Leisure

Have a close encounter at Cotswold Wildlife park

Cotswold Wildlife Park offers a fantastic day out for all the family.

Stroll around the park and enjoy uninterrupted views of the animals, - it feels as though you are in a wild setting.

Watch Rhinos graze on the lawns in front of the Gothic Manor House. Walk up the Giraffe walkway and get eye-to-eye with these amazing creatures or explore the Old Walled Garden’s Tropical House with free roaming sloths, birds and bats.

Visitors also have the chance to watch the penguins being fed (daily at 11am and 3pm) and then 1) Catch the official start to the performance car season at

Castle Combe Circuit - With non-stop track action, drifting demos and passenger rides, petrol-heads will love the Spring

Action Day at Castle Combe

Circuit on 8 April. 2) Sample some treats at an Easter chocolate tasting workshop - Children both big and small will enjoy the chance to taste chocolate from around the world at Goodfayre, in Cross

Keys Arcade, Salisbury. 3) Join in with an Easter Egg

Hunt: Try the National Trust properties of Stourhead and

Mompesson House as well as

Bowood House & Gardens and

Salisbury Escape Rooms. 5) Cheer on the Devizes to

Westminster Canoe Race: This annual canoe race takes place over Easter weekend. get up close with the Lemurs in their free-roaming Madagascar Exhibit. * Over 260 Animal Species * Penguin talk and feed at 11am and 3pm daily * Lemur Talk and feed daily at 12 noon * Children’s Farmyard * Large Adventure Playground * Reptile House, Insect House, Bat House. * Cafe and picnic areas. * Gift Shop & Kiosks * Train (April - Oct) * Brass Rubbings (School

Ten of the best days out

Holidays) 6) Find clues hidden around Lydiard Park: head to Lydiard Park on Easter Sunday and find clues in the parkland.

7) Hop aboard the Easter Eggspress: Meet the Easter Bunny as he travels aboard the Swindon & Cricklade Railway.

8) Join the White Rabbit on the Larmer Tree Easter Trail: On Easter Monday, visit the Larmer Tree and take part in the picturesque Easter trail

9) Spot the Marvellous Monsters at Longleat: Look out for the swarm of colossal bugs that will be on display around Longleat’s grounds! Great for anyone who’s into creepy crawlies.

10) Dare to meet some dinosaurs: Experience the delights of Dinosaur World at Swindon’s Wyvern Theatre on 19-20 April.

Oink Gallery brings regular fix of art to Old Town

For those of you who need a regular fix of art, Oink Gallery aims to inject all the necessary ingredients to bring you an array of work from all over the country, both from local artists and further afield.

Oink Gallery, which has a collection of art from over 25 artists, has dedicated one of its largest walls to monthly solo exhibitions, alongside the array of designer artefacts also for sale in the shop.

March saw the first of these solo exhibitions showcasing London Artist Dan Hillier’s latest collection of work, some of which can still be viewed (and bought) in the gallery. The preview night of the exhibition featured a live Facebook feed from the artist in the Gallery’s Diary Room, allowing guests in the gallery (as well as wider online audience) to chat to the artist.

Oink’s next instalment comes from Brick Lane’s very own artist Adrian Boswell, a well known collage artist who mixes the surrealism of Salvador Dali with the humour of Monty Python, something that really needs to be seen to be believed.

The exhibition will be supported by the artist himself, working in the gallery’s basement space, to create new pieces, which will then be exhibited alongside his existing collection of work in the gallery.

Adrian Boswell’s exhibition runs throughout April with the opening night on Friday 7 April 6.30pm.

Check out Oink Gallery’s Facebook page for more information.

By Graham Carter of Swindon Heritage magazine

Swindon Heritage has been awarded a £9,700 grant by the Heritage Lottery Fund to throw the spotlight on a newly discovered local treasure.

Known as The Dixon-Attwell Collection, it was donated to the Local Studies department of Swindon Central Library last year, and is made up of around 7,000 documents, photos and ephemera.

The collection was donated by Mike Attwell and relates to three generations of the Swindon-based Dixon and Attwell families, and in particular Mike’s grandfather, Jack Dixon (1899-1984), who lived in George Street, near the GWR Park in Faringdon Road.

