No 482 August 2022 GPS-tracked, door to door delivery to over 42,000 homes across Swindon with Est. overall readership of 105,000
Swindon
LINK Your Community Magazine
North & West Edition
Agony Girl - here to answer all your problems p30
swindonlink.com
My Dad's Bigger Than Your Dad Festival cooks up a storm for Swindon p24
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Swindon school ignites love of reading with new library space By Jessica Durston jessica@positive-media.co.uk Noremarsh Junior School have officially opened their new library with help from Children’s author Rachel Delahaye and CEO of Royal Wootton Bassett Academy Trust, George Croxford. The school staff have been working hard over the past six months to create an inviting, inspiring space for children to come and enjoy. Staff decided the school's ICT room would make the perfect space for the library to relocate to. Head teacher Hilary MacMeekin said: “When I arrived at the school, I don’t think our library facilitated a love of reading, it was just a space that held books. “What we’ve worked really hard to achieve is creating a space that doesn’t feel like a school room, it feels like a special place to be, a place
where reading is celebrated.” Author Rachel Delahaye was given the honour of officially opening the library and delivered a speech to staff and the group of Year 6 librarians present, saying: “The thing about libraries is they look like shops but they’re actually ships which will sail you anywhere you want to go.” The Noremarsh pupils were then tasked with giving Rachel a tour of the many new features of the space. The librarians were praised for being instrumental in setting up the new library. Reading Lead and Year 6 Teacher, Claire Sexton, explained: “I’m really proud of them because there was so much to do. We had to stamp and label every book, build all the bookcases and transport all the books to their new home. A massive job and they did it voluntarily.” The project, overseen by Claire, was given a huge
Author Rachel Delahaye with the Noremarsh Year 6 Librarians
boost when it received a £5000 grant from The Foyle Foundation in February. Claire was also keen to support local businesses with the grant and worked with local bookstore ‘Moonrakers’ to source all the new books. She added: “We were also very lucky to also receive a fantastic donation of £150 from our local opticians Haine & Smith.” The library has also been decorated throughout to reflect a love of reading, and adorning the walls are photos of every child with their favourite book.
Claire said: “Graphic designer Amy Ashworth agreed to come in and draw a huge mural. She merged school topics with famous book characters and has also painted famous quotes on the walls.” The school has created a new Accelerated Readers Programme designed to provide each child with an individualised and interactive reading experience which is set to start in the new school year, and a new award scheme to celebrate Reader of the Week for every class.
Swindon feels the heat for the My Dad's Bigger Than Your Dad Festival By Jamie Hill Jamie@positive-media.co.uk As I'm writing this we're just entering into a mini-heatwave in Swindon. Fans are on, shorts and summer dresses are a given and ice cream sales are through the roof. Last weekend I was hosting the acoustic stage at My
Group Editor and Owner: Jamie Hill Deputy Editor: Barrie Hudson Reporter: Jessica Durston Sales: Dave Stewart and Rosy Presley Accounts Manager: Karen Randall Contributors: Tyler Ody, Becky Cox, Maurice Spillane and Alfie Howlett
Dad's Bigger Than Your Dad Festival in between manning the Swindon Link stand. This wonderful event, now in its second year, pulled out all the stops again to raise money for Prospect Hospice. The popular festival saw some amazing acts in Old Town Gardens and I, for one, am already looking forward to next year.
ADVERTISING Call 01793 644540 or email: advertising@swindonlink.com Closing date for September adverts and editorial: 12 August September edition published: 27 August Our Statistics Est. Readership of 105,000 in print & c.50,000 monthly online visitors. Swindon’s largest free publication. Advertising starts from just £49.
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Got a community story or feature? Contact newsdesk at publisher@swindonlink.com or 01793 644540 swindonlink.com n August 2022
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Swindon & Wiltshire Pride invite public to free picnic event this year By Jessica Durston jessica@positive-media.co.uk The Swindon & Wiltshire Pride team will be holding a free Pride Picnic event this year, as the usual Old Town-based Pride and Parade event has been cancelled. The free picnic and march event will be held at Queens Park on Saturday 13 August, between 11am and 6pm. The march will start at 11am and the Picnic at Queens Park will kick off from noon. Attendees are encouraged to bring a picnic lunch, a blanket, chairs, and a Pride flag. There will also be music, a Pride stall and a giant Pride deck chair. There will also be a free after party event at Swindon's Boom Battle Bar from 7pm to 3am. The venue will be decorated, and there will be live entertainment, music and other special surprises for people to enjoy.
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Tickets for the after party are free but the event is for those aged 18 and over only. The Pride Picnic's fundraiser event was held on 22 July also at Swindon's Boom Battle Bar - where the public were invited to enjoy music, drinks, dancing and an impressive raffle. Jay Graves, Fundraising Manager for the event, said: “Having only joined the committee in April I have found the support and realised the meaning of community, which is something we aim to offer all those who join us in our cause.” In addition, Nationwide Building Society have been announced as the main sponsor for the Picnic event this year. Phoenix Stewart, Community Engagement Officer for Swindon & Wiltshire Pride, said: “Nationwide Building Society have been a huge supporter for us over the years, and we’re extremely excited to have them back on board to
support our alternative event for 2022.” The Swindon & Wiltshire Pride team are also looking for volunteers for this year's event. A spokesperson for the Swindon Pride team said: "We are looking for 100 plus volunteers to help us put on a safe, fun and enjoyable event on Saturday 13 August for our Pride picnic.
