North West Swindon Link December 2023

No 497 December 2023 GPS-tracked, door to door delivery to homes across Swindon with Est. overall print and online readership of 105,000

Swindon

LINK Your Community Magazine

North & West Edition

Celebrating 45 years of Swindon Link p8

swindonlink.com

Photo by Amanda Wilkins

Remembering Taw Hill Bob - the cat who captured the heart of a community p3

Editor's Note

By Jamie Hill

Thousands of pounds raised in tribute after death of Bob the beloved Taw Hill cat

By Amanda Wilkins amanda@swindonlink.com

The weather has definitely turned colder as we head into the festive season.

In this edition we have an interview with Michael Keenan, the head of Threshold Housing, who has put his annual call out for us to remember the homeless this Christmas season.

This year the impact will be even more severe as so many people have been struggling with the never-ending cost of living crisis.

The annual Threshold Big Sleepout has been postponed from early December to 8 March next year.

For us at Swindon Link it has definitely been a busy year especially with the launch of our sister publication The Ink. The paid-for news subscription service specialises in long-form journalism and goes out four days a week to our subscribers.

It's a completely new concept for Swindon and we are determined to get completely under the skin of the issues.

You can subscribe by scanning below.

Group Editor and Owner: Jamie Hill Deputy Editor: Barrie Hudson Reporter: Amanda Wilkins Sales Manager: Rosy Presley Accounts Manager: Karen Randall Contributors: Tyler Ody, Becky Cox, Maurice Spillane and Alfie Howlett

A wave of sadness swept Taw Hill with the announcement that much-loved community mascot Bob the cat had died.

The friendly animal had been a familiar and welcome part of the Swindon neighbourhood's daily life for almost two decades, famously patrolling the shops and bringing cheer to local people.

He even had his own Facebook presence, Bob Life, with 3,000 followers from all over the world.

His countless local fans would share photographs and report on their encounters with the friendly cat.

Bob was even immortalised in wool as a post box topper.

He had been unwell for some time but chose to spend his final days at Taw Hill Village Centre, where he was looked after by shop staff and customers.

On 4 November his death was announced by owner Claire Edwards, who wrote on Facebook: "I am deeply saddened to share the news that we lost our beautiful Bob today. We are incredibly upset but also know that there will be many people who took Bob to their hearts that will also miss him greatly. I would like to thank everyone, who over the years, have cared and loved Bob and have looked after him and for all of your comments, messages and photos. Fly high

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Tributes to Bob poured in

Bobby."

Many of those who responded said Bob deserved a statue or other permanent memorial, and Claire announced a fundraising appeal with a £250 target.

Within days, it had reached more than 10 times that amount, and there may also be a book about Bob. Tributes poured in from hundreds of people who shared pictures and fond memories of Bob. One wrote: "Thank you for reminding us all to be more compassionate, patient, and accepting.[...]We will never forget you, sweet dreams to our Sheriff of Taw Hill, we will always feel you patrolling and

keeping us safe."

Another said: "Rarely can a little cat mean so much to so many - a true legend."

The contents of The Link are protected by copyright. Use of advertisements in printed or electronic form is forbidden unless an advertiser or publisher has sought permission. Articles and photographs require similar authority.

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

Reg. in England & Wales. No: 4513027, at Suite J, Fairview House, 43 Bath Road, Swindon SN1 4AS Printed by Precision Colour Printing, Telford

Hear Link Magazine highlights on air, the last Wednesday of each month and as a podcast on www.swindon1055.com

Got a community story or feature? Contact newsdesk at publisher@swindonlink.com or 01793 644540 swindonlink.com n December 2023

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News from SBC

Council faces difficult decisions on services Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet will face some difficult decisions when it meets to review budget proposals for the next financial year (202425) at its next meeting on 13 December.

Last month (15 Nov), councillors met to discuss a provisional £16.4m budget gap for 2024-25. Details of draft savings proposals will be published on 5 December ahead of the meeting.

As councils across the country look to set their budgets for next year, the Local Government Association (LGA) has said that 'the financial resilience of the sector is low' following a long-term reduction in council funding.

The proportion of central Government funding that makes up the council’s day-to-

day budget has fallen from 29% in 2013/14 to 3% in 2023/24. In a submission last month to the Chancellor ahead of the Autumn Statement, the LGA warned: “The ‘easy wins’ and ‘low hanging fruit’ in terms of savings have long since gone. Instead, councils are almost immediately faced with hard decisions about cutting valued services, along with increasing council tax and fees and charges during a cost-ofliving crisis.”

Ongoing inflation and demand pressures combined with market issues in specific sectors such as children’s and adult social care mean that costs are outstripping available resources. The council is already taking action to balance the books in 2023/24.

Following a forecast £10.2m

Ways to save energy and money this winter

Eligible children invited to book four free activities over the Christmas holidays

With the chill of winter in the air, many residents may be worried about the cost of having the heating on.

SBC has put together a free energy-saving guide that covers heating, lighting, appliances, and more. Tips include: • Using energy-saving light bulbs, which last up to 10 times longer than the old incandescent bulbs, could save around £55 over the life of the bulb • Taking a shower instead of a bath, which will save money as there is much less water to heat. If you don’t have a shower installed try using a mixer unit that attaches to your bath taps • Lowering your combi boiler’s flow temperature could save up to 5% of your gas use and turning off your boiler’s pre-heat setting could save another 10% • Washing clothes at 30°C uses less electricity than higher temperatures For the full guide, search ‘Energy Saving’ on the council’s website.

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When schools break up for the Christmas holidays, some children will struggle with loneliness, poor diets and inactivity. To tackle these issues, the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme was introduced by the Government, a scheme which runs across major school holidays.

Thousands of children in Swindon are eligible to take part in this programme, which also provides them with a healthy hot meal each day. Children can get involved in activities such as cheerleading, fencing, football and arts and crafts, to keep their minds and bodies busy during the break. But most importantly, the HAF programme lets them have fun, giving them the opportunity to make new friends in their local community.

Those who are eligible include children in receipt of

overspend reported at November’s Cabinet meeting, the council has introduced strict spending controls to curb its expenditure including only recruiting for absolutely essential posts.

