The season starts on Friday 19 May with Hollywood blockbuster, Top Gun: Maverick. This is an exceptional outdoor cinema experience, presented by Swindon-based Horizon Experiences.
The 1936 art-deco style Bowl, situated in Town Gardens, Swindon, is one of only a handful of its kind in the country. It provides a unique backdrop to a spectacular range of events throughout the year. And, in 2023, audiences will once again have the chance to experience first-class theatre, music, comedy and cinema in this iconic venue.
Horizon Experiences will be back on Friday 26 May with A Star Is Born and then again to round off the season with The Greatest Showman on Friday 22 September.
Twelfth Night
The Duke’s Theatre Company is returning for a third season with the wonderful Twelfth Night on Friday 28 July.
Summer 2023 at the Bowl – Twelfth Night at Swindon town gardens bowl
For Shakespeare-loving Swindonians looking for a more modern twist on a classic, then check out Shake It Up. This is an improvised Shakespeare show, set to be the perfect night out on Saturday 1 July. And for comedy fans, why not join Aurie Styla, Paul McCaffrey, Esther Manito and Matt Richardson for an evening of Comedy At The Bowl this August Bank Holiday weekend?
You want something more modern?
For audiences looking for something a touch more modern, the season continues with the return of BlackBox Theatre, in collaboration with Swindon and Wiltshire Pride, to the Town Gardens bowl. This, following their sell-out tour of Noel Coward’s Blithe Spirit in 2021 and Bouncers in 2022, as they bring the world premiere of Ortonesque. This is a new play looking at the extraordinary life and times of the outrageous playwright, Joe Orton, and his doomed relationship with long-term collaborator and partner, Kenneth Halliwell. It comes to Swindon on Sunday 13 August.
Summer 2023 at the Bowl – Ortonesque
That’s complemented by the riotous summer adventure depicting Britain’s best-known folktale, Robin Hood. It’s presented by Three Inch Fools on Tuesday 8 August.
The little ones aren’t forgotten
There’s something for everyone this summer at the Town Gardens bowl.
That goes for the littlest ones too! South Swindon Parish Council are welcoming the delightful Music For Miniatures with their Teddy Bear’s Picnic. This is a classical performance suitable for ages 0-4. Watch the live music enchant little ones, as they dance, joggle and explore their surroundings. With scarves and egg shakers provided for all.
Let’s play the music and dance
And, for grown ups looking for something a little more musical, South Swindon Parish Council will be hosting a varied programme of music events at the bowl. That’s in addition to their collaboration with My Dad’s Bigger Than Your Dad Festival.
The programme features performances from artists as varied as Supersonic Queen, 21stCentury ABBA & Elton and Old Time Sailors.
There’s never been a better time to get the friends and family together. So book tickets for what promises to be a summer evening to remember.
The History of lacemaking is the subject of the latest Teatime talk at Malmesbury’s Athelstan Museum on Wednesday May 17th.
‘Malmesbury Lace – Past Present and Future’ will feature several short talks from local experts Alison Lewis, Gill Bright and Janet Casseldon. And one of them will feature the history of lacemaking.
Alison Lewis will talk about the history of Malmesbury Lace, an industry that has been present in the town for more than 300 years. She is the author of a popular booklet on the subject, The Fascination of Lace.
All by chance
It was a chance discovery that piqued Alison Lewis’ interest in lacemaking.
I became interested after we found a Malmesbury lace bobbin in our cottage 50 years ago. Before that, I had no knowledge of the craft. I was later asked to write my book on lacemaking in Malmesbury by Roger Griffin, who was then chair of the museum’
Gill Bright, a member of the Malmesbury lacemaking group will talk about the group’s activities and about the lace itself, including current examples of lace made in the town. Gill and Alison have worked together for several years.
We have worked together to put on displays of lace in the museum,’ Alison says. ‘And twice a year, we run lace days in the town. I have spent many hours with the lacemaking group over the years.’
Janet Casselden will also provide an overview of the Athelstan Museum’s plans to exhibit the town’s lace. And also she’ll provide an insight into the sessions she leads, where she teaches lacemaking to both adults and children.
