South East Swindon Link August 2022

No 70 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

South & East Edition

Agony Girl - here to answer all your problems p30

swindonlink.com

Bringing art to our streets with the Redcliffe Collective p3

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Eye-catching new street art project created in Swindon

By Jessica Durston jessica@positive-media.co.uk The Redcliffe Collective - the brainchild of local woman Helen Salter - have created art murals in the arches on a building in Rodbourne.

The group are seeking to brighten up the area, cover up the unsightly tagging, and encourage residents to have more pride in their locality.

The first project they have taken on is revamping the side of a tailoring business on Redcliffe Street.

This project will see the artists copying the arches on the old railway works, and filling them with a mixture of styles, using Rodbourne’s heritage as a theme.

Helen explained: “After first having the idea back in 2016 and speaking to people, it really got going as a concept over the lockdown, when people were spending more time at home, and realised what we could make of the

area.

"It is so great to see the artists bringing their ideas to life and covering up what was a drab wall of tags. We have been getting people offering more wall space to the group as they get behind the idea!”

A number of local artists have got involved including: Cello Assini, Slart (Steve Light), Adam Crossland, Jaksta Art, Inca the Mole, Carly Byrne, Caryn Koh, Jonny Martin, Max from Knots and Not Knots, Harrie Dearing, Gem Vero and Helen Salter.

The collective have permission to transform one of the Network Rail bridges over Rodbourne Road and have plans to decorate the BT OpenReach street furniture if permission can be obtained.

The group also have plans to work with the Heritage Action Zone around the Railway Village and the old Railway Works, to help transform the area.

Artist Steve Light (Slart) said: "Participating in this project

Members of the Redcliffe Collective in front of their mural arches on Redcliffe Street

has given me a new lease of life! I had a kidney transplant on 22 July, so needless to say, it's been a rough year. I had a successful solo art exhibition in May at Artsite in Theatre Square and the mural was my next big project.

"It felt daunting at first, looking at this huge wall, it would be Swindon's biggest mural once completed.

However, once local artist Cello and I got started on the arches, we asked other local artists to join us and all of sudden we had 10 artists involved and it was 90% completed within a

week!

"The local response has been overwhelming and one local resident said, 'It's brilliant, better than a Banksy.' It's inspiring to see all of this come into fruition, as Helen Salter and I had the same vision of transforming this wall. Our paths crossed at the right time to make it happen."

The Redcliffe Collective would like to hear from local people who want to get involved or offer wall space to the group.

A link to the collective's Go Fund Me page can be found at www.rodbournestreetart.com

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.

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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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Swindon pupils brighten up terminally ill patients' day with handmade artwork

By Jessica Durston jessica@positive-media.co.uk Children from the Chalet School in Swindon have visited terminally ill patients and presented them with artwork to brighten their day.

The pupils visited Prospect Hospice patients to present the painting they had created called 'A Splash of Colour' to say thanks to the charity for the work the hospice does.

The children, who are all autistic, produced the painting as part of a project about people in their community who help others.

Helena Knight, Headteacher at The Chalet School, said: “The hospice’s CEO and staff made us feel very welcome by inviting us to experience the calm and tranquillity of the grounds and gardens at the hospice.

"The children had a picnic under the trees and enjoyed cupcakes and a drink made by the catering team.

"They were very well-

behaved and understood the need to be quiet so as not to disturb the patients.

Their teacher, Lauren Yates, has explained the hospice is a hospital for sick people in order for the pupils to relate it to something they understand and not upset them unnecessarily.

"We are already talking about developing this community link in a number of ways including how the hospice social worker can support our pupils and staff to talk about loss and bereavement.”

Jo Hollingsworth, director of people at Prospect Hospice, said: “We were delighted to host the school children on their recent visit to thank them for their incredible artwork.

“We know children with autism can often be daunted when coming to the hospice as it’s a new place they’re not familiar with. The team has been working with the teachers at The Chalet School to help the children understand that the hospice is a really positive

Two of the pupils from Chalet School posed with their piece

place, helping people to live with their illnesses.

“The children have worked incredibly hard on this painting to bring joy to the people at the hospice who see it and we were pleased we could treat them to cupcakes in the garden

to thank them.”

The hospice says the artwork is now on prominent display in the charity’s Heart of Hospice café, and is already being enjoyed by patients, their families and staff.

