Disney's legacy may include a grand parade (From Swindon Advertiser)

Disney's legacy may include a grand parade

4:40pm Wednesday 27th January 2010 in

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AN ANNUAL Disney themed parade is just one of the ideas the council is toying with as discussion of “lasting twinning legacies” for the town begin.

Bill Cotton, director of economic development at the council, said both he and members of his team are currently drawing up plans to ensure Disney’s twinning with Swindon – the world’s first – will not be a ‘one-time thing’.

He said plans currently being drawn up include three different “community priority” schemes, which he considers practical and beneficial.

One idea includes bringing the firm’s graphic design and information technology experts into Swindon to help college students with their studies – in turn giving the town a competitive edge.

Mr Cotton said: “We have to remember that behind the fun aspects of Disney there is a multi-billion pound company with a lot of expertise and we can definitely use that here in Swindon.

“Swindon can benefit from that by bringing their IT experts, marketing executives or even tutors from the Disney Institute, the external training arm of the Walt Disney Corporation, into town to conduct master classes.

“There is also some of the world’s best media studies and animation professionals working for Disney. bringing them here can also be looked into.

“A lot of ideas involve Disney employees from around the UK coming to Swindon to improve social circumstances.

“Companies including Motorola often send out their employees to work with charities so we could have the Disney people come down and help Swindon out in that way.”

When Disney was asked it too said plans for a lasting legacy will be left up to the people of Swindon to decide.

Alex Vonk, Disney spokeswoman, said: “We are not all about coming into Swindon and telling the town what we will be doing there.

“We would like Swindon to tell us what hopes they have for a legacy.

“I sat down with five members of the council to discuss that on Saturday.”

Other ideas include using the “powers of Disney” to encourage young people to engage further in the learning process – including donated gift prizes to struggling students. And teaming up with the cartoon corporation to hold an annual Christmas-time Disney themed parade in Swindon is another possibility.