Brunel Publications Launched
Book Press Release.doc (Word Document)
Comic Press Release.doc (Word Document)

Brunel Banquet

Friday 15th September was party night at Brunel’s Passenger Shed at Temple Meads! The Brunel Banquet was a re-creation of the Royal Banquet of 1843 that launched the ss Great Britain. The party was graced with the presence of Queen Victoria and Mr Brunel, as well as performances by Bristol Brass and Emerald Ensemble.

Temple Meads Mural

If you are travelling from Temple Meads station, take a moment to stroll to platform 1 to see the 10 metre long mural created by local artists. Artist Steve Joyce (creator of the John Cabot statue outside Arnolfini) worked with artists from Art and Power to make their ideas about and inspiration from Brunel into an enormous mural of etched aluminium, that will hang in Temple Meads for years to come.

photo shows artist Steve Joyce, co-ordinator Jade West, Art and Power director Dave Richmond and artists from Art and Power standing in front of their artwork.

Brunel the Hero

Students from Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, headed by foremost actor-manager of his time, Mr Walter Coborn and most ably assisted by Miss Jenny Dalton and the Flying Rossillo Twins, presented the true story of a hero born in a time of heroes. Written and directed by Toby Hulse, the play was originally performed in over forty schools across the region and re-staged in the Hayward Saloon at the ss Great Britain.

photo shows the cast with director Toby Hulse, meeting Mr Brunel aboard his famous ship.

The Swindon Brunel Festival

The celebrations in Swindon culminated over the weekend of 15 - 17 September, with performances of 'Swindon - the opera - The Little Man in the Tall Hat'. With a packed programme of activity in July (street parties, festivals in the park, workshops, busking, performances, urban art and fireworks) and a finale weekend with opera, an English Heritage engineering symposium, the Swindon Railway Festival and Swindon Choral Society's new commission, it was difficult to keep the Brunels away!

Photo by David White shows a meeting of the great men in Faringdon Park, Swindon.