North West Swindon Link July 2018

No 434 July 2018

GPS delivered door to door to 50,000 homes across Swindon with Est. overall readership of 125,000

Swindon

LINK Your Community Magazine

Swindon Lives - Aidworker Rosa Matheson in Nepal p34

North & West Edition

The Greatest Show fashions its way to New College New craze of painted rocks takes over the town

Community: P2-20

Swindon Wide: P21 - 29

Leisure: P30-39

Page 17 Swindon Link editor Jamie Hill talks about surviving a violent mugging

Page 10

p18

Page 26 Business: Is it time Switch on to Swindon actually 'switched on' to Swindon?

Praise for the emergency services

Quiz team scoop top prize in national competition

By Group Editor Jamie Hill jamie@swindonlink.com

June was a bit weird for me mainly because I was attacked in a violent mugging by a gang of youths brandishing an apparent snooker ball in a sock whilst I was on a night out.

I have actually written a first person piece about my experience on page 10.

I'm fine now but being hit in the face several times and ending up knocked unconscious in a random attack has made me realise how lucky I was as it could have been so much worse.

The emergency services were fantastic and I can't praise the doctors and nurses at Great Western Hospital enough. We are very lucky to have such a world class facility on our doorstep.

The police also need to be praised as they reacted brilliantly and professionally in trying to catch the gang who were also responsible for several other attacks.

It's easy to forget what a tough job all of our emergency services do. It's only at times like these that you realise how great they are.

Director: James Phipps Group Editor: Jamie Hill Deputy Editor: Ben Fitzgerald Associate: Roger Ogle Reporter: Claire Dukes Sales Admin Manager: Sue Roberts Sales: Dave Stewart, Rosy Presley Digital and Marketing: Nataley Fryer Office Manager: Karen Randall Photography: Richard Wintle & Rachel Davis - www.calyxpix.com

Winners! The Old Firm quiz team and inset left Chris Kamara hosts the final A team of four sports obsessives are celebrating after beating all comers to secure victory in the Greene King 2018 sports quiz.

Pals Tim Westcott, Bob Livingstone, Brian Strickland and Chris Pearson, who go by the quiz team name The Old Firm and the Ref, managed to secure a place at the national Grand Finals in Bristol – hosted by former Swindon Town player and TV pundit Chris Kamara.

Tim Westcott explained:

“We were up against 32 other teams so we were pretty lucky to get through – we’re absolutely delighted.

There were some pretty hard questions, including one where you had to think of the connection that linked the answers. Luckily we’re pretty good at listening to each other and when one of us is sure about an answer, we will go with their judgement.”

The players, who meet at The Harvey pub in West Swindon and regularly take part in the

pub’s quiz nights, will share a £5,000 prize.

The team excelled on the night, with an impressive score of 70 out of 80 and celebrated their victory with TV personality and football icon, Chris Kamara.

Team captain, Brian Strickland, said: “We couldn’t believe it when we heard we had won the quiz.

"Although we’re all huge sports fans we never thought we’d walk away as the winners."

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Youngsters showcase their talent at disability employment event

By Ben Fitzgerald ben@swindonlink.com

Celebrity chef Marco Pierre White was one of the guests of honour at a disability employment event hosted by Horizons College.

The event, at the Marriott Hotel was a chance to showcase the wealth of talent available to local employers.

Horizons College is a part of the Uplands Educational Trust, a specialist facility for young adults aged 16-25 who have severe or profound multiple learning difficulties.

The college teaches students to use local services and to help make a contribution to the local community either through voluntary or paid work.

Above all else the College aims to increase opportunities for young adults to gain independence and have plenty of life choices.

The day, which was hosted

by North Swindon MP Justin

Youngsters from Horizons College demonstrate their skills under the watchful eye of Marco Pierre White serving samples to guests, who extremely rewarding and Tomlinson, featured a cooking sensible decision for any size demonstration by the renowned had the opportunity to taste some of the food. business.

‘Shaky Chef’ Fred Finch, who Representatives from the Recruiting employees with overcame his disability to college as well as employment a disability can attract become a well regarded chef. government funding and Students from the college took experts were on hand to help explain how hiring somebody support through various the opportunity to show off programmes. their food prep skills as well as with a disability can be an

School celebrates international exchange programme

By Ben Fitzgerald ben@swindonlink.com

Youngsters and teachers at Tregoze Primary School celebrated the end of a successful international exchange project by inviting teachers from participating schools to meet children and parents.

Head teacher Helen Tudor explained that the school has a track record of being involved in international exchange programmes going back more than a decade.

The latest project, which took place over three years and involved the whole school, was funded by the British Council and is part of the Erasmus international exchange scheme.

Mrs Tudor said: “There was a lot of hard work involved in setting up this project and it would not have been possible without the involvement of 4

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the whole school. We had a lot of children from our year 5 and 6 who were keen to spend a week abroad with a host family and we had to pull names out of a hat to see who could take part.”

One of the members of staff who has been instrumental in organising the project was Frances Collins. She said: “We

were involved with schools from Italy, Germany, Spain and Poland. It is valuable work and helps the children to establish their European identity and promotes the idea that while we have minor differences, we are essentially the same.

Not only does it help children understand different cultures, it’s also a valuable opportunity

for teaching staff to learn a lot from each other about teaching which is great for professional development.”

This year’s project has been focussed on promoting reading throughout the partner schools adopting the title Fairy Tales Fantasy and Fiction - Bertie the Bookwork travels Europe looking for Friends.

On your marks! Young runners put new school track through its paces

By Ben Fitzgerald ben@swindonlink.com

Budding young athletes will be able to hone their skills at Abbey Meads Primary School, thanks to the construction of an all-weather running track.

The 205m asphalt trail, built

by Newson Interiors, has been paid for by the fundraising efforts of the Friends of Abbey Meads School, Tesco community funding, and from the school budget.

The new facility was officially opened by running mentor Steve Goulding, who organises Swindon Shin Splints running group. On hand to christen the track was teacher and school running club organiser Stuart Shore and dozens of enthusiastic young members of the school’s running club.

Head teacher Bob Buckley said: “Swindon is among the worst towns for childhood obesity so this is very important as a way of trying to tackle this issue. This

will allow our pupils to run throughout the year rather than being restricted to a few months and because of the way it is constructed it is fully accessible to wheelchair users or those with other mobility problems.”

Future plans include the construction of trim trail exercise facilities at the side of the track to help promote healthy athletic activity.

Award-winning pet store Agency to recruit 50 more celebrates 15 years of pet care community support staff

By Claire Dukes claire@swindonlink.com

Local pet specialists PetShed celebrated their 15th birthday last month with generous discounts for customers.

Since opening its doors in 2003 the family-run business has gone on to win multiple awards including Best Independent Pet Retailer in the UK, and Best Pet Shop in Swindon.

PetShed manager Sarah Wells said: "Biggest doesn't always mean best - in this industry you have to have a passion for animals, and we all do. It's

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down to training and our knowledge."

Over 15 years Petshed has grown from two employees to its current 12. For their birthday celebrations the team offered special prices on their products, as well as tickets to visit Studley Grange. Due to the works on Junction 16, PetShed made the active decision not to hold a huge birthday bash as the road works have caused major delays to customers' journeys.

Sarah said: "We're still the cheapest investor around. The birthday was all about telling people we're still here - there's nothing better than knowing you've helped somebody. We pride ourselves on doing our best."

15 years down the line and still growing, the pet store recently launched their own pet food brand Borders. www.petshedonline.co.uk

First City Nursing - a leading provider of healthcare and social care services in Swindon is looking to recruit 50 new staff.

Since arriving in Swindon in April 2000, First City has taken on a large team of nurses and carers working in a variety of healthcare settings.

