Page 2 - link magazine

The Link Magazine • December 1998
2
Steam gets underway

Clock starts ticking for Heritage Centre millennium opening
BELVOIR A ceremony full of symbolism on 5 November formally started work on creating the country's finest
museum dedicated to the railways and the people who worked on them.
In front of several hundred ex- Speeches and a fanfare of trum- Community and Leisure Serv-
Belvoir provides a most railway workers and their fami- pets preceded the moment, and ices Chief Officer John Fisher said,
complete and profes- lies, Alf Neate, the last foreman in fireworks and a peel of bells fol- "Steam will add to Swindon's long
the old GWR A shop restarted a lowed. list of credentials as one of the
sional Property Manage- clock at the same time Swindon's Located in the 70,000 square foot most vibrant centres in the coun-
ment Service. railway works closed twelve years R shop, which was started in 1843, try.
ago. adjacent to the main railway line, "We are shining a light from the
Our reputation, competi-
tive rates and personal
service are acknowl-
edged throughout the
\chievement
UK. Swiridvfl - .\ C mlnWlIlY HuiJI oil
Landlords & Tenants,
for information, listings,
insurance, Buy to Let
schemes and impartial
advice:

Call Belvoir Now
teat Wnturn Ruliw
FREEPhone
0800 7316069
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AWNWh
http://
www.belvoirgrouj..com Former railway worker Alf Neate restarts the works clock watched by council
leader coun. Maurice Fanning, and coun. Derique Montaut, Community and
Leisure Services Committee chairman
HK97 the centre will be a major focus for past into the future."
Swindon's millennium celebra-
To be found next to the Great
tions when it opens in Spring 2000, Western Designer Village, the her-
itage centre will quickly become
ebrates its centenary as a local gov-
CHINESETAKE-AWAY the year when the town also cel- one of the major tourist attractions
ernment. of its kind in the country.
w Funded by an £8 million Herit- However the lottery funding
age Lottery Fund grant, £1 million depends on £300,000 being raised
from Swindon Borough Council, from local sources. Only £50,000
1999 Year of the Rabbit and the rest from local business, has been contributed so far. Lot-
Humans born under the sign of the rabbit are gifted, ambitious and 'Steam - The Museum of the Great tery rules determine that for every
smooth talkers. Other people respect and trust them and they are Western Railway' will transcend £1 not raised, £3 will be withdrawn
renowned for their good taste. Rabbit people enjoy light gossip, but if it conventional ideas of a museum. from the total lottery grant.
gets vicious will refuse to participate. Rabbit people can endure a gre
deal of irritation before losing their tempers. In business they are Visitors will be offered interac-
clever; they firmly believe that "a promise is a promise" and their wo tive, hands-on, state-of-the-art at- Why is another major feature of
contract. Although rabbit people can be affectionate, they have
is tractions which will celebrate both the town's heritage in decay
a rather detached attitude in family relationships.Weeping for no the machinery built in Swindon and dereliction?
apparent reason is one of their weaknesses.They are often
melancholic. In some areas rabbit people remain uninformed and the huge numbers of people The Link has made available two
probably because they are not seekers of knowledge. who worked 'inside' the GWR pages in this edition for The New
They're lucky financially, with an uncanny sense for picking a works. Mechanics Institute Preservation
winner- this makes them good gamblers. However, in money Displays will feature educa- Trust to present their plans in their
matters, they usually think things over carefully.
tional exhibits, audio-visual bid to buy and redevelop the der-
The LunarYears of the Rabbit
shows, computer graphics and elict building in the town centre
in the western calendar
multimedia presentations, along- for the benefit of Swindon people.
February 19, 1939— February 7, 1940
side locomotives, such as the huge Turn to pages 29 to 30.
February 6. 1951 —January 26, 1952
January 25,1963—February 12.1964 King George V. and rolling stock.
February II. 1975 —January 30, 1976
January 29,1987— February 16.1988 Welcoming those attending the First railway worker's doctor
February 16, 1999 - February 4,2000 launch, coun. Derique Montaut, debate heats up
Return your 1998 Chinese Zodiac Calendar and get 50% OFF chair of the community and lei- The great great granddaughter of
all menu items up to £ 55 between 5 January and end of sure committee said the event was the very first GWR worker has disa-
March 1999 (excluding Fri & Sat) a 'significant day in Swindon's cul- greed with an article in the No-
tural history' and noted the 'huge vemberLinkas to who was the first
Town Square West Swindon Centre
sense of expectation for Steam, doctor to treat railway workers.
Tel: (01793) 886871 particularly amongst ex-GWR Turn to page 31 to learn more about
employees.' George House, the first worker.