Cllr Kevin Small, Cabinet Member for Finance, told The Link: “Balancing the books in 2023/24 will be challenging and setting a balanced budget in 2024/25 even more so.

specific benefits, children in care or working with a social worker, and young carers.

Since mid-November, eligible parents have received emails from their child’s school inviting them to sign up to the programme using an electronic voucher. This voucher code will unlock four free activities to book for their child to attend over the Christmas holidays.

Laila, aged 13, was one of the children who enjoyed cheerleading at Swindon Lightning Cheerleading Club throughout the summer holidays. She said: “My mum signed me up for the summer camp at Swindon Lightning Cheerleading Club which meant I could try cheerleading, which is a sport I had never done before."

To find out if your child is eligible, then search ‘HAF’ on the council’s website. Parents should also check emails for the electronic vouchers from their child’s school.

Councils across the country have spent the past decade managing a drastic reduction in central government funding, but that challenge is getting harder and harder. Particularly with the ongoing impact of inflation and growing demand for Adults' and Children’s services, which accounts for around 80% of the council’s total budget.”

Love food, hate waste Hey foodies, did you know the average family throws away £720 worth of food every year?

By joining the thousands of residents who are already using the council’s food waste collection service, you might be surprised about the amount that ends up in your caddy.

This Christmas, be sure to plan your shopping and think about what you’re going to eat so you waste as little as possible.

Remember to check what ingredients you already have so you don’t buy twice.

You can also set your fridge to 5°C or colder to make food last longer.

Food waste collections were due to be rolled out to households across Swindon from 27 November, which also brought in other changes to how the council collects waste and recycling. Further information about the new service, including a set of FAQs, can be found at: swindon.gov.uk/recyclefaqs Collections won't be taking place on 25 or 26 December.

New book traces history of West Swindon

By Barrie Hudson barrie@swindonlink.com The authors of a new book about West Swindon hosted a well-attended signing to mark its official launch.

Called simply West Swindon, the book is subtitled What The Eye Doesn't See. It covers the history of a part of Swindon which many people assume only began with the massive Western Expansion of the 1970s.

In fact, that history dates back to the Roman era.

The book is the work of Swindon Link founder editor Roger Ogle, Angela Atkinson and Frances Bevan, all of whom are respected experts on the history of the town.

The three explain in their preface: "This book started out as a list of twenty-five buildings for inclusion in a photographic record of the area by Angela Atkinson and

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Authors, from left, Roger Ogle, Angela Atkinson and Frances Bevan

Roger Ogle.

"Yet it soon became clear that the West Swindon we know today has stories to tell."

The preface adds: "The area has notable Roman history, even prehistory, and this book gives a flavour of that. It also, thanks to years of painstaking research by Frances Bevan, tells the stories of the farms of the Lydiard Estate and the house and the church."

West Swindon includes dozens of archive photographs

including images from the early days of the Western Expansion, including pioneering residents.

There are chapters devoted to subjects as diverse as the origins of street names and local public art.

The book is published by Hobnob Press, which is run by author and historian John Chandler, who signed copies of his own latest book, Swindon Decoded.

Among those who attended

the signing at Shaw's Village Inn were Matt Holland of local literature development organisation Artswords and Heidi Alexander, Labour Parliamentary Candidate for South Swindon.

Mr Holland, who formerly organised the Swindon Festival of Literature, said West Swindon was a fascinatingly detailed piece of work and an ideal Christmas present.

Ms Alexander also praised the book, saying: "I think that if you want to paint a compelling vision for the future, you need to deeply understand what has happened in the past.

"I think that for the next stage of Swindon's development we need to take into account our history."

Further information about the book, together with other Hobnob Press volumes about Swindon history, can be found by visiting www.hobnobpress. co.uk

Special gathering to mark Swindon Link's 45th anniversary Swindon Link founder editor Roger Ogle delivered a talk to mark the magazine's 45th birthday.

The well-attended gathering, upstairs at The Hop Inn, was the first of a series of quarterly community events planned

by Swindon Ink, the curated community subscription news service delivered by the same team of experienced journalists as The Link.

Roger, who remained in charge of the Link until the middle of the last decade, talked the audience through the early years of the publication, which was founded as a community news source for the then-new West Swindon development in 1978.

Current Link and Ink editor and publisher Jamie Hill introduced Roger, whose detailed talk was greeted with enthusiastic applause.

Jamie told the audience afterwards: "I have never met such an inspirational,

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passionate, campaigning journalist as Roger.

"He is someone who cares so deeply about the community he works in. He has affected so many lives."

Jamie noted that even now he encountered people who remembered having been featured years ago in the magazine, some of them as children.

Roger's talk covered a wealth of subjects, ranging from Royal visits to the early history of the Western and Northern expansions of Swindon, and from the changing face of local politics to campaigns to save beloved local amenities such as Shaw Forest Park.

Roger's latest project is a book called West Swindon - What the Eye Doesn't See, written with fellow local history experts Angela Atkinson and Frances Bevan.

To see Swindon Link's full digital archive cover the past 45 years visit swindonlink.com

Wroughton Paralympian on Disability Power List

Oasis reopening discussed by council Cabinet

By Barrie Hudson barrie@positive-media.co.uk

Paralympian Judo gold medallist Chris Hunt Skelley MBE has been named as one of the top 10 sports personalities in the latest Disability Power 100 List.

The list recognises the most influential people with disabilities in the UK and celebrates their achievements and ambitions.

It is compiled by the Shaw Trust, an organisation which exists to challenge inequality, encourage and promote inclusion and accessibility, and facilitate diversity and fairness.

A proposal to refurbish the iconic Oasis Leisure Centre has been backed by Swindon Borough Council's Cabinet.