"Sign up and be part of something special." To find out more information about the volunteer roles available, people can contact volunteer@ swindonwiltshirepride.co.uk. Tickets for the March, Picnic and After Party are free and can be ordered from www. swindonwiltshirepride.co.uk.
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The Eco Briefing
It’s never too late to Be the Change Join people across Swindon who have committed to ‘Be the change’ and make lifestyle changes to live more sustainably and play their part to address the climate crisis. Individual action makes a collective difference. The important thing is making a start and taking action. Here are some things to consider, which won’t cost the earth: 1) Understand your environmental impact: what gets measured gets managed. Search 'WWF footprint' to calculate and learn how to reduce your environmental footprint 2) Reduce your home energy use and bills: get free and impartial energy saving advice from Warm & Safe Wiltshire (0800 038 5722) to help reduce bills and CO2 emissions. 3) Get walking and cycling:
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download the free new Active Swindon Challenge app from your usual app store. It rewards players with points and prizes for ditching the car in favour of walking, running, cycling or taking public transport to get around Swindon. 4) Think about your diet and the food you buy: what we eat, and how that food is produced, affects our health and the environment. If as a population we were to reduce the amount of meat we currently eat on average, we could collectively help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve our health at the same time. 5) Swap disposable items for reusable alternatives: where can you swap out singleuse items in your life? Think reusable bottles, coffee cups, razors and straws. 6) Green your money: check
out the ‘Good with Money’ website which is about helping you become good with money while doing good with money too.
Visit the Be the Change webpages for more tools, tips and resources to help you on your way: www.swindon.gov. uk/bethechange
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Social care changing lives of Swindon people When asked to describe adult social care, a lot of people might think it refers to the support provided to the elderly in residential care homes. But it may surprise some that it does not solely revolve around caring for the older members of our community. In Swindon, adult social care supports over 1,000 adults aged 18 to 65 living with a range of needs, to help them live active and fulfilling lives. Swindon Borough Council’s Shared Lives Scheme is an exciting opportunity for people to live within a family setting, to enable them to achieve their aspirations and live independently. Roger, pictured, was 49 years old when he was diagnosed with advanced dementia in 2017, which really affected his mobility. The Shared Lives scheme matched Roger with carers who he moved in with. Roger’s carers helped him get back to the activities he loved
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in the community and even took him on a few holidays to the coast – which is what he’d always really wanted to do. Sadly, Roger passed away last year while at home, holding the hand of his Shared Lives carer. He was happy right up until the end of his life, and his family were welcomed into the Shared Lives Carers’ home to make sure he was surrounded by the people he loved during his final days. Coun Brian Ford, Cabinet Member for Adults and Health, said: “Social care in Swindon doesn’t always look the way we imagine it might. There are so many people who are supported by our services, and their lives may all look very different." To find out more about social care in Swindon, visit www. swindon.gov.uk/socialcare. If you are interested in considering a career as a Shared Lives carer, email sharedlives@swindon.gov.uk.
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New College awards celebrate student achievement
Students celebrated a year of great effort and performance at the annual New College Student Awards Ceremony. Winning students, their families, staff, VIPs, governors and employers gathered in the Phoenix Theatre for a ceremony hosted by Principal and CEO Carole Kitching. The awards are intended to recognise hard work and outstanding achievement, and there were 24 accolades across three categories.
Grant helps refugees from Ukraine
Dozens of Ukrainian families have the chance to get together in Swindon with the help of a Wiltshire Community Foundation grant. The town's Pattern Church runs The Table, a weekly group for families who have fled the war. They can share food, stories and experiences of their new lives. It has been awarded £2,500 from the community foundation's Welcome Fund, which was set up last year to support Swindon and Wiltshire groups working with refugees and asylum seekers.
Summer fair hosted by Swindon MP North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson hosted a Summer Activities Fair at the Orbital Shopping Park. Members of the public were invited to meet at the park area of the shopping centre, to watch and join in with activities including face painting, balloon animals, gymnastics demonstrations, games and a virtual reality experience, and visitors came from throughout the area. There were also various stalls staffed by organisations offering activities for children and young people during the summer holidays.
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Inspiring people to become more fit and active By Barrie Hudson barrie@positive-media.co.uk
Dorcan Recreation Complex has announced Dorcan Inspire Day for Sunday, 14 August. Running from 9am to 3pm, the special open day will give people a chance to try activities for free. It is aimed at those who are starting their journey to a healthier lifestyle, who are looking at trying something new - or who are simply looking for a fun family day out. A spokesperson said: "Staying active through physical activity greatly improves the physical and mental wellbeing of the body, with so many fun and exciting ways to do it. "Staying motivated can be a challenge, but making your exercise routine varied and enjoyable whilst trying new things is a sure way to a healthier, happier lifestyle. "Swindon is awash with some fantastic facilities through six
leisure centres run by Better. "Whether it be exercising in a state-of-the-art gym, swimming lengths in a pool or bouncing in a trampoline park, there is certainly something for everyone. "You will be able to try a whole host of activities including swimming in our 20-metre pool and experiencing our swim teacher, who will be on hand providing coaching tips to improve your technique in the water.
