Summer Youth Project 2026 – cover of programme for Little Shop of Horrors
About the SYP
The aim of the Summer Youth Project is to provide up to 200 youngsters, aged 9 – 21, with the opportunity to work together in a professional theatre. The two-week project culminates in five performances of a full-scale musical under the supervision of a highly skilled creative team including a professional director, choreographer, musical director, musicians, and technical team!
Set in the gritty streets of Skid Row, florist Seymour lives a life of obscurity and despair. Until that is, he discovers a strange and interesting plant that promises fame, fortune, and a chance at love. Meanwhile, the plant’s sinister appetite threatens to consume everything in its path…
The show features a rock and roll score and some unforgettable songs. Tunes such as: Skid Row (Downtown), Suddenly, Seymour, Dentist! and Feed Me (Git it!)
The Wyvern production
Well! What can I say? Apart from: yet another triumph for the summer youth project!
Myself and a friend have been coming to the summer youth project performances for several years now. And we’ve never been anything less than blown away by the quality of the performances and the energy and enthusiasm of all. As ever, a special mention, to the ensemble. Every single year they never fail to delight. The whole thing warms the cockles of my cold, northern heart.
I’ll say no more about the plot than I have above – except that, the jolly songs belie some dark themes. More than that – my lips are sealed.
So, on to the performances. There sure were some fabulous voices on that stage last night. Lysa Aljanes as Audrey – the human not the plant – has a wonderful voice. As has Lily Moir, the voice of Audrey 2. But all the principals were excellent in all aspects.
But if I’m going to give special mention to anyone it has to be David Scott as Orin Scrivello. As the sinister, sadistic, demonic dentist, David gave a show-stealing turn. And that, as my friend says, is saying something given the standard of performance from Lysa Aljanes, Jayden Kaye and Mathew Robinson. If you’re of a nervous disposition apropos the dentist then this might not be the show for you. #JustSaying
Swindon-wide History Festival – kicks off with a Meet the Authors event in Swindon central library (floor 2) on Saturday the 5th September – at Midday!! Entry FREE.
Skydive Aims to Raise £5k for Prospect Hospice. Just For Fun Holiday Club co-founder Sean Harper is aiming to help raise £5,000 for Prospect Hospice. He’s taking on a charity skydive later this summer alongside friends Terry Cook and Sam Cottle.
Inspiring the jump is Terry’s determination to tick a skydive off his bucket list following a diagnosis of a rare, terminal cancer.
The trio will complete the jump together at Skydive Hinton in Brackley over the August Bank Holiday weekend. They’re raising money for Prospect Hospice, whose support has been invaluable throughout Terry’s cancer journey.
Skydive Aims to Raise £5k – Sean Harper
How it began
‘It all started when I got asked if I’d sponsor Terry for his challenge,’ Sean said. ‘He jokingly asked if I wanted to do it as well. A skydive has always been on my bucket list. And I realised I didn’t have a reason not to do it alongside Terry and Sam.
‘My children will be there on the day to support me and my son thinks I’m going to be Superman, which is lovely to hear. Although catching villains isn’t my special power, if taking on this challenge helps Terry reach his fundraising goal for Prospect Hospice, then it’ll all be worth it.’
After months of tests and investigations, Terry, who lives in Stratton, Swindon, found himself diagnosed with a v rare form of cancer that had already spread. Specialists described his case as one they had never encountered before. One with treatment options proving difficult because of how uncommon the cancer is.
Rather than letting his diagnosis define him, Terry has focused on making memories with family and friends, including marrying his partner Katie last December while continuing treatment. Completing a skydive became one of the experiences at the top of his bucket list.
Terry and Katie
Dealing with uncertainty
‘When I was first diagnosed, everything felt so uncertain,’ Terry said. ‘There were so many questions that nobody could answer. But one thing I did know was that life is too short to put things off. That’s why I started my bucket list.
‘The skydive is something I’ve always wanted to do, and being able to share it with Sean and Sam means a lot. Prospect Hospice has been unbelievable throughout my cancer journey. And if we can raise money to help them support other families like mine, that would mean the world to me.’
Prospect Hospice provides specialist end-of-life care and support to patients and families across Swindon, Marlborough, north Wiltshire, Lechlade and Fairford, helping thousands of local people every year.
Sean hopes the community will get behind the challenge and help the team reach its £5,000 fundraising target.
‘We know it’s an ambitious target, but if people can get behind Terry, support an amazing local charity and help us reach that figure, it’ll mean an enormous amount to us all’.
Emlyn Square, in the GWR railway village, is the next port of call in our Swindon in 25 Streets journey. Well in actual fact it’s not – but I’m out of synch with my plan due to not being able to get to Local Studies for a while. It’ll all sort itself out in the book.
