Mayor of Swindon

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Mayor of Swindon The official page for the Mayor of Swindon, supporting two wonderful charities - Swindon Young Carers & Prospect Hospice

I was delighted to attend the Higher Education Graduation Ceremony at New College Swindon, celebrating the achievements ...
20/10/2026

I was delighted to attend the Higher Education Graduation Ceremony at New College Swindon, celebrating the achievements of so many talented students as they reached this important milestone in their lives.

It was wonderful to see the contribution of current students, who helped make the event so special by creating beautiful flower arrangements, preparing delicious canapés and providing music for the occasion.

A particular highlight was the superb and inspirational speech from Paralympic athlete and gold medallist Chris Hunt-Skelly, who shared his remarkable journey. His courage, determination and resilience in overcoming challenges, including living for many years with undiagnosed physical conditions, were truly inspiring.

It was lovely to see so many graduates surrounded by their proud families, friends and teaching staff, all there to celebrate their hard work and achievements. Heidi Alexander, MP for Swindon South, also attended to congratulate and support the graduates.

I felt privileged to present certificates to many of the graduates and to share in this special occasion. I wish every graduate the very best of luck and every success as they take their next steps towards their future careers.

Congratulations to all the graduates, you should be incredibly proud of what you have achieved! 👏🎉

It was wonderful to see Deputy Mayor Cllr Gayle Cook representing the Mayor’s office at the Women’s Centre this week.The...
01/10/2026

It was wonderful to see Deputy Mayor Cllr Gayle Cook representing the Mayor’s office at the Women’s Centre this week.

The speeches were excellent, but Sarah and Jane (not their real names) stories particularly stood out. They bravely shared their personal experiences, and their honesty and courage made for a very raw and emotional morning. There was hardly a dry eye in the room.

A huge thank you to Sarah and Jane for sharing their stories and to the wonderful team at the Women’s Centre for the incredible work they do supporting women in our community.

With around 10,000 women having passed through their doors, the impact of their support, care and dedication cannot be underestimated.

Thank you to Deputy Mayor Gayle Cook for attending and representing us.

Thank you so much to Deputy Mayor, Cllr Gayle Cook for attending 🧡
30/09/2026

Thank you so much to Deputy Mayor, Cllr Gayle Cook for attending 🧡

It was a pleasure to be invited by Cllr Stanka Wilson to visit Seven Fields, following the recent visit of the Seven Fie...
21/09/2026

It was a pleasure to be invited by Cllr Stanka Wilson to visit Seven Fields, following the recent visit of the Seven Fields Conservation Group to the Mayor’s Parlour.

I joined the bat walk with my Consort, Lesley Gow, and if you ever get the opportunity to take part in one of these walks, I would strongly recommend it!

It was wonderful to explore Seven Fields with members of the Conservation Group and a team from Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, including Neil Pullen, whose knowledge of nature is incredible. Neil and the team introduced us to some of the different species of British bats we might encounter before equipping us with bat detectors to pick up and amplify their echolocation calls.

We learnt how bats use echolocation to navigate and find their prey, with some bats eating around 3,000 insects a night, while avoiding trees and, thankfully, people!

Once darkness fell, we were treated to an amazing display of bats flying and swooping through the night, with some flying as low as five metres above our group. It was fantastic to see so many young people taking part and to hear their excitement as they experienced these incredible creatures up close.

It was also lovely to see Cllrs Stanka Wilson, Jake Chandler and Leanne Stevenson, who was accompanied by her two sons, and to share such a memorable evening with everyone.

A sincere thank you to Neil Pullen and the brilliant team at Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, as well as all the dedicated Seven Fields Conservation volunteers who work so hard to maintain and protect this very special site.

It was a fascinating evening and a wonderful reminder of the incredible wildlife we have right here in Swindon. 🌿🦇

It was a pleasure to be invited to the Tuppenny to tap the first barrel to officially start their Oktoberfest celebratio...
20/09/2026

It was a pleasure to be invited to the Tuppenny to tap the first barrel to officially start their Oktoberfest celebrations, at the same time as the Mayor of Munich was tapping a barrel in Munich to mark the start of Oktoberfest.

