North West Swindon Link December 2018

No 439 December 2018

GPS delivered door to door to 55,000 homes across Swindon with Est. overall readership of 137,500

Swindon

LINK Your Community Magazine

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from everyone at Swindon Link

North & West Edition

Celebrating 40 years of Swindon Link - 8 page supplement Page 13 Two Sick Monkeys bow Page 34 Red Oaks and out in a proper punk Brookfield pupils plant style with final show crocus bulbs for a good cause

Community: P2-20

Swindon Wide: P21 - 29

Leisure: P30-39

p21

Page 29 Let them eat cake with the Swindon branch of the British Sugarcraft Guild

Delve into four decades of Swindon history

By Group Editor Jamie Hill jamie@swindonlink.com

When I took over running Swindon Link nearly four years ago I knew what a huge responsibility it would be.

This was a magazine that

Group Editor: Jamie Hill Deputy Editor: Ben Fitzgerald Reporter: Claire Dukes Contributor: Roger Ogle

Sales Admin Manager: Sue Roberts Sales: Dave Stewart, Rosy Presley Office Manager: Karen Randall Photography: Richard Wintle & Rachel Davis - www.calyxpix.com

had been carefully curated by founder Roger Ogle for over three and a half decades as a publication which had community at its heart.

It originally started as a newsletter in the newly built area of Toothill in December 1978 and grew as west and north Swindon grew after that.

Now 40 years later you can find the publication across Swindon with three different editions - North West, South, and East.

As part of the start of our 40th celebrations we have included an eight page supplement put together by

Roger Ogle within this issue.

And on top of that we have been working behind the scenes on our new website to create a digital archive meaning that you can delve right into the history of Swindon Link at the touch of a button.

It's taken a lot of time and a lot of hard work but we are very proud of the archive, which also will see a photo archive created as part of it.

You can now read each and every Link magazine as it was intended in a digital form.

We're hoping it will be a helpful resource for any local

history boffs out there who would like to see the trials and tribulations of Swindon as it has grown into the huge town that it is today.

But we're still not finished.

Our plan is to grow as Swindon grows and with the increasing number of houses being built across the borough, not least in the Eastern Villages expansion, we plan to continue to be there to do what we do best - reporting on the very fabric that makes our communities tick.

The Swindon Link Archive is available on our website at www.swindonlink.com

ADVERTISING Call 01793 781502 or email: advertising@swindonlink.com Closing date for January adverts and editorial: 7 December January edition published: 27 December Our Statistics Est. Readership of 125,000 in print & c.25,000 monthly online visitors.

Swindon’s largest free publication.

Advertising starts from just ÂŁ51.

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Positive Media Group Limited cannot be held responsible for goods or services or the copyright of content supplied by our advertisers.

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Reg. in England & Wales. No: 4513027, at Arclite House, Hillmead, Swindon SN5 5YN. Printed by pcp Telford

Got a community story or feature? Contact newsdesk at publisher@swindonlink.com or 01793 744677 swindonlink.com n December 2018

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It's begining to look a lot like Christmas!

Christmas church services All Saints Church, Church Place, Lydiard Millicent Sunday 9 Dec- 4.30pm Christingle Family Service Sunday 23 Dec - 6pm Carol Service Monday 24 Dec - 5pm Christmas Eve Family Crib Service Christmas Eve- 11.30pm Christmas Eve Midnight Holy Communion Service Christmas Day - 8am Christmas Day Holy Communion Christmas Day - 10am Christmas Day Family Service Emmanuel URC, High Street, Haydon Wick Sunday 16 Dec - 6pm Carols by Candlelight Christmas Eve - 4pm Christingle 11.30pm Midnight Communion Christmas Day - 10am Christmas Day Family Celebration Freshbrook Church, Worsley Rd Sunday 16 Dec - 10am – Carols and Puppets Wednesday 19 Dec - 7-8pm Carols at The Windmill pub Sunday 23 Dec - 10am Christmas Praise Christmas Eve - 6 to 7pm Carols by Candelight Christmas Day - 10am Short celebration of Jesus’ birth Sunday 30 Dec - 10am All age service

Find some purrfect presents at Petshed Swindon's favourite pet store is feeling festive this Christmas with offers enabling families to treat their furry friends.

Petshed are offering a range of discounts to pet owners this Christmas from pet food and toys to creature comforts.

This season the family-run business is also treating customers with loyalty cards to exclusive deals and offers. www.petshedonline.co.uk

Nishaan wins the AMS Christmas card competition Nishaan Singh, Year 6 of Lawn Primary School, Swindon, has won the AMS Accountancy Ltd. annual Christmas card design competition this year. The title of his picture is ‘Christmas Eve’.

Nishaan won a £25 Amazon voucher and AMS donated £250 to the school.

Barbara French, Head of Marketing at AMS said: "A big thank you to Kelly James, Head Teacher and Emma Jelley, Deputy Head Teacher for allowing us to run this competition again this year - it’s so special.’"

St Andrews Church, Tadpole Lane Saturday 15 Dec - 3-5pm Decorating Sunday 16 Dec - 6.30pm Carols by Candlelight Sunday 23 Dec - 10am Children’s Carol Christmas Eve - 4pm Christingle at Tadpole Farm Academy and 11.30pm Communion Christmas Day - 10am All age Communion Sunday 30 Dec - 10am Communion St John’s Church, Thames Avenue, Haydon Wick Sunday 9 Dec- 4.30pm Christingle Family Service Sunday 23 Dec - 6pm Carol Service Monday 24 Dec - 5pm Christmas Eve Family Crib Service Christmas Eve- 11.30pm Christmas Eve Midnight Holy Communion Service Christmas Day - 8am Christmas Day Holy Communion Christmas Day - 10am Christmas Day Family Service Church of Christ the Servant, Abbey Meads Sunday 9 Dec - 4pm Arty Crafty Christingle Sunday 16 Dec – 10.30am Christmas Nativity Sunday 23 Dec - 10.30am Family Service with Communion Christmas Eve - 4.30pm Carols and Mince Pies Christmas Day - 10.45am Christmas Day Service

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Holidays are not coming to Swindon again this year!

Coca-Cola has announced the highly anticipated dates for the Christmas Truck Tour 2018 - but Swindon is once again not one of the stops.

The Christmas Truck last visited Swindon in 2016 at North Swindon's Orbital Centre. A spokesperson for Coca-Cola said: "We try to cover as much of the country as we can but unfortunately we can't visit every town and city. We update the route every year, making sure we visit locations which are easily accessible from the surrounding areas."

Street dance crew scoop awards at national event

Talented young dancers from Swindon’s newly established Academy of Street Dance UK scooped a haul of nine trophies at a national competition.

The UK Street Dance Challenge, which took place at the Oasis Leisure Centre on 4 November, saw the academy claim two first places, three second places and a third, fourth, fifth and sixth place in

every category.

The youngsters were coached to victory by coaches Megan O'Driscoll and Richard Whyburd, who have more than 20 years’ experience of training and competing in Street Dance.

For more information about the academy and to book a place log on to www. academyofstreetdance.com

Can you sponsor a nurse?

Prospect Hospice has launched a campaign to encourage members of the public to sponsor a nurse.

Nurses are vital to the care that the hospice provides around the clock, every day of the year.

A regular donation towards the care that the Prospect nurses deliver can make a real difference to the experiences of people who seek the help of the organisation in their final weeks and days.

Prospect Hospice provides dedicated end-of-life care for people with any life-limiting illness across a community of around 300,000 in Swindon, Marlborough and north Wiltshire. The organisation delivers care within people's own homes, at the hospice in Wroughton, at our Wellbeing Centre in Marlborough, via the in-reach team at the Great Western Hospital, and

in residential and care homes throughout the community.

To find out more about the work of Prospect Hospice or to support its work, visit the hospice website at www. prospect-hospice.net

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Consider alternatives to A&E services

Swindon residents are being reminded of the range of alternatives to A&E to ease pressure over the winter months.

From the walk-in centre at the new NHS Swindon Health Centre to the Urgent Care Centre at the Great Western Hospital,there are a wide range of healthcare options.

Help and advice is available from one of the town’s 30 pharmacies and the NHS 111 helpline can help to quickly assess callers.

Another way of keeping well over the winter is to get the flu jab, available directly from a patient’s GP surgery, at most pharmacies and even some high street chemists and supermarkets - it is free for vulnerable groups. For more information visit www.nhs.uk

Charity fundraiser

Muscular Dystrophy UK is looking for people to don their capes and join in the fun at the Superhero Series Winter Wonderwheels event at Dorney Lake, Windsor, on Sunday 2 December.

The event features 1km, 5km and 10km distances.

Participants can cycle, walk, run, push, or anything inbetween.

Money raised will help fund treatments and cures, as well as providing essential support to the 70,000 people living with musclewasting conditions in the UK. For more information visit: www.superheroseries.co.uk

Nominate a charity

Swindon-based charities are being asked to submit nominations by 14 December to become Old Town Festival’s Charities of the Year 2019 for the event’s 28th year. Applications must be received via email by 14 December. Contact deniserogersdanceschool@ gmail.com

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Hare Brained Quizzers launch Mad March Hare 2019 On 1 November, 17 teams hopped over to the Mad March Hare annual quiz night which was held at Swindon Town Football Club.

The event helped launch fundraising activities for the 2019 event. The team also took the opportunity to celebrate the achievements of the 2018 event which raised £9,636 for Breast Cancer Now. Bill Gibbons the quiz master put the teams through their paces with rounds including History, Geography, Sport and Film. The room was packed with friendly but competitive quizzers who also enjoyed a tasty ploughman’s supper which was included in the price of their admission ticket.

New attendee Emma Mcardle said: "I attended the evening with my husband and a group of friends. It was the first time we have gone to a quiz night and although we were not very good we had a good laugh

and the evening was made better as I won a raffle prize for a meal at Carluccio’s."

The evening got the new year off to a fantastic start, raising £854, the winning team was ‘Usual Suspects’, with runners up ‘Hell Toupe’.

Chair of the Mad March Team, Margaret Nicholson, said ‘the event which is in its 12th year has raised over £100,000 so far and we hope to make 2019 another successful year.

We would like to thank the teams who took part as well

as the many local companies who generously donated raffle prizes. Mad March Hare has grown in popularity over the years as it appeals to both families wanting to enjoy the fun and more serious runners alike. We hope to smash our numbers this year and booking early is advisable to avoid disappointment’.

