April 1998 Swindon Link

THE

No. 191 • April 1998 • Circulation 17,500

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TSP

Swindon (01793)

610188 Fax: (01793) 613316

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Distributed in West Swindon, Haydon Wick, Woodha!! Park & Abbey Meads

the positive news force in West and North Swindon and the swindon wide what's on guide

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T.S.P. HOUSE CHENEY MANOR TRADING EST. SWINDON

Fire service 50 years celebration

Leader speaks Last month's Link reported headteacher views that the public were being misled into thinking extra cash is to be spent in schools.

On page 3, Swindon Council leader coun. Sue Bates responds.

Things to do, places to see Visit our out and about' section on pages 27 & 28.

E X P RE S S %= CYCLES The Wiltshire Fire Service celebrates its half century with events at fire stations on 1 April.

Firefighters at Westlea station will be demonstrating their skills and talking about fire safety between 7.30pm to 9pm.

Proceeds to the fire services benevolent fund and the Wiltshire Air Ambulance.

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•n from Shaw appeared our front nea --. '_s ago helping to raise money for children' cancer charity CALM. He's a healthy lad now and was given a unique pre-math tour thanks to Town reserve team manager Ross McLaren. Full story on page 14.

The controversial glass office to be built next to Peatmoor Lagoon has been given planning permission.

Story on page 21.

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2 The Link Magazine

•

April 1998

Brighter horizons for Swindon pre-schoolers

PAUL

Parents with under fives have an even greater choice of pre-school provision with the opening of Bright Horizons Nursery on Monday 20 April.

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Located in the new Roughmoor Village Centre at Peatmoor, which is also conveniently close to families living in North Swindon, the purpose-designed day nursery will offer places for 100 children, grouped in age-appropriate classes.

David Kedwards, director of Bright Horizons, said the state of the art nursery draws upon best practice in Britain and abroad and will provide parents with quality child care. "There is a growing

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Bright Horizons have created a warm, caring environment purpose-built for children under 5 years. We cater for 0-5 year olds taking care of their every needs from safety and security through to play and learning, with fully trained and qualified staff.

need for pre-school childcare due to the increased number of working parents and the recognition by the Government that early years learning is important.

"Our aim is to offer a warm, caring environment for to 5 year olds, catering for their every need from safety and security, through to play and learning, with a high ratio of fully qualified staff."

Bright Horizons will be managed by Janet Donnelly, who lives in Purton. "Opening a brand new facility is a wonderful challenge for me and a lovely opportunity for the children who will be joining us.

"The building has been planned in great detail, designed to create a light, airy and stimulating atmosphere. Each age group will have its own internal areas, as well as its own garden.

"The Government has laid down goals for children starting school called 'desirable outcomes.' Our aim at Bright Horizons is to more than achieve these minimum standards by using a specially written age-appropriate curriculum."

Since building started late last year, Bright Horizons have been inundated with enquiries. The

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Janet Donnelly outside the Bright Horizons Nursery at Peatmoor

nursery will be open 52 weeks of the year, from 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. Another aim is to provide parents with a flexible service which fits in with their requirements.

"We want to offer choice to parents and to cater for different working patterns," said Janet. "Children will be able to come to us for morning or afternoon sessions, or full time.

"We're holding an open day on Saturday 18 April and it would be lovely to discuss how we can help Link readers with their child care needs. Everyone is welcome to come along and look around and meet the staff."

Bright Horizons can be found off Swinley Drive at Peatmoor, or telephone 887602.

COME AND MEET US To request an Information Pack or arrange to visit our nursery, call the Nursery Manager, Janet Donnelly, TELEPHONE

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We offer you and your child: Full or part-time places • Open from 7.30am-6.00pm, Monday-Friday • All meals provided • Open 52 weeks a year • Qualified and experienced staff • Purpose written curriculum for under 5's • High ratio of staff to children

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The Link Magazine • April 1998

3

Council leader says schools are getting more Sue Bates, Leader of Swindon Borough Council, reacts to the views of headteachers made on this page in the March Link.

In response to the headteachers who suggested the public had been misled over the levels of funding going into schools in the March Link, I would like to correct the misleading view that was expressed.

In 1998/99 Swindon Borough Council will be spending £63,198,000 on its education services. This is £4.6 million more being spent on schools than was spent in 1997/98. This additional amount includes an extra £900,000 made available to take account of the rise in pupil numbers, which is the equivalent of 34 full time teachers.

Secondary schools in Swindon have been funded at a level consistent with other authorities and if new resources were to become available to the Education Committee, members have made it clear that addressing the imbalance in funding to primary schools would be a major priority.

Sue Bates The Labour Government has made available an extra £2.3 billion for schools, with £1.3 billion for improving school buildings.

That extra money has come despite its commitment to stick to the straitjacket of the last Government's departmental spending plans.

I would have thought the Council's commitment to having passed on to schools the Government's

extra £3.7 million and more besides in support of rising pupil numbers, teachers' salary increases and inflation was a matter of celebration for headteachers and schools, given the very difficult decisions the Council had to make in other areas of service this year.

Swindon Borough Council is in fact spending less on the Advisory and Inspection Service next year than currently and will still have to meet the new requirements which the Government has placed on local education authorities. The Borough Council is committed to raising standards of achievement within schools. The Advisory and Inspection Service will need to be expanded to take account of this, but it was considered important that as much resource as possible was funnelled into schools for 1998/99.

The headteachers were, however, accurate in describing the inequity which exists between the

Success for road crossing campaign Swindon Council's transportation committee has at last agreed to install a pelican crossing on Whitehill Way, 18 months after the death of twelve year old Ashley Johnson from Toothill.

His mother Diane, who lives at ous for pedestrians," said Diane. "I Longthorpe Close, has campaign- feel relief that I don't have to camed for a safe crossing point since paign for the crossing anymore.

Ashley died in the John Radcliffe Yet I don't want it to be a memorial Hospital on 4 October 1996. He to Ashley; it's too late for him. His was knocked down running across death showed that Whitehill Way the road to the Shaw Ridge Leisure is dangerous to pedestrians; I just don't want anybody else to go Park on 28 September.

A 6,231 name petition was pre- through what I have.

"I'd like to thank all those who sented to the Mayor of Thamesdown Maureen Caton on 19 De- signed the petition and everybody cember 1996, Ashley's thirteenth who has given me support.

"Ashley is still with me inspirit, birthday if he had lived.

"I'm pleased that Swindon rec- but it's sometimes hard to get ognises Whitehill Way as danger- through the day without him."

Diane Johnson at the point where Ashley was knocked down on Whitehill Way

An/fif

Published by West Swindon Publications

13 Castle Dore Freshbrook, Swindon SN5 8PQ Tel: (01793) 872282 Fax: (01793) 878189 e mail: linkmagazine@compuserve.com Internet: www.i-way.co.uk/-swindonhink

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Copy date for May edition: 11 April Published: 25 April Copy for June: 11 May

"The Link was first published in December 1978 exclusively for the West Swindon community. It is completely independent of Link Editorial: Roger Ogle Centre arid, in fact, won a competition Publisher/Editor to name the leisure centre in 1984. It * Apple Macintosh design & layout commenced distribution in North Swindon in January 1994."

Printed by Wiltshire, Bristol The contents of The Link are protected by copyright. Copying of advertisements for business use, including publication is forbidden unless advertisers or publishers have sought permission. Articles and photographs require similar authority.

TO ADVERTISE IN THE LINK, CALL (01793) 872282

grant maintained schools and the local authority schools and one can only hope that the new funding rules which the Government is currently considering will remove these differences as soon as possible.

The Government is committed to education and, together with this Council will commit resources to ensure education standards are raised.

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The person will need to develop a network of contacts within the community and have the ability to build on the success of the The Link.

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Initially the position is for 10 hours a week, worked on a flexible basis, with the prospect of this increasing.

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The Link Magazine ' April 1998

4

Is continued growth and expansion inevitable?

In the March edition of The Link, Bristol University Professor Martin Boddy, joint author of a new book about Swindon's expansion City for the 21st Century, expressed

the opinion that further major expansion of Swindon is inevitable.

But Jean Saunders, co-ordinator of Swindon Friends of the Earth, believes that there

New hospital debate set for Saturday meeting Months of argument for and against the siting of Swindon's new hospital at Commonhead, to the east of the town, comes to a head at a mammoth 7 hour public council meeting to be held on Saturday 18 April starting at 9am and ending at 4pm.

Swindon Council's development control committee, will meet in the main hall at Swindon College, Regents Circus to consider the plans put forward by the Swindon and Marlborough NHS Trust and to hear viewpoints expressed by the public.

Questions to the committee will heard before committee members debate the issue. Requests to speak should be made in writing to Mr Whitfield, Swindon Borough Council Planning & Transportation Department, Premier House, Station Road, Swindon by Tuesday 7 April Below: a model of the proposed new hospital at Commonhead.

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are alternative solutions to creating more urban sprawl into the countryside and that it is time for the town to concentrate on quality and not quantity.

Can anyone seriously believe the predictions for England that we need to increase the number of houses by 25% over twenty five years when the population only grew by 4% in the last twenty?

There is no question that there is a national priority to house the homeless and to ensure that people are fully employed in worthwhile jobs. However, there are thousands of empty homes, offices and buildings that should be reused along with other wasted land, such as ground-level car parks, before more countryside is bulldozed and concreted over.

of the increasing numbers of people, including the gay population and divorcees, who share their homes with others, or the missing million of people who escaped the 1991 census in order to avoid paying the unpopular Poll Tax. If there is a huge demand for more single households, how come we see 3-4-5 bedroom houses being built around Swindon? From 2016 onwards it is predicted that the number of households will drop. What will become of the empty houses and property values then?

The northern expansion of Swin-

Signs of growth: the new Motorola factory looms on Swindon's skyline over the new houses of Abbey Meads, beyond the older Woodhall Park area

Not only are the urban fringes of Swindon important for wildlife, they provide a vital resource for people to escape the hurly-burly of town life without having to travel far.

Can these characterless monsters of housing estates, business parks or superstores that are springing up around Swindon ever be part of fond childhood memories or engender a sense of community pride? Is it possible to create a better Swindon when its expansion leads to more traffic on the roads? Did you know that, because of its size, fewer people walk to work in Swindon than any other town in Wiltshire? Does it have to get bigger when far smaller towns are prosperous?

The northern development alone will cater for almost as many houses as in Salisbury. West Swindon with over 11,000 homes is already larger than that city.

So where is the pressure for all these extra houses coming from?

We are informed that eight out of ten new households will be made up of people living on their own.

This statistic is based on, among other factors, fewer marriages and more divorces. No account is taken

don was put on the drawing boards during the 1980's housing boom era. This was expected to be the last major growth area for the town providing 10,000 extra houses. So far only 1,200 houses have been built.

Now we are told that this won't be enough and that a further 8,500 dwellings will be needed by 2011.

What tosh! It will take that long to complete the Haydon plan alone.

Yet waiting on the side-lines, biding their time, land speculators have ear-marked every field around Swindon in order to 'get rich quick' at the expense of our precious environment.

Swindon Friends of the Earth are on stand-by ready to fight off more greenfield site development and we call upon the people of Swindon to join us in order to save our countryside.

For more information contact me on 783040.

What are your views?

We'd like to hear what you think about Swindon's continued expansion and its bid to have city status. Write to The Link at the address on page 3.

5

TOOTHILL

Parent's choice reduced as playgroup prepares to close West Swindon's oldest playgroup is to close on its twentieth anniversary, even though it has just received an excellent assessment from Ofsted inspectors which found no significant weaknesses.

Toothill Farm Pre-School at the "We don't blame parents choos- some children are going to be deToothill Farm social hail on Bodiam ing a free place at the nursery, but prived.

"The nursery only takes children Drive accepted its first children in without a playgroup in the area, July 1978 and will say farewell to Playgroup workers Olwen Northway and Tina Lewington with the last group its last 13 children in 10 July 1998. of children at the Toothill Farm Pre-School There are no children on the waiting list. The low number of pre-school children in the area, earlier acceptance into reception classes and the availability of free places for four year olds at the Toothill School nursery means that the self-funding playgroup cannot survive.

Apart from the Oliver Tomkins Pre-School, which also draws many children from Grange Park and Freshbrook, there will be no playgroup in the Toothill area. The group at the community centre closed 18 months ago.

Supervisor Tina Lewington has seen a gradual decline in numbers in the last ten years. When I first joined the management committee in 1988, we had 80 children attending. Numbers have dropped as the area has matured. The group has been running at a loss since September, but we had a surplus funds from the old voucher scheme to fall back on.

aged 4 between 1 September and 31 August. Children who are three in the autumn will have to wait until the following September before they can enter the nursery where there is a 1 t 13 ratio. Three year olds will lose out on the essential pre-school experience; in a playgroup there is a Ito 8 ratio."

Playgroup chairwoman Belinda Harrington believes there may be up to 15 children in the Toothill area in this position.

To survive, the pre-school must have fifteen children aged 3 to 5 years by Easter. For more information, call 511675.

The Pre-School Learning Alliance reports that fifty thousand playgroups across the country closed last year and say 150,000 could close this year.

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Town player boosts anti-bully project Swindon Town player Mark Seagraves attended a Hreod Parkway School year 10 assembly on 27 February to give his backing to an innovative project designed to combat bullying.

Youngsters at the school have set up a new support group CATS - Come and Talk - which sells turquoise ribbons to students who want to demonstrate that they are a friend to others, particularly younger students.

The project, developed with the help of Burmah Castrol sponsored

Youth Action Worker Lorna Slack, has involved students in discussing the alms of the group, coming up with ideas for getting the support message across and a counselling training course.

Group members attended school during the February half term to decorate a 'listening room' and to make the ribbons.

"It's all about making a public statement that you are a friendly

Dealing with bullying - the CATs group with Mark Seagraves

person," said Vicky Upton. "It shows people have respect for each other and pride in the school."

Headteacher Andrew Fleet congratulated the group for their innovation. "Students who abuse the ribbon will have it removed.