There’ll be a demonstration of the type of work the lacemakers of today undertake both before and after the talk. That will give attendees the opportunity to take a close look at a display of some of the museum’s lace collection. And further to ‘have a go’ on the pillows that are set up for the family lace workshop sessions.
Where and when
The tea time talk will take place in the Rausing Building. Tea will be served from 2.30 pm with the talks due to start at 3 pm. Tickets are £6.50 (tea and cake included in the price) and are available online and in the museum shop.
Zozo Thomas of Swindon, author of children’s’ series ‘Tales from Mulberry Garden.’
Amelia Watchman of Swindon author of a children’s book and four romantic comedy novels.
When and where and why
The fair takes place on Saturday 20th May 2023, from 11am – 3pm at The Central Community Centre, Emlyn Square, Swindon SN1 5BP.
Lis said: ‘I’ve organised this event because I feel there are very few opportunities for people to:
Meet
Talk with and …
… find inspiration from authors living on their own doorsteps.
Books are for everyone and every community will have several authors inspired by stories, or by their hobby or some other passion. I wanted to give a platform to some of those writers and creatives within my own community.’
Dan said: ‘When Lis approached the Mechanics’ Institution Trustwith the idea for the book fair, we wanted to do everything we could to help support and promote local authors within our community. Our aims aren’t limited to building preservation. It’s also to deliver and promote community benefit through the use of our heritage buildings. Emlyn Square is a central location with strong transport links and plenty of parking. Thus it’s an ideal place for an event of this kind.’
Entry to the book fair itself is free. But after the fair there’ll be a low cost ‘Meet the Authors’ event, with live interviews. Local journalist and PR expert, Fiona Scott, of Scott Media, will be leading this event alongside Lis McDermott.
This event costs a mere £3 for non-members of the Mechanics’ Institution Trust. Members can access this event at a fifty per cent discount.
You can become a member of the Mechanics’ Institution Trust for as little as £1 per year +donation by filling out this form. This session is suitable for older primary children, upwards.
During the day The Bakers Café, also managed by the Mechanics’ Institution Trust, will be open for refreshments. That’s including between the Book Fair and Meet the Authors event.
Parking is available at Bristol Street Car Park. Due to its central location, this event is accessible at a walking distance from the town centre and with frequent local bus routes.
Professor Ron Johnston Geographer, campanologist and life-long Swindon Town fan 1941 – 2020
Are you aware that the work of a son of Swindon is largely to thank or blame – depends on your viewpoint – for the way our politicians do their campaigning? His obituary in The Guardian observes: ‘Ron Johnston, who has died aged 79, was a human geographer whose work in the field of electoral geography was drawn upon by political parties and policymakers, and influenced legislation on constituency boundaries.’ And we’ll come back to that in a bit.
Ron’s early years
The offspring of Louis and Joyce Johnston, Ron entered the world on 30th March 1941. He grew up in Chiseldon where his parents ran the post office. And no doubt that start in life helped him put his stamp on the world. Boom! (It doesn’t get any better I’m afraid!
Ron’s father had the misfortune being captured by the Japanese at the fall of Singapore, in WWII. One of Ron’s early memories is that of his mother introducing him to his father, when he returned in late 1945.
In his school career he performed well enough. Ron passed his 11+ and attended Commonweal grammar school. There he did well. Though in later life he derived much amusement from being described as ‘cheerful but irresponsible in one of his reports.
Though fascinated by maps, Ron’s true passion lay in geography. Like many children of his generation, he didn’t at first consider university. But both his father and his teacher encouraged him to think about it. Thus he went on to get both a degree and a Master’s degree at the university of Manchester. From there he went to Monash University in Melbourne, Australia where he completed a doctorate. He met his wife, Rita, in Manchester and they married in 1963.
A stellar career
Ron worked at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand from 1967–1974. He then returned to England for the appointment of Professor of Geography at the University of Sheffield. He moved to Essex university in 1992 to become Vice Chancellor. From there, 1995 saw Ron go to Bristol to return to being a professor of geography. He was there still when he died in 2020.
Over his long career, Ron authored or co-authored fifty books and over 800 papers.