And due to increased demand for their services, the agency is looking to recruit 50 community outcome support workers who are caring, reliable, compassionate and honest.

First City Nursing has become a centre of excellence for fulfilling jobs in the care industry, delivering both nursing and home care to hospitals,

care homes and extra care schemes.

Nurses and care agency staff are all given comprehensive in-house training from First City Training - an award winning centre for training Care Agency employees. All staff receive the necessary mandatory training as well as having full access to additional optional courses to develop their home care skills.

The First City training centre – based in Swindon, Wiltshire - provides NVQ training at NVQ 2, 3 and 4 in home care and care management as well as childcare.

For information call First City Nursing on 01793 434 222.

Volunteers Collectorsneeded show

Eastcott Community Organisation, the group of volunteers managing Savernake Street Social Hall, is looking for people to join their volunteer management committee.

Those interested need to express interest with names being put forward for election at the Annual General Meeting to be held on 30 July.

For further information please contact eastcottcommunity@yahoo. co.uk

Preparing for the worst: Emergency crews put their skills to the test in simulated road pile up

Old Adver HQ set to become office block Plans to renovate the former home of the Swindon Advertiser have been given the green light. Developers Blewbury Court have been given permission to transform the grade II listed building into modern offices.

A separate application has seen the the approval of the rear part of the building into 31 flats.

Murder case reviewed The murder of Swindon resident Linda Razzell 16 years ago featured in a documenary screened on BBC 2. Mrs Razzell disappeared on her way to work at Swindon College on the morning of March 2002.

The following year her husband Glyn was convicted of murdering her - he has always maintained his innocence.

In recent months the case has been submitted to the Criminal Case Review Commission and is currently under consideration.

Two years ago former detective Steve Fulcher voiced suspicion that Christopher Halliwell, the taxi driver who murdered Becky Godden and Sian O’Callaghan, could be behind Linda’s disappearance and that of others.

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Teamwork: Crews from Swindon, Stratton, Westlea, Trowbridge and Royal Wootton Bassett work alongside the South Western Ambulance Service to hone their life-saving skills Emergency crews from the Swindon area put their skills to the test in an exercise based around a simulated multiple car pile up.

Crews from Swindon, Stratton, Westlea and Royal Wootton Bassett were joined by the heavy rescue unit based at Trowbridge fire station and the Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) from South Western Ambulance Service for the training event hosted

by Honda UK’s Swindon headquarters.

The company often donates pre-production models to the Fire and Rescue Service, as new materials and design features can impact on how firefighters go about cutting into vehicles to rescue those inside.

Crew Manager Mike Wainwright was one of the exercise organisers.

He said: “A road traffic collision involving several vehicles takes up a lot of space, and we need even more room for all the attending emergency services, so it can be very difficult to run training that realistically replicates what we could face.

We are hugely grateful to Honda, as their support is allowing us to set up a scenario that is lifelike and, therefore, really challenging to those taking part.”

He added: “Every road traffic collision is different, and we are constantly testing our skills. New vehicle technology can present a challenge, whether it’s additional airbags

or boron steel construction, which is difficult to cut through, so training like this is invaluable to both us and our emergency services partners.”

As well as those taking part in the exercise, there will be a number of observers on site to take notes and ensure that all necessary learning is drawn from the event.

Jason Smith, Director of Honda of the UK Manufacturing Ltd, said: “Honda is pleased to assist the emergency services with this activity.

"Our working partnership with Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service enables them to practice their skills on the latest vehicles, ensuring they are in the best position to support our community.”

Places now available for university nursing courses in Swindon There is still time to enrol for nursing university courses.

Oxford Brookes in Swindon has a number of places available in Clearing for its two courses - BSc Operating Department Practice and BSc Adult Nursing.

The Clearing Hotline will be available from 16

August. Details of the number will be available on the website www.brookes. ac.uk If you’re considering applying for September 2019 entry, the next Open Days are 13 October and 10 November.

Booking is open now at www.brookes.ac.uk/ opendays

"A brutal attack that left me broken emotionally and physically" Swindon Link editor Jamie Hill has recovered after being targeted in a violent street robbery in the early hours of a Sunday morning.

According to police, he was one of four victims targeted by a gang of youths wielding a snooker ball in a sock. In his own words he describes what happened.

T

hey say what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, but lying on a hospital bed with a mashed up face only hours after being pummelled unconscious by an assailant wielding what I thought was a snooker ball in a sock, I felt weaker than I’ve ever felt.

The next 48 hours were punctuated by an irrational need to just burst into tears.

I felt broken physically and emotionally.

It had started out as a normal Saturday night with friends in Old Town.

I must admit I was drunk. Not too drunk but tipsy. I left my friends at around 2.15am on Sunday morning. Then, in my infinite wisdom, I decided to go to Suju nightclub. According to my bank I paid for my entry for the club at 2.28am. I only stayed 20 minutes having realised that as an overweight 43 year old man I stood out like a sore thumb as I was 20 years older than anyone else.

Outside there were a few taxis but having spied a kebab house opposite I decided I would get a bite to eat before making my way home.

And this is where I was stupid.

I used to be a smoker but now I vape so I decided to clear my head and have a vape before getting food.

I walked across the road 10

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and went down the path on Charlotte Mews that leads to the Lawns park area.

I just wanted to be away from the crowds to have a think. I do that a lot.

At the end of the path as you enter the park suddenly there’s no street lighting.

As I entered and walked a few feet into the park I saw what looked like a couple canoodling lying down by a tree stump.

In my peripheral vision, as I walked past, I saw them both, two boys, silently stand up and start walking towards me.

As I turned around I was struck by something very hard in the face. It hit me in the eye area, leaving me stunned.

The boy, and he was a boy not much older than my teenage son, was swinging something around his head like a medieval mace. It was a sock and it had something hard and round inside it which I thought was a snooker ball.

I was hit four times in total by this weapon and it was not until the second hit that I was asked for my wallet.

Just before the fourth hit which knocked me out I was threatened with a knife whilst my way was blocked by the second assailant as I tried to

back away.

I came to lying on the pavement. There was no-one around me. I had no idea how long I had been lying there.

I gingerly got up. None of it seemed real. I walked towards the high street. I wasn’t walking straight. My wallet was gone.

I found a police car in the high street. I felt stupid when I told them I was attacked by what I thought was a snooker ball in a sock.

The next few hours were a daze. All I can say is that all the police officers, the paramedics and the hospital nurses were fantastic.

You can trace the four strikes from the cosh on my face. My eye was the worst. But there was also a massive cut on my forehead (which I think might have been the final blow that knocked me out but I can’t be sure) and a huge swelling on my jaw and my cheekbone.

Very luckily after being checked out and X-rayed and poked and prodded it showed that there had been no permanent damage.

All I wanted in the aftermath was to see my family. To hug my kids. I think I realised how lucky I had been and how much worse the injuries could

have been. It could have easily have resulted in me losing my eyesight or even my life.

When I talk to people about the attack they are rightly angry with the attackers.

Calling them feral animals and much worse. I know they need to be caught. They can’t continue to do this as someone is more than likely to get a lot more seriously hurt or even killed.

But… I’m not angry with them. I simply want to understand what led them to do this. They didn’t end up getting anything of value from me as my cards were instantly cancelled so they pummelled a man unconscious for nothing.

I want to know how they are able to dehumanise their victims to such an extent that they would do this to someone and not feel guilt for the potential consequences to another human being.

I know I’ll never get those answers. Maybe they feel disenfranchised. Maybe they’re from broken homes.

Maybe they have serious drug problems. Maybe it’s a gang thing where guilt is diluted by a group action. Whatever it is I would like to know but I know I never will.

Swindon Cycle Fest is back for 2018 Swindon Cycle Fest is to return to the County Ground athletics track on Sunday 29 July.

