There are lots and lots of reasons why we can be proud of Swindon – many of which I’ve posted about on this blog as regular listeners will know. For a start there’s al the public art about which I’ve banged on ad nauseum. Plus the host of parks and green spaces and the bewildering range of artistic talent that Swindon hosts. And much, much more.
Swindon Dance Steps Out – Swindon town hall
Discovering Swindon Dance
But now listeners I’ve discovered a new reason to be Swindonian and proud: Swindon Dance. Well, when I say ‘discover’ – I should perhaps refer to Mary Louise Pratt who I believe, in ‘Imperial Eyes’, describes the ‘anti-conquest’ which she defines as “the strategies of representation whereby European bourgeois subjects seek to secure their innocence in the same moment as they assert European hegemony” . Or – put another way – when we Europeans went stomping around the world claiming and naming rivers, rocks, islands, and countries for King, Country and Empire we weren’t actually ‘discovering’ anything. Because of course ‘it’ (whatever ‘it’ was) was already there and well-known to the indigenous populations without whose help we Europeans might never have ‘discovered’ anything much at all and which we then proceed to steal from said indigenous peoples dressing it up as we did so in a discourse of scientific discovery.
So it is then, in that vein, I’ve recently discovered – or, to be more precise, learnt about – Swindon Dance – who are lovely folk of discernment and intelligence being fans of this blog.
The lovely Lizzie sent me lots of fab information which is way better than my scrawls so, with no further ado, dig out your leg warmers and prepare to be, as I most certainly was, duly illuminated! For a start it was news to me that there’s a 100 seat theatre in the old town hall which is the home of Swindon Dance. Nor did I know there was a mural in the building painted by one Carlton Attewood of ‘The Watcher’s’ fame.
ABOUT SWINDON DANCE
Swindon dance is a registered charity that operates as a not-for-profit dance organisation dedicated to creating and developing the dance, dancers and audiences of tomorrow.
Swindon Dance is firmly embedded in the national dance sector. It’s got a 35-year track record and national reputation for providing high-quality dance training in Swindon and the south-west. Their expertise in dance along with a focus on participation and access has ensured that they facilitate quality dance experiences for anyone willing and able to take part.
Swindon Dance are providers of:
A programme of community classes for all ages and abilities in Jazz, Ballet, Tap, Urban and Contemporary.
Both amateur and professional performance opportunities to dance artists via our unique 100-seat theatre.
Artist and talent development in the form of mentoring, networking, career-training and space provision.
More in-depth dance development for young people, as one of nine Centres for Advanced Training (CAT) in the UK via our Youth Dance Academy (YDA), which gets its funding fron the Department for Education and has the only YDA Urban stream in the country.
Numerous opportunities for our YDA students to work with new and current professional artists, including award-winning hip-hop group Plague, internationally acclaimed choreographer RussellMaliphant,Matthew Bourne protégé John Ross and award-winning, rising star Aakash Odedra.
Opportunities for primary school children to experiences ballet as one of five organisations working with the Royal Ballet School on their primarySTEPS programme.
As a charity, SD are committed and dedicated to our vision for anyone to access high-quality dance development, regardless of age and experience, economic, social, geographic or physical disadvantage. As a result of our vision, we have seen dance change lives time and time again, including those who are over 60; those who never stopped wanting a purpose in life and an opportunity to learn, grow, create, achieve and contribute.
Swindon Dance – did you know? – Yet more reasons to be proud:
Our Youth Dance Academy (YDA) is funded through bursaries by the Department for Education, as a Centre for Advanced Training (CAT) for exceptionally talented young dancers aged 11-17 years.
We are one of only nine centres in England, providing access to 100 plus young students across the South West.
YDA is the only CAT providing an Urban stream in the whole of the UK.
Swindon Dance is one of only three places outside London providing the Diploma in Dance Teaching & Learning for Children & Young People (DDTAL), as one of the first registered centres and training providers for Trinity College London.
We are one of five UK centres working in partnership with the Royal Ballet School through their primarySTEPS programme.
We‘ve been funded by Arts Council England and Swindon Borough Council since 1979.
Annually, we have some 19,000 attendances by children and young people at 1,300 dance activities led by Swindon Dance.
50,000 people come to our events, classes and performances each year.
Longest standing resident producer of dance events for an area serving a population now exceeding 3 million as the only dedicated dance theatre space in Wiltshire.
One of the few dance organisations left in the UK that is building-based.
Early careers that have begun at or been supported by Swindon Dance include: Yael Flexer, Wayne McGregor, AMP and Motionhouse.And, more recently, James Wilton and Protein Dance, among many others. Matthew Bourne and Russell Maliphant both presented early work in our theatre.
