A SWINDON art collector is urging people to show their pride in one of the town’s most famous landmarks.

Great grandfather-of-four Ted Browning, who has several hundred paintings in his Lower Stratton home, has just put up a number of pictures of the David Murray John Tower in Swindon town centre.

The 72-year-old is interested in all pictures relating to Swindon and thinks the town centre building, built in the 1970s, is iconic.

Last night widower Ted said: “I like to buy from local artists with the subject being Swindon.

“The tower is a landmark distinguishable to Swindon and that’s important.

“The latest pictures I have are watercolours, prints and oils.

“In one of them you can see a scene from Old Town on a Friday or Saturday night with the tower in the background, when the pubs and clubs close and the unruly behaviour that allegedly happens.

“I do remember when the building when it was being built. I’ve lived in Swindon since I was three years old and a lot has changed in that time.”

Work on the £2m DMJ tower started in 1974 and was completed within two years.

But former town clerk and visionary David Murray John died before the 83-metre structure opened.

Town councillor and history lover Steve Wakefield (Ind, Toothill and Westlea) said: “He was a man who had real vision for Swindon, a man who had seen the post-war growth of Swindon was not derailed and was delivered upon.

“I think the David Murray John Tower has succeeded as a building, for almost as long as David Murray John himself served the town.”

Graham Dowson sent in his picture of the DMJ tower being built. It was taken from Okus Road in 1976.

And John Chesterman, of Coleview, submitted his photograph, of the tower which was revealed when the AE shop was demolished.