Slough 45221 224471734 2008-07-09T00:04:51Z Dieter Simon 2599 Reverted edits by [[Special:Contributions/86.136.188.149|86.136.188.149]] ([[User talk:86.136.188.149|talk]]) to last version by 83.248.202.233 {{other}} {{Infobox Settlement <!--See the Table at Infobox Settlement for all fields and descriptions of usage--> |official_name = Borough of Slough |other_name = |native_name = <!-- for cities whose native name is not in English --> |nickname = |settlement_type = [[Borough status in the United Kingdom|Borough]] & [[Unitary Authority]] |motto = <!-- images and maps -----------> |image_skyline = |imagesize = 280px |image_caption = |image_flag = |flag_size = |image_seal = |seal_size = |image_shield = |shield_link = |shield_size = <!-- |image_blank_emblem = Slougharms.PNG |blank_emblem_type = Coat of Arms of the Borough Council |blank_emblem_size = |blank_emblem_link = Slough Borough Council --> |image_map = EnglandSlough.png |mapsize = 200 * 247 |map_caption = Slough shown within [[England]] |image_map1 = |mapsize1 = |map_caption1 = |image_dot_map = |dot_mapsize = |dot_map_caption = |dot_x = |dot_y = |pushpin_map = <!-- the name of a location map as per http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Location_map --> |pushpin_label_position = <!-- the position of the pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none --> |pushpin_map_caption = |pushpin_mapsize = <!-- Location ------------------> |subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Sovereign state]] |subdivision_name = [[United Kingdom]] |subdivision_type1 = [[Constituent country]] |subdivision_name1 = [[England]] |subdivision_type2 = [[Regions of England|Region]] |subdivision_name2 = [[South East England]] |subdivision_type3 = [[Ceremonial counties of England|Ceremonial county]] |subdivision_name3 = [[Berkshire]] |subdivision_type4 = Admin HQ |subdivision_name4 = Slough <!-- Politics -----------------> |government_footnotes = |government_type = [[Unitary Authority]], [[Borough status in the United Kingdom|Borough]] |leader_title = Governing&nbsp;body |leader_name = [[Slough Borough Council]] |leader_title1 = [[List of mayors of Slough|Mayor]] |leader_name1 = Rashad J Butt |leader_title2 = [[MPs elected in the UK general election, 2005|MPs]]: |leader_name2 = [[Fiona Mactaggart]] [[Labour Party (UK)|(L)]] |leader_title3 = |leader_name3 = |leader_title4 = |leader_name4 = |established_title = |established_date = |established_title2 = |established_date2 = |established_title3 = Borough status |established_date3 = ? <!-- Area ---------------------> |area_magnitude = |unit_pref = <!--Enter: Imperial, if Imperial (metric) is desired--> |area_footnotes = |area_total_km2 = 32.54<!-- ALL fields dealing with a measurements are subject to automatic unit conversion--> |area_land_km2 = <!--See table @ Template:Infobox Settlement for details on automatic unit conversion--> |area_water_km2 = |area_total_sq_mi = |area_land_sq_mi = |area_water_sq_mi = |area_water_percent = |area_urban_km2 = |area_urban_sq_mi = |area_metro_km2 = |area_metro_sq_mi = |area_blank1_title = |area_blank1_km2 = |area_blank1_sq_mi = <!-- Population -----------------------> |population_as_of = {{English statistics year‎}} |population_footnotes = |population_note = |population_total = {{EnglishDistrictPopulation|ONS = 00MD}} ([[List of English districts by population|Ranked {{EnglishDistrictRank|ONS = 00MD}}]]) |population_density_km2 = |population_density_sq_mi = |population_metro = |population_density_metro_km2 = |population_density_metro_sq_mi = |population_urban = |population_density_urban_km2 = |population_density_urban_sq_mi = |population_blank1_title = |population_blank1 = |population_density_blank1_title = |population_density_blank1_km2 = |population_density_blank1_sq_mi = |population_blank2_title = Ethnicity </br><small>([[United Kingdom Census 2001|2005 Est.]]</small> |population_blank2 = 56.8% White British</br> 14.7% Indian</br> 12.0% Pakistani</br> 3.6% Other White</br> 2.6% Black Caribbean</br> 2.4% Black African</br> 2.0% Other Asian</br> 1.8% White Irish</br> 1.2% Mixed Black and White</br> 0.9% Other</br> 0.8% Mixed Asian and White</br> 0.6% Mixed Other</br> 0.5% Chinese</br> 0.3% Other Black</br> |population_density_blank2_km2 = |population_density_blank2_sq_mi = <!