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No 407 April 2016

Swindon’s largest free news publication. Est. 1978

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Libraries: the heart of our community

With libraries facing drastic council cuts, how can they be saved? See page 6 Pictured: Children decorating butterflies at Swindon Central Library for a new permanent display

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Community News

Royal visit to Uplands School to celebrate Duke’s award HRH Prince Edward Earl of Wessex visited Uplands School on 16 March to see first-hand the difference the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) makes to young people and communities in the South West. Met by a crowd of flag waving youngsters at the front entrance, the prince watched students trampolining as part of the physical challenge aspect of the DofE scheme, before sitting in the front row to hear the Uplands DofE band belt out their voice and African drum versions of Eye of the Tiger, We are the Champions and We will Rock you. Prince Edward wasn’t moved to wave his hands in the air, but he couldn’t resist a bit of toe tapping appreciation. He then unveiled a plaque recognising the work Uplands does to provide inclusive opportunities for young people through the award scheme. Before departing he toured the school’s memorial garden, created to remember students who have passed away from life-limiting illnesses. The charity is celebrating its sixtieth anniversary, having helped to transform the lives of millions of

swindonlink.com n April 2016

Students and parents greeting Prince Edward at Uplands School

young people in the UK and across the globe since it was set up by the Earl’s father Prince Philip in 1956. As a trustee and a gold award holder, Prince Edward has championed the DofE for many years. Uplands School and Uplands Educational Trust executive principal Jackie Smith said she was delighted with the royal visit. “It was a tremendous honour to welcome HRH the Earl of Wessex to Uplands School as part of his DofE Diamond Anniversary Tour. The students were really pleased to

meet Prince Edward and the staff were impressed with how at ease the Earl was with our young people. “It was great to see our DofE students displaying their talents and talking to the prince about their recent expeditions. The DofE Award is a fantastic opportunity for our students to learn new skills whilst putting into practice one of our core learning values which is independence.” Jed, a member of the DofE band, said: “I was really proud to sing for the prince. We all wanted to put on a good show for him.”

Tower plans withdrawn Plans for a 14-storey tower block in the centre of Old Town have been scrapped after a public outcry. Architects behind the proposed development for the Swindon Advertiser offices have announced they are withdrawing the plans for the site of Newspaper House. Gary Madgwick, of Marlboroughbased architects Quad Group, said: “We have listened to all the concerns and these plans are being withdrawn from future consideration and we will be redrawing a new submission taking into account these concerns. “These were only one of the concepts submitted for consultation and utilising as much open space as possible. This was never a planning application just some of the many ideas. We are sorry it caused so much bad feeling, this was never our intention and we will endeavour to get a better understanding of the needs and wants of the local community during the next stage.” The plans for 148 flats, offices and a community space were revealed in the Adver on Friday 11 March but were subsequently withdrawn on Monday March 14 after a petition against the plans gained nearly 2500 signatures over that weekend.

Community News

Toothill, now 40 years old

Proud partner of

Director: James Phipps Group Editor: Jamie Hill Associate: Roger Ogle Reporter: Mike Barham Sales: Dave Stewart Photography: Richard Wintle www.calyxpix.com

Terry and Theresa Davies, 40 years on, with Janice, left, and daughter Amy, 16, and Christine, right

Terry and Theresa Davies are marking 40 years since they were the first people to move to Swindon’s new ‘western expansion’ on 14 March 1976. Builders had been on site for over a year installing the roads and sewers and constructing the first group of houses in Markenfield, Toothill. Theresa was expecting her first baby on 16 March and when a council house exchange fell through they had little choice but to accept Toothill. It was a brand new house surrounded by building sites and lacking any community facilities. Looking back Terry said: “For the first few days in 1976 we were all by ourselves, in the wilds of the countryside until other families moved in. There were no street lights and only a muddy footpath to the closest bus stop on the old Wootton Bassett Road nearly a mile away. It was a bit scary with Theresa expecting any moment. “But it was great to have our own home, ready for Janice who arrived on 16 April.” The couple brought up three more children in Toothill, Christine, Mike and Kate and now have 7 grandchildren. Before Toothill Primary School was built children were either taken by taxi or were

bussed to the Parks area. As the children grew and moved out Terry and Theresa wondered about moving but never found anywhere suitable. “We’ve looked at houses elsewhere in Swindon and even the Isle of Wight a few years ago, with the children in the town and the housing recession, there never seemed a good time. “We’ve always liked it in Toothill. It was a bit difficult in the first years, but the pioneers helped each other out and gradually facilities arrived like a shop with a post office, the primary school, the community centre and lots of play parks for children. “Then West Swindon Centre came along and now we have four supermarkets close to us. “Toothill is really well positioned, but we’re all saddened that there is so much litter everywhere. The area is not being looked after. “The one thing we’ve noticed over the last few years is that we see a lot more children around as the area has changed. It’s nice to hear the sounds of kids playing out again.” • From the Swindon Link archives: the start of expansion westwards. Read the full story at: www.bit.ly/WS-40years

Clean for the Queen in West Swindon

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Community News

Pride of Swindon awards celebrate town’s unsung heroes Steam Museum played host to the naming and presentation ceremony for this year’s Pride of Swindon awards on 17 March, giving the town the chance to celebrate its unsung heroes. In February community and business representatives from across the town judged the nominations. The awards are supported by the Mayor of Swindon and this year Excalibur and Positive Media Group became the event’s main sponsors, joining Swindon Advertiser, Intel, Nationwide, Zurich and McDonalds. Nominations were made for an individual or team and each shortlisted nominee was presented with a certificate. A select group were chosen to receive the special commemorative Brunel badge. They will also have their names honoured on a plaque at Swindon Central Library. Among the winners were Wiltshire Fire and Rescue service chaplain John Maxwell, Old Town Festival organiser Josie Williams and the late Swindon councillor and campaigner Frank Richard. Having spent 14 years with the Fire Service, John Maxwell regularly makes two trips a year to The Gambia, to coach school and

The Pride of Swindon awards Brunel badge winners at Steam Museum

community based football teams. He was nominated for his ‘selfless voluntary community commitment’ at home and abroad. Josie Williams works as a Community Arts Development Officer at Commonweal School and is a leading organiser of the Little Big Festival held in Town Gardens. She also chairs the Old Town Festival, ‘working tirelessly’ to promote arts activities. The organisers of Swindon Mela received a team award to recognise 14 years of putting on the South Asian festival of culture which ‘provides an opportunity for

local residents to come together’, celebrating the diversity and strength of community in Swindon. A posthumous award went to ward councillor and campaigner Frank Richards, who passed away in November 2015 aged 90. Mr Richards oversaw planning and construction of a community centre in the Lawns area of Swindon during the 1980s, having campaigned tirelessly for it. Congratulations from Swindon Link to all of the Pride of Swindon nominees and award winners. The town is indeed proud of you and this recognition is much deserved.

Individual Winners: Marie West, Ailsa Palmer, Gina Musty, Phoebe Maddison, Ricardo Defazio, Ken Stronach, Josie Williams, Michelle Howard, Penni Sevious, Sue Lee, Jo & John McCue, Michael Blunsden, Helen Steward, John Maxwell, Frank Richards (Posthumous)

Team Winners: BIOS mobile youth club, Swindon Phoenix Rotary Club, Swindon Downs Syndrome Group, Swindon Mela, Swindon Big Breakfast, Youth Offending Team volunteers

Pride of Swindon schoolgirl puts diabetes in the spotlight

Swindon couple print new book for Nepal earthquake relief

Eleven-year-old Phoebe Maddison, who attends Isambard Community School, was diagnosed at age four with Type 1 Diabetes, but she hasn’t ever let it stand in her way. In 2012 she starred in a programme that earned a Children’s BAFTA nomination, and won a bronze award for endeavour at the Stagecoach Theatre Arts Awards. Last year, whilst a pupil at St Catherines Primary School, she continued her work to raise awareness of her condition by making a film, about the facts and myths surrounding diabetes, entering the work into a national competition run by Diabetes UK. Phoebe’s film, ‘What Do You Really Know,’ was the overall winner for the Best Individual Film. Her prize was a GoPro camera and an Apple iMac and iPad for her former primary school. St Catherine’s headteacher Andrew Henstridge said: “We’re so proud of everything that Phoebe has achieved and the way she approaches life with confidence and positivity. Winning the award for her film was recognition of the way

Dr Ian Matheson and his wife Rosa returned to Nepal on 22 March for six weeks, to mark the anniversary of the 2015 earthquake that shattered the small mountainous nation. The Highworth couple were part of Health Partnership Nepal in Spring 2009. Whilst in Kathmandu they were approached by Amrit Bikram Shahi, now known as Angel, requesting the assistance of a doctor and medicines for some children who were unwell in his orphanage. The couple have been supporting Angel’s Orphanage ever since, fundraising and making regular visits to deliver supplies, toys and essential materials. All of this they have done through the charity they created called Friends of Angel’s Orphanage. Angel looks after a group of orphaned and abandoned street children who have been together for several years. The Friends provide money for food, shelter, education and now employment training. In 2015 Rosa and Ian left the

Phoebe with the iMac she won for St Catherine’s Primary

in which Phoebe has lived with Type 1 diabetes but not letting it control her. She is a shining example to others in living life to the full and using her sparkling personality to ensure she is able to raise awareness and understanding of diabetes to a wide range of people.” At the Pride of Swindon award presentation Phoebe said: “It’s simply amazing to be a Pride winner. I’ve heard about so many people doing wonderful things. I’m really proud to win the Brunel badge.”

country a couple of days before the huge earthquake which struck. Their experiences and those of 50 others including volunteers, doctors, students and children from across the world have been documented in a new book to raise money and awareness of the impact of the devastation: Earthquake Nepal 2015 – The Human Story. Rosa said: “We hope to have the book printed in Nepal, so as much money goes back into the country as possible. We will be out there for the anniversary on 25 April and will be returning with copies of books to sell in the UK for £10 each. “Our luggage includes all the usual items like knitting wool, pencils and books which have very kindly been donated this time by James Phipps and his wife. “We’ve had so many donations since our last visit late last year that it will take a few trips to deliver it all.” Rosa and Ian have joined fellow trustee Brian Mildenhall who has been in Nepal since early March. Help Friends of Angel’s Orphanage via: www.angelsorphanage.com swindonlink.com n April 2016

Community News

Group formed to campaign for libraries Campaigners from across the town have teamed up to fight council plans to cut Swindon’s library budget by almost 60 per cent. The group, called Save Swindon Libraries, is holding a public meeting on Sunday 10 April, 2pm to 4pm, at Christchurch Community Centre, Old Town. They have also launched a petition to gather the 1,500 signatures needed to prompt Swindon Borough Council to debate the future of Swindon’s libraries. This comes after the council announced in February that the libraries budget would need to be cut by £1.5 million over the next four years. This is a decrease in funding of 58 per cent and the council is currently holding a town-wide engagement exercise to find out how the cuts should be made. A budget cut of £300,000 has been agreed for 2016/2017, to take place after the consultation period. Save Swindon Libraries’ chair, Highworth Library campaigner Sarah Church, said: “We want residents from all over Swindon to make their voices heard. There are local campaigns already running

in Highworth, North Swindon, West Swindon, Old Town and Wroughton.” The cabinet will discuss in June the strategy to reduce library funding and a consultation period will follow that decision. Swindon Council is currently looking for as many people as possible to come forward with ideas to see what savings can be made to the service. It is thought that the cuts will lead to closures of some libraries and job losses. Councillor Garry Perkins, the cabinet member for libraries, said: “We want to look at all the different ways that libraries can be used to become sustainable for the future from building sharing to volunteer groups. The way libraries are used has changed considerably in recent years and our plans need to reflect that.” Talis Kimberley-Fairbourn, of Wroughton Library’s local campaign group, said: “We are encouraging everyone to join the conversation on social media, to visit and use your local library – and help us keep them at the heart of all our communities.”

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Butterfly enthusiast Zara holds up her beautifull work of art

A kaleidoscope of butterflies Children and adults from across Swindon came along to decorate a butterfly at Central Library in a week-long project in mid March. Project poet Hilda Sheehan said: “It’s been a great multi-cultural and inter-generational project with an incredible range of people keen to paint a butterfly. Some are simple designs and others are so intricate. We’ve seen so much talent and participation from under 5s to seniors, and several groups like MIND taking part.

“It makes you realise how important libraries are to communities.” Gordon Dickinson, of organisers No Added Sugar, said: “It doesn’t matter what age you are and where you’re from, butterflies make you feel good. Everybody smiles when they see them and they stop and look closely at the design and the lines of poetry on them.” The colourful kaleidoscope was unveiled on 17 March and can be seen on the ground floor.

