Speaker Meeting, 6.15 for 6.30pm

In the Picture: Angela Atkinson with Club President Ann Debureaux-Dias and Vice-President Steve Davison.

Angela Atkinson is a local author and writer of the blog 'Born Again Swindonian'.  "Secret Swindon", her first book, was published in 2016, delves into aspects of the town and its history of which many people are unaware.  "Swindon in 50 Buildings" came in 2019 and "Swindon: A Born Again Swindonian’s Guide" in 2020.

Angela moved to Swindon in the 1990s from a part of the country devastated by the 1980s pit closures. She writes: "Coming to Swindon was truly like coming to the land of milk and honey.  Swindon afforded me opportunities and facilities that were not easily obtainable back in my part of Derbyshire / Nottinghamshire. And that’s a big part – but not the whole story – behind my fondness for, and advocacy of, Swindon and the decision to build a Swindon-centric blog."

"I’m aware of Swindon’s flaws. But who can show me the perfect urban conurbation? A good friend of mine, Carole Bent, once wrote a beautiful line or two, exhorting us all to look for the glitter in the concrete and the sparkle in the cement. Now I daresay that was a metaphor and not a direct reference to the urban landscape. Yet it’s applicable. It’s fair to say that the glitter in Swindon’s concrete is sometimes elusive. But look hard enough and you’ll see it twinkle."

Speaking specifically about her book "Swindon in 50 Buildings" she said it was difficult to name just 50.  Swindon has 660 listed buildings many of which are railway related and there are also lots of pubs to consider.  Angela determined that the book wouldn't be top heavy on either pubs or railway. 

Of the 50 in the book she said the following are her top 5.

Number one is the David Murray John Tower with number two being the Brunel Shopping Centre.  She considered both to be iconic architecture ahead of its time when built in the mid-1970's.  The Tower is named after David Murray John, the clerk of Swindon Borough Council from 1938 to 1974 who played a key role in the town’s post-war development.

Third is the Crumpled Horn, an historic pub in Eldene designed around the theme of the nursery rhyme “This is the House that Jack Built”.  It was given a Grade II heritage listing in 2018 and, unfortunately, is now closed and boarded up.

The kiosk in Swindon’ Town Gardens is number four.  It was originally built in 1915 as a trade stand for the GWR and taken around the country to shows and exhibitions. It was placed in the Town Gardens around 1942 and is also a Grade II Listed Building.

Number five is the bottle factory once used to make carbonated drinks.  It was built in 1870 by Edwin Ing who founded the North Wilts Aerated Water Manufactory.  On Lansdown Road in Old Town it’s another Grade II Listed Building now converted into four apartments.

On behalf of all present, Rotarian Steve Davison expressed thanks to Angela for her most interesting talk.

Go to Angela's "Born Again Swindonian" blog here