Anti-social people often have problems with relationships and their own self-esteem; we will work with them to deal with it."

He said that the project had attracted a huge amount of interest from other schools as a result of the positive publicity.

Basketball fun

J.F.K

Ladies basketball at the Haydon Centre is proving a hit and is ideal for newcomers to Swindon. "Get out, meet new people and have a lots of fun," says Swindon Council recreation officer Nikki Green.

The sessions take place on Sunday 6.30pm to 8pm and is aimed at ladies and girls from 11 years of all abilities. The cost is ÂŁ1.50 on a pay as you play basis.

BUILDING SERVICES Extensions, Alterations, Renovations All aspects of garden construction including fencing All general building work

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Recycling and litter problems Local councillor Kelvin King is cling centre near the Haydon Cenappealing to environmentally tre properly. "People are making friendly people to use the recy- the effort to take paper and bottles there, but are not bothering to put them in the containers. I would appeal the public to keep the area

tidy" He added that there is also a growing problem of Safeway trolleys scattered around the area and is calling for a return system to be installed.

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On display were historical documents and minutes from past parish meetings and maps showing the northern development which largely falls within the parish boundary.

Chairman Richard Hailstone said there had been a growing number of visitors to the offices

since it opened in January. "People are calling in for information and advice and also to view plans supplied by Swindon's planning department."

The offices are open lOam to 12 noon, Monday, Tuesday and Friday; 2pm to 4pm on Wednesday and Thursday. Telephone: 722446.

A toast with a cup of tea: the Mayor and Mayoress, with Sophie Ball and chairman Richard Hailstone, right. Rear, left to right, parish council clerk Sue Martin, and parish councillors, Kathleen Smith, Aubrey Wakefield, Keven Ball, John Fuller, Tel Hudson.

Parker Knoll Sjujber1afld

The Mayor and Mayoress of Swindon coun Maurice and Sheila Fanning attended the public open day at the the new Haydon Wick parish council offices next to the Haydon Centre on 14 March.

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Mums and babes invite others to get together A group aimed at newcomers to North Swindon, and for mums who have recently had a baby, is keen for more members to join them for a weekly cup of coffee.

Meeting at Church House, Abbey Meads, Parents & Tinys get together on Friday mornings and is an ideal starting point before joining a toddler group.

'As we meet in a homely atmosphere, the group is a good introduction to a group for babies and very small children,' said Deaconess Maureen Spinks.

Members of Parents and Tinys, from left, June Marston and Mikey, Dss Maureen Spinks, Linda Holborrow and Lucy, Ruth Harris and Emily, Mary Thomas and Helen

"Its also ideal for mums who have moved to North Swindon, or those who have stopped work to have a baby and perhaps do not know people in the area.

"We're a friendly bunch, and we'd like to meet you."

Parents & Tinys gather on Friday between lOam and 11.30am at 1 Hayward Close, Abbey Meads.

For for more information, call Deaconess Maureen Spinks on 706558.

Tidy-up to take place on 19 April Abbey Meads Community Association is organising a community clean-upon Sunday 19 April, starting at the temporary community centre on Elstree Way at 9am.

The event will be part of the National Spring Clean organised by the Tidy Britain Group.

A skip and plastic bags will be supplied by Swindon Council. All you have to do is bring gloves, wellies and your energy.

The organisers hope to make the event a fun outing for all.

Guide groups ready to start North Swindon sees its first guide groups coming together in April in Abbey Meads temporary community centre.

Rainbows for 5 to 7 year olds commence on Tuesday 21 April; Brownies for seven to ten and a half year olds start on Thursday 23 April.

Both groups are full, but names are being accepted on a waiting list.

Call Helen Matthews on 706394 for more information.

Environmentalists agree deal on north expansion The continued construction of North Swindon could be given the go-ahead if the Government agrees with a deal struck between developers, Swindon Council and Swindon Friends of the Earth.

The Secretary of State announced last month that he had reconsidered the decision by previous minister Michael Howard in 1992 not to require a full environmental impact on the town of building another 10,000 homes.

Swindon Friends of the Earth had called for statutory survey but did not even receive an an acknowlegement. The first phase of 4,000 homes have been agreed, butplans for the 6,000 home Haydon 3 development west of Lady Lane have yet to be passed.

Local coordinator Jean Saunders wrote to the government last year calling for a survey and expected another brush off. "I was really surprised to get a reply which reverses a Government decision on the environmental impact of housing proposals. This is a precedent for a local group - amateurs in planning issues. It could be a first."

She said that the principle of building more houses had been accepted and Friends of the Earth did not want to unduly delay the development. FoE, Swindon Council and the North Swindon Development Consortium have told the Minister that a full environmental impact survey is not required.

"We were happy to accept a corn-

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Campaigning Jean Saunders promise study which identifies the special species of plant and animals in the area and the green corridors they need to move around," said Jean. "We would still like a survey of the traffic impact as people in North Swindon are very car dependent. We also want to see the secondary school moved to a more central position on the master plan so that children do not have to travel so far. As a community school, it will also attract a lot of adults who will use cars if it is in the wrong place"

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ABBEY MEADS

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Name for the North In the January Link, we asked what we should call Swindon's northern development.

The first 'urban village' at Abbey Meads has now been joined by other housing areas such as St Andrew's Ridge, Ash Brake and Red House.

Over on the west side of the development, off Moredon Road, houses are occupied at Taw Hill. And the Haydon 3 development will start to take shape in the next 15 months.

Names are an important part of establishing an identity for an area and The Link has been

looking for an overall name to encompass these various areas which we presently call Abbey Meads.

The 'northern development area' or the 'Haydon Sector' are hardly names to generate a sense of community spirit.

In response to our call for ideas, Mr J Toomey from Lyme Way, Abbey Meads suggested Meadowmeads, Lymemeads or Lyme Park.

Nigel Moorcroft from The Prinnells, West Swindon suggested Ridge Fields. Mrs A Lansdowne from Grange Park suggested Monk's Hill.

Carolyn Phillippo who recently moved into Garson Road, near the soon to be built Abbey Meads village centre, was surprised to be told by the post office that she now lives in Haydon Wick.

Half of Abbey Meads falls within the Haydon Wick parish council, the northern part and St Andrews Ridge is in Blunsdon parish.

So, not having established a consensus of opinion, we propose to use the title 'North Swindon' as the general name for the northern development.

Street naming. We go behind the scenes The streets of Swindon can be a bit of a mystery. Where do they get their names from?

Some people think street names are plucked out of the air, others scratch their heads in wonderment at the strange words. Perhaps a few refuse to buy a house because they object to the address.

GPs ready to build surgery The Abbey Meads Medical Practice of Dr John and Partners has set March 1999 as the target date for opening its permanent surgery at Abbey Meads village centre.

It will have 7 consulting rooms, rooms for a nurse, minor operations and health education. There will also be a separate dispensing pharmacy.

The practice will gradually withdraw from the Carfax Street Health Centre in the town centre, but will continue its surgery at Penhill.

Street naming in Swindon is far from a random affair says Swindon Council's highway policy unit group officer Geoff Bryant. "Few towns in Britain have had such sustained growth and have had to commit resources to street naming over so many years. It's quite a long process involving a lot of research, and a great deal of consultation with other organisations."

Highway network manager Denise Brown, who coordinates street naming and house numbering, explained that each development area is given a theme around which research takes place. "Our technical liaison officer Jim Hayes spends many hours in the Swindon reference library making lists of names based on the theme. It has to be broad enough to give lots of options and Jim gathers background information on each possible name.

"Areas of West Swindon are named after old fields used by local farmers, civil war battles and breeds of cattle. The overall theme for the northern development is arts and leisure, with sub-themes of actors and actresses, and gardens of England.

oper then changes a layout, and houses on a plan have to renumbered. It can be an even bigger headache if two developers are building houses in the same street and changes take place.

Over 40 council departments and external organisations such as

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Swindon Council officers in charge of street naming Denise Brown and Jim Hayes

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"We have to avoid difficult spellings or similar names used elsewhere, and we exclude names of people still alive. The way developers design layouts is a lot more complicated nowadays and we have to work out the best way of numbering houses and allocating them to a street. The ones on corners and in cul de sacs are usually the most difficult.

"Our proposals are then submitted to the post office to consider whether they will work from a delivery point of view. They remove names they feel inappropriate, and we also consult with parish councils where they exist."

The research takes place in the early stages of a development, before detailed plans for housing areas are sent in. Although developers come up with names to market their sites, the Council is adamant that it will not use them to avoid setting a precedence.

A road is given a name after plans have been approved, but things get complicated if a devel-

the fire, ambulance and police are then informed of agreed names and layouts.

If all goes well, street nameplates will be. made and erected by the house builders ready for the first residents.

Could you research street names?

The article above updates stories which appeared in The Link in the early 1980s.

A booklet on the street names of Swindon up to the late 1970s was published over twenty years ago.

Is there anybody interested in carrying out the research for another publication?

For example, is Toothill named after GWR trains sounding their steam whistles? Which part of West Swindon are named after Scottish lochs? In Abbey Meads, Cagney and Stewart are film stars, but who are Timandra and Exbury?

Give Roger Ogle a call on 872282 if this is an appealing project.

WESTLEA

Emma plays above her age Nine year old Emma Davies from Silchester Way is proving a winner at badminton, even though she has only been playing for a year.

On 1 March she won the Wiltshire under us singles title and also the doubles trophy. A member of Pinehurst Badminton Club, she recently won singles, doubles and mixed games in the under 14s league.

A modest girl, Westlea School pupil Emma kept her success secret from her teacher Peter Newbury and her classmates until the day The Link took her photo.

She trains weekly with her club and also with the county squad.

9

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Music enchants children Accomplished harpist Christine Kinder visited Westlea School in March to run workshops.

The Swindon based teacher with pupils all over the South West, she talked about the history of the harp, demonstrated the characteristics of her instrument and accompanied children singing.

Music coordinator Gwen Metcalfe said that a professional musician is invited into school every term. 'The children were spellbound by Mrs Kinder's playing and asked some very thoughtful questions about the harp."

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10

BSE.. hunting.. Euro voting., disability access and a baby on the way Swindon South MP Julia Drown reports a busy couple of months In Swindon, a big issue for me this month has been the planning application to store meat and bonemeal in the hangars at Wroughton. I have raised this in Parliament, and supported Wroughton residents in campaigning on the issue.

Jam very pleased that Swindon Borough Council's Planning Committee has now refused the application. The applicant may appeal, but we have left no room for doubt about the strength of local opinion on the issue.

At Westminster, MPs have had a particularly busy timetable. The Conservatives forced the House to sit all night to vote on the Government's proposals to introduce a national minimum wage. We have also had long debates on the Bill to

ban hunting with hounds.

I supported the Bill and voted for it. The Bill has now been talked out by the minority in the House who oppose it. But that will certainly not end the debate. I am sure there will be more attempts during the years ahead to end the hunting of wild mammals.

Parliament has also been debating elections to the European Parliament, which will be held next year under a system of proportional representation. Swindon will be in a new, multi-member South West constituency. The number of Euro MPs for each party will be determined in proportion to the votes cast in the region. I hope that under this new system everyone will feel that their vote will count, and that far more peo-

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ple will go to the polls.

The Labour Government has recently announced new regulations to ensure that houses are built to be more accessible to people with disabilities. I have worked with the Swindon Access Group, amongst others, to argue for these changes under which new homes will be built without front door steps, with wider doors and downstairs loos, making them accessible topeople in wheelchairs or with other mobility problems.

The cost of building in those specifications at the beginning is small in comparison with the expense and difficulty of adapting houses once they have been built.

It is estimated that in due course some 10 million people will benefit as a result of the changes.

I've asked many questions in the House over the last month but I was particularly pleased to be able to put my first question to the Prime Minister. I asked Tony Blair to wish the British explorer David Hempleman-Adams, who was born in South Swindon, good luck in his current attempt to reach the North Pole. If he succeeds, he will -

be the first person ever to reach the North and South Poles and the highest peak in every continent which shows that Swindon really is the centre of the planet.

Finally, on a personal note, my partner Bill and I are pleased to announce that we are expecting our first child towards the end of July and are planning to get married over the summer. We are both absolutely delighted and we are looking forward to being a mum and dad.

If you would like to contact me on any issue then please write to me at 39 Victoria Road, Swindon SN1 3AT or phone my office on 615444.

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has got lots of entertainment going on this Easter, it's going to be a really _-

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On Friday and Saturday Mr. Magic will be up to his tricks at the centre and keeping everyone guessing, thanks to his amazing magical skills.

Easter Monday will be a fun day too and a great chance to marvel at the stilt-walking skills of 'Billy Wand'

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With so much going on and with free parking and low priced petrol, The West Swindon Shopping Centre must be the place to shop this Easter.

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11

SHAW & ROUGHMOOR

Schools celebrates 10th year with unique prize On offer at the Brook Field School tenth anniversary summer fete draw in June will be a unique prize - a mini-cricket bat signed by the England team which won the third test match against the West Indies in early March.

Glamorgan player Robert Croft noticed Brook Field parent Mike Rees holding a Neath rugby club banner. A chat in the the bar led to the player organising the rest of the squad to sign two bats, one of which will be raffled in June.

Linda Richards, chair of the Friends of Brook Field Committee, said she hoped the bat will, help raise a lot of money for the school Mike Rees thinks the bat might mark England's only win on the West Indies tour.

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Association gives voice to community People living in Peatmoor and Sparcells have at last got their own residents' association, even though the first residents arrived in Sparcells over ten years ago.

Some 50 people attended an in- would keep community users the community school. "If the community association, after looking augural meeting on 26 February separate from children.

However Justine Prosser from at the plans in detail, consider the to accept a constitution and elect a committee for the Peatmoor and Peatmoor, whose daughter will be lighting intrusive and that the faSparcells Community Association. in the first intake, said she was not cility should not be used in the Roughmoor primary school, due happy. "1 am really concerned evenings, then the lights do not to open in September 1999, was about the security. I do not like the have to be installed." idea of a community centre; anyTo contact the community assodiscussed in detail.