Registration is now open for the 2019 Mad March Hare event, which will take place on Sunday 24 March 2019, Lydiard Park Academy.

Swindon bus services are the best in the west!

By Claire Dukes claire@swindonlink.com

Two Swindon bus operators have been recognised at national award ceremonies for excellent services.

Last month Swindon's Bus Company fell under the umbrella of Go South West's achievement to be named 'Large Bus Operator of the Year' in the RouteOne awards.

This is now the company's third national best operator title including UK Bus Awards and National Transport Awards.

Managing director, Andrew Wickham, said: “This is an extremely rare achievement, and I’d like to thank all of my colleagues at Go South Coast for their monumental effort.

“It is not possible to achieve this level of success without a huge amount of talent, dedication and hard work - and my team has this in abundance. We pride ourselves on the fact that we continuously

seek new ways to improve the services we offer.

Shortly after, at the fourth annual Stagecoach West Customer Service Awards, Swindon driver Gurnam Singh swooped the top award for Stagecoach West Customer Service Driver of the Year 2018. Mr Singh has been described by passengers as "a credit to Stagecoach" who has an "amazing attitude" which led him to receive national recognition for his services.

Stagecoach West Managing Director Rupert Cox, who presented the awards, said: “Stagecoach West has had a really positive year in terms

of recognition of the customer service that we provide.

“As the Managing Director of Stagecoach West, I could not be prouder of the drivers who have received these welldeserved awards.”

Enter another reality at Swindon's Brunel Shopping Centre Families in Swindon can now blur the boundaries of reality and fiction with fully immersive, virtual reality experiences at ImmotionVR in the Brunel Centre.

ImmotionVR, the UK’s largest group of virtual reality (VR) experience centres, have announced the opening of a new VR Experience Centre in Swindon’s Brunel Shopping Centre.

In a first for Swindon, families can travel virtually from the bottom of the ocean to the top of the Universe (and everything in between) and what’s great for parents is experiences start from just £5.

ImmotionVR’s fully immersive VR experiences take place in self-contained motion simulators, which deliver incredible virtual reality content, with stunning wraparound sound and multidirectional movement.

Key VR experiences include: JINXED, - a ride on a virtual

ghost train - DeltaZero, – Delta Squadron is sent on a mission to uncover the mystery of a missing planet and you are a key member of that team - and Legend of Lusca - an amazing sub-sea adventure in your very own mini-sub, as you explore corals, shipwrecks and the mysteries of the deep.

Arek Antoniak, Head of Retail Operations at ImmotionVR, said: “We’re excited to be opening in Swindon. We’ll be offering families a unique type of experience, with cutting-edge VR that will be a great addition to the shopping district, creating new experiences where the possibilities are literally endless.

Jane Stewart, Acting Centre Manager added: “We're delighted to be able to offer visitors this virtual reality experience at The Brunel and the pods are already proving popular. www. immotionvr.com

Volunteers are being sought to help out in a range of roles for the Swindon branch of Citizens Advice.

Trainer Lucy Macintosh said: "We welcome a wide range of people. No experience is needed as we will provide full training in a variety of roles such as reception, advisor or administration. Everyone has something to offer and it is great for building your own skills."

Volunteers are supported by a 12-week training course and supported by a mentor. The

charity asks that volunteers can commit for one day a week or two half days.

Citizens Advice is a network of 316 independent charities throughout the United Kingdom that give free, confidential information and advice to assist people with money, legal, consumer and other problems.

To find out more or apply as a volunteer log on to www. citizensadviceswindon.org. uk or alternatively drop into their Swindon office at Sanford House in the town centre (SN1 1HE)

Can you make a difference?

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Applications open

for housing projects Applications are open for charities and projects to apply for grants to tackle housing issues in their communities.

Swindon-based Nationwide Building Society is making £500,000 available to for projects that support the most vulnerable with housing needs.

A Community Board, which is comprised of Nationwide members, employees and housing experts has been appointed to review applications. This is part of a wider Community Grants programme through which Nationwide is investing £22 million in housing projects across the UK over five years. Full details can be found at www.nationwide. co.uk/communityfunding

Financial check-up The Chairman of the Financial Conduct Authority met with Swindon's business leaders, from Business West, Nationwide and Swindon borough councillors to support the use of the town's financial services.

Charles Randell CBE, Chairman of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the UK’s financial markets regulator, met with business and civic leaders in Swindon yesterday.

As a UK-wide regulator, the FCA’s programme of visits gives senior staff insight into the customer and business experience.

Burger bar blow Gourmet Burger Kitchen is set to close after three years of trading.

The Swindon restaurant, at Regent Cirus, is one of 17 branches of the high-end burger chain to be axed by parent company Famous Brands in the wake of falling sales.

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State-of-the-art sports facility to be built in Moredon A brand new £3.6m state-ofthe-art sports hub is coming to Swindon after councillors gave it the big thumbs up last month.

Swindon Borough Council’s Planning Committee approved plans to build the multi-use sports facility on land at Moredon Recreation Ground, off Akers Way. The development will include a new pavilion building to provide modern changing facilities, a closed circuit cycle track, a BMX ‘pump’ track, a full sized 3G all-weather pitch, upgrades to the existing grass football and cricket pitches, and more parking spaces.

The 15-hectare site is owned by the council and currently accommodates four grass football pitches, two cricket wickets, croquet pitches and a former nine-hole pitch and putt course.

Councillor Keith Williams, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Corporate and Customer Services, said:

“This is fantastic news. I am extremely excited to be able to say that this brilliant facility is coming to Swindon.

“Promoting healthy lifestyles and improving the town’s leisure offerings are major priorities for this council and this sports hub is a big step in the right direction. It will make a huge difference to the quality of life of our residents and that’s a big win for us.”

The improved facilities are the result of close collaboration between the council, Sport England, British Cycling and the Football Foundation.

Part of the land will be made

available for new houses to be built, which will help finance the sports hub alongside funding from Sport England, British Cycling and the Football Foundation – a bid for which will be submitted next year.

The development has received cross-party support.

Councillor Jim Grant, Leader of the Labour Group, said: "We are very enthusiastic about this development. It will bring fantastic sporting facilities to the area while maintaining the open green space that is so desperately needed. We look forward to the grand opening in the near future."

Historic Railway Village awarded Heritage Action Zone status Swindon’s treasured Railway Village has been selected as one of Historic England’s special Heritage Action Zones, and only the second in the South West.

The scheme is being led by Swindon Borough Council and will help Swindon’s historic railway area to be a thriving and connected central hub for the town.

The Heritage Action Zone will help to regenerate neglected buildings and enhance visitor attractions and other public amenities in order to draw in residents and visitors.

The detailed plan for the Heritage Action Zone will be worked up by spring 2019 and will confirm the resources, including any grant-funding, to be provided by Historic England.

Councillor Dale Heenan, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for the Town Centre, said: “We are delighted that Swindon’s Railway Quarter has been

chosen as one of the country’s Heritage Action Zones.

“The Railway Village is the most significant surviving railway-engineering establishment of its time in the world, and our aim is to ensure it is recognised nationally as a go-to place of historic interest.

“It is now crucial that Swindon’s Heritage community pull together to make this scheme a huge success and for visible progress over the next five years.”

Ross Simmonds, Planning Director for Historic England in the South West, added:

“Swindon has so much to be proud of, particularly its worldclass railway heritage. Some of its historic buildings are still to find a new use, while some are showing signs of neglect.

But with a little investment and imagination, they can become assets for the local economy.

“We are looking forward to working with Swindon Borough Council and its partners to increase awareness of what the town’s Railway Quarter has to offer and to make it easy for investors and developers to bring jobs, homes and visitors here.”

Schools' crocus display celebrates vaccination initiative Youngsters from Red Oaks and Brook Field Primary Schools are set for a colourful Spring - thanks to the donation of crocus bulbs by Thamesdown Rotary.

Members of the club worked with youngsters at both schools to plant a display of purple crocus bulbs.

The initiative celebrates Rotary's close association with a polio vaccination programme in partnership with the World Health Organsiation and MIcrosoft founder Bill Gates.

The purple crocus echoes the temporary purple dye that vaccinated children are marked with.

Miss Gibbs, one of Brook Field’s year 4 teachers said: “Rotary came to talk about the crocuses, which we haven’t spoken about before, and the children were listening very carefully.

"Hopefully they’ll get excited when the bulbs come up in the spring, and they’ll hopefully

remember why they’re doing it – but the fact that they’ve planted them, they’ll be excited anyway.”

Steve Davidson, Thamesdown Rotary President said: “I’ve been to India helping out with a polio vaccination programme with children about the same age as these pupils.

“Both headteachers were quite happy for us to plant on their school grounds.

Hopefully, when they see the bulbs come up, then they’ll know that they’ve planted them and what it’s for, which is a good thing. As bulbs naturalise, in about 10 years they’ll have a whole bank of crocuses.”

Swindon named as 7th best place to live in new study

By Rafal Jakubowicz reporter@swindonlink.com

Swindon is in the top 10 of the best ranked and evolving cities in the UK according to a study

by PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Technically a town, Swindon scored 7th on the highest ranked cities list - taking into account a range of social, economic and environmental factors - with the high level of employment in the town a key factor in its strong showing.

According to the report, by the highly regarded auditing firm, Swindon scored highly on employment, new businesses, skills base, average income and a variety of environmental factors.

The two best ranked cities in 2018 are Oxford and Reading, with Oxford maintaining its narrow lead at the top for the past two years.

On average UK cities have improved significantly over a ten-year period.

London scored 15th on the highest ranked cities list, with the capital held back by high housing and transport costs.

To read the PWC report in full see www.pwc.co.uk

1. Oxford 2. Reading 3. Southampton 4. Milton Keynes 5. Bristol

6. Edinburgh 7. Swindon 8. Coventry 9. Aberdeen 10. Leicester swindonlink.com n December 2018

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Thamesdown Rotary Poppy Ball 2018 Rotarians across Swindon fell silent as thousands of poppies rained down inside Swindon's Steam Museum during a moment of silence to remember those who fought, and continue to serve, for Great Britain.

Last month Thamesdown Rotary hosted their annual Poppy Ball in aid of The Royal British Legion, Chelsea Royal Hospital and The Royal Marines Charity. This year tributes were also made to commemorate 100 years since the end of The Great War, and to also highlight the men and women still actively serving today.