What members of the family all had in common was: they never seemed to throw anything away. So the collection paints a picture of everyday life in Swindon for most of the 20th century.

“When my parents died, I was left with a house full of papers and others items,” said Mike Attwell. “Few items were of any real monetary value, but I recognised they had priceless interest for Swindon historians and, indeed, anybody interested in the town’s past, so it was important to find them a good home.”

A few of the items have been deposited at the Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre in Chippenham, but the majority will be added to the Local Studies archive at the Central Library.

Although the Dixons were a relatively ‘ordinary’ family, they were very active in the community, so were involved in a wide range of aspects of Swindon life, from trade unions to St John Ambulance.

Jack also served in the fledgling Royal Air Force at the end of the First World War, managed a fund to provide books to Royal Navy sailors after the Second World War, and even ran a mail order catalogue for fellow railwaymen in the 1950s.

In each case there is a detailed record of his activities, since he always kept documents, squirreling them away in folders and boxes.

What he preserved also reveals the lifestyle of Swindon folk in general since it relates to other subjects as diverse as Swindon Town Football Club, shopping at the Co-op, gardening, foreign penfriends and crazes for phrenology and pressing wild flowers, as well as much more.

The family were also accomplished photographers at a time when it wasn’t a common hobby, so they have left behind thousands of high quality pictures, covering several decades, including views of Swindon not previously published.

The grant will pay for the publication of a book about the collection, plus an exhibition, talks and packs for schools, all planned for the autumn. And, of course, the project will be featured in future editions of Swindon Heritage, which is published quarterly.

First, however, some of the money is earmarked for professional Local Studies staff to tackle the challenge of cataloguing and digitising a large proportion of the items in the collection, not only preserving them for future generations, but also making them more accessible for today’s local and family historians.

It is also hoped the project will draw attention to the rest of the Local Studies collection, which continues to grow.

“We receive so many wonderful donations for our collection,” said Local Studies team leader, Darryl Moody, “but the Dixon-Attwell Collection stands out as the most

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The town’s Local Studies collection is already one of the best of its kind in the whole of Britain, is brilliantly managed by library staff, and is something to treasure at a time when library services and the town’s heritage are otherwise under threat. www.swindonheritage.com

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Swindon’s theatre scene has received a much needed shot in the arm with the launch of two new venues in the town, dedicated to promoting and supporting the arts at a grass roots level.

Swindon’s Shoebox Theatre celebrated its official launch with a visit by newly appointed patron Billie Piper and a live theatrical performance.

Invited guests included prominent members of Swindon’s artistic community, including Museum and Art Gallery Director Hadrian Ellory Van Dekker as well as other invitees from the wider town community including Swindon Borough Council leader David Renard.

The Shoebox Theatre, based in a 6m x 12m multi-performance space next to the Wyvern Theatre, was set up last August with the aim of providing a platform for Swindon’s non professional actors to tackle new works and contemporary scripts.

Speaking at the opening,

Swindon-born actress Billie Piper praised the work of performers A budding ballet star has secured a place at the world famous Royal Ballet School - one of just 12 chosen from thousands of other hopefuls.

Even Swindon Primary School pupil, Olivia Bayram, 11, heard the amazing news from her mum Caroline, who couldn’t wait until the end of the school day to tell her.

She said: “I was so excited that I went to her school to give her the good news. She was in the middle of playing for the school football team at the time but the school kindly let me tell her.”

Olivia said: “I couldn’t believe it, I was so excited. It’s like a dream come true. I like all kinds of dance but ballet is what I’m really focussed on.”

The talented dancer has been who staged excerpts of The Magnificent Doctor Faustus and underlined the importance of grassroots theatre opportunities.

“The Shoebox is small, humble and wonderful. I’m a huge fan and I’m honoured to have been asked to be a patron of the Shoebox Theatre and I’m looking forward to being a regular fixture here.”

Also in March, the Bohemian Balcony has blossomed into being.

The project which is based in the former Palladium Cinema on Jennings Street in Rodbourne has been launched by former teacher Dan Rivers as a multi-faceted creative hub for writers, poets, performers and theatre groups to develop their skills in a supportive environment.

