No 16 January 2019
GPS delivered door to door to 55,000 homes across Swindon with Est. overall readership of 137,500
Swindon
LINK Your Community Magazine
East Edition
Go ahead for The Snowasis p13
We launch The Heart of Swindon campaign to get behind our town centre Pages 3-5 The Deanery School takes shape in Wichelstowe
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Page 8 Page 6 Entries now open for 2019's Pride of Swindon Awards
Page 15 Celebrations as Brighter Futures reach fundraising target
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By Group Editor Jamie Hill jamie@swindonlink.com
This month we are launching our 'The Heart of Swindon' campaign. Throughout 2019 we will be waxing lyrical about everything the town centre has to offer and asking the difficult questions that need to be answered. We all know that Swindon is a great place to live, work and thrive. There's just so much to praise from its parks, heritage and its economic stability. It not only flourishes with its low house prices and high employment but also by being perfectly located with incomparable transport links. But if you talk to anyone the one area that people feel let down by is the town centre. With the town growing at a rate of knots the centre is very much in danger of becoming the hole at the centre of the doughnut with residents opting for out of town shopping or Group Editor and Owner: Jamie Hill Deputy Editor: Ben Fitzgerald Reporter: Claire Dukes
Sales Admin Manager: Sue Roberts Sales: Dave Stewart, Rosy Presley Office Manager: Karen Randall Photography: Richard Wintle & Rachel Davis - www.calyxpix.com
going further afield to nearby towns and cities that have done it right like Newbury, Reading, Oxford, Cheltenham and Bristol. Over the past couple of decades the centre has been under seige from national economic factors, stalled regeneration schemes, social problems and high car park rates. But there has been some good news of late, with certain developments coming to fruition and some superlative work by InSwindon and The Brunel Centre. The Crossing, the new food court at The Brunel and Regent Circus at the top of town are both relatively new ventures for the centre that are transforming the negatives into positives. There are also some amazing independent businesses that add to the variety. But the centre needs help. There are now more than 30 boarded up businesses and other very 'low rent' stores that do nothing to add to the appeal. The idea of this campaign is to embrace all that is good about the centre at the same time as asking the questions to work out what the viable way forward is. Its future might not
rely solely in retail as times change. Leisure, culture and sport might also hold the key. We don't have the answers ourselves but we are hoping to open up the debate. Regeneration It's no wonder that a lot of Swindonians are cynical of regeneration plans as we've not only seen the New Swindon Company's proposals come to nothing but its successor Forward Swindon has now been taken back into council hands. Regent Circus shows that plans can work but we need the council to be more transparent about all the other proposals so we can help support them. What are they? Accessibility It is ridiculous that you can park for free at the out of town shopping areas like Greenbridge and The Orbital and only a £1 for five hours at The Outlet Village, whilst it costs £8.50 for five hours in the centre. This needs to be addressed. Increased congestion also highlights the need for park and rides with proper hop-on hop-off transport links joining up The Snowasis, Old Town, The Station, and The Outlet Village to the town centre. A tram, if we were being
really ambitious, would be the perfect solution. Heritage and Culture Wandering around the centre you would be forgiven for thinking that the town was lacking in anything resembling heritage and culture, something that gives other towns and cities their individuality. In Swindon it is almost invisible. That should not be the case especially when we have a thriving cultural scene of art, music, dance and theatre and more heritage than you can shake a really old stick at. Social problems The council recently extended a scheme that bans anything it doesn't want from the centre without really policing it, from begging to cycling to drinking. These blanket bans are not solving any of the social problems, just moving them elsewhere. The ban on cycling and skateboarding also does nothing to help the matter especially when we are trying to cut down on congestion. In essence over the next 12 months we will be focussing on the centre to find out what we can all do to help it thrive. We will be welcoming ideas from every quarter so please get in touch at publisher@ swindonlink.com
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Got a community story or feature? Contact newsdesk at publisher@swindonlink.com or 01793 744677 swindonlink.com n January 2019
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We need to take an honest look at the town centre By Ben Fitzgerald ben@swindonlink.com
Take a walk through Swindon Town Centre and you can’t help but notice that the hardworking retail staff are facing an uphill struggle for survival. I counted more than 30 empty shop units in the pedestrianised area alone - and of those remaining, there are a high proportion of charity stores, short term gift shops and bookmakers. While these are perfectly valid in their own right, they are not the type of stores that are likely to generate a shopping buzz or attract people from further afield to consider the town an exciting shopping destination. Swindon town centre is not alone in having been hit hard by a combination of changing shopping habits, Brexit-fuelled economic uncertainty, stiff competition from alternative out of town attractions and high business rates combined with unhelpfully high car parking prices. Given the cards stacked against them, it’s a tribute to the dogged determination of the town centre business owners who have been able to survive. But does it have to be this way? Swindon town centre is
We ask you: What do you think of Swindon's town centre? By Claire Dukes claire@swindonlink.com
Swindon Link has taken to the streets to ask Swindonians what they think of the town centre. 4
also a place full of promise, innovative ideas and creative energy just bubbling beneath the surface. There are some genuinely great things happening in the heart of Swindon that deserve attention and our praise. Most recently we’ve seen the opening of The Crossing food court in the Brunel Centre. When I made a mid-week visit it was buzzing with visitors enjoying the diverse range of food options on offer - giving potential shoppers another reason to spend their hardearned money in the heart of the town. Creative efforts have also been made to spruce up the town centre’s pedestrianised zones, with the introduction of attractive coloured lighting strips in the pavement, the
Oasis Leisure Centre Swindon Designer Outlet
creation of an open area at Wharf Green and a large display screen. We also have a great central library which replaced the awful mobile classroom that housed Swindon's Central Library for years. There is also the unique Swindon Museum of Computing and the former town hall which is home to Swindon Dance. The Brunel Centre is also working hard to turn the fortunes of the town around - with efforts being made to create a safe and inviting shopping experience. And the recently developed Regent Circus has helped to breathe new life into the former Swindon College site - replacing an ageing 60s era building with a plush new development. But despite the Swindon Railway Village & Station The County Ground
Swindon Town Centre Regent Circus
Old Town
Charlie Miles, 30
"There’re some very cool places I like to eat and drink but it’d be cool if there were more independent businesses around here, - if they can get the support - because the best places to go in Swindon aren’t high street stores or chain restaurants."
Justin Smyth, 42
“Visually I think some of the new architecture and developments are quite interesting, but then there’s a lot that’s being left behind and empty. I think there’s loads of opportunity if people can find ideas to use these empty spaces."
huge efforts, the problem remains that Swindon Town Centre sits in middle of what is referred to in planning circles as a 'donut development'. It is surrounded by popular attractions - Swindon's Designer Outlet, the forthcoming Snowasis development, Regent Circus and Old Town. In addition, paying customers also have the choice of the North Swindon Orbital and Greenbridge - which have the effect of drawing paying customers away from the centre. And further afield, there are the undoubtedly attractive alternatives of Bath, Bristol, Cirencester and Oxford a relatively short drive away. It's clear that on a strategic level, planners seem to have rolled out the red carpet to anyone willing to invest in Swindon - without a great deal of consideration as to the knock-on effect on the heart of Swindon itself. And now things appear to be at tipping point where last ditch efforts are being made to resuscitate the town centre economy including creating a more welcoming entrance from the railway station and reducing car parking charges. But this is something that shopkeepers have been demanding for years - is this too little too late?
Megan Grayson, 17
"It’s improved a lot over time. I think it can be better because I don’t think there’s a great variety of things that we have here, but things like The Crossing are an improvement. But I’d like to see more social spaces."