"If getting wet isn’t your thing, then why not spend 45 minutes with our amazing Fitness Instructor Harry, who will provide advice for a variety of training styles and techniques, whilst teaching the basic fundamentals to a workout in the gym. "Outside, we will have lots to do from netball and walking netball hosted by our expert Danni – perfect if you want to play or just watch as a spectator - to football-led activities from Swindon Town Community Foundation and We Play Football. "But that’s not all, we will also have some hockey for anyone to have a go at as well. "If that wasn’t enough, you may fancy a game of tennis, badminton or table tennis for the whole family." Registration will be needed for certain activities, and details can be obtained from dorcan@gll.org
Swindon to have first all-electric Premier Inn Swindon Borough Council have announced that Swindon's town centre will be home to Whitbread’s first ever allelectric Premier Inn hotel. Currently under construction on a vacant brownfield site in Regent Street, the five-storey 195-bedroom hotel is the first Premier Inn to be designed without a connection to a natural gas supply. Instead, the council say, the hotel will be fully heated and powered by grid energy generated from renewable sources and by on-site solar panels. Cllr David Renard, Leader of Swindon Borough Council, said: “Our town has a proud history of innovation so I am delighted Whitbread has chosen Swindon as the place in which to build its first ‘all-electric’ hotel. “The redevelopment of this brownfield site is a welcome boost for our town centre economy, bringing new jobs and investment into the local
A computer-generated impression of the new hotel
area. "The fact it will be built to the highest construction standards and be fully heated and powered by grid energy generated from renewable sources, and by on-site solar panels, is fantastic news as it fits in with the council’s own net zero ambitions and shows how businesses can play their part in the collective effort to tackle climate change.”
Alex Flach, Premier Inn's UK Development Director, said: “If we are to achieve our target of becoming a net zero business by 2040 we need to find a replacement for natural gas across our estate. "This is a considerable challenge as we rely on natural gas to heat water in our network of hotels and power many of our restaurant kitchens across the country."
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Swindon u3a to hold open day this September Local residents are invited to laugh, live, and learn more at the Swindon u3a's Open Day event on Saturday, 3 September. The event will be held at St Joseph's College on Ocotal Way, from 10am-1pm. Attendees will find 'stalls' for the organisation's different interest groups, and tea or coffee will be offered for refreshment. Members of the public will also be given the opportunity to join the u3a on the day. More information is at www. swindonu3a.org.uk
Finance firm volunteers transform homelessness charity garden A team of 16 volunteers from Owl Financial Services joined Threshold Housing Link to undertake a massive summer garden blitz. Threshold Housing Link are Swindon’s longest-established homelessness charity, providing support in Swindon for the past 50 years. Together with Owl FS they have transformed the garden of one of the charity's largest resettlement properties for homeless people in Swindon.
GWH open new Urgent Treatment Centre GWH's new UTC opened its doors to its first patients on Wednesday, 13 July. It will be open 365 days a year, from 7am to 10pm for patients to book in, closing at midnight. The building, which has been delivered by IHP, has additional clinic rooms and more space in both the adult and paediatric waiting areas. It also has new plaster and ophthalmology rooms. The centre uses calming colours, a nature theme in the children’s waiting area, and displays artwork donated by local children, depicting their NHS hero. 12
Swindon's Big Dog Art Trail looking for sponsorship By Jessica Durston jessica@positive-media.co.uk
The Swindon Big Dog Art Trail project has been officially launched and organisers are now looking for sponsors. The launch was hosted by representatives from Julia's House and Wild In Art, and marked the first event of many, leading up to the opening of the trail next summer. More than 30 balloon 'Swindog' sculptures measuring over six feet will appear around Swindon next year in July. Each dog will showcase a unique design, created by local artists. There will also be smaller 'Swinpups' that will be given to local schools to decorate during art classes. A spokesperson for the project said: "The trail aims to shine a light on art and culture which is at the heart of the town. It will showcase Swindon as a fun, vibrant and cultural centre, while giving the town an economic boost from thousands
of additional visitors who will be coming just to see the trail." The team behind Big Dog Art Trail are now looking for sponsorship to help the project on its way. Deputy Chief Executive of Julia's House, Mike Bartlett, said: “Our service Hannah Dosanjh's Swindog can go under the radar, with two of the Swinpups so we really wanted to present ourselves to the community of Swindon and project’s website, on the map, do something fun and big, while potentially be on the news, working with partners across have a chance to meet the the town – businesses and schools the project works with, organisations." and also attend launch events. The Art Trail team are looking This will be a huge year longfor several different kinds of programme.” sponsorship to make this trail The first big Swindog has happen. They are looking for been revealed, painted by a Presenting Partner, Learning local artist Hannah Dosanjh. Programme Sponsor, sponsors She has taken her blank for every one of the big canvas dog and turned it into Swindogs, and donations for a celebration of Swindon, with the Swinpups. images of the town's most iconic Mike added: "Sponsors will landmarks. get the business name on a More information is available plaque which will appear on at www.bigdogarttrail.co.uk the foot of the Swindog. The or by emailing big.dog@ business will also appear on the juliashouse.org
Swindon's empty Debenhams could become storage centre The former flagship Debenhams department store in Swindon's town centre could become a storage hub. Plans have been submitted in a joint application by current owners Meadow Partners and self-storage operator StoreAway, which would see the 200,000 sqft space used for 900 lockers. According to the applicants, the acquisition would be part of a UK drive to transform more than a quarter of a million sqft of redundant retail space on the UK’s high streets into storage. Work would begin in the landmark building’s lower three storeys and basement as early as Spring 2023, with the StoreAway team keen to preserve the retail element to the ground floor frontage to coincide with the storage element of the new offering. Joint managing director Richard Lanyon said: “We want
to make this building a part of our nationwide strategy, especially at such an important time in the town’s regeneration. The store is situated in an extremely important location, linking Kimmerfields to the town centre, and is adjacent to the new bus boulevard and opposite a recently agreed 400-apartment housing development. “StoreAway looks exclusively at large redundant office and retail spaces in the hope of bringing them back into use sustainably, whilst providing a necessary service to the public whilst often within walking distance of its customers.” The building was completed in the mid-1960s as part of the Parade Shopping Centre on Fleming Way. It originally housed Bon Marche, with Debenhams coming later.