Thamesdown Rotary's President, Steve Davidson, said: “I think people should be educated to remember the sacrifice made by our forebearers - unfortunately, some youngsters don’t quite understand the importance of remembrance, because they don’t have any link to it.

“The Royal British Legion have 60,000 ex-servicemen who are either homeless or suffering from trauma, and whatever we can raise for them is, to me, wonderful."

The Mayor of Swindon, Junab Ali, also attended the event. He said: “It’s events like these that make sure people remember the men and women who fought for our freedom we have today. It’s important to raise money to remember them, but also raise money for the people who are currently serving - we need to take care of them to say ‘thank you’ and the way we can pay them back is to help and support them through events like these.

"I really have to congratulate Swindon Thamesdown Rotary, and all the rotary groups in Swindon, for all the local, national and international charities they raise money for."

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Lest we Forget: Swindon remembers

By Claire Dukes claire@swindonlink.com

Special tributes were made to commemorate 100 years since the signing of Armistice. Servicemen and dignitaries stood silent as Wreaths were laid at Swindon's Cenotaph.

The Royal British Legion, scouts, brownies and dignitaries opened the Field of Remembrance paying tribute with more than 15,000 crosses and a performance from The Military Wives Choir.

A special memorial service was held at Radnor Street Chapel.

More than 80 soldiers from the First and Second World War combined have been buried in the cemetery.

More than a thousand handmade poppies fell from St Augustine’s Church, Rodbourne. The local history group also made a Remembrance Wall display around the walls of the church.

West Swindon Parish Council Winter update

Exciting new play areas coming soon We would West Swindon Parish Council has been investing in improving play areas across West Swindon.

Over the next month, there will be a new toddler play area at Camden Close in Grange Park, and improved play facilities at Clayhill Copse and Cartwright Drive.

The biggest change will be at Middleleaze play area behind the Saltway Centre.

This will be a new toddler

love your help!

and youth play area and also includes a full set of adult fitness equipment.

We hope this will be installed and open by Spring next year.

The Leisure and Amenities Committee is now planning which areas to improve next year.

We hope you enjoy these changes.

Cllr Caryl Sydney Smith Chair Leisure & Amenities Committee

A better environment

If you have a couple of hours a month and would like to join in on litter picking or looking after your local green environment, please get in touch so that we can tell you more.

We reward volunteer hours with funding for neighbourhood environmental projects.

Your parish council For updates and information about the parish council and its meetings, your local parish councillors and local news: www.westswindon-pc.gov.uk For reports or enquiries,

The parish council has been working on a range of environmental improvements this year including 36 extra street bins for litter and dog waste, new benches, improvements to Freshbrook Village Centre, and tackling fly tipping.

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We’ve also created wildflower meadow trials, worked to improve Westlea and Toothill ponds and introduced floral planting across the Parish with planters and Spring bulbs along verges and popular footpaths.

please contact the Parish Office, email: westswindonpc@outlook.com tel: 01793 466418. The Parish Office is based at the West Swindon Library, Link Centre.

Swindon Night Shelter to run new Riverside day centre A new day centre which will act as a safe space for some of the town’s most vulnerable people will be run by Swindon Night Shelter, it has been confirmed.

Last year, Swindon Borough Council introduced the Temporary Winter Housing Provision scheme to get an identified group of rough sleepers into permanent, secure accommodation.

The programme was hugely successful and will be repeated this year for four months from mid-December.

But this year, the scheme will be accompanied by the opening of a new day centre which will, for the next three years, be run by Swindon Night Shelter, a charity that offers support to homeless people in the town.

The day centre, located at the former Riverside School site off Queens Drive, will act as a first point of contact for rough sleepers to access vital services

such as mental health provision and drug and alcohol support.

The day centre is expected to be in operation by the first week in December.

Councillor Cathy Martyn, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing and Public Safety, said: “'I am pleased that Swindon Night Shelter have agreed to deliver this important new initiative, which will provide a relaxed environment where rough sleepers and homeless people will be safe and welcome.

“It will be somewhere where they will have the opportunity, if they wish, to talk to people who can give them help and support and be somewhere where they can meet with the organisations that support them.”

Night Shelter, who will run the day centre for the next three years, have already spoken positively about the exciting challenge ahead.

Rebecca Davison, Chair of

Swindon Night Shelter, said: “We are so excited to be able to move part of our existing provision to this new location.

We have been running for 10 years, operating our day centre and mentoring service at our warehouse in Cheney Manor, and have been in discussions with the Council and other services for a while on how to provide a better service to our guests and those in the cycle of homelessness in

Swindon.

“This is the beginning of this journey as we look to work with the Council, other relevant bodies and local organisations to ensure we give the very best care we can to those we serve.

“Our ultimate aim is to share God’s love and provision in a practical way so that nobody in Swindon is rough sleeping who doesn’t want to be. This is going to help towards that aim.”

Big Lottery Fund awards Swindon Carers Centre £147,630 Swindon Carers Centre is delighted to have been successful in a bid for a Big Lottery Fund Reaching Communities grant, to create and deliver a new Young Carer Champion Award in partnership with Swindon Schools.

Over the next 3 years, SCC will continue to work with the schools, academies and colleges on the Young Carer Award and recruit a further 12 new schools in the 2018-19 academic year.

Young carers tell us they would like to lead the way in their schools and have worked with us to develop the AQA accredited Young Carer Champion Award, where they will work with their young carer leads to ensure all young carers in their schools and local communities have a voice.

We would like to thank all education professionals who do outstanding work to support young carers in Swindon via the Young Carer Award and

we are delighted to be able to develop this further with the Young Carer Champion Award over the next 3 years.

Susanna Jones, SCC CEO, says: “We are very excited

about utilising the expertise young carers in Swindon have to further develop a clear voice for other young carers here. This will be so positive in influencing the support

available to them. A big thank you to the Big Lottery Fund for investing in this project following the huge success of the Young Carer Award over the past 3 years.” swindonlink.com n December 2018 17

Carpark plan for brownfield site Work to give shoppers more space to park their cars in Swindon town centre has begun in earnest.

The disused area of gravel opposite the Wyvern Theatre is currently being 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 along Fleming Way. The new temporary car park, to be known as the Wyvern Car Park, is expected to be completed in December and will bring 53 extra car parking spaces to the town centre – 12 of which will be disabled bays. There will also be space for motorbikes to park in the revamped carpark.

It is expected that the Princes Street Car Park will be transformed into a temporary bus facility while the Fleming Way boulevard is being regenerated. Work is anticipated to start on the

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Princes Street Car Park in autumn 2019. The displaced parking from this site can then find space in the new Wyvern Car Park.

In the meantime, turning the Wyvern Car Park into a usable space will see this derelict brownfield site brought back into use for town centre shoppers.

Councillor Dale Heenan, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for the Town Centre, said: “This site is an eyesore and local residents want to see visible progress on town centre regeneration.

"With construction work due to start in March for the Snowdome at North Star, July being the start of the Kimmerfields building work and December signalling the new 45min train timetable to Paddington, now is the time to think creatively to transform the town centre into a more attractive place in which to live, work and invest."

The Business Brief

From Nick Cave to Coldplay – the Swindon business taking the marketing world by storm

By Claire Dukes claire@swindonlink.com

"I’m not moving to London" says the director of a digital marketing company based in Swindon after securing contracts with Nick Cave, Muse and now Coldplay.

Founded in a home office in 2014, Digital Marketing Specialist Ltd have shown that quality, not quantity, is the tool for success after marketing films for the big guns of the music industry.

Last month Coldplay’s first documentary ‘A Head Full of Dreams’, which follows the band’s career over the last 20 years, was screened in cinemas across the UK. To digitally market the documentary, film distributors Trafalgar Releasing opted for Swindon’s own Digital Marketing Specialist Ltd. Based in Swindon’s latest co-op work space Workshed since June, the team of four have been creating Facebook and Google adverts for independent and high-profile companies across the globe.

After successfully running the ad campaigns for Nick Cave’s live concert show ‘Distant Sky’ and Muse’s ‘The Drones World Tour’ cinema event the younh company was then sought out for Coldplay’s documentary.

Having quickly progressed over the last year, and speaking about having Trafalgar Releasing as their client, Digital Marketing Specialist Ltd’s director, Tom Davenport, said: “It’s amazing.

Firstly, I’m chuffed because we must be doing something right – we’re getting awesome clients and we haven’t done any marketing for ourselves.

And, secondly, the team here

has proven that I can find high grade talent in and around Swindon."

Mr Davenport, 32, believes that his background in the music industry, and experience in the marketing business sector, has enabled the company to grow organically.

He said: “I think things like this – people having a cool night – are meaningful.

Even if it seems like trivial entertainment it can be a really memorable night, especially for people who really care deeply about music.

“The music business has been really hung up on getting likes and subscribers, - which is all valuable stuff – but there’s actually a huge halo of many other people who interact with bands because they like their music, and are listening to it, so they're visiting the band’s Facebook page but not necessarily liking it. You don’t 'like' everything you listen to on Facebook.

"No one’s representing that online interest could be used for something really positive.

A lot of people might think ‘there’s no good ads’ but when you see something that is totally relevant to you, speaks to you and solves a big problem for you, that could be the best thing that comes along for you all week.

“Some marketers will just boost likes on a band’s page by doing dirt cheap ads in third world countries, so they’re getting likes for fractions of a penny – it ‘looks’ good but likes on a page aren’t necessarily meaningful. But what is meaningful are real people actually interacting and, in this instance, enjoying the band’s music. This is also

L to R: Tom Davenport (Director), Claire Espley (Digital Marketing Assistant), and Alex Booth (Digital Marketing Executive

true for regular businesses.”

Digital Marketing Specialist Ltd say they have no plans to relocate. The team believe that Swindon is ideally located and is also a growing hotbed for dynamic and progressive businesses.

Claire Espley, Digital Marketing Assistant, said: “A lot of people get the impression that there’s not a lot going on in Swindon, but after being at the Workshed this has really proven to me that this is not the case.”

Tom added: “It’s easy to make negative assumptions and jokes about Swindon because of how it’s portrayed in things like The Office, but if you want to look at the evidence here it is: there are big, ambitious and dynamic work places in Swindon. And, there are so many interesting

businesses here [Workshed].

So, if people have those assumptions, they’re wrong.

There’s no question – I’m not moving to London.

“We want to be based in Swindon because I’d like people to know that there are options locally – the important thing for me is to build a small and really high calibre team in Workshed.

