Swindonian Blog Posts
Swindon news, views, history and culture
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.
No 8: Hot Chocolate
The on-the-ground research for this Swindon in 50 Drinks post about hot chocolate necessitated a return visit to Los Gatos, on Devizes Road in Old Town.
Curiouser: A dance adventure
Flexer & Sandiland (UK) & dybwikdans (Norway) bring Curiouser: A dance adventure – a delightful dance and digital show to Swindon Dance: 22 February at 10.30am and 1.30pm.
Swindon Dance reside in the Town Hall on Regent Circus. Featured in both Secret Swindon AND Swindon in 50 Buildings. The town hall houses the fab Charlotte Corday statue and has the most amazing railings outside it.
3. St Augustine’s Church Swindon 1907
Inching along with Swindon in 50 More Buildings, this post is about St Augustine’s Church in Even Swindon, Rodbourne. Having covered St Mark’s and St Barnabas (Gorse Hill) in Swindon in 50 Buildings, I had to get St Augustine’s into this blog series.
2. The Prospect Beerhouse: 1848 – 1865
The Prospect Beerhouse is a building with an interesting history – both during and after its period as a beerhouse. And it’s now the home of my friends, Jo Garton and Chris Eley. It’s interesting, because when you’re in the house you do a feel it’s early life.
No 7: Sherry – Fortified Wine of Spain
Right! If your perception of sherry is the dark, somewhat sweet stuff you remember your granny drinking in a schooner at Christmas – prepare for a surprise. Because there’s as much variety with it as there is with other wines. The fortified wine you associate with grandma and Christmas is more than likely Harvey’s Bristol Cream – or something similar.
Swindon in 50 more buildings
West Swindon – What the eye doesn’t see
Swindon – A Born Again Swindonian’s Guide
We Are Swindon
