The bigots might have the loudest voices but Swindon will always be proudly multicultural
The welcoming town that won't let prejudice win
Local issues deserve local journalists holding the powers that be to account. With local news in decline, knowing what is going on in our communities is more essential than ever. We can only exist because some of our readers are willing to support our work. If you value what we do, please consider becoming a paid supporter to ensure we can keep doing it.
You’re reading a special free edition of The Ink - curated community news straight to your inbox in association with Swindon Link. By subscribing, you are supporting the most exciting and ambitious media venture in the South West enabling us to keep you informed and up to date with everything Swindon. A subscription gives us the ability to send news analysis, updates and features direct to your inbox.
If you upgrade to be a paid subscriber you will get news sent directly to your inbox four days a week.
Upgrade now and get your first month free. The ultimate try before you buy.
It only costs £5.99 a month - less than parking in Swindon town centre for an hour once a week - and you’ll be supporting independent quality journalism in Swindon.
“This town has always been about bringing communities together for the benefit of everyone, not about that very small but unfortunately very loud minority who simply want to divide us all”
By Jamie Hill
For one glorious moment last week, there was an incident that made me immensely proud of Swindon.
This came as the circus that is BBC Question Time came into town and set up shop at The Deanery in Wichelstowe.
The panel consisted of several politicians of various stripes including former Tory Minister Nadine Dorries who is now proudly a representative of Reform.
And alongside whoever was there representing The Tories, who are becoming so increasingly irrelevant on the national stage that I’m not even going to bother looking up her name, the former Culture Minister and I’m a Celeb alumni Nadine ratcheted up the racist rhetoric as much as she could during a debate on immigration.
It was so blatantly bigoted that the ghost of Enoch Powell could be seen looking on approvingly just behind her if you squinted hard enough.
It’s not going to be long now before Nadine gets the words ‘Send ‘Em Home!’ tattooed onto her forehead and will be seen patrolling the coast alongside Nigel and Tommy Robinson in a bid to Stop The Small Boats.
And then came the moment that made me proud of Swindon as the same question on immigration came to broadcaster and advice columnist Mariella Frostrup.
Her immediate answer was: “I just don’t know when we started dehumanising people to the extent that we are. I find it really shocking.”
Out of everything that was said this got the loudest clap of the night from the Swindon folks in the audience. A moment that as a town we can be proud of as it showed that above all Swindon takes joy in its multiculturalism.
Okay, not everyone clapped. The majority did. But there were still some angry faces in the audience who didn’t like someone pointing out that fellow humans are humans.
Swindon is a broad church though, and there’s always bound to be a few people who get upset that Swindon is a broad church.
It’s been a bit of a despairing summer with divisions everywhere including a hate mob at one point shouting ‘pedos’ outside of The Thistle Hotel at the families of asylum seekers who are staying there. (I like to think that the hate mob had got so incensed by the ‘small boats’ situation that they were actually mispronouncing ‘pedalo’ as English had never been their strongest suit.)
We’ve also seen this hate mob trying to stir up as much hatred as possible all summer through social media, trying to turn every comments section into something resembling a Nuremberg rally.
You only have to look at our sister publication Swindon Link’s Facebook comment section to see the reality of this, as it could be a story about anything and somehow one of these hateful pricks (can I say that here?) always shows up and tries to make it about immigration.
They’ve become the loudest voice. The only voice in a lot of instances. With the silent majority steering well clear from the bin fires these people create.
I expect these very same people will have a field day with this piece on social media as well. Keyboard warriors at the ready and all that.
So the Mariella moment gave me a lift. It made me think that there was hope for Swindon. That Reform hadn’t got its claws into the Swindon hivemind. That the loud voices that we’ve been hearing all summer long were just that. That they weren’t representative of the town.
My hope didn’t last long as a few days later I made the unfortunate mistake of driving down Thamesdown Drive in North Swindon to be greeted with the sight of England flags hung up from every lamp post.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I’ve got nothing against the St George’s Cross (I love flags which celebrate the life of a half-Syrian half-Turkish soldier who became a saint and is also the patron saint of Bulgaria and Palestine as well as The English).
