Blogging positive on all things Swindon
I’m Angela Atkinson and I’m Born Again Swindonian – amongst other things.
I moved to Swindon back in the 1990s from a part of the country devastated by the 1980s pit closures. Coming to Swindon was truly like coming to the land of milk and honey.
Swindon afforded me opportunities and facilities that were not easily obtainable back in my part of Derbyshire / Nottinghamshire. And that’s a big part – but not the whole story – behind my fondness for, and advocacy of, Swindon and the decision to build this Swindon-centric blog.
I’m aware of Swindon’s flaws. But who can show me the perfect urban conurbation? A good friend of mine, Carole Bent, once wrote a beautiful line or two, exhorting us all to look for the glitter in the concrete and the sparkle in the cement. Now I daresay that was a metaphor and not a direct reference to the urban landscape. Yet it’s applicable. It’s fair to say that the glitter in Swindon’s concrete is sometimes elusive. But look hard enough and you’ll see it twinkle. And this blog is a testament to that.
Swindon – Soulless?
Never! Swindon is anything but soulless. Beneath a sometimes uninspiring exterior there is most definitely a healthy heart of art and creativity and culture, parks and green spaces, good food and coffee and of course its rich railway heritage!
For an overview of things to do in Swindon go here: https://swindonian.me/things-to-do-in-swindon/
My Origins
I came here in the early 1990s from a once-mining village on the Derbyshire/Nottinghamshire border. Nearest town Worksop. Nearest city (and it wasn’t that near) Sheffield. Other nearby places, Mansfield and Chesterfield. So, as you see, on the edges of three counties in effect. Derby, the county town, was waaaaaaaay the other side of a large county – never went there, never had cause to. Here be dragons was Derby.
When I left my part of the world to move to this part of the world, I left behind an areas ravaged from the legacy of the 1980s miners’ strike. Coming here truly felt like arriving in the land of milk and honey. Hence to a large extent my fondness for, and advocacy of, Swindon and the decision to create this Swindon blog. Though that’s not the whole story …
Social Media
The blog has a Facebook page where you will find links to what’s on the blog and much more besides, so connect with me there.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Anjelica1956
LinkedIn
Personal profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaedits-bas/
Company page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/born-again-swindonian/
Swindon has some great cycle routes too. It is on Sustrans Route 45 which goes from Salisbury right up to Chester. It is also surrounded by by some wonderful countryside and only and hours trainride from London [ if you an afford the fare] What’s not to like?
Great to see someone extolling Swindon’s virtues!!
Excellent point Helen. Thanks for that. 🙂
I am a Swindonian .i did leave for a while in the 90’s this only made me love my home town more.(theirs nothing like a dirty city to make you home sick) I have a small family business here, we could have gone to Bath,Bristol or such like but no we wanted to inject a little culture into our home town, the journey has been eventful but the people we meet and the little treasures we find in our quest for all things vintage make it the best move we ever made .
Tracy, great to hear from you on here. And well done on bringing your venture to Swindon. It’s just this sort of thing that I want to show on the blog: that beneath a rather dispiriting exterior there is so much to celebrate in the town. Good luck!
We’ve been here 10 years this year and I agree – it’s a great place. So much to do here – just have to find it and get out there. My social life has never been better; met some great people, made some wonderful friends; and with both our businesses running from Swindon; our network and knowledge of the area keeps growing. What a love the most is the vast choice of great pubs we have access to and the wonderful countryside surrounding this town.
Thanks for the comment P! That’s exactly what I’m trying to get across in the blog. You are right, we do have lots of fabulous countryside surrounding the town. But we don’t actually have to leave the town to find green spaces. Apart from the formal parks – which are numerous and varied – there’s acres and acres of green spaces in Swindon itself. A case in point being just behind Shaw Ridge. Walk up from the cinema to the top of the Shaw Ridge and you come out onto a green space. Here it’s easy to forget you are in a conurbation the size of Swindon. It’s only five minutes from the cinema where you can find ‘How the Mighty Fall’ http://swindonian.wordpress.com/2013/06/24/west-swindon-sculpture-walk-part-2-how-the-mighty-fall/ – but really the whole of this walk takes you through so much green space. It is really fabulous. I can’t speak for the other side of town as I don’t know it too well but here in West Swindon we’re particular blessed with walks and green spaces.And of course: public art!! 🙂
Hi There! My name is Ed. I was wondering if you would be inclined to share one of your Swindonian Coffee Stories on a new blog that I am starting? I would love a story about a cafe in your area of England. Let me know if you would be interested in sharing!
