Free half-term family fun in the Brunel centre with the Festival of Tomorrow. Swindon’s Brunel Shopping Centre is once again joining forces with the Festival of Tomorrow. Together they’ll offer a week of free, family-friendly activities during the February half-term.
Running daily from 10am to 4pm, Monday 16 February to Friday 20 February, the interactive events will take place downstairs in The Brunel, near Boots. They form part of Swindon’s annual Festival of Tomorrow. The festival celebrates science, technology and the arts, with this year’s theme, ‘Living in the Future’.
Free half-term family fun – image shows October half-term activities
When it starts
The programme begins on Monday 16 and Tuesday 17 February with ‘Invent, Build and Imagine’. Children can try their hand at:
a bridge-building challenge with Sarah Cosgriff
learning about the physics behind strong structures …
… while artist and space science educator Helen Schell leads the ‘Invent the Future’ moon mission workshop. This drop-in session encourages youngsters to combine art and science as they design their own ideas for a future lunar colony.
THEN:
Wednesday 18th February
On this day, the focus turns to the ‘Science of Sound’. Interactive ‘science busking’ from Noisy Toys will demonstrate acoustics using upcycled materials. Meanwhile DJ Morgan Thomas hosts drop-in workshops giving children the chance to learn the basics of DJ skills and music production.
Thursday 19 February …
… explores the natural world with ‘Bugs and Beasties’. Children can learn about insects before creating their own artwork with illustrator Marian Hill. The day also includes ‘Be a Superhero for our Seas’ with Marine Mumbles. That’s an interactive art-based session highlighting the role of marine life in tackling climate change.
Friday 20 February …
… sees the week conclude with the ever-popular ‘Slime Sensation Station’. Hosted by Devon Science, this hands-on chemistry workshop allows children to make and personalise their own slime to take home.
Louise Halliday, Head of Programming and Outreach for the Festival of Tomorrow, said: ‘Families have told us how valuable it is to have free activities they can enjoy together in the town centre. We’re thrilled to be back at The Brunel, which is such a great space for the local community.’
Tim Knowles, Founder and Managing Director at FI Real Estate Management, said:
The Festival of Tomorrow helps engage young people and families with science and technology. Offering these activities for free gives parents a hands-on option in the town centre. And it helps inspire curiosity in the next generation.’
A fruit and vegetable stall at Swindon’s Brunel Centre is marking its first anniversary by celebrating a major milestone. That of doubling its turnover in a mere 12 months.
Fruity Bliss opened inside The Brunel a year ago. Since then they’ve built a loyal following, attracting customers not only from Swindon but from as far afield as Newbury and Bristol.
Owner Adam Birou, who also runs fruit and veg outlets in Slough, Oxford and Hackney, said the Swindon stall has exceeded expectations. ‘The stall in The Brunel is my fourth outlet, and it’s been such a positive experience,’ he said. ‘It’s a great location, it’s always busy and the people are lovely. We have many regular customers who visit several times a week. While lots are local, some travel in from places like Newbury and Bristol.’
My turnover at The Brunel has doubled since opening. That shows there’s real potential here and gives me confidence about opening a second outlet in Swindon.’
Fruity Bliss celebrates 1st anniversary – a Fruity Bliss stall
Years of practice
From Egypt, Adam has worked as a greengrocer for 12 years and employs several members of his family in the business. Now living in Swindon, he says he feels at home in the town.
‘I’ve lived in Slough and Southampton since coming to the UK, but Swindon is where I’ve settled. The people are friendly and welcoming, and I love being here,’ he added.
Fruity Bliss sources its produce from wholesale London markets, including Spitalfields. It offers a wide selection of fresh fruit and vegetables. Alongside everyday favourites, the stall also stocks exotic produce from Africa, the Caribbean and Asia. But apples and tomatoes remain the top sellers.
Tim Knowles, Managing Director at FI Real Estate Management, congratulated the business on its success. He said: ‘It’s fantastic to see businesses like Fruity Bliss thriving at The Brunel. Stalls that offer quality produce and attract strong footfall play an important role in enhancing the overall shopping experience.’
Donated Painting Causes Bidding Frenzy. A chance discovery in a Wiltshire charity shop has turned into an auction-room success story. It comes after a striking painting of a Cornish scene sold for £3,900. Thus far exceeding expectations and delivering a windfall for the RSPCA.
The painting, a donation ot the RSPCA shop on Royal Wootton Bassett’s high street, features an atmospheric view of Mousehole harbour by British artist George Hammond Steel. A member of the shop staff recognised it as quality work and brought to auctioneer and valuer Gordon Brockman shortly before Christmas. Its true significance soon became clear.
In the first instance it got given a conservative estimate of £600 to £800. The painting became one of the stand-out lots in RWB Auctions’ antiques and interiors sale on January 14. Auction day saw fierce competition. Determined bidders online and on the telephone competed to drive the hammer price up to £3,900. A private collector in Nottinghamshire bought the painting.