Memories
Professor Ron Johnston Geographer remains in people’s memories for, amongst other things, his work on electoral geography. His research showed that local effects and local campaigning could have a measurable effect on the outcome of elections, particularly in tight races. This research went against the prevailing view that, in an era of television, national campaigning was all that mattered. His book, Geography and Geographers, remains one of the key studies of the history of human geography. He was known for trying to use Swindon-related examples in his work. Indeed, this Royal Geographical Societyobituary says: ‘As anyone who talked to him, or head him lecture or present a paper would quickly find out, Ron Johnston had an uncanny ability to weave a reference to Swindon, his home town, into the discussion, no matter what the topic.
Those name-checks for the town (and its football team) revealed much about Ron. More often than not, they were wryly humorous and self-deprecating: Ron’s lively sense of humour was a large part of his personality. But they were also apposite to the point he was making. Further they illustrated his strong appreciation of the importance of place, in a very concrete form, in human affairs. Throughout his highly distinguished academic career, Ron devoted himself to tracing the ramifications of space and place.’
With a hatful of awards
Ron found his work recognised with a hatful of awards. The Murchison Award (1985) and the Victoria Medal (1990) by the Royal Geographical Society. Then came the Prix Vautrin Lud at the International Geography Festival 1999, and a lifetime achievement award from the Association of American Geographers (2009). He received too, honorary degrees from the Universities of Essex, Sheffield and bath, and Monash University in Australia. In 2011, he received an OBE for services to scholarship.
The bells, the bells
Were all the above not enough, Ron held an interest in campanology. A active bell ringer, he published two books on the subject and co-complied three editions of ‘Dove’s Guide to the Church Bells of Britain’. He served as ringing master at Sheffield Cathedral from 1980 to 1992.
A life-long town fan
Ron died on 29 May 2020. In an appreciation of his life, it was noted that he was a life-long (and often unrewarded) Swindon Town fan.
Athelstan Turner Diversity Project. I visited the Athelstan museum recently for the first time. It’s small but lovely and well worth a visit. And if you’ve got youngsters there’s the inevitable (but fun!) trail to do centred around the cautionary tale of not tickling tigers! But that’s all I’m saying – ‘cos – y’know – spoilers! Anyway – this post is all about the Athelstan museum (in Malmesbury) taking their Turner diversity project out into the community. It’s all part of their outreach programme to bring living history and art to more local people.
Following the museum’s purchase of the watercolour of Malmesbury Abbey painted by the celebrated artist Joseph Mallord William Turner RA (1775-1851) the Athelstan Museum made a commitment to engage with the local community. This they are doing in various ways, to celebrate the town’s art and heritage.
Photo shows artist Paul Deacon who will be among those running the art classes for those living with Parkinson’s Disease, dementia and other conditions.
About the project
The Athelstan Turner diversity project is a programme of events both within the museum and without to reach more people. One is a schools’ outreach programme led by Janet Casselden. Another is a series of classes in art. These are free for those who find it difficult to access such classes because of such medical conditions as Parkinson’s disease or dementia.
Susan Mockler from the Athelstan Museum explained: ‘We’ve dedicated our Turner Diversity Project to taking the Turner painting of the Abbey out to as many people as possible.’
One of the ways we’re achieving this is running workshops in April, May and June. They’re for people who tend not to get out to enjoy such activities in the Rausing Building. Artists Rachel Heard, Jill Buckley and Paul Deacon will lead the workshops. They have an interest in Turner and have designed the sessions to engage everyone in enjoying the production of some art.
The schools’ project where we’ve had children involved, will culminate in a display at the museum’s Rausing building in June.
‘We continue to visit local groups and residential homes too. When we visit residential homes, we gift a framed print of the Turner as a reminder of our visit.’
About the Turner
In private hands for the last forty years, funding from the Arts Fund and National Lottery Heritage Fund bought the painting for the museum.
The painting shows Malmesbury Abbey from the north on a summer morning.
The free art classes will take place on April 13, 20, 27; May 4, 11, 18 and 25 and also June 1.
With limited places you must book in advance by calling Susan Mockler on 01666 577526.