Swindon Council community one will be able to get into the ciation, call Neil Cushing on 881587. centres officer Barry Thompson school building." explained that government fundOther residents complained that ing for the school was only lighting of an outdoor all weather achieved because it would have surface and noisy users would be community facilities. Without intrusive to residents. Mr Thompshared use, it could not be justi- son said local people would be fied. The design of the building involved in the management of

Surprise farewell for warden A tea party on 5 March to say goodbye to George Tweed Gardens warden Joan Bauld had a surprise visit from the Mayor and Mayoress, Coun. Maurice and Sheila Fanning.

Seventy residents were joined by friends and family and housing department officers to say thank-you for eight years service since the group dwelling opened at Shaw Village Centre.

"Joan has been a wonderful warden who will be greatly missed," said Rev. Andrew Hethrington.

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12

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Greendown playgroup children and their staffat rear,from left, Andrea Nevitt, Sally Pearce, Sharron Roberts, Dee Jones

Greendown Playgroup in Grange Park has been commended by Ofsted inspectors for promoting the desirable outcomes in all areas of pre-school provision.

Inspector Barbara Sealey reports development. that the playgroup provides many There should be more practical excellent activities and the teach- opportunities for children to iming is good. Staff have a secure prove their language skills, and knowledge and understanding, also more resources to understand they provide a sound environment, information technology. are well organised and work effecSupervisor Sharron Roberts said tively as a team. she was delighted with the report.

The playgroup, at Greendown "The staff have worked very hard Community School, serves the to create care and learning in a community well and has estab- stimulating environment." lished good links with parents and The popular playgroup is full carers. It works closely with them for September and already has a to ensure continuity of children's waiting list for September 1999.

Stitches sew success

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A Swindon business has just set a record of embroidering 150 million stiches on 30,000 garments and badges for schools, business and the armed forces in only 3 months.

JMM Embroidery at Cheney Manor, which is owned by Jan Messenger from Freshbrook, uses state of the art technology to produce customised designs on a variety of garments.

Jan is pictured presenting Great Britain skaters Andrew Seabrook and Marsha Polouschenko with a sweatshirt embroidered with their names last year. On the front is the Dentaid logo, the dental charity which Jan, the skaters and The Link magazine support. Andrew and Marsha have been wearing the garments at the World Championships. See story on page 15.

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For example, £50,000 would cost £254.05 per month interest only net of MIRAS (excluding insurance).

This is a discount of 2% for the first year, plus £1,500 cashback. (Maximum loan to value 95%) For example, £50,000 at 5.7% (APR 6.0%) would cost £216.13 per month interest only net of MIRAS (excluding insurance). This is a discount of 3% for the first two years.

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CORNHILL INSURANCE PLC is regulated by the Personal Investment Authority for life assurance and pensions business'.

Credit broker fees of up to t% on the advance may be charged at completion depending on the type of product and credO period. Rate applied Is 6.7% )7.O% APR) for one year. APR is variable. Rates may vary. A written quotation on loans can be obtained on request. Only available to persons 18 years 01 age or over. Subject to status. Subject to our current lending criteria. A 2% reduction applied to the variable bane mortgage rate, currently 8.7%. Those applicants benetitling from this special discount who redeem their mortgage within tour years 1mm the data of completion will be charged an additional do months interest. This charge will be reimbursed it a new mortgage is then taken out with the Society.

Ecarnple: A married couple aged 30 years and 28 years, both non-smokers, applying for an endowment mortgage of £50,000 Scare 25 year term )300 monthly payments), completing before 3t May 1998 secured against a property being purchased for £55,000. 300 monthly mortgage payments net or tan of £254.05. Monthly endowment premium of £74.96. Total amount payable £t46.t It. Calculated to Include valuation tee £155 and arrangement lee or £tOO. This calculation is based on the assumption that the discounted rate will apply throughout the term of the loan. Maximum loan El 50,000. Thee 7% rate applies to loans pp to and including 95% of the purchase price or oaluation, whichever is the lower.

The riscounted rate is applicable for one year, after which the than current rate will apply. When an applicant is borrowing more Wan 75% the Society will require additional securIty. This is usually in the loon of Rich Charge.

REMEMBER: YOUR HOME IS AT RISK IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON A MORTGAGE OR OTHER LOAN SECURED ON IT

14

The Link Magazine • April 1998

Special Swindon Town trip for special boy

December 1993: Ross tries a CALM recipe with help from Marie and Craig Sneddon, and left, CALM mum Jacqui Edwards and town promotions manager Janet Garrett

Craig Sneddon was pictured on our December 1993 front page with his mum Marie, who had helped to produce a recipe book for CALM (the Childrens Cancer & Leukemia Movement).

They had roped in Swindon Town player Ross MacLaren to promote the book, which included a pasta recipe from his wife Nicola.

At the time Craig was undergoing treatment for leukemia.

He has been in remission for two years and The Link arranged for him to meet Ross again on 7 March. And what an occasion!

Not only did Craig receive a scarf and a signed football, and have his photo' taken, Ross took him round the changing rooms to meet the team preparing for their big game against Portsmouth.

Eyes popping at the scene in front of him, Craig had his programme personally signed by players in various stages of undress, having legs massaged on the physios' couch and in the bath.

Almost too shocked to comment on his surprise behind the scenes visit, the quiet nine year old, said, "it was very good."

Meeting the Town bosses the changing room: Craig with The Gaffer Steve McMahon, chairman Rikki Hunt and Ross McLaren

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Backing for world championship skaters Swindon's Mayor and Mayoress Maurice and Sheila Fanning took to the Link Centre ice for a few moments at the end of February to congratulate 14 skaters who had spent a total of 179 hours in shifts

raising £700 for Andrew Seabrook and Marsha Polouschenko.

They will be attending the World Championships in the USA at the end of March after qualifying to represent Great Britain in their first

The Mayor and Mayoress with Andrew and Marsha at the front, surrounded by Link Centre skaters

year in the senior pairs competition.

Sponsored skate organiser Pat Fisher said that Andrew and Marsha needed all the backing they could get after coming tenth in the European Championships injanuary. "It's their first year in the seniors and they have done really well to be selected to go to the USA. The money will help them leave early for extra training and preparation."

Co-organiser Heather Bishop said the group was on its knees after their marathon skate.

4t4 bIfjj(Lul5

WORKOUT AND SLIM DOWN! Combine a sensible low-fat eating plan with exercise classes in West Swindon and Wootton Bassett.

Contact Wendy on 01793 877750 for details.

Membership fee £6. Class fee £3.95 Booking advisable

tozether we can do it!

Your local consultant for

Ride the Ridgeway Bookings are now being taken for the annual mountain bike ride for families and individuals, in aid of the Prospect Hospice, on 24 May. Starting at lOam from the Croft Sports Centre, Old Town, the fully marshalled route follows byways, tracks and bridleways.

Leaflets are available in leisure centres or from Mitchell Cycles, Shrivenham Road, or call event organiser Roger Hayes on 826375.

Hair removal by sugaring (waxing also available) Manicures • Pedicures • Facials Body massage • Facial massage, etc.

Fed-up with razor cuts and stubbly re-growth?

For silky smooth legs for the summer, contact

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Rugby teams sweep all before Four young men from Shaw have been playing pivotal roles for Wootton Bassett rugby club under us team which is enjoying one of its most successful seasons.

Michael McGrady and Fraser Huggins make up two thirds of the front row, Nick Moore is a mobile and abrasive second row player and Daniel David has shown incisive running and crisp handling in the coveted outside half position.

Rugby at under us level is played with twelve a side and the club runs two teams with a squad of 27 players. So far the teams are unbeaten after 25 games, with notable victories against Bath, Bristol St Mary's, Avonmouth and close rivals Swindon, racking up 579 points and conceding only 58.

On 22 February the A team clinched the Wiltshire championship and then beat Dorset champion's Bournmouth on 1 March.

Coach Mark David from Maxey Close, Shaw said he was really pleased with the team's performance. "It was a tremendous achievement to become the undisputed champions of Dorset and Wilts. The boys have shown great maturity in their playing and the team spirit is sky high."

As the season comes to a close, the under us will be hoping to

Link Centre Swimming Pool is due to re-open soon Under 11 tough guys, rear, Daniel David and NickMoore. Front, Michael McGrady, Fraser Huggins win tournaments at Newbury and Warminster and to make a victorious Easter tour of Cornwall.

As ever, Mark David is on the lookout for new players. You do not need previous rugby experience to join the squad. To find out more about training times, call him L on 875384.

To help us celebrate, bring this voucher with you for a swim. For every paying adult we'll admit one adult/junior ABSOLUTELY FREE, any casual session, you choose Subject to normal opening times and availability.

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16

The Link Magazine • April 1998

Holistic Health Fayre to put harmony into health GPs in Wroughton and a group of complementary therapists are posing a basic question: Is your doctor responsible for your well being, or are you?

They hope you will find some answers at a Holistic Health Fayre on Saturday 25 April at the Ellendune Centre, Wroughton.

Organised by Dr Norman Hunt of the Wroughton Health Centre, the local patient's forum and shiatsu therapistJill Carter, the day ends a week of talks and demonstrations which bring doctors and therapists together to see how conventional medicine and complementary treatments can work to-

gether for good health.

There will be a chance to find out and try a wide variety of therapies, from acupuncture to shiatsu, chiropractic to reflexology, through talks, demonstrations and information stalls.

Dr Hunt said the motivation for this unique event is the many people who present a wide range of symptoms that conventional medicine has no means of addressing.

Depression, migraines, colds

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Swindon Pulse: at the heart of good health Getting good health is not an entirely modern concern. Over two thousand years ago that man Aristotle gave public talks on health, happiness and well being, writes Matt Holland.

For an appointment with

Mrs Lesley Taylor

Tel: (01793) 887801

V

bility for our own health and lifelong learning.'

Therapist Jill Carter, left, said, "the focus of orthodox medicine is to treat 'dis-ease. Therapists help people make the connection between what is going on in the mind and the body.

"We hope to encourage people to look at themselves differently, so that they ask what preventative measures can they take in their lives to reduce the stress which often develops into disease."

The Holistic Health Day runs from lOam to 5.30pm on 25 April and costs £3 (El concessions).

There will be a wholefood cafe serving refreshments.

For a full programme of workshops in the week and information about the day, call Jan Weston on 813658.

CLINIC AT HIGH STREET ( WoorroN BASSETF

You should consider consulting a Chiropractor

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Pulse staff Julie Smith and Tracey Costello outside the shop on Curtis Street

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He reckoned we had to get three areas of human functioning right in order to achieve happiness. The vegetative state had to be in good order. That is, digestion, growth and sound physical development.

Sensory elements too - the emomo tions, the senses, the spirit - had to be alert, alive and tuned up. And thirdly, the contemplative side of human nature, the mind, had to be on the ball, well and truly active.

Get those three areas doing their business well and there is a chance of leading a fulfilled life; although, having others to love, a sense of purpose and something to look forward to are doubtless also a help.

The question is: how do we get body, spirit and mind in good order? One answer is, beware specialisation, exclusive concentration in one activity. Dumb-bells make dumb boys said one wise woman; beware seduction by theraputic

words said another; and don't believe everything you read in books said a third.

Another answer is, start by shopping at Swindon Pulse, the town's longest established whole and health food shop. There you will find the right stuff for spirit, body and mind.

Stock includes cereals, books, herbs, toiletries, oils, bread, wines, snacks, organic fruit and veg, nuts, spices; and salt, sugar and other additive-free foods. From Pulse you could stock your larder, your fridge, your bookshelves, your bathroom shelves and your drinks cabinet. And thereby discover some of the secrets of good health.

Cheers Aristotle!

Swindon Pulse, 27 Curtis Street (bottom of Commercial Road), tel.

692016, is open six days a week and will gladly send you a full catalogue of its products.

The Link Magazine • April 1998

See us on the net @ www.i-way.co.uk/-swindonlink

17

Local schools and Easter activities in the library The programme for the Swindon Festival of Literature has been finalised and once again Swindon libraries are hosting a variety of interesting events and activities, writes librarian Vicki Moore.

On Friday 1 May author Lisa Bruce, who writes for all different ages will be telling school children how she creates her books. She will be at West Swindon library from 10.30am to 12noon and at Moredon 2pm to 3pm.

Greendown School pupils are once again perform poetry at West Swindon library on Tuesday 5 May at 10.30am.

On Thursday 7 May, from 2pm to 2.30pm Ridgeway School pupils will be presenting their work inspired by storytellers.

There are a host of other activities going on including writers in New books in April Jonathan Gash Lovejoy: the rich and the profane. The lovely Irma Dominick asked Lovejoy to show her how to steal a cheap Edwardian necklace from a country auction. Unfortunately Irma does not make a good thief.

John Grisham The street lawyer.

Michael was scrambling up the ladder at a giant DC firm with 800 lawyers. The money was good and getting better, a partnership in sight. But a violent encounter with a homeless man stopped him cold, Michael survived the encounter, the assailant did not Audrey Howard Not a bird will sing. This story follows the for-

residence workshops, storytellers and a special library literary quiz, which will be available from your local library after 31 March. For further details of the Swindon Festival of Literature, see page 27 or contact your local library.

During the Easter holidays there are craft and storytime activities as well as competitions.

Thursday 9 April 2.30pm - 3.30pm Storytime, a story trail and crafts at Moredon library Friday 17 April 1030am -1 1.30am West Swindon library is offering stories, crafts, singing and rhymes.

All events are for the under 8's tunes of Poppy Appleton, daughter of an agricultural labourer. A sweeping and passionate family saga set in the countryside around Liverpool in the 1870's.

Lynda La Plante Cold blood. Lorraine Page is setting up her new private investigation offices inLA. She takes a call from a Mrs Nathan who has been accused of murdering her husband.

Danielle Steel The long road home.

A harrowing journey into the heart of America's hidden shame in a novel that explores the power of forgiveness, the dark side of childhood, and one woman's unbreakable spirit.

Primary poets get ready to show off 'A Day in the Life of West Swindon'

and all are welcome to attend. For more information phone West Swindon library on 871444, or call in at your local library.

