This post is not the normal fare for Born Again Swindonian. But I’m sharing a plea for help from a Swindon family because TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE FOR HARRY’S HEALING FUND.
Harry, has the most aggressive type of brain cancer: Grade IV Glioblastoma.
The best way to explain is to share some the text from the families’ go fund me page:
2020 was the year that changed our world; you could say it stopped entirely.
Like many of you reading this now, every so often we’d see or hear of a family pleading for donations that could make it possible to help their loved one.
With sympathy, we’d give what we could. But never imagining that we’d ever experience or understand anything of the horrors they lived through every day. That was, until April 2020, when we were struck with the trauma and instant grief that comes with a life limiting diagnosis: Harry, had the most aggressive type of brain cancer; Grade IV Glioblastoma.
Whilst families up and down the country stood outside their homes clapping for the NHS, we sat anxious vigils outside a hospital ward. Soon to receive the earth-shattering news: that our precious Harry, had the most aggressive type of brain cancer; Grade IV Glioblastoma.
Even more challenging, he presented a VERY rare case. Instead of being in his brain, it had begun and spread throughout his spine. Thus -due to its location – inoperable.
There’s more background information on the GO FUND me page. But let’s cut to the chase and get to what the family need:
What they need
They’ve learned they are limits to Harry’s treatment options under the NHS.
For them to access further options – experimental though they are – they need to look towards private clinics and trials and THEY’VE GOT TO ACT NOW!
First steps
The family must search specialists far and wide for drug protocols and supplements with potential to make Harry’s treatment more effective.
They also must see if he’s eligible for some of the experimental treatment going on in German clinics involving multi peptide vaccines and immunotherapy.
None of these further options will be possible without the generosity of others. So they plead to you now . Please give what you can so that we can continue to try to keep this extraordinary man in our lives
The family must search specialists far and wide for drug protocols and supplements with potential to make Harry’s treatment more effective.
They also must see if he’s eligible for some of the experimental treatment going on in German clinics involving multi peptide vaccines and immunotherapy.
Harry is at the centre of all their lives. He’s a much loved and adored son. Harry is also a brother, a fiancé and a friend. He’s a grandson, cousin, nephew and all-round valued community member.
There are so many good causes I know. I personally feel like I’m forever putting my hand into my virtual pocket. I understand compassion fatigue. We none of us can help everyone no matter how much we might want to. But if you can – even only a small amount – please do. This really IS a matter of life and death. Time IS running out for Harry.
About Liddington Hill Swindon One of many splendid things about Swindon is the great number of parks and open spaceswe enjoy. Both in and around the town. And Liddington Hill is a mere one of those areas of great natural beauty that envelope and caress the town near and below it.
A literary circular walk
Liddington Hill circular walk 4.5 miles – allow at least 2.5hours Terrain: No stiles, can get muddy, one steep descent
On this walk you can discover Shipley Bottom – ooh er missus. That, it seems, is a fine example of an enclosed coombe or short valley described by writer and poet Edward Thomas (1878-1917) as ‘walled on every side by down and sky,’
The walk follows a route used by a somewhat forgotten poet, Charles Hamilton Sorley (1895-1915). Sorley studied at Marlborough College from 1908 to 1913. His experience on the downs inspired such poems as Barbary Castle.
On Liddington Hill you’ll find a memorial to two famous sons of Swindon: Richard Jefferies (1848-1887) and Alfred Williams (1877-1930). They both wrote about the hill. Well I say that – but as far as I know, all that remains is the triangulation pillar used to replace a dedication plaque to Alfred Williams. American soldiers during WWII used that plaque for target practice and damaged it. It’s now on display in the Richard Jefferies’ museum at Coate.1940 saw a replacement plaque installed but that got removed by persons unknown, never to be seen again.
The plaque now at the Richard Jefferies Museum
See the bullet holes!
The self-taught Williams described Swindon railway life and Wiltshire villages. See my book Secret Swindon for more about him and Richard Jefferies. Scholars of Jefferies believe his wanderings across the downs of Wiltshire inspired his rapport with the natural world. That was something he expressed in The Story of My Heart – his autobiography.
The two views that we see here, looking down on Swindon from Liddington Hill, are a wee bit changed from when Williams and Jefferies’ day.
Photographs above courtesy of Robert Slade
Marker on Liddington Hill – about Liddington Hill
Plaque on Liddington Hill
Signpost
Photographs courtesy of Royston Cartwright
Alfred Williams’ poem: Liddington Hill
On this Poetry Atlas websitethere’s a poem written by Williams’ about this beloved Liddington Hill. Here’s the first stanza:
The friendship of a hill I know Above the rising down, Where the balmy souther breezes blow But a mile or two from town; The budded broom and heather Are wedded on its breast, And I love to wander thither When the sun is in the west.
Alfred Williams
Liddington Hill as a Starfish Site
There’s a relatively intact control bunker for a co-located Starfish and Quick Light (QL) site at Liddington Hill overlooking Swindon.
The bunker lies at the edge of the small copse on the eastern summit of the hill, Liddington Clump. You can see those trees from the M4 motorway.
Control bunker for a co-located Starfish and Quick Light (QL) site at Liddington Hill
Starfish sites were large-scale night-time decoys created during the Blitz to simulate burning British cities. The intention of them was diverting German bombers from their intended targets so they’d drop their cargo over the countryside. You can read more about Starfish sites here.