"It’s cool that we’re successfully competing with rather big companies. I’m not saying we can compete with everything because there are things we can’t do like billboards, - we don’t want to – but strategically we’re totally competing. Long may it continue!”

For further information about Digital Marketing Wiltshire Air Ambulance Specialist Ltd visit lands at www. new air base digitalmarketingspecialist.co.uk swindonlink.com n December 2018 19

The Politics Page

Electrification of Swindon to London line is boost for town Swindon Borough Council Leader Cllr David Renard (Con) This month a switch will be flicked that will bring enormous benefits to our town.

I’m sure the process of electrifying the Great Western main line between Swindon and Paddington is much more complicated than turning on a switch, but no one can underestimate the huge benefits that surge of power will bring to our local economy.

The new electric trains will

significantly reduce the time it takes to get into London, making Swindon a really attractive place for businesses and people who are struggling with the high property prices in the capital.

More businesses means more jobs, which in turn will bring more wealth and investment into the borough. We are already facilitating major regeneration in the town centre and, with plans for the regional leisure centre at North Star also on the table, I am sure the electrified railway line will draw in even more investment.

Our rail links could also receive another significant boost with Network Rail due to submit plans next year for the western rail link to Heathrow

Airport that could see people travel from Swindon to Heathrow in less than an hour.

Earlier this year, I made a submission to state how important such a rail link would be to Swindon.

The western rail link will mean you can get a train from Swindon to Heathrow via Reading which will be hugely beneficial, not just to residents, but to the many national and multi-national companies within the borough. The railway is once again proving to be pivotal in Swindon’s success.

Everything must be done to tackle modern day slavery Swindon Labour Group Leader Cllr Jim Grant Recently police forces in the South West have declared that there has been a 5% increase in intelligence reporting of modern day slavery with an estimated 136,000 victims of modern day slavery in the UK. Slavery is a scourge on society and needs to be eradicated. We all need to be vigilant to exploitation of where modern day slavery takes place, including Swindon Council.

That is why Labour have called

on the council to join other local councils, led by both Labour and Conservative, to proactively prevent modern day slavery by signing up to the “Charter Against Modern Slavery”, calling on the council to use its procurement system to ensure it does all it can to challenge modern-day slavery through its supply chain.

A common reason why residents get in touch with their local councillor is because of a lack of maintenance of trees, causing unsafe conditions to residents and sometimes

damage to residents’ properties.

We have recently learnt that Swindon Council only spends £50k on the maintenance of trees each year. However, over the last three years, 21 tree claims were settled by

the council with a total paid of £373,700. In November 2017 a proposal was brought to council requesting a review of the council’s tree maintenance policy. This motion was voted down by the Conservatives.

Given the significant council spend on settlements for tree claims, Labour councillors have called on the Conservative administration to hold an urgent review of its tree maintenance policy to prevent such significant settlements for lack of tree maintenance in the future.

Homelessness shelter could reduce number of rough sleepers Lib Dem councillor Cllr Stan Pajak In politics both local and perhaps in particular nationally there haven’t been many happy stories this year ranging from the wasted two year long process of negotiating leaving the EU, accident and emergency waiting times reaching an all time record to Swindon Council‘s continuing financial crisis with implications for every service it provides.

Therefore I need to take this moment to wish everybody a wonderful Christmas and 20

swindonlink.com n December 2018

happy new year!

Across the country and in Swindon there has been a growing homelessness crisis.

With specific money from government, Swindon is embarking on a programme to create a new day centre run

by a charity Swindon Night Shelter. The day centre will be located on Queen’s drive next to the ambulance station and will provide accommodation for 12 rough sleepers and act as first point of contact to access vital services. This will be matched by a Housing First scheme designed to find accommodation and support needs for homeless people.

November should have seen the end of time for planning proposals for the development of the Corn Exchange (Locarno) to be submitted for residential

apartments, restaurants and shops. With a potential cost of £20-30M the developer had been unable to meet all the five key needs ranging from ability to pay for the scheme to getting agreement with the land owners. The scheme was always going to be hard and had an element of controversy with an original idea to use part of the Lawns for car parking. The extra time given by the council will hopefully! allow the scheme to be either seen as a viable planning application or abandoned.

Swindon Link: celebrating 40 years A history of Swindon's community news magazine by founder Roger Ogle

2018 October: The Swindon Link team, from left, Roger Ogle, Claire Dukes, Ben Fitzgerald, Sue Roberts, Jamie Hill, Rosy Presley and Karen Randell

1984 April: Although some think otherwise, Link Centre is in fact named after the Link newsletter after Thamesdown Council invited us to enter a competition to give the new leisure centre an identity.

The volunteers involved with The Link at the building site, from left, Nick Jansen, Council leader Tony Mayer, Janice Oliver, Roger Ogle, Eric Edwards.

Front, Sharon McColl, who also suggested Link Centre.

Front pages spanning 40 years: 1978 December: First unamed newsletter

1979 February: Toothill Link published

1987 January: Last newsletter

1987 April: First monthly magazine

1988 December: Tenth anniversay of the Link

Swindon Link: celebrating 40 years

2017 April: Link editor Jamie Hill and founder Roger Ogle meeting HRH Princess Anne when she visited Excalibur Communications at Arclite House, Hillmead, where Link magazine is based.

Choices choices It’s been a challenge selecting an interesting range of editions, as well as a few photographs from the thousands stored in boxes and on hard drives.

Choosing the covers was easier as I’ve been preparing them to be scanned and digitised for the relaunched Swindonlink.com. Some were lodged in the memory or vaguely remembered, whilst others were forgotten and rediscovered. The 40 in these eight pages are not shown in a balanced and proportionate way, some years are more represented; that’s not to 1994 August: Distribution in Northern Expansion

say some magazines are less interesting than others, but some covers are more striking. Whilst there were 438 front pages to pick from, identifying which photographs to include was a brain teaser. Those which have made the final cut illustrate the range of broad aims and interests pursued by The Link over the years and the geographical coverage of the magazine.

There are many more images in the archive to be revealed and I hope they can appear in the future at swindonlink.com Roger Ogle

1996 May: First colour pages included

Roger Ogle writes: For a free magazine to survive for forty years is rather an incredible achievement.

It all started in December 1978 when an 18-page unnamed newsletter appeared through the doors of the 500 houses occupied in Toothill and the 50 or so in Freshbrook.

Resident Geoff Richmond had put it together and distributed the publication door-to-door with his wife Kathy, pushing a pram with their baby daughter on top and the loaded tray below.

The second edition in early 1979 carried the title Toothill Link though the place name was soon dropped as the western expansion grew to include other areas.

In a rapidly expanding

community, communication was essential so that people knew what was going on and were encouraged to get involved.

For eight years The Link appeared every eight weeks, produced by a small group of volunteers coordinated by myself. This was the precomputer era when e-mail was still science fiction for the majority of people. Stories were typed on paper, cut and pasted onto layout boards, and headlines made with Letraset stick-on lettering.

Photographs were a rarity.

For the first few editions the pages were hand stapled together before distribution by more volunteers.

It was all very primitive and the appearance crude by today’s standards.

Robert Buckland, MP South Swindon For the past 40 years, Swindon Link has been a free monthly magazine full of important community news.

From humble beginnings in 1978, it has grown to become a vital community resource playing an important role in supporting other local businesses, charities and support organisations, bringing news and views to residents.

During my time as MP for South Swindon, and as a Parliamentary candidate before that, I’ve had the pleasure of working with Swindon Link. Their ethos has been more than merely ‘getting a good story,’ but providing reliable information and a variety of opinions on big and small local issues. May this ethos live on in Link over the next forty years.

1997 November: Swindonlink.com launched

1999 January: 20th anniversary

2000 January: celebrating children of the future

But The Link quickly became a point of reference for West Swindon which we promoted as an area with a distinct identity, to get away from the idea of the ‘western expansion’ as it was first known.

And we never missed the opportunity to remind readers that in 1984 Link Centre was named after the newsletter.

By late 1986 it was clear that publishing just eight editions

a year was inadequate and volunteer distribution to more than 8,000 homes was not sustainable. Another 3,000 homes were to be built to the west of the town and plans for expansion to the north were taking shape.

With little business sense and no formal journalism experience I took the fateful decision to leave a secure job at Thamesdown Borough

Council (now Swindon) to publish The Link as a monthly from April 1987 with the same objectives: • being available free of charge to every home in its target area • providing local news and information about schools, churches, charities and community activities • promoting opportunities to

get involved and help groups and charities; • celebrating the efforts of people to build their communities and making connections with those in other countries.

Advertising has always been absolutely crucial; apart from small grants to fund the first two news-letters, every publication (continued...)

Councillor Junab Ali, Mayor of Swindon The Link magazine is celebrating a wonderful milestone in Swindon.

Congratulations on behalf of myself and all the mayors over the last 40 years who have had the pleasure of receiving a personal copy of this very informative local magazine for the town. I certainly look forward to receiving my copy.

The Link shares so much information, reaching out to a wide range of our community.

At these happy and positive times, my thanks go to the editors and the team who have produced such a magnificent magazine for us in Swindon over the last four decades.“ Above: the first photograph to appear in The Link was in July 1979. The Mayor of Thamesdown Percy Jefferies presents Theresa and Terry Davies, the first couple to move into Swindon’s ‘Western Expansion,’ with a commemorative spoon to mark the birth of Janice, born a month after they arrived in Toothill.

Right: 25 years later, Theresa and Terry and Janice with her own daughter Amy in the April 2001 Link.

2000 September: first all-colour edition

2001 December: Plans for Priory Vale featured

Justin Tomlinson, MP for North Swindon “For 40 years the Swindon Link has landed on our doormats to report and celebrate the very best of our growing town.

From landmark events, meetings and campaigns to every new home, business and facility – the Swindon Link has been there to capture it all in. Everybody looks forward to flicking through the colourful and vibrant pages each month, and the Swindon Link has been a focal point at the very heart of our growing and diverse communities. Every town should celebrate the people who live in it and the Swindon Link does exactly that. So thank you, in your 40th year, for promoting the very best of what makes living in Swindon so great!”

2002 July: Royal Jubilee edition

2003 February: Russian maps exclusive

2003 June: Support for twin peaks fundraisers

Swindon Link: celebrating 40 years (continued...) since March 1979 has paid for itself. It’s what I’ve called a virtuous circle: being a vehicle for business promotion alongside news and information trusted by readers who in turn respond to the advertising which sustains the publication.

Without doubt hundreds of small businesses have

been assisted in establishing themselves because of the support from readers.