Lawn students perform for Mickey Mouse at Disneyland Paris

By Jessica Durston jessica@positive-media.co.uk Pupils from Lawn Manor Academy took to the stage at Disneyland Paris, having been shortlisted to perform a special routine for the Disney Performing Arts Team.

The Disney Performing Arts OnStage programme is said to give amateur groups the opportunity of a lifetime to demonstrate their talents and experience the thrill of performing live on a magical Disney stage.

A total of 40 Lawn Manor Academy pupils got a glimpse into Disney’s professional world of entertainment and gave a 20-minute performance to the Disney crowds.

The performers from Lawn Manor Academy were from Years 7 to 11, and showcased their talents with a combination of rock ‘n’ roll and musical theatre, and modern song and 8

Year 8 pupilAmelia Gadd and Zeccai Wallace with the other performing Lawn Manor Academy students

dance.

Lawn Manor Head of Dance, Natasha Dixon, orchestrated the opportunity to take part.

She said: “We had to audition via video to Disney, which consisted of a threeminute group dance and each soloist submitted a song. Disney has a very strict audition process, so we had to pay close attention to comply

with the rules. Waiting for the outcome of the audition was the longest three weeks I’ve had in a while!”

She added: “For some of our students this trip to Paris is their first time outside of the UK and there’s been a real buzz in the air. They have counted down the days like it’s Christmas come early; there’s no greater prize for them than to be able

to perform on an international stage.”

Pupils also got the chance to take part in a dance and musical theatre workshop led

by Disney professionals.

Lawn Manor Academy is part of the Royal Wootton Bassett Academy Trust.

More information about the secondary school can be found online at www.lawnmanor.org

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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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Revellers enjoy sunny weather at Wroughton Carnival

By Jessica Durston | jessica@positive-media.co.uk The annual Wroughton Carnival provided the perfect opportunity for local people to get out and enjoy the recent sunny weather.

The popular annual event returned for 2022 - taking place on Saturday 9 July - on a bigger scale than ever.

Chair and Secretary of the Wroughton Carnival Committee, Beverley Margerison, said: "The committee would like to thank everyone who was involved in whatever capacity and particularly the community of Wroughton for giving

generously to the parade and entrance donations. This ensures that we can distribute the parade takings to local groups and ensures that we can run the carnival again next year.

See you in 2023!"

After the parade made its way around the village, people flocked to the Weir Field where there were stalls and entertainment.

South Swindon MP Sir Robert Buckland assisted Swindon 105.5's Shirley Ludford in giving out the prizes to the best groups who participated in the parade.

There were food and drink stalls on the field, as well as live music, funfair rides, and games for families to enjoy.

There was also a demonstration by the gymnasts from Swindon School of

Gymnastics, and a swordfighting demonstration by Wessex School of Arms.

More information about the Wroughton Carnival can be found on its website at www. wroughtoncarnival.uk

Image credit for Wroughton Carnival pictures - LMD Photography

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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.

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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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The South Swindon Parish Council column

By Cllr Chris Watts Chair of South Swindon Parish Council

Buckhurst Family Fun Day As part of the Parish Council’s rolling programme of events, we are hosting a Family Fun Day at Buckhurst Field in Walcot on 27 August. This event is run in association with the Nepalese Association of Wiltshire and Nationwide, offering a variety of activities for the whole family.

There will be a range of stalls from various organisations and local groups including face painters and other entertainers such as Mad Pete and the Swindon Stilt Walkers!

There will also be live music from local bands, bouncy castles and other inflatables provided by Bouncy R Us. This event is free to attend and follows the Shaftesbury Lake Discovery Day that took place in Parks in May. Although

our events calendar is primarily focussed on the Town Gardens Bowl - where we have a dedicated events venue- we are keen to deliver more events to other areas of our Parish. More announcements on entertainment and stalls at the event will be shared on our Parish Council Facebook page so do follow the page to find out more.

Front Garden Competition In July the Parish Council ran its first ever Front Garden Competition! The Parish organised this event to encourage residents to use the front of their properties to brighten up their neighbourhoods, being inclusive of all properties with creativity from smaller front gardens being positively encouraged!

Thank you to the 19 entrants for taking part! Three Parish Councillors judged the entries and agreed six winners. Each

winners have received £50 each thank to the Midcounties Coop sponsoring the event.

