The Wiltshire Mummers’ Play: Mummers plays are an old Christmas tradition in many parts of the country. A group of friends would dress up, and go round the neighbourhood performing a little play. This had a set script. But, thanks to oral transmission, this would have varied from district to district. In return they received money and food, and, no doubt, drink.
Anglo Saxon Art in Wiltshire
We call it Celtic. Though it’s also Pictish, Viking, or Anglo Saxon. We call it Interlaced though it can be freeform, zoomorphic, spirals or tessellated. What am I talking about? I’m referring to the genre known as Insular art. (Some of which comes from the Mainland…) (Bain 1977).
Wiltshire’s Sarsen Stones
Wiltshire’s Sarsen Stones
A Canadian friend came to stay and, since they were a Neo-pagan, I decided to show them Avebury stone circle, a favourite place of mine. This didn’t go exactly to plan. For a start they were most upset because some Early Medieval people had decided to build their village on a sacred site.
Jubilee Lake Nature Reserve RWB
Jubilee Lake Nature Reserve RWB - Royal Wotton Bassett Here's a smashing guest post from Lis Mcdermot about Jubilee Lake Nature Reserve Royal Wotton Bassett. Until recently I had no idea about this place. And, as you'll see, it took Lis a while to realise it too! We...
The River Ray Parkway Part 2
You may (or may not) remember that Angela and I walked half of the River Ray Parkway last year, from Moulden Hill to John Lewis. This summer (2019) we finally got around to walking the second half, John Lewis to Coate Water.
Community Choirs in Swindon
Thanks to Jo Garton for this lovely guest blog post focusing on some of Swindon’s choirs. Which are many and various.
This is your note – sing it! Swindon’s lungs are bursting with singing opportunities.
Finding self and community in Swindon
14th November 2017 [jetpack_subscription_form] Over the last few weeks and months I've shared on here experiences of, and reflections about, Swindon from friends and clients. They're all under the Switch on to Swindon category on this...
Swindon Symphony Orchestra
31st October 2017 [jetpack_subscription_form] Swindon Symphony Orchestra Yes listeners. We DO have our very own symphony orchestra! Who knew?! Not me until relatively recently. Yet it's been here for twenty-eight years! We also have people performing chamber music...
‘Why I love Old Town’
3rd September 2017 [jetpack_subscription_form] Why I love Old Town Hello listeners Gosh, September is here and autumn is now fast approaching. So here's a nice opportunity to share a few lines and photographs from Odile Motte that are a perfect evocation of long,...
7 reasons to be switched on to Swindon
12rh August 2017 [jetpack_subscription_form] 7 Reasons to Switch on to Swindon Hello listeners. Here we are in August already. Aargh! Where is the year going to? Anyway - here we are with another guest post celebrating our lovely town. This time from Julie Nicholls....
King’s Wood Walk
28th May 2017 [jetpack_subscription_form] King's Farm Wood Walk With the Switch-on to Swindon initiative kicking off this year I thought it would be good to get some perspectives on Swindon from some other people instead of only mine. Read my Switch on to Swindon...
SAPAC: South Asian Performing Arts Centre
28th May 2016 [jetpack_subscription_form] Hello listeners - here we have some lovely information from Indu Sharma about SAPAC! Not so long back I put a post on here about the Swindon Indian Association so this a welcome addition to Born again Swindonian. Read about...