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Lydiard House & Park - The Akers family legacy for the community

In her own words Gina Akers, great granddaughter of Francis Akers, who gifted
Lydiard Park to Swindon, talks about what the site means for her and her family.
In 1943 my great-grandfather arrangement ‘does not include one
councillor Francis Elliott Akers gifted penny for the Mansion’ so it was
Lydiard House and handed over the truly gifted to the community.
park to the community stating “I am The Corporation offered just £4,500
glad that the community may be for the site of 150 acres and he
possessed of 150 acres of one of the accepted it. In 1946 The Corporation
most beautiful spots in the county.” paid a huge £16,000 for Lawn
He was well loved and renowned Mansion including only 52 acres of
for standing up for people’s welfare, land, with the mansion in such bad
particularly the elderly. After he died condition it had to be demolished.
a portrait of him was commissioned In 1943 he told North Wilts Herald
from donations by pensioners, and & Advertiser ‘He had purchased the
given a place of honour in the old estate in the hope that it would be
Penhill Common Room, inscribed acquired by the Corporation and Broadcaster Gina Akers in front of Lydiard House
‘Our champion fighter and great preserved for all time for the benefit
gentleman.’ of the community.’ can no longer cover the running representative of the people,
He was Mayor of Swindon Today we all have Lydiard House costs of Lydiard House and Park. that consults with and engages
from 1949 to 1950, his mayoral and enjoy free access to Lydiard Park It must stay for the benefit of the community, is transparent
Christmas card even featured Lydiard thanks to Francis Elliott Akers. the community and be freely to the community and openly
House. His funeral in 1965 was so Like my great-grandfather I was accessible to the people. It’s accountable to the public.
well attended it became a civic born in Swindon and attended bizarre that I’m having to strive It has to be a substantiated
occasion. Lydiard Park was hailed Lydiard Millicent school. Just as he to protect for the community sustainable bid that will protect
by newspapers as his memorial as did, I have run my own businesses. I something a member of my family the future of Lydiard and maintain
it still is today. In 1943 in a letter have sat on the board of InSwindon has already given them. its staff through a proposal that
he wrote about Lydiard he tells and I ran a business in The Brunel The ideal scenario would be honestly serves the people the
of how he was prepared to ‘take Centre. I am now a TV and radio the council finding a way not to park was intended for.
whatever the Corporation had fixed presenter having presented on ITV’s lease out Lydiard Park at all. In Gina is keen to hear from people
as a fair sum’, allowing the Swindon This Morning, Alan Titchmarsh show failing that my family and myself about their love and concerns for
Corporation to just pay what they and BBC’s Fake Britain. hope to see a real community Lydiard Park’s future as well as any
could afford and entrust it to them My family are distressed that bid by a credible group with no questions at ginaakerspr@gmail.
for the community. He stated the Swindon Council have decided they conflicts of interest, that is truly com and on Twitter @ginaakers

46 swindonlink.com n June 2016

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