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Exhibitions 15 to 29 April Bob Oxlely presents portraits and paintings made with Encaustic wax. This ancient technique uses pigmented beeswax applied to the canvas with a travel iron. The resulting pictures are vibrant and full of colour.

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BLINDS SALE Putting finishing touches at a writing day in March: Marcus Moore with Christina Bennett and, front left to right, Sarah Tyas, Sandish Benning, Natalie Hughes, Emma Powell, Carl Burkitt. Rear, Rosa Hirsch-Holland, Ruth Tyas, Kim Brewser, Naomi Collett Swindon's Festival of Literature will see some inspired writing by primary school pupils when a 600 line poem describing life in the West Swindon community goes on display in the Link Centre in early May. Some 40 children from nine West Swindon schools have been working on the project with the help of poet Marcus Moore who has helped draw together the many different ideas that have come forth.

"The process and poetry is amazing,' said project organiser Greendown teacher Christina Bennett. 'The children from the different schools work so well together; Marcus is an excellent coordinator."

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The Link Magazine *April 1998

Minority group offers computer literacy classes

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Swindon's Federation of Minority Organisations has received money from the National Lotteries Board to run computer literacy classes for ethnic minorities, writes John Patel.

We are now making arrangeWe aim to provide tuition in a ments to run small classes of three relaxed atmosphere with indiof four students at a time who are vidual help. There are no exams to members of FEMO. Membership take. The timetable is flexible and is open to all ethnic minorities. will be determined by students' knowledge and needs.

Classes will be held in Swindon GET YOUR COMPANY where there is car parking and a ON THE NET bus service.

Members of ethnic minorities are WEB SITE DESIGN invited to take advantage of this & PUBLISHING opportunity to become proficient Holding the lottery board cheque to CALL KDI TECHNOLOGY fund computer training, from left with information technology.

01793 512612 For more information and regis- Smiya Patel, Anita Poole, Moxada tration details, call 07050 621764. Rawal

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Students will investigate all forms of communications and will visit the Futuroscope cinema and media theme park in France next year.

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Parts of The Link can be be read worldwide at the swindonhink web site on the internet. Feedback is welcomed and every month we relay E-mail messages through these pages.

If you know the people mentioned below and want to return an Email, contact us at The Link.

From Len Goff in Australia: Can anyone give me information on the whereabouts of Ann Ferris. She and brother David lived in Penhill during the 1960's and Ann may now be married. I have not had any contact since 1968 and emigrated to Australia in 1972. I would love to know how Ann is going now. Len Goff len.goff@adl.fac.com.au From Roy Edwards: Can anyone give me information regarding the whereabouts of Glennis Ricketts. She lived in Chapel Street Gorse Hill then married and moved to the USA. She was my friend in the late 50's and I would love to exchange a letter or two with her as we both left the UK and moved to other countries. RoyEdwards r2202684@hotmai1.com I was at Headlands G.S. in the sixties and would love to be connected with others who were there then. Email: lydiard@aol.com Aloha from Rachel Gill in Hawaii. My sister who lives abroad in United Arab Emirates told me about your web site. (see e-mail from Alison Smythe in March Link). I was so thrilled when I looked it up!

I grew up in Wroughton and attended Ridgeway School where the head was Mr Axon. My pre-marriage name was Ball and unfortunetly I have lost touch with a lot of my friends and often wonder what they are doing now.

I then moved to Common Platt where my mother Kris Ball still lives.

After I married a United States airman in 1988 who was stationed at RAF Fairford I moved to the USA and now reside in Hawaii where I have a 7 year old daughter Laura and a 5 year old son Kyle.

Although I have been away from 'home' for several years, I still very much miss Swindon and the surrounding villages.

Leaving my family, friends, Swindon and my old way of life was the hardest thing I have ever had to do. However I love America and thanks to new friends, military support and the computer, at the touch of a button I can now 'return' home to Swindon any time I like with thanks to your web site!

Thank you for allowing me to bring a little part of Swindon to Hawaii!

If anyone remembers me and would like to get in contact, they can reach me: USAGillsx4@aol.com Or they can write to my home address until June: 7401-B Ohana Nui Circle, Honolulu, Hawaii, 96818. USA.

See us on the net @ www.i-way.co.uk/-.swindonlink

Courses to help make changes A free daytime course aimed at women who are thinking of making changes in their lives starts at the Link Centre on 22 April.

Called Make Your Experience Count, it is run by the Workers' Education Association Women's Branch. Women will learn to rec-

New group for Asian women On 23 April a new group is being launched for Asian women. Swindon Asian Womens Association will meet every Thursday, 1pm to 2.30pm, at the Broad Green Centre in Salisbury Street, close to Swindon town centre.

The group will be open to any Asian women who may feel isolated or lonely, or who may be looking for somthing new to get involved in. Sessions will include demonstrations on health and beauty, relaxation and stress release and confidence building.

There will be a free creche on site, so bring along your under 5s.

For more information contact Zarine on 432031 or Miriam on 466510, or turn up on the day.

ognise their own skills, build self confidence, and look at what they want out of life. It is based on sharing and support.

The course runs on Wednesdays, 12.45pm to 2.45pm for ten weeks.

On completion students will be awarded a WEA certificate. There is also an option to have work assessed for a credit from the Open College Network.

A free creche is provided if you book at least ten working days before the course starts.

On Saturdays 25 April and 9 May, lOam to 4pm there is a two day Advanced Assertiveness workshop for those who have attended a basic assertiveness course and would like to expand their knowledge and skills. It will be held at the Health Hydro, Milton Road and the fee is ÂŁ27, free to women on benefit.

If you would like to know more about these and other courses, a leaflet is available from the WEA office at the Health Hydro in Milton Road, or you can call 618233.

Train to be a teacher in a local school Whilst Swindon still hopes and waits for its university, the chance for Swindon based graduates to take up a post-graduate (secondary) teaching qualification already exists, writes Jill Kelly, a teacher and Training Manager at Bradon Forest School.

The PGCE Course, based at Cheltenham & Gloucester College of Higher Education is different from many other courses in that the majority of the training is carried out in schools. When it began the partnership involved mainly Gloucestershire schools with two schools from the Swindon area.

Now other Swindon & Wiltshire schools have joined the scheme.

I have been surprised and delighted to find that my trainees are from a very wide range of backgrounds. These include: women choosing to take up a career in teaching after raising their families; people choosing to make a cial both to schools and trainees. career change and young people Each trainee has a mentor to guide who have recently finished their them from the first nervedegrees. wracking step inside the classA recent application for the course room, through the labyrinth of the is an ex-pupil of mine who has National Curriculum and out into found his work in the insurance a whole new world as a qualified industry less than satisfying and teacher! This is backed up with has realised that teaching offers school based tutorials and college the job-satisfaction he craves. sessions.

Where the course differs from Anyone interested in knowing many others is that roughly 70% more about the course, can contact of the time is spent in schools, a Alan Bloomfield at the college on model which has proved benefi- 01242 532870 or call me on 870729.

The Link Magazine -April 1998

19

Unlock the genius and boost those grades The GCSEs are getting close and revision should be high on the agenda for year 11 students. But, do you need that extra lift to see you through the next couple of months?

Hreod Parkway School and Quantum Training have organised the Lightning Learning Programme over two days in the Easter holidays for students from any school who needs some help.

Jon O'Brian of Quantum Training says the accelerated learning course will have a powerful effect on the lives of participants far beyond the forthcoming exams.

"The seven step programme draws on business training techniques and the latest research on Phil Came of Learning Works, left, how the brain retains information. who will be assisting Jon O'Brian Students will understand more "It's not too late at all," said Jon. clearly how they take in knowledge, how to retain the informa- "Students may feel lacking in contion and how to use it to best effect. fidence, but now is the time to "We'll use a combination of in- focus on what has to be done to get tellectual exercises, role play, prob- good grades. Participants will lem solving, brain puzzles and come away with higher levels of even juggling to get both sides of confidence, a greater sense of selfesteem and be well organised for the brain working."

Participants will work in small that the last few weeks of revision.

The Lightning Learning Progroups with tutors and the course will also touch on exercise and diet gramme takes place on 6 and 7 which are important to help the April and costs ÂŁ85. For details candidate be in best condition for call Fil Came on 01672 512914, or Hreod Parkway School on 521335. the exams.

SECONDARY TEACHER TRAINING IN SWINDON & WILTSHIRE -APPLICATIONS ARE INVITED FOR THE FULL-RANGE OF SECONDARY SUBJECTS ON AN INNOVATIVE FULLTIME SCHOOL-BASED COURSE

Financial support available for: Design Technology Information Technology Mathematics, Music Modern Foreign Languages Religious Education Science You will get full support in schools from subject specialist mentors and experienced senior teachers.

Full details in our Information Pack Enquiries:Alan Bloomfield Cheltenham & Gloucester College of Higher Education P0 Box 220 The Park Cheltenham GL50 2QF Tel: 01242 532870 Email: alanb@chelt.ac.uk

CHELTENHAM GLOUCESTER College of Higher Education

20

The Link Magazine -April 1998

Firefighters rescue a kitty and get ready for three peaks It always surprises me how much attention incidents involving animals receive from the press, writes Sub-officer Martin Lloyd of Westlea Fire Station.

You may have read recently Scotland and Wales, Scafell Pike, about the cat that got trapped un- Ben Nevis and Snowdon, one after der the bonnet of a car and had to the other, in aid of our own Bebe rescued by a crew from Westlea. nevolent Fund, and also the WiltNot only did this story find its shire Air Ambulance. way into the local press, it was Your sponsorship will certainly covered in the national press and help us focus our efforts. If you also on television, making its res- would like to contribute, please cuer, Westlea firefighter Shaun contact leading fire fighter Forster Dunham a bit of a local celebrity. or Fozzy as he's known, on 487562.

We knew all the media attention Westlea Fire Station is throwing had gone to Shaun's head when he open its doors on 1 April, 730pm started making jokes like 'it was 9pm. Come and have a look the end of a purrfect day' and, 'it around, you'll be made most welwas nearly a catastrophe'. Hope- come. There will be several static fully he'll get back to normal soon. displays and your local fire fightAt the moment the watch are ers will be demonstrating what training hard to get themselves fit they get up to by performing sevfor the 3 peaks challenge in June. eral drills. Don't worry, this is not This consists of climbing the anything to do with April fool's three highest peaks in England, day.

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Shopperphone carries out grocery shopping and deliveries to people who are unable to do it for themselves. To find out more about the service, call 531766.

Railway heritage centre talk Tim Bryan, curator of Swindon's railway museum, will be updating members of the Swindon Society on the progress of the lottery funded Railway Heritage Centre planned for the year 2000.

The meeting takes place meets on Thursday 8 April, 730pm, at the Broad Green Centre, Salisbury Street, Swindon. The cost is 50p for members and ÂŁ2 for visitors.

For further details about the society, contact Jean Allen on 528418.

Delta Tennis Centre held what is hoped to be the first of regular wheelchair tennis sessions on 8 March.

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Life on the waves Members of Tootleabrook WI will be finding out on 15 April, 730pm in the Link Centre what life is like on a tour ship.

Newcomers are always welcome to attend. For details, call Barbara Woodward on 530368.

Tennis on the move

260 Ferndale Road, Swindon. Tel: 527172

t

Your friendly firefighters from Group 2: getting fit for the three peaks challenge,form left, Firefighter John Payne, Firefighter Ian Manfield, Leading Firefighter Peter Newman, Firefighter Glynn Moody, Sub-officer Martin Lloyd, Leading firefighter Cohn Parker, Firefighter Paul Jarmey

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Several children took part in a coaching session run by Richard Latkowski, the National Divisional Winner of the 1991 Wheelchair Championship held at Delta.

A number of adults in wheelchairs attended, but Delta manager Gail Light would like to see more take part.

The Swindon Mobility Centre from the nearby Axis Busines Centre at Westmead supplied sports chairs for the day.

The next wheelchair tennis session is planned for Sunday 19 April, 1130am to 1.30pm. "Come on down and pick up a new sport," says Gail.

Richard Latkowski centre with Delta manager Gail Light and Steve Law of the Swindon Mobility Centre and Andrew Milne, 13, and Jordan Hughes, 8

See us on the net @ www.i-way.co.ukl-swindonlink

Crufts qualifier takes second in class Linda Locke, from Freshbrook, had always wanted a dog since watching Rin Tin Tin on TV. Two attempted break ins about 10 years ago posed a question, a dog or an alarm. The German Shephard won and a few years later she started to show her dogs.

In March, making her second trip to Crufts, Linda's present dog Alfie came second in his breed class.

Meet for retired racers The Swindon branch of the Retired Greyhounds Trust holds a fundraising event at the Blunsdon Stadium on 11 April, 7.30pm.

All races and all the dogs will be sponsored and there will be a raffle. The organisers hope to beat last year's total of £1,000 to help with the cost of looking after retired greyhounds whilst they are found new homes when their racing days are over.

The Link Magazine .April 1998

21

Busy knitter needs material for charity teddies

A Toothill grandmother who admits to be a knitting fanatic is asking for donations to help her knit for needy children abroad.

Ruth Richmond has made 50 teddies since Christmas and is rapidly running out of filling material and wool.

She discovered the charity teddies project after a stay at Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital last year.

Ruth decided to have a go when she felt well again. "I've always knitted and this was something useful for me to do. There are millions of children in the world without toys. Teddies have been sent to Bosnia, Romania, Uganda and remote parts of South America to bring comfort to children."

The teddies are made to a simAlfie 'with a what's it all about' expression and his proud owner Linda ple pattern and Ruth needs old fibre filled pillows and duvets to Locke

Teddies for charity: Ruth Richmond and her granddaugher Hannah stuff them with. Any material which can be washed is suitable.

She also needs any spare wool to keep up production. if you can help, call Ruth on 541077.

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Pets At Home could be your answer Pets At Home is a service which cares for all your pets (except dogs) in their own home anywhere in the West Swindon area only.

Telephone Sheila Mitchell for further details on 873062

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Providing a home visiting service for your cat or dog, while you are away or at work.

