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Swindon twinned with Disney World (From Swindon Advertiser)
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Swindon twinned with Disney World
9:00am Tuesday 8th December 2009
MICKEY takers in Swindon now have something to smile about as the town becomes the first in the world to be officially twinned with Walt Disney World.
The town was hand picked to be twinned with the Florida theme park, thanks to the creative mind of mortgage adviser Rebecca Warren.
Miss Warren, 20, from Upper Stratton, was yesterday named as the winner of a national competition to compete for the official status of being twinned with the world’s most famous theme park.
The win means the town will soon get new signs saying it is now twinned with Disney World along with current twinned towns of Salzgitter in Germany, Ocotal in Nicaragua and Torun in Poland.
Miss Warren will also travel to the theme park next year to unveil a plaque at the entrance of the park saying it is now twinned with Swindon.
Miss Warren, who works for Nationwide, said: “I still cannot believe that my entry has been selected – it’s fantastic.
“We got the call yesterday morning and me and my mum couldn’t stop screaming.
“I think there are a lot of similarities between Swindon and Walt Disney World – the friendly atmosphere, the fact that there is always something new and exciting in the town and all the famous people we have coming to gig here.
“I am so thrilled – this is the best thing that has ever happened to me.
“What a great opportunity for Swindon, we’ll definitely welcome the Disney magic.
“It will be so exciting to see Swindon’s name alongside Walt Disney World on the sign in Florida.
“My wish was always to be Cinderella with a beautiful ball gown, so I’m really looking forward to dressing the part for the twinning ceremony in January.”
More than 500 people from across the UK nominated their home towns, but Miss Warren’s entry, a video slideshow of the town with a poem she had written, wowed the judges and brought home the winner’s crown.
Swindon beat off the likes of Blackpool, Aberdeen, Chester, Milton Keynes and Wigan to win the official title and a magical twinning party which will take place in the town next month.
Swindon will now also be featured in the United Kingdom Pavilion at the World Showcase at the Epcot theme park for the whole of next year.
As part of her prize, Miss Warren will jet off to Florida with her nephew Aaron, 11 and niece Amy, five, to meet Mickey Mouse and unveil the ‘Walt Disney World Twinned with Swindon’ plaque.
The Walt Disney Community Relations team will also embark on a community outreach programme with Swindon Borough Council officials, following the official twinning in January.
Hugh Wood of Disney Destinations International said: “Britain clearly has a love for Walt Disney World and long-standing affinity with the parks and their magic, which is probably why the number and quality of entries received was so high, making it very difficult to pick a winner.
“However, Rebecca’s video really stood out.
“Her local pride and creative approach, coupled with her obvious knowledge of Walt Disney World just made the difference.
“We’re looking forward to building a friendly and magical relationship with our new twin, Swindon.”
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Your Say YourSwindon
stfcphil, says...
9:15am Tue 8 Dec 09
PeeGee, Swindon says...
9:21am Tue 8 Dec 09
PaulD, Swindon says...
9:30am Tue 8 Dec 09
tarot, Swindon says...
9:37am Tue 8 Dec 09
With high levels of sickness departments are coming to a standstill and being run by temps who have no idea what they are doing.
If all companies stopped working due to staff not being there the country would be in trouble.
Whoops the country is in trouble, silly me!
SockPuppet, Swindon says...
9:42am Tue 8 Dec 09
tracifrost, says...
9:48am Tue 8 Dec 09
Whilst I congratulate you for your happy news. It is quite obvious that you have NOT visited Walt Disney World In FL. There are absolutely NO similarities with Swindon and WDW, whether that be cultural, climatically, or what what ever.... For a start in the Sunshine State, it is sunny nearly 365 days of the year, secondly the friendliness of the Floridians, is something not often seen in the UK and lastly there are opportunities for families in abundance!
politicrat, swindon says...
9:55am Tue 8 Dec 09
itsamess, swindon says...
10:35am Tue 8 Dec 09
Bobby Bee, swindon says...
10:54am Tue 8 Dec 09
Bobby Bee, swindon says...
10:55am Tue 8 Dec 09
Casual Observer, Swindon says...
11:19am Tue 8 Dec 09
Somehow I think not.
stfcphil, says...
