Mayor of Swindon

26/05/2026

I am delighted to share that I completed my very first engagement as the Mayor of Swindon yesterday morning, and it was truly special. I had the pleasure of visiting the Jumbulance, a remarkable initiative that provides people with severe mobility issues the opportunity to enjoy holidays and outings with their families.

For many, experiences like these would simply not be possible without the incredible design and care that the Jumbulance team provides. It is more than just a vehicle; it is a gateway to adventure, accessibility, and quality time for those who face significant physical challenges. Seeing firsthand how they enable families to create precious memories together was the perfect start to my mayoral year.

The Jumbulance team is a truly great group of people, and their dedication to ensuring that mobility issues do not stand in the way of life-enriching experiences is inspiring. Thank you to everyone involved for such a warm welcome and for the vital work you do to bring joy and freedom to so many. It was a privilege to witness your mission in action!

22/05/2026

Hello Swindon 👋
I am incredibly honoured and humbled to have been elected as the Mayor of Swindon today. I am truly looking forward to an incredible year ahead, representing our fantastic town and meeting as many of you as possible.

A massive thank you to everyone who came to Mayor Making today, it was wonderful to see so many familiar faces and to feel such strong support from across our community.
As I step into this role, I am proud to announce the two charities I will be supporting and fundraising for during my term: Prospect Hospice, which provides such vital, compassionate care to those facing life-limiting illnesses and their families here in Swindon, and Swindon Carers Together (Swindon Young Carers), a group doing essential work to support, champion, and offer respite to the incredible young people who provide care for their loved ones every single day.

I am deeply committed to championing the causes that matter to you. Now, with the formalities complete, let's get to business! There is so much to do, and I cannot wait to get started working for the people of Swindon.

22/05/2026

He's going to have a busy year!

22/05/2026

Today, I will wear the mayoral robes and chain for the final time before handing them over to Cllr Neil Hopkins.

Ian and I would like to express our gratitude to everyone who has contributed to making this year so special. A special thank you goes to Brad and Nav for their support of the mayoral role in so many ways.

Thank you to all who attended and assisted with our fundraising events, from the Teddy Bears in parachutes to the delightful meals with friends. All to support Wiltshire Treehouse and The Harbour Project.

Most of all, we would like to thank you, the people of Swindon - it's you that makes our community so fantastic and it has been a pleasure to be your Mayor. From welcoming the youngest babies into our parlour to celebrating a resident’s 100th birthday, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting so many. We’ve thoroughly enjoyed exploring Swindon’s many fantastic events and immersing ourselves in our rich culture.

We have no doubt that Neil will do an excellent job as Mayor of Swindon and we wish him a year filled with memorable joy, just like the one we’ve had.

Fay Howard
Mayor of Swindon 25/26

20/05/2026

It was a fantastic day at the Highworth Recreation Centre for the annual Swimathon, hosted by the Rotary Club of Swindon North and Thamesdown! I was absolutely delighted to be invited along alongside representatives from Phoenix Enterprises to cheer on our local swimmers and present them with their well-deserved medals and certificates.

It was truly impressive to see the number of lengths each swimmer completed in their 55 minutes, some of the figures were quite staggering! This wonderful event gives participants the chance to collect sponsorship for an organisation, cause, or charity of their choice, with half the funds going to their selected beneficiary and the other half going to support the incredible work of Phoenix Enterprises.

Phoenix Enterprises provides a vital safety net for over 120 vulnerable adults here in Swindon. They support individuals dealing with a wide range of challenges, from autism, Asperger’s, and Down’s syndrome to anxiety and depression. By providing holistic day-to-day support in a structured, productive environment, they do so much to improve people’s confidence, employability skills, and overall mental and physical wellbeing. Seeing the community come together to support such a life-changing charity, alongside the swimmers' own chosen causes, was a powerful reminder of the generosity we have in our town.

A huge thank you to the Rotary Club volunteers for organising such a smooth and well-planned event. Everything ran like clockwork, and it was a joy to be part of the day. Well done to every single swimmer who took the plunge and helped make a difference!

20/05/2026

A fantastic evening celebrating our wonderful team! 🏆

Great job by the team!

