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Swindon Wide
26

Former Swindon girl’s fond memories
of growing up in the town
In arts and music, Swindon has earned a fairly respectable name; but this is not yet the case
where fashion is concerned, although Andrew Holden from Haydon Wick is flying the flag for the town
and Britain as a designer in New York. Now a budding fashion model in the United States
speaks to Emma Kimber about her memories of her early life in Swindon.
Lindsey Brown, 20, is putting a little and get me from the playground
bit of Swindon style on the catwalk. because I wanted to play with my
Born at the old Princess Margaret brothers in the area for older kids,”
Hospital, she spent her early child- she reminisces. “I used to love eat-
hood in Freshbrook, when her father ing blackberries straight from the
was based at RAF Fairford with the bushes and trying to climb trees in
US Airforce. Lydiard park; I was quite small so
“I remember going to school at it was more like my brothers pull-
Windmill Hill where the headmaster ing me up.
Mr Messenger used to always come “I really liked the Oasis swimming
pool with its huge water slide and I
desperately miss the fish and chips.”
Far away from the world she
keeps safe in her memories, Lindsey
now lives in Virginia, studying mar-
keting and fashion merchandising at
university and models in New York when she was six - but her ambition
and Washington DC. She wants to has certainly given her the boost
complete a BA degree and a Mas- needed to develop her career. She
ters in her field, and is confident that said, “modelling has taught me to
this is the industry for her. be a more confident and outgoing
Commenting on the cat walk person. I can still be quite shy, but
size controversy, Lindsey says the in this industry you have to learn to
fashion industry is slowly catching break out of your shell.
on that few real people are stick thin “I really admire model Adriana
and needs to appeal Lima who I watched a
to the real world. “In couple years back in
the US I feel there the Victoria’s Secret
is a big focus on Fashion Show. She
‘beauty.’ But they made me think about
are just catching on taking up modelling. It
that not everyone was something about
is a size 2 and that how confident she
all sizes should be was walking down
celebrated. the runway. I wanted
“I’m considered to learn that.
a plus-sized or full- “I also admire Crys-
sized model here, so tal Renn, a plus-sized
while work is coming model. She’s such a
in, it’s not quite in the beautiful woman and
same volume as a shows that size truly
smaller person would experience.” doesn’t matter - I would love to meet
Her modelling is currently tied to her one-day.”
the east coast, within easy travelling With a German mother and an
of her college but she’s hoping work American father and after spending
will take her to California and one her early years in Swindon, Lindsey
day to Europe. is a stylish mesh of her backgrounds.
London’s fashion industry is An embodiment of eclectic, Lind-
renowned for its cutting edge new sey feels that her personal style
designers and for spotting fresh can’t be defined. “My mum is a flight
Sevenhampton, Nr Highworth, Swindon, Wilts. SN6 7QG new talent in the form of models, attendant, so wherever she goes I
01793 763939 www.rovesfarm.co.uk designers and trends. But how ask her to bring something from the
does America compare? “I feel country she is flying to.”
Open Daily Sat,13th Feb to Sun, 21st Feb Londoners have a more realistic Her tip for women looking for the
for Half Term Activities- “The Three Little Pigs” view of what a real woman’s body right garments to wear is: “make
and then Wednesday to Sunday, 10.30-5.00pm looks like, so I would love to one day sure things fit. If it doesn’t fit your
work over in Britain and perhaps body well now, it will never look good.
Full program of events throughout the day to include: Milan. London’s fashion scene is Fashion is made to be creative, so
* Meet & Feed the Animals booming and their Fashion Week is have fun with it.”
* Tractor & Trailer Rides & Electric Tractors amazing; it’s definitely somewhere Wise words from a young woman
* Children’s Themed Glueing and Sticking for newcomers. who is definitely going places.
“I would never rule out moving • For those who attended Windmill
* Activity Barn with Giant Slide and Ball Pond back. If a good opportunity comes Hill Primary School in the late 1980s,
* Big Bale Stack & Bouncy Castle about, I’m there, consider my bags and knew Lindsey’s two brothers:
* Indoor Heated Toddlers Soft Play & Sandpit packed.” Ian is a father of two sons and works
* Granary Tearoom -homemade cakes! Those who knew Lindsey in in armaments, and Stephan is father
Children’s Birthday Parties Swindon will remember a small, of a baby girl and is an alcohol trad-
shy child - she left for the USA ing law enforcement officer.

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