It’s a great responsibility helping entrepreneurs who only advertise in the magazine to attract customers.

In 1994, with commercial possibilities in mind, we expanded into Haydon Wick ready for the first houses of the

town’s northern expansion at Abbey Meads.

I admit to be constantly surprised that the free delivery model continued to be successful for so long.

Yet I was always aware that The Link would only be attractive if the quality of the product was always high.

Over the years rival

publications were started by people who thought it was an easy way to make money.

But they didn’t understand the unique features of The Link, nor the sheer hard work required to create an appealing product month after month. The Link came into being at a time when new technology made it easier to

The builders’ hut in Toothill which served as a shop when the first people arrived in 1976. It was later turned into a community centre, then a studio where several of the large public sculptures in West Swindon were created during the early 1980s.

1994: Mohammad Salas Khan won a volunteering award for running the Swindon Pakistan Welfare Association and also after school Arabic language classes. He received the MBE in 2003.

June 2004: Campaign to protect Shaw Forest

April 2005: Support for Swindon MS Centre

1974: Before the first residents and The Link, the old A420 at Mannington from the bridge over the London to Bristol railway line

August 2006: Greendown students meet Tony Blair

November 2006: Campaign to protect Lower Shaw Farm

December 2007: Royal opening of seven North Swindon schools

to allow in-house control of the production, the first in Swindon to do so. We were also the first to utilise the flexibility provided by digital cameras. By a couple of weeks, swindonlink.com was the second in October 1997 to launch a town-wide website.

As they came along we were also quick to get involved with Twitter, Facebook and

Instagram. In all the years it has been going, I’ve not come across another local publication with a high level of editorial content whilst being delivered in such large numbers without charge.

In 2014 we were very pleased that James Phipps recognised the importance of The Link to Swindon, bought it and oversaw the launch of

two further editions covering Old Town and south and east Swindon.

Jamie Hill, editor since 2015, has now taken over the business. Despite the massive changes over 40 years, and now distributing to 55,000 homes, the basic elements of The Link remain at the core of what the magazine is today - free to all, promoting

So what did The Link ever do for us? asks former West Swindon resident Martha Parry To really answer this question you would need to have moved into Toothill when it was a mire of muddy clay, without a shop or school, and a long wait for a telephone line!

You would have to have seen the first issues being delivered from a pram, door to door. I missed that bit, but do remember pasting up pages sometime in 1980/1, using 1984 August: Members of Swindon International Group present a a typewriter, glue and sticky cheque to Swindon children’s cancer charity CALM backed Letraset headlines.

Zoom forward a few years and Roger was unpacking the first desktop computer I ever saw, and West Swindon was nudging into North Swindon so fast only the Link could really keep up. And it did keep up, with pictures from all the new schools, churches and leisure sites; all the toddler groups and lunch clubs; and all the new roads and roundabouts that tangled us all up as they 1989 November: Second year students at Greendown Community kept appearing. Maps were School on the yet-to-be-built Shaw Ridge Leisure Park with published eventually and even Link Centre in the background aerial photographs. Then February 2009: PM Gordon Brown visits Isambard School

January 2010: Plans for long term expansion west of town

August 2010: Link pictured at Swindon Town FC camp in USA

community involvement and celebrating positive news.

I believe The Link has always punched above its weight, its success built on a high level of relevant editorial and visual content, a passion for the community, accuracy, absence of sensationalism and bit of wit for good measure.

May it continue for many years to come. there were some pretty funny April Fools’ Day issues, until they got so good someone complained about the proposal for an underground airport under what is now known as Wichelstowe!

As a suburban growth area, we also needed to be aware of wider Swindon issues, and here too The Link delivered – with the most incisive coverage of issues from Coate to Lydiard over the years. The Link found space for people to write from their own points of view too, as I know from the Mechanics’ Institution angle over 23 years.

And it surveyed residents about their issues with a 1992 insert.

Essentially, what the Link has done is to put us in the picture of an amazing expanding town; it grew with us into a mature community as it saw itself mirrored monthly - so mature that schoolchildren have grown up and reproduced the poem their predecessors wrote in 1998, celebrating their established place in words once spoken and written, and now filmed and published with The Link looking on.

March 2011: Plans for Tadpole Farm expansion proposed

July 2011: William and Kate’s wedding

Swindon Link: celebrating 40 years

1998 November: Former railway worker Alf Neate, the last foreman in A shop, and the Mayor of Swindon Maurice Fanning restart the Swindon Works clock at the time the works closed in 1986, to launch the conversion work to create Steam Museum which was funded by an £8 million Heritage Lottery Grant

2000 December: Swindon planning officers Carol Bristow and Vivienne O’Connell show the plans for the third phase of the town’s northern expansion, named Priory Vale by developers, to Robert and Doreen Chapman of Windflower Road, Haydon Wick

1997 April: Westlea Primary School children holding The Link, uncut as it comes off the press, after a talk about making a magazine

2006 June: Swindon Robins supporters and former councillor Justin Tomlinson collecting signatures on a petition against the threatened closure of Abbey Stadium Alison Marsh, Toothill resident I moved to West Swindon over 33 years ago and brought up three children here. The Link was already established but in a smaller format.

As I didn’t know many people in the area to start with, I always looked forward to the Link landing on my doormat, as it let me know what was going on in my local area and provided me with so much information about community groups, toddler groups, schools and so on. These were the days before mobile phones or access to the internet.

Also The Link has always been the place to look for a local window cleaner, decorator, or someone to mend the cooker!

2012 June: Conservation of St Mary’s Church, Lydiard Park

2012 October: Reader reflects on being an Olympic Gamesmaker

2016 May: Isambard School students holding their designs for an artwork commemorating Swindon’s engineering heritage. Their work has been incorporated into the paving around a Spitfire wing designed by Mike Pringle at the Orbital Shopping Centre, right

2012 December: North Star redevelopment plans

2013 August: MPs press for Thamesdown Drive funding

2013 October: Young designer Charli puts talent to work

1998 August: Soul music legend Sam Moore rehearsing with Greendown School students who appeared on stage with him at the Wiltshire Festival Party in the Park in Lydiard Park.

2005 September: Community protest against Taylor Wimpey’s plan to infill a site between Lydiard Park and West Swindon. A campaign against another proposal in 2015 was warded off by public objection

2004 October: The first children and staff at St Francis Church of England Primary School, Taw Hill, in the temporary buildings on the site occupied until the permanent accomodation was completed

2000 October: Norman Butler from Westlea with his self-built ocean going boat which he rowed across the Atlantic the following year in the Ward Evans Atlantic Rowing Challenge

2006 June: The dedication of Clifford Meadow Site of Special Scientific Interest in Priory Vale which is managed by Wiltshire Wildlife Trust 2014 January: Swindon refuse to fuel plant featured

2014 August: Last edition published by Roger Ogle

Cristina Bennett, Greendown Community School teacher Sharing the real life of a school with the local community is always difficult. Too often, local daily and weekly press, choose to focus on unrepresentative, sensational and headline-grabbing hearsay, which serves to feed readers’ prejudices.

But not The Link Magazine. During my 25 years of teaching at Greendown Community School (now Lydiard Park Academy) I was always impressed by the intent of The Link Magazine to encourage and enable us to celebrate and share with our community, the lesser known side of young people’s participation in their school life, that those not directly involved in have little or no idea about: our unique poetry projects: the incredible West Swindon schools’ Shakespeare Festival; our students’ exchange visits to other countries and continents. As a true community magazine, The Link has always searched for, listened to and given space to things that matter to people who matter – the local community.”

2014 September: Sale of Link to James Phipps announced

2015 August: Battle of Britain anniversary featured

2015 November: Positive Media Group launched

Swindon Link: celebrating 40 years

The future of Swindon Link

By Group Editor Jamie Hill jamie@swindonlink.com

I first met Swindon Link's former editor Roger Ogle almost 20 years ago at a council press conference when I was the political reporter at the Evening Advertiser.

When I say met, he doesn't remember me, as to him I was just another face in the everchanging roster of reporters churned out by The Adver.

I remember Roger there.

Unafraid of asking difficult and very insightful questions.

Swindon Link at the time was a mystery to me as I had been brought up and had been working at newspapers for several years by then.

The concept of a monthly community news magazine, that was so much more than a parish newsletter, was alien to a lot of us journalists. For myself, it was a weird concept as news was an immediate thing in my mind, which was fully occupied by the cut and thrust of a daily newspaper.

I never thought that fast forward two decades I would have the honour to own and be at the helm of such a magazine.

Through the years Roger made it work. He built something important that was at the very heart of the community. Something that a lot of local newspapers, as they 2016 March: Lord Joel Joffe opens migration exhibition

became more money-focussed and corporate in a bid to stave off declining readerships, had forgotten.

And it's to Roger's credit that his tenacity and love of the community made such a thing a commercial success.

Swindon Link has survived by always keeping its basic premise of community news at its core.

In the last few years since I've tried to fill Roger's very large shoes, we've introduced several changes to try and keep Swindon Link at the heart of the community.

We now have three editions covering all of Swindon which keeps our team of reporters very busy indeed.

This year we also invested heavily in our website helping us to safeguard Swindon Link for the future as the landscape of news consumption continues to change.

I'm positive that we will continue to grow as Swindon grows.

But I promise that we will never forget what is at the heart of what makes Swindon Link great and that is community news.

So here's to another 40 years of this magazine that has found its place at the very heart of the Swindon community. www.swindonlink.com

2016 October: South & East Swindon edition launched

2016 December: Quilters 2017 December: Go support Prospect Hospice ahead for North Star 'Snowasis' plans

2018 December: Jamie Hill takes ownership from James Phipps No 439 December 2018

GPS delivered door to door to 55,000 homes across Swindon with Est. overall readership of 137,500

Swindon

LINK Your Community Magazine

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from everyone at Swindon Link

North & West Edition

Celebrating 40 years of Swindon Link - 8 page supplement Page 13 Two Sick Monkeys bow Page 34 Red Oaks and out in a proper punk Brookfield pupils plant style with final show crocus bulbs for a good cause

p21

Page 29 Let them eat cake with the Swindon branch of the British Sugarcraft Guild

Community: P2-20

Swindon Wide: P21 - 29

Leisure: P30-39

NW December artwork.indd 1

15/11/2018 10:35

Swindon Life

Celebrating town living

Crafty cake makers get baking for charity The Swindon Branch of the British Sugarcraft Guild are literally putting the icing on the cake this Christmas as they get baking for charity.

