Swindonian Blog Posts
Swindon news, views, history and culture
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.
Love Brownies Swindon
Love Brownies Swindon
So! This week saw me in Swindon town centre for the first time since March. It felt very odd I have to tell you. But in a good way. Meeting someone over lunchtime to make an exchange of my new guidebook for the requisite money, said person suggested we meet up at Love Brownies Swindon. Loving a new coffee shop/cafe/eatery I agreed.
RPA Youngsters Don Dancing Shoes
Young people in Swindon who love singing, dancing and acting are getting back to the studio after many months of online classes.
One of the town’s leading voices in performing arts, Fi Da Silva Adams, worked hard with her team to return to socially-distanced performing arts classes last week.
“Our online classes were a life line for many young people during lockdown,” said Fi. Fi is the MD and founder of Revolution Performing Arts which, as a rule,supports around 350 young people on a weekly basis.
“Young people still had an outlet and an opportunity to experience our empowerment through the arts experience. So they got a thrill from seeing their friends, even if it in the virtual world.
“Now we are doing a phased, Covid-safe return to classes so that children can get back together in a mindful manner and it’s been wonderful.”
Heritage Open Days 2020
Heritage Open Days 2020: 11 to 20 September
Heritage open days 2020 is England’s largest festival of history and culture. It brings together over 2,000 local people and organisations and thousands of volunteers. Every year, in September, places across the country open their doors to celebrate their heritage, community and history.
This is your chance to see hidden places and try out new experiences. And – ta da – it’s all for free!!! Or rather it would be were it not for a little thing called Covid-19. Oops!
7. Shaw House – Old Shaw Lane
Shaw House – Old Shaw Lane
It’s ever curious is it not – how stuff pops up on social media relevant to somewhere you’ve not long since been to? In this instance the co-incidences relate to Shaw House, on Old Shaw Lane.
I tend to think of Old Shaw Lawn as being a bit of bygone Swindon. But of course it’s not – not really. Because this side of town – the western expansion – wasn’t Swindon. Back then Swindon was the settlement on the hill. Old Swindon – Old Town as we call it now.
Back to School Advice from Revolution Performing Arts Owner
AS PARENTS prepare for their children to return to school parent, here’s some helpful back-to-school advice from Revolution Performing Arts owner, Fiona Da Silva Adams. She shares her top tips for getting back into a school routine.
Fiona (known as Fi) runs Revolution Performing Arts, which offers after school clubs and classes across Swindon offering drama, dance and singing for children of all abilities. The ethos of RPA is one of inclusion.
Darkroom Espresso Faringdon Road
Darkroom Espresso is s specialty coffee shop in the centre of Swindon, in the old Railway village. It opened in September 2014 and is now owned & run by local barista Stephen Jordan.
Stephen was already a long serving member of staff at Darkroom before taking on ownership in March 2019
Swindon in 50 more buildings
West Swindon – What the eye doesn’t see
Swindon – A Born Again Swindonian’s Guide
We Are Swindon