-- General information ---------------> |timezone = [[Greenwich Mean Time]] |utc_offset = +0 |timezone_DST = |utc_offset_DST = |latd = 51 |latm = 30 |lats = 36 |latNS = N |longd = 0 |longm = 35 |longs = 35 |longEW = W |elevation_footnotes = <!--for references: use<ref> </ref> tags--> |elevation_m = |elevation_ft = <!-- Area/postal codes & others --------> |postal_code_type = Postcode |postal_code = [[SL postcode area|SL]] |area_code = 01753 |twin1 = {{flagicon|France}} '''[[Montreuil-sur-Mer|Montreuil]]''' |twin1_country = [[France]] ''(Since 1988)'' |twin2 = {{flagicon|Latvia}} '''[[Riga]]''' |twin2_country = [[Latvia]] ''(Since 2006)''<ref>''British Latvian Trade'' &ndash; the magazine of the British Chamber of Commerce in Latvia<BR>[http://www.bccl.lv/userfiles/e_magazines/BLT_autumn-draft.pdf Autumn / Winter 2007 &ndash; page 10, column 2] (accessed 11 February 2008)</ref> |blank_name = [[ISO 3166-2:GB|ISO 3166-2]] |blank_info = GB-SLG |blank1_name = [[ONS coding system|ONS code]] |blank1_info = 00MD |blank2_name = [[British national grid reference system|OS grid reference]] |blank2_info = {{gbmappingsmall|SU978797}} |blank3_name = [[Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics|NUTS]] 3 |blank3_info = UKJ11 |blank4_name = |blank4_info = |website = [http://www.slough.gov.uk/ www.slough.gov.uk] |footnotes = }} <!-- INFOBOX END --> '''Slough''' ({{Audio|en-uk-Slough.ogg|pronunciation}}; {{IPAEng|ˈslaʊ}}) is a [[Borough status in the United Kingdom|Borough]] and [[unitary authority area]] within the [[Ceremonial counties of England|ceremonial county]] of [[Berkshire]], [[England]]. It is {{convert|22|mi|km|0|lk=on}} west of [[central London]] and 20 miles (32 km) east of [[Reading, Berkshire|Reading]]. At the time of the 2001 census, the [[Demography of Slough|population of Slough]] was 119,070 (est. 122,000 in 2006) and the borough area was the most ethnically diverse local authority area outside London in the [[United Kingdom]].<ref>[http://www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/nugget.asp?id=1700 National Statistics - Focus on Ethnicity and Diversity (referenced 16 February 2008)]</ref> Slough is home to the [[Slough Trading Estate]], the UK's first such estate, which, coupled with extensive transport links, makes it an important business centre in [[South East England]]. It is also home to a campus of [[Thames Valley University]]. Slough is at {{gbmapping|SU978797}} and is situated to the west of [[Greater London]]. Proximate towns include [[Windsor, Berkshire|Windsor]] to the south, [[Maidenhead, Berkshire|Maidenhead]] to the west, [[Uxbridge]] to the northeast and [[Bracknell]] to the southwest. ==History== {{main|History of Slough}} The first recorded uses of the name occur as ''Slo'' in 1196, ''Sloo'' in 1336, and ''Le Slowe'', ''Slowe'' or ''Slow'' in 1437. It first seems to have applied to a hamlet between [[Upton, Slough|Upton]] to the west and [[Chalvey]] to the east, roughly around the "Crown Crossroads" where the road to Windsor (now the A332) met the Great West Road.<ref>p 46, ''The History of Slough'', Maxwell Fraser, Slough Corporation, 1973</ref> The [[Domesday]] Survey of 1086, refers to Upton, and a wood for 200 pigs, worth £15. During the 13th century, King [[Henry III of England|Henry III]] had a palace in Cippenham. Parts of Upton Court were built in 1325, while St Mary's Church in Langley was probably built in the late 11th or early 12th century, though it has been rebuilt and enlarged several times. From the mid 17th century, [[stagecoach]]es began to pass through Slough and Salt Hill which became locations for the second stage to change horses on the journey out from London. By 1838 and the opening of the [[Great Western Railway]], Upton-cum-Chalvey's parish [[Population of Slough|population]] had reached 1,502. In 1849, a [[Slough to Windsor & Eton Line|branch line]] was completed from Slough Station to [[Windsor and Eton Central railway station]] for the Queen's greater convenience. Slough has 96 [[listed building]]s.