Community News

Apprentices recognised The impact apprentices and trainees have on individuals, businesses and the wider economy in Swindon was highlighted at an awards ceremony in March during National Apprenticeship Week. The Swindon Apprenticeship Awards, organised by Swindon Council saw 19 people from a range of organisations who were recognised for their achievements. The council is committed, through its Priorities and Pledges, to increasing the number of apprenticeships in the town by another 280 participants and have set an ambitious target of having more than 10,000 apprenticeship enrolments over the next five years. Hiring apprentices helps businesses to develop a motivated, skilled and qualified workforce. Over fifty nominations for the apprenticeship awards were received from employers across the borough. The winners were chosen for their outstanding skills and qualities on successfully completed projects they have worked on, how they have exceeded their employer’s expectations and how they have benefitted their business. One winner is 17 year old Tarlia

Tarlia Clements with the apprenticeship torch at Excalibur Clements from Grange Park who joined Excalibur IT & Business Communications as a Customer Services Apprentice in June 2015, after taking her GCSEs at Lydiard Park Academy. She said: “It’s really fantastic to be recognised, but I put it down to the great opportunity I’ve had at Excalibur. The colleagues have been lovely and supportive; they’ve really brought out my confidence and skills.” See the full list of winners at: www.bit.ly/SwinAps For details about applying for an apprenticeships in the Swindon area, email Maria Holohan: routestoemployment@swindon. gov.uk

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Community News

The people have their say on Lydiard’s future House open again After a three month winter closure Lydiard House reopened on 19 March with a new exhibition telling the story of the impact of two world wars on the St John family and the Lydiard estate – the people who stayed behind and those who left to fight, including, pictured, Vernon Henry St John. Image: Lydiard House Archives. The house is open daily, apart from Mondays and Tuesdays, from 11am to 4pm. The house is also running a special Kids for a Quid offer for the Easter holidays from Friday 25 March to Sunday 10 April. See more information at: www.lydiardpark.org.uk

An aerial shot of Lydiard House taken from a drone.

Ever since Swindon Borough Council announced the running of Lydiard House and Park would be put out to tender the people of the town have been making themselves heard. This was definitely the case with a survey carried out in The Link over the past few weeks with 340 people making their voices heard. According to the results the majority would be willing to pay for car parking but would be against a hotel on the heritage site. The survey was carried out in The Link’s February magazine and people were asked how they use Lydiard and what it’s possible future could be. Organisations have from now until May to put in a bid with the council due to decide in June. The running of the park will be taken over in September. The respondents use the park and house for a variety of reasons from going to the cafe, visiting the walled garden and house to dog walking

and using the playground and the Jungle Parc, as well as watching wildlife, attending church, walking, running, picnics, cycling and even for simple relaxation. Each respondent was given the chance to outline what they believe would be the best way of ensuring the site’s financial viability in the future. A newly formed charitable trust has been formed by the Friends of Lydiard Park and other community groups called Lydiard Park Heritage Trust to put in a bid to run the site. Mike Bowden, chair of Friends of Lydiard Park, said: “I am delighted to say that we are now creating a not for profit charitable trust that will put in a bid to look after, cherish and preserve Lydiard House and Park. “We will work hard to put together the best possible bid and we believe that in a fair world we will win the day.”

Age range

The Link survey results l Out of the 340 respondents,

90% of whom were over the age of 30, 43% visit the park at least once a week, with 26% visiting once a month, 20% a few times a year and 11% at least once a year. l The majority of people, 66%, travel to Lydiard Park by car with only 23% on foot and 4% by bicycle amd another 4% get there by a A sample of people’s comments: mix of the three. development within the park as I l People would like to see more l Despite the opinion of most, I would think the attraction of the concerts, shows and festivals at the agree with the council that Lydiard park for many visitors is that it is site, as well as farmers markets, is not financially viable as it is curcurrently relatively unspoilt and craft fayres, charity walks and runs, rently managed. It needs to go the underdeveloped. and more family friendly events. way of other manor houses and eil Move the registry office to the ther get support from The National l As far as car parking is conTrust or become a full-blown tourist house to provide a more attraccerned 64% of people would suptive setting with good parking for attraction. port the introduction of car parking wedding guests and with on-site charges with 29% strongly in l I’ve been questioning for years reception facilities. favour. That leaves 31% of people why there’s not a signpost for l A good quality restaurant as well against the introduction with 19% Lydiard on the motorway. Bowood, of people strongly against such a as a Costa Coffee with an underBeale Park and others all have moproposal. cover soft play area for younger torway signage. Why not Lydiard? children. The coffee shop should l When asked about car parking l I think careful consideration include undercover outside seating. pricing 90% of people believed it needs to be given to any kind of

swindonlink.com n April 2016

should be no more than £1 an hour and preferably 50p an hour. l Half of the people surveyed would support an increased entry price for the house and walled garden but 88% of people would be against paying an entry price for the entire park. l An overwhelming 63% of people are against the creation of a hotel on the site with only 26% in favour. l Most people would like some kind of attraction at the site like a petting zoo or a maze at 70%, 87% would like the catering facilities improved and 66% would like to see improvements to the conference centre. l Half of the people surveyed would be against the introduction of a camping and caravan facilities at the site l 98% of people believe there should definitely be more large scale events at the park.

Community News

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Community News Steam Museum seeking more volunteers

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Swindon 105.5 community radio officially relaunched at Liden Library

The Mayor and Lord Joel Joffe cut the ribbon to declare the studios open

Swindon 105.5 Community Radio’s new studios at Liden Library were officially opened by patron Lord Joel Joffe and Mayor Cllr Andrew Bennett in an open event on 15 March, watched by radio staff, families, members of the community and local businesses. Shirley Ludford, who has been an integral part of the station since its inception, spoke of how the diverse range of people who have been involved in Swindon 105.5 has made the critical difference. She said: “I’m delighted that the station recieves such incredible support from the community in

Swindon and from its mayor. Our new premises will give us the platform to expand our offerings in tuition and programming.” Cllr Bennett said: “Having worked on hospital radio and BFBS in Gibraltar, I know how difficult radio can be, but Swindon 105.5 always manages to find the right words at the right time to brighten someone’s day. It makes people’s day because it’s their station.” Lord Joffe said: “This is an extraordinary example of community organisation, and Shirley is an excellent example of leadership through any adversity.”

Charity support group adopts second moon bear in China

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Florence the moon bear, sponsored by Swindon people

Swindon’s Animals Asia Support Group has successfully raised £12,000 to adopt Florence, a rescued moon bear at the Animals Asia sanctuary in Chengdu province. Florence is an Asian black bear, also known as a moon bear, was rescued from a bile farm by the charity. She’s the support group’s second adoptee, the first is Zebedee. In captivity moon bears are confined in metal cages for up to 20 years and regularly subjected to the painful extraction of bile through tubes permanently attached to their abdomens for use in traditional Chinese medicines. Jill Robinson MBE, who set up the charity in 1998, said: “We’re all thrilled here in China that Florence has a permanent home - and also in

the hearts of Swindon Animals Asia Support Group. Reaching a target of £12,000 is no mean feat and our endless thanks to all who inspired different ways of raising such an amount.” Swindon Animals Asia Support Group was set up in 2007 by Sarah and David Chilvers and has raised the money to adopt Florence over the last three years through events such as a Dragon Boat race, band nights and donations from local supporters. Sarah said: “The £12,000 we pledged to raise was so we could adopt and name Florence and this money will help Animals Asia bring all 130 bears from the bear farm in Nanning to their sanctuary in Chengdu.”

Community News

Day to mark crematorium’s 50 years A variety of interactive events is planned for visitors at an open day on Saturday 23 April to mark the 50th anniversary of Swindon Crematorium. The open day will include a service at 1.50pm featuring the Great Western Harmony Choir in the chapel, to remember those who have been cremated at the facility. A memorial bench and timeline will be unveiled by Swindon Mayor councillor Andrew Bennett and visitors can also go on behindthe-scenes tours and have the opportunity to leave remembrance notes in the chapel. More than 82,000 cremations have taken place at the Kingsdown Road facility since it opened on 21 April 1966, with 2,000 in its first three years. In 2015 a total of 2,028 cremations were held there. Staff will be available to assist people look up old cremation and burial records and help with their genealogy enquiries and Graham Carter of Swindon Heritage will give a talk about the site’s history. Stone masons, funeral directors and other related businesses will man stands at the open day, which will conclude with a balloon launch to commemorate those cremated

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and those with ashes placed in the garden of remembrance. The open day begins at 11am with tours of the facilities at 11.15am, 12.15pm and 1.15pm. Swindon Council leader Cllr David Renard, said: “Kingsdown Crematorium plays a big part in the local community as it is a place where people gather to remember loved ones. “What many people may not know is its history and how it is run. An open day to mark the crematorium’s anniversary is the perfect opportunity to find out more and we look forward to showing visitors around.” • Read how retired gas fitter Peter Beckett from Haydon Wick sorted out the fuel supply to the crematorium before it opened in 1966 at www.bit.ly/swincrem

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Community News

Wanborough Farmers’ Market offers rural charm for all the family

BT Openreach trialing ultrafast fibre broadband in Haydon Wick

After an unavoidable break of two months, a Farmers’ Market is again being held at Wanborough Village Hall on 16 April, 9am to 12noon. For those not familiar with the market, regular stalls include Hinton Marsh fresh meats, Stainswick Farm rapeseed oil, V&P Collins veg, Monument Farm eggs, meat pies and preserves, Ross Gregory’s local honey, a Fairtrade stall, Eve Beasley’s cakes and biscuits, and Wanborough Herb Nursery.

BT Openreach began installing cabling capable of carrying ultrafast broadband direct to homes in the Oakhurst area of Haydon Wick parish in early March. The new trial in Swindon adds to other ultrafast trials of G.fast and FTTP technologies in Huntingdon, Gosforth and Swansea. Al Douglas, a computer engineer of Minnow Close, within the Openreach trial area, said: “I’ve had letters through the door from BT telling us about the trial and seen the engineers laying cables. I occasionally work from home so having the sort of internet speeds that are being quoted will be great for me personally.” Members of the community, such as the NoToSwindon4G group, have been using the trial to put further pressure on Swindon Borough Council to scrap their 4G Broadband deal with UKB Networks. Mr Douglas added: “We currently have about 8mbps speeds, but I had no knowledge that there were plans to install 4G masts in the area. I haven’t heard of any protests for or against any plans, only information from BT through my door.

Regular markets will be held at the village hall on 21 May, 18 June and 16 July. No event will take place in August, but markets will continue on the third Saturday of each month thereafter. Additional parking can be found at the Harrow Inn opposite the hall, where the chef’s bread can also be bought.

For more information call 01793 790438 or email: sbirley@gn.apc.org

’

“I don’t believe 4G would be as good as the fibre option, but it would of course be better than the copper wiring we have now.” North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson, who has been campaigning against the Swindon Borough Council’s 4G Broadband scheme said: “I am thrilled BT Openreach are pushing forward with their rollout in the area. “It is crystal clear that a commercial solution has been found and Swindon Council should wake up to this reality. Every penny of their subsidy should be targeted at the rural areas so they too can benefit from the Superfast roll out.” Cllr Mary Martin, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Corporate, Customer and Digital Services, said: “It is encouraging that our broadband project with UKBN is stimulating market activity. “However, the number of houses is very small in the context of 19,000 homes served by our project, which is progressing well, with many people expressing an interest. “Roll out is planned to start in mid-2016.”

Luxury Park Home living for the over fifties Are you aged 50+ and considering moving home? Want to leave the hustle and bustle of Swindon behind in favour of countryside living? Lillybrook is a long established family run business which runs two luxurious Park Home Estates in a rural setting just outside Lyneham. Please pay us a visit and take a look around, or contact us.

Lawrence & Philip Burchell - Lillybrook Estate Ltd Park Office, Lyneham, Chippenham Wiltshire SN15 4AA tel: 01249 890250 www.lillybrook.co.uk swindonlink.com n April 2016 12 Lillybrook Homes 1/2page LINK November2015.indd

12/10/15 17:35

Community News

It’s time to put people before politics in Swindon says independent candidate A new independent group has been formed to try and take the party out of local politics. Swindon Independent brings together experienced communityminded people to put forward a councillor in the Swindon Borough Council elections on 5 May. The group’s candidate Tony Hillier will be standing as the Covingham, Coleview, Dorcan and Nythe councillor and stresses that he is exceptionally qualified for the job. He said: “Party politics has been known to hinder local democracy. There are several contentious issues in the town and I believe that more independent voices need to be heard and responded to with accountable action.“ Tony has worked for 40 years as a youth and community worker, a teacher, trade union officer and a chair of school governors. He is a father of two and has lived and worked in Swindon for 25 years. Tony promises to work hard to represent concerns to the council and will run regular open surgeries. He said: “Political parties are hampered by the 3-line whip which means councillors are sometimes

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unable to vote in line with their voters’ views. “As an Independent councillor, having listened to a wide spectrum of views, I will always vote in accordance with the values of transparency in decision-making, good consultation and affordable, quality services within a balanced budget.”

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Education News

Bradon Forest students set out on India expedition

Twenty five students have set off on a nine day trip to north India where they will be visiting several secondary schools. Before departing, teacher Debs Cousins said the youngsters had been fundraising for a year and were very excited about forging links with young people in India. “The students will be engaged in a variety of educational and cultural activities at the schools, and will share their thoughts about the similarities and differences between their education and lifestyles,” said Deb. “We’ll be visiting the Tibetan Children’s village in Dharamsala,

meeting children who have fled Tibet and settled in India, and also Mother Teresa’s orphanage in Agra. “Both of these opportunities will offer our students the chance to meet some incredible and inspiring people who are changing lives of children in India.” In between the group will be taking in some of India’s most famous religious and cultural sites including The Golden Temple at Amritsar and the Taj Mahal. Year 10 student Luke Webster said: “I’m really looking forward to experiencing the different culture. It will be a huge change for us with

different food and surroundings, it will be really interesting to meet people of our age in India and talk to them about our lives. “For me the highlight will be

visiting the Tibetan children’s village but I’m also looking forward to the Taj Mahal too.” The Link will report on the visit in the May edition.