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22

The Link Magazine • April 1998

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New charity shop to help womens health Hopes for the survival of Swindon's Well Woman Centre will be improved with the opening of its own charity shop at 82 Victoria Road in Old Town on 4 April.

The Centre based in the Health Hydro provides information and advice on health issues to women, and runs medical support sessions supported by the Health Authority.

Cutbacks forced Swindon Council to wipe out its grant. The Centre needs £30,000 a year to stay open and has enough money to keep going until October. Income from the shop is needed to compliment grants from other sources.

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Davies said that they were receiving help from many sources.

"Michael Morse who closed his jewellers business in December is renting the premises at a good rate, the council is not collecting rates and painting and decorating students from Swindon College have done a great job renovating the show room.

"We still need lots of good quality clean clothes, bric-a-brac and unwanted gifts to sell through the shop. We would also welcome volunteers to help in the shop."

To make a donation, or offer help telephone 486286.

Ann Davies and Pat Waite with Michael Morse outside 82 Victoria Road

All set for Old Town Festival The largest free community event in the South West will again take place.

At the end of February, the Nationwide, Arkehls, Swindon eighth Swindon Old Town Festi- Council, National Power and val and Victorian weekend was in Gilberts Furnishing. danger of not taking place for lack The Link magazine will be proof volunteers and money. But ducing the festival programme enough sponsorship has been iden- which contributes a fifth of the tified and a small group of people festival income. have come together to make it hapSo get ready for a great weekend pen. of fun in Old Town on 11 and 12 BBC Wiltshire Sound presenter July.

Shirley Ludford and husband Ted, who originated the idea will coor- •ON OF VICTORIA II NEXT TO MACHINE I IRE. dinate the festival with a small PS sD.i.X group of helpers.

(N1S. Major backers include Burmah, MUS. 'St

Greendown musicians to help 01 festival Chris Butcher, right, from Haydon Wick with help from his dad Cohn has raised nearly £700 for the festival busking with his guitar in the town centre.

He'll be playing again outside Debenhams in The Parade, Swindon town centre on Saturday 25 April, from lOam, with support from Greendown School band Axis and singers Gemma Whitmarsh and Sammy Jenner.

Festival fundraiser: Chris Butcher

Crafts stalls available for hire Last year's Old Town Festival attracted a record 20,000 visitors from far and wide.

The popular arts and crafts fair will again be taking place on both Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 July. Bookings for ready erected and covered stands are now being taken. The cost is £20 per day, and £35 for both days.

There will be only 30 stalls, so reserve one early by writing to Shirley Ludford, Old Town Festival, 54 Tryon Close, Liden, Swindon SN3 6HG. For more details, call her on (01793) 694779.

Enclose a cheque made out to 'Old Town Festival Committee' and state the craft you will be selling.

The Link Magazine .April 1998

See us on the net @ www.i-way.co.ukl—swindonhink

Packed houses enjoy play Swindon's Sixth Sense Theatre Company performed to nearly 500 primary school children at four performances arranged by Greendown Community School in early March.

Such was the take up of tickets The touring play, sponsored by how to be friends and share. for The Hare and the Tortoise that EMI Compact Discs, told the story The young audience were spellchildren from only four of the nine of the boastful hare and the quiet, bound and took part in lots of West Swindon schools were able little tortoise, and how they put cheering and jeering. Professional to see the four shows. aside their differences and learnt actors Fiona Mackintosh and Paul Performers Paul Mihell and Fiona Mackintosh with children from Oliver Mthell captivated the children with puppets, live performance and Tomkins and Tregoze Schools music.

"It was a lovely story and so well done," said Oliver Tomkins School parent Gita Mandalia.

Greendown teacher Tim Noble said he could have sold twice as many tickets to more schools.

23

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Lcenced Credit Brokers, Written quotations available on request.

Drove Road, Swindon (01 -793) 520971 Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 8.30am-6.00pm Sat 8.30am-5.00pm Suni O.00am-4.00pm

George Lane, Marlborough (01672) 513535 Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 8.30am-5.30pm Sat 8.30am-12.30pm Sun Closed

Langley Road, Hillmead (01793) 883600 Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 8.30m-6.00pm Sat 8.30am-500pm SunlO.00arn-4.00pm

VAUXHALL

tj'%otability APPROVED RETAILER

The Link Magazine • April 1998

25

Landmark by the lake gets go ahead A futurististic energy efficient glass building to be built at the Hillmead Employment Area next to Peatmoor Lagoon facing the Chinese Experience restaurant was given approval by Swindon Council's development control committee on 2 March.

Plans for the 25,000 sq. ft. two storey office and mobile 'phone call centre for expanding Swindon firm Cellular Operations were dis-

played at the inaugural meeting of Nigel Bunter told the meeting that the Peatmoor and Sparcells Com- the unusual and dramatic structure would set a standard of excelmunity Association.

Company managing director lence at the Hillmead site and he expected it to win several awards.

Architect Richard Hywel-Evans said insulated panels trapping the sun's heat and a natural air-flow to cool the building meant less

Skurray's showcase in the West

energy would be required.

Commenting on the approval, Nigel Bunter said the new company headquarters would only take 9 months to build. "We are delighted that planning permission has been given; we are working towards occupation by Christmas this year."

Cellular Operations MD Nigel Bunter with architect Richard Hywel-Evans

Skurrays sales Manager Bruce Warr with service receptionist Kerry Henderson Another major car sales franchise has based itself in West Swindon with the opening on 9 March of a new Skurray's Vauxhall showroom at the Hillmead Employment Area.

Thirty new jobs have been created at the new and second user car sales centre. Opening soon is a new fast service MasterFit centre, offering while-you-wait tyre, exhaust and clutch fitting.

r

•1

Lynn Chadwick A Sculptor's Landscape

Buy any medium/large pizza,* get another the same size FREE X

11 April -5 July 1998

llut5

The new exhibition at The GALLERY at The National Monuments Record Centre, Swindon

Order now on

Featuring original works by Lynn Chadwick in the NMRC courtyard with photographs of the artist's home

01793

The GALLERY can be found in Swindon's historic Great Western Village, situated en route between the Designer Outlet Village and Swindon town centre Opening hours: Wednesday to Sunday, from 1100am to 500pm Closed Easter Sunday. Open Easter Monday • Admission free I NATIONAL MONUMENTS The National Monuments Record Centre Great Western Village, Kemble Drive, R E C 0 R D Swindon SN2 2GZ. Telephone 01793 414797

876212 Pizza Hut, Shaw Ridge Leisure Park, Whitehill Way, Swindon Terms & Conditions: *Offer only available on takeaway or delivery orders Not available on eat-in meals. One voucher per order; not to be used in conjunction with any other offer. Free offer is on the lower priced pizza on your order. Valid until 31 May 98

FREE DELIVERY IN WEST SWINDON ONLY

26

The Link Magazine April 1998

PROFESSIONAL QUALITY HOME CLEAN SERVICE Weekly bi-weekly special occasions Free estimate ,with no obligation • Dust and polish furniture

• Carpets vacuumed • Even make your beds!

• Complete kitchen & bat clean-up • Carpet & upholstery cleaning available

Awareness week

Problems in parenthood

The Swindon branch of the Parkinsons Disease Society is marking Parkinsons Awareness Week, 18 to 25 April, with a tin collection in the town centre on Friday 17 April and a coffee morning at the United Reformed Church Hall, Cricklade on Saturday 25 April, 10am to 1pm.

The branch organises monthly meetings for Parkinsons sufferers and their helpers. There are also trips and special events.

Contact is welcomed with anybody touched by the disease.

For details, call Debbie Shilton on 728939.

Maureen Filippi is a community psychiatric nurse in Swindon, who offers private post-natal support and counselling. Here she describes the many common problems associated with having a baby.

Le

fr anpis .

• Complete spring cleans

Telephone: Swindon (01793) 431363

FRENCH LESSONS

We are always merry recruiting for maids. new

Age range 5-85 • From first words to GCSE • Taught by French native • Classes from home and in local schools, after school and in holidays

y S,MASFER Merrymaids.

Contact Pascale Watson on 870549

If you have recently had a baby you may be one of many women suffering from a variety of distressing emotional symptoms which often occur unexpectedly, following a birth. Tearfulness, exhaustion, mood swings, and feelings of being overwhelmed with the demands of motherhood are all very common.

If you are experiencing persistent loss of appetite, inability to sleep, poor concentration and a lack of interest in your normal activities, you maybe suffering from a clinical post natal depression. It is advisable to consult your GP if all these symptoms are evident.

Parenthood is a time of enormous emotional change and often many of the symptoms are part of an adjustment process everyone experiences to varying degrees.

For many mothers, this is a temporary condition which improves quickly with support from family and maternity services. However, for others it can linger on, leaving parents wondering if things will ever return to normal.

Having no family or friends living nearby to share your problems can intensify feelings of isolation, particularly if you have recently

moved to a new area. Coping with current child rearing advice at odds with your own upbringing, or receiving conflicting advice also cause confusion and feelings of being a poor mother.

Apart from your GP, your midwife or health visitor will be able to tell you about organisations such as Homestart, which can help.

If you would like to contact me at Post-Natal Counselling and Support Services telephone 886983.

Playgroup places Rainbow playgroup, which had an excellent Ofsted report last year, still has a few places available in the afternoons from September.

Held in the community room in Freshbrook School, the playgroup is open every day 9am - 11.45am for 4 year olds, and 12.15pm - 3pm on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday for 3 year olds.

To register for a place ring Mrs Millin on 875811 or pick up an application form from the play-

group.

Your,, local Ford Main Dealer 1St

011793 520002

@ARRIVA

ARRIVA Ford Fleming Way Roundabout Swindon

SALES OPENING TIMES: Mon to Fri 830am till 700pm. Sat 830am till 600pm. Sun 1 0.00am till 400pm

27

rDre&edft2r ti& OccathJ2/ Handmade gowns and cocktail wear For sale or hire To discuss your requirements, call Hilary on (01666)510306*

THE LINK MAGAZINE'S GUIDE TO WHAT'S ON IN AND AROUND SWINDON

Best ever Lit Fest now booking The authors are booked to speak, the programme printed and the tickets are now on sale for Swindon's fifth Festival of Literature.

Running from ito 10 May, it's set to be the best ever yet with renowned writers, poets and thinkers talking about the words they put on the page, complimented by an adventurer and storytellers.

Free speaking Germaine Greer will perhaps dispel the recent suggestion that she has sold out on feminism, yachtsman-author Tony Bullimore will recount one of the greatest true-life adventure stories, and Tory grandee Douglas Hurd will deliver some insights into his political novel The Shape of/ce.

By contrast, scientists, authors and film makers DrHeatherCouper and Nigel Henbest will give an illustrated talk, with humour, about life beyond earth.

Howard Marks, known by 43 aliases and to M16, is fresh out of America's toughest prison where he taught philosophy. A likeable chap, he will be talking about his life avoiding drug squads and the clink.

Professor Anthony Clare, known for extracting deep answers from the famous sitting 'In the Psychiatrist's Chair on air, switches seats and bares all to Old Town journalist Judith Stares.

10 minutes from Swindon.

Easy Parking.

South West Clothing Your school uniform specialist We supply blouses, shirts, trousers, skirts, dresses, sweatshirts, polo shirts, all items of gameswear, at very competitive prices.

For further details, call us on 01793 422433

Unit 6 Bridgewater Cl. Hawkesworth Industrial Est. Swindon The Mayorand Mayoress of Swindon coun Maurice and Sheila Fanning launches the festival programme on 19 March with festival director Matt Holland and performance poet Cynthia Hamilton

SPRI NG[RS

ever Clive Brain Memorial Lecture in memory of the late principal of Summer '98 styles Swindon College. Oxford college warden Sir Christopher Ball, now now in stock President of the new National Sunswirl £35 Campaign for Learning will address Wheat/ the question: Lifelong Learning for all: dream or reality?

Tan Nubuck Lookout forthe green programme Blue/ in libraries, information centres and Turquoise Nubuck public places, detailing times, places and prices.

Literature in Swindon is not all Bath Road Corner high falutin' and fancy. There's the serious, the intellectual, but also Old Town lots of fun and fascination. Book Tel: 534271 AlphaPlus Training is sponsoring a writing competition in the Festival of those tickets now.

Literature. There will be a trophy for the best short article of up to 400 words for publication on any event, activity, topic, person or community relevant to the Swindon area. The winnerwill also be offered a free place to all Link readers on all framing on a 'Writing to be Read' media training courses run by journalist Mike and Stares. There is an entry fee of £3.50. :: i gallery c There isn't enough space to list the complete 10 day line up: writers Libby Purves and Deborah Moggach, children's writer Bel Mooney, Swindon Town chairman Rikki Hunt, the Mayor telling tall tales in Penhill, journalist Paul Foot at Lydiard House and more There's also music, stories and poems around a campfire, poetry in a pub and lots of writers visiting schools and libraries.

The festival also marks the first

BLAYLOCKS

Show off your word talents

0 * 20/0 off

PremierTutors is sponsoring a free children's poetry competition. Poems maybe on any subject up to 35 lines. There are three sections - for infant, junior and secondary school age pupils. All entrants will receive a certificate. There are book tokens for the winners and a place on the Festival of Literature childrens poetry workshop on 9 May.

Cut out this advert and take it along to Tunleys T4 A

The closing date for entries is 23 April. Send them to AlphaPlus/ Premier Tutors Competition, 9 Bakers Road, Wroughton, Swindon SN4 ORP, enclosing on a separate sheet, name and address, plus writing competition entry fee, and child's age and school for poetry competition.

Pz

Enquiries can be made on (01793) 814354.

NB: Entries for both competitions submitted as text files on disc will appear on the swindonlirik internet web site.

° o

* All types of framing (trade & retail) * Graphic materials/ art materials * Fun stamps and stencilling * Pictures for sale including original oils, water colours and prints and posters * Specialist limited editions, signed prints including David Shepherd, Sir William Russell-Flint etc

Tunleys, 40-41 Fleet Street, Swindon. Tel: 522152 Est 1880!

