Local History Hero - Graham Carter

So while we're on the subject of Swindon Heritage I'd like to mention former editor Graham Carter.

In case you missed it, Swindon Heritage was a quarterly magazine for lovers of local history and was co founded in 2013 by Graham, First World War historian Mark Sutton and myself. During our five year career we published 20 editions plus a Battle of Britain 75th Anniversary special.

There are still copies available at a knockdown price in the Library Shop, Central Library and bound copies of all 21 editions are on the shelf in Local Studies.

But this wasn't Graham's only heritage publication achievement.

Graham worked on the Swindon Advertiser from 1989-1998 before going freelance, returning to produce one off supplements. One of the supplements he researched, wrote and designed was the Chronicle of Swindon, a free insert which told the story of Swindon from pre-history to the new millennium. You probably can't get your hands on a copy of this fantastic publication now (unless like me you kept them all) but you can consult a copy in Local Studies.

Graham is co-founder of the Alfred Williams Heritage Society, which celebrates the life and achievements of the South Marston born polymath. In 1911/1912 Alfred visited the Swindon & Highworth Union Workhouse which used to stand on Highworth Road, Stratton St Margaret. Graham and Caroline Ockwell walked in Alfred's footsteps to write their own account of 21st century provision for those in need, and published In the Shadow of the Workhouse in 2015. (Copies available in the Library Shop, Swindon Central Library - just pop in, you'll find tons of interesting stuff there.)

Then in 2017 Graham in collaboration with Mike Attwell and Local Studies embarked upon distilling the incredible Dixon-Attwell collection into a book. It wasn't easy! But the resulting book - A Swindon Time Capsule: Working Class Life 1899-1984 - went on to win the 2018 Alan Ball Award - the national award for local history publications. Go on - guess where you can buy it?

So now Graham has put Swindon Heritage to bed, is he taking it easy? Well, not according to his Facebook page. Earlier last month he cycled 100+ miles to Wales - and he was back in time for tea.

Graham writes a regular Monday column in the Swindon Advertiser and continues to keep his heritage hand in. His latest project is a book he is co-writing with Noel Ponting about the extraordinary George Hobbs, a railway man with an interest in - well, everything really, a bit like Graham.