Bradon Forest teacher Deb Cousins with the youngsters visiting India

Academy 6th formers inspired by Gambia visit A talk to Year 10 students at Lydiard Park Academy in 2012 by former West Swindon primary headteacher Neil Griffiths about his work with pre-school teachers in Gambia set the scene for three youngsters, now in the 6th form, to visit the country in October 2015. The Year 13 students - Rebecca Brace, Dominic Hall and Sophie Little - attended LPA’s long term partner Pirang Senior Secondary School through a Department for International Development funded

Connecting Classrooms global schools partnerships initiative. Rebecca said: “We spent three days in the classroom with our partner students. It was hard to imagine learning in an unfamiliar place and in a different way. Reading straight from a paper textbook, paragraph after paragraph without time for questions was a very different experience.” By the end of the three days, the students had a very clear idea of the demands of class-work,

homework and tests. After returning to Swindon, Dominic heard he had attained the highest marks in his class maths test. In addition to attending classes, Dominic and Sophie also carried out research for their Extended Project Qualification (EPQ). Having the chance to meet young people whose lives are so different, yet knowing that they all share the same ambitions, hopes and dreams was an important experience explained Dominic. “We hadn’t

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really considered that we might share the same kinds of doubts and excitements as our partners. We thought there would be big differences between us.” The students and their teachers were also welcomed in a Gambian village and stayed in an eco-lodge. In March this year LPA welcomed a visit from Pirang School’s head of maths - see her picture at Peatmoor Primary School opposite. See the full story at: www.bit.ly/ LPAgambiatrip

Education News

Education Secretary backs top Swindon school as a Multi-Academy Trust On a visit to Lydiard Park Academy on 4 March Secretary of State for Education Nicky Morgan MP endorsed the school as an umbrella educational institution to provide management and teaching expertise to other schools which need help to improve. The minister discussed with headteacher Clive Zimmerman, chair of governors Dave Davidson and South Swindon MP Robert Buckland how the academy had become the top performing school in the town and also spent 45 minutes in a question and answer session with staff and 6th form students. Based on record GCSE results in 2015, putting the academy top of the league table in the Swindon area, as well as two excellent Ofsted assessments, the minister confirmed LPA will become a Multi-Academy Trust. Mrs Morgan said: “I think Lydiard Park Academy is fantastic

and I’m really, really excited that it will be supporting other local schools to improve. “They’ve just been approved to become a MAT which means the headteacher, the staff and governors can provide access to an outstanding school to teachers and students at other schools.” Headteacher Clive Zimmerman said he was delighted to welcome the Secretary of State. ”She was keen to see the school for herself and discuss what we can offer as a Multi-Academy Trust. “This was followed by a very good question and answer session where she gave full and frank responses on issues such as Britain’s place in Europe and government policy on education and school funding.” South Swindon MP Robert Buckland was pleased the minister had made the time to visit schools in his constituency. “In the morning she

Peatmoor Primary wants builders to help create a plastic bottle classroom

Gambian teacher Isatou Touray with Peatmoor youngsters on a visit in March

Peatmoor Primary School deputy headteacher Sarah Adams wants to see if the school can copy an innovative project she saw in Gambia last year - but she would like practical help from readers. Peatmoor has close links with Pirang Upper Basic School and Sarah has made five trips there, some of which have been supported by the British Council Connecting Classrooms fund. She returned in March 2015 inspired by a room she saw which had been constructed using plastic bottles. She said: “There isn’t a lot of waste in Gambia as nearly all rubbish is turned into something useful to support everyday life. Even so, you see a lot of plastic bottles by the side of the road. At Sifoe Lower Basic School they had collected bottles and filled them with other plastic waste and used them in the construction of the small office. “It’s a privilege every time I travel

to Gambia to work alongside such innovative, clever and productive people. The bottle room got me thinking about what we can learn from Gambians and how Peatmoor can involve the community in replicating how they recycle.” A group of Key Stage 2 children have been selected to undertake the project to design, make and evaluate their own bottle house. Initially, this will be done on a small scale as part of the learning experience, but Sarah has a vision for actually building a room in the school grounds. She added: “I’m looking for builders - groundworkers, carpenters, plasterers - who can offer their skills to be part of this community education project. Together we can learn so much.” To find out more or offer help, email: sarahadams@peatmoor. swindon.sch.uk or call 01793 887473.

Pictured, from left, Robert Buckland MP, Nicky Morgan MP, headteacher Clive Zimmerman and 6th form students

went to the Chalet Special School and told me she had enjoyed the opportunity to see two excellent schools. “Her visit to Lydiard Park Academy was a huge vote of confidence in the tremendous work of staff and students. I’m really pleased that it is now a Multi-Academy Trust which will see further collaboration with other schools, creating greater opportunities for staff and students.”

Later in the afternoon on 4 March, Mrs Morgan, in her role as Minister for Women and Equalities, visited Swindon Women’s Refuge to meet staff and also Wiltshire and Swindon Police and Crime Commissioner Angus Macpherson. She congratulated him for funding independent domestic abuse advisors in A&E and the maternity department at Great Western Hospital, as well as some GP surgeries in the town.

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Education News

Ridgeway Farm Academy to be the centre of new community A primary school on the edge of West Swindon is looking forward to welcoming its first children in September. Construction of the single form entry school by Swindon firm Beards is well advanced, with handover to to the Diocese of Bristol Academies Trust expected by August. Located in the middle of housing, each of the six classrooms will have its own sheltered outdoor play space to complement the grass playing field.

The building will generate a lot of its own electricity from solar panels on the roof which will also feature ceiling tubes to bring light into the classrooms. Ridgeway Farm executive principal Jane Leo, who is also principal of Tadpole Farm Primary Academy, is managing the project on behalf of the academies trust. Mrs Leo said: “Having been involved in the opening of Tadpole Farm over the last two years I’ve been able to apply the experience

at Ridgeway Farm; I wish I’d written it all down in a manual, but it’s all coming back. “Ridgeway Farm School is a really exciting project in a brand new community. It’s located at the centre of its area and will also play a central role for residents. It’s been designed to be both a school and a place where the community can come together and grow. “I’m looking after liaison between the diocese, Beards and Wiltshire Council until the end of August

and will hand over the project to Carly Luce, headteacher of Lydiard Millicent Primary School, who will be the principal of both schools.” The diocese will be organising meetings in April at Lydiard Millicent Primary School with Mrs Luce and deputy principal Laura Gibbard for parents and children interested in finding out more about places at Ridgeway Farm Primary Academy from September. See the building layout at: www.ridgeway-farm.co.uk/school

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Executive headteacher Jane Leo with Beard site manager Doug Gray at Ridgeway Farm school site in late February

A Quality Education for a Lifetime of Opportunities’ We are a village school situated in a favourable rural area a few miles south-west of Swindon. We were founded in 1743 by Thomas Bennet and taken over by the LEA about 100 years later. Over recent years we have extended our facilities to accommodate four mixed-age classes, a large hall where hot meals are served, a multi-purpose unit housing a pre-school facility and a conservatory area for individual or small group teaching, including a multi-sensory learning library for parents and carers to access resources for learning at home.

OFSTED February 2012: “A good school where pupils achieve well” ... “promotes pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development outstandingly well” ... “pupils’ behaviour is exemplary” ... “excellent, well-planned support for disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs” ... “examples of outstanding teaching in all classes” ... “outstanding cross curricular provision” Parents say: “amazing grounding, both educationally and emotionally” Everyone knows each other throughout the school, from the oldest to the very youngest, staff, parents and children alike, giving us a warm family atmosphere. Our professional and enthusiastic staff provide a safe and secure environment and a creative and stimulating curriculum. You are warmly invited to make an appointment to visit our school and we look forward to welcoming you. Please find out more about us from our website. Mrs E Floyd, Headteacher 01793 731262 admin@broadhinton.wilts.sch.uk www.broadhintonschool.org

swindonlink.com n April 2016

Education News

Protests at Millbrook Primary School calling for vital crossing point

Sue Thorn, centre, with Millbrook caretaker Morris Watson, Cllrs Tim Swinyard and Caryl Sydney with children and parents on Gainsborough Way

Teachers and parents at Millbrook Primary School, Freshbrook, have been protesting weekly on Gainsborough Way to highlight the need for a crossing point on the road. Sue Thorn, who teaches at Millbrook, has been organising demonstrations at the major crossing points. She said: “When there is congestion on the main roads, we have many motorists using the smaller roads around the school as a cut-through, ignoring the 20mph speed limit and

endangering our pupils. We don’t want a situation where we only get a crossing once an incident has occured.” Freshbrook and Lydiards Councillor Tim Swinyard said: “As a school governor, I recognise there is a problem and I am arranging a meeting after Easter between the Millbrook School council and the cabinet member for highways Cllr Dale Heenan and highways officers to discuss the need for the crossing and how the council can respond as soon as possible.”

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Family News

preschool gymnastics where an early start makes a world of difference!

Snowdon climb for 7 year old with incredibly rare brain disease Twenty three members of Swindon St. George rugby league club yomped up Mount Snowdon on 12 and 13 March in aid of Ted Groves who suffers from an extremely rare neurological condition. Ted, who lives with his family in Peatmoor, is one of only 100 people worldwide and just 6 in Britain suffering from aromatic L-amino decarboxylase deficiency (AADC for short). Ted is unable to sit, stand or walk and relies completely on his family and carers 24 hours of the day.

Ted Groves, the face of www.aadcresearch.org

His dad Sven, who used to play for St George’s but had to retire to commit more time to Ted’s care,

said: “Club skipper George Cowley asked if they could help raise funds for Ted. I went with the team to Snowdon; they all did an amazing job. “The money raised will fund valuable equipment and adaptions.” Sven added Ted is being put forward for pioneering gene therapy at a cost of £1 million per child via Great Ormond Street Hospital. This year also celebrates 10 years of the AADC Research Trust, of which Ted is the poster boy. You can help Ted at www.gofundme.com/TedsSmile

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Youngsters in Freshbrook can enjoy new equipment at The Meads play area, thanks to Swindon Council’s improvement programme. This is the third refurbishment of the play space between Turnham Green and Worsley Road since it was first built in the early 1980s. The Fort, as it was known, was an impressive exciting structure, but a nightmare for parents as the railway sleepers it was built from oozed tar onto clothing. As the archive picture shows, by today’s standards it was also a health and safety horror.

April: Autism Information and advice for parents from ePIP Born in the US in 1933, Donald was for learning difficulties and does a profoundly withdrawn child who not result from bad behaviour never met his mother’s smile and and naughtiness. More boys are seemed tuned into a separate world. diagnosed with the condition He could speak and mimic words, than girls, but there is no clear but most often he merely echoed explanation for this. what he had heard someone else Although autism is hard to say. Donald had autism. In fact, diagnose before 24 months, Donald was the first ever person symptoms often surface between to be diagnosed with the 12 and 18 months. As a condition. parent of a child going World Au tism What is autism? It is a through the referral Awarene ss Week lifelong developmental and diagnosis pathway, 2 to 8 A pril Find out condition that it can be a challenging how to g et affects how a person time, but for many involved at www.auti perceives the world families having an sm.org.u k and interacts with explanation for the others. It is genetically difficulties their child has linked and tends to run in been experiencing can also families. It is estimated that about bring a sense of relief. 1 in every 100 people in the UK has Now aged 82, Donald Grey Triplett autism and although the condition continues to live a fulfilling life, is different for everyone, people on driving his Cadillac and playing golf the autism spectrum may: daily, showing that the condition be under or oversensitive to doesn’t have to define the person. sounds, touch, tastes, smells, light About ePiP or colours ePiP Direct provides expert 1-tofind social situations and change 1 parent coaching, supporting a challenge families with a wide range of experience a ‘meltdown’ if parenting issues and challenges. overwhelmed by anxiety benefit from extra time to process They can be contacted directly on 01793 328102 or: and respond to communication www.epipdirect.com Autism is not simply another term

swindonlink.com n April 2016

Family News

Swindon Link helps leapling Lauren make her leap year ‘birth’ day special Our February edition brought delight to four year old Lauren Penney from Rushey Platt when she saw her picture on Sunday 28 February, the day before her first ‘birth’ day on 29 February. Mum Anna had let us know earlier in the month that Lauren would be celebrating her special day for the first time since she was born at the Great Western Hospital Birthing Centre. She was the only ‘leapling’ Leapling Lauren and brother Cameron baby to be born on 29 celebrating together February 2012 and the when she saw her picture with her first born there as the facility had brother Cameron on your website.” only recently been built. Lauren, dressed in her Cinderella Following our publication, on skirt with Peppa Pig top, enjoyed a Monday 29th Lauren and Anna combined party with Cameron at were interviewed on BBC Radio Wichelstowe Community Centre Wiltshire and she also saw her where she blew out a cake topped picture in the Swindon Advertiser. with a number 1 candle. Anna said: “Lauren was surprised Anna said: “Lauren knew this year and so excited to see herself in The is special but didn’t appreciate the Link and showed everyone all day. difference in the astronomical year She carried the magazine around with her for a fair few hours. It will and calendar year. We all had a definitely be going into her treasure lovely, memorable party. Thank you so much to the Link for helping to box for her to look back on in the make her first birthday so special.” future. She was also really pleased

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Community News

Prospect Hospice events in April Quiz night Ridgeway School’s annual quiz night takes place on Friday 15 April, 7pm at the school, Inverary Road, Wroughton, SN4 9DJ. There is an entry fee of £3 per team member. Minimum of four per team, maximum of ten. To enter a team email Erin on erinmccubbin@hotmail.co.uk or Fiona on fionaharvey58@gmail. com. All profits go directly to Prospect Hospice

Tribute and comedy night On Friday 6 May, 7pm, Prospect Hospice’s Swindon Town Centre Support Group is returning with a fun filled evening of live comedy from Arnold Gutbucket and Stars in Their Eyes 2015 winner, Peter Sarsfield, at Swindon Town FC’s Legends Lounge. Tickets are £12.50 each, available from Natalie on 07796 137770. All profits will be split equally between Prospect Hospice and Swindon 105.5FM.