Niall Thomas, 17
"It’s a bit s*** for people who don’t have money. I’d like to see more free things for young people to do, – somewhere to go and hang out - and less crack heads. There are needles everywhere especially by Carfax Street."
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Time of challenge and change A drop in event was held in December to ask for views on proposals to revamp Wellington Street - the gateway into Swindon Town Centre from the railway station. Plans include the construction of a segregated pedestrian and cycle path down Wellington Street along with a new pedestrian crossing. l
Major Swindon employer Zurich is in talks with Swindon Borough Council to move offices to the Kimmerfields regeneration site - in what is a strategically important part of the town centre. l
At the end of November, troubled department store chain, House of Fraser, which has a branch in the Brunel Shopping Centre was saved from closure thanks to a deal struck with FI Real Estate Management and Sports Direct. The move secured dozens of retail jobs at the Swindon store. l
A proposal to build an iconic ÂŁ22m Museum and Art Gallery in the former Wyvern Theatre car park floundered when a bid for Heritage Lottery Funding hit the buffers. Campaigners hoped that the scheme would help to draw l
people into the town centre and boost the economy. A key pedestrian walkway which links the town centre with the McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Swindon was reopened at the end of November. l
Virtual reality company ImmotionVR announced that they will be opening a new 'experience centre' in the Brunel Centre - a welcome investment. l
It was announced that the disused area of gravel opposite the Wyvern Theatre will be turned into a temporary car park to increase capacity in the town centre and to help facilitate the council’s regeneration plans for a new bus boulevard on Fleming Way. l
l In October, Swindon Borough Council's regeneration company Forward Swindon was brought in house following the departure of FSL chief executive Simon Bridgen in what was billed as a step forward by the council. FSL has helped to breathe new life into a number of derelict town centre sites including the Carriage Works, Falcon House, Kimmerfields and Aspen House.
There's nun better than The Burger Priest By Claire Dukes claire@swindonlink.com
The Crossing now boasts quite a nice varity of places to eat. Most recently I spotted the latest addition to the town centre, The Burger Priest, which one lunch time last month had quite a few people flocking over to it. Perusing the menu The Burger Priest will already be preaching to the choir on most fronts, - burgers are crowd pleasers, and you can't really go wrong - but there's plenty of options from The Vatican Specials, The Vicar's Breakfast Choice, and Biblical Ciabattas. Despite the (ironically) sinful menu, I stayed faithful to my vegan persuasion and went for The Priest's Vegan Burger - aka a sweetcorn and chickpea pattie - with fries. Unfortunately the lord's work is not yet complete on this one as it was a little bland - and yes contrary to
popular belief this is not true of all vegan food, but now's not the time to preach about that. As the new kid on the block I'm willing to forgive this oversight particularly because of The Burger Priest's top-notch fries, and the nice religious nods from the interior furnishings including the pews we sat on. From one biblical bun to another, Swindon Link's deputy editor, Ben Fitzgerald, opted for the Cajun Chicken Burger. He said: "I am a convert to The Burger Priest, and I shall sing their praises wherever I go. "If you're going to eat in a religious themed burger joint, then this is the one to go for." Was I disappointed that our burgers weren't served to us by nuns on skates? Absolutely. But, that being said, a burger, fries and drink cost me a grand total of just under a fiver - I speak for my bank balance when I say 'Amen'. www.theburgerpriest.co.uk
Coun Dale Heenan at the site of the new temporary Wyvern car park swindonlink.com n January 2019
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Building work for Wichelstowe secondary school is "picking up pace"
By Claire Dukes claire@swindonlink.com
A brand new sports hall, fitness suite and theatre awaits prospective students of Wichelstowe's first secondary school. Since inviting prospective primary school students to view the development back in May, staff at Wichelstowe's Deanery
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CE Academy have confirmed that the secondary school's construction has entered the final stages prior to completion. Since building in East Wichelstowe began back in 2008, the development has secured plans for a retirement village, canal side homes and a dining complex. After planning permission was granted last year, construction work for the
Church of England Academy is "really picking up pace" according to the school's principal, Linda Culling. Linda said: "This is a really exciting time for us, being able to bring outstanding facilities and educational excellence to Swindon." Due to open in September 2019 The Deanery is set to accommodate more than 1,300
pupils from year 7 to year 13, which will later include a sixth form. Students attending the school will be able to benefit from facilities which will include an all-weather pitch, sports hall, 440 seat theatre, fitness suite, music recording studio and space for wedding venue hire. For information visit www. thedeaneryceacademy.co.uk
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New church launched at Swindon's former Pattern Store Community and church leaders celebrated the launch of a new church for Swindon with a civic service taking place at Pattern Church, which will be housed in the former Pattern Store. Services took place at the location throughout December, before moving to The Platform while work is carried out to convert the building. The Pattern Church is part of a major strategic initiative by the Diocese of Bristol to support its Creating connections vision. It will be a Resourcing church; resourcing churches partner with other churches in an area to offer support and resources. The team at Pattern Church will be led by Revd Joel Sales. Joel has worked as a pastor in churches in London, Bath and South Africa, with a particular focus on church planting. Joel said: “Swindon is an amazing town with its rich
From left, The Revd Joel Sales, Mayor Junab Ali and Bishop of Bristol The Revd Lee Rayfield railway heritage and exciting future. But it has its fair share of challenges too. “The Pattern Store was built in 1897 to house patterns for the Swindon railway works. We believe it is going to be a home for new patterns around community, faith, family, fun, adventure and prayer.” Rt Revd Lee Rayfield, Bishop of Swindon and lead for Resourcing churches in the Diocese of Bristol, said: “As
part of the Diocese’s vision to bless the town and people of Swindon, the Pattern Church is set to become the home base for providing fresh energy, people and approaches which will resource other churches across the town and contribute to social transformation. “It is an inspiring and challenging vision. It is a venture of considerable faith and reflects what Jesus Christ has laid on many of our hearts
for this very special town. “The Pattern Church is a significant example of the way in which we are developing our commitment to introduce more people to the Christian faith, engage younger generations and connect with the communities of our changing town.” The Pattern Church is one of a number of resourcing churches opening across the country. The Diocese of Bristol also reopened St Nicholas Church in Bristol in September. As the name suggests, the Pattern Store was constructed by the Great Western Railway in 1897 to hold the moulds (patterns) used for building their locomotives and wagons. Later it became a workshop for the pattern-makers themselves and this continued until the railway works closed in 1986. It is hoped the work to convert the building will be completed in late 2019.
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Recycling firm is one of fastest growing
Recycling Technologies Ltd, specialists in feedstock recycling of residual plastic waste, has been named as one of Britain’s fastest growing companies in a report from online equity investing platform SyndicateRoom. According to the report, Recycling Technologies has grown in value by a multiple of 9.7 from 2015. Recycling Technologies is growing as the urgency of addressing the global plastic waste problem is realised. The company has recently opened a new 25,000 sq ft factory facility and headquarters in Swindon and aims to triple Europe’s current plastic recycling capability by 2027 through the provision of 10 million tonnes of urgently needed new waste plastic recycling capacity.