In Bavaria, Oktoberfest is, in many ways, connected to the traditions of the harvest festival, and it was wonderful to celebrate this tradition here in Swindon.

I was invited to speak to the fantastic group of customers and highlighted the importance of these kinds of connections with our friends across Europe.

Jamie Stapleton of the Tuppenny, along with many of his staff and customers, were appropriately dressed in lederhosen, while a fantastic Bavarian-style band provided the music for the occasion.

Oktoberfest at the Tuppenny is now an annual event to look forward to, with Jamie sourcing specialist Bavarian b**rs especially for the festival.

Much to the relief of the customers seated close to the barrel, I managed to tap it without spraying them with b**r! I was then invited, as part of the tradition, to taste the first b**r from the barrel. 🍻

Thank you, Jamie, and your brilliant staff and customers, for making this such a great occasion in our town. It was wonderful to see Swindon embracing Bavarian culture and celebrating the spirit of friendship and connection with our European neighbours.

It was wonderful to attend the official opening of the new showroom at TECC Ltd, alongside my Consort, Parish Councillor...
18/09/2026

It was wonderful to attend the official opening of the new showroom at TECC Ltd, alongside my Consort, Parish Councillor Jane Milner-Barry, and to celebrate 20 years of this fantastic local business.

Pete and Maria McCallum warmly welcomed suppliers, customers and staff to mark this special milestone and gave us an interesting tour of the new showroom.

It was particularly encouraging to hear about TECC’s strong links with local colleges, especially Swindon College, providing T Level placements, training, work placements, work experience and employment opportunities for young people. Their commitment to apprenticeships in the electrical contracting industry is also outstanding.

We heard about one of their award-winning students, who made a fantastic commitment to learning in their 20s after trying different career paths before deciding to pursue a career in electrical contracting. It is wonderful to see a local business helping people develop their skills and build rewarding careers.

We were also given a demonstration of a mock-up of the wiring of a domestic property, which is used to train students and staff and allows them to safely test the work they have carried out.

Jane, who has a brilliant knowledge of and commitment to sustainability, was particularly interested in the showroom’s examples of air-source air conditioning, solar panels and inverters, home battery systems and smart light switches that automatically turn lights off when people leave a room.

Those light switches would certainly have saved me countless reminders to my family about turning the lights off when they leave a room! 😂

The showroom is a great way for customers to see the different options available for their electrical installations, while the growth of TECC from employing just one person to now having more than 20 members of staff is a fantastic achievement.

It was a pleasure to celebrate 20 years of success with such a forward-thinking local business that is investing in both its people and the future.

Thank you, Pete and Maria, for inviting us to share in your celebrations, and congratulations to everyone at TECC Limited on this important milestone. Here’s to the next 20 years!

It was a pleasure to be invited, along with my Consort, Parish Councillor Jane Milner-Barry, to the opening of KC Studio...
17/09/2026

It was a pleasure to be invited, along with my Consort, Parish Councillor Jane Milner-Barry, to the opening of KC Studios at 25 Victoria Road, Swindon.

Founded by Ketan and his wife, Chetna, KC Studios is a wonderful new addition to Swindon’s business community, offering residents the opportunity to purchase traditional Indian clothing, handbags and jewellery locally, without having to travel to other towns and cities.

Jane and I were delighted to be shown around the first-floor showroom, where we admired the exceptional craftsmanship and attention to detail in many of the beautiful garments, including exquisite hand embroidery and other high-quality features.

It is fantastic to see Ketan and Chetna establishing their business in Swindon, helping to keep money within our local economy while providing a fantastic shopping experience for the community.

The opening took place on an auspicious day, coinciding with Chetna’s birthday and the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi.

We wish Ketan and Chetna every success for the future and are sure visitors will be impressed by the wonderful range and quality of products on offer.

Congratulations to KC Studios on your opening!