<ref>[http://www.slough.gov.uk/documents/app5.pdf Listed buildings in Slough (referenced 27 November 2006)]</ref> There are four [[Grade I]]: [[St Laurence's Church, Slough|St Laurence's church]] (Upton), St Mary the Virgin's church (Langley), Baylis House and Godolphin Court; seven [[Grade II]]*: St Mary's church (Upton-cum-Chalvey), Upton Court, the Kederminster and Seymour Almshouses in Langley, St Peter's church (Chalvey), The Ostrich Inn (Colnbrook), King John's Palace (Colnbrook); and [[Grade II]] listed structures include four [[milestones]], [[Slough railway station|Slough station]], and Beech, Oak and Linden Houses at Upton Hospital. 1918 saw a large area of agricultural land to the west of Slough developed as an army motor repair depot, used to store and repair huge numbers of motor vehicles coming back from [[World War I|First World War]] in [[Flanders]]. In April 1920 the Government sold the site and its contents to the Slough Trading Co. Ltd. Repair of ex-army vehicles continued until 1925 when the Slough Trading Company Act was passed allowing the company (renamed [[Slough Estates Ltd]]) to establish the world's first [[Industrial park|Industrial Estate]].<ref>p 109, ''The History of Slough'', Maxwell Fraser, Slough Corporation, 1973</ref> Spectacular growth and employment ensued, with Slough attracting workers from many parts of the UK and abroad. After the [[World War II|Second World War]], several further large housing developments arose to take large numbers of people migrating from war-damaged London. ==Governance== {{main|Slough Borough Council|Slough local elections}} Most of the area was traditionally part of [[Buckinghamshire]] and formed over many years by the amalgamation of villages along the [[A4 road|Great West Road]]. In 1863 Slough became a local government area for the first time, when a Slough Local Board of Health was elected to represent what is now the central part of the modern Borough. This part of Upton-cum-Chalvey Parish became an urban [[sanitary district]] in 1875 and an [[Urban District Council]] area in 1894. There was a major extension of the Slough Urban District in 1930. The local government district expanded westward, and was divided into wards for the first time (the new areas of Burnham, Farnham and Stoke as well as the divisions of the old district Central, [[Chalvey]], [[Langley, Slough|Langley]] and [[Upton, Berkshire|Upton]]). In 1938 the town received its first [[Royal Charter]] and became a [[Municipal Borough]]. See [[List of Mayors of Slough]] which starts with the Charter Mayor in 1938, who became the first elected Mayor in November 1938. Slough was incorporated into Berkshire in the 1974 local government reorganisation. The old [[Municipal Borough]] was abolished and replaced by a [[Non-metropolitan district]] authority, which was made a Borough by the town's second Royal Charter. [[Britwell]] and [[Wexham Court]] became part of Slough at this time, with their own [[parish council]]s. On [[1 April]] [[1995]], the Borough of Slough expanded slightly into [[Buckinghamshire]] and [[Surrey]], to take in [[Colnbrook]] and [[Poyle]], which received a joint parish council. Slough became a [[unitary authority]] on [[1 April]] [[1998]], with the abolition of [[Berkshire County Council]] and the 1973–1998 Borough. The present unitary authority was created a Borough by the town's third [[Royal charter]]. === Sister cities === Slough is [[Town twinning|twinned]] with: * {{flagicon|France}} '''[[Montreuil-sur-Mer|Montreuil]]''', [[France]] ''(Since 1988)'' * {{flagicon|Latvia}} '''[[Riga]]''', [[Latvia]] ''(Since 2006)''<ref>''British Latvian Trade'' &ndash; the magazine of the British Chamber of Commerce in Latvia<BR>[http://www.bccl.lv/userfiles/e_magazines/BLT_autumn-draft.pdf Autumn / Winter 2007 &ndash; page 10, column 2] (accessed 11 February 2008)</ref> ==Geography== {{Prose|date=January 2008}} {{Location map |Berkshire |label = |background = white |lat = 51.51 |long = -0.59 |caption = <small>Map showing location of Slough in [[Berkshire]].</small> |float = right |width = 185 }} Over the years Slough has expanded greatly, incorporating a number of different villages. Original villages which now form [[suburb]]s of modern-day Slough include [[Chalvey]], [[Cippenham]], [[Colnbrook]], George Green<!