As flags go it’s pretty damn good (although not as good as the Japanese flag with its simple red dot simplicity - a design classic).
And in context it’s a flag that we should feel proud of during World Cup celebrations or Jubilees or even at state funerals. What would the Last Night of the Proms be without a bit of flag waving?
But we all know the context of these flags on Thamesdown Drive.
They haven’t been put up for any patriotic reasons. Quite the opposite. In fact they stem from a far right social media campaign over the summer called ‘Raise the Colours’ whose sole aim was to be an anti-immigration dog-whistle.
Basically they have been put up in as unpatriotic way as possible. Reducing the flag to a symbol of racism (much like the BNP, the National Front and the English Defence League have been trying to do for years).
I have always been proud of this country we live in and should be proud of our flag. England and Great Britain, as long as you don’t look too closely at its colonial past, has always been a bastion of anti-fascism. A beacon of multi-culturalism.
Fascism is what our grandparents and great grandparents fought against in World War Two so to see our own flag reduced to becoming a symbol of fascism is depressing as hell. There must be so much turning in graves going on throughout the country that I’m surprised we haven’t had earthquakes.
And Swindon itself has always been proudly multicultural. We go out of our way to celebrate our differences. It’s enhanced so many areas of our lives from cultural events to cuisine.
So to see these flags on one of our major roadways is really something that would get anyone despairing of Swindon. They’re like a huge ‘You are not welcome’ sign to anyone who is not white and British.
There’s probably some ‘proud’ arsehole (I don’t think there’s any other word to describe them) thinking that they’ve ‘dun there bit’ by putting up these flags and reducing our national flag to a symbol of racism.
But in my working life and in my own experience of the town, I can’t believe that this is representative of Swindon. There are just too many good people in the town who do too many good things and would never be part of such a vile divisive scheme as this.
Swindon is better than this and instead of remaining silent we need to start standing up to these loud hateful voices and inject a bit of multicultural love back into things.
This town has always been about bringing communities together for the benefit of everyone, not about that very small but unfortunately very loud minority who simply want to divide us all.
As one wise woman who goes by the name of Mariella Frostrup once said: “Please let us not forget our humanity.”
The Ink News Briefing
Day of the Dead Festival coming to Old Town this Sunday - The new community event, organised by the Old Town Business Association, will feature live performances, Latin American food, children’s workshops, a memory “alter”, and a street parade. A central part of the day will be a public ofrenda, a shared altar space where residents can place photos and mementoes of loved ones as a respectful nod to the traditions of Día de los Muertos. Visitors are encouraged to take part in the celebrations by bringing a photo of a loved one to add to the community ofrenda, dressing in smart clothes with traditional skull-inspired face paint, and bringing a battery-powered candle to light up the streets as part of the evening parade. The festival will run from 2-7pm on Wood Street in Old Town. Find out more at thisisoldtown.com
Police officer charged with drink driving after Swindon incident - PC Ted Andrews, 19, from Swindon, who is based in Swindon Response, blew over the legal alcohol limit having been identified as the driver of a vehicle which had broken down on Swindon’s Magic Roundabout on the evening of 20 September. Full Story here
Firefighters’ Halloween safety message - Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service is warning people to not let Halloween become scary for all the wrong reasons. Full Story here
The man formerly known as Prince
A poem by resident Ink poet Deborah Raikesmay
Christmas shall not bear such cheer
For paunchy Andrew York this year
He will not gather stacks of notes
Unless they’re snatched from choirboys throats
Harrods will not let him sign
For furs, or jewels or case of wine
His credit has been terminated
It’s been stopped and Epsteingated
No big lunches at the Palace
No one to salute his phallus
Instead it droops its head in shame
And is completely off its game
By Easter he might make a comeback
But for now he has been slung back.
‘I can’t sweat’ the Prince declaimed
‘Since Falklands I’ve not been the same.
My pits are dry!
I caught some lurgy.
My bits will only work For Fergie’
Pornography to me is alien
Plots against me machivaillean
Where shall we live if we’re turfed out
I’m not a council house type lout
My polo ponies won’t be able
To stay in trim with out their stable.
Do you want to ruin me?