19/05/2026

It was a deeply moving experience to join church members from all across Swindon at Christ Church this past Saturday. It is always heartening to stand with others who share a genuine love for our town and a desire to see it flourish.

We gathered to pray for the future of our church, for the wellbeing of Swindon’s young people, and for the town itself. I was deeply honoured to be invited to help lead prayers for the Council, specifically for all the hard-working officers and for my fellow Councillors. As we navigate the period ahead following the recent local elections and look toward the annual Council meeting this Friday, these moments of reflection and unity are more important than ever.

The centrepiece of the gathering was a large map of Swindon, where everyone was invited to place a small battery-operated tea light to represent where they live, work, and attend school or college. Watching that map gradually fill with light was a beautiful symbol of our collective presence. It served as a wonderful reminder that Swindon is truly "lit up" by the passion, service, and commitment of the many people who live, work, and care for our fantastic town every single day.

18/05/2026

If you were in Swindon Town Centre this past Saturday, you certainly couldn't miss the striking Big Pink Boot! Created by the talented Rebecca Bellamy, this large paper-mache sculpture was a key part of the "One Million Acts of Hope" initiative that took place across the UK last week. The aim of this project is simple yet powerful: to bring kindness, care, and connection back into our daily lives.

Rebecca’s vision was to create something that would stop people of all ages in their tracks and spark a conversation. In a world that can often feel a bit disconnected, the boot serves as a reminder to take a moment to talk and perhaps think about what it means to "walk in someone else's shoes." While I was there, it was wonderful to see so many residents stopping to study the sculpture and share their thoughts. Children were even invited to add star stickers to the design, and I was quite chuffed to spot a photo of myself as part of the paper-mache creation!

While exploring the town centre, I also took a moment to admire the fantastic art pieces currently displayed in the old Debenhams windows. It is great to see these spaces being used to showcase local creativity. I also paid a visit to the Swindon Story Shed, which is a truly wonderful addition to our town. They believe that reading should be accessible to everyone, catering to every budget with a range of new, secondhand, and even FREE books for all ages. Even better, all the money they make is used to offer low-cost workshops for the community. You can check out their work here: https://www.swindonstoryshed.co.uk/

Finally, I stopped by the Pride Shop, which is as wonderfully colourful and welcoming as ever. It is a fantastic place to pick up your Pride merchandise and show your support for our vibrant LGBTQ+ community. Remember, there is no need to wait until the Swindon Pride event on 15th August to visit, they are open and ready to welcome you now!

It was a day full of inspiration and a great reminder of the many "acts of hope" happening right here in Swindon every day. Whether through art, a shared story, or a simple conversation, our town centre is buzzing with people who care.

Shed

17/05/2026

What a brilliant way to start a Sunday morning! I was delighted to be invited by Co-Event Directors Aurélie Soulier and Claire Gallagher to the very first Moredon Sporting Hub junior parkrun. This fantastic new event is a 2km run that will now take place every Sunday at 9:00 AM, and it is open to all children aged 4 to 14. Best of all, participation is completely free! Just remember that children need to register online in advance to get their barcode, which lets them track their times and work towards those well-earned milestone wristbands.

The run takes place on a secure, fenced-off track, the same one used for biathlon training, which provides a safe and professional environment for our young athletes. The focus here is firmly on fun, building confidence, and fostering a sense of community rather than intense competition. It was wonderful to see so much family cheering and encouragement during the briefing and warm-up, and even better to see the smiles as the runners were clapped across the finish line to receive their first official times and positions.

This event has been made possible thanks to vital funding from WASP (Wiltshire & Swindon Sport) and the Moredon Sporting Hub itself. It was also great to see volunteers from the Central Swindon North Parish Council mucking in to help the debut run go smoothly. Like all parkruns, this event relies entirely on the dedication of local volunteers to keep the weekly sessions running. They are always looking for marshals, timekeepers, and supporters to line the course, so if you have a spare hour on a Sunday morning, I highly encourage you to get involved!

After all that exercise, the Moredon Sporting Hub cafe is open for a well-deserved drink and snack, making it a perfect morning out for the whole family. You can find out more, register your juniors, or sign up to volunteer at their official website: https://www.parkrun.org.uk/moredonsportinghub-juniors/course/.

Let’s keep Swindon moving and support this wonderful new addition to our sporting calendar!