2024 has seen Calne celebrating the 250th anniversary of the isolation of oxygen by Joseph Priestley while he was living in our town.
The anniversary has been commemorated throughout the year with a series of events, exhibitions, talks and more - all organised by a small group of local residents who formed the Priestley 250 group.
Calne's literacy charity - Calne Wordfest was invited to contribute to the celebrations, they have done so fittingly with a book - 'Not Just Oxygen'.
The anthology presents 13 short stories or articles written by members of the Calne Wordfest Writers’ Group and 21 pieces contributed by local schoolchildren as a result of a competition organised by members of the Priestley 250 group.
The pieces are either about or inspired by Priestley, oxygen or science generally. Some are factual and some are imaginative. They cover things like Priestley’s life in Calne, how Schweppes is linked with Priestley and the consequences of releasing additional oxygen into the atmosphere.
The title is a reflection of the fact that Priestley’s achievements went well beyond his work with gases. It also echoes the first Wordfest Writers’ group anthology, “Not Just Bacon”.
Copies of “Not Just Oxygen” can be ordered directly from Amazon
Paperback - £16.50
Hardback - £21.99
Or they can be ordered more cheaply from Calne Wordfest by emailing
Paperback - £12.00
Hardback - £15.00
Want to know what’s on in Calne? Visit our local events page for listings and to find out how to add your own events for free. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to keep up with all the latest news. Have you got a story for us? Email editor@calnenews.com.
