PLANS to create a coat of arms for Penhill are well under way.

The Penhill Forum, which brings together several community initiatives, is producing a symbolic shield to brighten up the circular tower above the McColl’s store, in Braydon Court.

Organisers have already chosen a basic layout but they are still seeking ideas for the specific symbols as well as the motto which would appear on the finished design.

Forum secretary Marilyn Beale, who launched a competition last month, said: “The people who have responded have really fired up our imaginations and got us thinking about where we could place it all on the shield.

“I think if we can bring off what we would like to see, based on suggestions, it could actually symbolise what’s on and what’s happened in Penhill.

“We want something to reflect the history and we want something to represent all the groups and activities in Penhill at the moment. It would have to be pretty elaborate but it could be a bit of fun.”

The project, which came out of a meeting with Swindon Council, aims to brighten up a bare patch on the tower and involve the community in something fun and meaningful.

Under the basic layout, the shield would be split into six sections, or fields.

The top two fields would feature all the logos of local groups and the other fields would represent local sports teams, trades and professions of people on the estate, and the local establishments, including the churches and community centres.

At the top of the shield, there would be a rising sun, an established symbol for Penhill, which is represented on the signs at the entrance of the estate.

The shield would be flanked by two swans, possibly one black and one white, to symbolise the Penhill Swan Majorettes and the institutes of learning on the estate, including CLIP and the schools.

There would also be three historic symbols on the shield, including the shield of Merton College, Oxford, which owned the land on which Penhill was built.

Marilyn, who has lived in Avebury Road for 44 years, is researching the technical and legal issues around the coate of arms.

Organisers are also seeking ideas for a short motto in English, with a meaning for Penhill people, to go under the shield.

It is hoped that if funding can be secured, the coat of arms would not only be displayed at Braydon Court but could also be put on badges and T-shirts for residents to wear.

Organisers hope to hold a public consultation over the draft design at the Penhill Carnival on July 2.

Ideas and designs should be emailed to penhill.forum3@ntlworld.com. For more information, call Marilyn on 01793 331516.

Kevan Colanis, presenter of the Penhill Voice community radio show, said of the design: “It has got to be something that puts the message across simply and gets to the point and that depends on the design in the end of the day.

“You have got to interpret it so in a quick glance people get the message.”