Jazzbones Creative Makes its Mark. A leading UK furniture buying group is making its mark on the sector. And it’s all thanks to the team at Swindon’s Jazzbones Creative.
Jazzbones Creative Nathan Sandhu
Minerva Furniture Group, based in Corsham are celebrating thirty-five years in business. So, they called in Jazzbones to overhaul its main website, along with two separate websites for its spring and autumn trade shows.
Minerva is a membership organisation for independent furniture retailers. They connect them with manufacturers and suppliers across the UK and internationally. Its biannual trade shows are a highlight in the sector’s calendar, held at the prestigious Telford International Centre.
Jazzbones
Jazzbone specialises in branding, digital marketing and website design. Thus, they’ve been able to showcase Minerva Furniture Group through a new website. All building a complex members-only area. Further, they’ve created the two trade show websites to promote the biannual events in May and October. And to include a booking and information area for exhibitors and registration facility for visitors.
What they did for Minerva
As well as the websites, Jazzbones has refreshed Minerva’s branding. They’ve taken on all the marketing and social media for the two shows. The Jazzbones team are now working hard on promoting the upcoming autumn show, which is being held on October 8 and 9.
‘Our old websites were out of date, so we wanted to give them a modern, fresh look,’ said Stacy Nicholas, Minerva’s office manager. ‘All three sites are quite complex. That’s because our main website has a login in area with lots of information for our members. Our show websites have a backend area for our exhibitors.
‘We wanted to use a local company to redesign the sites and were very happy with what Jazzbones have done. They have been excellent – responsive and always available to help.’
Stacy’s colleague Amanda Marshall said Jazzbones’ marketing campaign for the spring show had shown a significant boost to engagement.
She said: ‘Jazzbones ran a major campaign for the spring show, including all the advertising in trade publications. They are now building momentum around the October show. The benefit of having Jazzbones look after everything is all our marketing is consistent, looks professional and matches the website.’
Nathan Sandhu, Jazzbones’ founder and creative director, said: ‘It’s been a real pleasure working with Minerva. In particular as they celebrate their 35th year. We stepped in before the spring show, so we had to work fast to rebuild both the main website and the show’s website.
‘Following the success of the marketing campaign we ran for the spring event, we’re now applying the same strategy for the autumn show. That includes print and online advertising, email marketing, and social media.’
Minerva’s new-look websites are also setting the scene for planned future growth for the business.
The Highworth Town Trail. Described on the brochure/booklet as: A leisurely walk through the fascinating history of Highworth.
The Highworth Town Trail – front cover of the leaflet
I do in fact give some small mention of of historic Highworth on this page about things to do in Swindon. But this post is to talk a little about this Highworth activity in particular – that I did with a friend recently.
So we had this booklet and my mate had the app on her phone. Having both turned out to be useful because the app covered the high street only – and had some extra information not in the booklet. Whereas the booklet went beyond the high street and included Westrop, St Michael and All Angels Church and Sheep Street.
We did this trail on a sunny Sunday. That’s a good day to do it in many ways because the town is quiet. There’s neither a lot of traffic nor a ton of people about – a big bonus when you’re trying to look at buildings and things on buildings. But it’s less good if you a want to explore some of the little shops and so on. There was a cafe open on the high street – huge relief. 🙂
The booklet then
Well it’s an attractive, glossy, colour thing stuffed with lots of photos. Though we did think that perhaps they could have done with captions. While I can’t now remember particular instances, we did have some confusions at times when images on a page didn’t necessarily relate to the text. It also did a bit of taking us to a particular building then having us doubling back on ourselves to the next one. But never mind – between that and the app we worked it out.
The Riot act
One of my fave stories dates back to 1830. In that year the market place was the scene of a notorious incident known as the Swing riots. Though why that is I don’t know. Anyway, at this time rural labourers were engaged in protest actions across England hoping to improve their wages and preserve their winter work.
