Swindon in the Past Lane

Another of the many faces of Town Gardens was on show today where British Slackline Walker Champion, Jake Hirsch-Holland embarked upon a fund raising endurance test. Families on a Saturday walk, children on bikes and boys carrying footballs all stopped to watch as Jake set himself the challenge of walking 5 kilometres across a 50 metre long slackline strung between two trees. Known on the circus circuit as Jake the Juggler he developed his skills at home at Lower Shaw Farm under the watchful eye of Jim Semlyen.  Today Jake shares his expertise with individual and group tuition sessions at the farm and is available for bookings at other venues.  Contact Jake for more information at Lower Shaw Farm. Today's event was in preparation for a tour next year when Jake and his crew - Team Land Pirates - will be travelling with Performers Without Borders. The circus entertainers will spend three months in Nicaragua teaching their skills to vulnerable children. Jak...

The doom laden weather forecast failed to dampen yesterday's 10th Swindon Mela where a multitude of Asian food, craft and alternative health therapy stands, plus traditional music and dance acts, managed to squeeze into the Town Gardens along with some 20,000 visitors. Swindon's multicultural festival attracts visitors from across the South West and organisers are rightly proud that the Mela has always been a safe, family friendly event. On the Showcase Stage Kizzy Kukreja introduced a wealth of local talent including the Bollywood Dreamers and the vibrant Swindon Stars while on the main stage in The Bowl a host of established stars had the crowd on their feet.  From up and coming Punjabi vocalist Lovely Singh to award winning Navin Kundra, who kept the audience entertained during a cloud burst. And even when the predicted storm arrived festival goers continued to party. Peacock Dance by children from the Tamil Association ...

By the bandstand in Town Gardens is the perfect place to play, as the children pictured here reveal.  Following heavy early morning rainfall the sun came out and turned the bandstand into a shimmering playground for young and old alike. Three friends attract an admirer as they sit and eat their packed lunch and trade at the kiosk is brisk - no brown bread left when I order my cheese and onion toastie. In 1892 the Old Swindon Local Board paid £700 for a seven acre plot of worked out Purbeck limestone quarry between Bath Road and Westlecot Road owned by the Goddard family, long time Lords of the Manor.  Designed by local architect W.H. Read work was completed within 18 months and Town Gardens opened with a flourish in May 1894; the inaugural ceremony an exercise in Victorian pomp and self congratulation. Led by the 2nd Wilts Volunteer Band a procession of 19th century Swindon worthies marched from the Market Square to the new gardens by way of Newport Street and Springfiel...