The plan includes the sale of the vacant North Star site, which used to house the former Clare’s factory, and land around the outside of the leisure centre, for a minimum of £6m. remaining below pre-pandemic company successfully obtained The Oasis Leisure Centre has levels and the nationwide listed building consent for been closed for almost three increase in energy costs, has a replacement covering years after its operator at resulted in what Swindon for the Oasis’ domed roof, the time, GLL, said the facility Borough Council terms a and has been working with King's Award for was losing money and needed significant shortfall between the Swindon Borough Council on capital investment following the cost of refurbishing the building a commercial approach to community shop first covid lockdown. and its value once works have use the land surrounding the The Blunsdon Community Shop GLL subsequently surrendered been completed. leisure centre to help offset the and Café, run by a group of its lease to the owner of the SevenCapital has been considerable costs of breathing volunteers, has been given The site, SevenCapital. looking to sympathetically new life into the facility.

King’s Award for Voluntary The following year, the refurbish the building in If a planning application is Service.

Oasis was listed, significantly keeping with the listing, while approved, the refurbishment It is the highest award a UK increasing the cost of bringing also looking at the challenges is likely to take around two local voluntary group can receive the building back into use. of making the centre viable for years to bring the Oasis into and is equivalent to an MBE. The listing, coupled with a new tenant. wholly restored, improved and The shop and cafe is an leisure centre footfall Earlier this year, the efficient working order. accessible, inclusive, village resource which serves and Highworth Warneford School visited FC Bayern Munich supports the community.

By Barrie Hudson Lawn Primary pupil barrie@positive-media.co.uk

wins Swindon firm's Christmas card design competition

Swindon firm AMS accountancy has announced the 2023 winner of its annual Christmas card design competition.

The young artist is Lydia Keogh, a Year 6 pupil at Lawn Primary school, whose design is titled Christmas Celebration.

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

An AMS spokesperson said: "Thank you to Emma Jelley, Deputy Head Teacher, for allowing us to run this competition again this year."

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The boys' football team from Highworth Warneford School had an unforgettable trip to FC Bayern Munich.

It saw 50 boys and six staff members stay in the Olympic Park region of Munich and participate in four training sessions with Bayern coaches.

Three of the sessions took place at Säbener Straße, the first team training ground. On the first day, the boys trained on a pitch alongside the first team, who were preparing for their game the following day.

Harry Kane was even spotted on the pitch.

The other training session took place at the Bayern Munich Campus, the home of the club’s academy.

In addition to the training sessions, the boys also had the opportunity to watch two professional fixtures: Bayern Munich's second team against Eintracht Bamberg (Bayern won

6-3) and RB Salzburg against LASK (LASK won 1-0). As the Bayern first team were playing away, the boys travelled to Austria to see a top class professional fixture at the Red Bull Arena.

The boys also played three fixtures against German sides, all held at the first team training ground. The U13s won 6-3 against Interkulturale, the U14s won 7-1 against Interkulturale, and the U16s lost 4-0 to the Bayern Munich Global Academy.

Despite the loss, the U16s' performance was particularly impressive, as their opponents

were a year older and consisted of boys who had been scouted from all over the world.

The boys also had the opportunity to tour the Allianz Arena, Bayern Munich's home ground, and visit the museum, which is full of the many trophies Bayern have won over the years.

The trip to FC Bayern Munich was a rare experience which helped to develop the boys' teamwork and communication skills as well as leaving the young footballers with memories to last them a lifetime.

Keep warm with Welcome Spaces

Swindon's newest secondary school branded 'inadequate' by Ofsted

Residents can keep warm, meet others in the community and find advice in one of Swindon’s many Welcome Spaces.

Toothill Church opened as a Welcome Space last winter.

Those visiting can come in and enjoy drinks as well as soup and a light lunch. They can chat, complete a jigsaw, read a newspaper, take part in a craft activity or just sit and be.

This Space was established in co-operation with other Welcome Spaces hosted in Gateway Church, Holy Trinity Shaw Church and Freshbrook Church. This means from Monday to Friday, there is always a Space open in West Swindon.

Swindon Borough Council has around 40 Welcome Spaces across Swindon for residents to visit or spend time meeting other people, feeling safe, and find warmth in cold weather. These spaces are open to anyone. Visitors won’t be asked why they are there and won’t have to take part in any activities if they don’t wish to. More information is available at www.swindon. gov.uk/welcomespaces

Charity night at Bengal Square

A charity night at Bengal Square in Peatmoor on 30 October managed to raise £447 for Prospect Hospice.

The restaurant is offering good causes the ability to use the venue on Monday and Tuesday evenings, giving organisers the opportunity of a value for money set menu and the ability to sell tickets to the event.

If you would like to organise a charity night at Bengal Square contact the restaurant at info@bengalsquare.co.uk 12

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The Deanery CE Academy in Wichelstowe has been judged to be 'inadequate' in an Ofsted inspection which was carried out in September.

Following the inspection the Chief Inspector of Ofsted said: "This school requires special measures because it is failing to give its pupils an acceptable standard of education and the persons responsible for leading, managing or governing the school are not demonstrating the capacity to secure the necessary improvement in the school."

At the time of the school's first ever inspection Dan Neal was the head teacher but he has since resigned, meaning the school has now had four headteachers since it opened five years ago in 2019. The interim headteacher is now Kelly Osborne-James.

The report said: "Pupils at this school do not receive an acceptable standard of education. Gaps in the curriculum and frequent staff

changes mean that pupils do not learn well enough over time.

Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) do not have their needs understood and met.

"Parents and carers do not feel listened to and communicated with. This has led to a feeling of mistrust and being ‘let down’ by the school.

The trust has an overgenerous view of the school’s strengths and weaknesses. This means that not enough has been done quickly enough for the school to

improve.

"Cover staff and nonspecialists teach a high proportion of the lessons in this school. When pupils are not taught by the same person over a series of lessons, content is sometimes repeated or missed.

"The school does not accurately understand the needs of pupils with SEND. This means that teachers cannot provide the adaptations that pupils need order to learn."

The Deanery has been approached for comment.

People have their say on future of Swindon’s heritage Swindon people were invited to attend a special public event aiming to start a borough-wide engagement on heritage.

The ‘Swindon’s heritage: Celebrating the past, investing in the future’ event featured inspirational guest speakers and dived into the history of the town and what the future may hold for it. The event was held at UTC in the Carriage Works on Monday, 27 November.