St. John’s Haydon Wick On Thames Avenue next door to Morrisons Contact: Revd Raymond Adams Tel: 634258

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West Swindon and Lydiard Tregoze Church Partnership Please join us in worship on Sunday mornings Westlea Church, Westlea School: 10am St Mary’s Lydiard Tregoze - the church in the park: 10am Holy Trinity, Shaw: 10.30am Toothill Church: 10.30am For details of these and our other services call the Partnership Office on 01793 874221 Email: wspartnershipoffice@gmail.com Website: WSwinlyd.org.uk

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swindonlink.com n April 2016

Making a difference Volunteer Centre provides vital support to organisations in Swindon and the people they are working with. Do you enjoy books and helping children read? Swindon Libraries’ Summer Reading Challenge will this year celebrate Roald Dahl 100, a century since the birth of one the world’s favourite children’s authors. If you are aged 14 and above, Swindon Libraries really do need your help. They will require volunteers for The Big Friendly Read, Summer Reading Challenge from 16 July to 4 September. Are you a passionate gardener? Willows Counselling is based in a lovely historic house in Old Town, Swindon. It has a medium sized front garden, low maintenance back garden and car park. They need a gardener to care for the garden and outside spaces. This involves cutting down flowering plants, light pruning of shrubs and weed killing in the car parks. The work probably takes one or two days per month. Do you enjoy talking to people and providing great customer service? The British Heart Foundation shop has a variety of roles on offer. Retail or relevant cash handling experience would be beneficial. Activities include completing till transactions accurately, talking

to customers and promoting add on sales such as badges and raffle tickets. Help for Health and Social care students? Oxford Brookes University in Swindon are looking for volunteers to contribute towards the education and training of health and social care students and in some cases, during formal practical examinations. Your involvement will help to provide realistic learning opportunities where students can gain confidence and competence in a safe environment. Volunteer from home by becoming a Virtual Volunteer for Action on Hearing Loss. Support people who are deaf or have a hearing loss without even leaving your computer. As a virtual volunteer you will have the opportunity to undertake important tasks on the internet. You might help with a campaign, join a fundraising team, or even help test products. Find out more about these and many other volunteering opportunities by contacting Volunteer Centre Swindon on 01793 420557 or email: info@ swindonvolunteers.org.uk Visitors are welcome to drop in at 1 John Street, Swindon from Monday to Friday, 11am to 3pm. See more at: www.do-it.org

Citizens Advice Bureau needs volunteers to meet demand Swindon Citizens Advice Bureau is experiencing a record number of enquiries across the area and urgently needs more volunteers to help meet the increasing demand on their services. If you want to make a difference to people’s lives, help your community, try something new, use your experience in a productive way, develop new talents and skills, challenge yourself, increase your confidence, inspire others to help people, keep active and get out of the house then join the team at Citizens Advice Swindon to make a difference that counts. If you are an outgoing people person, a good listener, open minded and non-judgmental; a team worker and able to commit to around 10 hours per week and

are computer literate then Citizens Advice want you. For details and an application pack contact: trainer2@swindon.cabnet .org.uk or call 01793 402106. The deadline for applications is noon on 20 April. Interviews will take place on 28 April and 3 May. CAB also recruit throughout the year so get in touch if you are interested in joining a later programme.

IN ASSOCIATION WITH with in association

in association with

Big names come to Swindon for literature festival This year’s Swindon Festival of Literature takes place from Monday 2 May to Saturday 14 May with a stellar line-up including Louise De Bernieres, Joanne Harris, Dom Joly, Ken Livingstone, Vince Cable and Brian Blessed. As well as signings, poetry slams and talks, there will also be a family day on Sunday 8 May. The programme:

in association with Monday 2 May Dawn Chorus 5.30am Lawn Woods, High Street, Old Town Tel 01793 771080 Where the railway meets... 1pm Richard Jefferies Museum, Coate Tel 01793 466454 Steve Mynard & Storywalk 2pm Lydiard House, Lydiard Park, West Swindon SN5 3PA Tel 01793 771080 Fiona Ford & Freedom parkrun and talk 2pm & 3pm Lydiard House, Lydiard Park, West Swindon SN5 3PA Tel 01793 466454 Lucy Jones 7pm Lower Shaw Farm, West Swindon Tel 01793 771080 Tuesday 3 May Matt Holland 12.30pm Arts Centre, Devizes Road Tel 01793 524481 Vince Cable 6.30pm Arts Centre, Devizes Road Tel 01793 524481 Tim Marshall 8pm Arts Centre, Devizes Road Tel 01793 524481 Wednesday 4 May A N Wilson 12.30pm Arts Centre, Devizes Road Tel 01793 524481 Hilary Bradt 6.30pm Arts Centre, Devizes Road Tel 01793 524481 Roger Scruton 8pm Arts Centre, Devizes Road Tel 01793 524481 Poetry Swindon 78s 7.30pm Central Library, Regent Circus Tel 01793 466454

Isy Suttie 6.30pm Arts Centre, Devizes Road Tel 01793 524481 Dom Joly 8pm Arts Centre, Devizes Road Tel 01793 524481 Alison Bruce 7.30pm Central Library, Regent Circus Tel 01793 466454 Friday 6 May Amy Liptrot 12.30 Arts Centre, Devizes Road Tel 01793 524481 Tom Hodgkinson 6.30pm Arts Centre, Devizes Road Tel 01793 524481 Stories & Adventures 6.30pm Swindon Museum & Arts Gallery, Bath Road Tel 01793 466556 Kevin Dutton 8pm Arts Centre, Devizes Road Tel 01793 524481 Saturday 7 May Swindon Ocotal Link Celebration 10am Lower Shaw Farm Tel 01793 466454 Youth Slam! 11am Arts Centre, Devizes Road Tel 01793 524481 A Swindon Affair 3pm The Platform, Faringdon Road Tel 01793 466454 Swindon Slam! 7.30pm Arts Centre, Devizes Road Tel 01793 524481 Sunday 8 May Children & Families Day 10am – 4pm Lower Shaw Farm, West Swindon Tel 01793 771080 Jo Marchant 6.30pm Arts Centre, Devizes Road Tel 01793 524481

Thursday 5 May

Sharon Blackie 8pm Arts Centre, Devizes Road Tel 01793 524481

Mary Hamer 12.30pm Arts Centre, Devizes Road Tel 01793 524481

Poetry Swindon Open Mic 8pm Sun Inn, Coate Tel 01793 466454

Dom Joly

Isy Suttie

Brian Blessed

Monday 9 May

Thursday 12 May

Angela Kiss 12.30pm Arts Centre, Devizes Road Tel 01793 524481

Brian Blessed 12.30pm Arts Centre, Devizes Road Tel 01793 524481

Sol Spanish Evening 6.30pm Arts Centre, Devizes Road Tel 01793 524481

Louis De Bernieres 6.30pm Arts Centre, Devizes Road Tel 01793 524481

Nicola Cornick 7.30pm Central Library, Regent Circus Tel 01793 466454

Andy Binks 7.30pm Central Library, Regent Circus Tel 01793 466454

Richard Durrant 8pm Arts Centre, Devizes Road Tel 01793 524481 Tuesday 10 May DJ Taylor 12.30pm Arts Centre, Devizes Road Tel 01793 524481 Ken Livingstone 6.30pm Arts Centre, Devizes Road Tel 01793 524481 Bali Rai 7.30pm Central Library, Regent Circus Tel 01793 466454 Stephen Moss 8pm Arts Centre, Devizes Road Tel 01793 524481 Wednesday 11 May Yasmin Khan 12.30pm Arts Centre, Devizes Road Tel 01793 524481 Christian Felber 6.30pm Arts Centre, Devizes Road Tel 01793 524481 Joanne Harris 7.30pm Central Library, Regent Circus Tel 01793 466454

Paul Hyland 8pm Arts Centre, Devizes Road Tel 01793 524481 Friday 13 May Liz Rothschild 12.30pm Arts Centre, Devizes Road Tel 01793 524481 Hilda’s Lounge 1pm Richard Jefferies Museum, Coate Tel 01793 466454 Cristina Odone 6.30pm Arts Centre, Devizes Road Tel 01793 524481 Think Slam! 8pm Arts Centre, Devizes Road Tel 01793 524481 Saturday 14 May Writing Workshop & Writers’ Lunch 12.30pm Lower Shaw Farm, West Swindon Tel 01793 771080 Festival Finale: Stories, Poems & Music Town Hall, Regents Circus Tel 01793 601700 See the full programme and ticket details: www swindonfestivalofliterature.co.uk swindonlink.com n April 2016

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The Ocelot guide to live music in Swindon in April Swindon’s live music scene is as diverse and widespread as any in the country. Whether you like chilled out acoustic songs, blues, folk, pop or rock, the scope for musical entertainment is endless. This month we have cherry-picked five just to get you started. For lovers of Phil Collins, Wyvern Theatre is hosting one of the country’s finest tributes to the prog rock drummer turned superstar himself. And Finally....Phil Collins is on 3 April. If you’re looking to catch some new, exciting acts before they break into the mainstream, The Rolleston Arms on Commercial Road have exactly what you need on 10 April with Adam Norsworthy coming to town. If the name is unfamiliar to you, Adam is a singer/songwriter who calls in support from rising

Adam Norsworthy will be performing at The Rolleston Arms on 10 April

blues act King King as his backing band. This solo show promises to have all the craftsmanship you’d expect from one of the UK’s upcoming stars. The Victoria in Old Town is hosting two very exciting acts later in the

month, starting with Adam Barnes on 14 April. Adam is an Oxford born songwriter and performer, he is a folk artist, a haunting songwriter and an honest performer waiting for some more people to take a step back and listen in. Support comes

from local songstress Tamsin Quin and Swindon’s very own Dreuw and Oli Norman. 20 April sees indie band Trampolene shimmy their rock and roll attitude into The Vic and you can see an interview from the band in the April edition of The Ocelot. Having just come back from touring with The Libertines in packed out stadia, this promises to be an epic indie-fest, with support from Yves and The Harlers. If you want to wrap up your musical month in style, The Castle in Prospect Place has The Bright Eyes performing on 29 April. The Stourbridge based party group promise an evening of live music to keep you dancing and singing into the night. For more information, or for more events happening in Swindon, visit: www.theocelot.co.uk

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Tickets on sale for world premiere of Railway Town, the story of New Swindon A full length film plotting how the Great Western Railway Company turned the sleepy market town of Swindon into an industrial powerhouse to lay the foundation for success in the 21st Century, will be screened at the Wyvern Theatre. Carefully researched and professionally produced by film maker Martin Parry, Railway Town brings together previously unseen archive film and photographs, as well as key insights from astute historians. The film charts the remarkable story of Swindon from its ‘wild west’ beginnings, through problems and triumphs, and then conveys the mood when the great GWR factory (by then British Rail) closed in March 1986. Martin, who came to the town in early 1980 as a British FiIm Institute funded film-maker in residence, said he conceived the idea of Railway Town soon after he arrived. “Even though Swindon had moved a long way from railways in the post-war period, the legacy of the works was deeply embedded in the town, yet there was a sense that closure was on the cards.

Town’s oldest community event takes place in July

Martin Parry, editing his film Railway Town

“I started to document the railway heritage by interviewing scores of factory workers, filming inside the works and collecting archive material.” Martin’s work came together in Fire & Steel, a highly regarded DVD telling the story of life ‘inside’ the works. But the seeds for a much more comprehensive account of Swindon’s history had been sown. He said: “I wanted to show how much the Swindon of today is underpinned by its history and how this frames the future, through archive and new material.” The screening on Monday 25 April, 7pm, at the Wyvern Theatre, will be

followed by a panel discussion on Swindon’s past and future. Tickets at £7 (+£1.50 booking fee) are available from the Wyvern www.swindontheatres.co.uk View the Railway Town trailer at www.swindonviewpoint.com • Martin, although hailing from Herefordshire, came to Swindon from Canada’s National Film Board. After the BFI funding ended, Thamesdown Council appointed him as media arts officer where he set up Thamesdown Media Arts, later renamed Create Studios, and continued a leading role with pioneering community TV station Swindon Viewpoint.

