A GWR Set Novel – the Great Western Railway Girls by Jane Lark. So I spotted this book in central library shop a few days back and decided to give it a whirl. Super glad I did when I saw in the acknowledgements a mention of our very Swindon Heritage Preservation Trust and the railway village museum on Faringdon Road. Hence I figured it would be fab to give it a wee mention here.
New Jane Lark Novel – front cover of The Great Western Railway Girls
And for more info on the book – what it’s about – see this image of the back cover:
New Jane Lark Novel – the back cover
So this one is the first of a series. The second one in the series, The Great Western Railway Girls do Their Bit is set for release into the wild in September. It covers the weeks that led up to the evacuation of the men from the Belgian and French beaches. Jane says she had to do a great deal of research into what happened when the ships brought the men home.
Front cover of the GWR Railway Girls do their bit
A bit about the author
From Jane’s website – you can find it here … ‘Jane is a writer of compelling, passionate and emotionally charged fiction filled with diverse characters. Now writing as J.S. Lark.
Author of the No.1 bestselling Historical Romance novel ‘The Illicit Love of a Courtesan’ and shortlisted for the 2017 UK’s Historical Romantic Fiction Novel of the year with ‘The Reckless Love of an Heir’. Now also an author of bestselling psychological thrillers, under the pen name, J.S. Lark. Her second thriller, ‘The Twins’, was shortlisted for the Jackie Collins Romantic Thriller 2021.’
And now for some other great GWR related fiction
I read this book, Mrs A’s Indian Gentleman a few years ago and loved it. It features Swindon and a central protagonist called Mrs Atkinson – how could I not love it? It’s a super book – I must read it again.
Mindset Coach Results Pressure Tips. As thousands of students across the UK await their GCSEs, A-levels, or other qualification results, the pressure is on. And so is the stress. But according to Swindon based John Lewis, Professional Coach, NLP Master Practitioner and founder of JL Mindset Performance, that stress might not be the enemy it’s often made out to be.
Stress is actually part of your body’s natural performance process,’ says John. John works with elite athletes, corporate teams and individuals to help them unlock peak mental performance. ‘It’s your body’s way of saying: this is important.’
With a daughter currently awaiting her own GCSE results, John understands this period on both professional and personal levels. ‘It’s tough watching your child go through it, but I’ve been proud of how she’s handled the pressure. It’s a good reminder that stress, in manageable doses, can be useful. It sharpens your focus, builds resilience and shows you care.’
The stress response
John, who lives in Highworth, explains that the stress response is our brain’s built-in alarm system. ‘It releases cortisol, a hormone that preps the body to respond. Shallow breathing, racing thoughts, a nervous stomach – it’s all normal.’
But left unchecked, it can spiral. ‘Chronic stress can lead to burnout. The key is learning how to manage it.’
Understand the ‘why’ behind your stress. Ask: what is this feeling trying to tell me?
Breathe – Use box breathing (in for 4, hold for 4, out for 4, hold for 4) to calm the nervous system.
Get moving – Exercise helps your brain process stress and lifts your mood long-term.
Sleep and nutrition matter. What you eat and how well you rest are foundational to your resilience.
Visualise success – ‘Mental rehearsal is powerful,’ says John. “I even simulate exam conditions with clients – it rewires how the brain reacts to pressure.’
Celebrate your efforts. ‘You’ve completed something big. Reward yourself for showing up.’
Mindset Coach Results Pressure Tips – John Lewis in front of graffiti
A late developer
Having started his own successful business at 40 after a rocky time during his school life years before, John is living proof that exam results don’t define your future.
‘I didn’t do well at school. I was more interested in socialising than studying,’ he admits. “But life isn’t dictated by what happens at 16 or 18. Today, there are so many more flexible options. Whether that’s apprenticeships, vocational training, or alternative routes into your chosen field.’
He encourages students to redefine what success means to them. ‘It’s not all about grades. It’s about how you show up, what you’ve learned and how you move forward. Stress is part of growth and this experience will serve you in more ways than you know.’
Go easy on yourself,’ John advises. ‘You’ve done your best with the tools you had. If things didn’t go how you hoped, talk to someone. The support is out there, and the next step will come, sometimes from the most unexpected direction.’
And, most important of all it’s arguable: ‘Don’t let one day overshadow what you’ve achieved. Enjoy your summer – you’ve earned it.’
About John
John Lewis is a Swindon-based Professional Coach, NLP Master Practitioner, and Mental Health First Aid Trainer. Through his company, JL Mindset Performance, he works with:
individuals
elite athletes
sports teams and businesses to overcome mental blocks and achieve peak performance.
WILTSHIRE BUSINESS SHORTLISTED … as charity champions. Swindon-based financial planning business, Southby & Co Financial Planning are on the shortlist! Which list? Charity Champions of the Year in the Money Marketing Awards 2025 list.
Dave Southby and the team at Southby and Co. Financial Planning, specialise in helping individuals, families and small business owners manage their wealth in an effective manner. In particular in the Swindon and North Wiltshire areas.