Attendees got the chance to learn about the history of Swindon’s landmarks including the Town Gardens, the Mechanics’ Institute and the Health Hydro, shared their thoughts on how they wanted these key sites used in the future and found out how they could become actively involved.

Cllr Marina Strinkovsky, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Heritage, Art and Culture, said: “This is an important event that showcases our commitment to working

collaboratively with residents and being a listening council.

"Wide participation will help us kick-start the process of making positive plans for our heritage sites and buildings.

“We have so many places in Swindon that hold a special place in the hearts of people, and we want to have conversations with residents to understand where we need to be prioritising our efforts when it comes to heritage."

The council is already progressing with the ambitious

regeneration projects of two key heritage sites in the Railway Village – the Health Hydro and the Carriage Works. The next phase in the engagement exercise will be a survey asking residents more detailed questions about the heritage assets in the town and how they feel about them.

The data from this survey, the live event and the questions asked as part of the Resident Survey earlier this autumn will inform a Heritage Action Plan for Swindon.

A focus on funeral planning and Will writing Planning for your death is something that might sound morbid but it is increasingly important so that you can ensure your wishes and those of your family are dealt with in a dignified manner.

Hillier Funeral Service -100 years of serving the Swindon community Currently marking their 100th year of operation, Hillier Funeral Service is one of Wiltshire’s oldest family-owned independent funeral services. For four generations, they have offered compassionate funeral care to families in Swindon and its surrounding areas, striving to help them make arrangements without unnecessary stress and hassle.

Hilliers work with families with various needs, providing them with bespoke funeral services to meet any and all of their requests. No matter the tribute they decide on, big or small, the experienced team vows to curate the perfect final farewell for their lost loved one.

With compassion at their core, Hilliers are proud to offer every family four free counselling sessions with an in-house counsellor to help them deal with the difficult emotions that come with loss. As well as this, they host support groups and a yearly remembrance service.

To mark their 100 years, Hilliers have decided to give something

back to the people of Swindon by setting up ‘The Hillier Community Fund’ which aims to support local charities with their vital work. The cost-of-living crisis has impacted on people’s ability to donate, and with the Government cuts, they are hoping they can bridge the gap.

The fund was set up with £100,000 which has already been used to benefit 15 local causes.

Alongside Hilliers' commitment to the community, they are also dedicated to the environment.

They are proud to be 95% paper free, having made a number of changes to their operations and in the last few months, they have begun planting a tree for every funeral conducted, which adds up to between 700 and 800 per year.

Recently they were proud to be awarded the Most Compassionate Family-Run Funeral Services Provider in the Southern Enterprise Awards 2023. Hilliers look forward to the next 100 years in business.

Swindon Memorials spruce up Highworth Memorial Swindon Memorials offers a personalised service offering creative and beautiful memorials for your loved ones.

Last month, they voluntarily cleaned the memorial in the churchyard of St. Michael’s in Highworth, leaving it looking as good as new.

A spokesperson said: "We just simply wanted to give something back to the community. We have had many comments on how beautiful the stone now looks."

For all enquiries, please email info@ swindonmemorials.co.uk

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Creating a Personal and Meaningful Farewell Sophia Best is an independent celebrant who runs a business called Heartfelt Moments.

"When faced with the loss of a loved one, planning a funeral can feel very overwhelming. However, in the midst of grief, there is a strong desire to create a service that truly reflects the essence of your loved one.

"As an independent Celebrant I offer a personal service investing time getting to know your family and your loved one and I listen closely to the stories and memories that make them unique. Working together we create a personalised service that genuinely reflects their character. I am not affiliated with any specific religion or organisation and offer complete flexibility to conduct services in alignment with your beliefs and those of your loved one, whether they are religious, non-religious or a combination. From our first meeting through to the day of the service, when emotions can be overwhelming, I offer guidance

and support.

"I encourage the involvement of family, friends, and colleagues through spoken tributes, readings, music, or symbolic elements that hold personal meaning for your family, guiding participants gently or stepping in if needed.

"While funeral services often occur at crematoriums or cemeteries, I am open to alternative, unconventional or intimate locations that maybe you hadn’t thought were an option like a barn, village hall or hotel.

"Planning a funeral can become a more manageable and heartfelt process with me by your side. I take great pride in contributing to the creation of a service that truly honours your loved one.

"You can contact and book me directly on 07789 658984 or hello@heartfeltmoments.co.uk or you can book me via a Funeral Director."

A focus on funeral planning and Will writing 'Service with professionalism and the highest standards of care Hear Clear:

Pearce Funeral Services are a small independent family funeral director led by John Pearce DipFD MBIE, an experienced funeral director who has been working in the funeral profession for over 33 years.

As a family-led service, with over 500 5-star reviews across numerous online sites (over 98% of all reviews being 5-star), they have gained a reputation for sensitivity, compassion, empathy and understanding of how loved ones are unique individuals and how each family they serve are individuals.

Pearce know their service needs to be personal to you, reflecting the distinctiveness of both you and your loved one, whilst providing their service with professionalism and the highest standards of care and respect.

Whether you are looking for an Unattended Cremation (a cremation only, with no mourner

attendance or ceremony), a low-key/minimal service or a bespoke and elaborate farewell, at every stage they will listen and can respectfully advise you to ensure that you are aware of all options available and the service you receive is approachable, sympathetic and tailored to you, reflecting the life and memories of your loved one.

In August this year, they

Awdry Law gives peace of mind when it comes to Wills My name is Megan Miller and I am a Solicitor in the Wills, Tax & Probate team at Awdry Law. My main aim is to provide certainty and peace of mind for my clients by being approachable and efficient, in order to make the process as easy for them as possible.

In addition to my extensive experience, I am accredited with Solicitors for the Elderly, which is an accreditation given to specialist lawyers who support and make a difference to older and vulnerable people.

I am also a fully qualified member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners, a global professional body

comprising those who are recognised experts in their field, with proven qualifications and experience.

I am proud to offer a truly personal approach, in an increasingly impersonal world.

Get in contact with us on 01793 384140 or visit our office at 2 Gateway North, Latham Road, Swindon.

proudly opened their new branch in Westlea, making them the only funeral director with premises local to West Swindon, based at Papermakers House, in Rivenhall Road.