Kelly Ohrland, senior auction administrator at RWB Auctions, said: ‘This is exactly the kind of result we love to see. We work at close quarters with charity shops and local organisations to help them realise the full value of special items. And this painting is a perfect example of what can happen when the right piece meets the right audience. The level of competition on the day was thrilling.’
The painting
Rendered in oils, the painting depicts Mousehole at low tide. There’s boats resting in the harbour and distinctive cottages rising above the quay. Signed ‘HAMMOND STEEL’ in the lower right-hand corner, the work captures the brooding atmosphere and texture for which the artist is well known. Many of the buildings shown remain recognisable to visitors to the Cornish fishing village today.
Gordon Brockman, who first assessed the painting, said: ‘From the moment I saw it, it was clear this was a strong and confident work by George Hammond Steel. While estimates must always be realistic, it’s so satisfying to see collectors respond and to know the proceeds are going to such a good cause.’
George Hammond Steel (1900–1960) was a respected British painter and stained-glass designer, celebrated for his impasto views of Cornish towns and Derbyshire landscapes. He trained at the Sheffield School of Art before studying in Birmingham and London. He went on to exhibit at major institutions including the Royal Academy, Leicester Galleries, the Glasgow Institute and the Paris Salon. Public collections across the UK hold his work.
The sale highlights the growing role auction houses can play in maximising returns for charities. In particular with donations of rare or unusual items.
RWB Auctions offers no-fee consignment for registered charities and provides free advice to charity shop managers and volunteers seeking valuations across a wide range of categories.
Looking for old when it comes to Swindon’s streets? Newport Street is it. This one is a chart topper. Ok, if we’re going to be pedantic, then the Roman road, Ermin Street, over in Stratton, is older. But what’s key here is that Newport Street is the oldest named thoroughfare in a town whose street pattern was established by the 13th century.
In their 1979 publication Roadways: The History of Swindon’s Street Names, Sheldon and Tomkins write that the earliest known reference to a Swindon street is Nyweport Street. That’s in a document in the Goddard papere, granting a tenement, dated 2nd July 1346. The belief is that the name means ‘New Market’ and shows Old Swindon’s earliest efforts to get a foothold in the commerce world.
We should note though that, according to the 1804 Mantell map, the street did a stint as Queen Street. And as Bull Street in the 19th century after The Bull public house.
Mantell map of Old Town drawn in 1804
It seems that 19th C Newport Street didn’t present an altogether agreeable picture. In 1828 the Court Leet (forerunner of our modern Council) reported the footpaths as being ‘very much out of repair’. Plus ça change! And n 1851, Rev George Pilgrim, who lived there, reported to the public health inspector that ‘the atmosphere of my house is notoriously unpleasant to all who enter it, either in close or rainy weather.’ The good old days eh?
One might think that the oldest street would have the town’s oldest house on it – but no. The Grade II listed Nos 17 & 18, in effect two properties remodelled into one, has 14th century cellars – so there must have been something else there once. But, according to Historic England’s list entry, it’s late 18th/early 19th century with a 19th century carriage way running through the central bay. Ergo, I can’t think that it qualifies. The Bell Inn on High Street and the 1580 Rodbourne Cheney Manor (see Swindon in 50 Buildings) have better claim to the title. But then the Bell is a pub – not a house. So I’m going with the manor as Swindon’s oldest house.
Unless anyone knows any different?
Be all that as it may, in 1970, the owners of said property established it as an art gallery bearing the name Easthope and Fripp and the legend Fine Art Gallery. I recall that being the case when I pitched up in Swindon in the early 1990s. This image, taken circa 1991, from Local Studies is how I remember it.
17 & 18 Newport Street swindon circa 1991
Anyway, that was then and this is now. And now this building is now a ubiquitous HMO.
Getting back to the street
A noteworthy loss from this street is Swindon’s first free school (1764) – later the National School. Funded through local charitable contributions it operated out of a residential building. 1836 saw that early school house replaced by a new National School on the same site – demolished in 1962. At that time, the stone bearing the National School name was salvaged and installed at the west end of the petrol station forecourt that replaced the school. It and other buildings were sacrificed to unable yet more road widening. But here we have a mystery. Some while ago, that name stone disappeared. To where we do not know.
The fine art gallery aside, there’s little left of the original Newport Street. In her Blipfoto entry for Newport Street, Swindonian Maureen Iles, writes that most of the long-gone dwellings were thatched, whitewashed cottages. She does though give mention to a building that stood next to the National School – a thatched building believed to date back to circa 1677, The Olde House at Home, partially destroyed by fire during a hot, dry summer in June 1910. A Swindon Advertiser article of the day reported: ‘The three houses involved on Saturday form one of the most ancient, if not the oldest properties of the kind in Swindon.’ And, the aforementioned Olde House at Home, owned by the Lamb Brewery Company, formed part of this property.
I’m still standing
We’ve established then that most of the Newport Street of yesteryear is long-gone. Two exceptions being the aforementioned fine art gallery turned HMO and the Steam Railway pub.