Highworth saw riots break out on the 24th November 1830 – though they were soon suppressed. The next day, headed by Mr Thomas Cally, a magistrate, and Lieutenant Cally of Blundsdon House, a large troop of over 200 horsemen arrived in Highworth. And there was then a reading of the Riot Act to disperse the demonstrators.
Now a small number of photos from the trail.
plaque to Mabel Stranks on the Old Post officeSt Michael’s Church on the HIghworth Town TrailThe Saracen’s Head at the lower end of the high streetA building on the Highworth town trail
Where to get the booklet
I picked up my copy on a previous visit to Highworth, in the visitor information centre – find info on that here.
Dave Southby Rising Entrepreneur. The local financial planner is named as one of the southwest’s rising young entrepreneurs.
Swindon businessman Dave Southby, founder and CEO of Southby & Co. Financial Planning, gets a mention in the 42 Under 42 Class of 2025 by South West Insider Media. The annual list celebrates the region’s most dynamic entrepreneurs aged 42 and under.
Now in its 18th year, the 42 Under 42 programme recognises talented young business leaders across the UK who are making a real difference in their industries and communities. Since its launch, the programme has inducted more than 600 entrepreneurs. Combined they form an influential network across the southwest.
Dave Southby Rising Entrepreneur – taken by Barbara Leatham Photography on February 8th 2024
About Dave Southby
Dave, 32, started his financial planning business in 2021 after a complete career change. He studied for his professional exams during the Covid-19 lockdowns. From the very beginning, his aim was simple. To build a business that offered expert financial advice while making a positive impact on the local community.
The company has grown fast. In early 2025, it rebranded from Dave Southby Financial Planning to Southby & Co. Financial Planning to reflect its expanding team and collaborative approach. The move into a new high Street office in Wroughton earlier this year has placed the business firmly in the heart of the community it serves.
Today, Southby & Co. works with individuals, families and business owners across Swindon and North Wiltshire. They help clients feel confident about their finances and future plans.
Dave’s dedication to excellence and responsible business has brought many accolades. He has won St. James’s Place Responsible Business of the Year. He’s been shortlisted for SME of the Year and Male Entrepreneur of the Year at the South West Business and Community Awards. Most recently, the firm made the finals in the Professional Adviser – Adviser Firm of the Year (South West & Wales) category. And is also a finalist in the Money Marketing Charity Champion of the Year Awards 2025 (with winners announced in September).
Community
Dave’s community involvement is as notable as his business achievements. He’s also:
Chaired networking organisations
Runs a business club for start-ups
Sponsors two local Wroughton football teams …
.. and links business turnover to tree planting as part of a carbon-neutral commitment.
Dave has also raised thousands of pounds for charities such as MIND, CALM and The Kelly Foundation – where he serves as a trustee. He takes on creative challenges ranging from charity golf days to walking 24 miles in a full tortoise costume.
‘It’s a real honour to be included alongside so many inspiring business leaders from across the South West. When I started my business in 2021, I wanted to create something that would not only succeed commercially but also give back to the community’ Dave said.
‘This recognition is a reflection of the hard work of the whole team and the support of our amazing clients. I’m looking forward to meeting the other inductees and hearing their stories in October.’
Dave’s official welcome into the Class of 2025 at the 42 Under 42 event is on Wednesday 15th October at Sixes Social Cricket in Bristol. The evening will bring together current and past inductees for relaxed networking, inspiring talks and the chance to celebrate shared success.
Ferndale Road Swindon. Okay, I know, doesn’t sound too exciting a topic eh? But stay with me – it’s more interesting than it sounds. Honest!
Welcome to Swindon in 25 Streets.
The reason for my interest in this long, long street is this: I’ve got a contract with Amberley Publishing to produce Swindon in 25 Streets by the back end of next year. So yesterday myself and my chum Chris Eley, having been given the nod that this eponymous street could be a candidate for inclusion, went there for a bimble.
Much as I did with the Swindon in 50 More Buildings project, I’ll use the blog as a repository for research and then, later, pull it together into a book.