--fact?--><ref>[http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=George+Green,+Slough,+Berkshire,+UK&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&resnum=1&ct=title Google Maps]</ref>, [[Langley, Slough|Langley]], [[Poyle]], [[Upton, Slough|Upton]], and [[Wexham]]. Other areas of the town include Brands Hill, [[Britwell]], [[Huntercombe]], Manor Park, [[Salt Hill]], Upton Lea, and [[Windsor Meadows]]. The urban area (but not the borough council area) merges into the neighbouring [[parishes]] of [[Burnham, Buckinghamshire|Burnham]], [[Datchet]], [[Farnham Royal]], and [[Stoke Poges]]. The population of Slough's greater urban area is about 145,000 inhabitants.{{Fact|date=September 2007}} ==Demography== {{main|Demography of Slough}} During the [[Great Depression]] of the 1930s, Slough became a haven for unemployed [[Wales|Welsh]] people, who walked up the [[Great West Road]] looking for employment. In the post-war years, immigrants from the [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]], notably [[Anguilla]], [[Antigua and Barbuda]], [[India]] and [[Pakistan]] were attracted to the town, settling predominantly in Chalvey. In the early 1950s there were a number of Polish refugee camps scattered around the Slough area. As returning to [[Poland]] (then in the [[Soviet Bloc]]) was not considered an option by many of the war-time refugees, many Polish families decided to settle in Slough, an expanding town seeking committed workers and offering a chance to own homes for those prepared to work hard. In time, a Polish speaking [[Roman Catholic]] Parish was established with its own church building. A new wave of Polish migration to Slough has followed since Poland became part of the [[European Union]]. Slough Council made history by electing the country's first black female mayor, [[Lydia Simmons]], in 1984. Slough has the highest percentage of [[Sikh]] residents in the country according to the latest national [[census]] figures (2001). Sikh residents make up 9.1% of Slough’s population, more than any other local authority. Slough also has the highest percentage of [[Muslim]] (13.4%) and [[Hindu]] residents (4.5%) in the South East region. == Economy == [[Image:Slough - Horlicks factory.jpg|thumb|right|The Horlicks factory is a local landmark.]] Before the 1800s, the main businesses of Slough were brickfields and agriculture. The bricks for the building of [[Eton College]] were made in Slough. Later, as the [[A4 road|Great West Road]] traffic increased, inns and pubs sprang up along the road to service the passing trade. Until the town developed as an industrial area, [[Nursery (horticulture)|nurseries]] were prominent in the local economy; [[Cox's Orange Pippin]] [[apple]] was first raised in Colnbrook (not then within Slough) around 1825, and the [[dianthus]] "Mrs Sinkins Pink" was first raised at some point between 1868<ref>p20, ''The Changing Face of Slough'', Slough Museum, Breedon Books, Derby, 2003</ref> and 1883<ref>p100, ''The History of Slough'', Maxwell Fraser, Slough Corporation, Slough 1973</ref> by John Sinkins, the master of the [[Eton, Berkshire|Eton]] [[Poor Law Union|Union]] [[Workhouse]],<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/plants/plantprofile_pinks.shtml BBC Gardening Plant profiles - Pinks, dianthus (referenced 24 February 2007)]</ref> which lay in Slough. During the 1800s the only major employer apart from the brickfields was [[James Elliman]], who started as a draper in Chandos Street. In 1847, he changed careers and manufactured his [[:Image:Ellimans-Universal-Embrocation-Slough-1897-Ad.png|''Elliman's Embrocation'']] and ''Royal Embrocation'' horse liniment from factories in Wellington Street and Chandos Street. Elliman became a major benefactor to the town, and is remembered today in the names of local roads and schools. In September 1851 [[William Thomas Buckland]], an [[auctioneer]] and [[surveying|surveyor]] from nearby [[Wraysbury]], began [[livestock]] sales in a field near the [[Slough railway station|''Great Western Road Railway Station'']] belonging to the ''North Star Inn''. Originally held on the first Tuesday of every month, the Cattle Market's popularity soon saw this increased to every Tuesday. A move to Wexham Street was necessitated by the post-war redevelopment of the town. The ''Slough Cattle Market'' was run by ''Messrs Buckland and Sons'' until its final closure in 1988.