Beyond that, it’s a confusing story of TWO pubs called the White Hart, one of which at length became the Steam Railway, on different sides of the roads at different times. And there being a Bull Inn there somewhere but I don’t have the word count to explore it. If you want the lowdown then check out John Stooke’s book, Last Orders.
Again, until I get photos of my own for the eventual book, here, with thanks to Maureen Iles and her Blipfoto, is a collage of images from Newport Street.
Collage of images of Newport Street in Swindon’s Old Town by Maureen Iles.
The pub stuff
I’m doubtful I’ll have room for this in the book – word count and all that – but here for the craic and referring to John Stooke’s splendid tome Last Orders. The gospel according to John is:
The pub we know now as The Steam Railway was, until the 1820s, known as the White Hart, owned by the Farmer family since 1741. BUT – there was another White Hart directly opposite the Steam Railway/White Heart though not at the same time.
Note though that the Steam Railway/White Hart also had a stint as The Railway Inn – after being The Bull and before becoming The Steam Railway.
It seems that White Hart Mark II arose out of a malthouse that stood opposite the Steam Railway/White Hart.
Confused? You will be!
Apparently, Swindon landowner and brewer, John Henry Harding Sheppard built White Hart Mark II in 1844, having bought at auction the land and their second malthouse from the Farmer clan opposite. BUT – by this time the pub opposite (White Hart Mark I) had undergone an identity crisis and had changed its name to The Bull or the Black Bull. Hence the White Hart name became available.
So there you go – clear as mud!
John’s story continues on page 265 of his book. And also, to complicate matters still further, there had been a Bull Inn on the High Street from 1627 to 1782. This is now 17-21 High Street. See pages 50-52 of Last Orders for more on that.
Fitness Expert’s At-Home Movement Tips. Expert personal trainer shares simple ways to start 2026 strong with at-home movement.
By James Hilton, founder of Jim’s Gym. Jim’s a personal trainer based in the Cotswolds who specialises in helping people over 55 stay active, steady and confident.
Fitness Expert’s At-Home Movement Tips – James Hilton
As 2026 gets underway, many people will be thinking about how they want to feel in the year ahead. January often arrives with good intentions and fresh motivation. But it can also bring pressure to do too much too soon. Whether that’s chasing step counts, joining busy gyms, or setting big, ambitious goals that are hard to sustain.
From my experience working with people across the Cotswolds and beyond, the most sustainable way to start the year is by keeping things simple. You don’t need long workouts or complicated routines to support your body. A few minutes of purposeful movement, done on a regular basis, can make a real difference to strength, balance and energy levels.
5 realistic ways to start the year feeling stronger and more confident, without feeling overwhelmed
1. You don’t need 10,000 steps
The idea that everyone needs to walk 10,000 steps a day has stuck, but it isn’t a need. Research suggests that even 2,000 to 3,000 steps can support health, with benefits levelling off at around 8,000.
That means you can take the pressure off and focus on what’s manageable. Walking indoors counts too. A few laps of the hallway, moving around the living room while the radio is on, or marching on the spot while the kettle boils all add up. Movement is movement, and it all helps.
2. One round of ten repetitions builds strength
Strength training makes everyday life easier. It helps with climbing stairs, standing up from chairs and carrying bags without feeling unsteady.
You don’t need a long workout to see benefits. If one round of ten repetitions is all you have time for, it’s better than not at all. Sit-to-stands from a sturdy chair or wall push-ups both work well. The last few repetitions should feel a little challenging but still controlled. That’s the signal your muscles need to get stronger.
If you’re returning to exercise after a break or illness, keep it gentle at first and increase slowly. These small efforts soon add up when repeated once or twice a week.
3. One or two minutes of firmer steps supports bone health
Bones respond well to small amounts of impact, but that doesn’t have to mean running or jumping. A wee firmer march on the spot works as well.
Aim for one to two minutes, placing your feet down with intention rather than softly. It shouldn’t hurt or feel jarring. Even short bursts like this help stimulate the bones in the legs and hips and support long-term strength.
4. Five minutes of being a little out of breath helps the heart
You don’t need to feel exhausted. Being a little breathless is enough to benefit your heart. This might be marching on the spot, walking up and down the stairs, or moving fast around the house with your arms swinging.
A good guide is being able to talk, but not wanting to chat for long. Five minutes a day is enough, and you can break it into shorter bursts if that feels easier.
5. Ten minutes of purposeful movement does change things
Ten minutes sounds small, which is why people stick with it. Over a week, that adds up to seventy minutes. That’s a neat fiit with NHS guidance for older adults to include regular strengthening and balance work.
Those ten minutes can be anything:
a couple of strength exercises
some balance practice
gentle stretching
a short walk
gardening
or even a quick game that tires out the grandchildren.
What matters is doing it with intention, even if the movements are simple.
People often tell me that this small daily routine helps them feel steadier, more capable and more confident as they go about their day.
Starting the year strong doesn’t mean chasing perfection or big goals. Choose one of these ideas and begin there. Keeping fit and healthy is an ongoing process, and little and often is far better than not at all.
