Swindonian Blog Posts

Swindon news, views, history and culture

The Richard Jefferies Railway Halt

Jul 31, 2016 | Arts/Culture/Heritage, Richard Jefferies, Sons & Daughters of Swindon

Well that was a lot of fun! The grand opening of the Richard Jefferies Halt.

I’ve mentioned more than once listeners how much I love a miniature railway, or cable car or funicular or land train… So today was just lovely. It was all a bit ‘Railway Children’ for sure! But we had flags instead of red flannel petticoats.

Swindon Turf Direct

Jul 16, 2016 | General Interest, Swindon in Business

Not so many years ago, well for people of a certain age at least, the garden often consisted of a scrubby patch of lawn with flower borders around the edge and possibly a rose bed in the middle. How times have changed. And Swindon Turf Direct have the answers to your gardening woes.

It’s the Rail Thing – Swindon Town Hall Railings

Jun 26, 2016 | Public art-sculpture

26th June 2016 It's the rail thing Swindon Town Hall Railings Oh listeners. I AM ashamed. All the years I've been in Swindon and have walked past the town hall - now the home of Swindon Dance - I've never noticed the Swindon town hall railings and how beautiful they...

White Horse Pacified rides again

Jun 20, 2016 | Arts/Culture/Heritage, West Swindon Sculpture walk

20th June 2016 White Horse Pacified rides again Well listeners. This is a bit exciting and no mistake. This week I got a message via the blog from a lady called Julie Livsey - the creator of 'White Horse Pacified' - part of the West Swindon Sculpture trail. So this...

Feet Artwork Dorcan Mail Office Swindon

May 21, 2016 | Arts/Culture/Heritage, Public art-sculpture

Not being a driver I don’t generally get to the Royal Mail sorting office out at Dorcan. But recently I was there with someone else and was pleasantly surprised to see this feet artwork on the perimeter fence of the Dorcan office.

Angel Ridge Play Area

May 14, 2016 | Parks and open spaces, Public art-sculpture

Not having got any small children I’m not au fait with the town’s play parks. However, I have a friend with a small daughter and sometimes visit a play park with them. And a few weeks ago we went to the Angel Ridge play area. It’s taken me weeks to get round to posting on it!

Golf in Swindon

May 9, 2016 | Guest Bloggers, This sporting life

9th April 2016 Golf Fore All! All about golf in Swindon. Now Mark Twain famously referred to golf as a 'good walk spoiled'. I'm not entirely in disagreement I won't lie. Many quips and quotes surround golf and here's a couple more of my faves: “Hockey is a sport for...

Railway Town Film

May 2, 2016 | Arts/Culture/Heritage, Community

It’s only a few days since Martin Parry’s pièce de résistance ‘Railway Town Film’ was premiered at the Wyvern Theatre to a sell out crowd. I was privileged to be on the Q&A panel after the film – and what a great film it was. SUCH a wonderful testament to its maker and its subject matter: Swindon and its people.

It really was very moving and inspirational. It drove home just how much Swindon has to be proud of in its history and makes clear just how VERY special the Mechanics’ Institute is – make no mistake – that place is about SO much more than the building. It’s about the very heart and soul of New Swindon.