Swindon’s hidden gems are revealed to the world in a new book by local blogger and Born Again Swindonian Angela Atkinson.

Her blog, which has a wide following in the town and among former Swindonians around the world, celebrates all that is good about the town and offers many interesting insights into places to go and things to do.

It was through the blog she was approached by Gloucestershire publisher Amberley Publishing to write a book called Secret Swindon - part of it its ‘Secret’ series - and Angela jumped at the chance to help promote the town, where she has lived for 25 years.

“I moved to Swindon back in the 1990s from a part of the country that had been devastated by the 1980s pit closures,” said Angela, 61, who was brought up in a Derbyshire mining village and now lives in Grange Park, West Swindon.

“Coming here was truly like coming to the land of milk and honey. The town has a fascinating, many layered, multifaceted history. It also has work, facilities, green spaces aplenty and great transport connections – and, above all, wonderful people.”

Angela’s first blogs were a guidebook entry on the Magic Roundabout and a piece on the West Swindon sculpture trail, written as part of a module she undertook while studying as a mature student at the University of the West of England. She had decided to get back to education after taking early retirement from her admin role with the Swindon research councils.

After graduating with a 1st Class joint honours degree in English four years ago, she set up her editing, proofreading and copywriting business AA Editorial Services which she juggles with her blogging.

She got her hands on the new book last week - and said that while she was delighted to have it, the genesis of Secret Swindon had had its challenges with the inevitable proof-reading and amendments.

"I begged them to send one last week, and I was full of excitement and also terror and nerves. It all turned into a trauma at the end, as the first proof needed a lot of amendments," she said.

"If anyone sees any mistakes now, I don't want to know! But it does look nice."

The book is part of a large series, focussing on towns and cities around the country. They all share the same style cover picture of a blue plaque on a brick wall with the name of the town.

"The publishers contacted me last year, via my blog. When I first read the message I was poorly and couldn't really grasp what it was about. But it was the commissioning editor for this publishing house in Gloucestershire," she recalled. "I was really excited.

"I had a lot of stuff on the blog already, but I did more research, and I learnt more. I couldn't call myself a historian - there are other people who have that title. I'm a blogger and Swindon enthusiast.

"For example, of course I knew Richard Jefferies but I didn't know how many contemporary writers and broadcasters admired him, such as Monty Don, Jeff Vandermeer and Will Self."

Angela is also a fan of Swindon's historic Medical Fund Society, which lasted 101 years and preceded the National Health Service.

She said: "Swindon is unique and awesome. It's true!"

Some of the less well known facts about Swindon that Angela has championed include that Swindon-born artist Ken White designed the red lady emblem you see o Virgin Atlantic Aircraft, and that essayist and broadcaster and architectural expert Jonathan Meades placed the David Murray John Tower on a list of what he considers to be five extraordinary buildings in the world.

The book, which went on sale in mid-July, is being officially launched during a book-signing at Swindon Central Library on Saturday - so if you would like to buy a copy and chat with Angela about all things Swindonian, she will be present between 11am and 1pm.

Secret Swindon’s RRP is £14.99. It can be bought from amberley-books.com or via Angela's website swindonian.me.