The west end of Ferndale Road Swindon
The long and not very winding road
Ferndale then, is a residential area of Swindon, about a mile from the town centre. It is home to one of (the???) Swindon’s oldest pubs, the Southbrook. The erstwhile Grade II listed Southbrook farmhouse-turned-public house lies tucked away in a corner of Ferndale on Southbrook Street. It once was the only building in the area but the 1908 expansion of Swindon brought it, and the land surrounding it.
The area took the name Ferndale post the building of Ferndale Road. Today this long and not very winding road, (there are a few little wiggles) connects Gorse Hill at one end with Cheney Manor at the other and it’s a very, very, very long (around 630 houses) comprised largely of terraced housing. And there’s some long terraces.
In Victorian times though, the road was far shorter than it is now. That changed in 1902 when one Edwin Bradley, a building contractor, began building houses along the road. Now I’m assuming that Bradley’s Corner – see image below – takes its name from this man who built so much of the street. I’m not sure though – need to seek confirmation on that. I suspect, given that the building you see here was clearly a shop, that’s the origin of the name.
Bradley’s Corner on Ferndale Road – the clock is wrong
School days
Ferndale Road boasts lovely and-still-in-use school buildings dating back to 1907. At first built as separate infant and junior schools, the expansion of Swindon north of the railway line, necessitated a large site on the road in 1905. The new infant school opened in 1907 and in 1946 the complex underwent reorganisation into separate junior and secondary schools.
In 1999 the school began to share its site with Oxford Brookes University who offer the chance to study for an adult nursing degree.
Ferndale Road School
Bailey’s Corner
Taking its name from the shop, this fronts onto Cheney Manor Road. The Local Studies photograph shows Alfred Bailey’s shop in 1934.
The location became synonymous with the Bailey’s name. So, although Alfred Bailey is long gone his name lives on.
1.Bailey’s corner 2025 Bailey’s corner on Ferndale Rd as it used to look in days gone by – from Swindon Local Studies
Then came WWII
It’s a mystery to us all how the GWR Works managed to escape obliteration by Nazi bombs. Everyone expected it. As this piece on Swindon Web points out: ‘Even before the war began, Swindon was warned by its MP that it had been “placed in that category of towns which might be expected to have to withstand heavy air attack” from German bombers.’ The town presented a strategic target thanks to it massive railway works. Indeed, it was one of the biggest industrial complexes in the world. Further, it was not hard to spot it amidst the Wiltshire countryside.
But in the event, somehow or other, there was precious little of anything at all – well in comparison to the likes of Sheffield and Coventry – the latter of which the Nazis razed.
August 17th, 1942, brought the worst bombing that the town experienced. Two separate incidents killed between them, 10 people in Kembrey Street and 19 on Ferndale Road. Four people died at 475 Ferndale Road. And there were also deaths at numbers 257, 386, 465, 467, 469 and 471.
In total 25 people died on Ferndale Road at the hands of enemy bombs.
With this knowledge in mind, walk up and down Ferndale Road and it’s not hard to spot where the bombs hit. Because you’ll come across a set of houses that stand out like the proverbial sore thumb. They’re obviously more modern and built in a totally different style.
The ‘new’ houses on Ferndale Rd Swindon that replaced those bombed in WWII
A Notable name associated with Ferndale
A Swindon Advertiser piece about the area tells of a Swindon Town football star by the name of George Hunt. He began his playing as an amateur for Ferndale Athletic before signing for STFC in 1947.
Hunt made his first senior appearance against Exeter in September 1948. He played for the town for over eleven years, making an impressive 328 appearances – including twenty-four cup matches. The player retired in 1958 and as a qualified coach assisted the club’s back room staff. He also returned to work at the GWR Locomotive Works. Sadly he contracted Mesotheliona – also known as ‘The Swindon Disease’ and that led to his death in 1987.
Scrapyard just off Ferndale RdThe Ferndale club and instituteFerndale Road Coop – a bit of Art Nouveau – I think
The rather lovely-looking facade on the right-hand image once was a branch of the New Swindon Industrial Co-operative Society Ltd – and, although the lettering is gone you can still pick out that name.
