Railway Town Film

Railway Town Film

May 2, 2016 | ,

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.

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The Civic Society Movement & Swindon

The Civic Society Movement & Swindon

Apr 10, 2016 | , ,

The Civic Society Movement & Swindon. Okay! If you’ve been paying attention at all you’ll know by now that here in Swindon we have an organisation by the name of Swindon Civic Voice. But what you might not know – and I didn’t until relatively recently – is that the civic society movement is a national one and there’s civic voices and civic societies all over the shop.

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Swindon Women’s Aid is 40!

Swindon Women’s Aid is 40!

Aug 20, 2015 | , ,

Swindon Women’s Aid is celebrating its 40th birthday and is holding a number of events to mark this momentous occasion.

Jenni Manners set Swindon Women’s Aid up in 1975, in response to her own experience of domestic violence. This in urn inspired her to help others by providing a safe house to which women and their families could flee.

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The ugliest town in England? Really?

The ugliest town in England? Really?

Aug 19, 2015 | , , ,

Swindon hits the headlines of the nationals – and yet again it’s an insult.
Beauty is only skin deep – and it lies in the eye of the beholder. You may have to dig but it’s there. Okay. There can’t be many of us by now that have missed the recent press coverage by The Telegraph and the Independent of Swindon’s bid to ‘become Britain’s new cultural magnet’ (The Telegraph.)

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Swindon 105.5 Community Radio

Swindon 105.5 Community Radio

Jan 11, 2015 | , ,

Shortly before Christmas 2014 I paid a visit to the studios of Swindon 105.5 community radio for a couple of reasons. One was to talk to Shirley Ludford, the station manager, about the money-raising initiative the station was running in December whereby local businesses could, for a very small fee, have a song of their choice played and talk about their business.

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Christ Church Old Town Swindon

Christ Church Old Town Swindon

Sep 21, 2014 | , ,

Yesterday I paid my first visit to Christ Church Christ Church Old Town Swindon – known also as the Lady on the hill for the occasion of the Autumn fair. It was a really smashing event and, I have to admit, a notch or two up from the autumn/summer/Christmas fairs I used to attend back in little old Whitwell when my daughter was small.

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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