The Bohemian Balcony will act as one of four venues for Swindon’s Fringe Festival (April 1-9) and will host the launch night on March 31. l More information about the venues mentioned can be found at: www.shoeboxtheatre.org.uk www.bohemianbalcony.com www.swindonfringefestival.com

Billie Piper at the opening of the Shoebox Theatre

Olivia’s dancing for joy after gaining ballet school place

Ballet star: Olivia Bayram who has won a place at the Royal Ballet School

www.swindontheatres.co.uk studying ballet with the Tanwood School for Performing Arts since the age of three.

She will now stay at the ballet school’s White Lodge in Richmond Park, where she will hone her ballet skills alongside her academic studies, returning to see her parents Caroline and James every three weeks.

“It’s going to be strange but I know what a big opportunity this is for me so I’m really happy. I think I’m the only person from Swindon to be chosen to go this year so I feel really proud.”

As part of the audition process, Olivia competed against thousands of other hopefuls in a series of three auditions before being chosen as one of 12 from a pool of 64 in the final round in Birmingham.

Sport and Leisure Mobile Car Youth world title shot for Ryan Martin

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Ryan Martin (left) faces off against Michael Mckinson. Photo: Naomi Youd

On Two Wheels by Rob Derry of Swindon Bicycle Users Group (BUG)

If you’ve got kids you may be worried, like a lot of people are, that the roads are too busy to let them scoot or cycle to school. The paradox is that if that thought leads you to drive them to school, you’re making the problem worse and reinforcing the view that the roads are too busy by adding another car in to the mix.

Of course, no-one wants to be the first to take that step and hope that everyone else follows their great example. However, every journey starts with a single step (or pedal turn if you’re a cyclist.)

Towards the end of March, there is no need for you for to be that pioneer. There is no need for you to be the lone voice shouting over the drone of queuing cars taking kids the half a mile to the school gates and clogging up the roads around the school making it difficult for people to cross the road. Sustrans are organising the return of The Big Pedal - bigpedal.org.uk

It’s a schools’ competition and schools or even classes can earn points for the number of kids, parents and teachers cycling or scooting to school. There are prize draws and while the competition lasts for two weeks schools can submit their best five days or there are single day competitions as well. There are loads of schools in Swindon that register for this, so do find out if your child’s school has done so. If they haven’t, simply email the Big Pedal web link to someone at the school. Don’t think that your school has no chance because it’s a small school because that’s all taken into account.

Also, in 2014 Ferndale Primary school won the national title in the large primary school category with two other Swindon schools in the top 20 so who’s to say it can’t be your school?

If your school is entering, please do let us know on our Facebook page (Swindon BUG) www.swindonbug.co.uk

The Wildcats ice hockey column with Mike Wray

With the play offs quickly approaching, the culmination of any ice hockey season is always one of great excitement. However with MK Lightning and now Guildford Flames both having made successful applications to join the Elite League next term coupled with the midseason demise of the Manchester Phoenix, fans could be forgiven but the move will enable more and for looking just ahead as events more British netties to gain vital planned for the games second tier ice time and the move should help begin to gather momentum. to strengthen the position in future

Although final decisions are generations.” yet to be confirmed, the league’s The league will also be rebranded seven clubs have already agreed to to the ‘Premier Ice Hockey League’, participate in the competition next meaning there is scope for Welsh season in which the league will see and Scottish teams to become some pretty major changes. involved in the future, and with

“There are several new areas we’re several new rinks being completed going to have to get to grips with, around the country, new franchises but we’ll adapt and anything that are also a distinct possibility. can help the game in this country “With less imports, clubs will can only be positive,” Wildcats have to focus on developing more player-coach Aaron Nell said. home grown players, and that will

“One of the moves will see the help the future of the game at the clubs’ import contingent cut to highest level, but we’ll adapt and three and from the season after anything that can help progress the next, all netminders will have to game in this country can only be a be British trained. We’re fortunate positive step,” Nell concluded. enough to have Stevie Lyle in net, www.swindonwildcats.com

Sport and Leisure Hargroves Cycles to host sixth annual Mountain Bike Demo Day

Hargroves Cycles will be hosting their sixth annual mountain bike demo day at the Croft Trail on Sunday 30 April.

