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Swindon Wide

Some words about love by a bleak Welsh poet in a world in Do you have a love poem that
Poetry column by Poetry Swindon’s Thomas. He was a big influence servitude to time. resonates for you?
Maurice Spillane on me as a young poet. I heard She was young; The Swindon Poetry Festival is
him read back in the 90s, though I kissed with my eyes coming soon. We have several
I cycled across Wales he read as if he preferred to be closed and opened events reaching out to the
with four friends elsewhere. them on her wrinkles. community. If you fancy reading
from Shrewsbury to He was an ardent nationalist and ‘Come,’ said death, a favourite poem, come along to
Aberystwyth recently. promoted the burning of English choosing her as his ‘Poems Aloud’ at Central Library on
It was stunningly holiday homes in Wales – and he an partner for Thursday 29 September at 10am, or
beautiful and everyone we met was Anglican cleric. And yet, for all his the last dance. And she, just come along and listen. It’s free.
friendly and chatty. misery, he wrote this most beautiful who in life Join me and my friends for an
Poets and poetry came up in love poem, ‘A Marriage’: had done everything evening of poetry and music at
conversation, as they always do We met with a bird’s grace, Savernake Community Hall on
in strange places. The friendliness under a shower opened her bill now Friday 30 September at 7pm. It will
we met was contrasted with the of bird-notes. for the shedding be the best fiver you ever spent.
taciturn bleakness and dourness Fifty years passed, of one sigh no Book soon as it’ll be a sell-out!
of my favourite Welsh poet, R S love’s moment heavier than a feather. www.poetryswindon.org

Heritage that holds traction Swindon goes DaDa for this year’s
Poetry Festival

Poetry Swindon’s Hilda Sheehan, Mayor Eric Shaw and Dr Mike Pringle

Poetry Swindon Festival celebrates in Spanish, and admitted the
The 101-year-old Earl Kitchener is returning to Swindon for a ‘reunion’ of 100 years of the Dada movement Google translation to English made
traction engines (Courtesy of Carl Brown/Colin Hatch) as its focus this year, and the the broken poetry ‘Dada-esque’.
official programme was launched The event has been increased
will put the emphasis on the steam- at Swindon Central Library on 12 from five to 11 days long beginning
History column by Graham Carter
of Swindon Heritage magazine driven beasts that powered the rides August. with the community festival and
and were also used to pull them A selection of readings from finishing with the Big Poetry
Local history fans should stand from venue to venue. Likewise, festival organisers and Mayor of Weekend which coincides with
by for a weekend of treats on 10 Barnes used engines to haul timber. Swindon, councillor Eric Shaw National Poetry Day. Both feature a
and 11 September as the town The engines on display will include launched the festival’s fifth year. multitude of events across Swindon
celebrates both Swindon 175 and the majestic 101-year-old Earl Cllr Shaw said: “I was part of the taking place at the Richard Jefferies
the annual Heritage Open Days. Kitchener and the even older Joe generation brought up on poetry, Museum, Savernake Street Hall and
STEAM’s annual Swindon Railway Chamberlain, which was restored in and I am pleased that it is still Swindon Arts Centre.
Festival will draw crowds from 2011, complete with its distinctive being celebrated. I’d like to thank Chair of Poetry Swindon, Maurice
across the country on both the towering crane jib. particularly the volunteers who Spillane, said at the launch:
Saturday and Sunday, especially Colin Hatch, a heritage steam make it happen and Arts Council “You’d be surprised at how many
model train enthusiasts. engineer from Wanborough, who, England for all their hard work.” published poets there are in
And this year the event will have earlier this year, built the replica This year’s theme is the Dadaist Swindon and how the festival
extra local interest as it hosts Swindon Works hooter, is organising poetry movement that grew during attracts big names in poetry who
a unique ‘reunion’ of Swindon this part of the event. As well as the First World War and focused are glad to come to Swindon.”
traction engines. At least eight will the Edwards/Barnes reunion, he has on nonsensical and often satirical The festival runs from 29
attend the festival. also mustered four locally owned art forms. September to 5 October, followed
All were once owned by either engines, including his own, to see Matt Holland, Swindon Festival by the Big Poetry Weekend from 6
EJ Barnes or R Edwards & Sons - up-close. There will also be displays of Literature and Poetry Festival October to 9 October.
and sometimes both, as the timber by Frank Edwards, The Swindon founder, read a poem at the launch www.poetryswindon.org
merchants at Rushey Platt and the Society and Swindon Heritage.
fairground showmen often bought With the traction engines being Harbour Project quiz night
and sold engines between them. stabled at Wanborough in the days Sharpen those brain cells and to a maximum of eight. The event
Ferndale Road-based Edwards leading up to the festival, people get your thinking caps on as the is not open to under-18s.
were nationally renowned for their should look out for information Harbour Project’s annual Quiz Tickets are £10 per person,
impressive travelling fair rides, about their procession to STEAM Night with Fish ’n Chip Supper payable in advance.
several of which are at Devon’s through the streets of the town, returns on Saturday 15 October To book a place, or find out
Fairground Heritage Centre. which is always an impressive sight. from 7pm. more, call the Harbour office on
But the festival, which is open See Heritage Open Days: It takes place at St Joseph’s 01793 611 682 or email fun@
from 10am to 5pm on both days, Railway Cottage p.19 College and team sizes are limited harbourproject.org.uk.
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