<ref>''The History of Buckland & Sons'' by Edward Barry Bowyer FRICS (1973)</ref> In 1906, [[Horlicks|James Horlick]], one of the founders of the [[eponym]]ous [[malted milk]] company, opened a purpose-built red-brick factory near Slough Railway Station to manufacture his malted milk product. Starting in the 1920s, [[Slough Estates Ltd]], the operator of the original [[Slough Trading Estate]], created and operated many more estates in the UK and abroad. The [[Slough Trading Estate]] meant that the town was largely insulated from many of the effects of [[recession]]. For many years, Slough's economy was mainly manufacturing-based. In the last 20 or so years there has been a major shift from a manufacturing to an information-based economy. This has seen the closing down of many factories (some of which have been in Slough for many decades). The factories are rapidly being replaced by office buildings. Hundreds of major companies have sited in Slough Trading Estate over the years, with its proximity to London [[Heathrow Airport]] and good motorway connections being attractive. In the 1960s [[Gerry Anderson]]'s film company was based in Slough, and his [[Supermarionation]] series, including ''[[Thunderbirds (TV series)|Thunderbirds]]'', were filmed there. The UK headquarters of [[Masterfoods]] (originally called [[Mars, Incorporated]]) is based in Slough, the main factory having been created in 1932 by [[Forrest Mars Sr.]] after a quarrel with his father, [[Frank C. Mars]]. He proceeded to produce and develop the world famous [[Mars Bar]] in Slough over 70 years ago. The European head offices of major IT companies such as Network Associates, Computer Associates, PictureTel and Compusys (amongst others) are all in the town. [[O2 plc|O<sub>2</sub>]] is headquartered in the town across four buildings. The town is also home to the [[National Foundation for Educational Research]], which is housed in The Mere. In recent years, Slough's manufacturing industries have been in decline, instead being replaced by modern offices, including those of [[Nintendo]], [[Black and Decker]], and the UK branch of popular online retailer, [[Amazon.com]]. [[Dulux paint]]s are still manufactured in Slough by [[Imperial Chemical Industries]]. Satchwell have been manufacturing electrical and electronic products in Slough since the 1920s, currently focusing on climate controls such as thermostats. The motor trade has long been represented in Slough. Until 1966 [[Citroën]] assembled cars in a Liverpool Road factory (later used by ''Mars Confectionery'') on ''Slough Trading Estate'', and they retain their UK headquarters in the town. [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]] built [[Ford Transit|Transit vans]] at their factory in Langley (a former [[Hawker Aircraft]] site from 1936 to the 1950s<ref>p120, ''The Changing Face of Slough'', Slough Museum, Breedon Books, Derby, 2003</ref>) until the site was redeveloped for housing in the 1990s. [[Ferrari]], [[Fiat]] and [[Maserati]] now have offices in the town. Slough's transport links make it an ideal location for those working in [[London]], but looking for more affordable accommodation; as such it attracts a large number of young professionals and families. == Culture and leisure == Slough has 42 parks and open spaces plus an ice skating arena where [[Jayne Torvill]] and [[Christopher Dean]] once trained. The town has produced many [[Olympic Games|Olympic]] class athletes as part of the "Windsor, Slough, Eton and Hounslow Athletics Club". === Heart of Slough === [[Image:HeartofSloughConcept.jpg|thumb|Heart of Slough Concept Art]] The [[Heart of Slough]] Project is a highly ambitious, multi-million pound plan for the redevelopment of Slough's Town Centre. The aim is to create a leading European and national focus, and cultural quarter for creative media, information and communications industries. It will create a mixed-use complex, multi-functional buildings, visual landmarks and a public space in the [[Thames Valley]]. Recommendations for the £400 million project have been approved, with work possibly starting in 2008 for completion in 2011.