The Lawns park in the old town area of Swindon used to be the Goddard family estate.  The house was demolished after a fire, although the family had moved out long before this happened, and just a few garden walls remain along with stones showing the outline of the house walls.  The area is now a park with two lakes, a wooded area and plenty of space for walking.  To one side of the house are the ruins of the original Swindon parish church,  Holy Rood   and a short distance away is the current parish church of  Christ Church.

Most of these photographs were all taken the week before Christmas 1999, as were were walking through the park.  The photographs do not convey just how beautiful everything looked, or the excited atmosphere as children played in the snow.  Then the sun started to sink and the light dulled; the sky darkened and the snow became almost luminous.  Wonderful!

Also showing are some photographs of the   Swindon Festival Of Literature.  This annual festival kicks off in the Lawns with the Dawn Chorus at a spot near the top of the hill where we can watch the sun rise over Swindon.  A piper heralds the moment, followed by a few songs from the  Swindon Community Choir  and plenty of other activities including fire juggling, dancing round the May pole and perhaps the most welcome sight at such an early time of the day - the stall selling cups of hot tea!