They are one of five other business in the category. The Charity Champion charity goes to businesses who push the awareness of and, in particular, fundraise for charities.
‘Being shortlisted for the Money Marketing Community Champion award means so much to me and the team,’ said Dave Southby. Dave is the founder of Southby and Co Financial Planning, based in Wroughton near Swindon.
‘One of our values to is support our local community & charity partners. So getting national recognition for the work, within our industry, is incredible.’
WILTSHIRE BUSINESS SHORTLISTED … Dave Southby
Fab fundraising efforts
The fundraising efforts of Southby & Co include being proud supporters of Wroughton Youth FC and sponsors of Wroughton Tornados and Wroughton Witches. In 2025, they continue their support for the Kelly Foundation. That was their 2024 Charity of the Year. And also supporting local charity CALM (Children’s Cancer & Leukaemia Movement), as well as the Swindon Toy Appeal for Christmas 2025. Not forgetting the Avon Needs Trees project. It aims to plant permanent woodland at various sites across the South West.
‘Being a supporter of local charities is a huge part of our business. For us, it’s about engaging with our community and making life easier for those in need and improving the place in which we live. To receive this nomination in this category is such a boost. I’m so glad the Money Marketing Awards is putting charity work at the heart of our industry. I trust this will encourage other companies to do the same.’
There are eleven categories in the advisor awards section of the Money Marketing Awards. With Charity Champion of the Year featuring within the 2025 line-up.
Tom Browne, editor of Money Marketing, said ‘We’re excited to welcome the Southby & Co Financial Planning team to the Money Marketing Awards 2025. We can’t wait to celebrate the businesses nominated and see who wins!’
Celebrating businesses in the sector, bringing hundreds of leading advisors and providers providing opportunities to build new connections, network and demonstrate commitment to the industry.
The awards ceremony will be at the Londoner Hotel on Thursday 11th September in the centre of London’s West End theatre district. Southby & Co Financial Planning will be travelling to the capital to see if they’ll be lifting this Charity Champion of the Year trophy.
Swindon Signal Festival 2025 – runs from July 24th to August the 2nd at various locations. If you’ve a young person aged 11 – 25 in your family then do check this out.
‘Signal aims to build creativity in Swindon and give young people the necessary skills and resources. We want young artists and enthusiasts to feel they can succeed artistically in their hometown and flourish creatively. Our programme is delivered by a wide range of professional artists, giving you a chance to try new art forms, discover your talents and develop your existing skills. Beginners and experienced all welcome!’
About the festival
The founders of Signal are six young producers. They’re all artists who grew up in, and make work in, Swindon.
The festival is a dynamic mix of performance, participation, professional development and pop-up surprises. It came about as a response to a series of consultations with Swindon’s young people to design and deliver what they feel their town needs.
In the words of Madame Mayor, Cllr Fay Howard, present at today’s launch: ‘Hearing about the impressive statistics from last year’s inaugural festival just solidified how vital and impactful this event is. The Signal Festival aims to build creativity and celebrate everything wonderful about our town, and what’s not to love about that?!’
Opportunity knocks
Booking for the events begins on June 23rd. Many events are free. And where’s there’s a charge it’s a mere £2 to help cover costs. This is a truly brilliant set of opportunities for Swindon’s young people.
Events programme – Swindon Signal Festival 2025The mayor and event producers
Inspiring
To return to the festival website. ‘It’s our firm belief that any young person interested in art, is as capable of artistic achievement as anybody else. The exhibitions and showcases we include in our programme we made with the aim of inspiring budding artists and individuals wanting to pursue art as a future career.
… Our team of young producers hope that the creation of the festival will give others hope that they can do anything they put their minds to.’
Big Give for Big Breakfast. A Swindon breakfast charity is launching an appeal to help fund its essential service to homeless and hungry people in the town. Big Breakfast Plus, which operates seven days a week from the Pilgrim Centre in Regent Street, has teamed up with the platform Big Give. It match-funds donations during a fundraising campaign.
Big Give funders include philanthropists, foundations and corporates. Any money pledged to Big Breakfast Plus during the campaign, the Big Give will match.
The charity hopes to raise £5,000, which is then doubled to £10,000.
Big Give for Big Breakfast – some of the volunteers at the Big Breakfast Swindon
Big Breakfast Plus trustee, Charlotte Mannion, said: ‘The problem of homelessness is acute in Swindon. And with increasing food and energy costs more people are living in poverty. Homelessness and food poverty have severe affects on physical and mental health. All of which makes it more difficult to get and sustain employment and so break the cycle of hardship. This situation has a huge societal impact on health, welfare and emergency services.
Big Breakfast Plus is the only organisation in Swindon which provides a free cooked breakfast. We welcome the homeless and those in distress. Whether it’s through addiction, health or other need. Our service is also a chance to socialise in a warm place. By satisfying the basic need of hunger and society, our guests are better prepared for their day.
‘We urge people to support our Big Give campaign, remembering that every pound they can spare will be match-funded.’
