Page 22 - link magazine

Swindon Wide
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• New Term Another legendary reputation
RHINO established at the GWR

• New Shoes Railway historian Steve Wakefi eld describes the infl uence
RITE of Joseph Armstrong on the GWR and the town of Swindon
In 1864 Daniel Gooch left the GWR, lieries, Armstrong began working Gooch who had wanted Joseph Arm-
START • START RITE • BOOTLEG • CLARKS • Brunel had been dead for fi ve years, with these new fangled machines. strong to replace him at Swindon and
directly challenged the chairman of
and dark clouds were looming as Extraordinarily, compared with mod-
the company was heading for a ern times, he started driving them the GWR Board, when he found out
• SHOES FOR KIDS fi nancial crisis. whilst still at school. His knowledge that he had not put Armstrong on the
Joseph Armstrong, born in 1816, of their construction and how best to short list; Gooch won. Shortly after-
from
CLARKS Old Town, Swindon was possibly one of the fi rst young operate them marked him out early wards the board appointed Gooch to
BLAYLOCKS
the position of chair-
men to realise every little boy’s dream as a great railway
Bath Road Corner
man, and Gooch is
to be an engine driver. Inspired pioneer.
By the age of 38
the company from
• Tel: 534271 by watching locomotives such as Joseph Armstrong credited for saving
Puffi ng Billy at work in nearby col-
was something of bankruptcy.
Joseph Arm-
THE COMPLETE a legend in his own strong was ap-
lifetime. He was
CURTAIN SERVICE FULL not a GWR man pointed locomotive
superintendent. He
in the sense of the
CURTAINS TO SATISFY Swindon meaning brought his family to
EVERY REQUIREMENT COLOUR but nonetheless Swindon to a house
•Free estimating, design & advice he became a GWR that the GWR built
•Home visits by appointment great. Fortunately for him. He imme-
•Make-up and fi tting service BANNERS for the company diately began to
BLINDS OF ALL KINDS he had been ‘ac- make the works a
•Wooden •Venetian & FLAGS safer place, intro-
•New linen •Roman quired’ when the Photo: STEAM Museum of the GWR
•Verticals •Roller Birmingham Chester ducing ventilation,
•New Eastern materials Railway was taken over. His creden- lighting and safer working practices.
FREE PARKING OUTSIDE THE SHOWROOM tials and pedigree were impeccable Radically he opened a workshop for
at 252 CRICKLADE ROAD having been acquainted with early women in 1874.
Open Mon to Thurs 9am - 3.30pm; Fri & Sat 9am - 12pm 01793 542678 railway pioneers. Workers knew him for his ex-
Call Tracey or Amanda on 01793 611051 or George Stephenson and Tim ceptional kindness and his caring
[email protected] 26 Eastcott Hill, Swindon SN1 3JG Hackworth infl uenced the boy into paternalism.
www.completecurtainservice.co.uk www.graphicservices.uk.com
Final Ad (Nov) 28/10/09 17:13 Page 1 becoming an engineer, Hackworth Joseph Armstrong was a great
spent time teaching the teenage railway engineer, there is no doubt
Calling local clubs Armstrong how to drive locomotives about that, but he was also a man
and by the age of twenty he was a of Christian zeal.
A Methodist lay preacher, Arm-
locomotive driver on the Liverpool
and groups Manchester Railway. strong held strong beliefs in the
George Gray brought Armstrong work ethic, fi nancial prudence, social
to the Hull & Selby Railway and welfare and public service. He was
promoted him into the position of infl uential in ensuring provision for
foreman of the running sheds at worship and Swindon had more
Hull where he learned from Gray all churches of all denominations. It was
there was to learn about advanced even suggested that Swindon had
locomotive design and construction. the most religious minded populace
When Gray left the Hull and Selby of all industrial towns in England.
Railway for the London and Brighton, 28 and 29 August – Workers
he took Armstrong south with him. Weekend. Railway workers and their
He was made foreman, working with families from all over the country
another railway ‘great’ David Joy will gather at STEAM Museum to
But Gray did not stay long at celebrate the history of the GWR.
Brighton and when he left Arm-
strong soon followed him and was Swindon to become the
appointed to a superintendent posi- centrepiece of world heritage?
tion at Chester, where he was when An application to make the 116
INTRODUCTORY the GWR absorbed Birmingham mile stretch of railway line between
OFFER
25% OFF Chester Railway Company in 1854. London and Bristol has been short-
THE FIRST MONTH
WHEN MAKING A
Daniel Gooch knew and trusted listed to become a UNESCO World
BLOCK BOOKING
Armstrong and gave him a free hand Heritage Site in recognition of the
Ask for details
at the Wolverhampton railway works. historical signifi cance of the Great
We have extensive facilities Facilities include: Here Armstrong was able to get on Western Railway.
• Grass pitches
for hire to suit your needs • Floodlit all-weather pitches with constructing locomotives and Steve Wakefi eld welcomed the
• Sports halls
• General purpose halls he designed and built his famous bid to the Department of Culture,
Based in new schools covering the North Swindon area, we have a • Dance studios 2-2-2 express loco. A powerful Media and Sport. “This is great news.
large range of facilites for community groups and clubs to use after • Classrooms locomotive, it was ahead of its time Railways are without a shadow of
school hours between 6-10pm weekdays and all weekend. Whatever • Meeting spaces
you're running, we have the space you're looking for. • Community rooms and set the trend for GWR design doubt one of this country’s greatest
• Facilities available for
Please contact Amy now to discuss your needs. children with disabilities: for the next decade. contributions to the modern world,
trampoline, ball pond In 1864 Gooch resigned from the and the GWR was key to this.
and hydrotherapy pool
• Disabled access GWR and at the same time Gibson, “Swindon’s contribution was put-
Call 020 7901 3459 • Catering facilities who was the Carriage and Wagon ting the great into the GWR. I hope
email: [email protected] • Parking
Superintendent also retired. It was the application goes forward.”
21-52 August 10.indd 22 15/07/2010 13:00