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Royal visit to pay tribute to town’s flying hero

HRH The Duke of Gloucester will of the skies over southern England in tribute to the 544 pilots killed in
be guest of honour at Swindon in the Summer of 1940. the battle, including Harold Starr,
Remembers, on 15 September, a The Duke, an Honorary Air Marshal will close the ceremony.
VIP commemoration organised by in the RAF, will meet members of HRH will then attend Swindon
Swindon Heritage marking the 75th Harold’s family, including 93 year Station to name a First Great
Anniversary of the Battle of Britain. old Peter Starr Mills from Dorset Western Class 43 locomotive SQN
He will visit the Commonwealth who attended Harold’s funeral on 6 LDR HAROLD STARR.
War Graves Cemetery at Radnor September 1940. Read the full story at:
Street to honour Swindon born pilot A flypast over Harold’s grave by www.bit.ly/bobvisit
Squadron Leader Harold Starr, and Spitfires and Hurricanes of the • See page 29 for details of Battle
all the pilots who fought for control Battle of Britain Memorial Flight of Britain events.

A new vision for Swindon to be unveiled

Swindon hasn’t exactly got the the private sector and voluntary and
best name for itself, but a new and residents’ organisations.
sustained marketing campaign is “A good example of this is what CYCLE REPAIRS
going to change negative outlooks happened to our leisure services
according to borough council leader which were transferred to GLL FREE
David Renard, right. which is an independent trust. We
He said all will be revealed at the had to cut our leisure budget but collection &
council’s cabinet on 9 September: still managed to keep the facilities. delivery from
“The report to members will give “Swindon is a town that has some home or work
the detail but essentially it is about very good stuff going for it. There
creating a sustainable vision for the are excellent facilities and parks, The BIKE DOCTOR
town. centrepiece of a ‘cultural quarter,’ but people see the town centre and
“We need a plan for the whole of complemented by restaurants and judge us by that. With regeneration Over 35 years experience
Swindon over the next 15 years. It’s bars, and a new performance venue. schemes such as Regent Circus, the Servicing and repairs
a town that we should all be proud Coun Renard added: “Robert Kimmerfields development around We also sell parts & accessories
of but there’s a lot of work to do to has done a great deal already by the bus station as well as the www.bikedoctorswindon.co.uk
change people’s perceptions.” putting his name to the project cultural quarter, it is not an impos- For fast, friendly service, call
Part of the campaign is to make as he is hugely influential. But sible task to finally change people’s Phil Mitchell: 874873 day or evening
Swindon a cultural hub to visitors it’s not just Robert, this is a joint perceptions.” or 07850 650956 (mobile)
from around the world. Robert project between the council, private
Hiscox, founder of the insurance enterprise and the Arts Council;
empire and a noted art collector, hopefully together we will achieve
Discovery
who lives close by, has been involved what we want.”
with Swindon’s ambitious £20 mil- In an article published in The Discovery
lion project to replace the museum Telegraph on 18 August, Mr
starts
and art gallery in Old Town. Hiscox said: "Swindon is not a
It is home to what experts rate tourist destination, but it has an art starts
as one of the most important col- collection which everyone admires, a
here
lections of 20th Century British Art good ceramics collection, and a great
and includes works by Lucian Freud, science and engineering heritage. We here
Frank Auerbach, Henry Moore, LS want to combine all of those in the
Lowry and Maggi Hambling. There is new museum and gallery.
also a notable ceramics collection. "If, by the time I die, Swindon
The proposed new gallery, to be makes people think of culture
built on the car parks in front of instead of ugliness, I will be a happy
the Wyvern Theatre, will be the man."
An initial bid for £12.5 million
to the Heritage Lottery Fund
was turned down in May, but
a refined application will be
submitted in 2016. The council
has pledged £5 million with the
balance coming from benefac-
tors. A visionary artistic director Our acting, singing and dance classes take your child on a
is now being sought to spear- journey of discovery. They’ll love stepping into a new world
head the project. and you’ll love the effect it has on their confidence and
But Coun Renard believes creativity. Classes for 4-18 year-olds.
cultural attractions are only one Register on our Discovery Day on Sat 5th Sept. where 6-16
piece of the puzzle as the future year olds can sample our classes!
engagement between the council stagecoach.co.uk/swindon
and its citizens has to change. 01793 791746
He said: “As local government [email protected]
Robert Hiscox with the Lord Lieutenant budgets are cut, we need to come
of Wiltshire Sarah Rose Troughton at up with ways to work together
the JMW Turner exhibition in to retain the facilities we need
Swindon Art Gallery in October 2014
by bringing together the council,
swindonlink.com n September 2015 5