Puppy training award
A Swindon-based puppy training school has been awarded Obedience Trainer of the Year Award 2018 in the South West area. This award was judged by staff on the lifestyle magazine LUXlife on a range of criteria including previous accolades won, company performance and recommendations. Janet's Puppy Skool Pet dog training school is based in Haydon Wick, SN25 3JE To contact the school call: 01793 727158
Tiny trees on show
Bonsai enthusiasts will be putting their skills on show at the 17th annual Winter Image Show at the Grange Leisure Centre, Stratton St Margaret on February 24. The event, which features the work of 28 invited growers, runs from 10am - 4.30pm. Further details can be found at www.swindon-bonsai.co.uk
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Search is on for Pride of Swindon 2019
Previous recipients gathered in the Mayor's Parlour to officially launch the 2019 Pride of Swindon Award. Launching the annual recognition of the work of individuals and groups in the town, Mayor Junab Ali said: "The Pride of Swindon Awards have been very successful in honouring the extraordinary personal commitment the people of Swindon give to their local community." The closing date for nominations is Friday 25th January.
Members of the community are being encouraged to put forward individuals or teams they feel are worthy of
recognition. See the mayor's page at www.swindon.gov.uk for more details and a nomination form.
'Outstanding' effort by nursing home staff By Ben Fitzgerald ben@swindonlink.com
Staff and residents of Ashgrove House nursing home in Purton are celebrating retaining and improving on their Outstanding rating in their latest Care Quality Commission report. In their previous inspection in 2016, Ashgrove House was one of the first care homes in the country, and the first in Wiltshire, to receive the top rating. Now, the score has been improved with the home again receiving Outstanding overall, but also receiving the Outstanding grade in four of the five areas that the CQC inspects against. However, this was not an easy feat. According to the CQC, from August 2017 until July 2018 more than a quarter of the 38 re-inspected care homes which were previously rated as Outstanding saw their rating fall, with 14% falling to Inadequate or Requires Improvement. The nursing home is now graded as Outstanding in the CQC key inspection areas of Caring, Effective, Well-Led and Responsive, as well as being awarded Outstanding overall. Ashgrove House is a 34-bed care home that specialises in excellent, person-centred care for the elderly, as well as those over 30 who are physically
disabled or who have a terminal illness. It is owned and managed by former nurses Keith and Mary Trowbridge, as part of their family care business First City Group. The inspectors praised Ashgrove House as a nursing home where people ‘received exceptional care from staff who were highly competent.’ They described the home as ‘committed to providing high quality, innovative care with a culture of putting people first.’ Manager of Ashgrove House, Michelle McKeever, said: “Achieving this upgraded top rating is thanks to an amazing team who are all committed to very person-centred care. Our staff are always learning and growing and aiming to do their best for each and every resident. We have a wide range of activities that everyone can participate
in, from regular therapeutic massages, which have been shown to be beneficial to those with dementia, to personalised outings such as trips to Swindon Town Football Club and evenings in our local pub. Keith Trowbridge, owner, added: “The inspectors highlighted a number of areas that we pride ourselves on and reflect our commitment to treating each resident as if they were a member of our own family. We now have our next target to aim for: receiving Outstanding in all five areas and maintaining the high standards and reputation for excellent care that we’ve worked so hard to achieve over the 34 years that we have been open." For more information on Ashgrove House, visit www. ashgrovehouse.net or call 01793 771449.
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Head and neck
cancer clinic launch The Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has launched a new head and neck cancer clinic in Swindon - allowing patients to get specialist care closer to where they live. The clinic space has been refurbished and more specialist staff recruited. The project has been funded by Macmillan Cancer Support and the Thames Valley Cancer Alliance, part of NHS England. The team of head and neck cancer specialists includes a speech and language therapist, a dietitian, a clinical nurse specialist, a clinical psychologist, a restorative dentist, and a patient coordinator. Macmillan has committed around £290,000 of charitable funds to the project. Anyone wishing to support Macmillan can do so at www.macmillan.org.uk/ getinvolved
Fundraising curry
Places are available for the Mad March Hare annual curry evening on Monday February 4 at 7pm. The two course buffet at Lalbagh Indian Cuisine costs £15 per person. The Lalbagh restaurant is located at 171 Rodbourne Road, Swindon. The 12th Mad March Hare event, will take place on Sunday March 24 from Lydiard Park Academy following a 5km or 10km route. For information log on to www.madmarchhare.org.uk
£33k charity boost
Children’s hospice at home charity Jessie May raised more than £33,000 during a national match-funding campaign The Big Give Christmas Challenge. The charity’s nurses are currently supporting 139 children and 49 bereaved families across the South West.
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Hard hitting campaign targets drink drivers By Ben Fitzgerald ben@swindonlink.com
A hard-hitting drink drive message is on show outside Stratton Fire Station, where two crashed cars have been arranged to look as though they have been in a collision. An adjacent banner reads: “Don’t get smashed – don’t drink and drive”. Watch Manager Mark Evans explained: “The fire station sits on one of the major trunk roads in and out of Swindon, so Stratton Green Watch have constructed this crash display to remind drivers during the festive period of the consequences of drink driving. "We hope that it will capture the thoughts of people who may be tempted to drive with alcohol in their systems, not only in the evening but also on the morning after. "Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service has had to deal with far too many horrific road
traffic collisions, and we are urging people to really think about their actions over the Christmas period.” He added: “The impact of a collision not only affects those driving, but can have a lasting effect on families, whether by a death or injury to a loved one or a prison sentence for anyone who has behaved irresponsibly and broken the law. "All we ask is that you have a safe festive period, by taking responsible steps to ensure that you get home safe and sound following your celebrations.” More than 200 deaths a year
are caused by drink driving, accounting for around 14% of all fatal collisions. The consequences of being caught drink or drug-driving can include a minimum 12-month driving ban, a large fine, a criminal record and can have serious implications for insurance premiums. It can also have a huge impact on personal lifestyle, with people losing their jobs and suffering relationship breakdowns. See www.dwfire. org.uk road-safety for more information about staying safe on the roads.
Fundraisers needed for annual Rotary swimathon
The Rotary Club of Swindon North’s Swimathon is calling for volunteers to help raise money for a charity of their own choice. The annual non-competitive event, on April 14, takes place this year at 10am at Swindon's Link Centre and is open for anyone aged 8 and over. The 2019 Swimathon and Grand Draw will principally be raising funds for the Swindon-based charity the Youth Adventure Trust. Through a programme of outdoor activities and challenging experiences, the Youth Adventure Trust inspires vulnerable young people to reach their full potential by learning valuable life skills and building their confidence and self-esteem. Since 1992, when it was founded by David Hempleman-Adams and Major Richard Mitchell, it has made a measurable difference to the lives of over 3,800 16 to 18-year-olds.
But Swimathon participants can also raise funds for a charity of their choice by entering as a team. Teams can be made up of friends, family, colleagues. And groups of 4 - 8 members is ideal, people who are prepared to swim in relay for an hour and collect at least £25 sponsorship on themselves. Money raised will be equally split between the Youth Adventure Trust and the team’s charity. Rotary Club member Ken Winslow said: “We’ll give
every swimmer a medal and a certificate to confirm how many lengths they’ve completed and through our website they can collect their sponsorship online. That way they can promote their entry more widely and have gift aid added to it.” For further information, sponsor forms and online or down-loadable entry forms go to the Swimathon page on the Rotary Club of Swindon North website: www. rotaryswindonnorth.org.uk Or speak to Ken Winslow on 07710 228697.
