Swindon Polish Day in Queen’s Park on Sunday 9th June. The event runs from 12: – 18:00. ADMISSION IS FREE.
Join us for a day of music, culture, and community as we celebrate Polish Day in Swindon. Experience the lively performances of Kapela Drewutnia and enjoy the rich cultural tapestry that the Polish community brings to our town.
Polish Community in Swindon
The Polish community has been an integral part of Swindon since the 1940s. Following World War II, many Polish families settled in Swindon. They’ve made a significant contribution to the town’s cultural and economic landscape.
Over the decades, the Polish population in Swindon has grown, now forming one of the largest Polish communities in England.
Polish culture is woven into the fabric of Swindon’s community life. There are Polish shops, restaurants, Saturday schools and cultural events adding to the town’s diversity.
The annual Polish Day celebration is a highlight. It brings together people of all backgrounds to enjoy Polish cuisine, music, dance, and traditions.
Celebrating Polish Day
Polish Day in Swindon is a celebration of the enduring Polish spirit and its contributions to the local community. The event, hosted in the picturesque Queen’s Park, will feature a variety of activities. It includes traditional Polish food stalls, Polish local businesses, and family-friendly activities.
It’s an opportunity for residents and visitors to immerse themselves in Polish culture and celebrate the long-standing Polish presence in Swindon.
The day’s events
Performing at the event is Kapela Drewutnia – a renowned folk music band from Poland, dedicated to preserving and promoting the rich traditions of Poland’s diverse folklore. The band is set to enchant audiences in Swindon’s Queen’s Park as part of the vibrant Polish Day celebrations. With a repertoire that spans centuries of Poland’s musical heritage, the band offers an authentic and engaging experience. One that connects audiences to the cultural roots of various ethnic groups living in Poland.
The band was established 25 years ago by four childhood friends who attended a residential school for children with visual impairments. All members of the band, whether blind, visually impaired, or sighted, have different occupations, such as lawyer, physiotherapist, and lecturer. Yet they meet on a regular basis to play and give concerts. This is the only well-known inclusive music band in Poland.
A musical journey with Kapela Drewutnia
Known for their authentic and soulful renditions of Polish folk music, Kapela Drewutnia brings a unique blend of traditional and contemporary sounds. Their music resonates with the essence of Polish as well as Ukrainian and other eastern European folklore traditions. It’s a testament to the band’s dedication to preserving and promoting Poland’s diverse musical heritage. Their performance in Queen’s Park will feature a variety of traditional songs. All promising a captivating experience for all attendees.
The National Lottery Heritage Fundhave awarded the grant, made possible by National Lottery players. The project will use it to fund the excavation of test pits in and around the town on Saturday and Sunday July 6 and 7.
Volunteers and the Malmesbury Town Team will work alongside experts. They hope to uncover evidence of the Anglo Saxons living in the area, as well as reveal other fascinating parts of the town’s history. The Athelstan 1100 Big Dig is part of a wider programme of events. to mark 1100 years since Athelstan became the First King of England. Athelstan had a close relationship with Malmesbury. He chose the abbey as his buriel place. Although the exact location of his burial remains a mystery.
The Athelstan 1100 Big Dig
The Athelstan 1100 Big Dig has a strong community focus. It’ll enable people of all ages, including local primary and secondary students to learn about being archaeologists and taking part in real excavations. Members of the Athelstan 1100 organising team will also be working alongside Cotswold Archaeology. The aim of that being to train budding archaeologists as well as to plan and organise the project.
Volunteers from the community will have an opportunity to get involved in the excavation and the recording and cleaning of finds. The weekend Big Dig Trail will enable visitors and people from the wider community to see what’s going on. And learn more about how archaeology works. All the finds will be on view after the day’s excavations. Participants will produce a report to explain their findings.
Many Malmesbury organisations are working together to bring the Athelstan 1100 project to life across the summer. This includes:
Malmesbury Town Team
The Malmesbury town council
Athelstan Museum and …
more than 70 other organisations and businesses who are giving time, practical support and resources to help celebrate the Anglo-Saxon heritage of the town and this important national anniversary.
King Athelstan
King Athelstan ascended to the throne in 924 and 100 years ago. In 1924 the whole of Malmesbury came out to celebrate King Athelstan’s 1000th anniversary. The community is doing the same in 2024.