Following the success of the inaugural festival in 2016, event organisers Mitchell Cycles and the Swindon Cycle Campaign are bringing back the free fun-filled day with a programme to inspire more people to get onto two wheels.

The festival will begin at 9am with a selection of led rides for all abilities, with the full site opening between 10am and 4pm for visitors to meet lots of manufacturers and local cycling clubs, to enjoy great food and drink, and to dive into the riches of a brilliant bike jumble.

Janice Mitchell, co-organiser said: "As well as all the different stands and activities throughout the day, we really want local cycle lovers to join us to create a big bike jumble where you can find bargains big and small.”

The festival is all about rediscovering – or finding

for the first time – a love of cycling. So, whether you’re looking for your child’s first wheels, a new basket for your sit-up-and-beg, or an accessory for your weathered commuter, the festival’s jumble sale is the place start looking for a pre-loved bargain that will kick-start a long summer of riding.

Follow the event on Facebook @swindoncyclefest.

swindonlink.com n July 2018

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Carers and young people benefit from transitioning roadshow

By Claire Dukes claire@swindonlink.com

Last month carers and young people benefitted from Swindon Borough Council's (SBC) third roadshow 'Transitioning into Adulthood'.

The roadshow is aimed at carers who look after young people with learning and physical disabilities, as well as the children themselves when transitioning from childhood into adulthood from the age

of 18.

Ben, 17, who attends Commonweal Sixth Form is applying to university.

Paralysed from the neck down, Ben has been facing difficulties with job applications as well as equal opportunities available to him.

He said: "When someone in Swindon sees someone with a disability working it's seen as a big achievement - big whoop.

I'm just human.

"I find it really hard finding

Ben interviewing Kay Reeves

jobs. My peers can walk into McDonalds and be like 'I'm broke, give me a job', but I can't do that."

Jo Groves, Transition Link Worker at SBC, who liaises weekly with Ben said: "When turning 18 people are expected to take on so much responsibility.

"It's about enabling Ben to not let his disability get in the way, to allow him to have an ordinary life - for him not to stress about his transition. There

are starting to become more options available. We need Swindon employers to help enable children, like Ben." A range of services were on display at the council's Civic Offices providing information and guidance to how they can assist carers, young people, and professionals.

Kay Reeves, Head of Transitions, said: "This is recognition to do transitioning better, and how to best support those transitioning."

Swindon Mayor Junab Ali also attended the roadshow

Jackie Chappell and (inset) James Sinclair

Talking business at the South West Expo Swindon Villiers Park celebrates its Swindon Scholars

By Claire Dukes claire@swindonlink.com

This month business owners and companies will be able to expand their knowledge within their fields at the South West Expo Swindon.

The event will be taking place in Steam's Great Western Hall Thursday July 5.

The free event has been designed to act as a networking hub as well as provide an opportunity for budding entrepreneurs to attend workshops and seminars which focus on areas such as social media and LinkedIn. Currently one of the largest

business shows in the South West the event will also be attended by company CEOs, private and public firms, and key note speakers who have experience in developing and changing their business models and corporate strategies.

Keynote speakers include Jackie Chappel, - the CEO of National Rail and Ambassador for Women in Business and National Charity Sue Ryder and James Sinclair - known as “The Millionaire Clown" since starting up his first business when he was 15.

For further information and to book tickets visit www.greatbritishexpos.co.uk

By Claire Dukes claire@swindonlink.com

A scholar's programme in Swindon celebrated the achievements of graduating students last month.

Villiers Park’s Swindon Scholars is a programme designed to support children from less privileged backgrounds which can often affect their educational growth and potential.

Set up in 2010 the national charity works alongside young people, from year 10 to year 13, to improve their academic skills and help prepare them for higher education and life

after.

Clare Edwards, Communications Manager at Villiers Park Educational Trust, said: “Our programme tackles inequality across the UK – education should be based on ability more than background.

We equip young people with skills on a more equal playing field to their peers.

“Our end goal is to give them the skills they need to go onto higher education.

“The event, which happens at the end of each academic year, is a great opportunity to reflect on the achievements of the last year." www.villierspark.org.uk swindonlink.com n July 2018 13

Needles at the ready: Stitch and Bitch take on The Longest Knit for charity

By Claire Dukes claire@swindonlink.com

Swindon’s local knitting group Stitch and Bitch went to Avebury last month to get knitting for charity.

To coincide with the summer solstice the local knitting group took advantage of the daylight in a bid to create the longest knit for Dressability.

The group travelled to Avebury on the bus from Swindon Bus Station, knitted on

board and at Avebury under the wishing tree knitting and crocheting hanging spirals. The ladies gifted their spirals to visitors in return for donations.

Dressability provides a low-cost clothing alteration and dressmaking service for people with disabilities, and Swindon Stitch and Bitch will be collecting donations from their longest knit to give to the charity.

Swindon Stitch and Bitch are working closely with

Dressability making woollen garments for Swindon’s elderly who find themselves choosing between heating and eating during the winter months. Yarn had also been dontated by John Lewis.

Tracey Major of Swindon Stitch and Bitch said: “We were so honoured that Dressability had asked us to work with them and we were thrilled with the amazing yarn from John Lewis, lots of the yarns are our favourite brands and will make

gorgeous and in some case luxurious garments to wrap the elderly up in this winter; they really will be keeping warm in style.

“It was such a shame that the group couldn’t get together on 9 June when it was World Knit in Public day, so we have decided to celebrate the summer solstice instead.

“We thought we’d make twirls because they are easy to make and look amazing and can be hung from anything.”

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Mysterious decorated treasures crop up all over town

By Ben Fitzgerald ben@swindonlink.com

A host of mysterious decorated rocks have been cropping up all over Swindon, from the Town Gardens in Old Town to the hedgerows of Peatmoor.

And the new craze even has its own proliferation of Facebook groups where treasure hunters can post pictures of the rocks they find and have re-hidden.

It seems that the idea may have been inspired by similar initiatives in America and has rapidly gained traction here in Swindon.

Anyone spotting a rock is asked to take a photograph of it and post it to one of the many sites, letting the community know where it was found.

Finders get to keep the rocks or leave it elsewhere for someone else to discover.

To take part, follow the links to these Facebook groups

Rodbourne Rocks, Lawns Rocks Swindon, Liden Rocks and Rocks of Swindon.

Colourful creations: some of the decorated treasures that have been found in the town

It's music to our ears! - legendary music venue to rise again One of Swindon’s landmark venues is set for a new lease of life - in a move that will be music to the ears of Swindon’s gig scene.

The Rolleston Arms pub and associated basement bar Level 3 closed its doors on 20 January this year with singer Frank Turner playing to a sell-out crowd. But now the landlords of Swindon’s Victoria Pub, Darren Simons and Violet McLaren, have stepped up to the plate to run the venue which is set to open at the end of the month.

Darren explained: “I’m really excited. The whole venue is being renovated by the brewery and we are all ready for the re-opening.

“This will be a great opportunity for us, where we can use the expertise we have built up from running the Vic for five years and apply that here. We will be continuing to promote great local bands

On a roll: Darren Simons outside the Rolleston Arms pub and support Swindon’s thriving music scene.”

We’ve got some ambitious plans which we will be

announcing in the near future.”

The Rolleston Arms will open its doors on June 29 with a big launch earmarked for June 30

featuring a host of local bands including Rotten Aces, Two Sick Monkeys, Street Outlaws, Ian Dozer and Falls on Deaf Ears. swindonlink.com n July 2018

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Weird, wild and wonderful show puts talent in the spotlight

By Ben Fitzgerald ben@swindonlink.com

A host of otherworldly models bestrode the catwalk - with circus inspired creations mingling with fantasy and nightmare creatures to create a dazzling visual display as New College’s Media Makeup students put their talents on show for their end of year show.

