Swindonian Blog Posts
Swindon news, views, history and culture
Professor Ron Johnston Geographer
The offspring of Louis and Joyce Johnston, Ron entered the world on 30th March 1941. He grew up 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!
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 lovely) 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.
23. No 24 Fleet Street 1902
No 24 Fleet Street is one of the buildings I mention in the New Swindon/town centre trail that I wrote in my Born Again Swindonian guidebook. The whole point of that trail – indeed the book – is to urge and encourage the reader to find the interest, the story – yes even the beauty – in the less obvious. It exhorts one to look up because so often that’s where you’ll find the aforementioned.
Swindon Book Fair 20th May
So my chum Lis McDermott is organising a book fair in Swindon, at the central community centre in the railway village from 11am to 3pm.
22. Churchward House 1841
Churchward House, now housing offices, originally served as the Great Western Railway’s drawing office. It’s named for George Jackson Churchward CBE ( 1857-1933). Churchward served as the GWR’s mechanical engineer from 1902-1922.
Louise Hunt Skelley Turns Mentor
Former elite British wheelchair tennis player Louise Hunt Skelley PLY has become a mentor for the youth charity the Tim Henman Foundation.
3 Years & No Museum
Friday the 17th March 2023, marks the third anniversary of Swindon museum and art gallery. To mark this lamentable situation there’ll be a gathering outside Apsley House on the aforementioned date at 1pm. With cake!
25. Volya Ukrainian Inspired Beer
While I’m keen not to make this Swindon in 50 Drinks blog series too beer heavy, I couldn’t not cover this Volya Ukrainian inspired beer.
Wyvern Theatre Blood Brothers
Well listeners. I cried. Just as I’ve cried on each occasion that I’ve seen this show – the first time being decades ago when I saw it with the legendary Barbara Dickson as Mrs Johnstone.
Former Chorister Shares Choral Music Passion
NEIL Medland will be sharing his Westminister Abbey chorister experiences as a chorister and his lifelong passion for choral music at an event in Malmesbury on Friday March 17.
Swindon in 50 more buildings
West Swindon – What the eye doesn’t see
Swindon – A Born Again Swindonian’s Guide
We Are Swindon
