Swindonian Blog Posts
Swindon news, views, history and culture
Global Voices Unite Amidst Covid-19
Global Voices unite amidst Covid-19, as a group of people, who want to help each other, during the Covid-19 pandemic, have joined forces to write and produce a book. And all in the space of a week.
The book, Surviving the Coronavirus Lockdown and Social Isolation is available as an e-book and any monies raised will go to a mental health charity. All participants have given their time, knowledge and support free of charge.
This collaboration includes 65 contributors, all committed to helping people in lockdown. and experiencing social isolation.
Richard Wintle: Photographing Swindon’s History
Richard Wintle, known to many Swindonians as the man photographing Swindon’s history through the decades, is putting his retirement to good use. As you’d expect for a press photographer, Richard has a VAST archive of photographs. And he’s put some of them into a book: A Picture Is Only the Start of The Story.
5 Swindon Books to Read Now
So, we’re in the grip of the Coronavirus pandemic and at best are faced with a prolonged period of social distancing. Or at worst lockdown as we have at the time of reading.
So here’s five of the MANY Swindon books out there, fiction and non-fiction, written by Swindonians, with which to pass some fruitful time.
If you haven’t got them on your bookshelves now (and you might but not have read them) then head to the shop in Swindon central library as soon as you can. That said, some of the books included are available on mail order.
No 10: Arkell’s Ales
Well listeners. This Swindon in 50 Drinks post No 10: Arkell’s Ales, is something of a milestone. Not because it’s the 10th post in the series. Oh no. Rather because today is the day after our current Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, put the country into a condition that is lockdown in all but name. The reason for that being the pandemic Covid-19 – also known as the coronavirus.
No 4: Public Art in Swindon
Public Art in Swindon: I’ve no idea how much public art other towns have but it seems to me that Swindon has an astonishing amount.
‘When I began blogging about Swindon, the public art was one of the first things I turned my keyboard to. Not that I even knew the term then. Back in the corner of Derbyshire I left behind, the closest I got to it was an ancient village pump, a cenotaph and a redundant and rusting pit-winding wheel. Hence, discovering all the public art in Swindon was quite the revelation. It’s not possible to write about all of it here but, if you’re so inclined, Born Again Swindonian has oodles of posts about Swindon’s public art – in particular the West Swindon sculpture trail.’
Swindon Spring Festival Update
Swindon Spring Festival update. Organisers of the Swindon Spring Festival take seriously the present Coronavirus situation and their responsibilities to festival followers. And, of course, the public at large, and the importance of heeding Government advice.
Billboard Opportunity from Mortgage Company
A billboard opportunity from a mortgage company is aimed at getting Swindon’s schoolchildren to Dream Big about their future homes and careers. The campaign will display their hopes and dreams on a poster billboard.
Mortgage specialists, South-West Mortgages, are asking children between the ages of eight and twelve about their dream jobs and homes.
The family-friendly business, based on both Commercial Rd and Old Town, wants parents to submit their children’s aspirations online.
James Raggy Powell Plaque
So yesterday afternoon, I spent the most delightful time at Eastcott community centre, in readiness for the unveiling of the James ‘Raggy’ Powell plaque.
Eastcott community centre is truly one of Swindon’s gems. Not only is it a place and site with tons of historical and social history, it’s a thriving and well-run community centre.
Author’s Book Launch Supports Jessie May
Author and writing mentor Lis McDermott launched her latest book of poems, Blossoms Fall, at a charity event in Highworth yesterday.
Friends joined her at the book launch where she read some of her poetry. The event raised money for Lis’s chosen charity Jessie May, which provides ‘hospice at home’ care for terminally ill children. The charity is currently supporting 35 families across Swindon and Wiltshire.
No 9: Italian Beer
A recent visit to Da Vinci – the Italian restaurant down on Fleet Street gave me the perfect opportunity to do a Swindon in 50 Drinks post on Italian beer. Well two of them anyway. Peroni and Moretti.
Swindon in 50 more buildings
West Swindon – What the eye doesn’t see
Swindon – A Born Again Swindonian’s Guide
We Are Swindon
