West Swindon's
Magazine
CHRISTMAS OFFERS ae
THE
EXPRESS CYCLE (WO SPECIALIST
No. 117 • December 1991 • Circulation 10,500
96 - 99 Manchester Road, Swindon
' (0793) 534907 & 513705
CHRISTMAS ORCCTINOS TO ALL OUR RCADCRS Dress a tree and show how much you care Trees are vital to life on earth and an ancient festival is being revived to demonstrate how much they should be appreciated. Taking a lead from the charity Common Ground, Thamesdown Council's Community Forest team are promoting the national multicultural event of Tree Dressing. Schools, residents' associations, conservation and community groups across Swindon will be dressing trees in their areas on the weekend of 7 and 8 December, as a way of showing off how much they appreciate them. Neil Hillier, a member of the Community Forest team, says that trees are venerated all over the world in different ways and the idea of dressing a tree exists in many cultures and has continued through the ages. The practice is still carried on in a few British towns and in America tieing yellow ribbons around trees has come to sig-
nify the hopes for loved ones in times of crisis. "The revival of tree dressing is a way of showing how much we Preparing decorations for a tree in Swindon town centre,from left, Susan Elmes, Neil Hillier, Lorna Curtis
value trees and wish them to wellcared for. Anybody can celebrate a tree, no special skills are needed. You can do it on your own, with an existing group, or you can decorate a tree in your street with your neighbours. The idea is to participate, to celebrate and to get others to take notice of how important trees are to life." In West Swindon, Greendown and Brook Field schools were the first to comeforward and theSwindon Choral Society will be dressing a 'Tree of Notes' on the Wootton Bassett road. Although time is short, Neil Hillier is interested to know of any groups who would like to participate in the tree dressing weekend so that he can offer useful advice on how not to harm yourself, the tree or wildlife. He would also like to record your decorations for a future exhibition. Neil can be contacted on 493549.
Hospital for west A doctor who set up practice in West Swindon twelve months ago has a long termdreamofopeninga cottage hospital in the area. Dr Rodney Houseman celebrated his first year at the Link Surgery on Saturday 23 November with a buffet reception in the temporary building next to the Link Centre which houses his practice. In attendance were the Mayor and Mayoress ofThamesdownand dignitaries from the Swindon Health Authority.
Car show '92 to bring in the crowds Parents at Greendown School are planninga majorcrowd puller next summer by organising a car show to raise money for school funds. All the leading motor traders in the Swindon area will be invited to set up trade stands, along with car component suppliers and other auto related businesses. Specialist interests wilalso be catered for with displays of custom cars and vintage vehicles.
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Adult Education in 1992 course listing on page 14 Have your say at the Link Centre Open Forum - details page 15
Of course not everybody is interested incars and there will bea fun fair, community group stalls and lots of activities for children. The project is still at an early stage and anybody in the auto trade with suggestions, or other people who have ideas to make the event go with a bang, should contact the Chair of the Parents' Council, Greendown, Grange Park Way, Swindon
TheMayorof Thamesd own Coun. Eric Smith toasts the futurewith Dr Houseman In a short speech Dr Houseman said his first goal of setting up a friendly, patient orientated and efficient practice. But his ultimate goal and dream is to erect a purpose built surgery, which will later extend as a cottage hospital. Continued on page 2
Enter our 'Curly Sue' MGM Cinema competition on page 15 Christmas Church Services in the West -see page 16