Today has been a special day for Swindon. One that not even some pretty diabolical weather could dampen. Despite the howling wind and driving rain a large crowd stoically gathered outside Swindon’s STEAM museum for a long-awaited and much-vaunted moment.
For today, at 4.30pm outside STEAM museum, the replica hooter was sounded once more to mark the 30th anniversary of the closure of the Swindon Works.
I very nearly didn’t bother to go and I got absolutely drenched. Oh how I suffer for this blog! đ
The year 2016 marks 175 years since the birth of Swindon as a railway town…Made in Swindon: Celebrating 175 years
I am going to design… a Station after my own fancy; that is, with engineering roofs, etc. Isambard Kingdom Brunel
And he did rather didn’t he?
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It’s rather fitting I think, that this multicultural town of Swindon – the new Swindon – was made possible by a man of French descent. Though born in England, Isambard was sent to school in France for a time before returning to work with his father, Sir Marc Isambard Brunel.
Last night I was fortunate enough to attend the launch ‘do’ for a year of celebrations to mark 175 years of the birth of Swindon as a railway town. And a very splendidly done affair it was too.
Not only was the event a fabulous platform (brace yourselves now – railway related word play is likely to puther out as thickly as when the City of Truro was getting up a full head of steam!) to launch the events of 2016, it was also a reminder of just how proud of Swindon we really should be. Yes – becauseof Brunel and God’s Wonderful railway. But not just because of that.
Made in Swindon can be described as ‘Trains, planes and automobiles’ – but gosh there’s so much more besides! YES THERE IS. Don’t doubt it.
Indeed Graham Carter gave a fantastic presentation listing tons of reasons why we should be proud of Swindon. Yup. Tons of fantastic, wonderful amazing ‘things’ that were made in Swindon.
Here – taken at random – are six of them.
The King George V – the most powerful and beautiful loco from the golden age of steam. Made in Swindonin 1927.
The GWR medical fund: this was the forerunner of the NHS and that didn’t come about for another 101 years. Made in Swindon in 1847.
Garrard record decks – Swindon-based inventors of the record changes.
Spitfire – the world’s most iconic aircraft. Made in Swindon since 1943
Cars – from the 1950s Swindon has designed and built cars, including over 2,000,000 Hondas.
So toot the whistle people of Swindon. Get behind the train of events ( I told ya!) – it’s gonna be an awesome, eclectic ride through 2016. You surely don’t want to be the wrong side of the tracks?! đ
Roll on with Made in Swindon: Celebrating 175 years