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o4

800 00800 00800 00800 00800 00800 008D00080O °°8°°°08°°ñ°0°

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Swindon Wide

28

FORTHCOMING AURACTIONS INCLUDE

ADSTARTS DAY-CARE & EDUCATIONAL NURSERY SCHOOL Delta Business Park Welton Road, West Swindon

Thursday 16th April, 800pm PUNCHLINE COMEDY CLUB featuring Time Out Comedy Award winner Mandy Knight A cracking night of comedy

FREE PLACES for eligible 4 year olds Full time places from only £87 per week O Affordable high quality child-care for children aged 0-5 years o A happy, safe & secure environment o Am/pm, day, school day, full time sessions available. o All year opening, Monday - Friday, 8am - 6pm For details or to arrange a visit telephone:

Friday 17th April, 800pm MADDY PRIOR AND FRIENDS Saturday 18th April, 100pm & 3.30pm HUMPTY DUMPTY AND THE NURSERY RHYME SHOW

EJ U U1JF

Saturday 23rd May, 8.00pm Lucky Stars', 'Ariel', 'Lydia' DEAN FRIEDMAN IN CONCERT

K HS Bookkeeping Services

Also booking: Regeneration (15) Welcome to Sarejavo (15) The Wings of the Dove (15)

• Monthly & Annual Accounts

THE ARTS CENTRE

Until November Photographic display celebrating Her Majesty the Queen's visit to Lydiard House on 7 November 1997. State Rooms, Lydiard House. Normal entry fee Wednesday 1 April Music Elkie Brooks. Wyvern, 8pm. £14.50 Wednesday 1 April to Saturday 4 April Music The 89th Annual Swindon Music Festival. Arts Centre, programme, £2, tickets 50p Thursday 2 April & Friday 3 April Comedy The Crazy World of Joe Pasquale. Wyvern, 8pm. £10.50 Friday 3 April Talk/documentary film The Romance of the Railway: Trains in the movies, with Amanda Huntley, film historian. GWR Museum, 730pm. £4.50, to book tel: 463210 Saturday 4 April Music Rockin' on Heavens Door, (below). Wyvern, 7.30pm. £9

Maddy Prior at the Arts Centre, 17 April

• Self Assessment Tax Returns

Devizes Road Swindon SN1 4BJ Box Office: (01793) 614837

• VAT Returns • Book-keeping • Secretarial

S

-. FIRST MEETING FREE

SwrnDon

Tel: (01793) 539138

centre

-cie CLYFF€ PYPAJ?D Goddard Arms

The 'secret pub' in the picturesque hamlet of Clyffe Pypard

The Polly Gale Fare GOOD HOMEMADE FOOD QUALITY ALES EXCELLENT WINES

THAI FOOD OUR SPECIALITY VEGETARIAN AND VEGAN BANQUET EVERY SUNDAY EVENING EXHIBITIONS, MUSICAL EVENINGS, PARTIES, CULTURAL EVENTS & SMALL CONFERENCES FUNCTION ROOM/SKITTLE ALLEY (FRE E HIRE)

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For further information and reservations please phone Lesley on 01793 731386

Thursday 9 April Talk Jonathan Swift and his Circle. Find out about the relationship between Swift, Bolingbroke (who once owned Lydiard House) and other literary figures. Lydiard House, 7.30pm. £4.50, book on 463210

, ) ; Ii

Family Make Your Own Movie Day. GWR Museum. 1030am 1pm & 2pm - 4.30pm: make a video of a railway action story, suit 8-13yrs, £3.50, to book tel: 466555. 2pm - 4pm: make a model station, locomotive etc, suit 5 -ilyrs, £2, no booking.

Sunday 5 April Music NSPCC charity concert, Swindon Big Band & special guest Don Lusher. Arts Centre, 7.30pm. £5, tickets only from 740263 Music Bucks Fizz. Wyvern, 730pm. £9.50 Monday 6 April Music Jet Harris & The Diamonds.

Wyvern, 7.30pm. £9.50 Tuesday 7 April Workshop Mystic Circles - make a stone circle, find out about Avebury & Barbury Castle, suit 5ilyrs. Swindon Museum & Art Gallery, 2pm - 4pm, drop-in. £2 Talk & slides Secret Treasure.

Find out about Swindon's remarkable collection of 20th C British Art. Swindon Museum & Art Gallery, 730pm. £2.50, md refreshments Thursday 9 April Music The Ludwig Beatles, Britains top tribute band, and disco. The Moonrakers, Cricklade Road, 8pm - 1230am. £6

Saturday 11 April until 5 July Exhibition Original works by internationally famous sculptor, Lynn Chadwick. The Gallery and courtyard at the National Monuments Record Centre, Great Western Village, open Wednesday to Sunday, 11am - 5pm, excl. Easter Sunday Wednesday 15 April Workshop Crazy Horses - make a mask, hobby horse or puppet, suit 5- 11 yrs. Lydiard House, 2pm - 4pm. £2 Music Swindon Orpheus Choir performing music for Easter. St Peter's, Penhill, 7.30pm Family Treasure Island - a panto style show. Wyvern, 2pm. £4.50 Thursday 16 April Music Brothers in Arms with the music of Dire Straits. Wyvern, 8pm. £9 Comedy Punchline Comedy Club.

Arts Centre, 8pm. £8.50 Friday 17 April Music An Evening with Maddy Prior & Friends. Arts Centre, 8pm. £11 Saturday 18 April Family Humpty Dumpty, The Nursery Rhyme Show Lots of songs, prizes, comedy and fun.

Arts Centre, 1 p & 3pm. £5 Music Swindon Orpheus Choir performing music for Easter. St Leonard's, Blunsdon, 7.30pm Sunday 19 April Comedy Bob Mills Live. Wyvern, 730pm. £10 Wednesday 22 April to Saturday 25 April Drama Plaza Suite, presented by the Phoenix Players. Arts Centre, 730pm. £4, tickets from 525616, 3pm - 8pm from 6 April.

April overview

29

Saturday 25 April Family Gulliver's Day with live interpreters. Lydiard House, all day, normal admission charge. Also, Gulliver's Travels -design a jigsaw, listen to stories, suit 5 11 yr aids. £2

Tuesday 28 April & Wednesday 29 April Ballet English National Ballet with a triple bill Square Dance, X.N. Tricities, Perpetuum Mobile. Wyvern, 730pm & Wed mat 2pm. £10- £15

Sunday 26 April Music Dominic Kirwan in Concert.

Wyvern, 7. 45pm. £12.50

Thursday 30 April to Saturday 2 May Music Variations presented by SALOS (Swindon Amateur Light Operatic Society). Arts Centre, 730pm. £5, £4, all proceeds to Mencap Blue sky Appeal (Wilts)

-

Music The Swindon Recital Series, Michael White, clarinet, and Paul Turner, piano. Arts Centre, 8pm. £7, tickets from 644051

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Film at the Arts Centre Wednesday 8 April, 7.45pm Antonia's Line (15) Winner of the Oscar for Best Foreign Film in 1996, this is an uplifting and intelligent story of a woman's hard life bringing up her family.

Presented by SFS

Humpty Dumpty at the Arts Centre on 18 April

Thursday 9 April, 7.45pm Regeneration (15) Adapted from Pat Barker's novel this film is set towards the end of World War I. Delicately acted and beautifully shot it is a moving and effective portrayal of the horrors of trench warfare. £3.50

Ladies

Gentlemen

&

Are you unattached?

For a safe way to meet new friends, either socially or by personally selected introductions, contact us now to find out

01793 886 121 It is Iiin

WWW .

Events at Lower Shaw Farm Old Shaw Lane, Shaw Tel: 771080 Friday 3 April Sunday 5 April Working weekend spring clearing, preparing soil, sowing seeds. A great time to be together, especially in the garden. £10 Friday 10 April Monday 13 April Easter holiday For all ages, and especially the young in spirit. A long weekend full of traditions old and new. Blow eggs, and paint them, bake cross buns and eat them, make bonnets and wear them, tell stories and hear them, in the craft shed, in the farm kitchen, around the fire, in the high hills, on the barn swing. Residental rates: £80, children £40, call for day rates

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Op''i 7 ,lays ., weel.': 9 30 9. 30 .

Try our superb menu 5 course meal £13.50 per head

Menu available on request Fully Licensed

Call Mike on

or tr' our

For the finest in Cantonese, Sichuan, Peking and South East Asian Cuisine

-

53 Devizes Road Swindon Tel: (01793) 521515

-

-

-

-

Tripper: on the road A new West Swindon band is making a mark at local venues. Catch them at the Brown Jack, Wroughton on 10 April. More gigs will be welcome.

Call The Link on (01793) 872282

11

FUN CASINO NIGHT Friday 17 April, 7.30pm Midnight -

£20 per person (&15 pp for privilage card members) Four course meal, casino & entertainment Another great social evening for all would-be gamblers A feast of tasty Chinese food followed by a spin at the Roulette table or Blackjack. Hosted by an experienced compere from the Fun Casino Company Menu Barbecue Spare Rib • Crispy Panckake Rolls Satay Chicken • Seaweed Beef with Peppers in Black Bean Sauce Sweet & Sour Pork Chicken with Bamboo Shoots Mushrooms & Oyster Sauce Plain Chow Mein • Egg Fried Rice Toffee Apple

14 To reserve your table (up to 10 people), 'phone David or Mr Lee

Chinese(Experience Peatmoor, Mead Way, West Swindon. Tel: 01793 Open 7 days a week: 12noon to 2pm & 6pm to 11pm

AN EXPERIENCE FOREV

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30

THE GIANT CARD CO. FOR ALL OCCASIONS..

Rent a 6ft. uPVC greeting card in your garden at dawn.

MIKE MARDELL

Try before buying

The Experienced Childrens Entertainer for birthday parties, playgroups, fetes, promotions, etc.

Choosing a climbing frame, swing, slides or a trampoline without being convinced it will be up to the job can be a problem.

Now you can let the children loose in the farmhouse garden at the Active Toy Company near Newbury where they can really put the equipment through its paces. See the advert, below left for directions.

"Magic Mike" presents funny tricks, magic tricks, tricks balloon modelling, games and superb entertainment for all childrens events, large or small

Al

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- For more details, call Joanna on 01793 692929

Also adult close quarter magic

Tel: 01793 693321

All aboard this Easter The Swindon and Cricklade Railway at Blunsdon is always a good place for a children's outing, especially over Easter when it will be open on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, 11, 12 and 13 April.

Recently the Swindon & Stroud Building Society presented the railway society with three two-way radios to help communications and safety as the line is extended.

Below, railway society chairman Jim Larkin, right, and station master Dave Pinch receive the radios from Building Society community manager Jill Tebb

THE '—-I

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VISITOR CENTRE Sevenhampton, Nr. Highworth, Swindon Tel. 01793 763939 Open Wednesday to Sunday & Bank Holidays Ham to 5pmfrom 7th March to 26th April Signed off A420 & A361. 3 miles NE of Swindon

• Bottle feed & meet all the farm animals • Rural craft demonstrations • Granary Tea Rooms • Adventure Play Area • Bouncy Castle and Ball Pond • Toddlers Indoor Play Area • Children's Holiday Club

Easter Saturri,, Sunday & Monday.

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Sc'cdu. 1'ide

Plan a walk for wildlife The Wiltshire Wildlife Trust is organising for the tenth year its Sarsen Trail Walk and Neolithic Marathon between Avebury and Stonehenge on 3 May to raise money for its wildlife protection work. The walking and running routes cross some of the most striking downland country in Britain. For an information pack, call (01380) 725670.

Go Indiana Jones at Captain Caper's

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f44et

exploration, or take the easy way and slide down a twisting shoot which lands them up in a ball pond.

Closeby is Kiddies Kove, a smaller soft play area specially designed for under 5s.

One way or the other, Captain Caper's and Kiddies Cove is going to be a great hit with youngsters.

Parents will be very envious of the fun they are having.

Party Bo The One Stop* :i Party Shop

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Novelties & Gifts - Fancy dress accessories • Balloons & balloon decoration service • Helium gas kits A wide range for weddings, birthdays, Christenings and parties

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Inflatable safety barrier available - suitable for under 5s.

Rain covers and safety mats supplied Fully insured and certificated Free delivery and collection

13 Apsley House Arcade High Street, Wootton Bassett

Book now (tel/fax): 01793 433998 Mobile: 0410 150644

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Sir Opening soon at the Oasis Leisure Centre is a new and exciting facility aimed at a child's sense of adventure.

Using a converted squash court, Captain Caper's soft play area is built on three levels which has surprises at every turn. Children can clamber down ladders, swing on ropes and squeeze through narrow gaps as part of an

31

10% off block bookings on lessons taken between Monday & Thursday, and throughout the Easter holidays, at Westleaze Riding Centre, Mill Lane, Swindon BHS qualified tuition for beginners to experienced riders Group or private lessons . Hacking Own a pony week courses in school holidays

Call (01793) 617761

Horses taken for breaking/schooling

Giving Your Child The Best In Quality Education 23

Loved and

Captain Caper's - an exciting, action-packed adventure soft play for children over 5 years of age and Kiddies Kove, a fun-filled play area for the under 5's - have arrived at Oasis Leisure Centre * Slides, ball pools, soft play, rope bridges and aerial runways * Special birthday and combined activity packages * Refreshment facilities * Ample free parking * Open daily

Pk&ww-fordetaI1c Swinoon

Oasis Leisure Centre North Star, Swindon Tel: 445401

Ridgeway Pre-School Inverary Road, Wroughton

Quality education and childcare for 24 months to 5 years Open 50 weeks a year, 8am-6pm Full range of schedules available Qualified teachers following the nursery outcomes for learning Please contact Mrs G Simonds on(01793)845572

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A nursery with no weaknesses in any curriculum area' following our recent OFSTED inspection

(Mrs Simonds is a trained nursery inspector)

OPEN DAY Wednesday 22 April 8am - 8pm Come & see us in operation ,.-_J

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32

The Link Magazine -April 1998

Bonun LOCKSMITH SERVICES Emergency Lock Out Service All types of locks supplied and fitted Free survey& on the spot quotation Tel: (01793) 871499 Mobile: 0411 504025

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Help the police deal with real emergencies Have you ever wondered what happens when you dial 999 and ask for the police, writes Inspector Paul Longden from Westlea Police Station.