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Staff protest over new proposals to cut mental health jobs
take mental health and the fact that there’s extra funding for the NHS." UNISON members banded Carole Harrin, Sadalwood together last month in protest Court's Team Secretary and after receiving proposals from Administrative Manager, Avon and Wiltshire Mental added: "What’s the point in Health Partnership Trust (AWP) paying a consultant more than to cut jobs in the mental health £80,000 a year to sit and service sector. type their own records? It’s just Administrative staff have been ridiculous." left outraged fearing that they may lose their jobs this month as AWP have proposed up to 78 Band 4 job cuts in the mental health sector. AWP admin staff and UNISON members believe that job cuts could affect the quality and safety of patient care which prompted unified protests. Michael Sweetman, UNISON regional organiser said: "This goes against the rhetoric which the government came out with both about how seriously they By Claire Dukes claire@swindonlink.com
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What can we expect from the proposals? F Two indoor ski slopes and a family snow play area with real snow F A 12-screen cinema which is set to include Europe's largest IMAX screen F 19 lane bowling alley F 27,000 sq ft indoor trampolining centre F Food and beverage units sized between 900 and 6,200 sq ft F Up to 46,000 sq ft of complementary retail units F Up to 16,000 sq ft of space allocated for a new fitness gym F 900-space car park F There is an anticipated attraction of an annual footfall of around 3.3 million F Confirmed operators include The Snow Centre, Empire Cinemas, Hollywood Bowl and top mountain sports retailer Ellis Brigham F SevenCapital has cemented an agreement with a major funder and secured 50 per cent pre-lets ahead of planning consent
£270m Snowasis development gets the green light Plans to transform the Oasis Leisure Centre into a £270m North Star Village have officially been given the thumbs up. In November 2017 plans lept forward to revamp the iconic Oasis as officers at Swindon Borough Council agreed to grant outline planning permission to project developer SevenCaptital. Jump forward a year to November 2018 and the development has cleared the last planning hurdle when it was approved
by Swindon Borough Council’s Planning Committee. Work is set to begin within the next few months and with the Oasis receiving in excess of c.615,000 visitors annually, both the council and SevenCaptital are expecting the new complex to increase tourist revenue in Swindon - particularly as the site will be located just a 7 minute walk from the train station. www.northstarvillage.co.uk
John Watkins, Director at SevenCapital, said: “We’re thrilled with the decision to grant full planning approval for the North Star Village. The team has worked tirelessly to deliver on our promises to submit plans for an exciting regional leisure and retail destination that Swindon and the wider UK will significantly benefit from. “We have delivered on all our planning promises and are now looking forward to getting on site."
Councillor Dale Heenan, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for the Town Centre, said: "There has been a tremendous amount of work going on behind the scenes and we are now in a strong position to move forward. This development will put Swindon firmly on the map of top leisure destinations and is a shining example of the ambition we have to make the town a great place to live, work and play. "Pressure is now really on to deliver visible progress.” swindonlink.com n January 2019
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Brighter Futures reaches £2.9m radiotherapy target By Ben Fitzgerald ben@swindonlink.com
Brighter Futures, the charity for the Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has successfully closed its Radiotherapy Appeal thanks to the continued generosity of the community and a final pledge from the Rotary Clubs of Swindon and the surrounding area. The clubs not only kicked off the appeal with a donation of £120,000 but they have now closed the appeal with an International Global Grant of £175,000 plus an additional £38,000. This represents one of the biggest grants Rotary has ever pledged in the UK. Brighter Futures launched its Radiotherapy Appeal in May 2015 and by Christmas 2016 it had reached the £1million mark and again at Christmas the following year the appeal reached the £2million mark. Over the past three and a half years, thousands of people in Swindon have come together to support the charity - jumping out of planes, cycling across the UK, driving to Cyprus and Mongolia, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, running the Great North and South runs and the London Marathon with many more holding bingo nights, baking cakes and hosting tea parties. Catherine Newman, Associate Director of Fundraising at Brighter Futures, said: “We’re
so thankful for all the hard work our local community and the Rotary Clubs of Swindon and surrounding area put into raising this money. The sad reality is that cancer affects one in three of the UK population and the number of incidents is predicted to rise by 16% over the next ten years. This money will fund critically important equipment for a new radiotherapy unit that will support the 284 people who receive a cancer
diagnosis every month at the Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. “We hope the success of this appeal shows people how important their continued support is, no matter how big or small. Those who have fundraising events planned later in the year or early next year for the Radiotherapy Appeal will have their donations go towards supporting the wider cancer services at the Great Western
Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. “This important additional funding will help us to expand our Breast Centre in the early diagnosis of cancer, fund important clinical trials in detecting the spread of cancer and support our urology department. This early diagnosis work will feed into the new radiotherapy services and create a holistic cancer services for our local communities.”
Huge community effort by fundraisers helped achieve target For more than three years, donations have been made to the Brighter Futures cause from a huge range of organised events. Here are just some of them: In November, a local photography exhibition raised £1,700 for the charity. The event was organised by local photographer Robin Allix-Page who was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2016 and had to travel to Oxford for daily treatment. Orbital Shopping Park also threw its weight behind Robin's event and donated £1,000 to the appeal. In October a handbag amnesty was
organised at the McArthurGlen Designer Outlet to support the charity. August saw The DoubleTree Hilton Hotel raise £250 for the cause by holding a bake sale - with staff from the hotel working hard to produce and sell a range of cakes for guests and visitors. And in July The Old Town Festival Committee presented half of their total proceeds from the event to the Brighter Futures Campaign - boosting their coffers by £291. In May the former landlord of The Victoria pub, Dave Young, embarked on a
charity motorbike ride to Cyprus to raise money for the cause. Dave was diagnosed with throat cancer and, like many others, had to travel to Oxford for his treatment. It was this experience that inspired to support the charity drive. In March, Brighter Futures received a huge boost, with a £15k donation by Swindon based construction firm Beard who handed over proceeds of a year of fundraising. And in the same month, a family fun day fundraiser at Swindon Supermarine added £4k to the cause. swindonlink.com n January 2019
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The Business Brief
Swindon Social Enterprise Network At the end of last year Social enterprise schemes were showcased to launch Swindon Social Enterprise Network's (SSEN) new website. Representatives from a range of Swindon businesses gathered at the Central Community Centre in Emlyn Square for the launch. To kickstart the initiative, attendees were shown a four-minute film, produced by Create Studios which outlined the scope and objectives of two social enterprise schemes operated by the Salvation Army from Booth House. The first of the two schemes, Recycles, aims to refurbish bicycles for resale, as well as providing repairs, servicing and training courses for those
wanting to maintain their own bikes. An earlier project was led by The Mechanics’ Institution Trust which renovated the fromer Bakers Arms pub into a community café - The Bakers Café in the heart of the Railway Village. The network aims to bring together a diverse group of people and organisations who share a common passion: to support the growth of social enterprise initiatives within Swindon via collaboration, and the sharing of skills, resources, knowledge and experience. For further information about SSEP www.swindonsocialenterprise. com
Crest Nicholson and Arkell’s Brewery announce new pub plans for Tadpole
Local vineyard’s sloe gin voted best in UK Crest Nicholson and Arkell’s Brewery have announced plans for an exciting new pub set to launch at Tadpole Garden Village this year. The pub, set to be located near the western common, will include a mix of dining options, an outside terrace, a pizza oven and a games room. Crest Nicholson has been working with local Arkell’s Brewery, Preim and Architects Clark & Maslin on the project. While it’s still subject to planning approvals, work 16
is set to begin over Spring with the aim to open the pub at the end of 2019. George Arkell, Managing Director at Arkell’s Brewery, said: “We’re really excited about this project, which will be the first new-build for Arkell’s in some 15 years. The location is fantastic, and we look forward to delivering a welcomed addition to Crest Nicholson’s Tadpole Garden Village and the surrounding area.” For more information visit www.crestnicholson.com
A liqueur distilled at Swindon's nearest vineyard has been voted the best in the UK by readers of a magazine aimed at the global elite. Poulton Hill Vineyard’s Sloe de Vie was named LUX Product of the Year 2018 in the annual competition run by Lux Life. The Estate, on the Wiltshire/ Gloucestershire border, was also named Best Family-run Vineyard in the South West in the same competition. Lux Life is aimed at the world’s highest net worth individuals, and covers a range of products, services,
attractions and events that will appeal to them. “They know what they like and are willing to pay for it,” boast the publishers. Poulton Hill Estate managing director, Tiléri Charles-Jones, said: “We’re thrilled to have been voted product of the year by the readers of Lux Life. “But rest assured you don’t have to be among the mega rich to enjoy our awardwinning products. Sloe de Vie is available from us, in person Wiltshire Air Ambulance or online.” lands at new air base www.poultonhillestate.co.uk
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The Politics Page
Exciting times ahead as landmark projects get off the ground Swindon Borough Council Leader Cllr David Renard (Con) I would like to take this opportunity to wish Swindon Link readers a very happy New Year. I hope you all had an enjoyable Christmas and are looking forward to the next 12 months. There is a lot to get excited about within the council over the next year with some landmark projects set to get off the ground. The most exciting of these is undoubtedly the proposal
for a new indoor ski slope on council-owned land at North Star. The £270m scheme, which is being taken forward by SevenCapital, will also boast a 13-screen cinema containing the largest IMAX screen in
Europe, a 19-lane bowling alley, circa 27,000 sq ft of trampolining plus restaurants, cafes and shops. We are expecting work to start on site in the next couple of months. We know how great our town is, but this development will pull in people from far and wide acting as a magnet to boost our economy. You can expect to see visible progress in the Town Centre over the next year with plans on the Kimmefields area really beginning to take shape. At the time of writing, we are
working hard with Zurich on a deal to create state-of-theart offices which we could see initial work on in the summer. Outside of the town centre, the creation of the Wichelstowe District Centre, which is being led by the council, continues apace and our plans to turn Moredon Recreation Ground into a sporting hub are simply fantastic. We are about to enter one of the most exciting periods in the town’s history. We can all look forward to that.