Each year the group bake and decorate cakes to give to charities over the Christmas period, which are often used in raffles or as prizes to raise money. This year the selected charities set to benefit from the festive cakes are CALM, Abbey House Milestone Trust, Swindon Therapy Centre for MS, and Prospect Hospice.

The Swindon branch's Secretary, Barbara Ellary, said: “Nothing says ‘I love you’ like someone making you a

Earthworm Recording Studio's Jon Buckett - photograph by Jennifer Berry

cake – anyone can go into the supermarket and buy one, but for someone to actually make you cake you’ve got to be special. It’s very personal."

The branch's chair, Alison Bingham, added: "People don’t realise how many hours people put in – the cakes are beautiful, but they take a long time. But if we didn’t love doing it, we wouldn’t."

First established in 1989

by Maria Carroll, the group now meet weekly at Moredon Community Centre and encourage bakers of all abilities to get involved.

For further information visit www.bsguk.org

swindonlink.com n December 2018

29

Stranger things are happening in Swindon as filmmaker reaches final stages of UFO feature film

By Claire Dukes claire@swindonlink.com

Where is the line between fiction and reality? This is a little irrelevant for Oliver Rogers, - a 21-year-old filmmaker from Swindon - as he encourages people to "question some things" in his first feature film.

After receiving international interest for his first short film 'Full Disclosure' Oliver Rogers is in the final stages of completing his first feature, and follow-on film, 'The Black Spot'.

The feature film, which is due for release next year, follows an agent who uncovers dark and mysterious activities in a secret space programme.

Oliver said: "Some people say this is happening right now, and we’ve created a fictional version of what people believe is currently happening.

“It’s slightly based off a real interview, so you could say it’s a little based in reality or on ‘so say’ true events that a man says he’s gone up to Mars – I just thought that was a brilliant plot."

Taking inspiration from his love of film noir and interest in UFOs, Oliver has based the film in Wiltshire and used many Swindon locations throughout the film including Milton Road, Stanford House, The Beehive, Longs Bar and some local houses. Combining the use of recognisable locations and a "loosely" reality-based plot, the young filmmaker wants to explore the boundaries between conspiracies and everyday occurrences.

Oliver said: “It’s fairly UFObased even though you don’t ever see a UFO in the film, but it’s mentioned a lot. It’s about ‘larger than life’ happenings in quite a matter of fact way, like this could be happening right now but we wouldn’t necessarily know about it.

"With The Black Spot we’re 30

swindonlink.com n December 2018

trying to say ‘keep an open mind and do question some things’. I’m not saying it’s real, but I’m not saying it’s not either.

"I’m fascinated with UFOs, I’ve seen a UFO – and the film’s based in Wiltshire which is very UFO central especially around Avebury. So, Wiltshire’s the perfect place to set the film.”

Upon release the film will be sent to film festivals around the globe and, after getting in touch with Lloyd Kaufman, - the founder of an American independent production company, Troma Entertainment - The Black Spot will also be distributed in America.

With much interest generated through his short film the 21-year-old now believes there is no practical benefit to attending university.

He said: "I don't want to go to university. Don’t get me wrong you learn skills, but at the end of it you just end up as a runner at the BBC – you spend all that time and money on university, and running up a lot of debt, to end up as a runner.

"It’s definitely been challenging, but that’s why I love it – it wouldn’t be worth it otherwise.

"We’re making the film as a spring board for everyone involved – as much as it’s my project, it’s everybody else’s as well. We want to prove to people that we can make a competent film and hopefully we’ll get work out of it in the end. As far as I’m concerned, if I make a film and one person I don’t know likes it then job well done."

Asking about his future plans, Oliver added: "I love being in Swindon, – there’s a great collective of people here – but just trying to make a living out of filmmaking here is quite hard. If I could find money doing this in Swindon then I’d happily stay, but at some point I might want to go to Bristol to branch out a bit."

Oliver Rogers

Majorettes are in the mood for marching after successful season

By Claire Dukes claire@swindonlink.com

A volunteer-led majorette troupe from Swindon have their pom poms at the ready as they prepare to march into 2019 after their 14th successful season.

Britannia Majorettes and Miniettes Of Swindon is celebrating after a successful season following performances at the Royal International Air Tattoo and the British Transplant games held in Bath.

Since the organisation was founded in 2004 the brass ensembled come marching troupe have gone on to enjoy various achievements over the years including winning first place at the Old Town Festival Procession, opening the British Transplant Games, and performing at The Royal International Air Tattoo.

A spokesperson for the organisation said: "We were founded not by the Nolan

sisters who were 'in the mood for dancing' but the Ellis sisters who were and still are 'in the mood for marching'. Both sisters are former majorettes so between them have a great deal of experience and knowledge.

"We welcome members from 4 years of age, and our aim is to build self-confidence, work within a team and make new friends. As well as performances for the public we do lots of team fun activities for the girls which have included sleepovers, ice skating, the cinema and even a trip to the fire station to name a few.

"So after our 14th season, we are now starting to prepare for 2019. If there is anyone who would like to become a member of this amazing team then don't hesitate to contact us.

"If any company would like to support Britannia by sponsorship or donation we would be very grateful." www.britanniamajorettes.co.uk

Poetry by Maurice Spillane: building site verse You’ll love this!

Visualise our back-yard as a building site on a rainy morning before 8am. The builder, Carl Lewis, gave me the draft of a poem “The Builders in Wintertime” the previous day for feedback and now we workshop.

We peel away the unnecessary, search for imagery, play with sound and words and there we find it, a nugget.

Kevin, the digger driver, becomes a pianist and Joe, Zac, Jason, Eddy standing around stamping cold feet become a choir ready to move in.

It’s inspired. Carl is so excited, gets the others involved and in the dampening rain we have the unexpected, a poetry reading.

There’s work to be done on the poem and Carl will recraft it several times before Christmas. A pencil drawing of 32

swindonlink.com n December 2018

his team and the poem could be his Christmas Card to them.

I’ll keep you posted!

Have you thought of looking up a poem and emailing it to friends for Christmas?

It doesn’t have to be about the season. It could be a love poem, or about nature, or a story-poem.

All it needs is a single sentence: “Been thinking of you.

Happy Christmas!”

I offer you this poem: “Dreams” And what are dreams?

Bits and pieces of flotsam washing up on the beach, dancing in time to the virtual motion of waves; forever in touch forever in line.

Catch my finger tips and dance with me.

There won’t be an Open Mic this month as the last Monday

is Christmas Eve. However, if you fancy an evening out join us at “Poems and Madrigals” in Liddington Village Hall on Friday 14 December at 7.30pm. It’s an annual event and great fun.

Thanks for your wonderful feedback and support this past year. Happy Christmas from me - and the builders!

Maurice Spillane www.poetryswindon.org

End of an era: legendary punk duo call it a day with charity gig

Pete and Frank, aka 2 Sick Monkeys

By Claire Dukes claire@swindonlink.com

Chance is a funny thing. It has a glorious way of catapulting us into situations we'd never dreamt of, and this could not be truer for Swindon punksters 2 Sick Monkeys.

What was supposed to be nothing more than a "jam session" saw Pete Butler, 51, and Fred Cooper, 49, start a band 19 years ago. Fast forward 1065 gigs later and they're preparing to call it a day at Level III, Sunday 16 December.

I'm talking to Pete over coffee - had I known beforehand it was his birthday I would have offered to pay.

But, like his musical career, Pete's humble and doesn't ask much from other people.

Through the band's music however, 2 Sick Monkeys have always tried to give people something to feel good about.

Pete said: "I didn’t leave school with any qualifications, so to be able to write something that somebody else can understand and empathise with or feel is quite a nice feeling. It’s the same when we’re playing a gig and seeing people are happy - music should be a joyous thing even if what you’re singing about isn’t always joyous, it should be a joyous experience."

For a band made up of no 34 swindonlink.com n December 2018

more than Pete (bass and vocals) and Frank (drums), they are not the most conventional act within the punk scene - but then again, it wouldn't be very punk to follow the rules.

"I was 32 when we started the band and I know it's not a typical age to start a band, but this is not a typical band," he said.

"When we were little punklings, - about 17 or 18 – we would laugh at bands like the Teddy Boys because they were in their forties and still doing their hair, dressing up and going out. But I get it now, - that mentality that

"there’s no time limit on having fun" ‘youth is wasted on the young’ - because as you get older you suddenly start to realise ‘I don’t want to get old! I like being young!’ So, when you do get older you do realise that there’s no time limit on having fun and enjoying yourself."

Between the two of them 2 Sick Monkeys have certainly made some noise in the punk scene, and over the last 19 years they've toured through the UK, Germany, Latvia, Belgium, the Czech Republic and Japan. How did they get noticed? Pete said: "In a way

we kind of stood out but also didn't – we could hide away in the corner, because nobody knew who we were, but at the same time when we popped up on a mixed bill with an acoustic act or an indie band we stood out because we weren't the same.

"We’d be playing gigs with metal bands all the time, and it was brilliant for us because there was only two of us and everyone would be thinking ‘where’s the rest of your band?’ because of course with metal bands it’s all about the noise.

"I think we freak some people out, because there’s no guitar – but it worked in our favour a lot."

Despite their punk sound and demeanour the duo's attitude and philosophy has always been self-effacing.

They believe in music's ability to unite people and bring happiness even in dark times.

"We write a lot of very dark songs, but we’ve had people come up and talk about how songs have made them feel and some people have said they’ve got quite emotional once they understand what’s being said.

"When I was growing up the minute you mention ‘punk’ everyone assumes you’re just going to start spitting everywhere, you’ll always be swearing, - which is probably quite true – drinking and

doing drugs. They assume you’re going to be a negative person in terms of how you treat other people, but it’s not really like that.

"All we’ve ever done is try and be nice to people, and if somebody’s kind and helpful to us we try and reciprocate in any way that we can – it’s just courtesy" They may not be angels, but for their last gig 2 Sick Monkeys are bringing friends and bands together for one last hurrah in aid of two charities - Oak and Furrows, and SCWAD (Swindon Children Without A Diagnosis).

For two guys who never intended to start a band, they've had an impressive career. There's a sadness about the impending finale, but Pete says it's a natural end and something he looks back on with "no regrets".