Swindon’s traditional Children’s Fete on Saturday 9 July in GWR Park, Faringdon Road is on track to celebrate 150 years since it started. The fete ran continously from 1866 until the outbreak of war in1939 and was resurrected in 2003 by the Mechanics’ Institution Trust which has managed to run the event several times since. To find out more and offer sponsorship, contact Hannah Parry: thechildrensfete@mechanics-trust. org.uk or call 01793 520592. www.mechanics-trust.org.uk

The crowds in GWR Park, c1890

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Daniel Gooch Day marked in Victorian style The day more than 175 years ago which sealed the fate of the small village looking down on green fields in the valley below, was commemorated by primary schools on 25 February. In 1841 a letter by Daniel Gooch, Superintendent of Locomotives of the Great Western Railway recommending Swindon was a good location for engine and carriage maintenance and construction works was agreed by the company’s board

of directors. Children at Oliver Tomkins School, Toothill; Red Oaks Primary, Redhouse; St Francis School, Taw Hill; Lainsmead, Lethbridge and Lawns in Old Town, and Bishopstone Primary celebrated that momentous day by dressing up as Victorians and learning how the GWR’s decision to come to the town has had an impact on all of us through the ages. See the Link picture gallery at: www.bit.ly/SwindonDGday

Graham Carter of Swindon Heritage, not in costume, who told the Swindon 175 story at Lainsmead Primary School

New hooter sounds to mark 30 years to the day after closure of Swindon Works A snippet of audio heritage sounded across Swindon on Tuesday 22 March marking the thirtieth year since the world-famous Swindon Railway Works shut down after a long slow decline, followed by a public event on 26 March.

The original hooter was mounted on what is now the Designer Outlet Centre, and can be seen there still. The recreation by Colin Hatch, using original GWR plans, is now located close by on the roof of Steam Museum. See the full story at www.bit.ly/SwindHoot

Two photos taken within moments of each other on 22 March 1986. On the left, film maker Martin Parry was able to climb on to the roof of the railway works to capture the hooter sounding for the last time. On the right, unofficial works photographer Roy Nash captured this group of Swindon works administration staff on their last day of employment witnessing the hooter go off for the final time

Swindon 175 Profile: BMW Plant Swindon celebrates 60 years of production In addition to the Swindon 175 anniversary MINI Plant Swindon celebrates six decades of production this year. Established in 1955 as an extension of the Pressed Steel company’s Oxford based operations, Plant Swindon is now an official network supplier to the BMW Group, making it one of only five press shops within the car manufacturer’s extensive global network of factories. Like most industrial stories, Plant Swindon’s is one of change and celebrations, but this year it is delighted to be marking this milestone birthday and with that, its achievements, its history and foremost its significance as a major employer in Swindon for the past 60 years. What are pressings? Steel pressings are vital elements of the vast majority of cars, providing the three-dimensional jigsaw panels that make up its body shell. Despite the apparent simplicity of this stamped steel outer layer, it performs many tasks fundamental to the functionality of a car, from housing its engine to providing a passenger safety shell. Today over 35 per cent of Plant Swindon’s

production is exported to BMW plants in Germany with the remaining 65 per cent sent to Plant Oxford to make MINIs. To put it into numbers that is around 38,000,000 body panels and 4,400,000 sub-assemblies, in total over 86,000 tonnes of high precision pressed steel components. A Noble tradition Plant Swindon is impressive not only for the collective skill of its workforce, many of whom have decades of experience, but also for the fact that there are many instances of more than one family member working there. In the case of the Noble family three generations have worked at the plant, their combined employment spans the plant’s first few weeks of production right up to the present day. After serving in the RAF, Mick Noble moved to Swindon from Leeds in 1956 and began work as a panel straightener at Pressed Steel. “We used to do work for Hillman and Triumph Herald, Jaguar and Austin,” he said. “There was always lots of work, but there were lots of layoffs as well, because we were on piecework.

A family with deep roots in Plant Swindon, from left, Ben, Mick and David Noble

“Working conditions were basic, health and safety non- existent and strikes a regular occurrence. The big strike saw us out for six weeks with no pay. You just cut down on everything.” Conditions improved dramatically and Mick Noble encouraged his sons to gain a trade at the plant. David and his brothers Gary and Mike started work in the 1980s as apprentice toolmakers when the company was owned by British Leyland. The bulk of the business was pressing panels for Rover and Honda but big changes were to follow, including the sale of Rover by BMW

and the subsequent decision to press MINI panels and secure the future of the plant. BMW ownership over the last 18 years has brought considerable stability. David, now a senior manager at the plant has seen his son Ben join the company as an apprentice. “From my dad I was aware of the opportunities to study at a high level during my apprenticeship so I started last September” said Ben. “Hopefully within three years I will have a Batchelor’s degree in electronic engineering from Oxford Brookes University as well as my apprenticeship.” Many changes have taken place over the years that have helped contribute to the extensive wealth of experience that exists within workforce. Frank Bachmann, plant director of Oxford and Swindon, said: “I am delighted to be celebrating 60 years of history at Plant Swindon, and to share our pride in the achievements of the plant. We have a highly experienced, reliable and skilled team working here, whose expertise has seen Swindon become an important centre of competence within the BMW Group.” swindonlink.com n April 2016

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WHAT’S ON

MUSIC

DRAMA

Sunday 3rd, 7.30pm Tribute to Phil Collins. An amazing 11-piece band faithfully re-creates all the classic hits from the Phil Collins and Genesis timeless back catalogue. £19.50. Wyvern

Tuesday 19th to Saturday 23rd, 7.30pm & Saturday 23rd 2.30pm

Saturday 9th, 7.30pm Soul Legends. This smash-hit stateside spectacular features all the soul classics. £23. Wyvern Saturday 9th, 7.30pm Swindon Recital Series: A Viennese Quartet Party with Mozart and Haydn. Adrian Butterfiled violin, Kathryn Parry violin, Rachel Stott viola, Ruth Alford cello. £15; seniors £12; students £2.50; accompanied under 14s free. Arts Centre

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Sunday 10th, 7.30pm Beyond the Barricade. A cast of past principal West End performers present a musical theatre concert featuring all the popular hits. £20.50. Wyvern Wednesday 27th, 7.30pm Buddy Holly & The Cricketers: 24 Years of Rock ’n’ Rolling The World! This breathtaking show staring some of the finest actormusicians in the UK is guaranteed to have everyone singing along to the music and dancing in the aisles. £18.50. Wyvern

FILM Tuesday 5th, 7.30pm Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour. An evening of extraordinary short films from the world’s most prestigious mountain film festival. £12.50. Wyvern Monday 25 April, 7pm Railway Town. This new film on the story of New Swindon traces how it was established by Brunel, through its growth and setbacks, right up until modern times. £7. Wyvern. See page 24

Ruddigore. A Victorian melodrama presented by Swindon Gilbert and Sullivan Society. £12; under 16s: £6. Arts Centre Tuesday 12th to Saturday 16th. Tues to Sat, 7.30pm; Thurs & Sat 2.30pm Murder is Announced. An Agatha Christie Miss Marple mystery starring Judy Cornwell and Diane Fletcher. £18.50 - £29.50. Wyvern Thursday 14th to Saturday 16th, 7.15pm The Harold Jolliffe One-Act Play Festival. Drama, comedy, farce and new writing come together in the first round of two national play competitions. See www.swindonweb. com/hj1act. £11. Arts Centre Wednesday 27th to Saturday 30th, 7.30pm Prescription For Murder presented by The Phoenix Players. £10, to book call 07517 698083 or email bookings@phoenix-players.com. Arts Centre

MUSICAL Thursday 7th, 7.30pm Ireland’s Call. This new and exciting musical follows the extraordinary journey of the strong-headed Sean Dempsey, who at the end of WW2 leaves Ireland in search of a better life in the Big Apple. £23.50. Wyvern Thursday 21st to Saturday 23rd, 7.30pm & Sat 23rd 2.30pm Cats presented by Tanwood alongside a full live orchestra. £15 £20; family £55 - £75. Wyvern

Swindon Fringe Festival There is a feast of theatre, music and comedy between Friday 1 April and Monday 10 April with over 28 shows being performed by companies from all over the UK as well as local favourites at venues across the town. See www.madamrenards.co.uk for the programme. Tickets are available from Wyvern box office.

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SWINDON DANCE

COMEDY

Friday 1st, 8pm. Richard Herring. In his twelfth solo stand-up show Richard examines whether we are, can ever hope to be Friday 29th & Saturday 30th, or are meant to be truly content. £16. 7.30pm & Sat 30th, 2pm Danceflix presented by Sullivan Arts Centre School of Dance and JS Dance Sunday 3rd, 8pm Academy. A night of dancing Dane Baptiste with his critically acthrough the movies, as 250 local claimed smash hit show, Reasonable youngsters from 3 years old up to Doubts. Age 16+. £13. Arts Centre advanced, perform a variety of styles Wednesday 6th, 8pm to songs from some our best-loved Brian Conley: Alive and Dangerous. films. £12.50. Wyvern One of Britain’s most loved and multi-talented performers returns to the stage with singing, laughs and CHILDREN & FAMILY much more. £23.50. Wyvern Saturday 26 March to Friday 8th, 8pm Sunday 10 April Chris Ramsey: All Growed Up. Easter Bunny is back to his old tricks. Chris explores getting older, taking Normal admission prices. Roves Farm. responsibility and all the other See advert on page 26 terrifying realisations that come Easter Monday, 28 March with modern adulthood. £18.50. Have a Go Archery. Normal admis- Wyvern sion prices plus £2 for 4 arrows. Roves Farm. See advert on page 26 TALK Saturday 2nd, 2pm Comedy Club 4 Kids. Cracking Thursday 7th, 7.30pm entertainment for everyone over six The UK’s Worst Serial Killers. An years old. £9; family £33. Arts Centre audiovisual show presented by Trevor Marriott, a retired murder squad Saturday 2nd, 2pm & 7pm Annie. This family favourite musical detective. No one under 16 admitis performed by Rising Aspirations ted without a parent or appropriate Academy of Performing Arts £12; adult. £13.50. Arts Centre under 16s £10. Wyvern Sunday 17th, 7.30pm Sunday 24th, 8.15pm. Ian Waite and Natalie Lowe. The Strictly Come Dancing favourites perform a dance showcase spectacular designed to dazzle and wow. £26. Wyvern

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Monday 4th & Tuesday 5th, 11am & 2.30pm The Railway Children. A beautiful blend of storytelling, drama, comedy and musical theatre bringing E. Nesbit’s well-loved tale to life. £12; Saba Douglas-Hamilton: A Life child £10; family £40. Arts Centre with Elephants. Join the highly Friday 8th, 1.30pm acclaimed elephant conservationist Rapunzel. An exciting musical about for an evening of exciting animal a naive young girl with the longest stories and intimate behind the hair you’re ever likely to see. £12; scenes tales of life in Kenya with her child £10; family £40. Arts Centre young family. £18.50. Wyvern Saturday 9th to Tuesday 26th Tuesday 26th, 7.30pm Lambing. New David Starkey: The King is Dead born lambs in - Royal death and succession the barn. Normal under the Tudors. The UK’s leading admission prices. constitutional historian uncovers Roves Farm. See the astonishingly dramatic story of advert page 26 the Tudors. £16. Wyvern

VENUES Arts Centre Devizes Road SN1 4BJ. Tel: 01793 524481 Roves Farm Sevenhampton, Nr Highworth SN6 7QG. Tel: 01793 763939 Swindon Information Centre, Central Library SN1 1QG. Tel: 01793 530328 Swindon Museum and Art Gallery, Bath Road SN1 4BA. Tel: 01793 466556 Wyvern Theatre Theatre Square SN1 1QN. Tel: 01793 524481 Confirm date, time & price with venue

EXHIBITION Until Saturday 9th, Wednesday to Saturday 11am to 3pm Going to Town: Scenes of Urban Life. Paintings, drawings and prints depicting scenes of urban life by modern British artists including works by LS Lowry, Richard Hamilton, John Nash, Sylvia Gosse and Edward Bawden. Free entry. Swindon Museum & Art Gallery swindonlink.com n April 2016

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Stagecoach moves bus depot from Old Town to Cheney Manor

Do you speak Swindonian?

Sarah Grossenbacher, a linguistics student at the University of Berne in Switzerland, is studying the dialect of people living along the M4 corridor with particular focus Rupert Cox MD Stagecoach West, and Justin Tomlinson MP, with left, on the area between Swindon and engineering manager Geoff Sturgess and operations manager Shelley Usher Bristol. She’s a member of an The £3.2 million purpose-built facility is a really significant international team mapping how facility at Cheney Manor Industrial investment and shows the English is spoken across Britain. Estate has been built on the site of company’s confidence in Swindon as They’ve created an App. available the Plessey Social Club and replaces an economic success in the region. via AppStore and Google Play which the old and very restricted site on The garage represents a much has been downloaded over 30,000 Eastcott Hill in Old Town. needed element in the regeneration times and allows users across the In the Swindon area Stagecoach of Cheney Manor Industrial Estate.” UK to submit examples of speech. maintains and operates a fleet of Swindon operations manager Sarah needs lots of contributions 65 buses across 8 different models, Shelley Usher said: “The opening of to be able to analyse dialect from a serving over 5.5 million passengers our new hub is a dream come true. particular area, but, so far, there are annually. We will now be able to operate fewer than ten contributions from North Swindon MP Justin much more efficiently and the site Swindon. Tomlinson opening the depot on also allows us opportunities to Find out more about the project at 26 February said: “This £3.2 million expand in the future.” www.bit.ly/swindialect

Heritage mag tells a tragic tale

The team behind the quarterly Swindon Heritage magazine have published another excellent 84 page Spring edition packed with local history. The cover story is a detailed look at Ben and Ellen Howard, the Swindon couple who perished on the Titanic when it sank in 1912. There are articles on the strange tales about the Swindon railway works hooter and the anniversary at Swindon Crematorium. Find out where to purchase a copy and/or take out a subscription at: www.swindonheritage.com

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Swindon Wide Swindon Soup continues to aid community

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Fiona Simpson hosting the second Swindon Soup event The second Swindon Soup was held in February with a packed audience backing Service User Network Swindon as its chosen cause of the night.

