Friday 7th July 2006 was the end of term at Swindon College - and the end of an era for its iconic Regent's Circus campus in the centre of town. After more than 100 years on the site, the College is moving across town to North Star, and the distinctive, if rather ugly 1960s concrete and glass building is due to be torn down. Swindon College first came to the Regent's Circus in 1891 - when it was housed in the red-brick Technical Schools building at the bottom of Victoria Road. In the years since then, it's been a place of learning for generations of students - and was once one of Swindon's top live music venues. One well-known local who remembers it as both is Andy Partridge of Swindon band XTC. He was an Art student at the College in the 70s - and came back with his band in their early years, to play a gig supporting Thin Lizzy. Andy spoke to the BBC's Mark Moulding about his memories of that concert - and his time as a 'spotty student'. |