The good people of Savernake Street community hall in Eastcott have been busy again. I LOVE what they’re doing up there. It’s such a lovely thriving community centre that does some terrific stuff with its residents. At the back end of last year they launched their book: Legacy of a Rag and Bone man. Caroline Davis Khan, who helps run the community centre, has recently won a Pride of Swindon award – and so very well deserved it is too. Congratulations Caroline!
The book tells the story of a century of Eastcott community life. Savernake street hall has had several incarnations: British restaurant, civil defence – you name it really.
A key character in Eastcott’s history is one ‘Raggy Powell’. There’s a quote in the book from the lovely Frances Bevan, local historian, who comments that Powell is one of ‘Swindon’s forgotten heroes’. ‘Despite his philanthropic contribution to the town, no street, or building has been named after him’. But the book and this exhibition are surely addressing that situation – as is only right and proper. The exhibition features a knitted Raggy Powell – one of the Swindon celebrities created by the good ladies of Stitch n Bitch.
Raggy Powell
Raggy Powell as knitted by the Stitch n Bitch group
The arboretum is part of the Royal British Legionand has almost 30,000 maturing trees and over 350 memorials.
Artistic tribute to the Royal Air Force unveiled at National Memorial Arboretum
An exhibition by leading modern aviation artist, David Bent Hon CRAeS, unveiled at the National Memorial Arboretum, in Staffordshire.
‘Tribute 100’ is a new collection of work. It’s David Bent’s personal response and tribute to the legacy and ongoing contribution of the Royal Air Force.
The Arboretum, which is part of The Royal British Legion, is hosting the exhibition to celebrate the centenary of the Royal Air Force. Formed towards the end of the First World War, the RAF bears the distinction of being the oldest independent air force in the world.
On display in the Arboretum’s Remembrance Centre from 30 March to 30 June 2018, this free of charge exhibition features a selection of individual pieces by David Bent. The exhibition encourages visitors to spend time giving the artworks close examination, to discover elements and perspectives hidden within. As with most of David’s work, ‘the more you look, the more you see.’
David’s inspiration
As an artist, David finds inspiration in the world around him. That includes social issues, human design, technology and the natural world. Over the past 18 years, David’s pioneering approach to aviation art has attracted widespread support from many ares. This includes among many members of the Royal Air Force and the wider aviation community.
His solo exhibitions include:
The Royal Air Force Museum
Russell Coates museum and art gallery
The Royal Air Force club
St George’s
The Great Western Hospital
The crypt at St Paul’s cathedral
Farnborough and Dubai international airshows
The Royal International Air Tattoo
Said David: “The Royal Air Force’s attitude has always been progressive and cutting edge; out there. For me, their motto Per Ardua ad Astra – from adversity to the stars – sums them up perfectly. From the earliest days, a century of hard work, imagination, skill and courage has taken the Air Force to the extremes of modernity and 3D space. This has provided the inspiration for my new collection of work.
Using a variety of aircraft and propeller shapes representing one hundred years, these images attempt to evoke the spirit of that propulsive force that moves them forever forward, turning theory into evermore fantastical reality. I‘m pleased that this collection is launching at such a significant and meaningful place as the National Memorial Arboretum.”
Spitfire and Hurricane Ad Astra on White – (c) Copyright David Bent 2018
Sarah Oakden said ..
Sarah Oakden, Head of Marketing at the National Memorial Arboretum, said: “This exciting exhibition will allow visitors to explore an amazing collection of colourful works that celebrate the contributions of the Royal Air Force. Our new Remembrance Centre has allowed us to host a series of inspiring and engaging temporary exhibitions. This selection of vivid images from David Bent is a brilliant cultural addition. It’s also an important component of our programme marking the centenary of the formation of the Royal Air Force.
We’ll have a wide range of RAF 100 events and activities taking place between April and July and further information will be available on our website over the coming weeks.”
‘Swindon Stitch and Bitch are Swindon based crafters and they are currently working against the clock to create an art installation for the Swindon Museum and Gallery in old town.
The exhibit that they are making is titled ‘The Characters – Tapestry of Swindon’, which will go on display on the 28th of March 2018. The group are making dolls that represent past and present characters that have had some influence on Swindon. They hope to create 30 figures in total and at present they have 21 completed. Nine dolls may not sound very many, but with so many hours going into creating each one, it is a labour of love.
Tracey Major said “We wanted to select characters past and present, because its all part of the story of our town, things don’t change over night it takes the passage of time.
We didn’t just want to choose ‘famous’ people to create, because so many other people of Swindon influence our lives and the town.”