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/berkshire/6201145.stm BBC NEWS | England | Berkshire | Backing for town's £400m makeover<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Most recent news, gives an estimate for work to commence in 2009 for completion in 2018.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/berkshire/content/articles/2008/01/21/heart_of_slough_feature.shtml BBC - Berkshire - Features - Heart of Slough<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> ==Negative Perceptions== *Slough has a strong rivalry with local neighbouring town, [[Staines]]. Both are near Heathrow and vie for out-of-town businesses moving from [[London]]. [[Ali G]], a fictional resident of Staines, often pokes fun at Slough and its sports teams. *According to the [[Campaign to Protect Rural England]] (CPRE) in 2006, Slough is England's least tranquil area.<ref>[http://www.cpre.org.uk/campaigns/landscape-and-beauty/tranquillity/local-tranquillity-scores.htm CPRE: Local tranquillity scores]</ref> * Slough has been the subject of much derision. Some references are mentioned above. However, the [[BBC]] aired a four-part series called "Making Slough Happy", where a team of experts attempted to bring happiness to the whole town. Despite complaints by some residents who said "the series was not particularly representative of the diversity of Slough", this can be contradicted because the sample "50" did provide a cross section of Slough with different ethnic minorities and age groups represented. However, most of the criticism was seen to come from people within Slough, while the majority of people outside Slough thought it was quite good; overall it did make a big impact and raised people's awareness of Slough as a whole.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2005/10_october/25/slough.shtml Making Slough Happy (BBC News)]</ref> * Slough-raised comedian [[Jimmy Carr]] said: "I grew up in Slough in the 1970s, if you want to know what Slough was like in the 1970s, go there now". * The Slough Sewage Treatment Works between M4 Junc 6 and 7, sometimes releases malodorous fumes detectable to drivers on the nearby M4 motorway, a phenomenon known colloquially as ''The Slough Stench''. * The Russian KGB secret service made detailed 1:10,000 maps of most urban areas of the UK, but did not bother to make a map of Slough.<ref>http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/02/23/kgb_maps_for_sale/</ref> * Slough was recently the subject of a scathing documentary by the BBC's Panorama series, entitled: "Immigration - how we lost count"<ref>[http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5012592041971395448&hl=en Panorama - Immigration - How we lost count<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>. It highlighted the massive recent growth in the immigrant population. == Transport == * To Heathrow Airport: First Berkshire bus routes 75, 76 and 77 serve Slough town centre, Langley and Heathrow. [[taxicab|Taxis]] and [[Taxicabs of the United Kingdom|minicabs]] are also available at a higher cost. * To London: buses are available, but rail is more generally used. See below. Taxis, minicabs and private cars on roads are also used. ===Major roads=== * '''[[M4 motorway|M4]]''' **Junction 5 (Langley & Slough East) **Junction 6 (Central Slough) **Junction 7 (Slough West) * '''[[M25 motorway|M25]]''' (Via M4) * '''[[M40 motorway|M40]]''' * '''[[A4 road|A4]]''' * '''[[A40 road|A40]]''' * '''[[A355 road|A355]]''' ===Bus services=== [[Image:Slough bus station berkshire.jpg|thumb|250px|Slough Bus Station]] *[[Slough Bus Service]] ===Rail links=== *[[Slough railway station|Slough Railway Station]] *[[Slough to Windsor & Eton Line|Windsor branch line]] *[[Burnham railway station|Burnham Railway Station]] *[[Langley railway station|Langley Railway Station]] ====[[Crossrail]]==== [[Image:CrossrailLine1Map.svg|center|A map of Crossrail Line 1.]] Slough, along with a number of other boroughs, is bidding to be part of the [[Crossrail]] Project, a new trans-London rail