Plans to bridge £20m budget gap could lead to cuts Swindon Labour Group Leader Cllr Jim Grant The Conservative Cabinet on Swindon Borough Council recently presented their budget proposals. Despite Theresa May proclaiming the “end to austerity”, the council has an expected budget gap of £20m which needs to be found by council tax rises and budget cuts. Conservative councillors have proposed an above-inflation council tax increase of 4% next year. They have also proposed drastic cuts in funding to secondary schools in need of
improvement, to the Dial a Ride service (which could lead to the end of the transport service) and even cuts to transport services provided for children with special educational needs and disabilities. Labour do support some of the savings proposed, most notably the closure of the council-owned company Forward Swindon, making the council “paperless” and rolling out LED bulbs across all our streetlights which saves huge amounts on electricity. The problem is they should have delivered this five years ago
as Labour had argued, which could have saved millions of council-taxpayers money without any impact on frontline services. After being criticised by Labour, local residents and even the Government, conservative councillors
on Swindon council have postponed a decision to end the council’s plastics recycling service. While they have committed to not ending the service for now, they have not ruled out doing so in the future. Swindon’s recycling rate is currently only 38%, way below most other local councils. That is why Labour Councillors are committed to not only retaining plastic recycling collection but we will also introduce a food waste collection service, like nearly half of all other local councils provide. swindonlink.com n January 2019
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New programme launches to help Swindon's young people jet set their careers By Claire Dukes claire@swindonlink.com
A new project has recently taken off in Swindon to help young people boost their confidence and skills in an effort to open up their career options. The Platform Project is Swindon's latest social enterprise to offer young people insight into starting their own business and experimenting within different fields so they can open more employability oportunities. Aimed at young people aged 13 to 25, The Platform Project looks to prioritise young people who may not have excelled within mainstream education and offers them a hands-on approach to learning new skills. The workshops, which are free to attend, offer a range of tailored "challenges" including organising events, social media management, fashion
design, and video production. The scheme also incorporates professional voices enabling business owners to engage with the project and share insight from within their own field of expertise. Sadie Sharp, The Platform Projects founder and managing director, said: "The Platform Project was formed to help young people learn how to carve their own way in the world and learn how to work for themselves, which is becoming increasingly important when mainstream education and employment options haven’t enabled people to thrive. "By getting involved with the activities run by the Platform Project, participants and volunteers can get hands on real experiences, develop life opportunities that didn’t exist before, and get the confidence to realise that they can do things they never imagined." One attendee of The Patform
Whirlwind Wildcats year It proved to be an up and down time for the Wildcats, falling agonisingly short of qualifying for the Autumn Cup final. However the squad rallied in the league table and propelled themselves up to the top spot above fierce rivals the Peterborough Phantoms and the Bracknell Bees. With individual performances standing out with the likes of Sam Jones picking up the Supporters Club Player of the Month award and Max Birbraer hitting his 1000th Career game there were still plenty of opportunities to celebrate. The standout results on the ice came on the weekend of the 17th/18th November when The Wildcats beat the Basingstoke Bison at home and the Peterborough Phantoms in their own ice rink on the Sunday night. The results through November 18
also saw Wildcats qualify for a place in the NIHL South Cup Semi-finals to be played in the new year, with opponents yet to be confirmed. There is plenty to be excited about over the next couple of weeks at the Wildcats. The Totally Wildcats Christmas corporate night was a roaring success, as was The Wildcats' annual Christmas game and yearly Teddy Bear Toss. For full fixture information visit www.swindonwildcats.com or phone 01793 886857
Project said: "Up until now I didn't know what I wanted to do, but after doing the challenge and learning how to up-cycle my own clothes I now know that I want to do fashion textiles for my options, and maybe even University."
The Platform Project also liaises with schools, training providers and youth development organisations to assist young people who sometimes struggle to engage with full-time school timetables. www.platformproject.co.uk
GWH Trust appoints new chair The Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is pleased to announce the appointment of a new Chair as current Chair Roger Hill steps down after ten years on the Board of the Trust at the end of January. Liam Coleman will be responsible for providing clear leadership to the Board and ensuring it continues its aim to deliver outstanding care, with quality improvement remaining a focus at all times. Liam has a long and distinguished career in industry and had previously been a Non-Executive Director at the Trust between 2009 and 2016. He was until recently the CEO of The Co-operative Bank plc and in 2017, led the process to successfully recapitalise the Bank. Commenting on his appointment, Liam Coleman said, “I’m delighted to be back at The Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Roger Hill stepping down and even more delighted to be appointed Chair. Having worked as a Non-Executive Director for the Trust for seven years I am very aware of the dedication and pressures placed upon everybody within the Trust. I hope everyone can feel confident that I will continue the excellent work Roger has been doing as well as applying my own influence and guidance to ensure we always aim to deliver excellent,
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Swindon's community unites to tackle homelessness By Claire Dukes claire@swindonlink.com
In a bid to host Swindon's largest solidarity movement to date, Threshold Housing Link held their annual Big Sleep Out event last month. Members from Swindon's community, including 7year-old Mason George, unravelled sleeping bags and pitched tents in an
effort to raise money for Threshold Housing Link and raise awareness of homelessness in Swindon. Local businesses, including Dominos and Gel Studio, also backed the charity's campaign as 'Businesses Against Homeslessness'. More than 115 people registered to take part in the Big SleepOut. www.thl.org.uk Swindon's rough sleepers are benefitting from a day centre and night shelter over the winter months thanks to the council's latest project to tackle homelessness. The Haven is a 15 week scheme to encourage Swindon's rough sleepers to get off the street and into permanent housing. The council are running a night shelter for 12 guests in sync with a new day
centre operated by Swindon Night Shelter, - open to any homeless person - which offers support services for visitors. This follows on from the winter housing initiative at Carfax Street's former Health Centre last January. The council's scheme will end in March, however Swindon Night Shelter will continue The Haven day centre project for the foreseeable months ahead.