Each year, the show is based around a theme; previous years have focused on Movies, Bedtime Stories and styles from around the world.

This year is very different again, with the main inspiration coming from one of the most popular films of the year, ‘The Greatest Showman’.

The idea came about not only due to the popularity of the

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film, but the idea that there are so many elements of the circus that can be explored.

Level 2 students worked on creating props for the show, as well as modelling the creations.

BTEC second year students are creating pieces that centre around superstition and HNC students looked at the idea of phobias.

A range of skills were put into practice to bring the show together, including hair styling, make-up, costume, props, fashion, prosthetics and body painting. It’s a great opportunity to bring all of these elements together and showcase the work to family, friends and the general public.

Students will have the opportunity to work with

and appreciate the skills of so many students and staff members across the college.

Photography, Film, Media and Dance students are all involved in bringing the show to life alongside the Media Make-up department.

Media Make-up Programme Leader, Gemma Mulrooney said: “Our show this year is heavily influenced on the box office hit, ‘The Greatest Showman’, you will see the theatre turned into a circus with live stilt walkers and a whole variety of weird and wonderful characters!

All learners will have designed and handmade hair, makeup, costumes and props, so it gives them the opportunity to show off a variety of their skills.”

Aqualush and MP unveil store expansion

By Claire Dukes claire@swindonlink.com

Local aquatics centre Aqualush unveiled their brand new store expansion last month.

The marine store specialises in coral, marine, and tropical fish but will now be welcoming new residents with their extension.

Now taking over units 36 and 37 in Cheney Manor's BSS House, Aqualush are preparing to welcome a new reptile centre which will accommodate snakes, geckos, and dark frogs.

Now equipped with her licence to sell 'dangerous wild animals' store owner Karen Hunt is looking forward to her new

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business venture.

She said: "It seemed a sensible progression. It gives me an opportunity for new business.

"There was a gentleman who owned a reptile store in Old Town and being a small business had he remained open I wouldn't have done this.

"There is nowhere in Swindon that does these live creatures.

I've already got an order for a gecko. " Customers and children are welcome to come to view the new animals.

She added: "For your first experience of handling a snake, this is the place."

Blunsdon House opens its gardens for the Blunsdon Garden Village Weekend

Blunsdon House Hotel will be in full bloom this summer as it opens its gardens for a flower power charity event.

To raise money for St Leonard's Church, Blunsdon House will be hosting their Blunsdon Garden Village Weekend from Sunday 14 to Saturday 15 July.

Over the course of two days the gardens will be open to ticket holders from 12pm until 5pm which also includes a children's 'My Blunsdon' art exhibition, morning breakfast in the Village Hall, retail stalls, and an afternoon of tea and

cake.

Tickets are ÂŁ5 each, which allows access to the gardens for both days, and children under 16 can enter free.

For further information contact Blunsdon House Hotel on 01793 721701.

Pradeep Bhardwaj nominated for national diversity award

By Ben Fitzgerald ben@swindonlink.com

Pradeep Bhardwaj, a local role model from Swindon has been nominated for the Positive Role Model at The National Diversity Awards 2018. #NDA18 is the largest diversity awards within the UK, which celebrates the excellent achievements of Charities, Role Models and Community Heroes for their outstanding devotion to enhancing equality, diversity and inclusion.

The Liverpool Anglican Cathedral will play host to this year’s awards, to be held on 14 September. Britain’s most inspirational and selfless people will come together to honour the rich tapestry of our nation, recognising individuals and groups from grass roots communities.

In his nomination profile, Pradeep Bhardwaj explains: “After travelling to over 50

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countries and having lived in 5 countries, it was here in the UK (in Swindon) I discovered my path to Nirvana.

Now I take more pride as a social worker, as a community champion for the cause of equality and diversity, with a passion to bring people together. It has truly been a humbling experience for me to get involved with a host of charitable activities – Free Kitchen serving 1,142 people, Food & Clothing for underprivileged, Supporting Christmas Care Homeless Shelter, Volunteering at Care Homes, Providing food for Homeless Shelter, Fundraising £54200 for a bereaved family, £5000 for Nepal Earthquake relief, £4177 for Rotary Jaipur Limb, £2000 for Prospect Hospice.”

Microsoft and Direct Line were 2017 Headline sponsors of the UK’s largest diversity awards, attracting a growing list of supporters including Sir

Lenny Henry, Graham Norton and Katie Piper.

The National Diversity Awards receives over 20,000 nominations and votes annually.

Founder & CEO Paul Sesay said: “After an eye opening year we look to those who represent progress, spirit and resilience.

"As we enter our 7th awards

season, the game changers and peace makers who remain unheard will shine under the spotlight, and reach every section of society with their passion and positivity. I look forward to learning about this year’s nominees and witnessing their spectacular journeys.”

Shortlisted nominees will be announced after June 29.

Blooming marvellous hanging baskets To brighten up the town centre over the summer months, 138 floral hanging baskets have been installed in and around the main pedestrian areas in the Swindon town centre.

The baskets will be in full bloom through to October 2018 with more than 3,000 flowers that will add colour and vibrancy to shops and businesses around the town centre. Swindon town centre is packed full of beautiful flowers thanks to inSwindon BID Company, who on behalf of the 480 businesses in the town centre that they represent, have invested in the project.

The BID will be encouraging and working with businesses in the town centre to display their own floral displays outside their premises as well as encouraging local horticultural groups to come and manage one of the many planting areas available in the town centre.

The Swindon BID team are appealing to local gardening groups to come forward with

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ideas for planting and to volunteer their time to transform planting areas into spectacular floral displays. The BID will cover the cost of materials but would really like the support and experience of a local gardening group to work with them on this exciting project. If you’re a local group and want to find out more, please get in touch with Rachael Youd on 01793 485523 or ryoud@ inswindon.com

Valuation Day opportunity with

Thomas Plant TV expert on Flog It! The Antiques Road Trip & Bargain Hunt

Bring along your Antiques & Jewellery for a FREE valuation with Thomas, OR members of his team from Special Auction Services

Monday 9th July 10am to 3.30pm

Jury’s Inn, Fleming Way, Swindon SN1 2NG Valuations are by appointment only To arrange a time, please call 01635 580595 or contact us via the website

www.specialauctionservices.com

Special Auction Services

The Business Brief

Carriageworks plays host to next phase of campaign

COMMENT: Is it time Switch on to Swindon 'Switched on to Swindon'?

By Group Editor Jamie Hill jamie@swindonlink.com

The Switch on to Swindon event was as swanky as you would imagine. But after I left, it all just felt a bit ‘meh’.

The aims of the campaign are worthy but it’s in danger of becoming a celebration of back-slapping for the owners and managers of the Swindon business community. They are in a bubble and this campaign has been all but invisible outside of that networking community to the average person on the as a great place in which to live, Hundreds of invited business street. work, invest and visit. leaders, and representatives of Don’t get me wrong I’m not Celebrating the area’s hidden various organisations throughout Swindon gathered at the recently gems, symbols of change and against the goals of what revamped carriageworks to help keynote developments, the Switch on to Swindon is trying to launch the next phase of Switch On campaign plays an important role achieve. The council and business in enhancing Swindon’s reputation. led campaign wants to attract to Swindon.

Switch On to Swindon was Guests were treated to an companies to invest in the town inspirational video, put together launched to great fanfare in January last year with a glittering by extolling the virtues of what

by Create studios, outlining the a nice place it is to live for their event, at the Audi showroom in key objectives of the campaign.

And representatives from Place the Delta business park, attended workforce.