link likely to start construction in the early 2010s: * Cross [[London]] Rail Links (Crossrail) is a 50/50 joint venture company formed by [[Transport for London]] (TfL) and the [[Department for Transport]] (DfT). *Crossrail is tasked with promoting and developing two new routes through London: Crossrail Line 1 (West-East) and Crossrail Line 2 (NorthEast-SouthWest). *Crossrail was allocated a budget of £154 m in 2001 by central Government to carry out feasibility work for both Lines 1 and 2, and to acquire Parliamentary powers for Line 1. == Cultural references == {{Prose|date=January 2008}} * 1597: In Act IV, Scene 5<ref>[http://william-shakespeare.classic-literature.co.uk/the-merry-wiues-of-windsor/ebook-page-32.asp William Shakespeare - The Merry Wiues of Windsor Page 32<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> of [[Shakespeare]]'s ''[[The Merry Wives of Windsor]]'', [[Bardolph]] is mugged: "so soon as I came beyond Eton, (cozenors) threw me off, from behind one of them, in a slough of mire". This could be a reference to Slough. In the same scene Cole-brooke ([[Colnbrook]]) is referenced along with [[Reading, Berkshire|Reading]] and [[Maidenhead]]. * 1932: (but set in the 26th century) In [[Aldous Huxley|Aldous Huxley's]] ''[[Brave New World]]'' the chimneys of Slough Crematorium, around which [[Bernard Marx]] flies, are used to demonstrate the physio-chemical equality of all people.<ref>[http://www.huxley.net/bnw/five.html Brave New World Chapter 5]</ref> * 1937: The poet [[John Betjeman]] wrote his poem ''[[Slough (poem)|Slough]]'' as a protest against the new town and 850 factories that had arisen in what had been formerly a rural area, which he considered an onslaught on the rural lifestyle: :''Come, friendly bombs, and fall on Slough'' :''It isn't fit for humans now'' :''There isn't grass to graze a cow.'' :''Swarm over, death!'' :However, on the centenary of the poet's birth, the daughter of the poet apologised for the poem. [[Candida Lycett-Green]] said her father "regretted having ever written it". During her visit, Ms Lycett-Green presented Mayor of Slough David MacIsaac with a book of her father's poems. In it was written: "We love Slough".<ref name="Poem Slough">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/berkshire/5351512.stm Poetic justice at last for Slough]</ref> * 1979: Slough is mentioned by name in the hit single [[Eton Rifles]] by [[The Jam]] from the album ''[[Setting Sons]]'' , in the line "There's a row going on down near Slough" * 1991: Film ''[[Buddy's Song]]'' with externals filmed mainly on the [[Britwell]] Estate and the Farnham Road (A355) released. * 1996: The [[Tiger Lillies]]' album ''The Brothel to the Cemetery'' includes a track called ''Slough'', probably inspired by Betjeman's poem. The lyrics to the chorus are: :''Drop a bomb on Slough, Drop a bomb on Slough :''Drop a bomb on Slough, Drop a bomb on Slough * 1998: The song "Costa del Slough" by the rock band [[Marillion]] posits the town as a post-[[global warming]] coastal resort, possibly in a reference to the comedian [[Spike Milligan]] having presented Slough on TV as a holiday resort. * 2001, 2002, 2003: The [[BBC]] comedy series ''[[The Office (UK TV series)| The Office]]'' is set in Slough, reiterating Betjeman's view of the place as a depressing industrial wasteland. In fact the character David Brent comments on Betjeman's poem in the series, and it also appears on the inside sleeve of the video and DVD of Series 1. The US version, set in [[Scranton, Pennsylvania]], has the company's address as being "Slough Avenue" in reference to the original. *2004: Slough is mentioned on the [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] series [[Lost (TV series)|Lost]] in the episode "[[Homecoming_%28Lost%29|Homecoming]]" of Season 1. In a flashback of Charlie's life, a woman he knows says her father is away purchasing a certain paper company in Slough, which is a reference to another TV series, "The Office".