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Swindon Wide
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D & L Blinds Becky’s Engineer who eschewed personality
Rollers • Verticals • Venetians for quality and precision
Pleated Blinds • VELUX Mobile
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Conservatory Blinds Local historian Steve Wakefi eld, continuing his review of
Made-to-Measure Curtains Hairdressing the 175th year of the Great Western Railway, considers
QUALITY BLINDS AT (SRSH) the contribution of CB Collett
AFFORDABLE PRICES Over 10 year’s Charles Benjamin or CB Collett was He received the Order of the Brit-
a ‘safe pair of hands’ and became ish Empire for his work during the
Fast and reliable service salon experience 10% off all Chief Mechanical Engineer after fi rst World War. As he approached
All blinds fi tted free Cuts, colours, prices until Churchward from 1922 to 1941. retirement it is said that he was not
Choose from a wide range perms, updos 31/1/ 11 He was a thoughtful, predictable happy about the Swindon Works
of fabrics from the comfort man, with an eye for detail and being geared up for armaments
of your own home 25% off for seniors engineering precision, which was production in WWII.
Contact Paul on 01793 619428 Mobile: 0778 5318003 what the Great Western needed He had witnessed the disruption
after the rationalisation of railway caused to the repair and manufac-
www.dandlblinds.co.uk Home: 01793 574480 companies following World War I. ture of railway equipment between
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Book your
Corporate / Team
building / special Roy Nash’s 1970s picture of CB Collett’s King George V,
event now for this
year and/or next completed in 1927 and weighing 135 tons
He had a completely different at- 1914 and 1918 and believed that
titude to his predecessor and was locomotive and rolling stock produc-
not as domineering. Churchward’s tion was paramount to winning a
designs had satisfi ed the company’s war. Diverting resources and mixing
requirements, therefore Collett con- different forms of war production
centrated on improving the quality was far from ideal.
and speed of manufacture. Collett retired to Wimbledon in
Though more relaxed than 1941 aged 70, and died in 1952.
Churchward it is said that Collett
was aloof and respected by those
around him. Santa at Steam
He was the son of a journalist,
being born in Worcestershire and in December
living within a stone’s throw of There’s plenty going on for Christ-
Paddington Station. He studied mas at the Museum of the Great
engineering at London University, Western Railway, starting with a gift
with a view to becoming a marine fair on Saturday 4 and 5 December,
engineer but arrived in Swindon 10am to 5pm.
to become a junior draughtsman. Steam will be full of stalls sell-
Within fi ve years he was appointed ing luxury gifts and seasonal fayre,
assistant to the chief draughtsman. along with a Christmas cafe and
Once in the role as GWR’s Chief Santa in a magical grotto.
Engineer Collett updated Church- Admission is £2 for adults and
ward’s Star Class and created the £1 for children, free for under 3s
Castle Class. and concessions. Swindoncard
The magnificent Caerphilly discounts or any other offers are
Castle, on display in Steam Mu- not available at this event.
seum, was one of the fi rst. In 1924 There’s a newly improved chil-
it was shown at the British Empire dren’s activity area in the mu-
Exhibition alongside the Flying seum and on Saturdays 4 and 18
Scotsman, which pleased the GWR December, 10am to 4pm, former
board members. steam locomotive drivers, fi remen
Collett went on to design the King and GWR workers will talk to visi-
Class, the most famous of which tors about the age of steam.
King George V was displayed in Smiley Cats Kidz Club for 5
Steam for several years. The loco to 11 year olds is also back on
can now be found in the National Wednesday 22 and Thursday
Railway Museum, (NRM) in York. 23 December, 9.30am to 1pm. For
Collett, was known to be a spiri- details and to book a place call
tualist and a committed vegetarian. 07802 537876.
Never one for taking much interest For details of the Steam pro-
in the town, he did become a local gramme call 466637.
magistrate. www.swindon.gov.uk/steam

23-52 December 10.indd 24 19/11/2010 11:11