When I ask how he's feeling about the final show he says, "I’m in two minds! I’m really excited, - I love all the bands playing - and to think people are travelling to come see us in itself is mind-blowing, but at the same time it’s like ‘how are we going to play knowing it’s our last one? We’ll approach this gig like any gig: play like it’s the gig of our lives.

"I’d like to think people thought we were a good band, and I’d like to think our music just made people smile." www.2sickmonkeys.com

Swindon Spotlight

YOUR GUIDE TO THE MONTH AHEAD In the community l Swindon Thamesdown Rotary will be out on their Christmas Sleigh at West Swindon's ASDA raising money for local charities. Previous charities have included Jessie May, Wiltshire Treehouse, Christmas Care and Threshold Housing Link.

Book now...

RIDE A MAGIC CARPET THIS CHRISTMAS AT THE WYVERN THEATRE

Eastender's star Adam Woodyatt returns to Swindon this month as Abanazar in the Wyvern Theatre's Christmas pantomime!

A whole new world will be discovered this Christmas as families are invited to join Aladdin for adventures in the Far East on a magic carpet. Impressive stage designs, dazzling constumes and a cave of wonders await families this Christmas from Saturday 8 December to Sunday 6 January.

This year the cast includes Adam Woodyatt, Adam Bailey (Aladdin), Rosanna Harris (Princess Jasmine) and Richard J Hunt (Genie).

For tickets visit www.swindonmuseumandartgallery.org.uk

A CHRISTMAS CAROL READ BY DICKENS Swindon Arts Centre is welcoming the 175th anniversary tour of A Christmas Carol, 3 Dec to 4 Dec. The production has been adapted from Dicken's public readings of A Christmas Carol, taking notes from first-hand accounts of his performances.

Tickets £17.50 www.swindontheatres.co.uk

ONLY FOOL AND HORSES SPECIAL

Marlene and Boycie are hosting a Christmas Dinner at the Wyvern Theatre, 1 December. Join in for the Christmas Dinner event of the year, which combines fine food and comedy action, served up Only Fools and Horses style.

Tickets from £40 www.swindontheatres.co.uk

CINDERELLA MEETS STAR WARS

New College students are taking audiences on a journey into deepest, darkest space!

Enjoy the comic adventures of Lucy Skywalker as she battles the evil Daft Vader, in this inter-galactic tale of at The Phoenix Theatre, 18 to 20 December.

Tickets from £1.50 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

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 Join Threhold Housing Link for their Big SleepOut in aid of homelessness, 7 December, at Immanuel URC Church. Email adminthreshold@thl.org.uk or phone 01793 524 661 to register. l The 12 Bands of Christmas returns to The Victoria 15 December. The line includes The Harlers, Raze Re*build, Wyldest, Yves, Chaney Black Sheep Apprentice and Atari Pilot. Tickets cost £8 www.seetickets.com/event/12bands-of-xmas l The Slim Ditty Christmas Show returns to The Tuppeny this year, 23 December, for a swing jazz and Vaudeville style Swing-along. The Tuppenny insists you get suited and booted in your favourite "Christmas clobber". l Hop Kettle Brewing Company will be hosting their second Tap Christmas Beer Festival, 14 December. The brewery will be providing top notch beer as well as festive food, music and gifts.

Unit 4 Hawksworth Industrial Estate. l Artiste & The Post Modern will be holding a Christmas Open Studios and Market 1 December. Festive homemade arts and crafts, as well as paintings will be available to purchase. swindonlink.com n December 2018

35

Wildcats get their claws out GBK closure is latest blow The Halloween period was a positive one at the Better Link Centre with wins coming against Invicta Dynamos and Milton Keynes Thunder as the Swindon Wildcats began life in this year’s NIHLS1 league with some strong performances.

The beginning of the league campaign saw a return to the ice of Renny Marr who began the first three games without conceding a goal.

The defences were breached finally in Bracknell, but a late goal from Sam Jones was enough to secure a win over a close rival.

At the time of writing, Wildcats have an Autumn Cup Semi-Final to come against the Peterborough Phantoms where they may be able to secure a place in the final. The upcoming weeks also see the visit of familiar teams such as the Basingstoke Bison and Bracknell Bees as the festive season draws ever closer.

The Swindon Wildcats In The

Community team have also been busy by hosting the first ever Fanzone where fans could celebrate all things Wildcats and have a go on the Arval sponsored Shooting Lane.

Legends Ken Forshee and Shane Moore were also on hand to provide stories of days gone by which was well received by all in attendance!

With Christmas just around the corner, it is a perfect time to book your Christmas Party with the Cats. For more information, contact Commercial Manager Sally Price.

In the latest blow to Swindon’s town centre, the Regent Circus Gourmet Burger Kitchen is set to close after three years of trading.

The Swindon restaurant is one of 17 branches of the highend burger chain to be axed by parent company Famous Brands which has opted to enter a company voluntary agreement in the wake of falling sales.

Announcing the cuts, a spokesman for the company blamed the lack of business on pricing and menus that were ‘London-centric’ and poor brand recognition.

Further high-street uncertainty was fuelled by the announcement that Marks and Spencer plans to close more stores around the country in the wake of a 2.9 per cent drop in clothing sales and 1.1 drop in home sales.

The long-established retailer, which has a branch in Swindon, is an important barometer for the town centre economy.

Although the Swindon store is not among 35 M&S branches to be axed in the last two years, plans to close a further 65 stores nationally by 2020 mean that staff face a period of uncertainty.

Swindon Town submit plans for new HQ and training centre

Swindon Town Football Club have formally submitted the planning application for their proposed new training centre and headquarters complex which is to be located on the former Twelve Oaks Golf Club site at Highworth.

The new complex includes approximately 24,640 square feet (2,289 square metres) of purpose-built training centre, gymnasium and headquarters offices utilising the former main golf club building as a players’ restaurant and catering facility.

The proposal includes use of part of the former golf course for eight grass training pitches and a full size all-weather 4G floodlit pitch.

The access from Lechlade Road is to be realigned and improved to provide for a right turning lane into the site for southbound traffic along with the provision of new pedestrian and cycleway connections into the site and additional car parking and 36 swindonlink.com n December 2018

servicing facilities.

The new floodlit 4G allweather pitch will be available for community use throughout the year.

Swindon Town Manager, Phil Brown, commented: “Whilst we have seen new all-weather pitch facilities provided elsewhere within Swindon recently, such as at New College, having a purpose built high-quality training facility for STFC will be a key element in the drive to gain promotion from League 2 and onwards to higher levels of football.

This is a fantastic opportunity also for the local community in Swindon and Highworth and should help attract aspiring young footballers to the Club. I am looking forward to working closely with the local community to develop this fantastic new facility”.

The proposal, estimated in the region of £6m, is accompanied by a separate planning application for

residential development on land formally forming part of the golf club but having an extant planning permission for use as 18 holiday lodges.

Les Durrant, Managing Director of DPDS Consulting Group who are advising Swindon Town Football Club as town planning consultants and architects, commented: “The principle of the development of this area of land was established by the decision to allow holiday lodges on it and we are proposing that the lodges are replaced with permanent new homes. This will be a key element in funding the construction of the new training facility."

The balance of the funding is expected to come from a combination of grant funding and direct funding by Swindon Town FC. The southwestern part of the former golf club, previously used as a driving range, has already received permission for use as two training pitches.

The remaining land that is not required for the new training centre complex and related development is the subject of a separate planning application for development and use as a race horse training yard and all weather gallop, with the majority of the site remaining open and with areas for nature conservation.

Ford Galaxy: Something for everyone

W

ith the ubiquitous SUV now ruling the roads, motorists can be forgiven for forgetting that there are other variants of people-carrying vehicles available. In this country, cars of this type are known as MPV’s (multi-purpose vehicles) and very useful they are too.

Vehicles like the Ford Galaxy pictured here make the ideal touring machine. Not quick but full of purpose, on a recent road trip the Ford did all that was required of it without pausing for breath.

The Looks Most MPVs are suspiciously van-shaped and thus are not as on trend as the more fashionable and glamorous SUV crowd. Styling is subdued but not unattractive. The bonnet slides away from the steeply-raked windscreen, giving the driver an unimpeded view of the road.

Focus lines give some shape to

the flanks leading round to the big rear hatch. So not a headturner then but smart enough.

The Power The Ford Galaxy featured here came with a new 2.0L EcoBlue 148bhp (350Nm) four-cylinder diesel engine; just the right power-plant for hauling families and luggage that is also available with 118bhp or 187bhp. A bi-turbo version of the unit ramps power up to 237bhp as well although economy suffers, obviously. A new petrol engine has been added to the range, in the form of a 1.5L unit delivering 163bhp. The test

Cycling: by Rob Derry of SCC I’ve so far avoided wading in to “The Helmet Debate” in this column for very good reasons.

It’s more divisive than Brexit and it just starts arguments that have no end. I would like to say before I go on, that the opinions below are my own.

Swindon Cycle Campaign does not have an official stance on cycle helmets.

Recently, Alex Dowsett said that all cyclists should wear helmets all of the time after he fell off and felt that his helmet had saved his life or a serious injury. Fair enough. He was racing a time trial at full pelt trying to win. Lewis Hamilton wears a helmet when he’s racing as well. Around 50% of deaths in car crashes are due to head injuries. Should we enforce helmet use in cars?

I’ve given you the evidence there and it would be “common sense” wouldn’t it?

That isn’t really my point though. My point is that, like 38 swindonlink.com n December 2018

Brexit, it appears you have to be either 100% for or 100% against. That isn’t the case. The majority of people who are in the “No” camp on the helmet debate are not anti-helmet.

They are anti-compulsion.

Compulsory helmet wearing reduces the number of cyclists meaning more people drive.

Most people that are anticompulsion actually wear helmets. The reason is not because a helmet suddenly makes riding on the road perfectly safe, I’m treating the symptom by wearing a helmet. We, as a town, need to treat the causes first and that means providing better cycle infrastructure across the whole town so that more people can get the health and environmental benefits from this timeless mode of transport.

If you want to race though, it’s worth investing in a decent helmet as Alex Dowsett and Lewis Hamilton will tell you!

car had a manual gearbox but the preference will surely be for the latest eight-speed auto.

The Comfort Factor In typical Ford style, the dashboard was adequate with all the usual technology. With seven seats available this is a real people carrier that is roomy, very comfortable and reliable.

The 8” infotainment centre screen incorporated, a CD player along with DAB, Ford’s SYNC 3 but, strangely for 2019 and especially on a test car, no navigation; this seems a

strange omission for a peoplecarrier.