I risked life and limb for this country!
Thirty bedrooms ain’t a lot
For all the medals that I got
I need to keep them nice and handy
Peeps want to see dashing Prince Andy
Plus my ex wife is a grafter
Always gets what she is after
And our daughters are the same
Blessed as us, sans sense of shame.
So bring it on!
I’ll have to fight you!
And let several royal corgis bite you
How dare these commoners sling mud
At me, The Prince of reddest blood?
cdebOct302025
The Culture Column with Rhona Jack
A different approach to this month’s column. Since I’m reporting on various exhibitions, I’ve been to visit a couple in London.
Van Gogh- The Immersive Exhibition, London
HURRY! Closes 2 November. 106 Commercial St, London E1 6LZ.
Half the joy is the anticipation, and on my way there, I was really excited; like a kid in a sweet factory! Walking through Spitalfields in the East End of London was a revelation. It used to be the country’s Fruit and Flower market bustling from dawn ‘til dusk, but that’s long gone. The area was regenerated 20 years ago, and I was really struck by the number of fabulous sculptures in the streets. Public realm art of the highest order!
The venue is an unassuming industrial building converted for “meanwhile use” and it houses huge replicas of Van Gogh’s famous works. Perhaps I was naïve in thinking I would see original paintings, but I did learn a great deal about his life, times and creative journey. I knew he was a troubled soul but didn’t realise he had both schizophrenia and epilepsy.
The commentary on his work was illuminating, and I loved the final hall destination where you choose a seat or settle down on the rugs to view the 3D presentation. Light, colour and sound are all around you as the images melt and merge in and out of each other. It takes you on a journey – a timeline of his life in vibrant colour.
Some very beautiful sayings of Van Gogh will stick in my mind, such as:
“Colour itself speaks its own language. You cannot live without it”.
Being an artist myself, I really relate to this statement:
“Paintings have a life of their own that originates in the painter’s soul.”
Confessions of a Marketeer. I have a background in Marketing, Events, and business management, so when I attend events, I have a twin track mind. A part of me is the “Average Joe/Joanna”, experiencing it as a consumer. Then I have an alter-ego which is considering all the business angles, with a stream of consciousness asking endless questions! I was thinking about the myriad practical challenges of hosting an event in a place like this. Then there are the numerous technical challenges for Designers and Artists? Or was it just computer programmers who had to code how to create brushstrokes “in the style of Van Gogh” using his colour palette of bright yellows and intense blues?
Van Gogh’s ground-breaking approach to painting meant he was very misunderstood in his lifetime. There is a vast archive of letters to his brother which has helped reveal the thinking behind his many masterpieces. He said:
“Instead of trying to reproduce what I see before me, I make more arbitrary use of colour to express myself more forcefully.”
Perhaps this is why he only ever sold one painting in his lifetime; a fact I find both shocking and desperately sad. Especially since he is now viewed as one of the true pioneers of post-impressionism.
Conclusion: I came away with a fresh appreciation of his genius, and a recognition of his wider body of work. To think he painted over 900 paintings and left behind 1100 sketches. About half were created during his frenzied creative period in the mental asylum. During his 18-month stay there shortly before he committed suicide, he painted a new work about every 36 hours.
The National Gallery, London
I had time on my hands, so I gravitated to the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square, as I often do. Previously I‘ve made the mistake of going through the entire Gallery methodically, seeing hundreds of paintings from Medieval times to Modern Day. Whilst fascinating, it was physically exhausting! This time I was more focused. The Impressionists are a particular love of mine but as I exited the lift, looking left, I was faced with another monumental love of mine. The life-size George Stubbs portrait of a single Arabian racehorse: “Whistlejacket”.
What is so stunning about this painting is not just its size, but that the anatomy is so detailed and precise. The position of each limb is absolutely perfect, and the veins stand out clearly. Everyone knows horses are difficult to draw, but when you consider that there was no photography in those days to capture an animal in full flight, then how on earth did Stubbs render the position of each leg so perfectly? I have since discovered that Stubbs studied the anatomy of horses very closely by performing autopsies, much as Leonardo Da Vinci did to understand the human body. As you can see from the photo, the curators have hung the painting superbly. It is very dramatic to see it in the distance and have to walk so far through many beautiful large arches to reach it. It doesn’t disappoint.