All 999 calls from the M4 and The local police at Westlea Police Station would like to shed some Swindon area are dealt with at the of the mysteries surrounding the communications centre at Westlea.

The centre is staffed 24 hours a day 999 emergency system. by a mixture of well trained police and civilian staff who provide the very highest standards of service.

Although the 999 service is very efficient, it could be even better if the public did not abuse the system. To give you some idea of the pressures placed on the control room, a typical accident on the M4 No more can generate over 40 emergency break ins 999 calls from mobile phone users.

In just one week recently the conBurglar trol room received over 400 emergency 999 calls with a further 223 proof glass calls from the motorway telFor more details, ephones.

WHAT A BREAK

DUNCAN

SELF DRIVE HIRE oa4oeae' eeaE eøócu Vehicles for Hire at Competitive Rates

Cars • Vans • Lutons • Tail-lifts 272 Ermin Street Stratton St. Margaret, Swindon

Tel: 822193 FREE PARKING Open Daily 830am - 530pm Sundays 830am - 939am

YM WAIIAMM

THROUGH!

tel: 01793 765362 Residential and commercial enquiries welcome

The pressures on the control room are immense and they are made worse by members of the public who dial 999 for the wrong reasons. It's not uncommon to get calls from people wanting a plumber, or to advise us of children playing football outside their house, or just because they could not be bothered to find our main telephone number.

We urge everyone to use the 999 system only to call the police for genuine emergencies, for instance when there is immediate harm to life and property, or there is a crime in progress.

If members of the public need to call us for other matters, they must use(01793)528111.

PC Robin Stannard, one of the team in the Westlea control room, coping with a mass of information coming to him via three screens, two telephones and a radio system

GO SKATE CRAZY AT THE CYCLING CENTRE * Biggest selection of in-line skates in the area * Good stock of in-line, quads, ice skates, roller ball * Large range of wheels, bearings, pucks, balls, sticks, clothing * Prices from just £29.99

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The Link Magazine •April 1998

Roundabout needs sorting

ROTTEN WOOD?

Julian Jones from Grange Park says traffic management would be improved if Swindon Council redesigned the approach to Mannington Roundabout rather than have the police patrolling bus lanes.

PEELING PAINT

I was sad and angry to see the picture of the cycle cop policing the Mannington bus lane in the March issue of The Link. It reminded me of the old TV programme Duke of Hazard, where the sheriff's deputy would set up silly speed limits to collect fines from the good country folks!

At Mannington in the morning rush hour, drivers from West Swindon going into town creep slowly across the lights when they change Offensive photo or offending driver (without a thought for those be- using the bus lane at Mannington? hind it seems), leaving frustrated Common sense and traffic mandrivers queuing to turn left. agement theory would suggest that

the left hand lane should be 'left turn only, except buses'. This would ease traffic flow without significantly impeding buses, and at the same time reduce the number of cars that go down Westlea Drive instead.

I feel The Link and the police should be calling on the Council to change the rules here, thus saving police resources, avoiding criminalising sensible drivers and reducing pollution and delays. The change would not be expensive.

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Engineers needed to help school's day INDEPENDENT BMW SPECIALIST

Last year in the UK, 10,000 apprenticeships were not taken up. Rover is looking to Europe to employ 150 engineers and scientists to work in Britain. There is an acute shortage of qualified people.

Greendown School is trying to do something about this by planning its annual engineering day in June when students have the chance to investigate engineering and scientific disciplines with the help of professionals from industry and higher education.

It is organised by the Greendown Neighbourhood Engineers, professionals who give their time with the help of their employers to encourage young people to take an interest in engineering, science and technology. They are looking for more trained engineers who can help out and pass on the interest that inspired their careers.

If you can help, call Gordon Watt on 494761 for more information.

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The Link Magazine • April 1998

Mayor shows off the family silver to playgroup Swindon's Mayor coun. Maurice Fanning brought his accoutrements of office to the Link and Learn Playgroup in March to complete their project on different occupations.

The children had been visited by a dentist, a fire fighter, a postman and a policeman.

To everybody's surprise the Mayoral robes, lace ruffle and chain were brought out and placed on playgroup committee vice chair Dawn Dolphin. The children then had the chance to measure themselves against the Borough's ceremonial mace.

"It was a great visit," said Dawn. "The children were fascinated by seeing the mayoral dress. The robes are amazingly heavy."

• There is no truth in the rumour that the Link and Lean Playgroup may have to close one day a week as a result of proposals to save money by closing the Link Centre at off-peak times. Head of Swindon Council's Leisure Services John Fisher said the playgroup should be assured that the Link Centre will not close if there is a need for it to be open.

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36

The Link Magazine • April 1998

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Jo Taylor, Wiltshire Wildlife Trust Swindon worker is giving a talk illustrated with slides about her recent visit to the tropical rainforests of Poverty, pollution and global the Cameroons in West Africa on Monday 6 April, 7pm. warming are the themes for an All are welcome at the Broad Green Community Centre, Salisbury Agenda 21 Weekend at Lower Street. For more information, call 783040.

Shaw Farm from 24 to 26 April.

Individual actions and lifestyle changes which contribute to social justice and safeguarding the natu- Seven Fields Conservation Group has been given a £961 boost from ral environment will be discussed. staff at Swindon's Marks & Spencer.

Guest speakers will talk about The store's Focus Group raised more about the Conservation farming methods in Britain and in the cash from recycling coat hang- Group at a Tidy Britain Spring poorer countries and there will be ers and cardboard which comes Clean of Seven Fields on Sunday 5 workshops on transport, waste, the into the store.

April, starting at lOam from the arts and personal commitment.

Group secretary Marilyn Beale Kennet Avenue car park.

For more information, call Lower said the donation is a blessing as it Gloves, bags and litter picking Shaw Farm on 771080. can be for the general benefit of the sticks will be available. Everyone is welcome, including accompaSeven Fields Nature Reserve.

There is a chance to find out nied children and dogs.

Bill King, chair of Seven Fields, receives the donation from Mark Northwood, chair of the M&S Focus Group with members of staff and the conservation group

Donation helps environment group

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The Link Magazine April 1998

See us on the net @ www.i-way.co.uk/-.swindonhink

37

Plant variety at garden society

Fuchsia society celebrates

Ex-Moredon Gardens worker Mike Salter visits the Haydon Wick and District Garden Society on 28 April to talk about poisonous plants in the garden.

On 26 May, John Ball who has set up FAB (Flowers and Butterflies) in Swindon will be talking about his passion to turn Swindon into Europe's butterfly capital. He will describe how to create butterfly friendly environments in the garden and in public areas.

Meetings start at 730pm in the Haydon Centre. To find out more, call Jackie Hilbourne on 497396.

This year is the Diamond Jubilee of the Swindon Fuchsia and Pelagoniams Society and a variety of events are being planned including a display at the Park Garden Centre in Bristol in early July.

The society meets on the first Wednesday of the month to hear speakers about growing the plants. Regular shows and plant sales are also organised.

Newcomers are always welcomed at the meetings which take place at the Western Community Centre, Somerset Road, Cheney Manor. For more information, call Reg or Maggie Hooper on 722678.

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38

The Link Magazine *April 1998

Responding to Jubilee 2000 Coaches will be travelling from West Swindon to the summit meeting of world leaders in May, writes Jean Hill from Grange Park The article in the March Link, about Jubilee 2000, the movement which intends that the poorer nations of the world shall start the new millennium free from the debt which is crippling their development, has resulted in local churches getting in touch with Phillida Ware.

We now hope, through her to be able to take people direct from West Swindon to the G8 Nations Summit in Birmingham on 16 May. There we will join many thousands to form a human chain around the

"Thy heart is My home; it for My eicent" sancY ls The Baha'i faith is the second most widespread religion in the world and is working towards universal peace and harmony For more information, contact the Swindon Baha'is Community on 01793 421615 or 01793 872853

SWINDON FAMILY CHURCH Live with integrity Love wholeheartedly Trust God in all things

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meeting to symbolise the debt which imprisons so many lives.

Lots of people have already signed the petition to be presented on that day, calling for the leaders of the most powerful nations to remit the debt of the poorer ones.

We hope many will take the next step and be there too.

Details about coaches starting in West Swindon - £8 for adults and £6.50 for children - should be available in the local churches, or from Phillida, tel: 729592.

• On Tuesday 31 March, 7.30pm, the World Development movement has a Jubilee 2000 speaker at its meeting at the United Reformed Church, Upham Road. Anyone may attend.

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OCAL CHURCHES All Saints' Lydiard Millicent- 10:30am Revd Peter Knight: 772417 (for the Village & Roughmoor) Holy Trinity Shaw- 10:30am RevdAndrewHethengton: 770568 (the Church is at Shaw Village Centre)

St Mary's Lydiard Tregoze - 9:00am, 10:30am Revd Ann Mackenzie: 870244 Toothill Church - 10:45am Revd Jan Partridge: 534992 (also Free Church minister for the parish)

Westlea Church - 10:00am Revd Peter Walker 872932 (this Church meets in Westlea School Hall, Langstone Way)

The Parish of West Swindon and the Lydiards Ba.

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Trucking legend proclaims his faith in Freshbrook From simple beginnings to a business empire worth £69 million, Eddie Stobart has built his business on a commitment to Christ. Rev David Earnshaw describes his recent visit to West Swindon On Friday 13 March a crowd of tinctly decorated 700 of them - can around 90 men gathered in Fresh- be seen driving up and down our brook Evangelical Church for a motorways. There is even an Eddie men's supper at which Eddie Stobart Supporter's Club selling Stobart was the speaker. His talk all the usual memorabilia.

After a good supper, Mr Stobart was entitled 'My faith and my told the meeting of how he started work.'

Eddie Stobart lorries - all dis- out in the business world back in the 1940s, going from farm to farm Eddie Stobart, right, with with a threshing machine. The Rev David Earnshaw business slowly grew, but it wasn't until the early 1970s that things really took off. Today he is one of the nation's leading hauliers.

He also spoke of his faith and how at a young age he committed his life to Jesus Christ. Living as a committed Christian in the world of business has not been easy, and yet it was encouraging to hear a man in his early seventies speak of how God has been his strength and guide throughout life.

He urged those present to think seriously about being a follower of Jesus Christ.

New Minister on the way Emmanual United Reformed Church in Haydon Wick have been without a minister for nearly two years. Thankfully the congregation have found the Rev Peter Henderson who will be moving to Swindon with his wife Vivien and seven year old son Matthew, from Braintree, Essex.

Emmanual URC secretary Sue Martin said church members are very pleased that Rev Henderson is coming and excited by the prospects of new leadership.

An induction service is being planned for 9 May. New number for Emmanual URC Church secretary Sue Martin is also clerk to the Haydon Wick Parish Council and could be contacted on the same telephone number.

However, this number now connects to the new parish council offices and Sue can be contacted in her church role on 721552.

Christians to gather at Barbury Castle At St John's Church, Haydon Wick we are looking forward to thinking about the true meaning of Easter writes Karen Madni.

On a hillside, outside the city of Jerusalem, criminals were crucified. One man, Jesus of Nazareth, died on the day before the Sabbath, 2,000 years ago. The written notice of the charge against him which was nailed to his cross read 'The King of the Jews'.

Jesus' body was wrapped in linen and placed in a tomb cut out of rock. A stone was rolled against the entrance to seal it.

The third day after the crucifixion, on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, some women went to the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus. When they arrived, they saw that the stone had already been rolled aside. The tomb was empty. An angel was standing there and on seeing their alarm said, "Don't be alarmed. Jesus,

who was crucified, has risen. He is not here. Go and tell his disciples."

On Easter day, 12 April 1998, the first day of the week, at 6.10am, just before sunrise, many of Jesus' followers, Christians who trust Him as their personal Saviour, will gather at Barbury Castle, a hillside just outside Swindon to praise their glorious risen Lord. Many from St John's will be there. We are not looking for a dead body from an empty tomb but take the Lord Jesus with us in the power of His Holy Spirit, who is promised to all who believe in Him and commit their lives to Him. We would like to invite all Link readers to come and join us as we worship in prayer and hymns of praise for the Risen Son of God, Our Living Lord, Jesus Christ.

The Link Magazine • April 1998

See us on the net @ www.i-way.co.uk/--swindorilink

Bride late for bus man's wedding

Seen a photo. ' you want?

Thamesdown Transport Operations Manager David Burch from Westlea was fairly relaxed when he heard the whispered message that his bride was running a bit late for their wedding at St Mary's in Lydiard Park on 21 February.

Marie Hanna arrived a few minutes later and was given away by her son Edward.

The three travelled to a barn dance reception at Holy Trinity Church, Shaw in a vintage bus, before David whisked Marie off to the Caribbean for three weeks.

All pictures in The Link aretakenin colour, even if they appear in blackand white. Copies are available at £1 .50 for 6" x 4" or £4 f or 6" x 8."

Send a cheque made out to 'West Swindon Publications to 13 Castle Dora, Freshbrook, Swindon SN5 8PQ. Specify the month and page the photo appears on, with brief description, and don't forget your name, address and telephone number.

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The Link Magazine -April 1998

A day for all

Sugarcraft Exhibition • 4 April, 10.30am to 4pm Haydon Centre, Thames Avenue

Can you commit 15 minutes to

Adm. £2.50 (Members £2). Children under 16 £1

exercise on Wednesday 3 June?

Last year 31,039 across Swindon took part in a monster workout in an attempt to break the UK record for healthy physical activity.

This year the Get Active Team want lots more people to take part.

Easter football fun Croft Sports Centre plays host to a fun packed week of football for girls and boys aged 5 to 14. It runs from 14 to 17 April, 10am to 3pm, and costs only £25.