Naturally sat-nav is available to order and is standard on most models but when buying a used version.

On The Road For a big car the Ford Galaxy is surprisingly easy to drive. All-round vision is good and the interior is light and airy.

This is not a car for getting a hustle on and if it is driven with a bit of verve the driver will quickly notice the weight shifting about.

Better to sit back and relax; hence the suggested automatic gearbox.

One thing is for sure, the tested car was put through its paces up steep hills which it shrugged off and in bad weather, taking everything in its stride. When family comes first the Galaxy is to be recommended.

Geoff Maxted DriveWrite.co.uk

SERVICE SECTOR GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING SERVICES

FREETH FENCING & GARDEN SERVICES LTD Est. 1990 35 Spencer Close, West Swindon ❖ Fences, gates & sheds supplied and erected ❖ Landscaping ❖ Trees pruned and felled ❖ Rubbish removed ❖ Patios and shingle laid ❖ Wood chip & compost supplied ❖ Turfing and grass cutting ❖ And all aspects of garden maintenance

Tel: 01793 875451 or 07940 247152

www.freethfencingandgardenservicesltd.com

swindonlink.com n December 2018

39

SERVICE SECTOR GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING SERVICES

David Hawkins Fully Qualified

Tree Surgeon ALL TYPES OF TREE WORK COMPLETED TO THE HIGHEST STANDARD

Stump removal

Hedge Cutting • Tree Planting Fruit Tree Pruning Fully insured Free estimates 25 years experience

01793 828055 07967 594707 david.hawkins100@hotmail.co.uk

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

01793 613642 or 07841 826390 for a Free Estimate

40

swindonlink.com n December 2018

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

SERVICE SECTOR

ACCOUNTING, AERIALS, BOOKKEEPING, BUILDING SERVICES, CLEANING, COMPUTER SUPPORT, CONSTRUCTION, DECORATING

CJD

Chris Payne

aerials & satellite systems

ACCOUNTANCY LTD

Craig Dell FCCA

Chartered Certified Accountant With 30 years experience for all your accountancy & taxation needs including:

Phone: 07502 442726 or 01793 790437

Tel: 01793 343255 M: 07557 399987 cjd.accountancy@virginmedia.com www.cjd-accountancy.co.uk

BOOK-KEEPING Can’t face doing the books after a hard day’s work?

Call Leonard Fuller, A.I.C.B, qualified bookkeeper with over 20 years’ experience.

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

Tel: 01793 700637 or 07963 637748

House cleans start from £18 per house.

Around £30-35 for a large 4 bed.

Weekly, fortnightly, monthly, end of tenancy or one off cleans.

Ironing £18 per basket, returned next day.

Call 01793 875665 07780 625244

All Building Works Undertaken No job too small • Free estimates Contact: Dean Scanlon Telephone: 01793 422032 Mobile: 077 8968 1536

www.bookkeepingswindon.co.uk

THE CLEANING & IRONING SERVICE

Carpets, Rugs and Fabric Upholstery

Independently owned & operated To arrange for a free estimate call

01793 421802

For a dedicated local service with a Microsoft Certified Professional, with over 25 years experience, call 01793 320 439 or 07799 337 918 E: info@compucareuk.com www.compucareuk.com

Fully insured. 18 years experience Call Neil now for a free, competitive quote on

0800 1357063 or 07967 155502 or email: info@benchmarkconstructionswindon.co.uk benchmarkconstructionswindon.co.uk

Call Steve on 01793 266391 07983 389879 mooreservices1968@outlook.com www.mooreservices.co.uk

PC repairs and maintenance System upgrades, networking Custom built computers Windows home server installs Virus removal Data recovery Internet solutions Web design With over 15 years experience, you can rely on us

Tel: 01793 325685

www.abacuscleaningservices.co.uk

• Alterations/Renovations • New Builds and Barn Conversions

also

HEDGE CUTTING, GRASS CUTTING, WEED CONTROL

• • • • • • • •

Fully Insured, NCCA member

Extension & Garage Conversion Specialists

DRIVEWAYS, PATIOS FASCIAS, CONSERVATORIES

We provide a range of computer services for both home and business including:

Hard Floors Cleaned & Sealed Carpet & Upholstery Protection Treatments Insecticide & Anti-Static Treatments Spot & Stain Removal

Est 2002

Exterior Cleaning

Computer problems?

Let us help

Abacus Cleaning Services

DECORATOR For all your computing needs • Hardware & Software Installs & Upgrades • Repairs • Maintenance • PC Security • Home or Business Networking • Wireless Setup • On Site Service, Home or Business

MOORES SERVICES

Building Services

Complete Property Renovations & Alterations Kitchens / Bathroom Tiling / Flooring Brickwork / Blockwork Paving / Patios Fencing / Decking & Ground Works Carpentry / Plumbing

N O

• Self Assessments • Sole traders • Partnerships • Limited Companies • Available evenings and weekends • Fixed fee quotes • No VAT • First consultation free

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✭ Freeview & Sky installations ✭ TV & radio aerials ✭ Home cinema ✭ Extra TV & telephone points

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

GBD Services 01793 979282 or 07453 966627

DECORATING & CARPENTRY • Interior/exterior painting and decorating • Wallpaper • Tiling • Coving • Laminate flooring • Doors & skirting replacement • Kitchen & bathroom refits • Shower wall board installation • Internal alterations No job too small • Rooms left tidy daily Free no obligation 24 hour quotations

Call Andy: 01793 729354 or 07900 835116

andysweeney1@virginmedia.com

swindonlink.com n December 2018

41

SERVICE SECTOR

DECORATING, DOMESTIC APPLIANCES, DOUBLE GLAZING, ELECTRICAL, GARAGE DOORS

PR ID E

&D t er

Pa in

REDUCTIONS FOR OAPs

eco r at

INTERIOR & EXTERIOR

or

FREE ESTIMATES

Call 01793 334823 or 07788 572043

Misted or Broken Windows?

DOUBLE GLAZING REPAIRS ● Repairs to all upvc doors and windows ● 24 hr boarding up service and lock change ● Hinges, Window/Door Locks and Handles etc.

Call Jamie for free advice and quote on all aspects of upvc.

We will beat any like for like quotation

01793 940089 or 07526 647673

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

01793 321981 07775 840236

Approved Electrician Approved Electrician Part P Registered Part P Registered

• Extra Sockets/lights Extra Sockets/lights • • Fuse Board Upgrade • Fuse Board Upgrade

• • Testing andInspection Inspection Testing and Complete Rewires • • Complete Rewires No job too small!

• • No job too small!

Connected Connected Electrical Electrical && Property Services Property Services Call Geoff : 07824 314080 or Tel: 07824 314080 or 01793 703308 01793 703308 Email: connectedelectrical01@gmail.com

Email: connectedelectrical01@gmail.com

upvc-swindon@hotmail.co.uk

Certified Electrician 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

01793 877677 office@enlan.co.uk www.enlan.co.uk

42

swindonlink.com n December 2018

SERVICE SECTOR

GARAGE DOORS, HOME IMPROVEMENTS, KITCHEN TRANSFORMATIONS, PLANS DRAWN

Electrical Automation • Up & Over • Roller • Sectional • Repairs • Unit 8, Central Trading Estate Signal Way, Swindon SN3 1PD

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

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

Tel 01793 940096 Email enquiries@dimensions.org.uk www.dimensions.org.uk

D E Carpentry For all your carpentry needs k Door hanging k Kitchen fitting k Real wood and laminate flooring k Fitted wardrobes k 15 years experience

Call 01793 514069 or 07885 972172 e: ellisj10@sky.com www.delliscarpentry.co.uk

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

Call Glen on: 01793 487450 07774 841879 email: grservices@hotmail.co.uk

www.grservicesswindon.co.uk

PLANS DRAWN 24hr Locksmiths & Security Specialists DOMESTIC & COMMERCIAL WORK No call out fee!

Fixed prices and 6 months guarantee on parts • New locks fitted • Free security surveys • Doors opened • uPVC door repairs • Security grilles fitted Call Matt for a quote on 07734 253189 or email mattwest 61@live.co.uk

Loft conversion & extension specialist. Complete house design and commercial work undertaken.

From initial concept to full working drawings my service includes: • written specifications; • contractor tender documents; • all forms and paperwork carried out; • liaison with relevant authorities; • Party Wall Act paperwork and advice given.

7 DAY DESIGN SERVICE for most domestic work Established 1980. All areas covered

Call Bob on 07778 324228 swindonlink.com n December 2018

43

SERVICE SECTOR PLUMBING AND GAS SERVICES, REMOVALS, TILING

Quality Plumbing & Heating Est. 30 years • • • • • •

188262

Central heating installation Boiler servicing & repairs Replacement boilers Bathrooms & tiling Power showers Outside taps Reg: 128966

All plumbing work undertaken Reliable service, realistic prices

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

Haydon Wick Heating Services

All heating and plumbing works undertaken • Full central heating systems • Boiler changes / services and repairs • Power flushing • Full bathroom / ensuite installations • General plumbing works • Free quotes and realistic prices

Tel: 01793 748333 Mob: 07733897039

hwheating@googlemail.com

Plumbing

RJ PeaRce Plumbing & Heating ltd

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

01793 876600 07748 964433

Approved Plumber

mjplumbing64@gmail.com

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 44

swindonlink.com n December 2018

Over 20 years experience in plumbing & heating work

• Central heating

217129

• Bathrooms & showers

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

• Competitive rates

10 YEAR GUARANTEE (subject to survey)

on Worcester Bosch Ri Si and Cdi boilers

• All work guaranteed • No job too small

07845 90 80 60 or 01793 700 820

Accredited Installer

For further details call Richard on 01793 870472 or 07747 723606

www.assured-plumbing.co.uk

203455

WHITE VAN MAN SINGLE ITEMS MOVED ANYWHERE IN SWINDON FOR ONLY £35 • • • • •

Full house removal House clearance Disposal of unwanted items Any distance long/short Fully insured

TILING WALL & FLOOR SPECIALIST Please call Leon for a free quote

TEL: 01793 330975 MOB: 07919 255673

NEW: Licensed to remove fridges

Email: leon.jack@hotmail.co.uk

Call for a FREE quote Mobile: 07796 236436

Kitchens, Bathrooms and Conservatories

SERVICE SECTOR SKIP HIRE, TOOL AND PLANT HIRE, WARDROBES

swindonlink.com n December 2018

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swindonlink.com n December 2018