StoreAway opened its flagship store in May in Liverpool, and has confirmed further sites in Birmingham, Basildon, Cheltenham and Bath, which will launch over the next few months. StoreAway users will be able to use a smartphone app where they can book a space, arrange a drop-in time or visit their locker 24 hours a day, with the process also allowing shared access with friends and family. There is also a measuring tool to determine the storage solution that best suits peoples’ needs.
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Five Principles
Welcome to Warneford! Highworth Warneford School is a small, collaborative and successful 11-16 school serving the market town of Highworth and the surrounding area. We have a proud tradition of academic excellence and the school is a very safe and vibrant learning environment. Just as importantly, this is a place where the students are all ‘known’ and valued: the quality of pastoral care is outstanding. You are always welcome to come and visit us to see the school in action.
The School Profile: Highworth Warneford
Get to know the schools in your area. This issue: Highworth Warneford School Address: Shrivenham Road, Highworth SN6 7BZ Contact: 01793 762426 Website: www.warnefordschool.org
Our Ethos
We are an inclusive school catering for the needs of all of our young people, no matter what their ability or background. We provide a well-rounded education that enables our students to acquire and develop the skills, knowledge and personal attributes they will need throughout their adult lives. This is complemented by an absolute focus on academic achievement, with our students aiming for the very best exam grades that will ensure ongoing success. Some of our students need extra support and our amazing SEN and Pastoral teams are always there to help where needed.
The Warneford Way
We are very proud of our school and our amazing students. When youngsters join us, they become part of our family and we do everything to nurture them and enable them to reach their potential. Our House system forms the backbone of the school and underpins much of what we do – from pastoral care to student leadership and beyond. We are modern in outlook but also cherish our traditions. We celebrate our students’ achievements at every opportunity and hard work is rewarded. Behaviour and attitudes to learning are excellent – our specialist teachers can teach using the very best educational approaches and students can learn without distraction. We are particularly proud of the many opportunities available outside of the classroom – clubs, activities, sports, music, events, trips, work experience, Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and residentials. There is something for everyone!
Everything the school does is based on five clear and powerful principles: Excellence: every student must aim for excellence in everything that they do Aspiration: students should aspire to do amazing things and not settle for doing ‘just enough’ Challenge: we will improve students’ resilience and help them to adapt to face life’s many challenges Values: our students will develop independence and confidence and become moral, curious and enterprising learners, leaders and adults Community: the school is part of local, national and international community
Our School
Sited on the edge of Highworth, we have plenty of outdoor space and this definitely gives the school a lovely, rural and community feel, as well as giving us strong sporting provision. The school has excellent, specialist facilities that enable our students to access a wide range of subjects at a high level. This includes a large, modern Sports Hall, a full range of DT and IT rooms and wellprovisioned Science labs.
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Link Business
Swindon companionship service for the elderly celebrates first birthday
A companionship service for older people - unique to the Swindon area - is celebrating a successful first year in business. Helping Old Friends was set up by Katrina Simms, who has more than 25 years of experience working in the elderly care sector. Katrina said she saw a need in the Swindon area for a service to provide companionship and help with some everyday things that many elderly people living on their own find difficult. Unlike a conventional homecare service – which will also help with personal care – Helping Old Friends says it exclusively offers friendship and practical support. The Helping Old Friends team add that homecare services are often unable to focus on this side of caring, because the visits are so short. The service also aims to give peace of mind to families who may not be able to visit as
often as they would like. As well as providing home visits, the company can install equipment, with different levels of monitoring. The equipment is Internet of Things enabled and reports to a dashboard, flagging up any out-of-theordinary events, so help can be sent quickly. After one year in business, Helping Old Friends, based in West Swindon, is said to be thriving. Katrina has recruited companions - some of them older people themselves who have a little time on their hands - and matched them with customers who are looking for friendship and practical help. She said: “Sometimes older people just want someone to talk to or do the crossword with. Perhaps someone to replace that lightbulb, to help navigate around the internet, to mow the lawn or put the shopping away, or take them to the hairdressers – those little jobs they otherwise struggle
Katrina Simms (seated) with the Helping Old Friends companions
with. “And because our service doesn’t offer personal care, or help with medication, as a conventional homecare service does, it appeals to people who would like to help others by working as one of our companions. The combination of offering friendship and practical assistance is really filling a gap in the current care provision in the Swindon area.” Katrina is now looking for more companions to join. She says no experience is needed, and there is no requirement to
deliver any personal care or assistance with medication. She added: “We’re looking for caring and compassionate people with a wealth of life experiences and skills to join us, who can relate to the ageing process. No experience necessary but lots of heart required.” More information about Helping Old Friends can be found by calling 01793 550895, emailing katrina@ helpingoldfriends.co.uk or visiting helpingoldfriends. co.uk
Public invited to visit plant and tool hire business' new sand and gravel yard G.A. Plant and Tool Hire Ltd has announced the opening of its new sand and gravel yard. Described as the fastest aggregate yard in Swindon, it can be found on Brindley Close, on the Cheney Manor Industrial Estate (SN2 2YW). More information about the different kinds of aggregate that G.A. Plant stock can be found at gasandandgravel.co.uk. G.A. Plant Ltd are an independent tool hire and sales provider for the public and trade, based in Swindon. They offer the hire of a wide range of tools, mini diggers and plant to both DIY and Trade customers. For more information, members of the public can visit gaplant. co.uk, call 01793 640200, or email info@gaplant.co.uk
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The Politics Page New hotel in Regent Street continues Swindon tradition of firsts Swindon Borough Council leader David Renard's monthly column
Place, off Fleming Way, is fit for the future. At the time of writing this column, council colleagues have just supported a motion calling for the council to declare a ‘climate emergency’. It was not something we had previously felt the need to declare because we have always felt that actions speak louder than words. Unfortunately, as we hadn’t followed other councils in making this statement, it was becoming more and more of a distraction, so we have now declared the emergency with a solid track record of action to reduce our emissions and promote green technology behind us. We have built large solar farms, are close to finalising a huge project to convert our 28,000 streetlights into LEDs and have begun expanding our electric vehicle fleet.
