Page 17 - link magazine

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THE LINK MAGAZINE'S GUIDE TO WHAT'S ON IN AND AROUND SWINDON
Thames Avenue,
Greenmeadow
Swindon in Focus: a tribute to a photographer's foresight
Call 520813 to book an
A unique record of the town discovered just over two years ago will be appointment
revealed in a free exhibition at the Swindon Museum and Art Gallery
from 31 January to 16 May. p '^
ThepicturestakenbyDenisBird, changing town. Until he died, I
mostly in the 1960s. captures a never realised how many pictures ' - -^
town in transition, growing away he had taken. There must have
from its railway roots and reacting been 30,000 images to be sorted.
to the changes in society through "Denis also took cine film and • Quality Portraiture
the fashions and hair styles. experimented with early video re- • Specialist Weddings
Bird died in October 2001, but cording. People used to ask him to
nobody really knew the extent of copy old photographs which means
the photographic collection he left he preserved many rare images
to his friend Brian Bridgeman and taken in earlier years. An Established Studio
the Swindon Museum Service. In "He had remarkable foresight to With An Unrivalled
October 2002 Brian told The Link, record an important social history." Reputation
"Denis and I were friends for many Brian Bridgeman died last Octo-
years and founded the Swindon ber and the exhibition is dedicated
Society together to record the to his memory.
Penny for the guy. A typical Bird
picture of life around Swindon.
Could he have taken a picture like The Barn, 116 High St. Blunsdon
this today without being arrested?

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Above, the Old Town Fair in the 1960s. Below, the gardens of Goddard
House in The Lawn which was demolished in 1952. Both black and white
photographs were hand tinted by Denis Bird. I H F ..:

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Monda 5th - Saturda 10th April
Monday,1.30pm. Tues - Thurs, 2.30pm & 7.30pm. Friday & Saturday, 5pm & 8pm
Tickets £1050- £23.50. Concessions available
WYVERN THEATRE '
swmoon
THEATRE SQUARE, SWINDON
Box OFFICE: (01793) 524481 CI.EARCHANNEL