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Time to start planning for Swindon 175

NEXT year marks 175 years since 2016 a significant year for the town’s people to ask ‘why are you here?’
New Swindon came into being and
Steam Museum income generation community groups and schools
manager Ian Surtees is calling on who have ideas about how the
residents to find out more about the anniversary can be celebrated.
town’s history and to look at what “Let’s shake off whatever
they can do to contribute to the negativity there is about Swindon.
celebration. This is an opportunity for everybody
In 1840 railway engineer Daniel to participate in what makes
Gooch, who surveyed the route for Swindon great.”
a new railway to run from London Ian added that negotiations are
to Bristol, wrote to Isambard taking place with the National
Kingdom Brunel recommending Railway Museum in York to bring
that the Great Western Railway back two iconic products of
company build a refuelling and King George V, the iconic Swindon works engine, dressed to celebrate Swindon railway works: King George
repair workshop in farm fields in the part of the town’s history. From the Roy Nash image collection V and the City of Truro. Exhibitions
county of Wiltshire, below the small and special events are being planned
hilltop town of Swindon. and were the driving force of the 2010 to give the town five years to at Steam and Lydiard House.
Brunel and the board accepted industrialisation of Britain. Swindon prepare. One meeting was held with Discussions are also taking place
the proposal and the rest is history played a major role in that process the council and interested parties with the two oldest businesses in
as they say. But for Ian, 1841 is the and we should celebrate it.” such as Forward Swindon, but Swindon. Deacon’s in Old Town are
year when things started to happen, Ian said former Swindon councillor nothing ever came of it.” looking at producing celebration
no doubt to the horror of the good David Glaholm had suggested 2016 Ian agrees that 175 years is more timepieces, and Arkell’s will brew an
burghers of Swindon at the time. was a worthwhile anniversary. than just history and heritage. anniversary beer.
“It’s the year when work actually Five years ago, then-Swindon “Planning is just starting and Ian would also like Gooch’s crucial
started on site, the year when the Advertiser editor Dave King wrote we want to hear of projects and letter, now in the national archives
foundations of what we know as an article explaining why it was initiatives that will get the people at Kew, to be displayed at Steam.
Swindon today were laid; it’s the important to mark the year. of Swindon involved in some way to If you have an idea about how
reason why we are all here now,” Speaking to The Link, he said: “I ask the question: why are you here? 2016 can be marked, email:
said Ian. was trying to promote 175 years “It would be great to hear from [email protected]
“The railways were the highest as a catalyst to celebrate all that is businesses who provide so many job n Vote for Steam’s tourism hero:
form of technology of the day good about the town. This was in opportunities and from individuals, P21.

swindonlink.com n February 2015 7