With premises in both Westlea and Stratton St Margaret they offer a local place for families to come to when discussing funeral arrangements, or they are

happy to meet in the comfort of your own home.

For any advice regarding funerals, costings or any related subject please feel free to either visit one of their branches, or phone either 01793 832072 or 01793 422422 for free, no obligation advice, personally tailored to you.

Please see advertisement on page 7.

Asset Guardian eases the stress from Wills Between 54% and 61% of UK adults do not have a Will in place. Quite a scary statistic that all those people have not told their loved ones what their wishes are once the inevitable comes.

Asset Guardian Wills Ltd is a locally based family firm of Will writers and estate planners with over 27 years’ experience. The majority of our appointments are conducted in the comfort of your own home at a time that is convenient to you.

We provide a Will writing service including simple Will trusts, preparing and registering Lasting Power of attorney documents and probate advice. Our fees are very competitive and there are no hidden costs.

We are members of the ‘Society of Will Writers’

which is a governing body for our profession.

Some families can be quite complicated these days, for example having children from previous marriages, without a Will in place your children could miss out on their inheritance.

Having Lasting Power of Attorney in place is just as important as having a Will. If you were to lose your mental capacity your appointed attorneys can make crucial decisions on your behalf, making a stressful situation a little easier.

For more information or to book an appointment, please contact us at 01793 737246 or 07795 250297 or via email rob.young@ assetguardiancompany.co.uk www.assetguardiancompany. co.uk swindonlink.com n December 2023

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Welcome to Holy Rood Catholic Primary School At Holy Rood, our school vision is simply captured in three words: ‘Belong, Learn, Achieve’. With Christ at the centre of everything we do, our vision for our school is that it is a happy, nurturing, safe and encouraging place where everyone feels welcome and valued.

We welcome children from all backgrounds and faiths and are proud of our inclusive ethos. With strong values and morals, we believe our school helps to shape children to confidently know and believe in themselves for their future.

Being part of a Catholic school is distinctive. From the minute you step through the door you will feel part of our family. It is a place where achievement is expected and commended, where behaviour is good, where everyone is kind and caring and where all children are celebrated as individuals, striving to achieve their full potential and flourish in God’s world.

You may have never considered a Catholic school for your child; however, come and see for yourself what we have to offer and join our vibrant, passionate and

ambitious team on our exciting journey.

Your child will leave our school equipped for life-long learning, with courage and resilience to always aim high and believe in themselves, achieving the very best they can.

We are a two-form entry, split site primary school, with our EYFS and Key Stage 1 children based at Groundwell Road and our Key Stage 2 children a short walk away at Upham Road.

Visits to our school are warmly welcomed so that you can experience our lovely school first-hand. To arrange a visit please call or email the school office, where a member of the team will be happy to help you.

To keep in touch with all our latest news and events, please follow our Facebook page.

School Profile: Holy Rood Catholic Primary School Get to know the schools in your area Address: Groundwell Road, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN1 2LU Telephone: 01793 523802 Email: admin@holyroodprimary.co.uk Website: www.holyroodcatholicprimary.co.uk

Ofsted Quotes “Pupils are proud to attend Holy Rood Catholic Primary School. They flourish in the school’s warm and inclusive ethos.” (Ofsted, May 2022)

“Pupils’ attitudes reflect the school’s well-established values of fairness, compassion and loyalty. They believe that everyone is ‘completely welcomed’ and treated equally.” (Ofsted, May 2022)

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Interview: Michael Keenan and Jason Biggs work for Swindon homelessness charity Threshold Housing Link

By Barrie Hudson barrie@positive-media.co.uk Established in 1972, Threshold Housing Link is Swindon's oldest charity dedicated to helping homeless people and addressing the causes of homelessness.

Its services and resources range from more than 80 beds in 18 addresses to an outreach service whose missions include identifying and supporting rough sleepers, helping people to retain their accommodation, signposting people to other agencies and supporting people needing to access state benefits, medical care, drug and alcohol services and mental health services.

Its regular Big Swindon Sleepouts help to raise in community terms, like awareness of homelessness and improving the life opportunities the public profile of the charity, of children and families, has and the next will be held on been a bit of a red thread Friday 8 March next year. throughout my career.

Threshold recently moved "What we've been able to do into larger new premises, with here has been phenomenal." storage for donations of food, Michael has been widely blankets, personal hygiene credited with growing products and other items, and and improving the charity there are plans for educational immensely. classes and other much-needed "We had only 15 bed spaces, resources. now we have 82, and along Michael Keenan, who joined the way there's been a whole more than six years ago, is lot of fantastic powerful social Threshold's Chief Development impacts - just the powerful Officer, while Head of life-changing opportunities that Psychological Therapies and unfold for people when those Assertive Outreach Jason Biggs opportunities are carefully has been with the organisation cultivated. for more than three years.

"I enjoy doing what I do!"

Each is originally from Jason said: "I've had a Australia - Michael from the varied academic background, West and Jason from the East. so why did I settle upon the Each also has a strong Third Sector and working with commitment to helping others. charities like this?

Michael, who has a degree in "As an academic, an interest Health Sciences and has been of mine was Intentional in Europe for more than 20 Communities [voluntary social years, said: "I've had a very communities whose members varied career, and academia co-operate]. and research are passions and "One of my specialisms is in interests of mine, and actually addiction psychology, so I was being able to demonstrate very taken in Europe with the some powerful social impact 18 swindonlink.com n December 2023

Jason Biggs, left, and Michael Keenan

size of some of the Intentional Communities - one in particular where there are up to 1,500 people living and working in a journey of recovery, who all predominantly came from a background of street homelessness.

"So working with rehab communities in the UK and working with homelessness organisations like Threshold, it was a passion initially, as a volunteer and on a part-time basis, because quite frankly the private sector pays a great deal more than the Third Sector!"

Both men strongly dispute recent official figures suggesting Swindon has only a handful of rough sleepers, and say that the sheer scale of homelessness generally is grossly underestimated by the public at large.