Cllr Campbell Ritchie heads up the team organising the Athelstan 1100 project and also the Big Athelstan Dig.
‘We’re delighted to be able to offer so many events for the local, and wider Wiltshire community to enjoy across the summer of 2024. We’re very excited about the Big Dig. It’s a huge opportunity for us to try to understand an important part of town’s history.
‘Through learning the skills of archaeology and this hands on approach to heritage the hope is to get people of all ages engaged with town. And to be able to understand the Anglo Saxon influence in the town’s development,’ Cllr Ritchie said.
‘We’re thrilled to have received this support thanks to National Lottery players. We’re confident the project will engage local people and will help raise the profile of Malmesbury to a much wider audience.’ Cllr Ritchie added.
Swindon Irish Dance School Triumphs. And who know we had an Irish dance school? Not me! Anyway. SWINDON dancers have become world champions in the most prestigious global, Irish dance competition.
The Farrell School of Irish Dance,led by Clare Crocker, is celebrating outstanding victories at the 2024 World Irish Dancing Association (WIDA) world championships. The contest was recently held in Liège, Belgium.
Competing against top dancers from across the globe, the team of 18 dancers came home with two world champions and one dancer was a runner-up. The group meets at Grange Drive Community Centre in Stratton St Margaret.
Courtney Ringham, aged 23, emerged as the U23 WIDA World Champion. Kerry Maskell (39) secured the title of Senior Ladies WIDA World Champion. And Jaycee-Mae Jones achieved 2nd place and runner-up in the U9 WIDA World Championship.
Swindon Irish Dance School Triumphs – Irish dancers wearing medals
Participation in this prestigious event required rigorous qualification. That process started with the British Open Championships held in October 2023.
Extensive preparation
Preparation for this global stage was intense, with dancers attending classes up to three times a week, in addition to private lessons. Their commitment and dedication paid off.
Irish dancing isn’t easy by any stretch. And, as these girls have shown, it takes years and years of training to even enable them to walk onto that world’s stage’ said Clare.
I’ve watched Kerry & Courtney grow over the years and they never gave up, even though at times they felt like it. They carried on listening and applying corrections and worked hard to earn their top spots. I’m so immensely proud of them both!
The journey to the world championships was supported by the tireless efforts of Clare and the Friends of Farrell School Committee. Fundraising initiatives included displays across Swindon during St. Patrick’s Day weekend and their annual Irish Night. All of which showcase the school’s talent and dedication to the community.
Courtney, who lives in Pinehurst shared her excitement:
‘I can’t believe it, I have no words. It means the world to me to have this title. And I’d like to thank Clare, my teacher, for always believing in me and pushing me to never give up on my dreams. I’d also like to thank my mum, who without fail comes to every single competition and always ensures I do my absolute best’.
Kerry, from Nine Elms, also expressed her gratitude:
‘It was a heart-stopping moment realising I’d made the podium! To then go on and actually win takes it to a whole new level. I love Irish Dancing, and for any dancer to win the worlds is a huge achievement. Thank you to my mum, dad, husband, and two boys for cheering me on! And to Clare, my teacher, thank you. Without you, I wouldn’t be where I am today.’
Jaycee-Mae Jones, who is eight years old and lives in Oakhurst, reflected on her achievement:
To come second in the world in such a tough competition is a great achievement. I’m excited to work hard and with luck win next year!’
‘Jaycee-Mae took to the world’s stage for the first time and took part in the international championships at the age of eight years old. She pushed herself hard to perform steps that at frist she found tricky. But in true dance form she worked hard and made it to 2nd place and runner up in a fantastic competition too’ Clare said.
The trophy presentation took place on the same day as the competition. All first-place winners participated in the Parade of Champions, a celebration of their hard work and success.
The Farrell School
The Farrell School of Irish Dance provides classes for both adults and children aged 4 and above in Swindon. Whether you seek a new challenge or simply want to enjoy some fitness fun, they design lessons to be exciting and enjoyable for all.
Irish dancing offers a fantastic opportunity to forge new friendships, maintain fitness, and with dedication, explore the world through dance.