Hello Ed
Good morning to you. Thank you for your interest in my blog. And yes, I would to share. Let me know who, what where etc. Y’know. Cheers! A
Hi There – will it be possible to get you’re email for more details? Or you can email me at Contact@SeattleCoffeeScene.com. Basically, you would pic the story of a cafe and pictures and I will post it – give you credit, a link to your website, and anything else you would like to add on the post. I’m trying to create a place where people can discover emerging coffee and food writers from around the world. Im glad you want to be a part of that! – Eddie
Great blog – I just found you after you shared one of our Free Art Friday Swindon posts – I am also a “born again Swindonian” after moving here from the Midlands 14 years ago. It’s not a bad ol’ town, I’m very happy here 🙂
Hey Sarah – thanks for the comment. Yep, I’m happy here too. Cheers! 🙂
Hi Angela, just doing some tests = 2:30 Born again Swindonian background
Reference to the article on Gilberts Carpets – 150 year business in Swindon. The owner has a problem with a fraudulent website, which is mistakenly advertised at the end of your article
the fake website – http://www.gilbertsofswindon.co.uk – fake phone number
the real website is – http://www.gilbertscarpets.co.uk
you can see fake links on the fraudulent website and this has taken away business from Gilberts which is a real pity, as the owner is a very courteous and knowledgeable person.
He has tried to trace the website, but not possible so far. The police could not do anything either. I hope that you could help and put the real website on the article – I do not think he is on Facebook.
He may be losing a lot of business through fraud – so hope you can help – thank you – a customer
Your fondness and advocacy for Swindon is honestly contagious. I; like yourself – have lived all over this United Kingdom (originally from Plymouth) before moving to Yorkshire, Scotland, Merseyside and finally – Swindon. It may not look like much to the casual observer, but Swindon feels like home. It’s got social and structural decay, like a lot of the country, these days. It’s easy to overlook that though and appreciate Swindon for it’s ideal size and relative green spaces afforded in it’s boundaries. It’s not too big, or too small. Not too stagnant or too over stimulating. In other words, Swindon to me is like the 3rd bowl of porridge from Goldilocks and the Three Bears – just right!
Matthew – how nice to hear from a fellow Swindon fan. 🙂
Thank you for your lovely comment. Iso appreciate it.
I’m fond of likening Swindon to a stripper. Watch her with care and she’ll peel back her layers to reveal her delights. 😉
Morning! I don’t know if this blog is still active, I sincerely hope it is. I lived in Highworth from 1980 to late 90s. I went to college in Swindon. I love your approach to Swindon. Whilst it will have suffered further since the 00s, I went back on my motorbike last week, for old times’ sake. I took in Old Town, where the architecture is still stunning in places. And the green spaces. And the rich railway village and history . And the ‘new’ (in 1980!!) West Swindon, and how out it has developed further. It’s so easy to knock somewhere and highlight its flaws. But to me Swindon still has some lovely gems and areas and heritage. It depends on people’s general viewpoint and mindset whether they care to notice the positive around them, and we can all be contemptuous of the familiar. Good luck for the future Swindon, I’ll be back soon.
Hello Neil
Thank you for your kind comment. YES – the blog absolutely is still active.
Can I ask – what brought you to Born Again Swindonian’s door? Welcome anyway!
You’re absolutely right when you say it’s all about mindset. It really is. You might be interested in my guide book Neil. The whole thrust of the thing is about opening not just your eyes but your mind and heart too.
https://swindonian.me/swindon-a-born-again-swindonians-guide/
That aside, thanks for subscribing – I post a range of stuff so I hope you’ll find something to interest you.
Top wishes
A