Us Swindon residents already Marketing outlined the priorities of by more than 400 invited representatives drawn from the Switch On to Swindon. know what a great place it is. town's business community and local We know that it has a relatively The campaign is designed to underline the strengths of the town organisations. low crime rate, cheap housing, has great transport links and has amazing parks and facilities.

Landmark stage for carriage works Speeches were made and Ambitious plans to breathe new planning, heritage and building after a marketing talk it was life into part of Swindon’s historic control to retain the existing revealed that the audience the railway works have reached a features of the building. A land campaign wanted to reach was landmark stage. swap deal between Network Rail ‘the aspiring homemaker’.

Swindon Borough Council is and the council was completed They then revealed that they investing £2m in Phase One of the last month which means the entire would be meeting with an project to refurbish the grade II carriage works and neighbouring agency to discuss the ‘channels’ listed buildings which were part of Bristol Street car park are now Brunel’s Great Western Works. owned by the council, paving the to get this message out there.

Unit 3, which opened its doors this way for further regeneration.

And it was all national or month, will operate as a business The next phase of the project regional newspapers, radio and incubation hub and is being will see the remainder of the West television that were all out of marketed as Workshed under the Shed, Units 7, 9 and 11, being Swindon. management of The Enterprise redeveloped to create modern Fair enough really, they should Network. work spaces within a ‘campus’ be promoting this message It will offer flexible, modern office environment. Work is likely to start outside of Swindon’s borders but space with around 80 work spaces at the end of the year, subject to they should also be promoting available. planning approval. The University Work to refurbish Unit 5, which of Wales Trinity Saint David this message internally. Where will complete phase one of the announced plans at the end of was the Swindon Advertiser, redevelopment, is already well last year to set up a new Cultural Swindon 105.5, and dare I say underway and will provide an Heritage Institute at the Carriage it, Swindon Link? additional 100 work spaces.

Works based in Unit 11 and the And this is where I believe the Extensive work has taken place first courses are anticipated to start campaign has managed to add with a variety of experts in from September next year.

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two and two together to make five. They said themselves that if these ‘homemakers’ – a demographic aged 28 to 35 moved here they would be the future business leaders starting up their own companies within Swindon and driving our economy. But what about the thousands of ‘aspirational homemakers’ who already live in the town, who moved here because of house prices and transport links? These are the people who use the town as a dormitory who work and spend elsewhere. Why can’t someone from this existing pool of ‘aspiring homemakers’ be the ones driving our economy?

And this is where I believe the campaign is missing a trick. It needs to market to the people of Swindon themselves as well as the people outside of the town. Why can’t it do both?

Lots of money is being spent here and the last thing that should happen is that the town itself is forgotten in a marketing fog. I've seen other campaigns in other towns and cities and each one makes every effort to get the people of the town outside of the business bubble themselves involved, instilling pride and a buzz about the place.

And it’s not just business that should be promoted. They need to champion all the good that is going on in Swindon.

All the different groups and volunteers that make the town what it is from its culture to its voluntary organisations. All the parks, heritage and the fantastic facilities. The stuff that make the town what it is.

The stuff we should be proud of. That would make these ‘aspirational homemakers’ take the town to their hearts. The stuff that would make them want to make Swindon their home.

The Politics Page

South Swindon MP Robert Buckland (Con) The latest figures released by Mencap show that there are 1.4 million people here in the UK with a learning difficulty.

Historically, there has always been a significant gap between the proportion of disabled people in work compared with non-disabled people, yet people with disabilities make great workers.

Evidence suggests that employees with a learning disability stay with one employer for a longer time and take less time off work.

Everybody should have the chance to succeed in their chosen career and having a disability should not prevent that, so I have joined forces with the Building Bridges programme to encourage more local employers to recruit people with learning difficulties. Here in Swindon and Wiltshire, there are a wealth of people with valuable skills, abilities and

Swindon Borough Council Leader Cllr David Renard (Con) Now we have started the new municipal term, my colleagues and I are now gearing up for another big year for the town.

We have become used to grappling with the financial pressures that continually envelope the council and these will again be at the forefront of our work while we continue to provide the services for the residents of Swindon.

Yet our work will not stop there.

Delivery will be a key theme for the council over the next 12 months where significant progress will be made on a number of projects.

We got off to the perfect start with the revamped Junction 16 of the M4 being completed on time, which will add muchneeded capacity in the years to come.

Our plans to refurbish the Carriage Works, thanks to £2m of council investment, are progressing well while we are continuing to work up plans to breathe new life into the town centre Kimmerfields site.

The town centre skyline could also receive a major makeover in the not too distant future and, of course, we have high hopes for the North Star Village, which is on track to come before the planning committee in the next few months.

Many of these projects form part of the council’s pledges and, after successfully delivering on a number of these promises, we will see further progress from building more affordable homes and schools to the development of the new district centre at Wichelstowe.

Some of these larger projects will become landmarks for the town and will create a lasting legacy that we can all be proud of.

potential who are being overlooked because employers are focusing on the barriers they face rather than the skills and attributes they could bring to the workplace.

I am holding an Employment Engagement Event along with Building Bridges on Friday, 29th June from 10.00am – 12noon.

The event will be held in the Sir Daniel Gooch Theatre at STEAM

North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson (Con) Across the world there are currently 55 elephants killed each day.

20,000 are being slaughtered every year for their tusks. This illegal wildlife trade has become a transnational organised enterprise, estimated to be worth up to £17 billion a year.

I have been an active part of the campaign to ban the trade of ivory, in order to tackle poaching and protect elephants for future generations.

In Parliament I have led debates on this subject and have worked closely with the International Fund for Animal Welfare in order to bring about a ban which would tackle this abhorrent and cruel trade.

I am therefore delighted that Michael Gove, the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, has announced that the Government will introduce one of the world’s toughest bans on ivory sales, demonstrating the UK’s global leadership in the international fight to protect elephants.

This comes on top of a wave of animal welfare announcements, including mandatory CCTV in slaughterhouses, increasing the prison sentence for animal cruelty, a consultation to ban live animal exports and banning pesticides which were harmful to bees.

We also want to go further, which is why I continue to work hard on the campaign to ban the awful practise of puppy farming, as well as a complete ban on Fois Gras – a cruel procedure which the EU currently doesn’t allow us to outlaw.

The UK is proudly at the forefront on animal welfare and we are leading the way globally in protecting all creatures great and small.

museum. Pluss, a Social Enterprise that supports thousands of people with disabilities each year to find work and achieve a career will also be at the event, along with Disability Experts, a local community interest company who support people with disabilities and long-term health conditions to live as independently as possible.

If you are a local employer, large or small and you would like to attend this event or find out more about Building Bridges, please get in touch at robert. buckland.mp@parliament.uk

Cllr Jim Grant, Swindon Labour Group Leader Recent news regarding the council’s support to Swindon’s children has brought back into light the need for children’s centres to be reintroduced in the town.

Children’s centres were introduced in the late 1990s to give help and advice to young families on child and family health, parenting and early years support to young children.

In 2014 Tory-run Swindon council closed all of the town’s children’s centres, leaving Swindon as the only town or city in the country without a children’s centre.

Recently we have begun to understand the real life effects of these children’s centre closures. The number of children judged to be at risk of neglect has increased by 75% in Swindon, more children have come into the care of the local authority and Swindon has the highest childhood obesity levels in the South-West.

Now Ofsted has found that some of Swindon’s children have been left at risk of harm as a result of deficiencies in the way the council’s services to children and young families are run.

No council responsibility is more important than protecting our town’s young people. To do this we need professional staff in our communities supporting young families.