This could be the best gift you give in the new year - mental wellbeing
By Claire Dukes claire@swindonlink.com
Since December a local counselling service has been offering people the opportunity to gift wrap a less conventional present - counselling sessions. In a bid to provide more services over the new year, Willows Counselling Service have introduced a Wishing Tree scheme where people can donate money towards counselling sessions. The tree was initially implemented for service users to write comments on what they hope to gain from counselling 20
or how the service has benefitted them. With a lack of funds and increase in service users Willows have initiated a donation scheme. Tanya Orr, Willow's Executive Director, said: "Because of staff shortages at statutory services we’re getting calls from all the mental health teams asking to send people here. "The percentage of clients that are actually able to contribute is minimal because the thing that’s causing the problem is often stopping them from getting work or an education. As a charity Willows do not recieve statutory funding and rely on grants and montly donors. Willow's Counsellor and Training Manager, Denise Brent, added: "We hope it will help us further the resources we have now to help fund additional support." www.willows.btck.co.uk
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Half of Swindon secondary schools below standard: Ofsted By Ben Fitzgerald ben@swindonlink.com
Only half of Swindon’s secondary schools are well run - according to education watchdog Ofsted’s annual report. The report reveals that just 50 per cent of Swindon secondary schools were categorised as either ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ as of 31 August 2018 - down 8 per cent from the same period the previous year. The statistics show Swindon as the second lowest performing education authority in the South West - only South Gloucestershire is worse - with half of its schools falling into the ‘inadequate’ or ‘requiring improvement’ categories. Swindon primary schools fare better, with 82 per cent judged as being ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’, that figure being down 6 per cent on the previous year. Further findings from the
report show that Secondary School’s Progress 8 measure a measure of pupils’ academic progress from Year 6 to Year 11 - is ‘significantly below’ the national expectation. Peter Nathan, Swindon Borough Council’s Head of Education said: "Although Ofsted’s report shows there is still work to be done in some of Swindon’s secondary schools, it does not paint the full picture. We know that a number of our secondary schools have made rapid improvement over the last two years and have yet to be re-inspected under Ofsted’s inspection cycle. “I am sure that if several
schools were inspected today, they would be judged ‘good’ due to a considerable improvement in their examination outcomes. The aim is of course for all schools to be judged good or better. "Overall outcomes in Swindon primary schools have been improving over the past three years particularly in terms of the progress children make in their learning, but there is still work to do to ensure this happens in all schools. "Standalone primary academies are being encouraged to join stronger Multi-academy trusts and there are strong partnership
arrangements between head teachers to support improvements in leadership and management." In 2016 Ofsted’s South West Director Bradley Simmons wrote an open letter criticising Swindon schools, claiming that children were being failed at every key stage and highlighting “trend of decline” in secondary education. At the time his comments prompted a furious reaction from head teachers in the town who said great strides had been made to improve outcomes for the town’s children. Responding to the most recent report, Mr Simmons said: “I am concerned that there has been a four percentage point decline in inspection outcomes for primary and secondary schools. And there is still much variation across the region’s schools. Ofsted's full report can be found at www.gov.uk/ government/publications
Crowds soak up the atmosphere at Arkell's Christmas market
It was time to get festive at the Brewery as Arkell’s hosted their fourth Christmas Market in Kingsdown. The Arkell’s Christmas Market was back and pulled out all the stops to deliver a festive-filled, yuletide market at its brewery in Kingsdown, Wiltshire. Now in its fourth year, the market is already a key part of the festive calendar with thousands flocking to last year’s big event. For 2018, the team at Arkell’s made the event even bigger to accommodate more craft, food, drink and gift stalls. Visitors enjoyed the taste of fragrant mulled wines and Arkell’s own specially brewed seasonal Sir Noel Ale. A hint of Bavaria also came to the Christmas Market this year with vendors serving Bratwurst and waffles alongside other festive favourites like hot roasted
chestnuts and delicious, hand warming hot chocolates. And it was not just delicious food and drink as The Bavarian Oompah band, got people into the Christmas spirit
whilst they strolled around the beautiful and historic grounds of the Victorian brewery looking at stalls selling crafts including handmade jewellery, candles, children’s clothing and
home crafts all perfect for Christmas presents! Children got the chance to meet Father Christmas and his reindeer and find out if they’ve been naughty or nice! swindonlink.com n January 2019
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Drove Vets urge owners to keep pets safe during winter Although January marks the end of the festive season, it’s the perfect time to snuggle up on the couch with our pets, grab some hot tea after a long day and just enjoy being indoors. Even though most of our pets have a lovely furry coat to protect them, they can also suffer from the cold just like we do, so we feel this is a great time to remind all pet owners of some extra precautions that we need to have during these colder months Health considerations: speak with a vet for a thorough health check as there are some conditions such as endocrine diseases, heart disease and kidney disease that can influence your pets’ ability to regulate their body temperature. Low temperature considerations: Dogs are creatures of habit however,
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you should limit the time spent outside as prolonged exposure to the cold may lead to injuries such as frostbite, with chapped, itchy and flaking skin, and hypothermia. If possible, keep your pets indoors to best protect them from the cold and temperature fluctuations during the day. Also be aware that toxins such as antifreeze, frequently used during this period, should be kept away from pets. www.drovevets.co.uk
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Swindon Life
Celebrating town living
Swindon-based anthemic indie pop band release second album
Earthworm Recording Studio's Jon Buckett - photograph by Jennifer Berry
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'Resolve' is the second album from synthled indie pop band Talk In Code. Recorded and produced at Studio 6 in Wootton Bassett by Stu McKay and Talk In Code, 'Resolve' is a collection of ten tracks written and recorded over the past two years. The album is a depiction of the band's journey to date. The album draws on themes of problem solving and overcoming adversity with uplifting tracks such as 'Keep Safe',
'Oxygen' and 'Never Too Late'. Meanwhile brand new track 'Disguise' addresses the fakers and frauds so often found in life whilst the closing track 'Come On Die Young' is a rallying cry to live for the moment. In a hotly anticipated homecoming, Talk In Code played their album launch party for Resolve at The Victoria last month. For further information visit www.talkincode.co.uk
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Swindon Spotlight
YOUR GUIDE TO THE MONTHS AHEAD In the community l After the recent success of their tour of David Walliams' Awful Auntie which hit Swindon's Wyvern recently, Birmingham Theatre Company is back with a bang from Wednesday 3 April to Sunday 7 April with Horrible Histories - Terrible Tudors and Awful Egyptians. www.swindontheatres.co.uk
Book now... THE PSYCHO ASYLUM COMES TO THE WYVERN THEATRE
The renowned and critically-acclaimed Circus of Horrors is returning to the Wyvern Theatre, 20 January, with their latest spectacular 'The Psycho Asylum'. The Circus of Horrors has been on the road for the last 22 years and after being the first circus act to reach the finals of Britain's Got Talent the group have reached new heights. From Moscow and Hong Kong, to Italy and Ireland, The Circus of Horrors have been mesmerising and disturbing audiences across the globe, with their latest show full of " an amazing amalgamation of bizarre & fantastic circus acts all woven into a sensational shock/ horror story and the darkest of magic." www.swindontheatres.co.uk
IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO SEE ALADDIN
There's still time to catch Aladdin at the Wyvern Theatre! On until Sunday 6 January, join in on a whole new world and magical carpet ride which sees Eastenders' star Adam Woodyatt return to the Wyvern's stage as the evil Abanazar! Tickets from £19 www.swindontheatres.co.uk
