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Swindon Wide 25

Railway relation discovery at Nova
Beth Robinson, a year 7 student at Nova Hreod School, has been united
with a model railway engine, built by her great-great-grandfather, that sits
in the headteacher’s office.
Reginald Hicks was
a railway engineer and
award winning model
builder, creating fully
working model railway en-
gines from his coal house
workshop in Moredon
during the 1920s and 30s.
“I’m quite proud of my
great great grandad,” said
Beth. “My mum, auntie
and gran were chatting
about the engine that he
built at Moredon School,
and Gran was worried that
it might have been thrown
away. I was shocked to
find out that it’s here at
Nova.”
Reg worked on the Beth with Nova headteacher Julie Tridgell and
model during the 1970s Reginald’s legacy to education at Nova Hreod
with the help of Moredon pupils and been a feature of the head’s office FREE Box
metal work teacher John Wintle. In ever since Moredon School became on your
an interview with the Swindon Ad- Hreod Burna, then Hreod Parkway, first order
vertiser of the time Reg said, ‘while and now Nova Hreod.”
the teachers teach the theoretical Reginald died 21 years before
side, I can supply the practical,’ in an Beth was born, but his legacy lives
early example of community learn- on in the very school Beth now at-
ing that perhaps would not be quite tends. She said, “it’s made me really
so straightforward today. interested to find out more about
Nova community coordinator Tom who my great-great-grandad was
Wilkes said, “the locomotive has and what he was like.”

BLUNSDON AT WAR
SWINDON & CRICKLADE RAILWAY
10th/11th SEPTEMBER 2011

Fun for all the family
Adults £8 Concessions £6 Children £5
Family 2 adult 2 children £24
10am
Till
Under 5’s free
6pm
Unlimited Steam train rides with admission

Military vehicles For show information
WW11 trade stands Swindon & Cricklade Railway Contact
Tadpole Lane,
Re enactor’s Blunsdon Mandy Keedwell
Walking history Swindon 01453 890920
Email:
Live battles SN25 2DA [email protected]
Wartime food Charity No: 1067447

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