Sadly we have a Conservative administration on the council which does not recognise this and has left our town’s children at risk. I would urge Swindon’s Conservative councillors to put aside political dogma and do what is right for our town’s vulnerable children by reintroducing children’s centres. swindonlink.com n July 2018

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From The Archives

By Roger Ogle & Richard Wintle

Link photographer Richard Wintle took these pictures of Swindon's historic railway village - which was originally built to house workers employed by the Great Western Railway. He recalls: "These pictures were taken at some time during the 1970s when the railway village was being rennovated."

Is it time to rediscover the optimism that Swindon had 20 years ago?

By founder of the Link Magazine Roger Ogle In July 1998, The Link reported on proposals to build more than 30,000 houses across the town and in North Wiltshire.

In 2018 house building is well underway, but has Swindon’s community and cultural development moved forward?

In that July edition we asked education development worker Bruce Clarke to comment on ‘The Hungry Spirit,’ a new book by business guru Charles Handy who wrote: ‘Swindon is not a place to lift the heart, at first sight it has no focus, no cathedral, no university, no beauty.’

From that less than flattering introduction Handy expressed high regard for the town’s capacity for economic regeneration, successful race relations, the diverse voluntary sector and the churches and schools which take on a wider civic function.

Bruce encouraged town leaders to take a broader look at what it takes to make a city. He asked: ‘Have you noticed how most of the critics of Swindon seem to be local people rather than those who 28

swindonlink.com n July 2018

of the town as a place with a successful economy and a strong sense of community is still true today.

"Swindon plays a key role in the economy of the country, it has a diverse workforce of Brits, Brazilians, Eastern Europeans and Asians working double shifts to supply key services and industry. Yet I feel as a town we are not as aspirational as we once were, and I have a sense that the cultural activities we once May 1998: Bruce Clarke, rear left, with the Mayors of enjoyed are falling away.

"Yet I continue to be proud Swindon and Ocotal of Swindon and our collective have moved into the town?

Reflecting on what has achievements.

Like Charles Handy I’m an happened over the last 20 Twenty years ago we were outsider who believes that years, Bruce says: "In 1998 a new unitary authority, there Swindon is a very special the Mayor of Ocotal, a poor was a debate about city place; in some unique ways it is and vulnerable community in status and our community already a city.

Nicaragua - our twin town organisations were varied and ‘How would it be if our - arrived to take part in a strong.

Whilst those aspirations leaders began an exercise to Swindon festival; we had may have lessened, Handy's help our various communities lots of festivals to celebrate conclusion still has a point. to construct a truly compelling in those days. The town was He wrote, 'In ways mundane vision, not just slogans or optimistic and was collectively and intriguing, the people modern high rise offices regaining a sense of identity. of Swindon are learning to and big factories, or outlet "Now, Ocotal is stronger and live with the hectic forces of villages? Let us celebrate small more sustainable, a place modern life.' businesses and communities, our where its citizens take pride "Our 'modern life' is a athletes, musicians, our leading in their town's achievements. decade of austerity. Now, projects and initiatives. So By contrast I think Swindon's more than ever, is the time to how about someone asks the optimism has dulled and its rediscover the optimism we had question: How would people pride somewhat diminished. twenty years ago." like to see our city grow?’

"Charles Handy's description

Swindon Life

Celebrating town living

Flying into action: this summer's Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford One of the most spectacular air shows returns this month to RAF Fairford.

From 13 July to 15 July spectators can join the RAF in commemorating the achievements of the RAF which includes more than five hours of flying displays.

The Royal International Air Tattoo is one of the world’s largest military air shows and will be staging a special international celebration of the Royal Air Force’s centenary with a range of exciting

flypasts and aerial formations featuring current and historic RAF aircraft. More than 30 air arms from around the globe will be taking part from as far afield as Canada, Australia, Oman, Pakistan and Ukraine.

Highlights include displays by the MiG-21, F-35A, Typhoon, CV-22B Osprey, AMD Mirage 2000D, Rafale and Chinook and, of course, the Red Arrows.

Plenty of family entertainment on the ground too including the critically-acclaimed Techno Zone and Vintage Village.

For details, visit www.airtattoo.com swindonlink.com n July 2018

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On Two Wheels

by Rod Derry of Swindon Cycle Campaign

There have been a few reports in the media, both national and local, about the rising cost of diesel and petrol. Coupled with a report today that Swindon has one of the highest health costs attributed to air quality in the country, surely now is the perfect time for everyone to seriously look at how much they use their cars and what journeys they could walk, take

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the bus or, you’ve guessed it, cycle?

Across Swindon, petrol and diesel is hitting £1.30 per litre.

If your car does 35mpg in town (and let’s face it, in rush hour it’s going to be doing a lot less than that) that’s nearly 17p per mile. Plus you’ve then got to pay to park it when you get to your destination.

It is estimated that around 1 in 4 car journeys are under 2 miles. That is a perfectly cyclable distance for anyone, no matter what level of fitness

someone has today. It is also easy to walk that distance.

When you think that is a nationwide statistic then it must be a lot worse in many areas of the country, including Swindon.

Coupled with the health benefits that walking and cycling have for the individual and in light of the recent reports about childhood obesity and type 2 diabetes in adults, surely the iron is hot and it’s time to strike? Now is the perfect time to get your

bike out for those shorter journeys. You’ll save money, be helping the local environment and getting fit & healthy. There really is nothing to lose by switching away from your car for short journeys.

Swindon Cycle Campaign is currently working with the council on a cycle route audit.

If you experience any areas or routes in Swindon where you think routes could be better, please let us know on our Facebook page and we will include these in the review.

Swindon Spotlight

YOUR GUIDE TO THE MONTH AHEAD In the community

Book now...

GRIFF RHYS JONES - WHERE WAS I?

Comedian, writer, TV presenter and actor Griff Rhys Jones will be performing at Swindon's Wyvern Theatre this month, Wednesday 11 July.

Join the star of Not the Nine o’Clock News, Smith & Jones and Three Men In a Boat for a hilarious evening of comedy - observations, anecdotes, reminiscences and outright lies – from forty years of travelling down rivers and up mountains, into Africa, out of India, and across the arid wastes of the BBC. Accompanied by slide shows Jones goes back into the wild exploring the ways in which years of travelling have changed his life.

Tickets at £15.00 - for further information visit www. swindontheatres.co.uk

FRED, TED, JACK AND HAROLD

Fred, Ted, Jack & Harold by internationally acclaimed playwright Matt Fox is the darkest of dark comedies, featuring a selection of infamous characters, in a familiar world turned on its head. Taking place at Swindon Arts Centre 6 to 7 July.

Tickets from £13 www.swindontheatres.co.uk

MARK STEEL EVERY LITTLE THING IS GONNA BE ALRIGHT

The Radio 4 presenter will be re-appearing this 26 July due to tickets selling out almost immediately when he toured to the Wyvern Theatre in March.

Prepare for Brexit talks, Trump and quick wit. Tickets at £25 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

LYDIARD OPEN AIR THEATRE

Lydiard Park will be hosting its first open air theatre of the summer, opening with Oscar Wilde's classic The Importance of Being Earnest. Bring picnic baskets, rugs, and sandwiches for an evening of outdoor comedy Friday 20 July.

Parking charges apply.

Tickets at £15 www.swindontheatres.co.uk

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 A charity producton of The Wizard of Oz will be taking place this summer in aid of TWIGS Community Gardens, put on by the Shaw-based group Emerge Youth Project.

Funded by local churches and organisations Emerge is a drama youth group for children with special needs.

The production takes place Saturday 7 July from 4pm to 5pm, and will be celebrating the project's 10th year. l Danny & The Champions of the World with support from Case Hardin + Black Sheep Apprentice will be coming to The Vic on Friday 6 July. Tickets are available from seetickets. com and are selling fast. l The Guild of Wiltshire Artists will be hosting their fine art summer exhibition, Saturday 14 July. The free event will be taking place at St. Peter's Church, Marlborough, from 10am to 4.30pm. For further information visit www.guildofwiltshireartists.com l Car boot and charity shop shoppers can peruse through Savernake Street Social Hall's pop up jumble sale Friday 22 July.