ALL EARS AVOW AT THE VIC
Swindon's All Ears Avow will be headlining The Victoria Saturday 12 January to celebrate the release of their new EP 'Skin & Bones'. Support comes from Rainy Day Fund, Basement Club, and Maggie Cassidy. Doors open at 8pm. Tickets £4 ADV / £6 OTD www.thevicswindon.com
JACKSON LIVE IN CONCERT
MJ fan? Jackson Live in Concert will see one of the most well-respected Michael Jackson tributes, CJ, and his incredible band and dancers recreate the popstar's biggest hits at the Wyvern Theatre, 19 January. Hits include Thriller, Beat It and Billie Jean. Tickets £29 www.swindontheatres.co.uk
Venues Arts Centre, Devizes Road SN1 4BJ. Tel: 01793 524481 www.swindontheatres.co.uk Central Community Centre, Emlyn Square SN1 5BP. Tel: 01793 420649 The Platform, Faringdon Road, Swindon SN1 5BJ Phoenix Theatre, New College Drive, Swindon, SN3 1AH. Tel: 01793 732889 The Rolleston, 73 Commercial Road, Swindon SN1 5NX. Tel: 01793 534238 Shoebox Theatre, Theatre Square, Swindon SN1 1QN. Tel: 07340 758497 St Michael’s Hall Lechlade Road, Highworth, SN6 7HQ. Tel: 01793 763907
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Roves Farm, Sevenhampton, Nr Highworth SN6 7QG. Tel: 01793 763939 Shoebox Theatre, Theatre Square, Swindon SN1 1QN. Email: shoebox@wrongshoes.co.uk Swindon Information Centre, Central Library SN1 1QG. Tel: 01793 530328 Swindon Museum and Art Gallery, Bath Road SN1 4BA. Tel: 01793 466556 The Victoria, 88 Victoria Road, SN1 3BD. Tel: 01793 535713 Wyvern Theatre, Theatre Square SN1 1QN. Tel: 01793 524481 - www.swindontheatres.co.uk Confirm date, time & price with venue
l The Shoebox Theatre is set to move into the Health Hydro this year. The theatre company, previously at Theatre Square, will be taking up residence in the rooms that originally housed the Victorian laundry. www.shoeboxtheatre.org.uk l Comedian Jason Manford will be returning to Swindon, 9 February, with his latest show 'Muddle Class' at the Oasis Leisure Centre. www. swindontheatres.co.uk l Swindon & Wiltshire Pride will be hosting a second New Year's Eve party with a fundraiser 'New Year's Eve Revisited' at The Regent Hotel, 26 January. All the money recieved will go towards Swindon Pride 2019. l If it's a bit of mystery you're after in this early part of the year then look no further than The Wyvern Theatre from 21 to 22 January when Blackeyed Theatre brings Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's epic second Sherlock Holmes novel to the stage. Sherlock Holmes: The Sign of Four will appeal to devoted fans, adults, children and budding detectives alike. www.swindontheatres.co.uk
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Review: The Runner - "our table left full and satisfied" By Claire Dukes claire@swindonlink.com
Have you ever driven past a pub you keep meaning to go to, but never actually go in? I can't count how many times I've driven past The Runner, formerly The Running Horse, on Wootton Bassett Road, and last month my curiousity gave in. During the winter months I'm an avid fan of pub lunches, often accompanied by an ale. As I was driving, this particular pub lunch was without ale but it was not without a full plate of warming comfort food. I frequently opt for vegan choices, but given The Runner's one catering option I didn't fancy a burger. My alternative go-to was the vegetarian Spring Veg & Minted Pea Quinotto (it's risotto with quinoa). It could have done with some more seasoning, but - as a seemingly healthier
version of a risotto - it was hearty and filling without inducing a food coma. At £9.95, with some added salt and pepper, I was left content. Peering around the table, with only some minor food envy, it is evident that The Runner plates up like a mother showing her growing boys how much she loves them - with big boy portions. For most, like myself, this is ideal winter servings. Going in for one of the more staple pub dishes, Swindon Link editor - Jamie Hill went for a classic serving of gammon, eggs and chips. He said: "It was a good, wellcooked, slice of gammon that had just the right amount of sass to keep my mouth yearning for more. "Was it the best gammon I've had? No. But as far as pub food goes I'd happily choose it again." Another usual suspect is
the Chicken & Bacon Caesar Salad, selected by Swindon Link's Office Manager Karen Randall. She said: "For someone who doesn't like salad, I thought it was great. I'm quite a fussy eater so this was a nice alternative to a meal with lots of carbs." It's safe to say our table left
full and satisfied and for a fair price in a cosy atmosphere. As far as places to pop in and grab some lunch, The Runner is another great contender in Swindon's pub grub scene. It's safe to say that this is one pub where you would not do a runner. www.runninghorsepub.co.uk
Poetry corner - "Builders, tradespeople.. listen up!" By Maurice Spillane publisher@swindonlink.com
I’ve had lots of feedback from last month’s article about Carl Lewis and his poem “Builders in Winter.” Carl has been redrafting the poem and is ready to go public. We have a date. On Monday 28 January we have Open Mic at The Castle
Inn in Old Town at 7:30pm. Carl will be dragged, kicking and screaming if needs be, to perform his poem on stage. He has the personality to be a natural performer and while quite shy I’m sure he’ll do well. To help him, his building crew and their partners will be there. It should be a hoot and they may even read a poem or two. Friends from
Poetry Swindon have agreed to locate or write poems about builders so we expect a lot of craic – and maybe even a bit of controversy. My father, long gone now, was a carpenter so this event is close to home for me. Some years ago I wrote a poem for a Swindon friend, Colin Woodley, a man I very much admire and made the link.
We’ve had good poetry evenings at The Castle Inn these past months so do come along on 28 January to listen, read, have a drink, and make this one special. • Open Mic – Monday 28 January, 7.30pm The Castle Inn, Old Town SN1 3LQ • Beehive Pub – Tuesday 8 January, 7.30pm www.bee-hive.co.uk
The Craftsman My father was such a master, Lifting and smelling the loam And letting it pass through his fingers Like a man might do with a barrel of gold. And this craftsman, my friend, Let the beauty of wood escape the rough As he pared and shaped the seam As it might be seen, as it might slowly unfold. swindonlink.com n January 2019
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Swindon Lives IN CONVERSATION WITH: Thomas Stamp By Ben Fitzgerald ben@swindonlink.com
For years, remarkable teenager Thomas Stamp suffered bullying and physical attacks. The 16-year-old, now a student at New College, lives with cerebral palsy, spastic diplegia, ADHD and mild autism. Despite these barriers Thomas, from Wroughton, was determined to rise above the challenges that life has thrown at him - and it is this determination that has seen him represent his country as a paralympic sprinter in the T35 category - running in 100m, 200m and 400m. And his inspirational example has led to his being recognised with The Colin Raines trophy for Endeavour by CP Sport a leading national disability sports charity- at the Cerebral Palsy Sport Awards Thomas explained: “I was always determined for people to see ‘me’ rather than the disability, but my behaviour got in the way due to the bullying and attacks that I received. I was so angry and mistrustful of people. I do not let it hold me back in fact it made me more determined. "I started going to the local access days arranged by Swindon Community Health and wellbeing team. On one of these days it was at the Swindon County Ground Athletics track. "There, I was able to access and have a go at various bikes and sports that at school and home I wouldn’t have had access to. Whilst having a go at Boxing, a disability sports officer Job King gave my 26
family a card and he thought I had potential. I was curious but due to my CP I didn’t hold much hope. "Unfortunately, I did not get on at the local sports athletics club but was really enjoying the disability sports. "We all helped one another, and I had nothing to prove to anyone. We were all accepting of each other’s needs and I realised that I could run. I entered for the Southwest Regional CP football talent team and was amazed when after trials I got selected. I loved it and again made new friends. "As well as playing football, I was also introduced to Coach Mark Lodge of South Gloucester A.C who really took me under his wing and could see the huge potential in me. Mark has encouraged me, guided me and even got me through some tough times. I am part of a great athletics club with everyone encouraging each other and one great coach and his assistant Phil. With regular training in all weathers I was cutting off time and getting faster.” Thomas also signed up for Cerebral Palsy Sport where he made even more friends. "My confidence excelled and had more running opportunities." Thomas has noticed the huge impact that participating in sport has made on his life. He explained: “My health has improved as has my confidence and no longer am I so frustrated. "The friends I have made via race meets, club and meeting Paralympians and Olympians has given my whole outlook a different meaning.
