Swindon is undeniably full of life and a town whose importance to the fabric of our society today is absolutely crucial and often unrecognised. This is a place of pioneers, not only of the industrial growth and engineering skills that underpinned this country’s prosperity for decades, but also the enlightened social welfare policies that form the core of so much that the UK is rightly proud of.

If you think I’m exaggerating, read on.  

Swindon’s origins lay in its position on important trade routes, from London to Bristol and from the Midlands to the South Coast. The Old Town is to this day an attractive and vibrant quarter, boasting a diverse population, wonderful pubs and restaurants and a host of small independent shops.  

The growth of Swindon came with the industrial revolution; in the eighteenth century it was an important canal junction and market town but the nineteenth brought the railway and the town took off.  

Isambard Kingdom Brunel, recently voted the second Greatest Briton of All Time in a BBC poll was one of the key figures in the development of Swindon. When the Great Western Railway needed a depot to build and maintain their trains, the town of Swindon was chosen by the company’s Engineer, Brunel and the Locomotive Superintendent, Sir Daniel Gooch. The importance of the industrial centre that sprang up from 1838 has been compared to that of the Kennedy Space Centre to modern space travel.  

The enterprise and innovation of this era laid a solid foundation for today’s Swindon and for the traditions of progressive social policies. Years before the rest of the country caught up, Swindon’s people formed the Mechanics Institute, which provided a community centre, a library, education, even a market place where workers could buy fresh produce at reasonable prices.  

Most impressive of all, the institute formed the GWR Medical Fund in 1847, supporting a cottage hospital to provide healthcare – membership of the fund was a condition of employment at Swindon works. This model was studied by Aneurin Bevan nearly a hundred years later, when he was putting together plans for today’s National Health Service.  

But it’s not only history that makes Swindon a great place to live and work. We have parks and leisure facilities aplenty. Lydiard House and its lovely little church, set in 244 acres of parkland was acquired by the council in 1943 for the use of local people – again, years before public access to such places was common.  

Other green spaces include the Coate Water Country Park, with a 56 acre lake, boating, fishing, paddling pool and much more. There are ornamental gardens at Faringdon Road Park and more lakes at The Lawn plus fantastic views of the town. Both Queens Park and Town Gardens provide green oases of tranquillity in the heart of the town’s bustle.  

Whatever you want to do, Swindon has it, from swimming to cinema, shopping to skating. There’s a football team to follow, a railway museum, first class art galleries and theatre.  

Swindon’s population is as lively as the town. There are many born and brought up here, justly proud of their heritage. There are also many who move in, drawn by the dynamism that creates jobs and opportunities in abundance and, in their turn, contributing to it. We have many ethnic communities and there are few places with the extensive choice of goods, services and restaurants that we can offer.  Newcomers play a substantial role in the community activities of Swindon, working alongside those who have been here for one or two generations and those whose families have been here for as far back as they remember.  

Despite all of this, Swindon often receives a bad press. It’s unfair and it’s counter productive. It is in all of our interests to shout about the positives of the town and make sure it gets its due as a strong regional centre for Wiltshire and the surrounding area. The prosperity of Swindon affects the prosperity of the whole county and many of those who live in the rural areas around come here to work and to use our facilities.

Swindon has a huge potential to achieve more and the New Swindon Company is working with local people to do just that. This town is great to live in and has an outstanding and impressive history but it also has a fantastic future on the way.

What makes you proud of Swindon? Add your comments.