Another project we are currently developing is the creation of a solar innovation hub at our Waterside depot in Cheney Manor industrial estate. This will not only generate power to run our household waste centre, but will eventually charge electric vehicles and use battery storage to utilise power from our nearby solar farm to provide electricity for up to 3,000 homes. But we all have a role to play in tackling climate change. You can find out how you can ‘Be the Change’ by visiting www. swindon.gov.uk/bethechange for more tips and advice.
Swindon Labour leader Jim Robbins on town's most pressing issues I was delighted that Swindon Borough Council finally passed a motion declaring a Climate Emergency at the last full council meeting. The Labour Group had proposed this twice before but had never been able to convince the Conservative administration to support us. It was third time lucky, as they finally voted with us and it was agreed. It seems odd writing this during a heatwave that there was any doubt that man-made climate change is real and having real impacts on us, but it is important that the council have finally recognised this, and that we can now kick on and start to develop real policy to change behaviour around the town and focus on how we get to Net Zero as fast as possible. Ever since I’ve been elected as councillor, over 10 years ago, I’ve heard how Swindon is keen to attract green jobs to 20
the town as we seek to refresh the economy and ensure that the town is supporting employers to create the jobs we need for the future. We haven’t seen anywhere near enough progress in this area, and the sort of jobs we seem to be creating at the moment are in warehousing and distribution. The Labour Group are keen to develop higher-skilled and higher-paid green jobs and will be focusing on how we can do this using the town’s employment land. We also passed two other Labour motions at the meeting, one to try to improve access to doctors' appointments and one to improve communications with residents about roadworks and delays. We are determined to be on the side of residents, fighting to improve services and make lives easier for residents. We know how annoying it is that some surgeries ask patients to call at 8am or 8.30am and keep on
calling until they get through. The most calls we have seen is 390 before it was answered. This simply doesn’t work for people. Those who work or have caring responsibilities simply can’t spend that sort of time on the phone. Other surgeries have systems in place that work better, and we are urging the newly formed Integrated Care Board to prioritise better access to GPs as part of their plans. The roadworks motion was part of our response to the ridiculous overruns at Mead Way, the Moonrakers and the White Hart junction. Residents simply don’t understand how a project at Mead Way which was due to last 26 weeks has gone on for over 26 months and is still not finished. The latest, and 15th deadline is now for September. We really hope it will be 15th time lucky for the failing Conservative administration and they can
finally complete this short stretch of road widening. The motion calls on the council to come up with a charter that give a specific webpage for roadworks updates, to work out standards of consultation to ensure people are spoken to before the works, and methods for residents to be able to feedback to the council before works start. Finally, the Labour Party in South Swindon is still going through the selection process for our prospective Parliamentary Candidate, and it has been a great process. I’m looking forward to introducing the successful candidate to you all next month!
