SALOS (Swindon Amateur Light Opera Society) are bringing Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s iconic musical Evita to the stage this autumn. This legendary show, currently enjoying a buzz-worthy revival in London’s West End, will make its long-awaited Swindon debut this autumn at the Wyvern Theatre.
Set against the backdrop of a changing nation, Evita tells the captivating true story of Eva Perón. From her humble beginnings to becoming the beloved yet controversial figure who captured the hearts of millions. Through iconic songs like Don’t Cry for Me Argentina, Oh What a Circus, and Buenos Aires, experience a tale of ambition, love and legacy like never before.
SALOS Bringing ‘EVITA’ to Swindon
‘We’re so excited to take on Evita as our next production’ said Russell Langdown, Director. ‘It’s a bold and ambitious musical with iconic music and complex characters. Staging a show of this scale is a challenge but one we’re embracing. Pushing us in both an artisitc and technical sense, it’s the exact challenge that helps SALOS continue to grow.’
SALOS: Musical Theatre Company, has brought high-quality musical theatre to Swindon audiences and played an important role within Swindon’s arts scene since its 1951 formation. Known for their energy, talent, and creativity, SALOS has wowed local theatre fans with past productions. They include: Shrek The Musical, The Sound Of Music, Oklahoma! and Elf: The Musical. With a blend of classic favourites and modern hits, SALOS continues to showcase the best of theatre and local talent in Swindon.
Malmesbury mayor Cllr Stephen James will lead the town’s VJ Day commemorations (Victory over Japan Day) of the 80th anniversary on Friday August 15.
VJ Day marks the day that Imperial Japan surrendered to Allied Forces in 1945. After the dropping of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki and Russia declaring war with Japan, the 15th of August saw the announcement of Emperor Hirohito’s acceptance of surrender across Japanese radio.
It was on September 2 1945, that the official written confirmation of surrender from Japan marked the official end to all WWII conflict.
Malmesbury’s commemorations
Malmesbury VJ Day Anniversary – Cllr Stephen James, Mayor of Malmesbury who is leading a VJ Day commemoration for the town on August 15.
Malmesbury will hold its VJ Day commemorations from 3:30pm, with residents and visitors welcomed to take part in the events.
Cllr James said: ‘It’s important as a community that we mark a day like this. And remember those who gave their service and many their lives so that we live in freedom today. We welcome anyone who wants to be part of our activities to honour those people.’
Cllr James, who became Malmesbury’s mayor in May, had an illustrious career in the Armed Forces. He spent 41 years in the Royal Artillery, reaching the rank of Colonel. He served in Germany, the Balkans, Iraq, Italy and the UK. He’s passionate about commemorating an often-overlooked anniversary.
‘The Far East campaign is often overlooked. Remote from the experience of most people at home. It was often sidelined in the contemporary press. And became known as the forgotten war, fought by a forgotten army,’ he said. ‘We must not forget how important these armed forces were in ending the war.’
The start
Events begin at Malmesbury Abbey with a special service, followed by refreshments, at 3:30pm.
At 7:30pm there’s a civic reception for invited guests in Malmesbury Town Hall. And at 8:00pm Cuckingstool Mead will open to the public, and the Rose and Crown will provide a bar and barbecue.
At 9:10pm Cllr James will give his Mayoral address with the Royal British Legion and prayers by the Mayor’s Chaplain, Reverend Oliver Ross. To conclude, the VJ Day beacon will be lit at 9:15pm.
‘On VJ Day we’ll remember the 120,000 British and Commonwealth servicemen and women who gave their lives in the longest continuous land campaign of the war, at sea and in the air,’ said Cllr James.
Wiltshire Paralympic Champ Presents Award in his own name. Paralympic champion and world class British judoka, Chris Hunt Skelley MBE, recently presented the first ever Chris Hunt Skelley Award. It honours those who champion inclusion and the sport of judo.
Earlier this month, Chris presented the Chris Hunt Skelley Award for inclusion and dedication to Judo to long-standing and award-winning judo coach, Ricky Haynes, at an event in London.
Ricky Haynes, recipient of the award, started judo at the age of five. He then started his judo club, aged 17, in Walthamstow in 1981 – Kelmscott Judo Club. He also has a close relationship with Hackney Judo Club. Since then, 100s of young people have come through its doors to embrace the sport and the life skills associated with it. For Ricky and many in the club, Chris is one of their heroes.