11:28am Tue 8 Dec 09
History: Swindon in the Domesday Book as Suindune, which is derived from the Anglo-Saxon swine and dun meaning ‘pig hill’.
Walt Disney flew over the Disney World site on the day President Kennedy was assassinated and decided it would be the centre of his second theme park in the US.
Climate: Swindon, average temperature 10 c, with 1,600 hours of annual sunshine.
Disney, temperatures up to 43 c with 3,200 hours of sunshine.
Famous for: opening of a health centre in Swindon in 1892 in which a doctor could prescribe a haircut or bath which became a blueprint for the NHS.
Disney’s Cinderella Castle the home of the Magic Kingdom.
Entertainment: Lorraine Chase starring in Sleeping Beauty at Swindon’s Wyvern Theatre.
Disney’s nightly firework spectacular set to classical music.
Cultural high point: Swindon used as a backdrop to a 1994 commercial for Benylin cough medicine.
Disney summer concerts featuring Bon Jovi and Billy Ocean.
Television: SBCTV, Swindon Borough Council’s internet TV channel available 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year.
The Disney Channel, producing High School Musical and Hannah Montana, with 84 million viewers.
Tourism: Swindon’s Steam railway museum has 100,000 visitors a year.
Disney’s Magic Kingdom has 17 million making it the world’s number one attraction.
Famous attractions: Swindon’s Magic Roundabout spans five roads and has spawned a calendar featuring a different roundabout each month.
Disney has four theme parks; two water parks; 24 themed hotels.
Home of: 1950s Swindon sex siren Diana Dors, the comedian Mark Lamarr, and page three model Melinda Messenger.
Mickey Mouse, Dumbo and Snow White.
Hmmm....
lazarus, Kingdom of Wessex says...
11:32am Tue 8 Dec 09
Raef Barnes, Swindon says...
11:36am Tue 8 Dec 09
And have I missed something, as I don't understand why people are moaning about the council's involvement. Isn't this just a case of Rebecca Warren entering her home town in a competition and winning?
Well done Rebecca! It's all just a bit of a laugh.
radicalbyte, says...
12:29pm Tue 8 Dec 09
Any chance of getting to see the winning video on youtube or something?
Papillon, Swindon says...
12:58pm Tue 8 Dec 09
Nostim, Swindon says...
1:15pm Tue 8 Dec 09
Got to be better than the one we,ve got now.
Typhoon lagoon instead of the canal.
Space mountain in Wharf Green
Main St USA instead of Regent St
Sounds great to me
JeanieG, Linton says...
2:48pm Tue 8 Dec 09
real -life, South Swindon says...
2:56pm Tue 8 Dec 09
lazarus, Kingdom of Wessex says...
3:51pm Tue 8 Dec 09
avo, swindon says...
4:31pm Tue 8 Dec 09
s/w = hole-here lol, you couldn't make it up.
I Too, Swindon says...
5:11pm Tue 8 Dec 09
No doubt it will only be a matter of time, before the unelected mayor goes off on a free trip, at the tax-payers expense, whilst essential services are cut.
` Why don't we have another competition, to twin councillors with Disney characters?
Obviously Mickey Mouse comes to mind, but don't forget the likes of Pinnocchio and various dwarves
bilzinCdS, Nerja says...
6:07pm Tue 8 Dec 09
JeanieG wrote:According to my cranial sat nav...Linton is and always was in Cambridgeshire...not really the place to transmit one's defence of good ol' Swindon from is it ?
Why do people keep knocking Swindon all the time. It's a good thing that we have been twinned with a place that is recognised the world over. Get a life all you sad muppets, and if you don't like where you live naff off somewhere else.
LKS, Liden says...
6:20pm Tue 8 Dec 09
Trust the chronic complainers to make it political and turn it in to something negative!
PK, Swindon says...
6:48pm Tue 8 Dec 09
bilzinCdS, Nerja says...
7:09pm Tue 8 Dec 09
Clean suggestions only please !
Bobby Bee, swindon says...
7:35pm Tue 8 Dec 09
Well done Miss warren!
bilzinCdS, Nerja says...
8:02pm Tue 8 Dec 09
JeanieG wrote:Thank you...so obviously a product of the blair years....bless !
