A FREE WINDSOR DAY EVENT – AT WINDSOR LIBRARY
6.30 pm, 17 July 2026
Presenting: Windsor ’85: Unbridled Summer
A newly released novel set in Windsor during the summer of 1985.
Format
A brief introduction followed by readings from selected chapters, exploring Windsor’s history, character and community through fiction.
Windsor Day celebrates the history and identity of one of Britain’s most distinctive towns. While Windsor is known throughout the world for its castle, royal ceremonies and historic associations, it is also the home of generations of ordinary people whose lives have shaped the town’s character.
The story of Windsor is often told through major events: William the Conqueror, royal weddings, jubilees, coronations and the decision of King George V in 1917 to adopt Windsor as the name of the Royal House. Yet alongside these well-known milestones runs another history — the experiences of the people who have lived, worked and raised families here.
That human story lies at the heart of Windsor ’85: Unbridled Summer.
Set during the summer of 1985, the novel follows Simon Levi, a young man seeking independence while navigating family expectations, economic uncertainty and the powerful influence of the town around him. Like many young people, he is searching for identity, purpose and a sense of belonging.
Much has changed since 1985. There were no smartphones, social media or internet connections. Yet many of the questions faced by Simon remain familiar today: How do we find our place in the world? How do we balance personal ambition with family responsibilities? What connects us to the communities in which we live?
Through the setting of Windsor, the novel explores these themes against the backdrop of a town where national history and everyday life have always existed side by side.
This reading forms part of Windsor Day’s wider celebration of local heritage, joining the exhibitions, talks, performances and community events taking place across the town. It offers a literary glimpse into a particular moment in Windsor’s recent past while reflecting on the enduring relationship between place, identity and community.
Fiction can often reveal aspects of a town that facts and dates alone cannot capture. Stories allow us to experience a place through the hopes, ambitions and challenges of those who lived there.
As Windsor Day invites us to reflect on more than nine centuries of local history, these readings focus on one summer, one decade and one young man’s journey. In doing so, they celebrate not only Windsor’s past but also the people whose lives have given the town its unique character.
Author: Paul Symonloe
Windsor Day making the News thanks to Paul…
https://www.sloughobserver.co.uk/news/26236515.windsor-author-launches-debut-coming-age-novel