A diverse range of artists have also been supported through our partnership with The Association of Dance of the African Diaspora (ADAD), including: Brenda Edwards, Jonzi D (Artistic Director of Breakin’ Convention) and Bawren Tavaziva.
Other artists, including filmmakers, musicians and videographers, have also been nurtured through multidisciplinary arts at Swindon Dance, including Barry Ganberg (composer and musician and now head of music at the Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance), David Yates (director of a number of the Harry Potter films) and Rannel Theatre Company (who have just finished a sell-out show at the Tobacco Factory, Bristol).
Our YDA has nearly 5 times more BME students than the national average (22% in comparison to 14.5%), based on 2011 Government figures.
Since 2006, 96 dancers from the YDA have gone onto full-time training at vocation college &/or a conservatoire. In 2012, the Swindon Dance CAT achieved 100% success rate for students auditioning for entry into vocational training &/or conservatoires.
Further facts
And finally – some further facts about Swindon Dance – consider yourself educated. And hopefully very proud. 🙂
We are a National Portfolio Organisation, funded by Arts Council England (ACE). We have been funded by ACE and Swindon Borough Council since 1979.
Annually, we have some 19,000 attendances by children and young people at 1,300 dance activities led by Swindon Dance.
30,000 people come to our events, classes and performances each year.
Early careers that have begun at or been supported by Swindon Dance includes Yael Flexer, Wayne McGregor, AMP, Motionhouse and, more recently, James Wilton and Protein Dance, among many others. Matthew Bourne and Russell Maliphant both presented early work in our theatre.
Other artists, including filmmakers, musicians and videographers, have also been nurtured through multidisciplinary arts at Swindon Dance. They include:
Barry Ganberg (composer and musician and now Head of Music at the Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance)
David Yates (director of a number of the Harry Potter films) and Rannel Theatre Company (who have just finished a sell-out show at the Tobacco Factory, Bristol).
Get on track at the Outlet Centre with the Hooter Express!
I absolutely LOVE a miniature train – of any description – they evoke something so visceral. Whether they’re the ones you sit astride or the ones you sit inside.
In fact – extending the genre – wherever there’s a miniature train, a funicular, a monorail or even a cable car – I have to go on it. This might stem from childhood holidays in Butlin’s chugging round the campsite on Puffing Billy. Or perhaps it’s connected to being of a generation that can remember ‘proper’ trains. Y’know, with carriages, corridors and sliding doors and windows that opened so you could lean out and get soot smuts on your face. And the wonderful artwork and the luggage racks overhead in each compartment.
Oh those were the days – before Dr Beeching came along with his metaphorical axe and the car became king.
Or it could simply be because my inner-child is not just alive but positively flourishing. Mostly likely it’s a melting pot of all those things.
Born Again Swindonian on the Hooter Express
Came into service in 2014
Negotiations to install the train began in July 2014 and it began its service on the 12th December 2014.
Of course there are miniature trains like this one up and down the land. But it’s especially appropriate that there’s one in the Outlet Centre.
It’s the perfect addition to the building that is itself, a fabulous homage to the railway industry that pulsed within its walls and was the lifeblood of the new Swindon that grew up around it.
The train’s tooting good fun and an attraction for children. And it serves as a terrific way to get an overview of the stores. In much the same way as an open-top bus in a new city gives an overview of its attractions so it is with the train. Only it’s what might catch your eye in what shops and where they are.
It’s also a useful way of gauging the attitude and approachability of the personnel in the shops – the ones that engage with the train and its cargo of shoppers as it does its tour around the centre.
Shortly before Christmas 2014 I paid a visit to the studios of Swindon 105.5 community radio for a couple of reasons.
One was to talk to Shirley Ludford, the station manager, about the money-raising initiative the station was running in December.
It was my delight kick the initiative off on the 1st of December with a chat over the phone about my own business, AA Editorial Services. I also had a few minutes on the actual radio talking about this here blog.
Aside from those two bits of excitement I certainly learnt quite a lot. Prior to this visit my perception of local radio was of stations whose programming is peppered with advertising for and by local companies and services. And I’d assumed Swindon 105.5 to be the same.
I confess I hadn’t listened to it – but then I don’t listen to anything very much. I’m not one of these people that can work with noise in the background. If I’m doing anything requiring any concentration then silence is golden as far I’m concerned. But now, having met Shirley at the station and having done a bit of research on community radio as opposed to local radio, I’m somewhat enlightened.
What is community radio?