Chris, who lives in Wiltshire but was born and brought up in Hull, said: ‘It’s a serious and massive honour to have an award named after me. Especially an award celebrating inclusion and dedication to judo. This award symbolises how judo is for everyone, no matter what your disability is. It installs so many core values and creates a sense of community.’
As a surprise for Ricky, Chris presented him with the award in person.
Wiltshire Paralympic Champ Presents Award – Chris and Ricky
Chris said: ‘Ricky represents what judo is all about. What he does for people in this sport is fantastic and giving it to him was an even bigger honour.’
Delighted to meet his hero, Ricky said: ‘It was fantastic getting the award from Chris, he’s an absolute gentleman. He has done so much for the sport, especially for someone with the disability of sight. He is an inspiration to everyone, both inside and outside the sport.’
Making a difference
Ricky further said: I enjoy coaching and making a difference and to give people that opportunity to change. Getting this award emphasises the work I’ve done in Walthamstow and with my judo family. I’m grinning like the proverbial Cheshire cat, it’s such an honour.’
In 2012, Ricky received the British Judo Association Coach of the Year Award.
‘This award feels very different from that – coming from Chris and from an individual rather than an organisation, feels far more personal. To be recipient of the very first Chris Hunt Skelley MBE Award, is one of the highlights of my career.’
The club’s award will continue next year, and into the future for members and trainers.
I can’t wait for someone else to get the award next year. If you know anyone who fosters inclusivity and dedication to Judo, please do nominate that person,’ concluded Chris. “This award will highlight the amazing sport of Judo.’
#Obvs there’s much, much more than 5 things to do in Swindon. But in the interests of brevity I’ll limit this post to 5 historical and cultural things to do in Swindon. For a more extensive overview of things to do/visit in Swindon – and its environs – visit this page: https://swindonian.me/things-to-do-in-swindon/ But first and in no particular order I bring you:
1. Museum and Art Swindon
The civic offices home to museum and art swindon
Museum and Art Swindon resides on the top floor of the really rather splendid Art Deco civic offices on Euclid Street. Whenever I’m in there I expect Hercule Poirot to appear around a corner or to be sitting in the simply fabulous mayor’s parlour sipping one of his famous tisanes.
Home to the Swindon art collection, MAS also cares for thousands of objects, specimens and various bits of ephemera. Stuff collected from the early 1900s to the present day. The collections include archaeology, natural sciences, social and industrial history as well as the famous modern British art collection.
Almost as famous (?? more so!) is the gharial – otherwise known as the Swindon crocodile recently restored and returned to her rightful place. Find out more about the gharial here.
As MAS is situated not far from the Museum of Computing (below) and if you’re visiting on a Saturday, why not combine the two?
2. The Museum of Computing
Sited on Theatre Square, a stone’s throw from Museum and Art Swindon is the Museum of Computing. As their website says: ‘The Museum of Computing is devoted to the history of computing and digital development. It was the first physical museum of its kind in the UK.’
Run by volunteers it’s mostly open on Saturdays only. Do try and make time for a visit though. Within it you’ll find find many hands-on exhibits, allowing you to experience computers and related items as they were in the past. It’s definitely a ‘I remember those’ sort of a place.
3. The Richard Jefferies Museum
The back view of the Richard Jefferies museum and the garden
You’ll find the museum of Richard Jefferies Victorian nature writer housed within the walls of the Coate farmhouse in which he entered the world. From the museum website: ‘The museum consists of a seventeenth century thatched cottage bought by the Jefferies family in 1800, a later, nineteenth century three-storied farmhouse, plus outbuildings, gardens, a copse, orchard and vegetable gardens. The site’s run by the Richard Jefferies Museum Trust. It’s fully accredited by Arts Council England.’
In fairness that does all sound rather dry. Don’t be fooled. The RJ museum is a living, breathing thing. They do loads for children with their nature tots and the lazy summer Sundays in the garden with cream teas and free music are a joy. And an institution.
4. Lydiard House and Park
Lydiard House and park
A jewel in Swindon’s glittering crown if ever there was one. As the Lydiard Park website states, what we have here is a beautiful historic estate on the western edge of Swindon, with the Palladian House, Church, Walled Garden, Hotel, Restaurant and Conference Centre set in 260 acres of parkland.
