/history trail.
The Friends of Grange Schools in Stratton put this trail together during lockdown last year. As the leaflet says:
‘we hope you enjoy this treasure trail. … developed by volunteers for Friends of Grange Schools. Our aim is to give your local walk a bit of a focus and we hope you learn something new about our area.’
I can’t say too much more about the trail because FOGS has written it as a fund raising activity: ‘Contact us at fogsstrattontrail@gmail.comif you’d like to buy a copy of the trail.’
And I recommend you do! It’s really cool. We learnt a lot – and we didn’t quite do the whole thing.
I will though take this opportunity to mention my own Born Again Swindonian’s guide bookbecause the aim of that matches the aim of the FOGS trail. That being, to get you to learn more about your area with a bit of urban exploration. My #lookdownlookaroundlookup is as applicable there as it is to my own writings. And my book offers something for all the family. You’ll find within its pages two kids’ quiz trails with answers in the back of the book. On those trails is around Old Town and the other features New Swindon. Amongst many other things of course!
And for a grown-up version of Stratton History go here. And also here in the Swindon Advertiser. Indeed, as that article says: ‘You will be surprised just how interesting Stratton can be once you know a little more about its history, where key landmarks used to be, and also which of the ancient pathways and streets to look along to find old interesting buildings and structures.’ And they’re right – walk around it and you do get the sense of the village it once was.
The Stratton Peace Memorial
They sure seem big on memorials in Stratton – that’s an observation not a criticism. As this Swindon Advertiser article observes: ‘Despite having two memorials in Stratton – one in St Margaret’s Church and the other outside the Royal British Legion in St Philips Road – residents approached the parish council in 2011 for a central memorial to mark the centenary.’ Not to mention of course the TWO spots that commemorate the Canadian pilot.
Sitting on a corner of Grange Drive and Ermin Street, The peace memorial, installed in 2014, commemorates the centenary of WWI. Children at Ruskin Junior school took part in a competition to design it. Ethan Carter’s design involving mirrors and called A Place to Reflect, was chosen.
Tony Currivan, an architect with Swindon council, designed the whole memorial area. It comprises three elements, including a zig-zag path, a grail sculpture for focus and reflection, and a brick structure representing Stratton St Margaret and the dragon protecting the grail.
A Commercial Rd Photo Essay There’s no denying that something bad ails the high street. Not only in Swindon but in general. From January 2021, this Guardian article, Retail is at death’s door – and tinkering with business rates won’t save it, tackles at least part of the problem. The pandemic hasn’t helped of course, but problems have been apparent for a while.
‘Around 25,000 people are likely to lose their jobs as a result of the failure of Arcadia and Debenhams. And while online groups are expanding – Boohoo is opening a warehouse in Wellingborough with 1,000 jobs – the online model requires far fewer employees than do sprawling department stores.’
And, as the article points out, all these closed stores leave physical scars too. For sure Swindon has scars right up its thorax. What with Debenhams gone along with Morrisons and most of the restaurants in the Regent Circus development. It’s a worry.
It’s a not such a new thing though
The high street is dead – long live the high street.
This blog from Just Clear states that the problem isn’t new and has been a prevalent issue for some years. Further, that this past year has simply pressed fast forward on a tape already running. They go onto say: ‘We are not seeing the death of the Highstreet. We’re seeing a change in the high street with shops looking to downsize, become more boutique and focus on the experience of the visitor.
Green shoots in Swindon
As I said earlier, Swindon isn’t without problems. But an interesting thing is happening on Commercial Road in the town. Once, as the name implies, the street was the location for solicitors, insurance and numerous job agencies. And indeed some of that still exists. But now, it’s reinventing itself as a world food – as Asda irritatingly insists on grouping particular food stuffs – shopping centre.
The lovelyDaPaolo Italian delicatessen at the bottom end, by near the Rolleston and the Prospect charity shops, has been there for some time now. And often frequented by yours truly. But now there’s a whole range of most everything imaginable up and down the street. Now this is interesting – of tradition Manchester Road and the Broadgreen area was the place to go for this sort of thing. I’ve not been to that part of town for ages. #obvs But I daresay this is an addition rather than a supplanting. All of which is as you’d expect in such a multi-cultural and diverse town.
And here, thanks to my chum Chris Eley, here’s a photographic tour of them all. I may not necessarily have got them in the right order – but you get the idea.
1876 saw the GWR directors agree to build a house and surgery combined. The house, Park House, was for the company’s chief medical officer and his family. Thus, that year saw a substantial yellow brick house erected on the south side of Taunton Street.
Park House then became home and consulting room and treatment rooms for the company’s then chief medical officer, GM Swinhoe. Later, it became familiar to generations of GWR men. They had to go to Park House for their medical examinations before they could secure employment. Either in the Works themselves or as footplate staff.