The charity walked away with £400 to be used to buy muchneeded cooking equipment. The event held at Arclite House, Peatmoor aimed to build upon the inaugural event which saw Wrong Shoes Theatre Company successfully pitch their community project to the audience and gain over £500 for lighting equipment, raised from the entry fee on the night. Fiona Simpson, organiser and host for the evening, said: “This was another great Swindon Soup. “After the amazing response from the first one we have managed to continue this success raising £400 for the very deserving Swindon SUNS. “Swindon SUNS, Nexus Project

and IWD Swindon did Swindon proud; it was lovely to hear the amazing work that goes on. This event is not just about the money but also the awareness raised for the projects pitching. The networking that goes on is incredible. “None of this would be a success without the people of Swindon coming out to show their support.” Service User Network Swindon (SUNS) has been providing support to mental health service users since 1998. SUNS aims to give its clients a voice, helping them to speak out about their experience of mental health services, as well as offering a place to meet like-minded people in a supportive and friendly environment. The charity is managed and staffed by former and current service users.

A Spring welcome at Studley Grange It’s a great time of year to visit Studley Grange Craft Village, Butterfly World and Farm Park. There are a number of new and exciting shops in their craft village, as well as old favourites. Visitors of all ages can spend time exploring the shops, discovering the many craft activities they have to offer. You can make a range of beautiful items to take home for yourself, or as gifts for others. Crafts to tempt you are quilting, pottery, cupcakes, chocolate making, artwork, clothes and makeup. After a busy morning in the craft village, you can relax in the Butterfly Cafe, and choose a main meal or light lunch from their range

of quality food, freshly prepared on site. Why don’t you spend the afternoon having fun with their wonderful zoo and farm animals? Come to their feeding times for the otters and meerkats and learn all about them. You can have hands on experience feeding and petting the livestock and smaller animals. If you are lucky you may see a joey in the pouch of Wilma one of their wallabys. In the tropical house are graceful and colourful butterflies. The very knowledgeable butterfly keeper will answer any questions you may have about these wonderful insects.

Something for everyone at Cat Show Cricklade Town Hall is hosting a Cat Show on 14 May from 12.30pm to 4pm. On show will be pedigree and non-pedigree cats. Good food and refreshments will be available and there will be an auction for audiences to participate in.

A variety of stalls and activities will be going on throughout the day, including a raffle. There really is something for everyone – not only cat-lovers. For tickets, call 01666 860646 or 07801 802832. Adults: £2, concessions £1.

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The Swindon Wildcats column with Mike Wray

Clare Duncan-Hawes BSc (Hons) MSc DC Member of the British Chiropractic Association & College of Chiropractors. Registered with GCC

With the end of the ice hockey season comes the arrival of the play-offs, and for the Wildcats they got underway at the end of March. The conclusion of the 54 game league schedule is formatted differently to what you’d see in football, as the competition sees the league champions joined by the runners-up through to 8th place clubs who, from this season, will see the top three teams having the opportunity to choose their opponents from any of the play-off quarter finals qualifying clubs. A selection outside of another top four team also allows a top four club to choose their home leg quarter final date, but that right will be lost if they select another top four team. Having selected their opposition, the eight teams battle it out over

two legs in a bid to reach the finals weekend, which is held in Coventry during April. Overly complicated? Maybe if you’re not a follower of the game, but for those who are, Finals weekend tickets are sold out long before supporters know if their club has even qualified for Coventry, such is the pull of the competition. “The beauty of the play-offs is that it’s like the season has started over,” Wildcats player-coach Aaron Nell told Swindon Link. “It’s great to get on a winning run towards the end of the season, but momentum isn’t a guarantee of making the finals weekend, it’s what you make over the two quarter final games that gets you there and we’ll be giving it everything.” You can find out more about the club at www.swindonwildcats.com

Golf club first to back Brighter Futures Ogbourne Downs Golf Club opened its 2016 golfing year with a traditional Captains’ Drive In Day at the end of February. Following a very successful shotgun competition in the morning over 100 members braved the chilly wind to watch the new captains drive in off the first tee. On the day outgoing club captain Steve Howcroft presented a cheque for £6,000 to the Alzheimers charity and Barbara Entwisle presented a cheque for £3,000 to MacMillan cancer support, which were the club’s nominated charities during the last season.

This year’s club captain Roger Entwisle has announced that Ogbourne Downs will be the first golf club in the area to adopt the GWH Brighter Futures Radiotherapy Appeal as one of its major charities for the year. As wife Barbara Entwisle will carry on as ladies’ captain for another year, 2016 will be very much a family affair at Ogbourne Downs. Find out more about the golf club at www.ogbournedowns.co.uk Organisations interested in supporting the radiotherapy appeal can find out more at: www.brighterfuturesgwh.nhs.uk

Sport and Leisure sc Ea ou rl nt y B sA va ird ila bl e

Cycling events for 2016

At a recent BUG meeting we talked about was ‘what is happening relating to cycling in Swindon this year?’ In next to no time we had come up with a surprising number of events that should appeal to cyclists of all levels. Even if you have never ridden a bike there’s something for you. At the professional level, we’ve just had the world track cycling championships on TV from London, where the GB team topped the medals table. Hopefully that achievement can be repeated at the Olympics in Rio and GB goes to the Tour de France with the favourite for victory in Chris Froome again. Bristol has a split stage of the Tour of Britain this year in September if you want to get up close to professional cyclists. In Swindon, there are organised rides for cyclists of all abilities, including those who have never ridden or who haven’t been on a bike for years. These include the Sky Rides which start on 15 May. Breeze rides are for women only and there are Ride Social rides organised by

Cycling column by Rob Derry of Swindon Bicycle Users Group (BUG)

Where Are We Going?

Sustrans. In schools, the Big Pedal is in April and this is a national competition that encourages kids to cycle, walk and scoot to school. Swindon schools have done very well nationally in recent years. Bikeability is also teaching kids the basic skills of looking after a bike and riding it safely. There are also Go Ride sessions for children aged 7-16 who may want to try competitive cycling. For those of you who may be less confident on a bike, there are adult cycle training courses in July and there is a Cycle For Health scheme where people who may be thinking that they’re not fit enough to ride a bike can borrow an electric bike. There are also plans for a family fun day to include lots of cycling and non-cycling related activities in the summer. Watch out on the SwindonBUG Facebook page for further information.

The Swindon Town Supporters’ Trust (Trust STFC ) column from chairman Steve Mytton

Another year of support for STFC We held our AGM on 3 March and it was very positive. The AGM is a good time to reflect on the year and to look to the months ahead. The accounts show that we started this financial year (September 2015 onwards) with £1,549 in the bank. We are now growing our overall cash balance via the Red Army Fund, where fans are donating on a monthly basis, so if you would like to help us achieve more for the club, please visit www.redarmyfund. co.uk and donate whatever you can afford. Some of this money will be spent on immediate initiatives, and some will be put aside or spent on the longer term projects. Our #5kToCoventry campaign was launched in February to get as many people along to Coventry v Swindon on 19 March as we possibly could. We put out flyers and did lots of media work and at the time of writing well over 1400 tickets had been sold with lots more to come, making it the best away support of the season. We’re unlikely to reach the 5k target but we know we’ve attracted lots and lots of supporters

Swindon Sports Forum next meets on Thursday 21 April, 6.30pm to 8.45pm, in the Legends Lounge at the County Ground, SN1 2ED. The evening will focus on talks by representatives of Sport England about national sport policy, and Swindon Council on sport and recreation provision. There will also be discussion with sports clubs about the future development of community sport and participation by targeted groups. For more details mail: sportsforum@vas-swindon.org

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Walk of Memories The annual Prospect Hospice Walk of Memories takes place on Sunday 15 May in Stanton Park. The fundraising event, suitable for the whole family including the dog, is a peaceful and reflective five mile walk. Adult registration is £8, with family registration for £20. Register to take part: www.prospecthospice.net/walkofmemories.

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to Coventry’s Ricoh Arena. Results have been going our way generally, and hopefully we can set ourselves up for a genuine play-off push. We’re getting great support from the community; TrustSTFC board member Simon Cowley sent our #5k to Coventry flyer to all Swindon primary schools and asked them to distribute it to all the families. Highworth Town Juniors chairman Mark Collett also pledged to help by promoting the campaign throughout their club. Thanks to financial support from Excalibur, we handed out 100 free scarves to youngsters with the aim of seeing fans young and old in unison at the Ricoh, scarves held aloft and singing their hearts out. Together we are strong! COYR www.truststfc.com

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A weight-loss expert is calling on adults from Swindon to take time to think about their health and wellbeing as part of a new government campaign that says it’s never too late to make a change. Slimming World are the official partners in Public Health England’s new One You campaign, which aims to support adults to make simple changes towards a healthier and happier life, providing motivational support and encouragement every step of the way. Heather Clark, who runs Slimming World groups in Taw Hill and Redhouse, said: “One You is about helping adults take time out of their busy lives to think about their own health and wellbeing. A few new healthy habits could be all it takes to live a longer, healthier and happier life.” She believes that government’s renewed focus on public health has never been more vital as around one in four adults are obese. It is estimated that by 2034, this will increase to one in three. As well as the serious physical health conditions obesity can lead to – from diabetes and raised blood pressure to the increased risk of heart disease and cancer – people who struggle with their weight often experience low confidence, poor self-esteem and mental illhealth. To celebrate its new partnership until 29 May Slimming World is offering free membership (saving £10) when new members sign up for a 12-week Countdown (12 weeks for the price of 10). Get involved with One You on Slimming World’s website. Look for ‘How are You?’ and fill in the quick and easy quiz to help people recognise the things they can do to improve their health in the long term, from eating well to moving more or being smoke free to drinking less. To join Slimming World, drop into your nearest group or call a consultant first. See the advert on page 13. www.slimmingworld.co.uk

Wheelchair Tennis player Louise Hunt

Swindon based wheelchair tennis player and Paralympian Louise Hunt is raising funds and awareness ahead of September’s Paralympic Games to be held in Rio. Louise was born with Spina Bifida and has been in a wheelchair her whole life. She said: “I have faced many challenges with my disability growing up, but sport has given me an outlet to prove to myself and others that anything is possible no matter what obstacles you may have to overcome. “For many years I competed in both wheelchair tennis and wheelchair racing and I still hold an un-official record of seven consecutive London Mini Wheelchair Marathon wins.

However, tennis was always my passion, so at 16 I made the choice to dedicate my life to the sport I love the most. “At 21 years old I competed in London 2012 which was my first Paralympic games, and now I am aiming for my second in Rio. In order to qualify for the games I need to be ranked inside the top 22 in the world at the end of May. I am having the most successful year of my career so far, reaching number 10 in the world, so I want to keep that up.” Find out more and support Louise’s Road to Rio challenge on her PledgeSports page at: www.pledgesports.org/projects/ louise-hunt-road-to-rio

Departing Swindon Food Bank manager to fundraise in the mud

Andrew Hill, outgoing manager for Swindon Food Bank, has taken up a role with Swindon Borough Council, but his parting gift is to take on a Tough Mudder challenge with his daughter Emily at the end of April to raise money for the Food Bank. He said: “The charity will always be in my heart and I wanted to do something now that I am leaving to prove that”. Tough Mudder is a half marathon

across slippery, muddy terrain that involves a large number of obstacles along the route including full immersion in iced water, electric shocks and tear gas. Swindon Food Bank would like to thank Andrew for his past dedication to the charity, wish him all the best in his new role and spur him on in his challenge. Sponsor Andrew at: www.bit.ly/AndrewHillfundraising

Sport and Leisure Haydon Wick youngsters burn energy Children at Haydon Wick Primary School enjoyed a whole day of preEaster holiday fun fitness activities as part of their curriculum in March. Final year Gloucester University PE student teacher Emily Sparkes organised ten physical and educational challenges that could be enjoyed both inside or outside, depending on the weather. They included boccia, stacking cups, classroom volleyball, quiz, skipping,

beetledrive, target throws, relay races, label the body and hot potato. Emily said: “The aim is for pupils to have fun, encourage participation in sport and recreational activity, and offer an element of competition. “But I wanted to generally promote the idea that there are many ways to get active and fit without playing mainstream sports or joining teams to play football or netball.”

