Page 13 - link magazine

The Link Magazine • March 2002 13
Sikh temple becomes new landmark in the town

After a twelve year search for a new worship site, Swindon's Sikh community celebrated the opening of a new Gurdwara or temple in late
January.
Many of the town's 300 Sikh vulnerability to crime. Building project manager Gurdwara is a building of beauty
families with hundreds of friends With a capacity of 800 people, Jaswant Singh Grewal said, "this and elegance of which we are all
from around the country took part the temple is the largest in the West is the only place of worship for the very proud."
in a procession from the former and is open daily for religious ob- Sikh community in Wiltshire. The The Mayor of Swindon coun
temple in Old Town to the 1 David Cox said the tem-
new building on Kembrey ple is a landmark build-
Street for a day of prayer ing for the town and he
which was attended by congratulated Sikhs in
members of other faiths, the town for achieving
civic leaders, the police such a magnificent suc-
and builders Crampton cess.
Leighfield. Sikhism was estab-
Named in honour of the lished by Guru Nanak in
founder of the Sikh reli- 1469 and is based on the
gion Sri Guru Nanak, the principles of peace, har-
temple took 46 weeks to mony, mutual respect
build and cost £1.2 mil- and the belief that all hu-
lion, funded entirely by man beings are children
the Sikh community, and of the same God.
supporters locally and in Mr Grewal said the
other countries. Gurdwara management
Dark orange on the out- committee welcomed
side topped with a golden visitors of all faiths and
dome, inside on two sto- The Mayor of Swindon David Cox and the Mayoress Jenni Dean also children studying re-
reys there is a large prayer outside the Gurdwara with the management committee ligion at school.
hall, a library, classrooms,
kitchens and dining area. At the servances and education. As part
opening Chief Superintendent Ian of the planning consent, the tem-
Maidment, Swindon Divisional ple management committee has to i c
Commander, presented the Wilt- build a community centre on an
shire Police Secure by Design adjacent site for use by Gorse Hill
award in recognition of the effort residents. They expect to do this
made to minimise the building's within five years. More commuters are
buying scooters as
Crucial report on Mechanics due an alternative
means of transport
A long expected study on the fu-
ture of the derelict Mechanics In- Did you know....
stitute in the town centre is due to 'You can ride one
be published at the end of Febru- on a car licence?
ary. 'They can do over
The report by consultants ap- 100+ m.p.g.?
pointed by Swindon Council and \ Road tax is only
funded by English Heritage will £15 per year?
make recommendations on what You can buy a brand
new scooter from
should happen to the building
which stands as a deteriorating C 4 only £999 O.T.R.'?
eyesore to the town's heritage. Atli ^,^ . 311't 11;
New Mechanics Preservation
dOout tll^u.z.
Trust member Martha Parry said
she hoped it would endorse a con- you though
sultants study commissioned by •
the trust in 1996 funded by the seriously
P g
Architectural Heritage Fund. "Our p Ih 1 o, . =SCOO^ar Ol about =;
^ > rh V 99]e1998 2000
study showed it was viable to re- Highly Commended 1999. scooter?
turn it to being a cultural, arts and PeugF- - -!fight
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The Mechanics Institute is a
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Preservation Trust. Psi
ay
Martha Parry shows Swindon South Ooasis V7S4•
MP Julia Drown the January edition
of Civic Focus, the national Civic Trust 233 Ferndale Road, Swindon • Tel: (01793) 5366571
magazine, which featured Swindon
Civic Trust and included several pho-
tographs supplied by The Link