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Words by Jessica Durston
Swindon has always been a place with a proud record of innovation so I was recently delighted to learn that Whitbread had chosen our town as the place where it will pilot its first ever ‘all-electric’ Premier Inn hotel. The new Premier Inn has been slowly taking shape behind the purple hoardings that have enveloped the derelict site opposite The Savoy. When complete, the brandnew hotel will have 195 bedrooms and a ground floor bar and restaurant. The multimillion pound redevelopment of the brownfield site will breathe new life into an important part of the town centre, while at the same time creating 45 new jobs. As the company’s first ‘all-
electric’ hotel, it has been designed without a connection to a natural gas supply. It will be fully heated and powered by energy from the grid, which is generated from renewable sources, and by onsite solar panels. The building will also benefit from airsource heat pumps and new water-heating technology. Whitbread has set itself a target of achieving net zero emissions by 2040. At the council, we are aiming to reach net zero by 2030 and have set a 2050 target for the whole borough. This is going to be incredibly challenging but if we are to have a chance of making it happen we need firms like Whitbread to also play their part. Zurich is another firm investing in green technologies and using the highest building standards to ensure its brand new office block at Unity
'Have you got some Bad Blood money', filmmaker asks
Words by Jessica Durston
Do you fancy making a gory investment? Swindon resident and Bad Blood Films co-founder Mark Kenna is on the hunt for investment opportunities for his production company's next blockbuster project. Bad Blood Films are a local horror film production company based in Swindon and Bristol. The latest project on their slate is new supernatural horror feature, The Ripper's Ghost. Describing the plot, Mark said: "Ripper’s Ghost is going to be a supernatural horror, bringing the spirit of the legendary Jack the Ripper into a modern day setting. A college student is willed the belongings of a previously unknown great uncle only to discover evidence of the real Jack the Ripper, and unwittingly unleash his vengeful murderous spirit. "Kitty - our protagonal character - is dealing with the death of her father, and there is her grief and her coming-ofage story that runs alongside the supernatural horror aspect of the tale." To create their Ripper Ghost character, Bad Blood have secured the talents of Luca Nemolato who designed the creature in the 2017 feature The Shape of Water, and who has also worked on Annabelle and the DC and Marvel franchises. David Creed, co-founder, writer, and director at Bad Blood Films, said: "We've had a terrific response to our stories that are distinctly British but have global appeal, and starting with our take on 'Jack the Ripper' we are excited to bring this first film in a slate of movies to a worldwide
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Mark Kenna introducing Ripper's Ghost at the Bad Blood Films investors' event
audience." Mark added: “As well as our recent securing of Twickenham Studios for post production, we really have got some fantastic partners that are helping us to step up our game and work more efficiently. We would love to get to a stage where we will be making three films a year, as well as doing our television series work." But it is not only industry professionals who get the opportunity to invest in the local horror studios' next masterpiece. Bad Blood Films have put together different packages so that anyone with a passion for the project and spare funds, can choose to invest. The packages are tiered by price and include different perks, and each one is named after a slasher movie weapon. Mark said the team wanted to bring an element of fun to the different options for tribe investors - 'tribe' referring to those who are not necessarily in the film industry, but wish to be a part of the Ripper's Ghost project. Mark said: "We want to bring the magic of the movies to everyone. We want to maintain a tribe and provide an experience for local people
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who choose to be involved. At Bad Blood, we want people to be excited and look out for what our next upcoming projects are, each time." The four tribe investor tiers include the 'Baseball Bat', 'Machete', 'Chainsaw' and 'Shotgun' packages. The different tiers include a variety of perks, with the minimum investment of £1,000 earning individuals a credit in the movie and tickets to the premiere, and the top investment package (priced at £10,000) earning individuals all the previous packages' perks, a featured extra in the movie, and an extra pair of tickets to the world premiere and VIP after party. More investments mean more money for the film's budget which is important to the Bad Blood team for this second picture. Mark added: "Our sales agents have already sold four territories for this next film. Our focus at this stage is doing our best to get all the investments and funding we can to fulfill our ambitions for The Ripper's Ghost. "We’re really excited about upping the bar and working at a higher budget level, with recognisable IP that will get
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everyone on board. "We want to make sure that this movie’s budget is enough to attract the top talent across all our areas – acting, sound, special effects, everything. We want to make a film that does the script justice." The Bad Blood Films cofounder explained that as their first feature, Sacrilege, was sold in more than 20 territories around the world, those who invest would be involved in something on a large global scale. He said: "We thought to ourselves, how can we still look for big money and funds from industry partners and investors, but also at a local and more accessible level? That's why we created the Tribe investor tiers, and why we want to shoot in the South West and set the film in modern-day Bristol." Mark also spoke more about the benefits of investing in Bad Blood Films: "We’re not capping our return of investment – so lets say the film hypothetically made £10m, then investors would receive a portion of that, based on their investment. We’re offering a period of five years where the return of investment is not capped – which I think no one else is really doing." More information about Bad Blood Films and The Ripper's Ghost can be found online at www.badbloodfilms.com or by searching Bad Blood Films on social media. Those interested in investing in Bad Blood Films and The Ripper's Ghost can email investor@badbloodfilms.com including 'Investment' in the email subject line.
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Review: Warm welcome at Cold Harbour in Blunsdon
By Barrie Hudson barrie@positive-media.co.uk Every month or so, the folk from the Swindon Link have lunch together. The gatherings are a bit like one of those team-building meetings you hear about other organisations having, except that ours are enjoyable and nobody goes on excruciatingly about things like low-hanging fruit, paradigms and other such nonsense. The Cold Harbour in Ermin Street, Blunsdon, is among the 140 or so venues which make up the Chef & Brewer collection of pub restaurants, which are in turn part of the enormous Greene King organisation. However, nobody need fear this means the food consists of the generic fare which is often the rather dispiriting norm at chain establishments.
