Author Topic: Swindon (Read 32214 times)

rogerzilla · « **on:** 09 January, 2011, 08:19:15 am »

Legend has it that Brunel decided the location of his railway works by discarding a half-eaten sandwich and building the works where it landed. The old town centre of Swindon, being quite a way from the railway would have been more or less out of sight at the time.

rogerzilla · « **Reply #1 on:** 09 January, 2011, 08:21:05 am »

"Swindon" means "Swine Down" or "Pig Hill". There is a pub recently renamed The Pig On The Hill.

rogerzilla · « **Reply #2 on:** 09 January, 2011, 08:21:38 am »

Swindon is reportedly the most average town in the UK, demographically. This should make you very afraid.

rogerzilla · « **Reply #3 on:** 09 January, 2011, 08:23:04 am »

Famous Swindonians include Billie Piper, Melinda Messenger, Diana Dors, the band XTC and one member of Supertramp and The Moody Blues respectively.

We do floozies and prog rock.

rogerzilla · « **Reply #4 on:** 09 January, 2011, 08:25:54 am »

County Islands, later officially renamed The Magic Roundabout because that's what everyone calls it, is a roundabout where you can choose which way you'd like to go round it. Clockwise or anti-clockwise, your choice.

rogerzilla · « **Reply #5 on:** 09 January, 2011, 08:27:05 am »

The leader of Swindon Council, who famously scrapped speed cameras within the borough, has previously been banned from driving for speeding.

Anti-speed camera council leader served driving ban -
Home News, UK - The Independent

Wowbagger · « **Reply #6 on:** 09 January, 2011, 08:35:27 am »

Residence in Swindon for a prolonged period eventually makes you go bonkers and start talking to yourself.

rower40 · « **Reply #7 on:** 09 January, 2011, 09:32:50 am »

Quote from: Wowbagger on 09 January, 2011, 08:35:27 am

Residence in Swindon for a prolonged period eventually makes you go bonkers and start talking to yourself.

ITYM Southend.

[Saying nowt about Derby, lest Clarion kicks off again...

]

Dibdib · « **Reply #8 on:** 09 January, 2011, 09:34:01 am »

Quote from: Wowbagger on 09 January, 2011, 08:35:27 am

Residence in Swindon for a prolonged period eventually makes you go bonkers and start talking to yourself.

I've been here for just under six months.

I'm very afraid.

_{and the talking to myself started aaaaages ago...}

Clare · « **Reply #9 on:** 09 January, 2011, 10:53:01 am »

A friend of ours lived in Swindon, then he got himself sectioned.

hellymedic · « **Reply #10 on:** 09 January, 2011, 11:17:17 am »

Quote from: rogerzilla on 09 January, 2011, 08:27:05 am

The leader of Swindon Council, who famously scrapped speed cameras within the borough, has previously been banned from driving for speeding.

Anti-speed camera council leader served driving ban -
Home News, UK - The Independent

A true bluh Tory, I see...
<< Roderick Bluh, the leader of the Conservative-controlled council..>>

itsbruce · « **Reply #11 on:** 09 January, 2011, 11:37:14 am »

There is not a single reference to Swindon in the Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy series.

Cudzoziemiec · « **Reply #12 on:** 09 January, 2011, 12:16:01 pm »

Rogerzilla moved to Swindon because he misheard the name. He thought there was a g at the end of each syllable.

Mr Larrington · « **Reply #13 on:** 10 January, 2011, 11:49:24 am »

Quote from: Swindon Tourist Board

Imagine, if you will, being bummed by a rabid bulldog with aids while it bites your crotch and shits all over you. Swindon's like that, only you probably wouldn't enjoy it as much.

Swindon is one of the Gateways to Hell and is ruled from space by Darth Vader, as even he's not daft enough to want to go there.

Woofage · « **Reply #14 on:** 10 January, 2011, 11:51:49 am »

I went to Swindon once, in the late 80s IIRC.

I have not been back since.

fuzzy · « **Reply #15 on:** 10 January, 2011, 02:42:53 pm »

Lou Macari, Osvaldo Ardiles, Glenn Hoddle and Steve McMahon have all player managed Swindon Town FC and achieved promotion in their tenure.

Having gained promotion, Osvaldo managed demotion 2 divisions and promotion one division without his team scoring or conceeding a single goal.

Mr Larrington · « **Reply #16 on:** 10 January, 2011, 03:01:51 pm »

Swindon is twinned with Ocotal (Nicaragua), Salzgitter (Germany) and Mosul (Iraq).

robbo6 · « **Reply #17 on:** 10 January, 2011, 03:32:14 pm »

I K Brunel wrote the following to the owners of the refreshment rooms on Swindon station,

” Dear Sir,

I assure you Mr Player* was wrong in supposing that I thought you purchased inferior coffee. I thought I said to him that I was surprised you should buy such bad roasted corn. I did not believe that you had such a thing as coffee in the place; I am certain that I never tasted any. I have long ceased to make complaints at Swindon. I avoid taking anything there when I can help it.

Yours faithfully,

I K Brunel.”

* The manager

Riggers · « **Reply #18 on:** 10 January, 2011, 04:31:16 pm »

I've been wracking my brain with forming an anagram of Swindon. All I can come up with is Shithole. Perhaps somebody will have more success than me.

mattc · « **Reply #19 on:** 10 January, 2011, 04:40:02 pm »

Jasper Fforde based his Thursday Next novels in an alternate-reality Swindon*.

(The books also explain how nearby Leigh Delamere services got its ludicrous name.)

_{*probably because Douglas Adams got dibs on Croydon and Guildford.}

Jaded · « **Reply #20 on:** 10 January, 2011, 04:55:33 pm »

Quote from: Riggers on 10 January, 2011, 04:31:16 pm

I've been wracking my brain with forming an anagram of Swindon. All I can come up with is Shithole. Perhaps somebody will have more success than me.

"Welcome to Swindon" brings

Me won widest colon

Wowbagger · « **Reply #21 on:** 10 January, 2011, 04:59:12 pm »

How about "Sin Down"?

mattc · « **Reply #22 on:** 10 January, 2011, 05:01:41 pm »

(my favourite bit from the wikipedia page:)

Swindon is the UK's largest centre of population without its own university.

The University of Bath in Swindon was established in 2000, with its Oakfield Campus in Walcot, east Swindon, although the campus has now closed.

Dibdib · « **Reply #23 on:** 10 January, 2011, 05:35:55 pm »

Quote from: Mr Larrington on 10 January, 2011, 03:01:51 pm

Swindon is twinned with Ocotal (Nicaragua), Salzgitter (Germany) and Mosul (Iraq).

Oh, and Disney World too.

BBC News - Walt Disney World to become twin town of Swindon

rogerzilla · « **Reply #24 on:** 10 January, 2011, 05:48:45 pm »

Swindon has a SEEKRIT BUNKER. The MS&WJR started tunnelling under Old Town (in what is now Queen's Park) but abandoned it due to lack of funds and took a more roundabout route to meet the GWR main line. Belle Vue Road goes over some of the old tunnel.

Local rumour has it that the borough council keep strange stuff in the abandoned tunnel and may even hide there in times of crisis.

Author Topic: Swindon (Read 32214 times)

fuzzy

robbo6