South Swindon in Bloom Parish Councillors entered South Swindon in to the RHS Britain in Bloom competition and were judged on 6 July. The Britain In Bloom judges were very impressed with the projects displayed and how the Parish Council and volunteers

had worked in partnership.

We look forward to hearing the judge’s feedback on our In Bloom entry in the next few months.

You can find out more about the South Swindon In Bloom entry on our dedicated webpage www.southswindon-pc.gov.uk/ south-swindon-in-bloom-2

The Old Town Residents Association Column

Raising money for good causes from the flower beds

By Judith Randell-Sly of Old Town Residents Association

OTRA are now meeting in person again, at the Goddard Arms, on the third Monday of the month, with the meetings starting at 7.30 pm. Residents of Old Town are welcome at any of the meetings.

At the beginning of July, the OTRA gardens were judged, as part of the South Swindon Parish ’In Your Neighbourhood’ section of Britain In Bloom. The

Town Gardens and Queen’s Park were both looking magnificent and the judges met and chatted to the team of gardeners, who are doing such a good job in maintaining and developing these facilities.

The OTRA gardens were also looking good, despite all the dry weather. The judges commented not only on the gardens, but also on the community spirit involved in their upkeep.

The OTRA gardeners are

now adding a garden on Marlborough Road, by Dewell Mews to their schedule. This has previously been looked after by a local resident who is no longer able to do the work.

Having already taken on some extra beds at the Croft play area the gardeners are going to be busy and so if you have any spare time on a Monday afternoon you could join them from 2-4pm (1– 3pm during the winter).

For more details contact Linda

Kasmaty lindakasmaty@ hotmail.com A plant sale in June and Open Gardens in July raised a grand total of £1,925.40. £735 has been donated to Swindon City of Sanctuary, £700 to TWIGS and £500 to OTRA gardens. This means that OTRA gardens is not only selfsupporting, but also supports other charities. www.facebook.com/ oldtownresidents

It's time for some good ol' folk dancing in Wroughton

Wroughton Folk Dance Club is looking for new members.

The club meets weekly on Wednesday evenings, at Wroughton Infant School, School Lane, Wroughton, from 7 September and you can be sure of a warm welcome.

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types of dances from the last four hundred years. It includes the stately court dances and also the sort of dances that were danced at village celebrations, often in a barn or outdoors on the village green.

However many of the dances danced today are modern in

origin.

Judith Randell-Sly, of the club, said: "When folk dance is mentioned, many people think of Morris men with their bells and sticks, but most folk dancing are not like that at all and there is not a bell or a stick in sight! However the

beauty of these dances is that they exercise the brain, as well as the body and they are always sociable."

For further details contact: Glenys at bettley@ntlworld. com and 01793 525523 or Judith on flossyj19@ntlworld. com or 01793 521798.

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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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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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What's On: A feast of theatre events in Swindon this summer 'The Importance of Being Earnest' at the Old Town Bowl Slapstick Picnic will be performing Oscar Wilde's 'The Importance of Being Earnest' at the Old Town Bowl on Saturday 30 July.

This show is part of the South Swindon Parish Council's Summer at the Bowl programme, and will take place at 7.30pm.

A spokesperson for the event said: "Slapstick Picnic would like to cordially invite you to its summer tea party, where marvellous feats of performance and culinary capers await.

"Over tea and cucumber sandwiches, we ask that you prepare to witness the impossible – the entirety of Oscar Wilde’s classic play of manners, affairs and handbags being performed by just two rather dashing entertainers."

This will be an outdoor production, and attendees are encouraged to bring their own chairs, blankets and picnics.

Tickets can be booked online at theatreatthebowl.co.uk/ eventbrite-event/the-importance-of-being-earnest/

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Paul Jones, original

frontman of Manfred Wyvern Summer Youth Project 2022 : Mann Legally Blonde the Musical

Words by Jessica Durston

The Wyvern Theatre's Summer Youth Project production this year is Legally Blonde the Musical.

It will run at the theatre from Thursday 18 August - Saturday 20 August.

A spokesperson for the production said: "A fabulously fun international award-winning musical based on the adored movie, Legally Blonde, follows the transformation of Elle Woods as she tackles stereotypes, snobbery, and scandal in pursuit of her dreams.

"This all singing, all dancing romantic comedy is a fun-filled, feel-good pink fest, so bend and snap up your tickets now!"

Performances will take place at 7.30pm on Thursday, 4pm and 8pm on Friday, and at 2.30pm and 7.30pm on Saturday.

