Full steam ahead (From Stroud News and Journal)

Full steam ahead

STROUD Brunel Group has scooped a grant of £25,000 to help build up a full head of steam for next year's 200th anniversary of the great engineer's birth.

Group spokesman Anne Mackintosh said of Brunel 200: "Brunel's impact on Stroud is well worthy of celebration. It would be marvellous if we could considerably increase awareness and appreciation of Brunel and of another great aspect of Stroud's history and environment.

With a grant from the town council of £300, the total to be devoted to marking the birth on April 9 of Brunel, who was second only to Winston Churchill in a BBC poll of Great Britons, now stands at more than £28,000.

Celebrations will include a summer exhibition at the Brunel Goods Shed along with permanent history boards, school educational projects and a website highlighting Stroud-Brunel connections.

"The Brunel 200 celebrations will provide another new focus for visitors to Stroud," she said.

The group, which has been joined by Swindon STEAM museum founder and Brunel biographer Tim Bryan, is eager to hear from anyone able to help stage or add to the celebrations with events such as theatrical productions, poetry events or exhibitions.

"We're looking for help from people enthusiastic about railways and engineering," said Mrs Mackintosh. "We will have a great deal going on from April 2006 but we would definitely welcome more events."

The grant came from the Local Heritage Initiative, which helps local groups. Swindon, Gloucester, Plymouth and Bristol, which has raised £600,000 towards celebrations, will be among a host of other towns celebrating Brunel 200.

To volunteer call Anne Mackintosh on 01453 766273.