A precarious position
Before this building’s arrival though, Swindon’s medical officer endured a more precarious position.
*For more on the Medical Fund Society and the MFS hospital – now central community centre – I refer you to Secret Swindon and Swindon in 50 Buildings respectively.
SWINDON NIGHT SHELTER OFFERS ACTIVITY SESSIONS TO HELP THE HOMELESS UPSKILL
Swindon Night Shelter Activity Sessions GUESTS at Swindon Night Shelter will get the opportunity to take part in activity sessions from next week (May 11) to support them with life skills.
The invitation only classes will include cooking, gardening, painting and decorating. Their aim is to help those who’ve found themselves living chaotic lifestyles or who are in vulnerable housing.
Manager Ian McCarthy said: ‘We’re hoping to build up these activity sessions weekly. Then, over time, we’ll help our guests to get into a routine along with the opportunity to learn and develop new skills . We’ve realised that, as we start to come out of the pandemic, there is a need to give our guests opportunities to engage with everyday skills. Skills that they may have either lost touch with or been unable to engage in due to their housing circumstances.’
Diversification
During the pandemic, Swindon Night Shelter diversified its activities during the UK lockdown. During this time the local authority housed many rough sleepers. Now the organisation is powering up again to provide day-to-day support to rough sleepers in the town. And also for those who live in precarious housing situations.
Most people know that a rough sleeper is someone who sleeps on the street and has no roof over their head,” Ian said. “Yet there are other people in our town without secure housing. They may live in temporary accommodation, or be sleeping on a friend or relative’s sofa. These are people on the margins of society. It’s not our role to judge anyone, it’s our mission to try and support people and help them when they want help. We’re a Christian centred ministry. Thus, alongside the vital practical day-to-day support provided we also want to share the abundance of God’s love and provision to those in need’
Staff and volunteers will run the activity sessions, starting with cooking and woodworking. We’ll introduce other sessions, including ardening, upcycling, painting and decorating, arts and crafts at length. We hope to offer one-to-one support for those who don’r have English as a first language – a barrier to integration.
A safe haven
Swindon Night Shelter runs The Haven centre on Queen’s Drive. The organisation also has two shops: Clive Parade and Freshbrook and several key food collection location points. All are now gearing up to operate in a post pandemic situation.
There are plans to increase their services during 2021 and to take an even greater role in supporting the vulnerable in the town.
APPEAL FOR ‘SHEDDERS’ AS RENEW MEN’S SHED OPENS ITS DOORS
Shedders needed for Swindon Renew TheSwindon Renew Men’s Shed projectis seeking ‘shedders’ to come along and take part in activities when it opens up again on May 11th.
Renew is an organisationwhich has been most successful in the town over the last three years. It’s part of the UK Men’s Shed Association, which has 600 projects across the UK.
The aim of Renew
The aim of Renew is to help men and women with their mental well-being. How? By providing welcoming, supportive social spaces for them to pursue practical activities. make friends, reduce isolation and feel valued.Kevin Prosser runs the Swindon group.
Kevin said: ‘Like many organisations, the pandemic stopped all our sessions. We focused instead in providing food parcels in conjunction with Swindon Night Shelter and selling the award-winning Frenchic Furniture paint. That helps us with the finance to keep going. It’s taken a while to plan and prepare a safe return to work. There will be some changes to what we but I’m proud to say we’re almost ready to go.’
One of the changes will be that the ‘shedders’ will be helping other community groups across the town. They’ll do that by creating new furniture or upcycling existing pieces. This month ‘shedders’ will be working on a bench and some woodwork and upcycling projects for Swindon Hub. They’re planning a new creative and community hub in the town centre.
Learning a new skill or sharing a skill with others or working on projects for the community or an individual can help those we serve gain a renewed sense of purpose and belonging,” explained Kevin.
Re-opening
The project will be open again from Tuesday May 11 at its premises at Chippenham Close Community Centre in Penhill. They’ll run men’s woodwork sessions on a Tuesday morning and upholstery sessions on a Thursday morning led by professional upholsterer, Erica Sawdon. She donates half a day a week to the project. The upholstery session is open to male and female ‘shedders’.
This month there’ll also be the opportunity for some one-off upcycling and woodwork workshops for the general public on a Saturday. That means everyone can get involved in helping with the community projects whilst learning or sharing a skill at the same time.
In the next few months, the plan is to offer a ladies’ craft club, sewing and art workshops. And also Christians Against Poverty Life Skills and Fresh Start courses.
Anyone interested in becoming a ‘shedder’ or wants to attend one of their Saturday workshops must book in advance due to Covid19 restrictions.
To find out more visit their Facebook page Renewswindon or call Kevin Prosser on 07540 726432.