Active Haydon Wick pupils with Emily Sparkes, back left, and university colleague Amy Charlesworth

Places still available at Domino’s sponsored Urban Rider Games on 8 April This year’s Urban Rider Games at ATBShop Skate Warehouse on Friday 8 April, starting at 3pm, has a new sponsor and a new name: The Domino’s Urban Rider Games Reloaded 2016. Organiser Diana Kirk said: “The cost of putting on the games is huge and we’re really thankful to James Swift, the owner of the Domino’s Pizza Swindon franchise, who is making a financial donation, in addition to supplying pizza and prizes. He has really saved the Urban Rider Games this year. “ATBShop has been collecting prizes for the event which will be worth well over £2,000 across different competitions. We’re

expecting even more competitors to take part. Last year over 100 extreme sports riders came to

Urban rider action from 2015

Swindon, from across the region; we even attracted one rider from Manchester. “Swindon Travel Choices have loaned us a couple of smoothie exercise bikes where users peddle to generate their drink in the attached blender. Morrisons at Regent Circus in the town centre will be supplying all the fresh fruit and ingredients

to help make 2016’s event super healthy and great fun. “It’s going to be a day full of adrenaline for the entire family, as previous competitors battle it out to keep their titles for the second year in their BMX, Skate or Scooter discipline.” The games take place at ATBShop Skate Warehouse, 1 Newcombe Drive, Hawksworth Estate, SN2 1DZ. Anyone who pre-registers for the competitions will receive a free event T-Shirt worth over £15. www.atbshop.co.uk/lessons/ atbshop-skatewarehouse-urbanrider-games-2016 Friends and family are welcome to watch the event free of charge.

swindonlink.com n April 2016

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Gail Light, left, in Kenya with Younite Project

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Swindon Phoenix Rotary Club member Gail Light is raising money for the Younite Outreach Project by hosting a Zumba event at Arclite House in Peatmoor on 23 April and also a curry/quiz evening in Old Town on 18 April. Having met Younite organiser Fiona Simpson at a social event and listened to a talk on the project’s work in Kenya, Gail decided to visit the two schools funded solely by Younite: Silver Bells school and Melon Mission. Gail said: “I was doing a sponsored month free of alcohol when I met Fiona and her talk on Younite inspired me to get involved. I’d heard about the project through word of mouth and I’ve always wanted to volunteer abroad

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at some point in my life, so this seemed like the ideal opportunity. “Younite make the whole process so easy and look after you every step of the way, during the visit and afterwards when you come back with so many questions unanswered. “At Silver Bells I’ve seen first hand the barriers young children face in their education. Many simply can’t afford to progress through the educational system, so I took the option to sponsor one of the young girls I met out there. I would encourage others to do the same.” The schools Younite is involved with rely on the charity as their sole source of funding. To get involved find out more at: www.yoproject.co.uk

Motoring

Out and about in the Jeep Cherokee

Geoff Maxted of Drivewrite.co.uk takes the Jeep Cherokee for a spin

In the ever-expanding world of the SUV the Jeep Cherokee 2.2L Multijet 4WD Auto Limited has much to recommend it. Although it says ‘Since 1941’ on the steering wheel this big car has little in common with the original legend. Sharing an Alfa Romeo platform, the Cherokee has lost the rugged American looks in favour of something more sleek and European. The Jeep Cherokee comes in a choice of models although the most expensive, the 3.2L V6 Trailhawk, is only available by special order

in the UK. Prices start at around £26,000 for a six-speed manual with 2WD. At around £38k for a range-topping 4WD model, the Cherokee is starting to get a bit costly but against that is the fact that you get an absolute ton of worthwhile kit for the money. There’s a range of engines on offer but the pick of the bunch is the new 2.2L Multijet. This new 197bhp diesel makes a strong case for itself. It is quicker than the old 2.0L (8.5s to 62mph) and faster too, reaching a top speed of 127mph although

obviously you will never experience this. With torque at 325lb-ft at 2500rpm the Jeep Cherokee feels eager right from the off. A high point is the nine-speed gearbox which offers swift and smooth shifts and endeavours to get the car into the highest suitable gear as soon as possible. That’s good for economy. If you prefer you can switch the big lever to manual and shift sequentially. ‘Selec-Terrain’ 4WD offers a choice of ‘Auto’ for everyday use, ‘Sport’ for when you want to open the taps a bit more, ‘Snow’ for more control on the dreaded white stuff and ‘Sand/Mud’ for a bit of off-roading. It’s simple and it works well. I suspect, unless you were beyond stupid, that it is impossible to accidentally bump into things when manoeuvring the Cherokee, say in a car park, such is the level of all round alert systems and a very good rear-mounted camera. Go near anything, or if anything comes near you and the Jeep knows before you do. The good news doesn’t stop there. This is a very comfortable vehicle. On our broken roads the low-speed

ride is a little unsettled but once underway the ride is excellent. For me, it is a little too soft but most buyers will be pleased, I expect. Relax, stick your elbow on the sill, accept that this car is a cruiser and you’ll be happy. During a lot of urban driving I achieved a commendable 37mpg and on a run I suspect that the ‘official’ figure of 49.6mpg would be approachable. This is no doubt aided by the inclusion of an unobtrusive Stop/Start and the smooth gearbox. I like the simple dashboard layout which has some button controls (there are more on the multifunction heated steering wheel) although most of the functions are controlled through the ‘Uconnect’ touchscreen. As usual, Bluetooth, navigation, climate, USB, SD and the other usual suspects are all standard kit. The Jeep Cherokee is not perfect. It is not a car that will press on along twisty country lanes and deliver up a great driving experience, but it does seem to be a car that will cope with everything a family and/or long-distance travel can throw at it.

swindonlink.com n April 2016

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Organisers of the West Swindon Open Gardens which will take place on Fathers Day weekend, 18 and 19 June, have decided to support Swindon Youth Mentoring charity SMASH and also Swindon based parent run children’s cancer charity CALM. The event organised by Shaw Residents’ Association is keen to attract more gardeners willing to open up in aid of these worthy small organisations. You don’t have to have a show garden or be any kind of expert gardener to take part. Over the last 13 years the event has raised some £28,000 for a range of charities. To take part, email Kevin Fisher: shawresident@outlook.com

Open gardens organiser Kevin Fisher

Competition winners The five sets of family tickets to enjoy the new Better Extreme Trampoline Park at Link Centre, offered in the February Link magazine were won by Lydia Scott, Kerry Martin, Jade Wallace, Rachel Bray and Michael Connell. The new 1,100 square metre centre is the second of its kind in the UK operated by charitable social enterprise GLL. Offering state-of-the-art equipment including a main court with foam pits, extreme dodgeball area, basketball and performance walls, the trampoline park has become a a fun haven for children and adults alike since it opened in early February. Trampolining is great for all ages, for kids to let off steam in a safe and supervised environment, and also older people who can pit their skills against each other in activities designed to test their abilities to the max. Find out more and book tickets in advance at: www.better.org.uk/ leisure/the-link-centre

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www.heatingswindon.com

All types of electrical work undertaken

GASTECH

Building/Groundworks & Hard Landscaping Extensions, Garage & Loft Conversions Driveways & Patios All building work undertaken All work guaranteed, FREE quote and advice Mob: 07956 301957 Tel: 01793 348597 www.haynesconstruction.org.uk

Home Improvements & Building Services • General building maintenance • Garage conversions • Bathrooms and Kitchens • Carpentry • Wall & floor tiling • Plastering/Plaster boarding/Coving • UPVC doors, windows & repairs • Fascias, soffits, guttering • Patios and fencing Insurance work undertaken For a prompt professional service contact Andy: 07969350160 /01793 435513 www.acphomeimprovements.co.uk

REPAIR & IMPROVE

YOUR GUIDE TO HOME MAINTENANCE

Semi-retired Plumber

Earthmoving Services

24hr emergency call out • Leaks & burst pipes • Blocked drains, sinks & toilets • Immersions & hot water cylinders • Tap washers & ball valves • Complete bathrooms refitted • Dishwashers & washing machines plumbed in • Radiators changed

Tel: 01793 324116 Mob: 07788 621772

Haines

Plastering & Home Improvements

• Plastering • Tiling • Coving • Dry-Lining & Plasterboarding Rendering • • Screeding • Fencing Free quotations and a friendly service

217129

24 YEARS EXPERIENCE Installation & Servicing NG & LPG ✓ Boiler & System Upgrades ✓ Breakdown & Maintenance ✓ Bathrooms, Showers & Wet Rooms ✓ Power Flushing / Descaling ✓ For ALL your plumbing, heating & gas requirements call Assured on

07845 90 80 60 or 01793 700 820

www.assured-plumbing.co.uk

J&R Plumbing Providing plumbing services to clients throughout Swindon 30 years experience Friendly, reliable service

Call Luke on

OAP discount on request

or email: hainesplastering@gmail.com

Tel: 01793 271185 Mobile: 07813 950899

07853 966003

• Garden/site shaping, levelling, clearance • Footings, trenches & ditches excavated • Hardcore sub-bases & roadways/tracks • Concrete, tarmac, hedge & stump removal • Soil screening/debris removal • Micro excavator, minimum access width required: 29” (730mm) C.P.C.S Licensed • Fully Insured Call Steve to discuss your needs and receive a free estimate Tel: 01793 848708 or 07967 341567 www.earthmovingservices.co.uk

• Extensions • Driveways • Conservatories • Patios • Garden Walls • Fencing All general building and landscaping projects undertaken NO JOB TOO SMALL Call Stewart on

01793 670115 or 0784 182 6390 for a Free Estimate

Local locksmith Reasonable rates • New locks fitted • Gain entry • Problem uPVC doors and windows • Fitting of all wooden doors and hardware For a competitive quote call Matt on 07734253189 or email oakhurstlocks@aol.com

EJS-Link-QPC_93x133mm.pdf 1 12/11/2015 13:55:31

Checkatrade registered & insured

SWINDON GAS SERVICES www.swindongasservices.co.uk

01793 847517 Affordable luxury fitted wardrobes, measured, manufactured and fitted from only £495 Made to measure, floor to ceiling, a wide range of traditional and modern designs in various finishes For a free brochure and no obligation quote Call 01793 827188 www.mryprojects.co.uk

Extension & Garage Conversion Specialists • • • •

Project Management Alterations / Renovations New Builds and Barn Conversions Extensions and Garage Conversions Fully insured. 18 years experience Call Neil now for a free, competitive quote on

0800 1357063 or 07967 155502 or email:

★ boiler changes ★ boiler breakdown ★ full central heating systems ★ heating system upgrades ★ power flushing ★ bathroom suites ★ all types of plumbing work undertaken ★ no call out charge ★ 15 years experience 550065

Chrome sockets and switches Home extensions/rewires Replacement fuse boards Kitchen & bathroom electrics Data cabling/office conversions Garage/garden power Decorative lights Fault finding/repairs Free help and advice

Fully insured to £2m

Call Dan: 07791 791513 Email: dan@boylectrical.co.uk Visit: www.boylectrical.co.uk

info@benchmarkconstructionswindon.co.uk benchmarkconstructionswindon.co.uk swindonlink.com n April 2016

REPAIR & IMPROVE YOUR GUIDE TO HOME MAINTENANCE

❉ Quality bathroom suites fitted - tiling, electrics, flooring, all taken care of ❉ All types of plumbing undertaken - leaking taps, pumps, tanks, burst pipes, machines installed 302877 Free estimates

Approved Plumber

01793 876600 07748 964433

mjplumbing64@gmail.com

DECORATOR Quality painting and decorating at an affordable price 40 years experience No VAT Free estimates For professional, reliable and friendly service call

GBD Services 01793 979282 or 07453 966627

DECORATOR INSIDE AND OUT

Call Stuart on 01793 727659 or 07809 368051

or rat eco

WALL & FLOOR SPECIALIST Please call Leon for a free quote

Free Quotes

TEL: 01793 330975 MOB: 07919 255673

Call Lee on 0771 8102 921

Email: leon.jack@hotmail.co.uk

Call Mike on 0778 8444 084 or 01793 520526

swindonlink.com n April 2016

Experienced in all aspects of interior and exterior decorating ✓ Domestic, commercial & letting ✓ Specialist in insurance claims & DIY 'rescues’ ✓ Competitive rates (no VAT) ✓ Excellent references ✓ Registered & recommended by the Painting & Decorating Association ✓ Age UK Registered ✓ Full public liability insurance

Free advice and quotations contact Darryl Bevan on 01793 497461 or 07919 671307

Domestic & commercial Internal & external Wallpaper specialist

16 years experience Fully insured Excellent references Discounts for senior citizens FREE no obligation quotation not an estimate!