Honey glazed pork belly
As more than one member of our party pointed out, the food at the Cold Harbour is clearly prepared by people who not only know what they're doing, but also care a great deal about it. The hand-battered Halloumi Ciabatta was pronounced excellent, with a generous portion size and a batter
neither too thick nor too thin. The chips were well-cooked and altogether wonderful. The recipient of the Keralan Chickpea Curry - one of several intriguing vegetarian options - said: "A lovely curry The flavours were gentle and not overpowering. Different textures were explored with the chickpeas, peppers, onion
Chiropractor decides to settle in Swindon for good
Several people have found that the events of the last few years have caused them to reassess their priorities. Clare at Chiropractic Health is one of them. Despite having to shut down initially, she has worked through the latter lockdowns, and is now seeing a light at the end of the tunnel. Clare had two clinics, one in West Swindon and one in Basingstoke. She said it made her think about her future and where she really wanted to be. After 15 years of commuting, she has decided to ultimately be in Swindon full time, instead of splitting her time between the two locations. This is considered good news for her existing patients as she can now offer appointments throughout the week. Her decision to settle in Swindon also means she has more availability for new patients. She offers a ‘Free screen’ appointment for anyone uncertain as to whether Chiropractic is right for them. Members of the public can give her a call on 01793 602454 and book in. Chiropractic treatment can be used to treat many musculoskeletal complaints, such as back and neck pain, but also migraines, sciatica and joint pain. It uses various techniques involving manipulation and soft tissue techniques to help reduce pain, increase mobility, and keep the body moving in an optimal way. More general information about Clare Duncan-Hawes and Chiropractic Health can be found online at www. chiropractichealthcentres.com. 22 swindonlink.com n August 2022 NW August Master pages.indd 22
and spinach." Another vegetarian option, the Beyond Meat Kofte, appeared on a stick and came with a side of radish and rocket. It was pronounced brilliantly cooked and very tasty, as were the traditional fish and chips. The latter arrived on faux newspaper, which was a nice nod to the traditional origins of the dish. The butternut squash and sweet potato soup was described as fresh-tasting and simply very good indeed. Another member of the team chose honey glazed pork belly, which came with crackling, black pudding bon bons, curly kale, asparagus and Merlot and beef dripping gravy. He said it was obvious that the Cold Harbour had a chef who not only cared but had a genuine passion for their work.
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Clare Duncan-Hawes
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Moments captured by ghost behind the lens Maurice Spillane: Of Poetry Swindon
I love browsing the stories and photos in the Swindon Link and Advertiser archives. I’ve met some of the retired photographers and love their work. They are like ghosts behind the lenses. When I grew up in Dublin, we’d a permanent photographer on O’Connell Bridge. He was there from 9.30am to 6pm and then walked by the cinemas as they closed to
catch courting couples. Every house in Dublin has photos by Abraham Feldman, a Dubliner born in 1901 to Ukrainian Jewish parents. He took the name Arthur Fields to avoid anti-Semitism, a 'verbal disguise' according to his son. He was a goodlooker who shrank towards the end. Arthur pretended to take a photo as you approached and, if you stopped, he took it properly, gave you a number and you paid him.
Simple and honest. His wife developed and posted the photos, then destroyed the negatives. It’s estimated that he took over 180,000 photos in his time. In fact, the only photos our family have of our parents and of us as kids in the fifties were by Arthur. Then the sixties and seventies – innocence of youth replaced by gawky arms and legs, sometimes a girl-friend in hand, or a few mates on a bender. It was a black and white drape of passing memories captured by 'The Man on the Bridge.' A few lines from Dermot Bolger’s poem, 'The Photographer' capture Arthur. And it’s a tribute to Swindon’s archive photographers:
Fashions changed before your lens as you captured beehive hairstyles, bell-bottoms, rising hems, elephant flares, spandex skirts, ankle boots and tube-tops. You kept any opinions on trends to yourself as you stood, surrounded by such crowds that you resemble a boulder around which river water must find its way. You parted crowds and stood apart in crowds.
www.mauricespillane.co.uk
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(Pictures: Jennifer Berry www.jennifermjberry.com)
By Barrie Hudson barrie@positive-media.co.uk Music lovers flocked to the Old Town Bowl from miles around for the second My Dad's Bigger Than Your Dad Festival in aid of Prospect Hospice. Supported by Swindon Link and featuring an array of talent, the 2022 festival was once again a tribute to late Swindon music legend Dave Young, who died of cancer in June of last year and was cared for by Prospect Hospice in his final months. The festival's main stage was the iconic Art Deco bowl itself, and the bandstand in the main part of the gardens served as the acoustic stage. In addition to acts including Stay Lunar, Rave Against The Regime, All Ears Avow, Concrete Prairie and Joli & The Souls, the festival included a variety of stalls.
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Getting More Women and Girls on Bikes Monthly column with Becky Cox of Swindon Cycle Campaign. I love getting around by bike, it’s freeing and great fun. It’s a healthy way to travel, for both me and the planet. It’s also a cheap form of transport. I’m very aware that I am not a typical woman in this respect in our country. I am privileged to own a good quality bicycle and have had the opportunity to learn to ride from a young age, something which is not the case for many women and girls in this country. Regular cyclists are more likely to be men, white, working and non-disabled, with roughly 20% of men reporting they are 'regular' cyclists compared with 8% of women. There are various barriers to women and girls cycling but some of the key ones are fear of traffic, a lack of safe spaces to travel by bike, confidence in their abilities and Alfie Howlett: Swindon Town FC writer
If you fancy building up your confidence in a supportive and friendly environment then why not join a free Breeze guided ride? Over the summer holiday, newly trained ride leader Lesley and I will be putting on a programme of confidence building rides for women. The programme of traffic-free bike rides will be mostly between three and six miles organised on weekends, evenings and weekday daytimes, starting in locations across Swindon so you should be able to find one local to you. People identifying as women are also very welcome to join. We provide a safe and welcoming environment. Children are welcome too. All rides are social and no special equipment or bikes are required, but we do recommend that you get your bike checked out by a
New season, new team for STFC
The wait is finally over, football is back! After a long pre-season, Swindon will kick off their 2022/23 League 2 season on 30 July at Harrogate. It will see a new manager in the Town dugout as well as plenty of new faces in the famous red shirt. So what exactly can we expect from Swindon and their rivals this season? The appointment of Scott Lindsey raised many eyebrows. Especially when the former assistant was already under the club's nose as they spent weeks searching for a new number 1. It's since become clear that the 50-year-old was appointed with a clear plan in mind. Lindsey is widely regarded to be an excellent coach with an impeccable work ethic. His appointment has also been popular among many first team
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judgment from others. Whilst we can’t build a cycle culture which is friendly to women and girls overnight, there are some passionate people in Swindon who are helping to break down some of the barriers. Whether you want to learn to ride a bike, gain some confidence away from the road, or ask an instructor a question, pop down to the County Ground Athletics track on a Friday morning from 10am to 12pm. Bikes and equipment are there to borrow for free and there’s everything from tricycles to handcycles to try out. The first session is free, and then £3 afterwards. For more information get in touch with Sam James from the Live Well Hub (SJames3@ swindon.gov.uk) or give her a call on: 01793 465513.