The Grade II listed Emlyn Square is the heart of the GWR Railway Village. In the foreground is central community centre – the erstwhile GWR Medical Fund Society Hospital. Beyond the car park and the trees sits the Grade II* listed Mechanics’ Institute. To its right, across the road, is the Glue Pot pub – a Swindon legend. To its left is the now refurbished Cricketers and beyond that is what was the Baker’s Arms and is now a community building known simply as The Bakers.
Photo credit: Jason Spickett Swindon from the Air
The same view of Emlyn Square as the one above, from quite some years ago showing the Mechanics’ Institute more clearly
The middle of the 19th century
The years between 1842 and 1849 saw the erection of buildings on the west and east sides of an open space that lay at the centre of the developing, symmetrical railway village in New Swindon. A large rectangle of grass, this open space was planted with trees and railed off. The buildings adjacent to it were erected for the purpose of trade – indeed a high street was the original conception of the area and thus it took that name. 1855 saw some of this open space taken by the Mechanics’ Institute. It opened that year with the adjacent octagonal covered market coming soon after.
A smaller area, also railed off, formed on the north side of the MI building. Some eight new shops and public houses were established on either side of the MI and the market. But the most prominent building on Emlyn Square is of course the 1855 Mechanics’ Institute. Grade II* listed this building of staggering social importance is struggling for survival.
The Glue pot pub on Emlyn SquareThe Cricketers on Emlyn SquareThe Bakers on Emlyn SquareMural section on the boardings on the Mechanics’ InstitutionThe Mechanics’ Institute on Emlyn Square somewhat reminiscent of Sleeping Beauty’s bramble, bedecked bedchamber.
Ripe for expansion
Some Old Town businesses took the opportunity to open branches in the new high street so as to serve the railway families. Tibbetts the drapers being one such as we can see from this advert placed in the Swindon Advertiser.
Vintage advert for Tibbets drapers in the Swindon Advertiser of yesterday
And, according to this advert, not only could one buy stamps at the post office on this erstwhile High Street, one could have one’s teeth carefully extracted. Amongst many other offerings.
Vintage advert for Emlyn Square/High Street post office
The area of high street immediately to the south of the Mechanics’ Institute and the octagonal market gradually became the location for travelling vendors and livestock sales. And for a while it became known as Market Square, High Street.
A name change
This area of the railway village underwent a name change to Emlyn Square in 1901. The change came in recognition of Frederick Archibald Vaughn Campbell (1847-1911), Viscount Emlyn and later 4th Earl Cawdor – the chairman of the GWR board 1895-1905.
Leaving Emlyn Square, we cross the road behind the Mechanics’ Institution and enter the GWR Workers’ tunnel – that will bring us out at our next port of call: Firefly Avenue.
Pipp & Co Expands with new cafés in Bath and Bristol.
Award-winning artisan bakery Pipp & Co is continuing its expansion. They’re opening two new cafés in Bath and Bristol. Thus creating new jobs and bringing its handmade bakery products to more customers across the South West.
Best known for its range of artisan doughnuts, but offering a wide variety of sweet and savoury bakes, Swindon-based Pipp & Co first established its reputation through local farmers’ markets and pop-ups before moving into high-street retail.
Pipp & Co Expands – Mario and Betina Evamgelista
Location
The new cafés are located in the premises of former food outlets. Bath’s Pipp & Co will be in a central location on New Street. Meanwhile the new Bristol Pipp & Co will be in the more office-centric area of Redcliff Street. This complements the bakery’s existing café in Bristol’s College Green. The Bath outlet is due to open in August, with the Bristol Redcliff Street café opening planned for September.
Alongside its expanding café network, the business sells its products wholesale to:
Independent retailers
Farn shops
Corporate clients
As well as direct to customers via online ordering on its website and for collection from its Swindon production facility.
The new Bath and Bristol cafés, as well as the existing Bristol café, will feature an expanded product range designed for lunchtime visitors. It includes salads, sandwiches, toasties and panini all made fresh in-house. The range of drinks is also expanding to meet changing customer tastes, including ube and matcha drinks.
Customers will soon be able to pre-order online for collection, with local delivery also planned as part of the business’s continued growth.
Exciting next steps
Opening these two new cafés in Bath and Bristol is an exciting next step for us,’ said Betina Evangelista. Bettina owns and runs Pipp & Co alongside her husband, Mario.
‘We’re looking forward to welcoming customers to these new sites and becoming part of the local community. Our production capacity in Swindon means we can manage this expansion while ensuring the exact same small-batch quality and traditional craftsmanship that our customers expect. While also introducing our new in-house sandwich and salad options.’
Production for all bakery products for the new sites will continue at Pipp & Co’s central premises in Swindon. A family-run business, Pipp & Co has a strict policy of using no artificial ingredients, flavourings or additives. They source ingredients locally where possible. And bake the famous doughnuts using traditional methods, including a 48-hour fermentation process for the brioche dough. Pipp & Co was the 2025 Best Doughnut Award winner in PETA’s annual vegan food awards.
Future plans for Pipp & Co include opening more cafés in other locations. For more information about Pipp & Co, visit https://www.pipp.co/