What a thrill to be invited by Tim Howe, founder of The Longevity Games, to participate in this fantastic event at the a...
16/09/2026

What a thrill to be invited by Tim Howe, founder of The Longevity Games, to participate in this fantastic event at the athletics track at Swindon Harriers Athletic Club, both as a competitor and in my capacity as Mayor of Swindon.

The Longevity Games was created from Tim’s concern that, although we are living longer, we are not necessarily living healthier or remaining independent for longer. His vision is to encourage people of all ages, abilities and fitness levels to take that first step towards a more active lifestyle, without the pressure of traditional fitness competitions.

As Tim explained, it isn’t really about who finishes first. It’s about participation, building confidence, staying active and encouraging people to keep moving.

I hadn’t realised how long it had been since I last ran! Although I consider myself quite fit for my age and attend the gym at least twice a week, I’ve noticed that my flexibility and balance have declined as I’ve got older. Needless to say, I was pretty slow! 😂 But that didn’t matter. The encouragement from the competitors, their friends and families, and the wonderful crowd was truly humbling.

In one of my other roles, I’m involved in a working group encouraging more people in some of the more deprived areas of Swindon to become active and improve their fitness and long-term health. Initiatives like the Longevity Games are a brilliant way to make exercise accessible, enjoyable and inclusive for everyone.

I would strongly encourage everyone reading this to get involved in some form of exercise or physical activity that you enjoy. It’s never too late to take that first step!

A huge thank you to Tim, his team of volunteers, everyone who took part, and all those who came along to support their friends and family. Your enthusiasm and encouragement made the event truly special.

It was also brilliant to see Borough Councillors Stanka Wilson, Jim Robbins and Abdul Amin, Parish Councillors Jamal Miah, Josh Woods, Sudha Nukana and Leigh Jackson, and former Mayor, Borough and Parish Councillor Junab Ali.

What a fantastic, positive and supportive community event. Well done to everyone involved, i’m looking forward to the next one in November 👏

It was a pleasure to attend a fundraising meal at Momo King in support of disaster relief in Nepal.It has been truly hea...
14/09/2026

It was a pleasure to attend a fundraising meal at Momo King in support of disaster relief in Nepal.

It has been truly heartbreaking to watch the news and see the devastating impact of the floods in Nepal, with thousands still missing, including some Swindon residents who were visiting the region. My thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected.

As someone who enjoys food, and particularly loves Nepalese cuisine, it was wonderful to enjoy a delicious meal while supporting such an important cause.

Swindon has a vibrant Nepali community, including a large number of ex-Gurkhas across Swindon and Wiltshire. I know many are experiencing the loss of friends and family in Nepal, and my heart goes out to them during this incredibly difficult time.

I was joined at the table by Heidi Alexander MP, her husband Martin, and Parish Councillor Gyan Gurung, who has recently returned from Nepal. It was also lovely to see Borough Councillor Marina Strinkovsky among the many appreciative diners.

A huge thank you to Momo King for organising this event and bringing our community together in support of those in need.

There are more fundraising events planned, and I encourage residents to attend if they can:

🕯️ Candlelight Vigil for Nepal
📍 Wharf Green, The Brunel Centre
🗓️ Saturday 19 September, from 6pm

Hot drinks will be available.

🍽️ Charity Lunch for Nepal
📍 Buckhurst Community Centre
🗓️ Saturday 26 September, 12 noon–8pm

Proceeds from both events will go towards disaster relief in Nepal.

Let us continue to stand together with our Nepali community and support those affected by this devastating tragedy.

It was a privilege to be invited to the Supporter of Prospect Hospice Lunch at Salthrop Manor.Sophie Conran was a gracio...
13/09/2026

It was a privilege to be invited to the Supporter of Prospect Hospice Lunch at Salthrop Manor.

Sophie Conran was a gracious host and has been incredibly supportive of Prospect Hospice. We were treated to a superb lunch, featuring many delicious ingredients from her own garden.

Thank you so much, Sophie, for your kind invitation, warm hospitality and continued support for such an important local charity.

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Civic Offices
Swindon

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Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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