Matt Treviss, Head of Marketing, said: “This event is a special one for us. We’re really focussed on our local market, and our Swindon store is just up the road. Plus it’s great to catch up with local riders and also play an active role in the mountain bike community”.

This year, Hargroves are providing a huge fleet of bikes for attendees to put through their paces. Mountain bikes from top brands will all be available including the latest 650b, 29er and full suspension models.

“Local riders love the Croft Trail and it’s a great opportunity for us to get real feedback on the latest models. Also, It’s not often a rider gets the chance to properly ‘try before they buy” and we love making that possible.” said Mark Sealey, Manager at Hargroves.

The event is open from 10am - 4pm. To register online or for

more info: hargrovescycles.co.uk/ swindon-demo-day

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After losing nearly half his body weight in an epic weight loss battle, self-confessed fast-food junkie Adam Blanchard has put his new trim physique to the ultimate test.

The 28-year-old Great Western Hospital catering manager has shed 12 stone or four times the easyJet luggage allowance.

And he has built on this achievement by pedalling 271 miles – the distance between London and Paris – on a static bike as part of a gruelling endurance challenge for Brighter Futures. Undergoing the gruelling challenge in the entrance of Great Western Hospital, Adam was joined on his 12-hour slog by friends and colleagues wishing to show their support.

Money raised on the day was towards helping Brighter Futures which has recently reached the halfway milestone towards its £2.9 million target needed to fund specialist equipment required at the heart of Swindon’s first radiotherapy unit.

Adam said: “At 28 stone, I decided enough was enough and that it was time to turn my life around. I said goodbye to Pizza Mondays, Fishand-chip Fridays and all the other days in between that were spent eating junk food and not exercising.

“As catering manager, I’m around food all the time but I’ve changed my outlook now and plan all my meals in advance.

“My weight-loss journey started two years ago and it’s seen me complete my first ever half marathon last autumn – something my former 28-stone-self would never had dreamt was possible.”

Adam’s new addiction to fitness sees him put on his running trainers three times a week to tackle courses of varying lengths, with the remaining days of the week filled with trips to the gym.

His new lifestyle is a far cry from the bad habits of old which saw most days start with a cooked breakfast in the GWH restaurant followed by hours at a desk before returning home to the sofa.

If cycling the equivalent of London to Paris wasn’t enough, Adam is also in the middle of a strict training regime in preparation for his first London Marathon in April.

He said: “It’s still surreal to think that my body is now capable of taking part in these iconic events, which do so much good for others.

“You don’t need to work at GWH

GWH catering manager Adam Blanchard, left, took part in a 271 mile cycling challenge to raise money for Brighter Futures. Pictured above, Adam before he lost an impressive 12-stone in weight.

to know that having a fully-fledged radiotherapy centre in Swindon will make a difference to thousands of local people. I’m proud that I can now offer my support to the Radiotherapy Appeal and I hope others will be inspired by my story to act as well.”

Since launching in 2015, more than £1.4 million has so far been raised to help bring lifesaving cancer care to Swindon.

Anyone wishing to fundraise for Brighter Futures can find out how by visiting the website at www.brighterfuturesgwh.nhs.uk

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Former England goalkeeper David Seaman has performed another remarkable save – by throwing his support behind ice skating partnership Christopher Boyadji and Zoe Jones as they aim for Olympic glory.

David and his wife Frankie – who met while taking part in the Dancing On Ice TV show – are friends of the duo, having met them at a recent ice skating charity event in Oxford.

David explained: “I was really surprised that there was not enough money for them to achieve what they wanted. We would think that the country was behind them and that is why we got involved.”

His wife Frankie, a professional skater, added: “They are the current British senior pairs champions – the best in the country at the moment so we felt that we needed to give them our support to do the best they can do. I think Zoe is a remarkable role model for our sport.”

Christopher Boyadji and Zoe Jones have launched a fundraising bid to support them as they take part in the World Figure Skating Championships in Finland at the end of the month – which they

David Seaman and his wife Frankie with Christopher and Zoe

hope will be their springboard to qualifying for the Winter Olympic games.

