Ralph Bates Swindon Writer

Ralph Bates Swindon Writer

Jul 19, 2014 | , , , , ,

Ralph Bates Civil War Chronicler
Some time ago, in the tourist information centre in Bristol, I saw an information sheet on a literary trail round the city. And that got me thinking that Swindon could surely have such a thing here what with Richard Jefferies and Alfred Williams – neither of whom I knew much about until recently. No sooner had I had this thought than, in one of those curious coincidences that punctuate our lives, what should appear on my social media stream than a piece from the Swindon Link magazine publicizing a forthcoming talk at the Museum and Art Gallery about Ralph Bates. No – I’d not heard of him either. And in his day he was rated as better than Hemingway. Who knew?

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The Western Flyer

The Western Flyer

May 29, 2014 | , ,

So what is the Western Flyer then? It’s an upgrade of an existing cycle and pedestrian route that goes from West Swindon to the town centre via Barnfield, Bruce Street Bridges and North Star, bringing you into town across from Holbrook House on Station Rd. It incorporates National Cycle Network Route 45 . The National cycle network is a ‘series of safe, traffic-free lanes and quiet on-road routes that connect to every major city and passes within a mile of 55 per cent of UK homes.  It now stretches 14,500 miles across the length and breadth of the UK. 

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Swindon Arts Centre: The Bradford Hall

Swindon Arts Centre: The Bradford Hall

May 14, 2014 |

Last night I was in the Arts Centre for the first time in ages for a Swindon Festival of Literature event. And I haven’t attended anything in that for 3 years as it’s always clashed with summer exam time. But having sat my final, final exam the previous day I was up there! As ever, when I visit either of the theatres in Swindon, the Wyvern or the Arts Centre I have cause to reflect on how fortunate we are in Swindon to have two such fabulous theatre venues.

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The Seven Wonders of Swindon

The Seven Wonders of Swindon

Mar 7, 2014 | ,

We are most of us familiar with the 7 wonders of the ancient world:

1.The great pyramid of Egypt
2. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon
3. The statue of Zeus at Olympia
4. That well-known temple of Artemis at Ephesus
5. One mausoleum at Halicarnassus
6. Rhode’s Colossus …
7. .. and the lighthouse of Alexandria.

Only one of which – the pyramid – still remains.

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Portrait Bench South Marston Cycle Path

Portrait Bench South Marston Cycle Path

Jan 11, 2014 | , , ,

I just love social media! One of my Twitter and blog followers sent me this photo,which is great, as being a non-driver and bogged down in studies I don’t get to all four corners of our town.

What you are looking at is piece of public art that is also a handy bench: a perfect marriage of form and function indeed! But not just any old bench.

This here is a Portrait Bench. So now, not only do I know about this lovely bench, I also know about the concept of portrait benches and a little bit more about Swindon’s history. And it started with a Tweet!

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Retro Swindon Roadsigns

Retro Swindon Roadsigns

Oct 27, 2013 | ,

A largely pictorial post featuring various Retro Swindon roadsigns. Some are in Swindon and some are somewhat further afield.

I’ve featured them here for not much other reason than that they have lasted this long and it feels like a nice thing to have some pictures of them here. Seems like a good enough excuse to me.

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Swindon in 50 more buildings

West Swindon – What the eye doesn’t see

Swindon – A Born Again Swindonian’s Guide

We Are Swindon