Page 25 - link magazine

Swindon Wide

Digital Journeys on show in 2016

A new exhibition in video and
photography at Steam Museum
running until 16 April explores the
diverse ways people have arrived in
Swindon.
Curated by Create Studios, the
video asks a range of people how
they came to Swindon. Some
have links to the town over
generations, others have come from
175 project,” said project manager the countryside around Swindon,
Caroline Black. “This year is so other parts of Britain or the
important for our town and it Commonwealth, whilst others have
doesn’t stop in 2016. It’s a point Colin Hatch with his recreated hooter arrived as asylum seekers.
where we look back at the fantastic Our cover image shows Lord Joel
successes and also when we look game at Link Centre. Joffe who came to Britain in the Lord Joel Joffe, who came to the UK
forward and think about what we On Saturday 26 March the public mid-1960s. He was regarded as an from South Africa over 50 years ago
can achieve together.” are invited to Steam Museum to undesirable by the South African talks with East Wichel primary pupil
Hooter history witness Colin sounding the hooter at apartheid regime after he defended Kiara who arrived from the same
Nelson Mandela against terrorism
to be made 4.30pm to commemorate the exact country in 2015
time the last shift ended at Swindon charges.
Using original GWR drawings Colin railway works in 1986. He is pictured with three asylum what living in Swindon means to
Hatch of Hatch Steam Engineers has Later in the year, events marking seekers who entered Britain to them.
built an exact replica of the famous Swindon 175 will include drama, escape persecution from Iran and The film is accompanied by
steam powered hooter that was the music, comedy, dance and one person Ethiopia and are being supported photographs, an iPad app related to
signal to start and end shifts in the shows in the Swindon Fringe Festival, by The Harbour Project. “We’re all Swindon 175 and an art installation
railway works. the Swindon Arts Trail, 150 years of emigrants,” said Lord Joffe. called Enlightenment.
From 22 to 26 March the evocative the Mechanics’ Institute Children’s Others who appear in the video, A mini Digital Journeys exhibition
moan of the hooter will be heard at a Fete, the revival of Brunel The Opera, aged 9 to 90, come from East will found in Swindon Central
special event for ex-railway workers Swindon Symphony Orchestra, a Wichel Primary School, Guinness Library from 22 March to 9 April.
attended by IK Brunel’s great, great, photographic challenge and events at Care Homes, Stratton Education Watch a short video at:
great grandson Isambard Thomas. Steam Museum. Centre, and the Oakfield Project. www.bit.ly/CreateDJpreview
It will also be sounded at Swindon Find out more at: They share their stories and hopes www.createstudios.org.uk
Town FC and the Swindon Wildcats www.swindon175.com for the future and, in positive ways, www.steam

Swindon 175 Profile: Deacon & Son

Woven into the fabric of Swindon of these time pieces exist to
itself, Deacons was founded as a this day and are still serviced in
jewellers, watch and clock makers the company’s workshops. After
by George Deacon in 1848 and succeeding his uncle, Hubert
remains a family run business now became the first president of the
in its sixth generation with Richard Swindon Chamber of Commerce
Deacon. in 1893 and was also responsible
Having moved from Westbury for supplying Swindon’s first public
under the lure of the rapid clock on the Town Hall.
expansion of Swindon, during To this day, Deacons is operating
the industrial revolution, George from its first premises on Wood
Deacon recognised the need for Street in Old Town, with its own Deacons Jewellers c.1905
time-keeping in the fast paced workshops on site. King George V Commemorative
pocket watch created for Swindon
factories and engineering centres Having grown with the town, locomotives from the GWR works; 175
of the GWR works and was Deacons now operate in Faringdon King George V.”
awarded a subcontract for the in Oxfordshire, Marlborough and The 4-6-0 King class locomotive supplied and created by Deacons, is
Great Western railway timing Royal Wootton Bassett. was built at the Swindon Works in a unique tribute to 175 years since
between Paddington and Swansea. Richard Deacon, managing 1927 to feature in the Baltimore the inception and creation of the
In those early days George director of Deacons, said: “We and Ohio Railroad centenary central GWR works in Swindon.
Deacon was reliant on obtaining have the oldest shop in Swindon celebrations, and became one of Richard added: “Having been in
diamonds, precious and semi- and having our own on site the most famous of the Swindon business since 1848 means we have
precious stones from South workshops and jewellers allows us made locomotives. an established heritage that our
America, in particular from Brazil to offer personalised and specialist Richard said: “As our business customers trust. Moving forward
where an agent was employed to products, but remain very broad in began with providing time-keeping we are always looking at ways to
bring back goods to England. our approach to make sure every to the Great Western railway, we expand and offer our high level of
During the period of 1860 to taste is catered for. felt this was a fitting tribute to care, attention and detail.
1890 the business expanded, with “As part of Swindon 175 we Swindon 175. The watches went on “Deacons and Swindon are
the addition of George’s nephews wanted to do something that sale on 1 November last year and intertwined.”
Hubert and Joshua, producing a celebrated both our business have sold immensely well. We only The 175 limited edition
variety of time pieces, including and the heritage of the town. have around 75 left in stock, and commemorative King George V
long case clocks, trunk dial clocks, We have produced a gold plated the first watch has found its way to pocket watches are available from
carriage clocks, pocket watches ‘skeleton half hunter’ pocket watch Baltimore in the United States.” Deacons for £225.
and mercurial barometers. Many celebrating one of the most famous The limited edition timepiece, www.deacons-jewellers.com
swindonlink.com n March 2016 25