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Swindon Philosophical society – image from their websit
Well listeners. As you know, on the odd occasion I’m known to demonstrate frustration at the suggestion that there’s nothing of cultural value in Swindon. One has to question how hard these people look! Anyway – the suggestion that Swindon has no culture is a risable one.
Now I’m pretty sure the subject of this post has passed onto my radar before but I’ve been looking the other way or something. Whatever – I’ve not, until today, registered that Swindon has a Philosophical Society. But it does! What’s more it’s been here since 1963! Interesting! Radio 4 do intermittent light drama plays around the Ferryhill Philosopher’s club and Alexander Mcall Smith, writes novels about Isabel Dalhousie and the Sunday Philosopher’s club. All of which I’ve enjoyed. It’s a rich vein it seems.
Find it here: https://swindonphilosophicalsociety.wordpress.com
The Swindon Philosophical Society meets in term-time, on Fridays from 7.40 to 9.40, at the Friends’ Meeting House, Eastcott Hill, Swindon SN1 3JF.
A typical evening’s format is a one hour talk, followed by an hour’s discussion – which generally continues in a nearby pub. Everyone is welcome – we’re a friendly bunch – just turn up on the night.
We first met in 1963 – over 50 years of great thinking!
There’s a charge of £2.00 (students free) to cover expenses.
13 April Equitable Water Sharing in the Blue Nile
20 April Fundamentalism
27 April Post Work
4 May Warfare and Welfare
11 May Swindon Festival of Literature
18 May Swindon Festival of Literature
25 May The Jordan Peterson Phenomenon
The Society meets on Fridays from 7.40 to 9.40 at the
Friends’ Meeting House, Eastcott Hill, Swindon SN1 3JF.
Find them on Twitter: https://twitter.com/swindonphilsoc
At its simplest, philosophy (from the Greek 
or phílosophía, meaning ‘the love of wisdom’) is the study of knowledge, or “thinking about thinking”, although the breadth of what it covers is perhaps best illustrated by a selection of other alternative definitions:
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24th March 2018
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Eastcott Heritage Exhibition
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.
Now, building on that, they’ve launched an exhibition at the Museum and Art Gallery on Bath Road. All of this stuff has been made possible with help from the Heritage lottery fund – HLF South West.
It runs until the 5th of May so do go and see it.
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.
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12th March 2018
It’s always the greatest pleasure to write about David Bent on this blog. Because he’s a Swindon artist and because I’m a fan of his work. ‘Nuff said.
He’s featured here several times before and if you want to explore any of the other posts you’ll find them here: https://swindonian.me/category/artscultureheritage/david-bent/
Or visit David Bent Studio: http://davidbentstudio.com
Below you’ll find a clip of David Bent talking on British Forces radio about the RAF and his exhibition.
David is a talented chap with many brushes in his pot, but he is of course, well-known for his aviation art. So in this anniversary year of the RAF this exhibition is fitting. You’ll find the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire. It’s a year-round centre for remembrance.
The arboretum is part of the Royal British Legion and has almost 30,000 maturing trees and over 350 memorials.
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.’
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:
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.”
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.”
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20th February 2018
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If you’re in the vicinity of Stitch ‘n’ bitch ladies you’ll hear the click clack click of knitting needles as they get to work on their latest project aimed at raising funds for Swindon Mind. What they’re creating is a knitted art installation for display in Swindon’s museum and art gallery from the 28th March. What fun! This is when the ladies made a poppy cloak for Brunel: https://www.facebook.com/SwindonSnB/
Read more about it all below.
‘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.’
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9th February 2018
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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.
It’s only relatively recently I learned that Swindon has a symphony orchestra. Yup. We do. And there’s this: Swindon Recital Series: professional live chamber music. Another long standing Swindon entity.
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.
Check out their ‘About’ page to find out more: http://www.swindonrecitalseries.org/about/
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
Or contact them on:
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.
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