It continued as the Oxford and Swindon Co-operative Society Ltd until c.1980. Then, c.1984, became the cycling centre. It’s likely that the launderette dates from around that time too.
Celebrating Creativity Across Swindon – is the strapline of the fast-approaching Swindon Open Studios. SOS being a key event in Swindon’s cultural calendar that’s now in its 20th year. This post celebrates two Swindon artists taking part in this year’s SOS event. They are: Joanna Scislowicz and Aradhna Rastogi. They’re among 140 artists and craftspeople at all stages of their creative journey, taking part in Swindon Open Studios this September.
Celebrating Creativity Across Swindon – back page of the 2025 Swindon Open Studios brochure
Swindon Open Studios: Love Is? He Built Me an Art Studio! – Joanna Scislowicz
To quote a well-known nursery rhyme, ‘If you go down to the woods today, you’re in for a big surprise!” For in a small orchard in a quiet Stratton cul-de-sac, Joanna Scislowicz works in a huge, purpose-built art studio. She’s surrounded by vibrant colour, dramatic images and a wide range of art materials. The story behind her stunning, well-lit studio? “My fiancé loves me so much he built it for me!’ she smiles.
As a child, Joanna set her heart on becoming an artist. To that end she spent ten years studying, resulting in a Master’s Degree in fine art from Poznań in her native Poland. Her large-scale oil paintings are bold, colourful statements rich in texture. She cites her main influences as abstract artists Rothko, Anish Kapoor and Antony Gormley. In 2006, Hungary’s Kogurt House (a non-profit museum) selected Joanna to represent Poland in an exhibition of European artists. The museum bought her painting. And she’s since exhibited in Los Angeles, Berlin, Budapest, Poznan, Wroclaw and London.
Joanna moved to London to study, then to Devizes. She was planning to move back to London when her fiancé Bryan promised to build her an art studio in Swindon. Although she’d never heard of Swindon, she took the plunge and left the hustle and bustle of London behind! They renovated a house and Bryan kept his promise. Joanna has impeccable taste with an interior and landscaped garden worthy of an Ideal Homes photoshoot. It’s a pleasure to visit their home to see her artwork displayed in an amazing setting.
Celebrating Creativity Across Swindon – Joanna Scislowicz.Celebrating Creativity Across Swindon – Joanna Scislowicz outside her studio.
Aradhna Rastogi
Another Swindon artist whose supportive husband created an art studio for them, is Aradhna Rastogi. Her Indian father was a goldsmith; hence many paintings incorporate gold leaf. She started drawing henna tattoos aged five, but it’s only in later life that she’s dedicated herself to her art.
Six years ago, a colleague of hers at Lethbridge Primary School told her she was good and encouraged her to paint more. Aradhna kept buying art materials and when her hobby began taking over the dining room and lounge, her husband said he’d make space for her. Much to her delight, he converted their Wroughton garage into a perfect, well-insulated artist’s studio. For Aradhna, that was a dream come true!
Although Aradhna has a young family, her husband Praveen supports her so she can paint for several hours each evening. She studies with New Masters Academy and begins by making a charcoal tonal study which informs her work. She says, ‘If you do still life properly, you can paint anything!’ Aradhna loves meeting people and sharing her paintings and 3D work with them during Open Studios. Look out for her skilful paintings of a Kingfisher and Spanish Flamenco dancer, among beautiful works that reflect her Indian heritage.
Aradhna Rastogi in her studioAradhna Rastogi’s studio
Swindon Open Studios
Swindon Open Studios is a free community art event in September with artists and craftspeople from all walks of life, who’ve followed very different paths. Some are qualified, some are completely self-taught, but they all have a passion to create. There’s so much variety, there is something for everyone.
See www.swindonopenstudios.org to choose which exhibitors to visit. Or pick up a brochure or A5 folded guide in Swindon libraries, pubs and cafés.
