Swindon in the Past Lane

Matt Holland from Lower Shaw Farm writes about arrangements in Swindon for this year's Holocaust Memorial Day on Friday January 27, 2017. The theme for this year is “How can life go on?” First, at 12.00 noon, there will be a short (20 minutes) wreath-laying ceremony by the Cenotaph, Regents Circus. Following this, at 12.30 pm, there will be a gathering for readings and reflection at the Friends Meeting House, Eastcott Hill, Swindon. NOTE: For this event, and in the spirit of the day, we welcome talks or presentations from individuals and groups. If you would like to speak or read at this gathering or know someone else who would like to, please contact the undersigned, beforehand or on the day. We welcome everyone who would like to speak. At this latter event, we expect to be together for approx 1 hour. As well as words and quiet time, there will be light lunchtime refreshments, including sandwiches and hot drinks, provided by Friends, whom we thank. Background Holocaust...

Yesterday we were pleased to host Swindon Pulse Wholefood co-op's 40th anniversary celebration. If you haven't yet discovered this Swindon gem, go along to the great little shop in Curtis street. (You can now park opposite) writes Andrea Hirsch on the Friends of Lower Shaw Farm facebook page. So in view of this auspicious occasion I am publishing an article written in March 2013. The premises at 27 Curtis Street has a long history of retail. In 1971 Jack Trueman ran the long time family butchers shop. Before the Trueman family butchery Thomas H. Cave was a greengrocer at this address and today it is the home of Swindon Pulse Wholefood Co-operative. Co-operative member Cath talked to me from her Bond villain chair in the office behind the shop where Madeline James was busy weighing out and pricing lentils. Swindon Pulse Wholefood Co-operative began in 1976 out of the back of a Morris Minor van pitched up in Swindon’s old market.  The initiative of residents fr...

Bees still busy at work in the Walled Garden at Lydiard House Who would have thought Swindon could boast two literature festivals and a heritage magazine, along with all the other fantastic activities that take place across the year? While the weather most definitely had an end of summer feel about it, there was no end to the summer activities in Swindon this week.  Thursday saw the launch of the second Swindon Festival of Poetry at the Arts Centre in Devizes Road with words of wit and wisdom from festival organisers and guest speaker BBC Wiltshire presenter Mark O'Donnell. Matt Holland, Michael Scott and Hilda Sheehan have put together a fabulous four day festival of words and wit, kicking off on National Poetry Day, October 3 with high points including a M4 Corridor Poetry Day and visits by Roger McGough and Alice Oswald.  Michael Scott will be accompanying Swindon Heritage editor Graham Carter on a Vintage Bus Tour. Tickets cost £10 and sell like hotca...

The 20th Swindon Festival of Literature was well and truly launched today at The Old Reference Library, Swindon with masterful words, music and just a little mayhem. The Swindon Festival of Literature was homegrown at Lower Shaw Farm in 1993 in collaboration with Book Auctioneer Dominic Winter and today remains a Swindon based enterprise with local designers, printers and organisers.  Festival guru Matt Holland looked back over a score of literature festivals with pride, affection and a rhyming couplet before embarking upon a Think Slam!  challenge  with Sara-Jane Arbury. Matt touted for support with the promise of complimentary tickets but Sara-Jane won by 253 points to 235 as she questioned the need to wear clothes and declared 'body freedom's no crime.' Next came Linda Lee, choir mistress extraordinaire, founder of the Swindon Scratch Choir, and Lower Shaw Farm volunteer Kelly, who sang The Wandering Aengus by W.B. Yeats. Rod Bluh, long serving Leader of Swi...