Swindonian Blog Posts
Swindon news, views, history and cultureTurtle Storm Sculpture Swindon
So a week or so ago I watched a super talk, via the ubiquitous Zoom, arranged by the Friends of the Museum and Art Gallery. The speaker was a sculptor by the name of Joseph Ingleby. His name might not mean anything to you but a piece of his work will. For Joseph is the creator of the Turtle Storm sculpture that resides in Queen’s Park.
Wiltshire’s Sarsen Stones
Wiltshire’s Sarsen Stones
A Canadian friend came to stay and, since they were a Neo-pagan, I decided to show them Avebury stone circle, a favourite place of mine. This didn’t go exactly to plan. For a start they were most upset because some Early Medieval people had decided to build their village on a sacred site.
Runner is doing it for Dan
Keen runner Michelle White is Doing it for Dan.
Known by everyone as Chelle, Michelle is in training for a gruelling 48 hour challenge to run more than 251 miles on a treadmill. The aim? To raise £4,800 for charity.
New Performing Arts Class for North Swindon
Great news for children in North Swindon who love singing, dancing and acting with a new performing arts class for North Swindon. The class will start at the Great Western Academy on Thursday November 5th.
Kimmerfields for Swindon’s new Cultural Quarter
Kimmerfields for Swindon’s new Cultural Quarter – or looks that way anyway.
Exciting plans to rejuvenate the arts in Swindon could get a huge boost next week. Why? It’s when members of Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet decide on where to build a brand new cultural quarter.
Marlborough Lane Wildlife Corridor
Before I talk about Marlborough Lane wildlife corridor let’s first have a definition of what a wildlife corridor is – and what it does.
Cafe Nexus Cheney Manor
Well listeners – here I am again with yet another new-to-me cafe. This time Cafe Nexus Cheney Manor.
Yep, tucked away at the back of a business block on the Cheney Manor industrial estate. Who knew? Well a lot of people it seems as I think it’s been there for a good old while. Anyway – earlier this week I visited it for first time for breakfast with some chums of mine.
The Watchers Are Restored
The Watchers restored.
Among the doom and gloom of Covid and Brexit and town centre shop closures there’s some good local news in the restoration of The Watchers.
The Watchers form part of the West Swindon sculpture walk. These sculptures are a culturally significant part of the West Swindon landscape, installed in the late 1970s/early 1980s. Roger Ogle has done much to champion them – then much than him – later so have I. Despite the fact that they’ve been shamefully neglected by our town’s leaders for decades now, they remain things of enjoyment and an untapped resource I’m sure. If the powers that be did but know it.
WALK FOR BMX PARK SWINDON
On 10th October 2010 parish councillor, Suresh Gattapur is doing a walk for BMX park Swindon. He intends to walk 26.1 miles around Swindon. It’s his aim to raise awareness and achieve funding for local youth engagement.
Suresh hopes to raise £5,000 out of an estimated budget of £70,000 to £90,000 to build a BMX track in Westlea, in Swindon. It’s Suresh’s belief that championing youth projects is a transformative approach that can encourage urban youth engagement in local communities.
FRESHBROOK GETS PERFORMING ARTS CLASS
Freshbrook gets performing arts class – so children in West Swindon who love singing, dancing and acting can try out a new class which starts in Freshbrook on Wednesday September 30.
One of the town’s leading performing arts groups, Revolution Performing Arts, is offering Covid-safe, socially distanced small group classes at Freshbrook Community Centre. The classes are every week, on Wednesday, from 5.30pm to 6.30pm.