Jason explained: "My team will see around 12 to 15 unique individuals in the week at the moment, and that's only because we're not spending as much time on the streets we're not funded to do street outreach, but it's something that

LINK PEOPLE Threshold undertakes and has done for decades."

The team spends a significant amount of its time in car parks late at night, where homeless people often seek refuge and leave before the public begin to arrive in the morning, unaware.

Jason added: "We've got tents up at the back of Tesco; we've got tents up in the Lawns.

"The emergence of numbers, and certainly the calling and the buzzing of our door, is back to pre-pandemic times. The numbers are increasing and the stories are horrendous."

Part of that, certainly in Swindon, is down to the sheer cost of securing accommodation, with the availability of social housing hugely limited and even a basic single person's basement flat in the private sector coming in at about £700 a month. Even if a person is able to afford such a sum, the chances are that they will be obliged to come up with a deposit amounting to a similar sum or more.

Both Michael and Jason can list an additional litany of factors they say make things worse for homeless people and those at risk of homelessness or trying to avoid lapsing back into homelessness.

Changes in benefit rules, funding allocations - or the lack of them - to local authorities and national and local government initiatives which have already been tried and failed are prominent on the list.

Their message to those in authority? Jason put it simply: "I would like to see a genuine engagement with the Third Sector."

There are many ways in which people and organisations can help Threshold Housing Link, including donating items, skills and time, and details can be found at www.thl.org.uk

BUSINESS PROFILE

Business Profile - Drove Veterinary Hospital Business Type - Veterinary clinic Established - 1839 Location - 252 Croft Road, Swindon SN1 4RW Telephone number - 01793 522483 Website - www.drovevets.co.uk

Well over 100 years of caring

By Barrie Hudson barrie@positive-media.co.uk “Big enough to cope, small enough to care” is the longstanding motto at Drove Veterinary Hospital.

With a fully equipped animal hospital and six local branches across Swindon, including Marlborough and Wootton Bassett, the team at Drove care for beloved pets from Hamsters to Huskies, whether they require complex surgery or just a routine health check.

Veterinary services offered range from cold laser surgery to treat arthritis, to full MRI scans. Patients in need of dental treatment are also catered for and the team are always more than happy to provide owners some sound advice for keeping furry family members happy and healthy.

The Drove team are always innovating, whether in terms of veterinary procedures or in simply making patients and their loved ones as content as possible.

A fairly recent innovation, for example, are the veterinary hospital's new Cat Friendly Clinics, run according to the standards laid down by respected organisation the

International Society for Feline Medicine.

The weekly sessions are strictly for cats only, so as to minimise the stress to which cats can be prone to when among other pets, such as dogs, and are overseen by a speciallyqualified veterinary surgeon, Kiri Brown.

Drove can offer a cat-friendly waiting area, cat-friendly hospitalisation and other specialist care to our feline friends!

Helen Paterson of Drove said that the team’s determination

to meet individual needs is part of their philosophy as an independent organisation.

She added: "We're not part of a chain like some of our competitors, however we’re able to keep up with the big names in terms of expertise while still being very much a part of the Swindon community.

“We understand when we are caring for animals that they are not just pets and that we are caring for a member of someone’s family and this is always at the heart of everything we do.”

Drove Veterinary Hospital can trace its origins back in one form or another to 1839.

It has changed hands and locations several times over the years, but the pride the business takes in quality of its services has never wavered.

Something else Drove has always prided itself on is keeping up with the latest developments in veterinary medicine and surgery - and in many instances being a trail blazer.

In 1976, for example, expert veterinary surgeon Ron Sismey performed the first ever hip replacement on a dog, and he also invented and patented a number of surgical instruments for use in orthopaedic procedures.

Drove Veterinary Hospital opened its first branch surgery in 1984, and there are currently five branches across the area in addition to the main hospital in Croft Road, which it has occupied since moving there from a prevuious location in 1988. swindonlink.com n December 2023

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LINK POLITICS Our mission continues in spite of severe challenges A column by Swindon Borough Council Leader Cllr Jim Robbins December is a time of fun and celebration for many, but for councillors it also marks the first time that we must table the budget for the next municipal year at our Cabinet meeting.

Since 2010, austerity has meant that this isn’t a time for celebration as the Government has looked to reduce funding to local authorities and forced councils to cut services.

I know many people have a view that the public sector isn’t as dynamic or efficient as the private sector, but the sheer scale of the cuts that we have faced over the last 13 years have meant we are a much leaner organisation, and the cuts that we face this year will inevitably have an effect on our front-line services.

In 2010, Swindon Borough Council received almost £90m from the Government each year.

Now that is down to less than £35m despite a large rise in demand for the statutory services that we have to provide in adult social care and our children’s services.

Council tax-payers have taken on some of the brunt with the rate that you pay often rising by the full amount

allowed.

When the Labour group took control of the council in May, we were offered some support by the Local Government Association and asked to identify two areas where we thought we needed some help.

We immediately picked Children’s Services as we knew of the challenges that we had inherited as shown by the Inadequate Ofsted rating, and also asked for some support with our finances to ensure that the information we had was accurate and if there were any measures we could take to improve the situation.

As a result of this, we have just had a Peer Review of our finances carried out by an experienced team of experts who confirmed that we are facing unprecedented challenges, and gave me the unwelcome news that "...this is

The future of the Honda site - and the Oasis A column by borough council Conservative Group Leader Cllr Gary Sumner I was proud to be a key player in the Conservative team that assisted Panattoni in gaining planning consent for the vast former Honda site, which will eventually create an estimated 12,000 jobs.

This is the most significant employment site in the South of England and will provide space not just for logistics but also manufacturing and office jobs.

The site will take many years to complete, but to succeed it is critical that employers are encouraged to take advantage of the site before looking at destroying more countryside for employment needs.

If Panattoni are undermined by alternative employment land being allocated it will take a lot longer to deliver on a site which has all the required infrastructure to 20

swindonlink.com n December 2023

succeed.

Our existing and future ‘Local Plans’ guide where all development should take place and there are already substantial (approved) allocations for tens of thousands of homes at New Eastern Villages, Kingsdown and Wichelstowe which will provide all the required housing for decades.