Although they want to keep the dolls under wraps until the big day, they are happy to publish a list of the figures that they intend to create.
Billie Piper, the harmonica man and Isambard Kingdom Brunel
Julian Clary
Jamie Cox
Justin Hayward
David Howell
Mark Lamar
Melinda Messenger
Gilbert O’Sullivan
Billie Piper
Isambard Brunel
Michael Thomas
Edith New
Don Rodgers
Bob Kilby
Jaime King
Alfred Owen Williams
Harold Fleming
Maureen Penny
Fred Ferris
Steve Rowbotham
Desmond Morris
Tony Collins
Hamis Murray
Robert Turner Watkins
Bruce the collecting dog
D-low
Jahmene
Mable Stranks
Sophie Grigson
Thaila Zucchi
The Grey Lady
If you are in the list above or are related to anyone in the list, the group would love to invite you to the launch day – 28thMarch 2018 at 2pm, at the Swindon Museum and Art Gallery, SN1 4BA to see the figures and to meet the crafters.
After the exhibition, all the figures will be sold to raise money for Swindon Mind. If you’d like to buy any of the dolls, please leave your contact details with the museum team and the crafters will get back to you.’
Not infrequently, and always on social media, is heard the cry ‘There’s no culture in Swindon’ and words to that effect. I have NEVER understood this attitude. There’s more culture and creativity in Swindon than you can shake a Doric column at. And therein perhaps lies the problem. The absence of buildings with columns on. Perhaps there exists for some a relationship between columns on buildings and culture. A bit like a horse and carriage, you can’t have one without the other. I have no idea – I merely posit this thought.
It’s not true of course – and what’s more it never has been. From the early days of the Mechanics’ Institute, Swindon’s people have pursued an interest in the arts – of all kinds. It’s all here – but you might have to look a bit. Okay – so we haven’t got Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory as in Bristol. Nor do we have a great deal of opera. But to suggest that there’s nothing in the way of culture in Swindon is risible. Worse, it’s arguably insulting to the founding fathers of New Swindon that were so very engaged in the arts.
I’m not going to lie to you – I’m not sure that Chamber music is my ‘bag’. Middlebrow and proud me. Though I have heard of their patron, Dame Evelyn Glennie. She’s a solo percussionist if you didn’t know – profoundly deaf from a young age.
Yet how wonderful is it that musical performances such as these, from this chamber music group, are here – right on our doorstep if one wants them.
With support from Bower and Bailey (solicitors) these wonderful people (a registered charity) bring their talents to the people of Swindon and its environs. Lucky, lucky them.
Their current newsletter found its way in to my inbox via another mailing list that I’m on so if you want to know more about them that’s a good way to go: Swindon recital January 2018 newsletter
Musically, Swindon Symphony Orchestra and this recital music series are not the only offerings. I’m sure listeners, you know more than me on that front. Then of course there’s the Wyvern Theatre and the Arts Centre, the poetry scene, the literature scene, museums and artists, Swindon open studios – it goes on and on and on. Much like an Aritson washing machine. So please – stop it with the ‘Swindon is a cultural desert’ stuff. Enough already.
A quick shout out listeners for the wonderfully alliterative Twigs community gardens annual snowdrops and soup day.
When is it happening?
Sunday 11th February 2017 11 am – 3 pm
Admission: Adults £2.00, Concessions £1.50, Children FREE
* On display will be 10,000 Snowdrops we planted around our beau ful gardens in 2016. We’ve checked on them and they’re already star ng to come up.
*There will be di erent varie es of Snowdrop on display, so see if you can spot the di erences between them.
* Find out all the things about snowdrops that you didn’t know that you wanted to know, and some of the stories associated with them.
* Also on display will be art and cra work on a Snowdrop theme.
After you’ve walked round the gardens and admired the other brave plants that share this owering me with the Snowdrops, warm up with some delicious home- made soup or some cake.
A brief bit about Twigs:‘TWIGS (Therapeutic Work In Gardening Swindon) came into being in November 1997. It was created by Pride of Swindon winner Anne Billingham, who realised the therapeutic benefits that working with nature could bring to those experiencing mental health problems. At first TWIGS operated from the old Swindon Borough Council (SBC) Amenity Horticulture buildings (where the Manor Garden Centre now stands) and volunteers provided gardening and craft activities for around eight people.’
‘Friends of Twigs is an independent charity which gives financial and practical support to TWIGS and the Olive Tree Café, two mental health projects in Swindon. We have no administration costs.’