The sale is fundraising for Eastcott Community Organisation, the group of volunteers and registered charity that manage Savernake Street Social Hall. There will be clothes, bric-a-brac, toys and games, plus lots of craft items and fabric to buy.

For further information please contact eastcottcommunity@ yahoo.co.uk swindonlink.com n July 2018

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HIGHWORTH WARNEFORD SCHOOL

Shrivenham Road, Highworth, SN6 7BZ (01793) 762426

An Academy Putting Excellence First

ÂŁ799

Highworth Warneford is an excellent secondary school providing an outstanding learning environment which allows pupils to thrive and develop their academic, personal and social skills.

OPEN EVENING Thursday 27th September 2018

This is a chance to view the school’s facilities followed by a presentation by our Headteacher. There will also be plenty of opportunities to talk to staff, students and governors. Visitors can expect to see sample lessons, exhibitions, activities and performances.

Programme: 5.30-7.00pm Tour of School, 7.00-7.30pm Presentation by Mr Steele in the Main Hall.

OPEN MORNINGS Monday 8th to Wednesday 10th October 2018 Prospective students and their parents are also warmly invited to attend our popular Open Mornings so that you can see for yourself the high quality of provision and outstanding behaviour during a normal school day. Student guides will be on hand to show you around the school and will be happy to answer any questions.

Daytime tours start at 9.10am and 10.10am and last around 1 hour.

Senior staff will also be available.

To book your visit please contact our Admissions Officer, Mrs Lewis on (01793) 767083 or email: llewis@warnefordschool.org www.warnefordschool.org admin@warnefordschool.org

REVIEW: The Wild Duck

By Ben Fitzgerald ben@swindonlink.com

The Wild Duck Inn is tucked away in the leafy lanes of Ewen in the Cotswolds - all grey slates, slanted doorways and ancient oak beams.

Ducking our way into the dimly lit interior our party of three was shown to a table where we were offered water and bread without any sense that we were being a colossal inconvenience - this was an excellent sign.

The lunchtime menu seemed to focus on traditional British grub, but with a sideways slant - for example Duck Shepherd’s Pie. We ordered Scotch egg, sausage roll and croquettes for starters.

Now I appreciate a Scotch

egg as much as the next punter - but this thing had been reinvented from the ground up.

No orange breadcrumbs, grey ‘meat’ and rubbery egg here..

Making the first incision, runny yolk oozed out all over the place - I think I actually said ‘Wow!’ - I don't normally talk to my food, it just happened.

The sausage roll also stretched the definition of the genre - with a thin crust of pasty wrapped around an amazing looking sausage the girth of a bottle of wine; and as for the croquetes they were a gloopy intense experience of cheesy pleasure, and there is no finer form of pleasure than that. This was rapidly followed by the mains - I went

for Chalk Stream trout with fennel, Jersey Royals and salsa verde. The others went for Pan fried calves liver with mashed potato, streaky bacon, sage and onion; and duck shepherds pie with spring greens and root vegetables.

The trout was stunning, I don’t know if the fact that it had been hauled out of a chalk stream had any bearing on this or the fact that it had been expertly seared and boned so that the skin was crunchy and delicious.

The faintly aniseed of the fennel and Jersey Royals shook hands with the salsa verde and the whole lot got on like a house on fire.

As for the liver, my dining companion enthused: “Usually

you get liver chopped, but this was the whole thing, cooked to perfection. It was a ‘proper bit of meat’ really tender and full of flavour, it was just a good solid piece of meat which I loved.”

And as for the duck shepherd’s pie?: “It was lovely and rich. It sounded stranger than it was. But it was really nice. The duck was tender and I would have it again, very homely and comforting.

It was exactly what I would want on a menu in a British Pub. Completely filling and flavoursome.

Address: Drakes Island, Cirencester GL7 6BY Tel: 01285 770310 www.theluckyonion.com/ property/the-wild-duck-inn

The power of poetry to transform our experience of 'normal' life added nothing to explaining our angst. My granddaughter breezed through as if it was a My granddaughter flew from bus ride. It looks like she’ll be a Dublin to Bristol recently on her regular visitor on her own from own, unaccompanied, knowing now on. nobody on board.

I tell this story because that She’s twelve. It was a coming- one trip opened up a whole of-age challenge and it didn’t vista for me, uplifting the confound her in the slightest. normal in an exciting way.

I can’t say the same for the We went to Hay-on-Wye to rest of us. hear Chelsea Clinton speak My wife and I, and her about her new book. We parents, pretended we were listened to poetry. ready for this, that it was We went hunting in the something we would’ve done at second-hand bookshops and the same age given the chance, filled the car boot. We went and a lot of other blather that to Avebury on another day Poetry column by Poetry Swindon’s Maurice Spillane

and discussed history. We went shopping and brought back stories that strangers shared.

Somehow it felt special as if we were living, as the poet Brendan Kennelly wrote: We are living In ceiling, floor and windows, We are given to where we have been.

This white door will always open On what our hands have touched, Our eyes have seen.

I’ll harvest poems from my

notes of the few days. I look forward to reading them at The Castle pub on Monday 25 June.

That will be the start of a regular stint for Poetry Swindon in a new Open Mic format.

Please do come and join us.

• Open Mic – last Monday of the month 7:30 Castle Pub, Prospect Place, Old Town • Swindon Poetry events – www.richardjefferies.org/ activities • Beehive Pub – Tuesday 10 July, 7pm bee-hive.co.uk swindonlink.com n July 2018

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Swindon Lives IN CONVERSATION WITH: Rosa Matheson

By Claire Dukes claire@swindonlink.com

Thanks to the efforts of a Swindon-based charity, founded and run by Rosa Matheson, a rural village in Nepal has access to sanitary products and will soon provide a school with its first ever female-only bathrooms.

Access to sanitary products seems like a basic purchase in the western world, but in countries like Nepal it's a brand new luxury.

What started as trips out to Nepal with her husband Dr Ian Matheson to provide health care to Nepalese people, turned into a mission to better the lives and health care of Nepali women and girls.

For the last 10 years Rosa Matheson has been visiting a rural village in Nepal providing sanitary products to the women and young girls living there through the charity Freedom Kit Bags.

Up until Rosa's interaction with the women in the village periods were believed to be a curse - they would be put into goat houses, or made to live in special 'hides', during their time of the month. The women and young girls had no idea that this is something every woman across the world goes through.

One girl from the village was 15 when she got her first period. She was put outside, as a normal process, and fed only rice and salt. She was found unconscious after a few days because of the severe cold but also because she bled too much. At this point I wasn't sure who was tearing up more, myself or Rosa.

"They're told they're cursed," Rosa explained 34

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"and dehumanised. When I tell them I bleed, and that women in England bleed, they're shocked. The women have found that the bags are working to have a positive effect."

Rosa has since been spending her time in Nepal to educate the men and women about menstruation - up until this point the women had no access to sanitary products, and didn't know what they were or used for. The bags contain panties pad holders, day pads, night pads, strings and pegs, a wet bag, and soap which are given to the women in a waterproof bag.

The bags cost ÂŁ25 and the products provide women with two years of protection.

Rosa said: "Everything is pretty and eco-friendly made in 100% cotton. I think this is now the sixth model we've made and I've worn every one of them to test them!"

Rosa explained that during menstruation women and girls are not allowed to touch the men in the village, can't eat with other people, and girls can't attend school. One of the benefits behind these bags is that nobody knows they are on their period which stops them being shamed and gives them a sense of freedom.