Therefore, at the council meeting on 23 November I submitted a motion, seconded by my colleague Cllr Vijay Manro, which asked the Labour administration to prioritise

development of brownfield sites, before greenfield.

We need the equivalent of a ‘greenbelt’ wrapped around our more rural communities (who have already accepted substantial housing allocations), so that they don’t disappear.

On housing development, it is important to set the tone, and Swindon Borough Councilowned sites such as the former Windmill Hill Primary School that have sat empty for over a decade should be actively promoted for housing (which would be welcomed by Freshbrook residents) before additional bites are taken from farmland around Blunsdon, Highworth, Wanborough and Wroughton.

Swindon Borough Council has substantial land holdings and empty offices across the town and could set an example whilst also providing muchneeded affordable housing if they took a more proactive

the worst time in living memory to take over control of a Council!”

We will be publishing the report of the Peer Review along with the budget to make sure that residents are aware of the challenges that we face Whilst we are determined to improve the town, and certainly improve residents' experiences of dealing with the council, it is clear that the finances will mean that it may take longer to make some of the changes that we want to deliver.

We will continue to use the missions that we have set ourselves to judge how we spend our money and try to work with residents for the good of the town.

Finally, can I take this opportunity to wish you and your families a very happy Christmas and all the best for 2024!

approach.

I may be surprised but expect to see Labour reject this sensible and sustainable request.

Finally, the Oasis.

I have continued to support getting the leisure facility refurbished and re-opened and the Conservative administration had agreed a deal with £15m coming from the sale of the land around the Oasis.

Now Labour have agreed a revised deal with only £6m coming back and the council’s own legal advisors saying that their decision would be unlawful.

At the time of writing, I believe Labour will ignore the advice and face future legal challenges – which may once again delay the re-opening of the Oasis, whilst also leaving the council in a much worse financial position than we had negotiated.

Studley Grange promises magic festive fun and delicious food for all the family

By Studley Grange As the magical holiday season unfolds at Studley Grange, we invite you to immerse yourself in the festive cheer with an array of enchanting Christmas events (bookable on our website - www.studleygrange. co.uk), delightful gifts, and captivating displays at our centre.

Indulge in the joy of the season with our delectable gastronomic experiences!

From November 20th to December 15th, we are offering our Christmas Lunches, featuring two scrumptious courses of your choice for £25 a person.

For a lighter occasions, savour our Festive Afternoon Tea with Prosecco. Revel in three tiers of festive delights, accompanied by unlimited tea or coffee and a Prosecco serving.

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POETRY

I’d come from 5,614m (18,400 feet), after completing the Annapurna Circuit, keen to transpose so many stories from memory to paper.

We trekked eight days to reach High Camp, then out at 22

swindonlink.com n December 2023

ATTRACTIONS centre adorned with enchanting winter displays featuring animals, a giant gingerbread man, and more! Real Christmas trees will be available from 24 November, and our Farm Shop and Garden Centre boast a diverse selection of gifts,

Perfect for creating cherished memories with friends and family, bookings with Prosecco are £25 per person (over 18s only), while non-Prosecco festive tea bookings are £16.95 per person.

We also offer a children’s Festive Afternoon Tea with juice at £10.95 for children under 12.

Little ones are in for a treat as Santa visits Studley Grange from 25 November to 24 December, with delightful inclusions such as chosen food and drink, a goody bag, story time, and a special gift from catering even to the most hardSanta. Prices are set at £13.95 to-buy-for family members. From for children and £8.95 for festive Gonks to exotic chutneys, adults.

Studley Grange has something Wander through our garden magical for everyone.

Poetry and profundity in the Garden of Dreams Maurice Spillane: Of Poetry Swindon

I wrote this column in the “Garden of Dreams” in Kathmandu, a glorious day during the Hindu festival of Dashain.

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4am into an unexpected snowstorm. Head torches kept us in touch, just the shadows ahead and a long drop if you slipped. The oxygen decreased to 48 percent of sea level. At the summit, Thorung La, the world’s highest pass, the snowstorm abated. Dawn lit the several 8,000m summits, slowly unwrapping the mountains into magnificence.

It was a special trip. I learned

so much from our guide Dashrath, and later from his daughter, Elina. The Nepalis put family first, with special attention to elders. Hindu, Buddhist and Christians are in harmony, keen to share their values. We six trekkers aged 62 to 74 mirrored them in looking out for each other, and we made it to the summit.

Elina introduced me to Nepali poets, especially Laxmi Prasad Devkota. This excerpt is from “Crazy”: I see the blind man as the people's guide, the ascetic in his cave a deserter; those who act in the theatre of lies I see as dark buffoons.

Those who fail I find successful,

and progress only backsliding.

Am I squint-eyed, or just crazy?

Friend, I'm crazy.

Look at the withered tongues of shameless leaders, the dance of the whores breaking the backbone on the people's rights.

When the sparrow-headed newsprint spreads its black lies in a web of falsehood to challenge Reason - the hero in myself my cheeks turn red, friend, red as molten coal.

If you fancy the Annapurna challenge, email me. I’ll share my notes and contacts with you. www.mauricespillane.co.uk

Swindon Oasis by Dona Bradley

A beginner's guide to buying a bike Monthly column with Becky Cox of Swindon Cycle Campaign.

It’s coming up to Christmas and the gift of a bike can be a popular option. Having a bike can change a life; the start of new adventures and opportunities.

It’s important to get the right bike for you or the person you’re buying for. Is the bike for cycling to school or work, going on family cycle rides or training with a local cycling club? A mountain bike may be great for off-road trails but if you’re mostly using tarmac paths it can be a bit slow and cumbersome. Most people are best suited to a hybrid bike, which is an all-rounder suited to all purposes..

Make sure you get the right size bike for your height.

An ill-fitting bike can cause discomfort, injury and even accidents. Visit your local independent bike shop to get

Alfie Howlett: Swindon Town FC writer

the best support. If you’re on a tight budget consider buying secondhand - the safest option is to go to somewhere local such as Recycles or Bassett Bikes, who will sell you a preloved bike that fits your needs and budget, fully serviced and ready to ride. If you buy new, you need to spend over £200 to avoid getting a Bicycle Shaped Object, which won’t be enjoyable to ride and will likely break shortly after purchase.