RE:bilzinCdS,Nerja. There are alot of Linton's in the UK how many Nerja's are there? mmmm let me think, I lived in Swindon for 11 years moved away for other halfs job am moving back next year. It's was my home town and it will be my home town again. So I have every right to comment. Home is where the heart is bilzinCdS,Nerja, not where the sunshine or cheap vino is.
MY daughter was born here too...now in India with HER job..
My son has been a Royal Marine for 13 years now...
Both of them have recently seen the town and both express a desire to never return ...Nuff said ?
hellmouth, says...
11:43pm Tue 8 Dec 09
hellmouth, says...
11:44pm Tue 8 Dec 09
Rusty23, Shrivenham says...
11:58pm Tue 8 Dec 09
politicrat wrote:Parasite
Mickey Mouse as council leader please! lets put a smile on our faces....
johnoxford, Oxford says...
5:15am Wed 9 Dec 09
bilzinCdS, Nerja says...
5:55am Wed 9 Dec 09
You won't find any details on here...try BBC.co.uk for more news
bilzinCdS, Nerja says...
5:52pm Wed 9 Dec 09
bilzinCdS, Nerja says...
8:51pm Wed 9 Dec 09
A bit like the stories hyping Swine Dung !
bilzinCdS, Nerja says...
8:52pm Wed 9 Dec 09
A bit like the stories hyping Swine Dung !
MadMuffin, swindon says...
5:12pm Fri 11 Dec 09
What next Kabul??
David Horbunowicz, Swindon says...
11:53am Sat 12 Dec 09
bilzinCdS, Nerja says...
1:40pm Sat 12 Dec 09
David Horbunowicz wrote:May one ask if you've been living in Swindon for any appreciable length of time ?
How can so many people be so negative? Well done Rebecca and fair play for taking the time out to publicise the town in the fun, quirky and imaginative way that you did. I liked your poem and given that Swindon hardly has a reputation outside of the town this can only be a good thing. It's a bit of fun - Get over yourselves folks!
David Horbunowicz, Swindon says...
7:46pm Sat 12 Dec 09
bilzinCdS wrote:Yes, 25 years - is that appreciable enough? May one ask if there is anything else you would like to add?
David Horbunowicz wrote:May one ask if you've been living in Swindon for any appreciable length of time ?
How can so many people be so negative? Well done Rebecca and fair play for taking the time out to publicise the town in the fun, quirky and imaginative way that you did. I liked your poem and given that Swindon hardly has a reputation outside of the town this can only be a good thing. It's a bit of fun - Get over yourselves folks!
bilzinCdS, Nerja says...
8:28pm Sat 12 Dec 09
David Horbunowicz wrote:One can but assume that the person relieving themselves of puerile postings at this erstwhile site is in some way connected to the lacklustre local government that is to be derided at each and every opportunity.
bilzinCdS wrote:Yes, 25 years - is that appreciable enough? May one ask if there is anything else you would like to add?
David Horbunowicz wrote:May one ask if you've been living in Swindon for any appreciable length of time ?
How can so many people be so negative? Well done Rebecca and fair play for taking the time out to publicise the town in the fun, quirky and imaginative way that you did. I liked your poem and given that Swindon hardly has a reputation outside of the town this can only be a good thing. It's a bit of fun - Get over yourselves folks!
David Horbunowicz, Swindon says...
9:26pm Sat 12 Dec 09
bilzinCdS wrote:Your assumption is incorrect.
David Horbunowicz wrote:One can but assume that the person relieving themselves of puerile postings at this erstwhile site is in some way connected to the lacklustre local government that is to be derided at each and every opportunity.
bilzinCdS wrote:Yes, 25 years - is that appreciable enough? May one ask if there is anything else you would like to add?
David Horbunowicz wrote:May one ask if you've been living in Swindon for any appreciable length of time ?
How can so many people be so negative? Well done Rebecca and fair play for taking the time out to publicise the town in the fun, quirky and imaginative way that you did. I liked your poem and given that Swindon hardly has a reputation outside of the town this can only be a good thing. It's a bit of fun - Get over yourselves folks!
Alaughaminute, swindon says...
9:05pm Mon 14 Dec 09
Just to add to the jeanieG comments I would be interested to see how long you stay before you want to move out again and if you can say you will be truly happy here, all I can add is your welcome to it.
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PeeveD, Swindon says...
9:11am Tue 8 Dec 09