Tickets can be booked online at swindontheatres.co.uk/Online/ tickets-legally-blonde-the-musical-syp-swindon-2022

George Bernard Shaw's 'Pygmalion' at the Swindon Arts Centre

On 3 September, DOT Productions will be bringing their adaptation of George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion to the Swindon Arts Centre.

The performance will take place at 7.30pm.

A spokesperson for the event said: "Will professor of phonetics Henry Higgins transform Eliza Doolittle enough to convince upperclass society that she is one of them, or will Eliza never forget who she really is?

"Pygmalion explores the English class system with all of its petty attitudes and posturing. Full of wit and wisdom Shaw exposes the hollowness at the heart of that society, but it is not just about accents or class. It is about the battle of the sexes, of control!"

2022 marks DOT Productions' 12th year of touring, and their five-actor production of this well-loved classic is said to be unmissable.

Tickets for the performance are priced at £16, and can be booked online at swindontheatres.co.uk/Online/tickets-pygmalionswindon-2022 More information about DOT Productions can be found at dotproductions.co.uk/ swindonlink.com n August 2022

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By Barrie Hudson barrie@positive-media.co.uk

My Dad's rocks The Bowl (Pictures: Jennifer Berry - www.jennifermjberry. com)

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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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:

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.

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.

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Clare Duncan-Hawes

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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.

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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

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.

Heritage Open Days – celebrating Swindon’s rich history

By Jamie Hill jamie@positive-media.co.uk From 9 to 18 September Swindonians are invited into some of the town’s most interesting historic buildings free of charge.

The public will have the chance to take a look inside some of Swindon’s best buildings including the Engine House (home of Historic England), the Health Hydro, the Carriage Works and the Central Community Centre.

They will also get a chance to see some of the town's churches including St Mary’s Church at Lydiard and St Mark’s Church and the Pattern Church in the Railway Village, as well as pubs the Gluepot and the Baker’s in Emlyn Square.

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Residents can also take a tour of the Railway Village Museum, Lydiard House Museum and Steam or ‘Go Wild’ at the Richard Jefferies Museum.

A council spokesperson said: "In Swindon we have some amazing heritage tour guides who are keen to share their knowledge about Swindon’s

historic places and events.

Many of the buildings will offer a guided tour of the interior but you can also choose to take a guided walking tour of Stratton St Margaret, Prospect Place Conservation Area, the

former GWR Factory (Designer Outlet) and the Railway Village."

To book tours and see dates and times check the Heritage Open Days website at www. heritageopendays.co.uk

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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

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.

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 the 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 Lindesy 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.

Lindesy is widely regarded to be an excellent coach with an impeccable work ethic. His appointment has also been popular among many first team

players - with Lindesy being a key cog in last seasons success.

With Lindesy 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.

Therfore, 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

LINK

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, in my opinion 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

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LINK

TRADE PAGES Semi-retired Plumber SURESTOP SWITCH installed for hard to get at or seized stop cock

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LINK

TRADE PAGES Approved Electrician Approved Electrician Part P Registered Part P Registered

• Extra Sockets/lights Extra Sockets/lights • • Fuse Board Upgrade • Fuse Board Upgrade

• • Testing andInspection Inspection Testing and Complete Rewires • • Complete Rewires No job too small!

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Connected Connected Electrical Electrical && Property Services Property Services Call Geoff : 07824 314080 or Tel: 07824 314080 or 01793 703308 01793 703308 Email: connectedelectrical01@gmail.com

Email: connectedelectrical01@gmail.com

Electrical Automation • Up & Over • Roller • Sectional • Repairs • Unit 8, Central Trading Estate Signal Way, Swindon SN3 1PD

Tel 01793 940096 Email info@dgds.co.uk www.dimensions.org.uk

Abacus Cleaning Services Carpets, Rugs and Fabric Upholstery

Hard Floors Cleaned & Sealed Carpet & Upholstery Protection Treatments Insecticide & Anti-Static Treatments Spot & Stain Removal Fully Insured, NCCA member

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01793 421802 www.abacuscleaningservices.co.uk

BOOK-KEEPING Can’t face doing the books after a hard day’s work?

Call Leonard Fuller, A.I.C.B, qualified bookkeeper with over 20 years’ experience.

Tel: 01793 700637 or 07963 637748 www.bookkeepingswindon.co.uk

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AGONY

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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