"At times it can be hard, and I have days when I just want a break from physio and training but at the end of the day if I don`t put in the effort then I am not going to achieve my goals and dreams. Plus, my muscles will become stiffer and walking and running will be harder for me. "I have come from being in a wheelchair (occasionally) and not even being able to jump a small hurdle to now not using a wheelchair and I can jump as well as run. “I have my mum and dad to thank for keeping me motivated when I had some very dark days and some very early morning starts. Helping me with my stretches and physio and yes, my nutrition. As it is known I like a burger or cheese and ham sandwich before a race. I seem to win medals and get PBs so it must be good.” Thomas has represented the Midlands at the School Games where I he won Silver in 100m. And was selected and qualified for the CISPRA World Games in Barcelona. “This was an amazing experience, of bonding with the team as well as meeting some truly superb athletes from around the world. I was still recovering from injuries but
determined country Fiona in Kenya - to she do visitsmy at least three and team proud, I won timestwo a year silver medals in 100m and 200m.”
Determined:Sprinter Thomas Stamp
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SERVICE SECTOR
CLEANING, ELECTRICAL, GARAGE DOORS, GAS & PLUMBING SERVICES, HOME IMPROVEMENTS
MOORES SERVICES Exterior Cleaning
DRIVEWAYS, PATIOS FASCIAS, CONSERVATORIES
also
HEDGE CUTTING, GRASS CUTTING, WEED CONTROL
Call Steve on 01793 266391 07983 389879 mooreservices1968@outlook.com www.mooreservices.co.uk
Certified Electrician
Electrical Automation • Up & Over • Roller • Sectional • Repairs •
NICEIC Domestic Installers (D606759)
Reliable Local Company • Re-Wires, Alterations & Additions • Inspections, Testing & Certificates • Consumer Units Replaced • LED Lighting Installations • Emergency Lighting • Fix Wire Testing
Unit 8, Central Trading Estate Signal Way, Swindon SN3 1PD
01793 877677 office@enlan.co.uk www.enlan.co.uk
Tel 01793 940096 Email enquiries@dimensions.org.uk www.dimensions.org.uk
Semi-retired Plumber SURESTOP SWITCH installed for hard to get at or seized stop cock
• Disabled extra high toilets fitted • Leaks & burst pipes • Blocked drains, sinks & toilets • Immersions & hot water cylinders • Tap washers & ball valves • Dishwashers & washing machines plumbed in
Tel: 01793 324116 Mob: 07788 621772 28
Fitted Kitchens Bathrooms & Bedrooms Tiling & Worktops Laminate Flooring Skirtings & Architraves Dados & Coving Doors & Decking And much more
For a FREE no obligation quote call now on 07874 021004 or 01793 701797
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SERVICE SECTOR
KITCHEN TRANSFORMATIONS, LANDSCAPING SERVICES & SUPPLIES, SKIP HIRE, WASTE REMOVAL
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ACROSS
DOWN
1. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12.
2. Famous British admiral (6) 3. Fixed portion (6) 4. Texan city (6) 5. Area (6) 6. Stay out of bed (4,2) 7. Incorrect (6) 12. Young cow (4) 13. Cooking fat (4) 14. Talk deliriously (4) 17. Tiny particle (4) 18. Plunder (4) 19. Hurried (4) 21. Offensive remark (6) 22. Poor quarter of city (6) 23. Sampled (6) 24. Very small person (6) 25. Rogue (6) 26. Add condiments (6)
15. 16. 20. 24. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32.
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Trespasser (8) Consuming food (6) Coagulate (4) Ship’s record (3) Unclean (6) River and state in west central US (8) Pineapple (6) Italian city (6) Gifted (anag.) (6) Sullen (6) Enlivened (8) Evaluate (6) Label (3) Barrel (4) Cheerful (6) Meridian (4,4)
Any word found in the Concise Oxford Dictionary is eligible with the following exceptions: proper nouns; plural nouns, pronouns and possessives; third person singular verbs; hyphenated words; contractions and abbreviations; vulgar slang words; variant spellings of the same word (where another variant is also eligible).
T U G
O
I
L
SUDOKU
27
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S U N
22 Good; 26 Very Good; 31 Excellent.
11
There is just one simple rule in Sudoku. Each row and each column must contain the numbers 1 to 9, and so must each 3 x 3 box. This is a logic puzzle, you should not have to guess.
3 6 4
1 7 3
3
8 4 7
5 1
2 9 5 1 2 3 9
6 9 1
2
9 1 5 7 3
Using all 16 letters of the phrase above, form four words each of four letters which, when placed correctly in the grid, will form a magic square in which the words can be read both horizontally and vertically.
SOLUTIONS
Atom; 18 Loot; 19 Sped; 21 Insult; 22 Ghetto; 23 Tasted; 24 Midget; 25 Rascal; 26 Season.
10 11
QUICK CROSSWORD Across – 1 Intruder; 8 Eating; 9 Clot; 10 Log; 11 Impure; 12 Colorado; 15 Ananas; 16 Naples; 20 Fidget; 24 Morose; 27 Animated; 28 Assess; 29 Tag; 30 Cask; 31 Blithe; 32 Date line.
10
THIS PRECISE PHOTO
Down – 2 Nelson; 3 Ration; 4 Dallas; 5 Region; 6 Stop up; 7 Untrue; 12 Calf; 13 Lard; 14 Rave; 17
9
How many words of four letters or more can you make from this Nonagram? Each word must use the central letter, and each letter may be used only once. At least one word using all nine letters can be found. Target scores:
NONAGRAM gluon; glut; GLUTINOUS; gout; guilt; gust; gusto; insult; lotus; louis; lousing; lout; lung; lungi; lust; lusting; luting; nous; onus; oust; ousting; outgun; outing; slug; sluit; slung; slut; snout; snug; soul; stun; stung; suing; suint; suit; sung; sunlit; tolu; tousling; unit; unlit; until; unto; using.
7
MAGIC SQUARE rest, echo; ship; topi.
7
1 3 6 7 5 8 9 4 2
6
4 8 5 2 3 9 1 7 6
6
7 2 9 1 4 6 8 5 3
5
8
6 9 4 5 8 3 2 1 7
5
2 1 3 6 9 7 4 8 5
4
5 7 8 4 1 2 6 3 9
3
9 5 7 8 6 1 3 2 4
2
MAGIC SQUARE
3 4 1 9 2 5 7 6 8
1
NONAGRAM
8 6 2 3 7 4 5 9 1
QUICK CROSSWORD
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