Not Quite A Stranger In My Own Backyard 

70s superstar Gilbert O Sullivan back at Swindon College for The One Show

 

There was excitement on campus last week as Swindon College welcomed renowned singer-songwriter and former student Gilbert O�Sullivan to the college�s School of Art.

 

 

The visit formed part of a whistle-stop tour of Swindon, which saw Gilbert filmed by the BBC�s �The One Show� revisiting a number of key locations in the town - each having played a significant part in his time growing up here.

 

Graphic design student

 

A graphic design student in the mid-sixties, Gilbert was predominately based at the college�s former Regent Circus campus, but as he stepped through the doors of the current School of Art (based at North Star) he quickly recalled his time as a student.

 

Gilbert O'Sullivan: the biggest selling solo artist in the world in 1972

"I have fond memories of my time at Swindon College,�� said Gilbert, who 44 years ago was number one in the USA for 6 weeks with the hit Alone Again (Naturally) and outsold the likes of Elton John & Rod Stewart at the height of their fame.

 

��I didn�t like school, but I loved Art College.��

 

After a tour of the department, Gilbert took the opportunity to look around the college�s art studios � each adorned with the work of current art and design students ahead of their end of year show.

 

He even brought a painting along with him that he had created during his time at the college.

 

��I�ve kept a few pieces of artwork from my time at Swindon College,�� Gilbert, who now lives in Jersey, added.

 

��I enjoyed creating them very much, so I like to keep them.��

 

The film will be aired on BBC1�s �The One Show� in the coming weeks.

 

 

From Swindon College to worldwide success.....

 

 

...... and Rick Davies!

 

Another former student who made it big too in the 70s when he founded Supertramp! See below.