A new history festival has launched with a celebration of storytelling and the people who bring the past to life.
The Swindon-Wide History Festival began with a Meet The Authors event at Swindon’s Central Library, giving the public a chance to hear from seven of Swindon’s most prominent published authors.
Authors spoke about their journeys into writing, their connection to Swindon, and the inspiration behind their work.
The festival is the brainchild of Dr Rosa Matheson, a historian and author who has published several books on Swindon’s railway history.
Dr Matheson, who introduced each author during the event, spoke about her path from a council-run women returning to work course to earning a Master’s degree and later a PhD on women on the railways.
Speakers included Graham Carter, a former Swindon Adver journalist and editor of Swindon Heritage Magazine; Angela Atkinson, blogger-turned-author; Dr John Chandler of The Hobnob Press; and John Stooke, who writes to raise funds for charity.
Other presenters included Hannah Dosanjh, illustrator and teacher; Tim Bryan, former Director of the Brunel Institute; and Dr Matheson herself.
The event concluded with a well-attended audience Q&A session.
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