players - with Lindsey being a key cog in last seasons success. With Lindsey now in the hot seat the recruitment appears very closely intertwined. To date, Town has invested heavily in bringing in younger players with the potential to develop under Lindesy. This in turn will allow Swindon to become sustainable as they sell on their assets for a tidy profit. There have already been some promising incomings such as ex Liverpool under 23 captain Tom Clayton. However, it must be mentioned that despite their potential, these younger players are unproven at this level. Younger players also bring inconsistency in performances over the course of a season. Therefore, like the manager these signings are gambles. However, despite the
uncertainty Swindon fans can be assured that there will still be certainty. In Jonny Williams, Ben Gladwin, Louis Reed, Lewis Ward, Ellis Iandolo, Harry McKirdy and Mathieu Baudry, Swindon can boast of some of the best players in the league. These players will be vital pillars in this new-look Swindon squad. It's fair to say that on paper Swindon could have a really exciting squad on their hands. However, it must be remembered that football is played on grass not paper. So what can we expect from the other 23 teams? To begin with I believe that this season will be far more competitive than last season. The bookmakers currently have Stockport County as favourites for the title. County won the National League last season and it's fair to say
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mechanic first if it hasn’t been used for a while. Lesley who has just joined the Breeze team only started cycling again a few years ago, after a 30 year break. She said: “I didn’t realise how many cycle paths there were in the Swindon area that circumvent the whole breadth of the town. I started off on the easy 5-10 mile jaunts, as I was unsure of my confidence on the bike and also my fitness. "I enjoy meeting new people, making friends and getting out in the fresh air, with the confidence that someone will lead you safely from start to finish of the Guided 'Tour.'" Lesley is now a British Cycling trained ride leader keen to help other women like her discover the joys of cycling. More information on the ‘Summer of Cycling’ Breeze rides is at letsride.co.uk
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FOOTBALL that the Hatters could enjoy a promotion bounce. With several quality players including Antoni Sarecevic Stockport could be a real force. Elsewhere the legend that is Mark Hughes could be the man to awake the sleeping giant that is Bradford City. Beaten playoff finalists, Mansfield, will look to go again under Nigel Clough. Northampton, who suffered at the hands of Bristol Rovers' final day miracle, will aim to go one better. Then from the outside looking in I believe that Leyton Orient, Newport and Tranmere will also be in the mix. Swindon find themselves sixth favourites. However, I believe that they will finish just outside the play-offs. But until a ball is kicked nothing is really known. Especially when it comes to Swindon Town. swindonlink.com n August 2022 25
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TRADE PAGES
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GIRL
From the pages of Swindon Link's sister publication The Ocelot comes Agony Girl in the form of nine year old Amy. We read her the questions and she tells us the answers. To ask Agony Girl a question yourself email us at publisher@swindonlink.com with 'Agony Girl' in the subject line. Dear Agony Girl, It is so hot lately that my wife and I have great difficulty falling asleep, even though we have a fan in the room. What should we do to make ourselves sleepier? Julia, North Swindon Instead of having a duvet just use a sheet and you should keep your windows open and then you should have a cold shower before you go to sleep. Dear Agony Girl, I find I spend way too much time choosing what to watch on Netflix and the other streaming platforms I have. It takes so long, that sometimes I feel like giving up and forgetting about watching something altogether. Can you advise me on how to speed up this process? Or can you recommend
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something to watch on television? Cheers, Lucy, Wroughton You should watch Community and you should watch The Minions movie at the cinema and you should watch Monster High and you should watch Parks and Recreations and you should watch My Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. That's it. Dear Agony Girl, My boss keeps pranking me. What shall I do about it? Do you know any pranks I can do? Tyler, Redhouse You could, when he comes in, stand next to like where the doorframe is and when he comes in you should jump scare. Also you should scare him by putting a fake dead body in his bed. Also you should throw water balloons at him when he comes in the
room to see if you're alright. Actually just throw water balloons at him. To stop him pranking you, you should send him a serious letter and pretend it's from the police station. That will stop him as he'll think he'll go to prison for the rest of his life if he doesn't stop. Dear Agony Girl Why are boys are so bad at just communicating like normal human beings? Karen, Haydon End Because they're smelly. Dear Agony Girl, Why are you such a poo? Rishi, Westminster I say that you're a poo because you called me a poo. Who is Rishi?
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