Anyone who has spent any time around Swindon’s live music scene will probably know who Dave Young is. For those who don’t, here’s a brief summary. Those with very long memories might remember him as a younger, fresher faced guitar-slinger with folk-punk vigilantes The Boys From County Hell, but most will remember him from The Victoria which he and his wife Anna ran for many years. During their time running the venue they really put it on the map not just locally but nationally as well, drawing in bands of all styles, genres and levels of renown from all across the country and even beyond.
But they also supported the local scene brilliantly and gave a home to regular grassroots nights such as those run by Songs of Praise and they were early champions of The Swindon Shuffle, an annual original music festival now heading into its twelfth. Since leaving the venue Dave can be found wielding his guitar for The Chaos Brothers and occasionally behind sound desks for touring artists around the country.
In 2016 Dave was worryingly diagnosed with throat cancer and as there is no Radiotherapy Unit in Swindon he and Anna had no choice but to face 6 weeks spending weekdays living in their motorhome in Oxford’s Churchill Hospital Car. “The treatment and care we received was first class and helped us through a very difficult time.” He says,“ Whilst there we noticed endless streams of Swindon taxis ferrying cancer patients from Swindon, a trip I’m sure they could do without, knowing how ill it can make you feel.”
Now things are looking much more positive and the cancer seems to have been defeated and as a way of saying thank you for the care he received he has decided to undertake a mammoth motorcycle ride from Swindon to Cyprus to raise money and awareness for the fundraising currently going on for our town’s own Radiotherapy unit.
They need to raise £2.9 million by November this year, and the current total raised so far is £2,200,700. So still a way to go. If you would like to support Dave in his efforts to help push that figure over the required finishing line then you can find out more about how to help at David’s Road to Recovery Just Giving Page.
He is looking to raise £2000 toward the units total and there will be details of other fund and awareness raising events before he heads off for the Cyprus sun in September. Maybe you were in a band who played the venue whilst he was at the helm, maybe you went along and saw some great live music, maybe you just appreciate what a great effort he is putting in trying to help other local people fighting cancer to have things made just a little bit easier for them.
Sometimes it is just about saying thank you and putting something back. If you feel the same, you know what to do.