{{fact|date=February 2008}} ==Notable people== {{Prose|date=January 2008}} *[[Cecil Aldin]] (painter of animals and rural life) *[[Gerry Anderson]] (television drama maker and creator of [[supermarionation]]) *[[Stanley Baldwin]] (schoolboy at [[Hawtreys|St Michael's School, Aldin House]] and later [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]])<ref>p93, ''The History of Slough'', Maxwell Fraser, Slough Corporation, Slough 1973</ref> *[[Steve Bell]] (political cartoonist) *Richard Bentley ("Bentley's", the publishing firm)<ref>[http://www.thamespilot.org.uk/ixbin/hixclient.exe?a=query&p=slough&f=generic_theme.htm&_IXFIRST_=1&_IXMAXHITS_=1&%3Dtheme_record_id=sl-sl-richardbentley Richard Bentley<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> *[[Keith Bosley]] (poet and translator) *[[Fenner Brockway]] (anti-war activist and politician) *[[Isambard Kingdom Brunel]] (engineer) *[[Jimmy Carr]] (comedian) *[[Frank Carter]]{{fact|date=February 2008}} (Real Name - Chris Carter, vocals for a band named Gallows) *[[Alma Cogan]] ([[singer]], former pupil at [[St Bernard's Catholic Grammar School|St Joseph's School]]) *Gregory Edwards (musician) *[[Rod Evans]] (original lead Singer of [[Deep Purple]]) *[[Tommy Farr]] ([[Boxing|boxer]]) *[[Sean Foley (comedian)|Sean Foley]] (comedian)<ref>[http://arts.guardian.co.uk/features/story/0,,1644941,00.html Where you're smiling | | guardian.co.uk Arts<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> *[[Ricky Gervais]] (as [[David Brent]]) (actor/comedian) *[[Thomas Gray]] (English poet, classical scholar, and professor of history) *[[Geri Halliwell]] (entertainer) *[[Victoria of the United Kingdom|Victoria]] ([[House of Hanover|Hanover]]) (monarch) *[[Caroline Herschel]] (astronomer) *[[John Herschel]] (mathematician and astronomer) *[[William Herschel]] (astronomer and composer) *[[Mark Hylton]] (Olympic athlete) *[[Alan Johnson]] (former Slough [[mail carrier|postal worker]], [[Cabinet]] [[Minister (government)|minister]]) *[[Simon Kernick]] (author) *[[Iain Lee]] (entertainer) *[[Marian McPartland]] (jazz pianist) *[[Forrest Mars Sr.]] (entrepreneur) *[[Fiona May]] (twice world [[long jump]] champion) *[[John Nash]] (painter) *[[Gary Numan]] (musician) *[[Henry III of England|Henry III]] ([[Plantagenet]]) (monarch) *[[Richard, 1st Earl of Cornwall]] ([[Plantagenet]]) (Royal aristocrat) *[[Marcia Richardson]] (Olympic athlete) *[[Mark Richardson (athlete)|Mark Richardson]] (Olympic athlete) *[[Helen Sharman]] (scientist and astronaut) *[[Kalim Siddiqui]] (journalist and Muslim activist) *[[Billy Smart, Jr]] (circus owner) *[[Una Stubbs]] (actress) *[[Ellen Ternan]] (actress) *[[Robert Watson-Watt]] (scientist) *[[Vic Woodley]] (footballer) ===Deaths and funerals in Slough=== *[[Harold Alexander, 1st Earl Alexander of Tunis]] (World War II military commander) died at Wexham Park Hospital in 1969. *[[Brian Connolly]] (singer with 1970s group [[The Sweet]]) died at Wexham Park Hospital in 1997. *[[Ronnie Kray]] (East End gangster) died in Wexham Park Hospital in 1995.. *[[Peter Osgood]] ([[footballer]]) died while attending his uncle's funeral in Slough. *[[Princess Margaret]] ([[House of Windsor|Windsor]]) was cremated at Slough Crematorium. *[[Ernie Wise]] (comedian) died at Wexham Park Hospital in 1999, and was cremated at Slough Crematorium. ==References== <!-- this 'empty' section displays references defined elsewhere --> {{reflist}} ==External links== * [http://www.slough.gov.uk/ Slough Borough Council] * [http://www.sloughcommunity.info/ Slough Community Information Database] * [http://www.sloughhistoryonline.org.uk/ Slough History Online] * [http://www.slough.gov.uk/libraries Slough Libraries] * [http://www.sloughschoolsonline.org.uk/ Slough Schools Online] * [http://www.artsinslough.org.uk/ Slough Arts Info] * [http://www.sloughcvs.org.uk/ Slough Council for Voluntary Services] * [http://www.volunteerslough.org.uk/ Volunteer Centre Slough] * [http://www.sloughleisure.com/ Slough Community Leisure] {{Berkshire}} {{SE England}} [[Category:Slough| ]] [[Category:Unitary authorities in England]] [[Category:Local government in Berkshire]] [[Category:Articles including recorded pronunciations (UK English)]] [[bg:Слау]] [[de:Slough]] [[es:Slough]] [[eo:Slough]] [[fr:Slough]] [[it:Slough]] [[nl:Slough]] [[no:Slough]] [[pl:Slough]] [[pt:Slough]] [[ro:Slough]] [[fi:Slough]] [[sv:Slough]] [[vo:Slough]] [[zh:斯劳]]