Picture Ref: 77678-8SWINDON...AND PROUD OF IT: SWINDON has it all according to the O'Neill family.

John, 67, and Margaret, 60, say the town has a great shopping centre and lots of things to entertain all the family for free.

And they think people should hold their head up high and say they are proud to be a Swindonian.

The couple of Abbey View Road, Moredon, who met in Swindon and married in the registry office in 1962, have nine children, 16 grandchildren and a great-grandchild on the way.

John, who is a retired building site ground worker moved to Swindon in the early 60s from Northern Ireland.

He said: "It was such a change for me but now there's nowhere I'd rather be."

After marrying he took his bride back to Northern Ireland to live.

But they were soon lured back to Swindon.

Margaret, a retired housewife, said: "I am a true Swindonian, it's my home so I couldn't be away for too long."

She added: "I wanted my children, and their children to grow up here.

"We are such a close family, we all hug and kiss each other.

"We have no need to leave the town."

Their oldest son, John, 43, is a charity worker whose work takes him around the world.

Anthony, the youngest of the O'Neill clan is 23 and is a TA soldier.

Margaret said: "Swindon has such a good sense of community. People are friendly and all pull together."

John is a committee member at the Rodbourne Cheney Social Club.

He said: "I love playing dominos at the club, I like to go there in the evenings.

"He added: "The club is a good place to meet people."

His work on building sites took John across the country but he never found anywhere that he thought could rival Swindon.

He said: "I've been to Reading, Brighton, Eastbourne. But I wouldn't live anywhere else for love nor money." And, although the town has changed dramatically since Margaret was a young girl she thinks all the changes have only made the town a better place to live.

She said: "I think it's good that the town is getting bigger, it means there's more to do.

"The good thing about Swindon is that you don't need to spend a load of money to do something.

"Anyone can go to Lydiard Park or Coate Water for a picnic for free and have a great time. That's what my family does."

According to John there is never a dull moment in Swindon "When I'm in Swindon I'm smiling" he said.