For kids' bikes, look to buy a lightweight one from manufacturers such as Isla Bikes, Frog Bikes, Squish and Woom. There’s a great secondhand market for these bikes and you’ll get most of what you pay back when you sell it on, plus your child will have a fantastic time riding it.

There are plenty of good

The wheels have fallen off for STFC

Contrary to my lost column, Swindon are no longer cruising.

Instead, they’re stranded in the hard shoulder with the hazard lights on and the bonnet up.

They have effectively broken down.

The one thing that I did get right, in my last piece, was the concern regarding squad depth. However, the fact that this point has come to fruition so quickly demonstrates Town’s sudden demise. Initially I thought that we’d see Swindon’s shortcomings, in the transfer market, come to the fore during the hectic festive period.

I never thought that it’d be a factor in the shocking form of late. Yet is it the main factor?

A lot has been made of chairman Clem Morfuni’s failure to put his money where his mouth is and invest in the squad.

And yes, I do think that 24

lower cost makes too, and the Cycle Sprog website is a great place to check out.

Does the person you’re buying for have a disability?

There’s a range of cycles suited for all needs. These specialist cycles can be costly, so it’s best to try them out first at a local session such as the Active & Inclusive cycling sessions held on Monday and Thursday mornings at the County Ground. There are also charities such as Charlotte’s Tandems that hire

swindonlink.com n December 2023

Morfuni is to blame; he must take a share of responsibility for the recent slump in form.

But in some cases, I believe that the manager isn’t being held to account.

That’s right, I feel as if Michael Flynn should be put under the microscope. All season I’ve sung Flynn’s praises.

The Welshman was getting the most out of limited resources supplied by Morfuni.

Not only was Flynn leading Town to points but he was also deploying an exciting gung-ho style of play. This earned many plaudits, including from myself, urging Flynn not to change his aggressive style of play.

Despite this, I believe that Flynn’s lack of Plan B has been the main reason for the downturn in form.

Swindon have become too predictable. Teams know exactly who and how Town will

play. I agree with the counter argument that Flynn doesn’t have the ability to change personnel due to Morfuni.

But instead, I subscribe to the theory that Flynn needs to shake things up.

He can start with the defence.

As part of the drop in form, Swindon conceded a shocking 17 goals in four games.

For context that is four more than Mansfield after 16 games.

Why hasn’t Flynn changed formation or structure to counter the leaky defence? For me the blame here solely lies on his shoulders.

Since he is the man who works with these defenders each day, quite simply he should be making better strides to solve the problem.

Lastly, the players must be scrutinised.

In certain games I feel as if they haven’t wanted it as

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CYCLING

out tag-along cycles for free to families with additional needs. Adapted cycles such as tricycles and tandems can be bought from local bike shops or found second hand quite easily. For more specialist children’s cycles there are often grants available, and charities such as Wheels for Wellbeing can provide some useful support for adult cycles too.

Or are you thinking of replacing a second car? Why not consider an electric bike or cargo bike? They’re becoming popular options for replacing short urban journeys by car and have much lower running costs.

Whatever bike you choose I hope it helps you get out and have some fun in the fresh air this winter period.

LINK FOOTBALL much as the opposition. There’s no better example than the embarrassing drubbing against Aldershot in the FA Cup. The only player who always leaves everything on the pitch is Dan Kemp – and he is on loan! This simply isn’t good enough.

Those wearing the shirt should be giving everything and leaving the fans with no questions regarding effort.

So there’s my diagnosis. But how can it be cured? Flynn can start with working day and night on the defence.

Next, the players can bang their heads together and regain their early season spirit. Lastly, come January, Morfuni can rectify his mistake and back Flynn in the January window.

Should neither of these things happen, Swindon will continue to spiral.

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TRADE PAGES

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29

AGONY

GIRL

From the pages of Swindon Link's sister publication The Ocelot comes Agony Girl in the form of ten year old Amy. We read her the questions and she tells us the answers. To ask Agony Girl a question yourself email us at publisher@swindonlink.com with 'Agony Girl' in the subject line.

Dear Agony Girl, What is your favourite thing to do at the weekend?

Thanks Tyler My favourite thing to do on the weekend is see my friends and go to McDonalds. I like to go to parties and sleepovers.

Dear Agony Girl, Do you prefer Halloween or Christmas?

Why is one better than the other?

Nigel, Middleleaze Christmas. Because I love it more. I start to decorate my room in November. I like Halloween because I get to dress up in outfits but at Christmas it just feels fluffier.

Dear Agony Girl, I hear you really like getting your nails done by your mum. I’m just about to

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swindonlink.com n December 2023

book myself an appointment at a nail salon. Have you got any tips as to what I should get done?

Karen Ridgeway Farm You should get Christmas nails with snowflakes and fairy lights and then sparkley nails. I’ve even got one that has Santa on it and reindeer.

comeback prepared. Also, watch out for any prank times as bullies like to prank.

Dear Agony Girl, The school bully stormed off yesterday after I stood up to her, but now I’m a bit worried that she’ll want revenge in some way. What should I do?

Rishi, London Are you Rishi Sunak? Is he talking about one of the thingy party people. The one that my dad doesn’t want to watch I’m a Celebrity because of? You should just tell the bully to shut up and have a good

Dear Agony Girl, I hear you’ve really liked watching Big Brother. Who has been your favourite character? And will you be watching I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here?

Stacey, Eldene My favourite character is, I think, either Olivia, Yinrun or Jordan. I’ll only be able to watch I’m a Celebrity at my mum’s because my dad doesn’t want to see a certain person on the show.

Swindon

LINK is recruiting

Are you a people person?

Are you passionate about the Swindon community?

If the answer is ‘yes’ to both of these questions – Swindon Link needs you!

We are looking for a salesperson to join our successful print and digital team at the heart of the community Applicants should be dynamic, confident, hard-working and just as adept at face-to-face meetings as cold-calling If interested, email jamie@swindonlink.com with a cover note and your CV by Wednesday 31 January