Page 25 - link magazine

Swindler Wide 25

An important record of Swindon in the past
A free exhibition at Swindon Museum & Art Gallery in Old Town which runs until 16 May looks back
at Swindon's recent past, writes museum curator Isobel Thompson.
'Swindon in Focus' is a rather spe- Western Railway for more
cial exhibition because it pays trib- than forty years and pur-
ute to two individuals who between sued his hobby as an ama-
them made huge contributions to- teur photographer with pro-
wards the history of Swindon. It fessional enthusiasm: his
also shows a glimpse of a wonder- images are anything but
ful collection of photographs. most amateurish.
of which have not been seen in He was a long-time mem-
public for 30 years or more. ber of the Swindon Camera
The photographs were taken by Club, and a founder mem-
Denis Bird. who lived in Swindon ber of the Swindon Society
from 1940 until his death in Octo- in the 1970s.
ber 20C1. He worked for the Great He began taking photo-
graphs of the town during
Pillars of the Baptist Tabernacle on
Regent Street. opposite the Town the 1940s and continued
Hall through the 1960s and
1970s. These were years Girls out for a hike in the 1960s pictured by Denis Bird. Who are they?
when Swindon was chang-
ing enormously: old buildings were doubt. was choosing the photo- volumes have been produced.
coming down, new ones going up. graphs. It was not easy to draw up When Denis died in 2001 he left
Denis was there with his cam- a shortlist. They were all so good. his photographs to Brian. Brian
era. catching the moment. He had In the end we decided to show a himself died in April 2003, after a
the knack of being in the right place selection which tell something of long fight against cancer.
at the right time. So we see the his breadth of skill as a photogra- Despite his illness, in the months
Town Hall through the scaffolding pher. So there are many photo- before his own death, Brian was
of Swindon College. the old Post graphs of Swindon. but there is hard at work cataloguing and iden-
Office in Regent Circus being de- also portraiture and still life. tifying the photographs so that they
molished, the Baptist Tabernacle The exhibition is dedicated to could become a useful resource.
being cleaned, a 1960s bus driving Brian Bridgeman. He and Denis Work continues to ensure a safe
along High Street and the Brunel were friends fora longtime, founder future for this outstanding collec-
shopping centre under construc- members of the Swindon Society tion of images.
ti on. and instrumental in publishing the The ground floor exhibition is
The hardest task during the Society's 'Swindon in Old Photo- free to enter, so do please pay us
preparation of this display, without graphs' book series. To date six a visit.

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ans pleated?

Super Sunday Lunch in C a .et'a , Just come along,
eat as much as you like. Three courses & coffee £13.50.
Main course only (one visit) £7, Kids menu £5.50.

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