Page 23 - link magazine

Swindon Wide 23

Day of fun to celebrate canal’s 200th year
Unbeknown to most people, a new section of canal has
been built in Swindon’s Front Garden at Wichelstowe, and
on Sunday 12 September, from 11am, there’s a chance
to visit the area to view progress, learn how the Wilts and
Berks Canal Trust is restoring and reconnecting the canal
which opened in 1810 - and have a lot of fun.
The Wichelstowe Canal Festival will offer a children’s
fun fair, face and henna painting, bouncy castle, vintage
tractor and motor bikes, and arts, crafts and charity stalls.
On and by the water there will be boat trips, canoe
demonstrations, fi shing with equipment and coaches
available. The trust will also display information on the
history of the canal and the restoration project.
Access is via Redpost Drive, off Wootton Bassett Road,
and Croft Road. Car parking is limited and visitors are
encouraged to walk or cycle from West Swindon and Old
Town. See maps showing how to visit the festival site at
www.wbct.org.uk or www.swindonlink.com The canal at Wichelstowe below Old Town, with visitor canal boat inset

Swindon’s heritage deserves recognition says rail historian
The London to Bristol railway line is on a tentative list of places that might be submitted by the government to UNESCO as worthy of world herit-
age status.
And former Swindon mayor and “The invention of the steam rail- cannot be underestimated. World
Toothill councillor Steve Wakefi eld, way is one of Britain’s principal con- Heritage Sites should always be
left, who writes tributions to world industrialisation. the very best example of any type.
monthly in The Link The Great Western Railway was one The GWR is defi nitely the best and
during the GWR175 of the most innovative companies, most important railway; recognition
anniversary year, is refl ecting the genius of Isambard of this worldwide is due.”
appealing to read- Kingdom Brunel,” said Steve. “It was To support Steve’s view write to:
ers to write to the the fi rst mainline railway in the world World Heritage Team, Department
Department for and to this day remains one of the for Culture, Media & Sport, 2-4
Culture, Media & most complete, despite having been Cockspur Street, London SW1 5DH.
Sport in support of in constant operation for 170 years. For a template letter see www.
Swindon. “Swindon’s contribution to this swindonlink.com

Western View layout, courtesy of British Railway Modelling. Western View layout, courtesy of British Railway Modelling. Sponsored by

Great Western

The Big GWR 175 Event of the Year LEGO Show
®
Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th September 2010
10.00am - 5.00pm Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd October
Celebrate 175 years of the GWR with Pete Waterman and the 10.00am to 5.00pm
UK’s best model railways. Traction engines, trade stands, BBQ,
real ale bar and loads more - see website for details. Check out the new website at
www.greatwesternlegoshow.com
View the amazing British TM
The Brickish
Land Speed Record Breaking Featuring amazing model displays built
Association
TM
Steam Car, meet the team entirely from LEGO bricks
and have your photo taken in
the cockpit! The Brickish TM
Association TM
LEGO® and DUPLO® are registered trademarks of the LEGO Group. Copyright 2010
STEAM – Museum of the Great Western Railway, Kemble Drive, Swindon SN2 2TA. Tel. 01793 466637

www.swindon.gov.uk/steam STEAM
D55115 Museum of the Great Western Railway

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