Linford Christie at Swindon Street Athletics Competition

What a nice guy Linford Christie is. Today he brought Street Athletics to Swindon and it was a big success. There were lots and lots of young runners who signed up for the chance to race with the possibility of running in the finals in Manchester later on in the year. It is all part of a nationwide search for new talent.

Linford was so good with everybody, spending so much time talking, laughing and joking with everybody and spent hours signing T-Shirts and anything else people could find to get his autograph on.

This is only a very small selection of the 400 images I took today. If you were there and taking part I probably have an image or images of you, if you are interested give me a shout.

Great fun, great weather and a great guy.

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Pride of Swindon plaque unveiled in the Library

Today was the unveiling of the Pride of Swindon plaque in The Swindon Central Library. The small event was hosted by Shirley Ludford of Swindon 105.5 radio.

St George’s Day in Swindon

St George

Medieval Knight

Ethemia

St George

FolkDanceRemixd

FolkDanceRemixd

FolkDanceRemixd

FolkDanceRemixd

FolkDanceRemixd

FolkDanceRemixd

FolkDanceRemixd

FolkDanceRemixd

FolkDanceRemixd

FolkDanceRemixd

Rebecca inSwindon

Today I had the pleasure of photographing the Swindon St George’s Day celebrations in the town centre put on by inSwindon BID company. Centre piece of course was the 20 ft St George that after being blessed traveled from the Cenotaph down to Wharf Green accompanied by 100 school children and Ethemia who had written a song especially for this occasion. Once in Wharf Green the children were split up into different groups where they were taught fold dancing around the May pole, made dragons out of clay and took part in sports competitions. It culminated with a performance of Folk Dancing or should I say alternative Folk Dancing by the group FolkDanceRemixd.

It was great fun, the weather held and everybody seemed to have a very enjoyable time.

Jahmene Douglas What a Nice Person Swindon Xmas Lights

Jahmene and Swindon Ovation

Jahmene Douglas

Jahmene Douglas

Jahmene Douglas

Jahmene Douglas

Jahmene Douglas

Jahmene Douglas

Jahmene Douglas

Jahmene Douglas

Jahmene Douglas

Last night I was the official photographer for inSwindon at the Christmas Lights switch on. I took some 600 images and I am still processing them and will put up another blog post shortly with my favourite images. But I wanted to put these up and just to say what a nice young man Jahmene is. This isnt the first time I have photographed him but it is the first time I have had a chat with him. At an exclusive pre switch on shoot in his dressing room he even offered to share his food and drink with me. And when back stage after the switch on he made sure that he was looking at me when I was shooting images of him.
To be honest I have never heard any negative comments about him anyway but I guess sometimes you hear that some times when people get famous they change and become diva’s. Well in my opinion that has not happened to Jahmene, he was a pleasure to work with.

Swindon folk enjoy The Last Night Of The Proms

Swindon Proms

Swindon Proms

Swindon Proms

Swindon Proms

Swindon Proms

Swindon Proms

Swindon Proms

Swindon Proms

Last night was the Last Night of the Proms and inSwindon put on the celebrations in Wharf Green followed by the screening of the Last Night of the Proms from London on the Big Screen. Despite the fact that it got a little bit chilly it was lovely and dry and people came out and packed out Wharf Green. Free Union Jack hats and flags were given out by inSwindon and everybody got into the mood and wore the hats and waved the flags. A nice night for all and a success for inSwindon and Kirsty Heber-Smith the event organiser.

Swindon St Georges Day Parade Celebrations.

It was a lovely sunny morning when the St Georges Day Parade took place. It started at the Ceneotaph and along with well over 100 school children travelled down to Wharf Green where several activities had been arranged and sponsored by inSwindon.
The children sang all the way and from what I could see they really were enjoying themselves both during the parade and the activities in Wharf Green.
The only thing I think is that St Georges Day should be a bank holiday. There should be more celebrations of being English.

Swindon Britain From Above Event at Wharf Green

Britain from Above Swindon

Britain from Above Swindon

Britain from Above Swindon

Britain from Above Swindon

Britain from Above Swindon

Britain from Above Swindon

Britain from Above Swindon

Britain from Above Swindon

Britain from Above Swindon

Yesterday I spent a fun couple of hours at the Britain From Above event in Wharf Green Swindon. The event was put on by English Heritage to introduce the public to the archive of 1.5M images of Britain taken from the air and yesterday was specifically images of Swindon from the air. The event which was organised by http://kirstyhebersmith.com/ for InSwindon and despite the cold weather was a great success. For me it was nice to see that once some of the older ‘kids’ had decided it was not embarrasing to get involved and make paper aeroplanes that they actually enjoyed it, so well done to all the children and adults that launched in and enjoyed themselves. (Launched in, did you get it)!!!!! 🙂
Jokes were never my thing.
Anyway another thumbs up for Swindon.

Jahmene Douglas and Nicole Scherzinger switch on Swindon Xmas Lights

Jahmene Douglas

Nicole Scherzinger

Jahmene, mother and Nicole

Jahmene Douglas

Jahmene Douglas

Nicole Scherzinger

Nicole Scherzinger

Nicole Scherzinger

Nicole Scherzinger

Jahmene Douglas

Jamene Douglas

Jamene Douglas

baby enjoying music

Ovation Swindon Dance

Tonight upto an estimated 28,000 people squeezed into or as close as they could get to Wharf Green in the Swindon Town Centre for the switching on of the Christmas Lights. Why so many. Well They were switched on by Swindons very own Jahmene Douglas the X Factor finalist. Along with Jahmene his friend and mentor Nicole Scherzinger spent time on stage. Jahmene switched on the lights with the help of several others including many of the local Olympic Torch bearers, footballers from Swindon Town Football Club and the manager of Swindon Wildcats and many others.
Jahmene went on to sing three songs and I have to say he was very good, he sounded as good singing live as he does on the TV which is quite rare these days.
I also have to say that I think I have never ever seen so many people turn out for an event in Swindon, therefore I have to applaud Kirsty Heber-Smith who was the event organizer and compare. And InSwindon for putting it on. Well done guys.

A good night for Swindon I think.