IT is a well-reported myth that if you fired a gun in Regent Street in July during the late 19th and early 20th centuries you would not have hit anyone.

That is because the whole town was by the seaside.

The annual mass summer trip to the seaside was one of the highlights of the year for workers at Swindon's Great Western Railway Works.

And Swindon author Rosa Matheson, who has written a book on the subject, will be recounting tales of the excursions at a special lecture tonight.

"The whole idea for the book came about while I was researching my PhD on women and the railways," said Rosa, who came up with the idea for the newly-commissioned opera Brunel: The Little Man in the Tall Hat.

"I interviewed hundreds of men and women and they would all say to me Of course, you know about Trip don't you?' and then go off into these wonderful stories."

Every year the GWR workers and their families would get their free pass to their chosen destination, mainly towns and resorts served by the GWR line.

The annual excursion, which took place during the first two weeks of July, began in 1848 and the last official trip was in 1976. And thousands of people would leave Swindon for destinations such as Weston-super-mare, Weymouth and London, at the same time.

"Some trains would have up to 21 coaches," said Rosa.

"In 1870 for example, there were five trains, each carrying a thousand people.

"And in its heyday it is thought that 50 per cent of the town's population went."

Her book, TRIP the Annual Holiday of GWR Swindon Works, is being published in July.

It contains previously unpublished memories, photos and poems from those who went on the annual excursion.

"All of the stories are so interesting and while they are all similar, none are the same," said Rosa.

The lecture is part of the Brunel 200 celebrations, which marks the 200th anniversary since the birth of the great engineer.

The talk is being held at the Swindon Museum and Art Gallery, Bath Road, at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £4.50 or £3 for members of the Friends of Swindon Museum and Art Gallery.

For more information, or to book a place, call the museum on 01793 466556.

To find out more about the Brunel 200 celebrations and other events taking place log on to www.swindonbrunel200.co.uk