Page 26 - link magazine

Swindon wide
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Wiltshire Festival Old mates meet up after 54 years Feast of visuals
tickets now on sale Swindon's Museum of the Great Western Railway STEAM celebrates at Swindon Arts
its first birthday on Thursday 14 June with talks at 1 pm and 2pm about 'Think Art' Festival
In just 12 weeks Lydiard Park its creation and at 4pm, the cutting of a birthday cake.
comes alive with music for all tastes. Swindon's first community visual
Despite its bear hug in arts festival takes place from Sat-
The Wiltshire Festival Classical
bumpy be- an engine urday 23 June to Sunday 1 July,
Extravaganza on Friday 24 August
ginnings be- cab, not the writes Rosa Matheson.
will feature the English National kind of act
Symphony Orchestra conducted by cause of ini- There will be numerous exhibi-
tial low visitor macho men tions of art of all shapes, sizes and
Jae Alexander with tenor PeterAuty
and one of Britain's leading so- numbers, of the past mediums - pastels, photography,
pranos Lynne Dawson, who sang STEAM is would get sculpture, ceramics, paintings - all
getting into its up to we over the place. And many schools
at Princess Diana's funeral.
The Morriston Orpheus Choir will stride with thought. will be doing their own thing.
fascinating It turned Look out for fun happenings -
give voice en-masse and the Band
exhibitions, out that ex- 'Art Challenge' and 'I am a Work of
of the Scots Guards will entertain Together again, Gordon, Denis & Norman
such as a d r i v e r Art' around the town centre and at
the revellers during their picnics
new one about the world's greatest Denis Sawyer from Stratton St the outlet village. Don't miss the
before the main performances.
industrial designer IK Brunel until Margaret, making his second visit, Stroud and Swindon photographic
Boy band Five headline the Party
in the Park on Sunday 26 August, September and lots of fun events had come across former colleague competition for playgroups, the
forfamilies, like the Victorian Steam Gordon Shurmer whom he had last 'draw your dad' event in the town
with a host of other acts including
top reggae band Aswad and Ca- Fair on 30 June and 1 July. seen in 1947 when he left the GWR. centre and the Evening Advertis-
price, Atomic Kitten and 80s group STEAM is more than nostalgia After the emotional reunion, both er's art competition.
for the past set against giant hunks men now 80 years of age talked The main exhibition, dedicated
Go West. R n' B singer Kenny
Thomas and Dane Bowers have of metal. It's unusual to visit a mu- about old comrades, the paths their to 'body art,' will be held in the
been added to the line-up and more seum where you can talk to the lives have taken in the last 54 years Brunel Centre, thanks to the gen-
names are to be announced. people who contributed to its con- and of course, driving steam en- erosity of Westfield. We welcome
Tickets are now on sale at the tent in their working lives. gines. entries around the theme such as
Wyvern Theatre or from the credit Once a month former engine driv- "I did not recognise Denis at life drawings, portraits, represen-
ers, firemen and railway drivers first," said Gordon. "But when he tations of body parts, religious rep-
card booking hotline: 01285
can be found on the footplate chat- smiled, I knew him immediately. It resentations, body adornment, ab-
861395.
Classical: £18 (£20 from 29 July) ting to visitors about working for was a great surprise, it's lovely to stracts or anything you can think
£5 for under 10s. the GWR and the experience of see him again." of.
controlling what one described as You might not witness such a There are no entry fees and there
Party: £19 (22 from 29 July) £12 for
'a bomb on wheels travelling at 80 moment, but chatting with ex-GWR is a prize of £250 sponsored by
under 10s.
Tickets may be sold subject to an miles an hour.' workers is a rewarding experience. Nationwide.
When The Linkphotographervis- Meet the workers takes place on If you are an artist we would like
agency booking fee.
ited STEAM on 12 May, we met 1 6 June, 14 July and 25 August. to hear from you on 463197, e-
two ex-drivers giving each other a www.steam-museum.org.uk mail: [email protected]
`O E ATIp ryJ ^^ .
4 g
,a J.F.K . a
a Roves Farm is open again
BUILDING After the appalling consequences of the foot-and-mouth crisis, Roves Farm opened its visitor centre near
Highworth again on 26 May, for people to come and enjoy the countryside. Farmers Rupert and Joanna Burr
SERVICES
are extremely relieved to be able to invite the public back on to their farm. All the usual attractions and facilities
Extensions, Alterations, will be available, plus lots more. Rupert writes:
Because farmers still can't trade Candy with their two kids, will be
Renovations
animals, there won't be quite so showing off alongside the horses,
All aspects of garden many farm pets in the buildings, donkeys, ducks and chicks. Some
construction including fencing but those that are there will be of the other fitter animals have
pleased to see visitors again. They been in training for the races that
All general building work
include Perky and Sam the pigs take place at weekends and school
Tel: Mr J.F. Keenan who are currently on an extended holidays and some of the sheep
honeymoon. will get their hair cut as well.
(01793) 727824 The Angora goats, Roger and Besides the animals, there are
lots of things to do. Every day there
will be a 'crafty half hour' where
anyone will be able to go along and
collect bits and pieces from around
the farm to make into a memento
to take away.
There will be a couple of electric main maze covers over 2 acres
tractors for the youngsters to be- and has two and a half kilometres
come real farmers for a few min- of hedgerows. It has its own ever-
utes. The big straw bale 3-D maze lasting millennium dome, over thirty
is bigger, better and darker than feet across and guaranteed to give
before. The toddler indoor area entertainment for years to come.
now contains a sandpit. Come and see if you can beat the
The Great Western Outlet Village Pride of place, however, this year skills of the world's best maze de-
are the two mazes that have been signer.
Kemble Drive, Swindon planted in a paddock. The smaller Roves Farm is open Wednes-
Tel: 01793 423484 one is ideal for toddlers to get to day to Sunday, 11 am to 5pm. It
understand what a maze is all about can be found at Sevenhampton, 3
Workshop tel: 01793 495204 - the task is to find the golden egg miles north east of Swindon. Tel:
that the magic hen has laid. The 763939. www.rovesfarm.co.uk