Page 21 - link magazine

21

SANTA SPECIALS
Sat 29th & Sun 30th November
In December:
Sat 6th & Sun 7th
Sat 13 & Sun 14th
Sat 20th & Sun 21st
Also Sat 13th, 6pm-8pm
Blunsdon Station
Tadpole Lane.
Tel: 01793 771615
Trains: 11am-4pm
Getting Swindon Thinking www.swindon-cricklade-railway.org
Cafe, shop and free parking
Licenced to carry out wedding and naming ceremonies
April 2009 sees a brand new and innovative project to bring people together, to stimulate the mind and celebrate
what’s good about the town. Mike Pringle, Director of the Swindon Cultural Partnership, describes how.
A hundred and fi fty years ago, ferent bodies and individuals, local Are you looking
Swindon was establishing itself as artists, photographers, galleries, for a new partner?
one of the most caring places in dancers, offi ces, organisations and
the country. shops are involved.
The hard-working people who You can be part of Think:Swindon.
populated Brunel’s railway works We are still open to ideas and sug-
were utterly committed to the gestions – if you have something
wellbeing of their fellow workers going on in April that you think would
and their families. Between them, fi t the season, or you would like to • Would you like to meet someone locally?
they developed the Medical Fund do something, let us know. • Would you like a choice of how you
meet - on-line or at a dinner in a
Hospital, the model for the National We want to involve as many local restaurant?
Health. The workers also formed the people as possible, and all ideas See the new website which covers the
Mechanic’s Institute to provide edu- are valid no matter how small, or Wilts SN postcode area and counties of
cation and self-improvement, and how big. So get in touch with me Berks/Hampshire/Dorset/Somerset/Glos/Oxon
offered an outlet for employment at the Swindon Cultural Partnership Free registration until April 2009 -
grievances long before the advent on: 07780 618 507 or mail at: info@ what have you got to lose?
of trade unions. And Swindon’s local swindonculture.org www.snandsingle.co.uk
paper at the time, the Advertiser, Mike Pringle, promoting positive www.thinkswindon.org
was the country’s fi rst ‘penny’ paper, thoughts about Swindon
devoted to supporting Swindon’s people, with a state-of-the-art
poorer residents. hospital and Swindon was recently
In the light of the town’s magnifi - ranked second lowest for burglary
cent new central library, it is worth rates and has the lowest car crime
noting that Swindon’s very fi rst pub- fi gures in the whole UK.
lic library was created several years So, next April, Think:Swindon
before anywhere else in England will be born, with the simple aim of
had such a facility. celebrating the big-hearted people
Today we continue the tradition of the town.
of being a place that cares about Throughout the month, Think:
Swindon will be promoting exhibi-
tions, shows, events, words, pictures
and gatherings, all on the broad
themes of diversity, inclusion and
tolerance. It won’t be about political
correctness or ticking boxes – the
season will be brimming with inter-
est, art, music, drama, and fun!
A highlight will be the incredibly
powerful Anne Frank and You exhibi-
tion which will visit Swindon for the
whole month.
Although Think:Swindon is being
Anne Frank - in Swindon co-ordinated by Swindon Cultural
© AFF Basel CH/AFS Amsterdam NL Partnership, it involves a host of dif-

Two festivals back to back
Thinking is a great thing to do, one of my favourite activities, and to do
it about Swindon makes it even better, writes Matt Holland, director of
the Swindon Festival of Literature which starts on 4 May 2009.
Think:Swindon complements the plans for regenerating the town and
has connections with people engaged in arts activity across the town,
whilst the Anne Frank exhibition is directly linked to literature, making
past stories relevant today.
Last year I felt the Swindon Festival of Literature had become a festival
of ideas. Think:Swindon fi ts with this entirely.
• Festival of Literature - page 27 • Experience Swindon - page 22

21-52 December 08 extreme.indd 21 21/11/08 11:13:23