Tom Holland Speaking in Malmesbury. Leading historian, broadcaster and podcast host Tom Holland will be the keynote speaker to open the new Athelstan Pilgrim Way. And his talk will also form part of Malmesbury’s events to celebrate the Athelstan 1100 anniversary this summer.
Tom, who published his biography ‘Athelstan’ in 2016, will present his talk ‘On The Trail of the First King of England: Why Athelstan Deserves Pilgrims’ at Malmesbury Abbey at 2pm on Sunday June 30.
Tom Holland Speaking in Malmesbury
Project patron
Tom’s talk will be a ticket-only event. All proceeds will go towards the development and operation of the new Athelstan Pilgrim Way. Tom is the patron of the project.
He said: ‘It will be no secret to anyone who’s listened to my podcast, The Rest Is History, that I championed Athelstan as the greatest of England’s monarchs. And I’m also delighted to champion a walking route across his kingdom of Wessex. A route that seeks to remind us of his Christian sensibility and the religious culture of his time.’
Sheona Beaumont, of the Athelstan Pilgrim Way project team, said: ‘Tom brings fantastic enthusiasm and insight to English history and its Christian heritage. We’re so excited he’s joining our pilgrimage of celebration. A celebration of churches, countryside, and faith.’
Following Tom’s talk on King Athelstan there will be an official opening of the new Athelstan Pilgrim Way, led by the Diocese of Bristol. At length it’ll link thirty-six churches on a new 100-mile walking and cycling route across North Wiltshire.
The Athelstan pilgrim way
In the first instance, the Athelstan Pilgrim Way will link thirteen walks. It’ll take in thirteen churchs in 2024 with more coming on stream in 2025. The opening on June 30 will start at Malmesbury Abbey. It will then continue to St John The Baptist Church at Brokenborough.
Malmesbury Town Team chair, Cllr Campbell Ritchie, leads the team of volunteers who are organizing the Athelstan 1100 programme of events.
He said: ‘We’re thrilled that Tom is able to take time from his busy schedule to join us and celebrate. Not only the opening of the Athelstan Pilgrim Way but also the celebrations for Athelstan 1100. It’s an honour to welcome him and our other renowned historians including Michael Wood and the Reverend Sarah Foot.’ (or similar)
Tom Holland …
… is well-known globally as an accomplished and award-winning historian. He’s published numerous books around Roman and Greek history – as well as his passion for England’s First King. His latest book is ‘Pax – War and Peace In Rome’s Golden Age’.
His podcast ‘The Rest Is History’ is a little over four years old and co-hosted with fellow historian Dominic Sandbrook. It’s now the world’s most popular history podcast with well over 60 million downloads and is ranked as one of the top podcasts in the world. In the UK it’s currently ranked as the second most popular podcast across all genres.
It was in 924 AD that Athelstan, the grandson of Alfred the Great, became King of Mercia and Wessex. And took the first steps on his journey to becoming the first King of England. Many events are free and tickets for paid for events are already on sale with some already sold out.Â
St Andrew’s North Swindon – Blunsdon to be precise – isn’t a church I’m familiar with myself. But a Twitter chum, Lee, suggested I include it in Swindon in 50 More Buildings because it’s a delightful church, really rather old (13th C approx) and little known. So here it is. And thanks to Lee for the photos.
St Andrew’s North Swindon – BlunsdonSign at St Andrew’s in North Swindon
About the church
The church websitetells us that ‘St Andrew’s is a small structure, built in the Early English style.’ It further explains that a church has stood on that site since the 11th century. And further that it used to be much larger than it is now. It seems that, when the Victorians carried out some renovations, they found evidence of a large porch, tower and an extra aisle.
The carved stone heads (corbel stones) of nuns and a bishop, sitting high on the walls in St Andrew’s church date from the 1280s. It’s probable they supported the roof beams of an even earlier structure.
The website goes on to say that much of what we see today results from major restoration work by church architect William Butterfield, between 1864 and 1868. He designed the west front with its bellcote, spirelet and weathercock. And specifications for some of the windows. Yet some older features remain. For instance, the doorway used to enter the church dates from the 13th century.
Rectors of Blunsdon St AndrewsMain entrance of St Andrew’s churchSide door at St Andrew’s Blunsdon