DO YOU READ NOTES BESIDE PAINTINGS?
I learned something valuable on this visit. Although I’m familiar with Pierre August Renoir’s “The Umbrellas” from art books, after reading the notes beside it, I looked again. It was painted over a period of five years from to 1881 to 1886 and a closer inspection revealed two different colour palettes and three different styles of painting! Figures in the background are duotone, and the faces are loosely indicated. On the right, the two ladies and a girl are more luminous in rich blues and creams with ruddy cheeks. However, the real surprise is the technique. The brushstrokes on their faces are loose; a soft feathery style. The final figure of a woman on the left has muted colours, linear, sharper contours and different brush strokes again. It looks “flatter”, more two-dimensional. I have seen photographs of this painting many times but never noticed these differences before. So – the notes beside the paintings are very revealing!
VAN GOGH ORIGINALS: “SUNFLOWERS”
The National Gallery has five major works of Van Gogh’s that last sold for sums between £75 and £85 Million! Coming face to face with them was like meeting old friends which warmed the heart! I thought Van Gogh painted only one painting of sunflowers, however, I discovered there is a series of seven which are now dotted around the world in famous museums. Having seen canvas reproductions earlier in the day, it was fascinating to experience the original painting. Every petal is another brushstroke, another layer of oil paint on top of another layer. It’s thick and three-dimensional and you don’t really see this three-dimensional effect in photos in art books.
“I dream of painting and then I paint my dream!”
Seeing these epic original paintings was a real “cultural top-up” which reawakened my soul. It was a rest from the mundane routine of life and a reminder to enjoy the blue skies and rich autumn colours around us. So, it’s fitting to close this review with Van Gogh’s quote:
“If you truly love nature – you will find beauty everywhere.”
Question: So, when was the last time you broke your routine and spent a few hours in a gallery? Go ahead, grab some “me-time” and plan an awayday to lift your spirits and reenergise your soul!
SWINDON OPEN STUDIOS - Review
Another successful event featuring 147 artists in 57 venues brought in over 7,000 visitors and an estimated £19,000 fed back into the local economy. The event enjoys steady growth each year and here are some visitor quotes:
“I’m just amazed at how many artists there are in such a small town as Swindon!” Rhian M.
“Fantastic art exhibition! Absolutely loved seeing the different creative styles and stunning artwork – such quality and expertise.” Mrs B. Long.
“Wow. Wow! Just amazing. Beautiful people. Made to feel so welcome. Incredible art. Feel so inspired.” Ms G. Oakley.
Changing of the Guard @ The SOS Annual General Meeting
Anyone interested in supporting this event for September 2026 is invited to the AGM being held on 20 November at the Wyvern Theatre, Swindon. Three Committee members are stepping down to pursue other interests, so the group is seeking the appointment of a new Chairperson, Treasurer and two Marketing specialists to cover online marketing and printed materials. Additional volunteers are needed to keep the show on the road. For details, check out the website and get involved to “Keep ART at the HeART of Swindon”.
ART EXHIBITIONS: LAST CHANCE TO SEE
LONDON:
Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience
Closing 2 November. 106 Commercial St, London E1 6LZ. See review above.
BANKSY LIMITLESS: Immersive experience,
No Closing date, so book now to avoid disappointment. South Kensington, London.
See Banksy’s most famous street art pieces in one place, featuring original canvases, stencils, screenprints and sculptures, alongside a series of large-scale installations providing a comprehensive look at Banksy’s career to date. With over 250 pieces, immersive installations and educational aspects such as timelines and stories behind the art, it’s a celebration of the message and significance of Banksy.
Radical Harmony: Neo-Impressionists
Until 8 February 2026 @ National Gallery, Trafalgar Square.