The GWR Reading Rooms Rodbourne Swindon – built in 1904
Between Secret Swindon and Swindon in 50 Buildings, I’ve given good coverage to Swindon’s Mechanics’ Institution itself in my published books. So this series of Swindon in 50 more buildings gives me a chance to give mention of the GWR reading rooms in Rodbourne.
Where are the GWR Rodbourne Reading Rooms and what are they?
Well the location speaks for itself – well Rodbourne Road to be specific. Just a little way down from the Outlet Centre.
‘The Rodbourne branch was built in 1904 and became known locally as the Reading Rooms. The ground floor consisted of a reading room, hall, office and yard. While on the first floor there was a games room.
The building is presently occupied by the North Wiltshire branch of the St John’s Ambulance Brigade. Evening brigade meetings and daytime first aid courses for companies in the North Wilts. area are provided.’
So Rodbourne’s GWR reading rooms then are a branch of the Mechanics’ Institution. The main one in the heart of the railway village in Emlyn Square.
This blog from Swindon in the Past Lane tells us about the architect of Rodbourne Reading Rooms – Robert James Beswick. Hailing from Manchester, Robert came to Swindon in the mid 1870s. He became articled to another popular local architect, WH Read, and was in practice from around 1874. In 1884 he wed Emilie Matilda Elliott, the daughter of John Elliott, a painter in the works. The blog explains that Beswick enjoyed a prolific career during which he designed several Swindon landmark buildings – this one included. But to say more would be spoliers! Read the Past Lane blog for the full lowdown on his architectural output.
The Mechanics’ Institution building served as a venue for New Swindon’s social activities, entertainment and educational activities.
In its glory days it offered a reading room, a theatre and a library – see Secret Swindon for so much more on all of that. It also boasted cold-water baths (before the building of the Milton Road Baths), a coffee room, a dining room, lecture rooms and public meeting rooms.
In the first instance the Mechanics’ Institution was accommodated within the Works. The institution moved in 1855 to a permanent building in the railway village.
The membership of its library grew fast, necessitating the opening of branches in Rodbourne and Gorse Hill.
The Mechanics’ Institute, Emlyn Square, in the GWR railway village, Swindon
Purton Road Bridge Swindon – something I’ve seen often but have never thought too much about until Roger Ogle posted the photograph below on Facebook. That prompted me to ask him for more information about it.
Purton Road Bridge Swindon – photo by Roger Ogle
West and north joined
Back in 1993 the Link Magazine, created by Roger Ogle, covered the building of the new bridge.
The extract reads – paraphrased
‘A new bridge, marrying art and engineering and making access easier between west and north Swindon opened five months ahead of schedule.
The £1.25 million structure spans the Swindon to Glocs railway line and is the town’s biggest piece of public art.
The bridge parapets form a 140ft long relief sculpture frieze created by artist Richard Perry. The frieze incorporates motifs of transport, industry and environment.
The then Thamesdown District council and Wiltshire County Council joined together to commission the project. It formed part of plans made 15 years ago. At that point the two councils agreed on the building of Roughmoor and Shaw. The project included:
a. A smaller bridge over the nearby River Ray and … b. … 700 metres of new road joining Moredon with Sparcells.
The then mayor of Thamesdown, Doreen Dart, observed that the bridge was a milestone in the town’s development. She went on to say that it represented a link between the western expansion and future development in the north of the town …
… Although the old northern road will at length become a footpath/cycle route from which you can see the artwork, there’s no obvious pedestrian route to allow viewing.’
Link Magazine January 1994
Other posts about public art
This blog holds a great number of posts about public art in Swindon. I must have written about most of it at some time or another. Depending on how well I’ve organised and categorised my posts you should find most of them in this blog category here: https://swindonian.me/category/public-art-sculpture/
Last Orders gets gold. This monster compendium of lost locals written by John Stooke has scooped the top prize at the annual awards held by the Guild of British Beer Writers. John’s gold award is for the best ‘not for profit’ piece of writing in 2020.
The substantial prize, sponsored by iconic Sussex brewery, Harvey’s, is named the Tom Paine Award after 17th Century Tom Paine. Locals hold the belief that Mr Paine, a writer local to Lewes, Excise Officer and radical helped draft the American Declaration of Independence.
Judges commented on the endeavour, the degree of detailed research and the warmth that shone through on every page.
Writer John Stooke said, “This is a huge achievement to get national recognition in this way, for what is, in essence, a local history book”. He added, “the first and only print run is beginning to run out. So if you still don’t have a copy the STEAM Museum have stock. It’s also in WH Smith in Regent Street and the Hop Inn, although it can only open at weekends at the moment.
“Due to Covid, the normal rather lavish dinner and award ceremony in a top London hotel, saw relegation to Zoom. Not quite as good, but a great honour all the same”.
Last Orders gets gold!
Said Angela Atkinson …
Fellow Swindon author Angela Atkinson said “I so enjoyed the talk that John presented to Swindon Civic Voice about his book Last Orders in January – a lifetime ago now. He gave such a funny, informative and entertaining talk. His book is a thing of wonder that I urge you all to buy and support John and his charity.
I offer my hugest congratulations to John on getting this book written and now winning this award. I couldn’t be more delighted.”.
John Stooke with his book Last Orders at STEAM museum in Swindon