&D Call 01793 334823 or 07788 572043

FLOOR & WALL TILING SPECIALISTS

Kitchens, Bathrooms and Conservatories

BUILDING SERVICES Bathroom suites and kitchens fitted UPVC windows & doors Conservatories, fascias and guttering Roofing & building maintenance Painting, decorating, ceramic tiling Telephone/fax: 01793 874807

DECORATOR

GILES BROS

TILING

Call Andy: 01793 729354 or 07900 835116

ter

REDUCTIONS FOR OAPs

No job too small • Rooms left tidy daily Free no obligation 24 hour quotations

ain

• 20 years experience • Competitive rates • No job too small • Reliable & friendly service • Free estimates

INTERIOR & EXTERIOR

PR ID EP

INTERIOR H EXTERIOR H WALLPAPERING

Free estimates Call Jamie on 01793 704309 or 0777 594 8833 www.jspropertyservices.co.uk

• Interior/exterior painting and decorating • Wallpaper • Tiling • Coving • Laminate flooring • Doors & skirting replacement • Kitchen & bathroom refits • Internal alterations

01793 321981 07775 840236

FREE ESTIMATES H

General carpentry Fitted kitchens / bedrooms Laminate and solid flooring Replacement doors Skirtings / architraves Decking and patios General building maintenance

DECORATING & CARPENTRY

• High class painting and decorating •30 years experience •Competitive rates •Interior & exterior •References available •Reliable friendly service, all work undertaken For free quotation call Paul on

J S Property Services

Paul Rhind

PA I N T I N G A N D D E C O R AT I N G

& Heating

CARPENTRY

A C h a n g e o f Co l o u r

Plumbing

(Unlike many of our competitors)

Call 01793 721455 or 07976 885203

www.trevorwyse.com PLANS DRAWN Loft conversion & extension specialist. Complete house design and commercial work undertaken. From initial concept to full working drawings my service includes: • written specifications; • contractor tender documents; • all forms and paperwork carried out; • liaison with relevant authorities; • Party Wall Act paperwork and advice given. 7 DAY DESIGN SERVICE for most domestic work Established 1980. All areas covered

Call Bob on 07778 324228

01793 264568 07415 431340

garyfulford1@sky.com www.garyfulfordpaintingand decorating.co.uk

BSJ PLASTERING & DECORATING SERVICES All areas of Plastering, Decorating and Refurbishment undertaken • Ceilings and Walls Plastered • Coving • Rendering • Painting & Decorating - Internal & External • Complete Home Improvements undertaken • Free quotations

Please contact Brian Jones

Mobile: 07976 572905 Home: 01793 725834 Professional, reliable and friendly service

www.swindonplasterer.com

REPAIR & IMPROVE

YOUR GUIDE TO HOME MAINTENANCE

G R SERVICES

Services

(Household Maintenance)

Painting and decorating Carpentry services Grounds maintenance Turfing, fencing, patios Kitchen & bathroom installations Wall tiling Fascias & guttering Roof repairs Friendly, reliable & competitive

Handyman

MJP Home Creations Creation Born Of Perfection Specialists in kitchens bathrooms and wetrooms Design and installation, plastering, plumbing, electrics, underfloor heating and tiling

Call Glen on: 01793 487450 07774 841879

Contact Matthew Pollard: 07779 318717 info@mjphomecreations.com See our customer testimonials: www.mjphomecreations.com

email: grservices@hotmail.co.uk

www.grservicesswindon.co.uk

RJ PeaRce Plumbing & Heating ltd Over 20 years experience in plumbing & heating work • Central heating • Bathrooms & showers

7 YEAR GUARANTEE on Worcester Bosch Ri Si and Cdi boilers

• Competitive rates • All work guaranteed

Est. 30 years • Central heating installation • Boiler servicing & repairs • Replacement boilers • Bathrooms & tiling • Power showers • Outside taps Reg: 128966 All plumbing work undertaken Reliable service, realistic prices

Accredited Installer

• No job too small

For further details call Richard on 01793 879156 or 07747 723606

Quality Plumbing & Heating

Kevin Rolfe

203455

Tel: 01793 881905 Mobile: 07973 663367 www.swindonheating.co.uk

• Plastering • Carpentry • Garden maintenance • Decorating, Coving • Groundwork • Tiling • Bathroom & Kitchen installation • Fencing & Patios • Power jetting • Building, installing partition walls, loft boarding & repairs Competitive rates, flexible hours, reliable, no job too small For a free no obligation quote call Gary on

Mobile: 07764 511933 or Tel: 01793 879069

Doctor Glass repairs & replaces cracked, broken or misted double glazed windows Also hinges and locks Call: 01793 854448 or 07976 219671

UNITS 19-20 KENDRICK INDUSTRIAL ESTATE SWINDON WILTS SN2 2DU

TEL: 01793 536784 SANSUM SAND & GRAVEL SUPPLY TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND TRADE CUSTOMERS BRICKS, CONCRETE BLOCKS, CELCON BLOCKS, BLOCK PAVING, PATIO SLABS, SAND, GRAVEL, TOP SOIL, BARK, CANTABURY SPAR, LANDSCAPE FABRIC, DRAINAGE CHANNELS, BUILDING CHEMICALS, ROCK SALT AND CEMENT

www.sansums.co.uk swindonlink.com n April 2016

SERVICE SECTOR YOUR GUIDE TO LOCAL SERVICES

ACCOUNTANCY

CJD

ACCOUNTANCY LTD

Craig Dell FCCA

Chartered Certified Accountant Over 20 year’s experience for all your accountancy & taxation needs including: • Self Assessments • Sole Traders • Partnerships • Limited Companies • Available evenings and weekends • Fixed fee quotes • No VAT • First consultation free

Tel: 01793 343255 M: 07557 399987 Email: cjd.accountancy@virginmedia.com

www.cjd-accountancy.co.uk

BOOK-KEEPING

AERIAL SERVICES

Chris Payne

aerials & satellite systems ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭

Freeview & Sky installations TV & radio aerials Home cinema Extra TV & telephone points NO VAT

Tel: 01793 700078 Mobile: 07904 330724

CARPETS

AERIAL SERVICES

Aerial Solutions

Shaun Guard

TV AERIAL SERVICES

• Does your picture freeze and break up? • Would you like TV points in other rooms? • Do you want Freesat or Sky installed?

Then contact your local VAT free aerial and satellite installers

01793 744957

50% off digital aerials

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

COMPUTER SUPPORT

Est 2002 For all your computing needs

• • • • •

Hardware & Software Installs & Upgrades Repairs • Maintenance • PC Security Home or Business Networking Wireless Setup On Site Service, Home or Business

For a dedicated local service with a Microsoft Certified Professional, with over 21 years experience, call 01793 320 439 or 07799 337 918 E: info@compucareuk.com www.compucareuk.com

www.jcarpets.co.uk

COMPUTER SUPPORT

FURNITURE WANTED

Computer problems? Let us help

We provide a range of computer services for both home and business including: • PC repairs and maintenance • System upgrades, networking • Custom built computers • Windows home server installs • Virus removal • Data recovery • Internet solutions • Web design With over 15 years experience, you can rely on us

AJC Architectural Services Plans drawn Building Regulations Extensions, alterations & newbuilds All aspects of architectural design & engineering

01793 976605 07788 265772 swindonlink.com n April 2016

Call us now for free, no obligation quotation Tel: 01793 511885

Great personal service with great prices!

Cost Effective Pest Prevention and Control

Regular cleans, Spring cleans, Moving in or out cleans Trained and insured staff Equipment and supplies provided Quality Service Guarantee

01793 200071

PLANS DRAWN

Call 07818 550347

CLEANING

Affordable & reliable cleaning programmes, tailored to meet your needs and budget

We bring the showroom to you! Carpet, Vinyl, Wood & Laminate

PEST CONTROL

russell@whelanpest.co.uk

Call Swindon 01793 474720

Homes That Sparkle From People Who Shine

Tel: 01793 325685

Highly competitive pricing Swindon based • Fully qualified Specialists in all pest removal Bird proofing 7 Day - No call out charge

Poor Reception Solved Aerials repaired & supplied TVs - Hung on your wall and tuned Extra TV Points - For aerial and Sky (In HD!) Sky TV - Also Foreign Language TV

CARPET CLEANING

Can’t face doing the books after a hard day’s work? Call Leonard Fuller, A.I.C.B, qualified bookkeeper with over 20 years’ experience.

AERIAL SERVICES

is a West Swindon based charity, providing furniture and white goods to people in need Call the collections line on 07714 091011 HELP US TO HELP OTHERS

PROPERTY SERVICES

Working in and around the Swindon area

• NEW BUILDS & EXTENSIONS • PLUMBING • JOINERY • FASCIAS & SOFFITS • GARDENING & MAINTENANCE • PROPERTY MAINTENANCE

Call 07970 061123 Email errol@jpsm.co.uk www.jpsm.co.uk

SERVICE SECTOR

YOUR GUIDE TO LOCAL SERVICES

APPLIANCE REPAIRS

HALE SKILLS • Washing Machines • Cookers • Dishwashers

Guaranteed repairs to all makes of domestic appliances

CLEANING

Abacus Cleaning Services

THE CLEANING & IRONING SERVICE

Carpets, Rugs and Fabric Upholstery

Hard Floors Cleaned & Sealed Carpet & Upholstery Protection Treatments Insecticide & Anti-Static Treatments Spot & Stain Removal Fully Insured, NCCA member Independently owned & operated To arrange for a free estimate call

01793 421802

www.abacuscleaningswindon.co.uk

• Vacuum Cleaners Over 30 year’s experience

Same day/next day service

Call 07963 131429

Tel: 01793 469300

e.mail: haleskills@gmail.com

or 01793 490668

CLEARANCE

House cleans from £16 per house. Around £26 for a 4 bed.

Weekly, fortnightly or monthly cleans. One-off Spring cleans Ironing £17 per basket, collected and returned the next day

Call 01793 875665 07780625244

GARAGE DOORS

Installation & Repairs New Doors • Automation No Obligation Quotes Est. 1981

GARAGE DOORS

Electrical Automation • Up & Over • Roller • For our fast Sectional • Repairs • friendly repair service call New doors/general enquiries 01793 940096

Showroom:

Maxwell House, Maxwell Street, Swindon SN1 5DR Tel: (01793) 618499 or 513796 swindondoorservices@ btinternet.com

• Dryers

01793 847545

www.garagedoorsupplies.co.uk

Unit 8, Central Trading Estate, Signal Way, Swindon SN3 1PD Email enquiries@dimensions.org.uk • www.dimensions.org.uk

REMOVALS

SCRAP METAL

TV REPAIRS

UPHOLSTERY

WHITE VAN MAN

RODDERS SCRAP METAL

Gogglebox

M & J Upholsterers

SINGLE ITEMS MOVED ANYWHERE IN SWINDON FOR ONLY £35

• Full house removal • House clearance • Disposal of unwanted items • Any distance long/short • Fully insured NEW: Licensed to remove fridges

Call for a FREE quote Mobile: 07796 236436

All metals removed FREE of charge Washing machines, cookers, microwaves etc. Sorry no fridges or freezers Scrap cars collected FREE of charge

01793 613396 07899 018167 Registered waste carrier

New TV tuning & system set-up In house TV repairs In house estimates

Call Darryl Pace on 01793 812738

RE-UPHOLSTERY & ALL SUITE REPAIRS Re-upholstery of 3 piece suites, dining & fireside chairs etc. Also new seat interiors Seams - Zips - Springs

LEATHER CLEANING Repairs carried out in situ Established 1972

Call 07709 453949 emanjayupholstery@gmail.com swindonlink.com n April 2016

Letters Write to Swindon Link at publisher@swindonlink.com with Letters in the subject line, or by post to Swindon Link, Positive Media Group, Unit 3, Arclite House, Century Road, Swindon SN5 5YN

The very confusing issue of parishing Swindon

Good Samaritan

The issue of parishing has now taken on such an opacity that it’s difficult to determine exactly what council leader David Renard and his cabinet are seeking to achieve. So why is parishing such a ‘hot topic’ and what is the history and background to parish councils? Many parts of the borough are already parished although it has to be said that the role of existing parish councils is limited with most spending decisions made by its much larger borough counterpart. Parish councils do have expert advisors and they are ably led by a parish clerk. For many the attraction of a parish council is the perceived affinity of local people making decisions in the best interest of the immediate community. There is a lot to be said in favour of smaller government but what is the real reason behind the council’s wish for parishing? Cllr Renard offers the view that a core democratic principle is that decisions should be made as close to the people affected as possible. Strangely, it’s not a view he has championed in the past.

I am a 77 year old with a disability who drives an automatic car and would like to thank a stranger who came to my rescue in early March. I was driving home after visiting my sister in Sparcells when my car broke down at the traffic lights on Thamesdown Drive junction with Purton Road. I managed to coax it past the lights opposite Pembroke Park when a man parked his car and came over to help me. He told me he was a former policeman and pushed my car onto the grass verge; he even had a high-visibility yellow jacket to wave the traffic by to avoid a major hold up. He refused to leave me until my husband and our friend who runs a garage were able to come to tow me away over an hour later. The reason I am writing to you is that I never found out the name of this knight in shining armour who came to my rescue. I would like to thank the lovely man from the bottom of my heart for putting aside whatever he might have been doing and helping me out. Suzanne Saunders, Lechlade

swindonlink.com n April 2016

In 2012 the council undertook a Community Governance Review which determined that no action was required to amend boundaries or create new parishes from the non-parished areas of the town. So what has changed in just three short years to create the need for yet another Community Governance Review? Thankfully the answer is crystal clear and it’s the result of Central Government short funding local councils. And if there’s one thing Cllr Renard and his cabinet do not want, it is a referendum on raising the tax burden. Therefore isn’t it better to achieve the same end objective by persuading parish councils to raise their tax precept? Following the money trail suggests that in year one the parishes will receive 100 per cent of the cost of any activity they take on from the borough. This reduces until year three when the parish will be on its own to deliver a range of services and raise the money from people living in their area. From year two onwards the parish precept will have to rise if transferred services

are to be maintained.  In one fell swoop the rise in tax can be attributed to a new group of people. If you live in a non-parished area on your council tax bill is an item called ‘Swindon Non Parish Area.’ The 2015-16 charge is about £35 for a Band D property. Does this disappear from your tax bill to be replaced by the parish precept (the parish tax)? Heck no, Swindon Council intends to absorb the Swindon Non Parish Area charge into the general council tax, which means they keep an existing local tax and expect the new parish councils to levy its own tax to pay for the services they will have to deliver like grass cutting, hedge cutting, cleaning up litter and dog mess, and maintaining play areas. Complicated isn’t it? Des Morgan, Woodhall Park