Helene Kröller-Müller was one of the first female art patrons of the 20th century and she assembled the most comprehensive collection of Neo-Impressionist paintings in the world. Georges Seurat’s new style of painting in small dots of pure colour started a revolutionary new movement. Viewed from a distance, colours blend to create nuanced tones and an illusion of light. Connect the dots yourself by experiencing the works of Seurat, Van Gogh and Pissarro alongside lesser-known artists like Paul Signac, Anna Boch, Jan Toorop and Henri-Edmond Cross. Together, they captured late 19th-century European society through luminous landscapes, portraits and interior scenes, while also depicting working-class struggles during the emerging industrial age.
SWINDON:
Leslie Cole: Recording Conflict
Until 3 Jan 2026 @ Museum & Art Swindon.
Swindon-born Leslie Cole (1910-1976) was a prolific war artist. Commissioned by the War Artists Advisory Committee from 1941 until 1946, Cole travelled extensively, completing portraits of military figures and recording the effects of war in Burma, Borneo, Greece, Germany, Malta and Singapore. Despite Cole’s important records of work during the war, and unflinching depictions of wartime devastation, his name is not widely known. On display are paintings and lithographs from Museum & Art Swindon, and generous loans from the Imperial War Museum, to demonstrate the breadth and depth of Cole’s experience.
ORIGINS @ Museum & Art Swindon is defined by its collections. From the geology specimens gathered by our founding curator Charles Gore in 1920, to the outstanding collection of modern and contemporary British art and the growing social history and archaeological material, the museum’s holdings reflect the town’s diverse past and the changing interests of curators and communities over time.
BATH:
Bath Contemporary Artists’ Fair
Sundays 9 November & 14 December @ Green Park Station, Bath, BA1 1JB
Step into a world of creativity and imagination at the Award-Winning Bath Contemporary Artists’ Fair (BCAF), where artistic expressions come to life in the heart of Bath. This free monthly event celebrates the diversity of contemporary art, showcasing the works of talented artists from across the region and beyond.
In Bloom at Museum of East Asian Art
Until 20 December @ Bennett Street, Bath, BA1 2QJ
This exhibition explores how flowers have inspired generations of artists across East and Southeast Asia, showcasing floral-themed objects from the Museum’s collection alongside works by contemporary artists and makers. See Hiroko Imada’s cherry blossom forest installation, Sakura Saku (桜咲く), and Wen-Hsi Harman’s ceramic sculpture, Rose Petals, which reflects on the distance between her two homes, Taiwan and Britain. Traditional brush paintings by Ieong Tong Pak, as well as works by internationally exhibited artist Lihong Bai, are also featured.
BRISTOL:
RWA 172 Annual Open Exhibition
Until 28 December @ Queens Rd, Clifton, Bristol BS8 1PX
Over 500 contemporary artworks feature in the 172nd Annual Open from both established and emerging artists. The works span a variety of mediums, including painting, sculpture, photography, printmaking, mixed media, textile art, architecture, video and more. All artworks are available for sale.
Artists featured include pioneering textile artist Alice Kettle RWA, whose groundbreaking practice is amplifying textile art, Valda Jackson MBE RWA, whose multidisciplinary approach explores themes of migration, identity, and loss, and painter Kurt Jackson RWA, whose large-scale works explore environmental issues.
BRISTOL OR WINCHESTER: MESMERICA 360 degrees.
Winchester Science Centre & Planetarium
Seen by over 500,000 people in the USA across seventy cities. Discover Mesmerica 360 — the smash-hit multi-sensory experience where time stands still, and a new kind of magic surrounds you to soothe the senses. With the mesmerising music of Grammy-nominee James Hood, and hypnotic 3D motion art from leading visual artists, Mesmerica is an experience unlike any other — specifically designed to unwind. “I want ‘Mesmerica’ to inspire you to take a journey with me inside the mind, to engage your senses with a miraculous alchemy of sound and light!” - James Hood, Show Creator.
The Swindon Link Magazine Archive
Over on The Ink’s sister publication Swindon Link’s website you will find an impressive archive of the past 47 years of Swindon Link magazines, giving you a huge glimpse into the town’s recent past from the beginnings of West Swindon to now. You can find the archive here.
The latest magazines
For the North West Swindon Link Magazine click here
For the South East Swindon Link Magazine click here
To contact The Ink directly email - theink@positive-media.co.uk