You’ll find Lydiard House and Park in West Swindon, not far from junction 16 on the M4.
The park boasts a good children’s play area with equipment suitable for all ages. And of course there’s acres of space in which to fling a frisbee and kick a ball about.
The house is worth a visit – there aren’t a huge number of rooms but they have some interesting items and paintings. My favourite room is the bedchamber. It features a stunning stained glass window and a rare Socchi desk. This room also features a rather interesting portrait of Lady Diana Spencer (1743-1808) 2nd Viscountess Bolingbroke, 19th Century.This Lady Diana Spencer shares a common ancestry with the late Diana Princess of Wales. If ever you’ve thought that downcast eyes thing she did was an affectation – you’d be wrong – it’s evident in this portrait. The resemblance is striking.
Each room has two audio guides – one for adults and one for young visitors. And in school holidays there’s often a trail of some kind for the kids to do.
Right next door to Lydiard House is St Mary’s church (as featured in Secret Swindon). You’d be forgiven for thinking that this was the St John (pronounced SinJin) family’s personal church – stuffed to the gills as it is with monuments to the family and the incredible polyptych of their family tree. But wasn’t – it was a parish church for a long-gone village.
From the STEAM website: the museum resides in a Grade II listed railway building in the heart of the former GWR Works. Situated right opposite the Swindon Designer Outlet, the museum tells the story of the men and women who built, operated and travelled on the Great Western Railway, often referred to by historians and railway fans as ‘God’s Wonderful Railway’.
The pioneering vision and engineering genius of Isambard Kingdom Brunel led to the Great Western Railway network becoming regarded as the most advanced in the world.
There’s something for everyone here. When my granddaughter was a toddler she derived great joy from running up and down the platforms and getting on and off the trains. There’s often events happening at STEAM so do check out their What’s On page.
There is a cafe there but the last time I used it (eons ago) it was, frankly, bluddy awful. So – you’ve been warned! It may be better now – I wouldn’t know. I simply never went back and go across to the Outlet Centre instead.
One I forgot to mention – my bad – is the cottage museum in the GWR railway village. I don’t want to rename this post as I’ll then have to change all the SEO etc so I’m adding it in here.
Swindon Things to Visit – the railway cottage museum in the GWR railway village
The JUST FOR FUN HOLIDAY CLUB EXPANDS TO MOREDON SPORTING HUB WITH NEW SUMMER SESSIONS.
This will be the fifth location for the popular children’s activity provider. It continues to grow thanks to strong local support and a reputation for fun, inclusive sessions during school holidays.
The Moredon venue offers a fresh and exciting setting for children aged 6 to 16. It offers access to high-quality facilities including:
A 4G pitch
Indoor and outdoor spaces
A pump track and an enclosed cycling course.
Co-founder Sean Harper, who grew up in Moredon, said ‘We’re thrilled to be bringing JFF to Moredon sporting hub this summer.
‘This venue gives us the chance to offer something a little different, with new activities and facilities that we know children will love. It’s a fantastic opportunity to reach more families while keeping the same high-quality experience we’re known for.’
As with all JFF venues, the new Moredon club provides a safe, welcoming environment. One that gives parents peace of mind during the school holidays. With full day sessions available, it’s a flexible and affordable option for working families looking for reliable childcare over the summer break.
Holiday Club Expands to Moredon – Moredon Club
Book early!
Spaces are limited, so JFF encourage parents to book early. ‘As it’s a new setup for us, we’re keeping numbers small to ensure everything runs well’ Sean added. It’s so special to bring JFF to the area where I grew up. I know how valuable something like this can be to local families.’
Just For Fun currently runs clubs across four other Swindon schools:
Holy Cross Primary School
Grange Junior School
Goddard Park Community Primary School and Rodbourne Cheney Primary School.
Each site offers a varied programme of creative, physical and themed activities. And the new Moredon club will follow the same successful formula.
The club in Moredon will run every Thursday and Friday from 8.00 am to 3.30 pm. It’s starting on Wednesday 24 July – launching even earlier than the other venues this summer.
JFF is well known for its wide range of engaging sessions, from team sports and imaginative crafts to quiet zones and theme days. The Moredon location will continue that tradition. It’ll give children the chance to stay active, explore new interests and make lasting friendships throughout the summer break.