41

WEDNESDAY 3rd JUNE 1998

Nearly 50,000 people are needed to spend a quarter of an hour in some kind of activity, whether it be walking, bowling, sweeping, cycling, gardening or aerobics in a chair.

Any age can take part and exercise can be on your own, with a friend, family, or in a group.

For more information, call Danny Robinson on 511033, or pick up a leaflet in a Swindon Council leisure centre.

Venture relaunch

Volunteers needed

The 1st Toothill Venture Scout unit is holding an open night on Monday 27 April, 830pm to 930pm, at Upper Shaw Farm and is looking for new members.

Young men and women aged between 15 and 20 are invited to discover the challenges and outdoor activities the scouts can offer.

Remember 'nothing ventured nothing gained'. Contact David or Tina on 876234 for more information.

Swindon Phab urgently need driv-

Favourite stories celebrated Bookish ideas took over Oliver Tomkins Infants School during the middle of March when reading and poetry were put at the top of the form during the annual book week.

Children visited the West Swindon library and enjoyed a visit from the Story Box Puppet Theatre. On 13 March, pupils, teachers and helpers all dressed up as their favourite story character.

Bookweek coordinator teacher Janet French as Percy the Park Keeper and support assistant Tricia Eves as Goldilocks, with from left, Alice in Wonderland Kimberley Hicks, Ross Dearing as Thomas the Tank Engine, Red Riding Hood Tanya Keye, Alice Wilshire as young Goldilocks

ers to transport members to and from home to club. If you are over 25 and have a clean driving licence, contact Peter Blenkinsop on 705013 or 0402 800170.

Swindon Volunteers coordinates opportunities across the town. If you can offer help, call 538398 or drop in to 1 John Street, Swindon on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, 1030am to 5pm.

SERVICE SECTOR GAS REPAIRS

Dennis Brown Gas Engineer 29 Meares Drive Shaw, Swindon Home tel: 01793 874742 Sponsor to Wroughton Shotokan Karate Club

LPG & Natural Gas Services • Boilers • Fires & fire places • Cookers • Boiler changes • Also riverboat appliances, installation and servicing • Aga, Rayburn specialist

r'IJ( CONTRACTOR

MAINTENANCE

ODD JOBS

PETE'S MULTIFIX

Call the man that can for all your painting & decorating, glazed tiling,kitchen fitting, carpentry, coving, property maintenance Tel: 01793 877859 or 0836 799614

TV REPAIRS

GOGGLEBOX

Hj

23

THE ODD JOB MAN Small building work, carpentry, joinery, painting & decorating, fitted wardrobes and kitchens, plugs and washers fitted "No

job too small"

Very reasonable prices Free estimates Call Tony, the Odd Job Man on 01793-886022

TV REPAIRS NORMAN GRAW TV & VIDEO SERVICES

TV & VIDEO REPAIR SERVICE + FREE Call-Out + FREE Estimates + FREE Guaranteed + FREE Phone call

TV, VIDEO & SATELLITE REPAIRS

YES! Phone us FREE on:

For a local efficient service,

FREEPHONE 0800 783 5758

Ring Swindon 643350

NO CALL OUT CHARGE ALL REPAIRS GUARANTEED

H

SUNBED HIRE Deb's Sunbeds Home Rental Fast tanning canopies -with or without facial boosters Doubles also available Free installation & local delivery

Tel: Swindon 421665 anytime (Mobile 0378 - 641052)

TV REPAIRS

Wt1T1V & VIDEO

Specialists in repairs of TVs, videos, satelite, microwaves, audio equipment & in car hi-ti's. Free estimates 30A COUNTY ROAD, SWINDON

Tel: 01793 423371 Mobile 0976 752073

42

The Link Magazine • April 1998

F"ee1auce ThU •.

For details, contact Joann

No job too small • Free estimates

845752

Tel: 642283

RGR PLASTERING All internal & external work undertaken Extensions & alterations

Primary, Secondary & Adult TUITION

ALL SUBJECTS ALL AGES PREMIER TUTORS 01793- 814354 Best Value - Best Results

, Play the Piano earn to Sing

WW

Phone Swindon 695235 for further information

1111111111 lull!

LJLEL For Sale

For Sale

For Sale

For Sale

Boys Raleigh Nitro bike suit ages 9-12, good cond, 15 gears, £50. Tel: 642742 Chicco 3 position pram/pushchair,rainhood £75. Chicco bouncing rocker/chair, carry handles, £10.

Beachwood hifi cabinet, h 32.5", w 21.5", d17.5", £20. Tel: 726975 after 6 Small slide, Early Learning Centre, £10. Childs bike, 10" frame, £5. Tel: 611781 Monbebe 3 in 1 reversible pram, lieback pushchair and carrycot combination, matching hood, apron, sun canopy and cosytoes/liner, Paisley design fabric, £95. Tel: 878415 Little Tikes Cozy Coupe, £15. Early Learning trike, £5. Toy box with hinged lid, £10. All good cond. Tel: 878886 Mother Care Olympus pushchair with carrycot, raincover, sun canopy, good cond, navy & white stripes, £50, no offers, call anytime. Tel: 874775/521169 Pushchair anyway swivel wheels, hood, cosy toes, raincover, £40 ono.

Silver Cross pushchair, carrycot, cosytoes, raincover, suncanopy, wedge, multi colours ex cond, £60 no offers. Tel: 875665 Good quality girls clothes, 0-3yrs, individual items or a bag full, offers. Tel: 873447 (after 6pm) Pram Mother Care blue cord, large wheels, removable carry cot top and matching pillow and cover, vgc, £44.

Tel: 879401 Children jungle print curtains with tie backs and matching duvet cover and pillowcase, vgc, £27. Tel: 879401 Fisher Price children's work bench, with extras md, vgc, £19. Tel: 879401 Two opening stairgates, one extending fireguard, £10 each. Baby clothes, boy and girl, 0-2yrs, various prices, excel cond. Tel: 534426 Wedding dress, white, full length, clean, worn oncel. Bought at Mcllroys, size 12 - 14, £80. Tel: 878782 White off-shoulder wedding dress, size 10/12, £50 ono. Mother Care baby sling only used once, £10. Wetsuit (steamer), adults s/rn, £20. Tel: 870851 Pronuptia ivory wedding dress, size 10/ 12, full length, short sleeved prof drycleaned, £80. Ivory court shoes, size 5.5, £5. Tel: 881362 M & S waterproof golf suit, chest 41"43", waist 36-39", navy, never worn, cost £100, sell £60. tel: 872136 Gents heavy duty wellingtons, black, size 10, thick ridged soles, worn once, clean cond, £5. Tel: 535639 White figure skating boots size 35 (2) incl lilac bag for skating boots, £35.

Skating dress & wrap around cardigan, £15. Tel: 874891 Briefcase, First Avenue, bonded leather, brand new, £20. Tel: 872607 after 630pm

Lady's ice skating boots, Risport, size TV & video unit, teak, on castors, good Blaupunkt car radio cassette with digital display, RDS & coded, 9 months old, 40, £15 ono, complete with blades & cond, £10. Tel: 693783 guards. Tel: 695235 3 seater and easy chair, beige velvet £70. tel: 700402 2 PC CD-Rom games, Actua Soccer, & Scuba diving equipment-diving suit, print, £60. Tel: 872394 belt, D.V. etc, to fit lady size 12, approx Tricity large capacity microwave On The Ball, £10 each. CDs-REM: Monheight 57-5'5", any suitable offer. Tel: cooker/oven, features inc. memory set- ster, Bon Jovi: Cross Road, Beautiful 872531 tings, recipe counter, defrost etc, vg South: Carry on Up The Charts, £5 Knitmaster 323 knitting machine & clean cond, £90. Creda Carefree elec- each. Video: Whose line is it anyway?, ribber in working order, £49. Tel: 879401 tric cooker, slide in, 600mm w, ceramic £8. Tel: 886026 Carlton professional beauty chair, exc hob, double oven, top oven grill, timer Cycle rack for 2 cycles, custom built for cond, suit newly qualified beauty thera- etc, new cond, £125 ovno. Tel: 523158 Morris Traveller. Tel: 527522 pist, genuine calls only, £195, no offers. Phillips whirlpool 997 washer/dryer. Picnic table, bench style with parasol, 1000 rpm spin, over 20 progs, only 3 £10. Tel: 874034 Tel: 815225 Burley electric fire, light effect, real yrs old, exc clean cond, inside & out, Portable garden frame with top glass sliding section, one square yard area, coals, brass details, £100. Boots steam £150. Tel: 523158 sterilizer, excel cond, £10. tel: 873834 White side bath panel as new, 67" long, £10. tel: 534040 Fish tank, 24" x 12"x 1 2", complete with Teak oval drop leaf table, plus four 20" wide, £10. Tel: 524194 Computer work station, grey mela- light, £15. Wispa 300 motor £5. Tel: chairs, good cond, £20. Tel: 886775 Mahogany wall unit, 4' display cabinet, mine, sliding keyboard and printer 541077 drinks cabinet and storage cupboards, shelves, on castors, 50cm (D) x 58cm Gerbils - babies of various colours, (W) x 76cm (H), £20. Tel: 873045 males and females, £2 each. Tel: vgc, £120. Tel: 887936 Teak coffee table, 14" high, 46" x 18", PC desk, grey anthracite finish, slide out 874545 keyboard holder, slide out printer stand, £15. Tel: 878334 Wanted Parkinson Cowan brown gas cooker, bottom storage shelf, metal framed, on Budgie breeding cages and show eye level grill, self clean oven, good castors, good cond, £40 ono. Tel: cages. Tel: 615918 cond, buyer collects, £75. Tel: 872869 701665 Stairgate. Tel: 878334 386 computer loaded with Windows Miele S251i cylinder vacuum cleaner, complete with tools and filter bags, ex- 3.1, DOS word 6.0, colour Hewlett Travel cot, high chair, baby bouncer.

Packard monitor, Canon bubble jet Tel: 529476 cel cond, £35. tel: 873045 printer colour, £195 ono. Tel: 610279 Large china or porcelain doll, 27" mm Moving to USA, must sell appliances, household items, most less than 1 yr old, Packard Bell Pentium II, 18" Canon or larger, any condition, prefer pretty md, dishwasher, microwave, book colour printer, call for details, £600 ono. face, Grandma wishing to relive childTel: 872531 hood. Tel: 487766 shelves, computer table. Tel: 693596 Teak dining table, 41" round, good Portable typewriter, Brother, electric, Exchanges wanted cond, 4 upholstered chairs, £70. Pink/ good working order, spare ribbon, 2 From 2 bed flat, Linden Close, Caine, fawn fringed rug, all wool, good cond, eraser tape/ribbons, model: AX21 0, £25 for 2 or 3 bed house, Lyneham - Caine. ono. Tel: 872531 230cm x 170cm, £50. Tel: 871961 Tel: 821201 Canon Starwriter 30 word processor, Double bed head board, 46", good excel cond, user's guide and box of 1 bed flat, close to Asda, want to move cond, colour red. Tel: 611686 to Shaw. Tel: 772591 blank discs, £185. Tel: 874764 Pine double bed & mattress (Reylon) Midi hifi system, excel cond, Matsui CD excel, new cond, ladder style headServices board, only 3 yrs old, used little, cannot and twin cassette deck, £45. Tel: 50p per word. Cheques to West Swin881619 after 530pm separate, £160. Tel: 523158 don Publications. Use form below Hygena 5 drawer chest of drawers, Alba music centre, twin cassette, digmahogany look, good cond, £30, ma- ital compact disc, £45. Tel: 874990 ternity clothes, size 12-14, exc cond, various prices, Tel: 534426 Office desk, wood veneered drawers, 4800ins, with chair, good cond, £20.

Return this form to The Link, 13 Castle Dore, Freshbrook, Swindon Wood veneered cabinet, shelf, glass by 14th of the month. Entries are subject to available space and are sliding front, 40x 3oins, £15. Tel: 770849 published on a first come first served basis.

Strip lights, double, 8ft tubes, plus diffuser, £15 each. Six ft double, plus diffuser, £10. Tel: 874664 Eastman kitchen display unit, solid light oak & glass door, £30 each. Tel: 771900 2 pine ladder back carver chairs, excel cond, £70. Tel: 879401 Internal doors, plain & glazed, following replacement, exterior quality with original handles, offers. Tel: 701157 Teak 20" round coffee table, £5. 2 teak Tel: tiled coffee tables with under shelf; 13 x 19: £10; 13 x 31: £15. All good cond.

Name & Address (not for publication) Tel: 870087 White wood fire surround log effect electric fire, black hearth with brass trim, 1j11Tick if you do not want your ad to appear on the swindonlink internet web site as new, £65. Tel: 874131

r Free Private For Sale & Wanted ads.

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SWINDON

SWINDON

Elmbrook Heights', Abbey Way, off Salzgiter Way, St. Andrews Ridge.

Purton Road, off Mead Way.

Tel: 01793 701180

Tel: 01793 706226

3 & 4 bedroom homes from

3 & 4 bedroom detached homes from

£80,000 to £148,000

£99,000 to £145,000

'Pellum Drive',

Photograph shows a typical 4 bedroom Malden' home available at Elmbrook Heights' from

£145,000 Part exchange available, subject to status, on selected plots.

Luxury furnished showhomes open 930am to 500pm daily.

prime

LOCATIONS

•

INDIVIDUAL

designs

.

more

SPACE

•

more

CHOICE

.

greater

VALUE

Bryant Homes Invest in Quality

DEW H-URSTZ Estate ge

23 COMMERCIAL ROAD SWINDON SN1 5NS

JO\IIIi\ HW

TELEPHONE 01793 430200 FREE VALUATIONS NEW HOMES ALWAYS AVAILABLE OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK

Peatmoor • Swindon A SELECT DEVELOPMENT OVERLOOKING PEATMOOR LAKE OF 29 3 & 4 BEDROOM HOMES

To register your interest, or for more information contact Dewhurst & Co. PEWJIU EstaleAgen

C

23 Commercial Rd Swindon, Wiltshire, SN! 5NS

Telephone: 01793 430200

NEWLAND