Ofcomdefines community radio as being radio stations that typically cover a small geographic area. They must be run on a not-for-profit basis. The idea for this form of broadcasting was conceived and piloted in 2002 by the then Radio Authority. In 2004, the Radio Authority’s successor, Ofcom issued a consultation on the creation of Community Radio.
Supporting itself – and others
While some community stations can carry advertising and sponsorship a small number – where they overlap with small commercial services – may not. And Swindon 105.5 comes into that group. As they say on their website: ‘SWINDON 105.5 is one of only 18 Station in the UK NOT permitted to support itself in any way commercially on air.
The Station Manager successfully invited Minister Ed Vaizey to visit the Station in December 2012 and in July 2014. Then, with support from MP Robert Buckland she went to the House of Commons to put the case for a relaxing of the regulations for this Station and the other 17 to ensure more fairness.’
Furthermore ‘SWINDON 105.5 is a non-commercial radio service in Swindon, by Swindon, for Swindon. Licensed by OFCOM as a Not For Profit community broadcasting organisation, with a specific brief and funded by grants, donations, corporate support, fund-raising events and support in-kind.
105.5the only locally-based station that’s broadcasting 24 hours a day. And they take no sustaining external service, unlike all other radio services in the region.
Now while I had no real understanding of Swindon 105.5’s status I was vaguely aware, though ignorant of specifics, of the community activities of the station. And, as this blog is all about celebrating the positives of the Swindon community here we have this post. ‘Cos surely this radio station is a positive for Swindon?
An award winning station
Between them, Shirley Ludford, the station manager, trainer and fund-raiser, and her team have reaped a cornucopia of well-deserved accolades and awards. Both for themselves and the station.
But two particular highlights of 2014 were: 1. The award to Shirley of the High Sheriff’s award for long service to the community. 2. And a visit to the station from HRH the Duke of Kent – 1st cousin to The Queen.
The station prides itself on giving a completely accessible and inclusive service to the town. All the while providing training and volunteering opportunities.
And that’s Shirley something to celebrate? What say you? 🙂 😉
Lawn Park: one time Goddard family stomping ground
25th November: A small amendment/correction from a regular listener. St Mark’s church, by the railway village, was consecrated in 1845. I’m not sure how long after that date, that services began. But the point being, to say that Swindon’s only church was Holy Rood until 1851, when Christ Church ‘took over’ isn’t quite correct. Thanks for that. Good to know.
Sunday 23rd November
Historical open space in Swindon’s Old Town
Today is stir-up Sunday. Next week is the beginning of Advent and the winter solstice and Christmas are hurtling towards us at warp speed. It’s also a damp and gloomy morning and I hate winter at the best of times. I most definitely suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Thus I’m sat here at the computer with the light box blasting out and writing this post by way of a hark back to the glorious summer of 2014 and a visit to The Lawn. It being yet another of those places that I didn’t know about for yonks and yonks. And even when I did know about it, it took me even more yonks to get to it.
So what is Lawn? Lawn Park is a 50 acre park that comprised the house and estate of the Goddard family. They were the Lords of the Manor of Old Swindon. Their house is now long gone and the estate a public park – though their name lives on in the nearby pub and hotel, The Goddard Arms. According to Swindon Web the 18th century house stood on the site of a Tudor Mansion. The Goddard family were Lords of the Manor from 1563 until 1927.
The Swindon Advertiser have an article here with more information about the house. There’s also a good picture of it before the wrecking ball had its way with it.
The estate included the area now known as Lawn, bounded by the high street and the site of Christchurch. It was situated next to the 13th century Holy Rood Church – which is really now just a little bit ‘goffick’. It doesn’t take a big leap of imagination to picture ghosts and spirits floating between the remaining arches. Sadly only the chancel area is left of this Norman Church which, until 1851, was Swindon’s only church. Frances Bevan, on her fab Swindon History blogspot writes about the church here where there are some lovely pictures too.
SignageHoly Rood ruinsView across to Highworth
Holy Rood
NB: In case you didn’t know, and I didn’t until I just looked it up, ‘Holy Rood’ is an Anglicisation of the Scots Haly Ruid meaning holy cross and possibly refers to the relics of the true cross on which Jesus died.
I must say the Old Town high street entrance to it is quite hard to spot – you kind of have to know it’s there. Once through the gates there’s a long avenue leading to the gardens, the remains of the house and the original Holy Rood Church. Storms ravaged the 19th century avenue of trees. Replacing them in 1992, we have an avenue of American Pin Oaks. You can also access the park from Old Walcot or the Lawns housing estate.