Christopher explained that the £2,000 donation from David and Frankie would be put towards covering training and other associated costs such as costume and travel.

“We are doing everything that we can to raise the money that we need to be able to compete. We have had donations from members of the public on our just giving page and I even have a donations bucket next to me while I work at the coffee shop at the Link Centre and people have been really kind and donated.”

Zoe added: “It all helps and I can’t tell you how grateful we are. It means that we can spend more time in training with our coach Mark Naylor. This donation from David and Frankie is great because it means that we will definitely have enough to compete at the world championships, we obviously need all the support we can get so that we can go forward to represent England at the Olympics.”

Zoe was the British Champion in 2000 and 2001 in the British Senior Ladies event. After that, she decided to retire and moved to Canada to coach and build a family. Zoe, 37, is now a single mother of three children and she just returned to skating after 13 years in retirement.

As a singles skater Christopher, who was born in France, represented his country at five ISU Junior Grand Prix events and the 2009 Winter Universiade.

The pair, who teamed up in June, have set up a crowdfunding page to support their efforts www. gofundme.com/JonesBoyadji

Anyone interested in sponsoring the pair should get in touch via Facebook by searching for Zoe Jones and Christopher Boyadji.

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The Subaru brand has traditionally been popular among a dedicated core of buyers. Marketing is targeted towards specific niches centered on those who desire the company’s robust build quality; in particular the outdoor enthusiast or the hardcore camping family.

Subaru is a company that sticks to its strengths. It seems not to be affected by fad and fashion. For this reason their strong, well made cars are sought after by those in the know.

All cars from the brand are powered by versions of their ‘Boxer’ flat-four engine. In the case of the Levorg GT this is a 1.6L DOHC petrol, direct injection power plant with a twin-scroll turbocharger. In use, the seemingly pedestrian 0-62mph time of 8.9 seconds seems faster.

A Versatile Interior

The Levorg combines the practicality of a tourer with the lines and design of a sports car as evidenced by the bonnet air-scoop. With the imposing front-end appearance of the mighty WRX STI, the car offers owners a truly contemporary look.

This motor has proved very popular with Subaru’s existing

Geoff Maxted of Drivewrite.co.uk takes a look at the Subaru Levorg

customer base. The Levorg offers excellent interior space, practicality and comfort from the electricpowered seats with tasteful blue stitching. The low door sills allow plenty of light to enter the well designed cabin; a cabin incidentally that offers practicality rather than trendy fads. The inside also benefits from a very generous level of standard equipment from the single ‘GT’ trim level. At the back, the huge well-shaped boot has additional underfloor storage if buyers opt for the tyre kit rather than a spare.

All As Standard

Bluetooth, Audio, Aux, USB (including for the back seats) are all on board as is a hill-hold facility. The 7” screen offers a reversing camera, navigation and connectivity. The central dash cowl incorporates a multi-function display with easily switched graphics that show everything from the time to how the 4x4 system is performing.

There’s a comprehensive safety package. The Subaru Rear Vehicle Detection system combines three technologies: Blind Spot Detection, which alerts drivers to cars sitting in their blind spot; Lane Change Assist, which warns drivers of fastapproaching vehicles behind when the driver indicates to change lane; and Rear Cross Traffic Alert, which detects vehicles passing behind the Levorg when reversing out of a parking space.

Drive & Performance

A hallmark of Subaru vehicles is the Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, pretty much standard equipment since 1972. Tried and tested, it works brilliantly offering real grip at the right time. Couple this with vehicle dynamics control and torque vectoring, again all as standard and safety is at the forefront. The single engine option is paired with Subaru’s super-smooth ‘stepped’ Lineartronic (CVT) transmission with the option of paddle shifts.

Specific to the Levorg, the all-new four-cylinder engine produces 167bhp and emits 164g/km of the nasty stuff.

The engine, sitting low in the bay to enhance handling, offers smooth, seamless torque (250Nm) and improved efficiency.

Flexibility is core to the character of the very individual Subaru Levorg, providing power over a wide range of engine speeds and perfectly matching the car’s remit as a great sport tourer.