Page 42 - link magazine

42 The Link Magazine • May 1999
Linking people through the arges Protection needed
In the December 1998 Link we met Constance Grove, who lives in Toothill, the great grandaughter of A second historic stained glass
George House, who came to Swindon 1835 with the GWR, one of the very first workers. window at St Mary's Church in
As a result of the information in the 1854 through to 1986. Lydiard Park has been boarded
provided by Connie, The Link has We arranged for Connie to see up because of vandalism.
The 17th Century east window
nominated four members of the her old work place for the first by Abraham Van Linge above the
House family to the memorial Wall time in nearly 50 years, to meet alter was damaged some 10 months
of Names to be created in Steam, Martha and talk about past times. ago. The west window was bro-
Swindon's Millennium Heritage "I shrieked with surprise when I ken by stone throwing vandals on
Centre which opens in Spring 2000. read Connie's story in the Decem-
Our four nominees are George ber Link," said Martha. "Having Palm Sunday, 28 March.
Sarah Finch-Crisp, keeper of
House, his son in law Bill Kirby become fascinated by the lives of
who married Rebecca House, their the people connected with the Lydiard House, said, "both win-
dows are incredibly important in
eldest son Fred, who was Connie's GWR, it really is wonderful to meet terms of their age and what they
uncle, and Connie herself. somebody who worked in this represent. The west window has a
She worked for the GWR En- house."
ginemen and Firemen's Mutual Connie was surprised to see the religious theme without inclusion
of the St John family
Assurance Sick & Superannuation changes. "We used to work on the Repair of both could cost up to
Society for 24 years from 1943, first floors of two houses adminis- £8,000. The congregation is al-
which administered the sickness tering the funds. On the ground Martha and Connie
and widows benefit fund for foot- floor where there is a living room outside her old workplace ready burdened with a huge bill
plate men. The society was based was a board room. I used to hate for repairs to the roof of the Grade
1* listed building.
in one of the houses in the railway taking in the coffee for all those which was set up to provided
village, which delighted Link men sitting round the big table medical services such as doctors, Geoffrey Hill, chair of the church
reader Martha Parry as she now covered in papers and documents. opticians and the hospital." building committee said, "it is a
lives in the very same house, on "All the footplate men and en- Martha said the mutual society great shame we have to spend time
London Street gine cleaners were members of the movement and the medical fund attracting grants and spending so
A former West Swindon resi- mutual society which took in their were great examples of self-help much on the building when we
dent and community activities of- contributions and paid out sick- by the workers themselves. "It has should be directing our effort and
ficer at the Link Centre during the ness benefits, pensions and wid- become a myth that the GWR ran money on extending the word of
God into the communities of Fresh-
1980s, Martha is now one of the ows benefit. It was separate from everything for the workers. In brook and Grange Park."
group campaigning to save the the society (The Yard Club) that truth the company was a hard task
near derelict Mechanics Institute looked after the men and families master which provided as little as
and bring it back into community who worked in the factory. It was it could by way of benefits and Historical talks
use, as it was from its construction also distinct from the Medical Fund support for its staff. The Swindon Society Annual
"The workers had to organise in General Meeting takes place on
order to protect themselves and Wednesday 12 May, 7.30pm at the
Play the their families in sickness, incapac- Broad Green Centre, Salisbury
ity and death. The men's Medical Street, Swindon, followed by slide
Piano Fund Society grew over 100 years
• same day service to a full-scale provision that in- show 'Swindon: Changes in 1998'
• Guaranteed repairs I ' am to S spired the founders of the NHS. by David Bedford.
• For a friendly, helpful Admission free to members, visi-
service, call J Martin Phone Swindon 695235 They had amazing foresight and tors £1. For details call 528418.
for further information were not afraid of getting on and
1 Alnwick, Toothill
organising for themselves." Wilts & Berks Canal Amenity
II uIuJI!IIIIuuIIIIl
Martha said she was really Group (Swindon Branch) invites
pleased that Connie contacted The you to an illustrated talk by Roger
NO NEED TO LIVE WITH HARD WATER Link about George House. "He Halse on The Somerset Coal Canal
CONTACT: was one of the people who shaped Tuesday 18 May, 7.30pm, Drove
Swindon in the last century." Social Hall, Drove Road, Swindon
SWINDON SOF 'WATER The George House story can be Admission £1
II read on the Steam mini-site @
Kinetico Block Salt Water Softeners guarantee soft water 24 hours Details from Henry Smith on 875775
a day. Only 19" high, non-electric, meter controlled. www.swindonlink.com
Rent, lease, purchase. DIY sales & service. Salt delivered.
260 Ferndale Road, Swindon. Tel: 527172 Trust objects to Mechanic's hotel scheme
A planning application to partially demolish and redevelop the near
derelict town centre Mechanics' Institution as a hotel will face an
objection to be submitted by the local preservation trust.
Hillside Building Services'
\ 1 Extensions, loft conversion, 4 •. ^` New Mechanics' In- ; ' and control its dete-
Trustees of the
rioration has been
specialists in all types of building & plastering stitution say the pro- ,^^z r put at £1.25 million.
posal is seriously out ^ 11i 1t1 The trust has also
All work full insured of line with the build- tried to purchase the
tried
+
Contact Dave on 01793 488470 ing's recently up- _ IJ1► U i[i'^ building but the
'I u@ki k6
graded heritage list- gat ^ ' Wg ` owner believes it is
ing. worth more than the District Valu-
They have propsed alternative ers' official estimate of a token £1.
plans showing how the building Prince Charles addressed a con,-
can be used by local people with- ference in Swindon on 26 April on
out destroying its character. But the importance of reusing heritage
attempts to acquire the building buildings.
^xa^ fief ^aixter 71 cc^rat^r has been prevented by Swindon Itis likely that the hotel applica-
o 79 )
1 Council's refusal to issue a full tion will be considered by Swin-
JlL`CYll9Y R3tCC Ev1tri r
8SS099 repairs notice upon the owners. don Borough Council on 1 June or
11 utter free The cost to stabilise the building 22 June.