Local History Hero - Andy Binks

Local history stalwart Roy Cartwright recently posted an article on Facebook in praise of the Local Studies Collection in Swindon Central Library, which gave me an idea.

Over the next few weeks I intend writing about the unsung heroes of the Swindon local history fraternity. Some have written books, but not all of them; some write blogs, but not all of them. Some are Chair of this or secretary of that but what they all have in common is a passion for local history.

I'm beginning with my cemetery partner in crime, Andy Binks and if you haven't met him on the local history trail - where have you been?

For several years Andy and I (and Noel who I'll come to next) have conducted guided walks at Radnor Street Cemetery. Andy has been known to rescue shattered gravestones, attend to a bit of cemetery DIY and regularly liaises with SBC to make sure the cemetery continues to be maintained and protected.

But that's not all he does!

Andy is Chair of the Swindon Society, an organisation that records the social history of the area as shown by the camera since the 1850s. The Swindon Society meets at Goddard Park School on the second Wednesday of the month from September to May. Visit the website where you can read the latest newsletter and details about how to join.

Along with all the 'stuff' a Chair has to do, Andy also writes and presents talks, which he delivers to not only the Swindon Society but other clubs, groups and societies in the Swindon and district area.

An Evening with Joyce was an event all who saw it will long remember. Former schoolteacher, artist, poet and pianist Joyce Murgatroyd had lived the entirety of her long life in Rodbourne Cheney. In a series of talks with Andy in 2012 Joyce talked about life in her village.

More recently Andy has been in conversation with local artist Ken White. His sold out talk at Christ Church was later repeated at the Swindon Museum and Art Gallery. Part two in which Andy and Ken talk about railways and landscapes takes place on Thursday November 28.

So what else does Andy do? Well there are guided walks around Old Town and the Railway Village delivered to parties of adults as well as Swindon schoolchildren. Then there are the cemetery walks oh and yes he's written a book - Swindon Works Through Time co-authored with Peter Timms. He doesn't write a blog though, he's far too busy for that.

If only we could bottle and circulate Andy's knowledge and enthusiasm, Swindon's heritage would be in safe hands.

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