As is the way with stately homes and manor houses right across our green and pleasant land, the estate is in a wonderful setting with rolling grasslands, two lakes and stunning views across the surrounding area. Masters of all they surveyed indeed.
Many of Swindon’s most popular events take place here: the Old Town Festival, the Forest Festival and the May Day dawn chorus.
And, it has to be said, that an expanse of grass the size of the lawns would take an awful lot of mowing. Of course back in the hey day of The Lawn the Goddard family would have had staff to do the work for them.
Nowadays you’re more likely to be doing it yourself. If your garden is any sort of size then a good mower is essential and even more essential than that is taking care of your mower. This article here: http://yardday.com/mowers/maintain-gas-lawn-mower is full of great advice about doing just that.
I’m actually not at all sure I ever got that list finished – so much is there here in Swindon that is blog worthy.
Anyway, in these earlier posts, one of my 10 things was/is the Swindon-born artist Ken White. And, as an actual son of Swindon and acclaimed artist, Ken deserves a place on this blog.
Yet, what I didn’t know then and have slowly learnt as Born again Swindonian has tottered along, is that this town is home to a whole Guggenheim of artistic talent of all types.
So one glaring omission now being rectified, is David Bent.
It was only when a furore with Katie Hopkins kicked off earlier this year that David and his work came onto my radar. And I realised that he too should be featured on this blog.
And that was only because David’s lovely wife Carole is involved with Better Swindon. In that capacity she, along with your very own blogger extraordinaire, received an invitation onto BBC Wiltshire to respond to Ms Hopkin’s verbal diarrhoea.
So I guess we have something to thank her for eh?
So anyway, life being as it is it’s taken until now for Carole and I to meet. I wasn’t able to get to their recent open studio weekend. So Carole kindly invited me to their home to have a chat, meet David and look round the studio.
His wife Carole has given me lots of really interesting information about David, his work and his support of, and contribution to, our less-than-perfect but much-loved Swindon. So I’ve drawn the rest of this post from that.
I mentioned above the Open Studios event – something that David has supported for the last ten years. One year there was just him and two other artists doing it to keep the event alive.
As alluded to above, and as Carole says:
” His work is diverse – covering social issues , landscape geometry and more.But his niche interest in aviation is the strand that he is best known for”.She goes on to say that: ‘Having first shown this work in a B&Q tent at the far edge of the airfield at Fairford, his work in the aviation sector has spread far and wide over the past decade. David is credited with leading a new movement in modern aviation art.
Solo exhibitions over the past 10 years have been held at the Royal International Air Tattoo. With Dave’s artwork appearing on the giant billboards from Paddington station to sites across the country.
Flying High
Farnborough International , the Cotswolds VIP , the Dubai International Air Show & the Royal Tent @ the Al Ain Aerobatics Air Show , UAE.
Supporters of Dave’s work include the Red Arrows who invited him to collaborate as artist in residence in 2007 . A celebratory book – a collaboration between Dave , the Red Arrows & Breitling was presented by Red 1 to HRH Prince Charles at RIAT 2014
In 2012/ 2013 the RAF Museum hosted ” Fresh Air ” a year long retrospective of Dave’s work – the first of its kind for a living artist”.
Away from the studio
But even an internationally renowned painter likes to do other things.
So while his relationship with the Red Arrows is well known and oft talked about, it’s worth mentioning that David gives significant support and commitment to the creativity of other people.
This isn’t always easy to do when one is self-funded. But both David and Carole believe in the importance of being part of the community. And doing something for that community.
Thus they’re both member’s of PaRa, the local resident’s association and actively take part in the spring and autumn clean. Laudable for sure. Indeed, I myself often go Wombling when I go to the shops at Freshbrook. The litter is disgraceful. Time to bring back the Keep Britain Tidy campaign surely?!
Anyway, back to topic:
“Children from Churchfields school were hosted by Dave for a tour of his Old Town studio & a private view of this exhibition. They enjoyed spending time with the Red Arrows who we had arranged for them to meet. In 2013, we attended an Art Auction at Churchfields school , buying childrens artworks in support of their creativity .
Other children have also been involved in Dave’s work. 800 took part in the Big Draw, creating their own artworks based on his exhibition at the Museum. Their work was then displayed beneath the wings of a Mosquito.
Who knew eh?
So there you have it.
HAD I known about David and his work he would most certainly have gone on my ‘Ten things to celebrate about Swindon’ list.
But now at last his work ia on Born again Swindonian, alongside all the other fantastic artist talent in this town. An adopted Son-of-Swindon for sure.
