Skip to content
swindo
Arts and culture

TEDx Railway Village held at Swindon Town Hall

Looking back, 27 June 2026: Swindon24 reported that TEDx Railway Village had filled Swindon Town Hall with 14 talks on the theme Lines of Connection, and organisers said it would return bigger in 2027.

By , Editor ·

Looking backThis story covers news from . Swindo wrote it later from the published source, and published it on 12 November 2026. More from that day

Last updated: 12 November 2026

Share
Locomotives dumped at Swindon Works, 1962
Photo: Ben Brooksbank via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0 · source (illustrative photo of the place, not of the event)

Swindon24's report on TEDx Railway Village was published on Saturday 27 June 2026. The event, independently organised under licence from TED, was held at the Town Hall in Swindon, which the report described as packed out. The report did not give the date of the event itself.

What happened?

The theme was "Lines of Connection". Fourteen talks covered business, science, heritage, creativity, ageing and social impact, given by speakers from Swindon and further afield. The Mayor of Swindon and the High Sheriff of Wiltshire were in the audience with local business leaders, creatives and people from community organisations.

Organisers Rob Jandy and Debbie Bryan said: "We wanted to create space for Swindon's ideas to be heard and valued".

Audience member Tana Wollen picked out a performance by Soumik Datta, saying: "Highlights like Soumik Datta's moving and captivating performance showed the strength of connection and storytelling".

Who supported it?

The report named Swindon Dance, Swindon 105.5, Create Studios, GEL Studios, Tom Faulkner, Jordy's Private Events & Catering and Advanced Printing Services UK Ltd as supporters.

What happens next?

  • Recordings of the talks were expected to appear on TED's official YouTube channel in the weeks after the event.
  • The organisers plan a bigger event in 2027.

Source: Swindon24.

Share

Latest Swindon news

All news
  1. Launderette approved at 105 Broad Street, Swindon

    Source: Swindon Borough Council planning register

  4. Four houses approved at 27 Church Walk South, Rodbourne Cheney

    Source: Swindon Borough Council planning register

  5. Plans to convert 27 Curtis Street, Swindon, from commercial use to a home

    Source: Swindon Borough Council planning register

Spot something wrong? Suggest a correction

Related

Guide · History

St Mark's Church: the Railway Village's Victorian church

St Mark's Church on Church Place was built in 1843 to 1845 for the Great Western Railway's new workers' town. It was designed by George Gilbert Scott and William Moffatt and consecrated in 1845. It is a listed building.

Guide · History

The Railway Village: Swindon's GWR Workers' Housing

The Railway Village is a planned settlement of about 280 stone cottages laid out between 1842 and 1847 by the Great Western Railway to house workers at its Swindon works. Swindon Borough Council bought most of it in 1966, the cottages were listed in 1970 and it became a conservation area in 1975.

News · Arts and culture

Big Hat Cabaret returns to STEAM on 27 November after three-year gap

Reach Inclusive Arts is bringing back its Big Hat Cabaret, an evening of music, dance, drama and comedy by disabled artists and friends, at STEAM on Friday 27 November.

News · Arts and culture

Richard Jefferies Museum thanks volunteers and receives £500 donation

The Richard Jefferies Museum held its annual volunteers' party on 6 November and received £500 towards a new building from the Freemasons Playdell Lodge.

Read Swindo on your phone: add it to your home screen

Places Mentioned

Swindon Town Hall

Landmark

Swindon Town Hall on Regent Circus was built in 1890 to 1891 as the New Swindon Local Board offices. It is Grade II listed and is the home of Swindon Dance.

SN1 1QF