"The girls and women are made to be ashamed and are ostracised over something they have no control over. When I speak to them now they've found there's such a difference in their lives - it's accepted now in the whole village."

Without access to the Freedom Kit Bags women become vulnerable to vaginal and bacterial infections, some which can lead to incredibly poor health which can

Rosa in Nepal distributing kig bags sometimes result in death.

Since it's introduction Rosa has become a soughtafter woman. On one of the last visits women from the surrounding villages of Chyamtang, and Chepuwa, Chhumsur, Ridek and Lingam came to meet her in the hopes of receiving their very own kit bag.

Marching forward menstruation is now talked about in schools with both boys and girls.

"With the boys we explain they get erections they can't control - when they have wet dreams do they get put outside of the house? No. They're learning that it's [menstruation] natural and not a bad thing."

Since the earthquake in 2015 the need for Freedom Kit Bags has become paramount. The money donated to Freedom Kit Bags goes towards providing a bag to every Nepali woman and girl, resources to support ambassadors who teach in schools, and travel to the villages - this can take up to five hours. The travel also

allows the group to take medical supplies to the surrounding villages which have been most affected by the aftermath from the earthquake.

Money has also been set aside which has enabled Rosa to start a revolutionary project in one school in Nepal.

For the first time ever the school will receive it's first female-only toilet block. Each of the three toilets has been specifically fitted with a lock - which girls can reach - and a shelf to place the kit bags on. Considering the school has 250 pupils, this may not seem progressive, but because of the efforts from Freedom Kit Bags, their partners and ambassadors, the people in Nepal are slowly being liberated.

Rosa added: "We couldn't do it without the people we work with in Nepal - so honest, caring and committed."

This year’s Shuffle has its best line-up yet

@swindonshuffle

Swindon Shuffle 2018 Words by Claire Dukes

Swindon Shuffle returns this month for another four-day takeover of local talent.

From Thursday July 11 to Sunday July 15 bands and solo artists will be taking over Swindon’s music venues and watering holes. As per usual the line-up is a glorious combination of familiar faces and up and coming artists and it’s completely free to attend. This year Swindon Shuffle will be supporting

Swindon Mind - a local mental health charity who do incredible work to support people battling mental health issues. This chosen charity in particular also looks to raise awareness of mental health issues within the music industry - donation buckets will be available at every venue.

Each year Swindon Shuffle has been growing in size and bringing more and more variety to the stages across

town - over four days there will be over 40 artists playing across five venues.

I am incredibly excited for this year’s Shuffle because the line-up is looking like it’s best yet. Granted this will be my first time attending the Shuffle, but despite briefly migrating I’ve always kept my eye on it. This year I am delighted to see some acts on the list of which I’ve seen growing over the last

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year or two which I highly recommend - shout out to The Harlers, Flour Babies, Hip Route, Grasslands, EmilyJane Sheppard and SexJazz.

That being said I am more than curious to see some acts new on my radar including SN Dubstation, Tamsin Quin, Slagerji, True Strays, The Oxymora, and ‘special guests’.

For the full line-up visit www.swindonshuffle.co.uk

The venues: The Victoria, The Tuppenny, The Castle, The Beehive, and Baila 7

1 SN Dustation - July 13,

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The Castle Eight-piece ska and reggae band - these guys come highly rated. I’m thinking Hypnotic Brass Ensemble meets The Specials.

3 True Strays - July 15,

Follow Swindon Shuffle on Facebook and Twitter SexJazz - July 14, The Beehive An infectious fusion of psychedelia and punk music.

They're always high energy, and it's always a great show.

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Emily-Jane Sheppard July 15, The Tuppenny Her spunky and delightful personality merges perfectly with her gentle and compelling vocals. A lovely listen.

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2 Flour Babies - July 12,

The Castle Shoegazing synths with raw guitar riffs - Flour Babies are a post-punk sensation with dejecting lyrics.

4 The Oxymora - July

The Beehive One of Swindon's music mustsees - “...rapidly became one of my favourite bands to see live last year”.

13, The Victoria New music alert: this will be the band’s first live performance, bringing fresh music onto the grunge scene.

The Harlers - July 13, The Victoria They get more polished with every show - a band that’s very much on their way. You’d be a fool to miss a free set.

8 Tamsin Quin - July

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12, The Tuppenny Tamsin is the antidote to riotous sweaty bands - a sombre and intimate show of harmonious folk and blues. swindonlink.com n July 2018

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Your guide to family fun this summer in Swindon Swindon has so many facilities and activities to offer families over the summer holidays - the perfect combination of family fun and healthy living

Swindon Link Centre

Better GLL has invested millions in Swindon's Link Centre - since 2014 the leisure centre boasts a fully kitted gymnasium, coffee corner, Extreme Trampoline Park, ice skating, and swimming facilities including Swindon's Oasis.

This summer the Link Centre is offering a variety of summer deals, competitions, and family vouchers on a range of activities via their social media which include a joint ticket for families, parent toddler sessions, and birthday packages for exclusve deals on all the activities.

The Link Centre is determined to provide a fun social day out for all the family to enjoy.

How to get your deals...

@linkcentreswindon

The Link Centre will be running exclusive deals throughout the whole of the summer holidays via their social media pages.

Offers include a free month of ice skating, summer happy hours at the Extreme Trampoline Park, and a whole day of swimming at the Oasis.

@Better_UK

Lotmead Farm

Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens There is always something going on at Cotswold Wildlife Park.

Park tours, fresh air, and animal discoveries await families over the summer holidays.

Last month the park welcomed the arrival of three Wolverine triplets. After burrowing away the trio are now out and about to greet visitors.

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swindonlink.com n July 2018

Don't miss Rhino month at Cotswold from 1 August to 31 August

www.cotswoldwildlifepark.co.uk

www.lotmead.co.uk

Lotmead Farm is open again for the 2018 season. As well as their famous strawberries, this year Lotmead will be offering raspberries, blackcurrants, gooseberries, sweetcorn, dwarf beans, French beans, runner beans, potatoes and more.

With a play area filled with fun slides, swings, a maze, zip wire and brand new wooden adventure frame, a day at Lotmead will keep everyone busy. There’s also a nature walk, dairy parlour and small animal enclosure. Animals

include baby pygmy goats who were born at Lotmead in June, new Kunekune piglets, as well as the familiar faces of Tango the Shetland pony, Denzil the donkey, and Nigel, Kevin and Bertie the alpacas.

The farm shop has a range of local produce, including local milk from Lotmead and cream from Berkeley Farm Dairy in Wroughton, Entry to the play area, small animals, nature walk and dairy parlour is just ÂŁ1.50 per person. Visit the website for further details and events.

Kia Stonic: Very good but nothing new

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rossover is a term I have come to dislike.

Manufacturers like to use the term ‘compact SUV’ but it’s really just a case of marketing hype over reality.

All it suggests to me is a tall hatchback and the Stonic seems to me to be the epitome of this class of which there are many available.

About The Stonic It’s attractive with nice, crisp styling that follows the company design ethos. There are three engines on offer; a 1.6L 108bhp diesel, a rather pointless 1.4L 98bhp petrol and the engine of choice, as tested here; a responsive if rather vocal 1.0L threecylinder that offers a brisk 118bhp.

In this car it is possible to reach 62mph in just under ten seconds, provided the driver keeps the diminutive engine revving, so it’s no slouch.

Driving in this light-hearted manner encouraged by the responsive engine means that the official combined fuel consumption of 56.5mpg remains but a distance number.

We saw the high 30s. Driving more sedately would no doubt improve this.

The Stonic can be driven confidently. That said, being a crossover, the car inevitably suffers from a higher centre of gravity which means it doesn’t match up to a hatchback when it comes to driving pleasure.

I guess that is not why people buy these cars though.

They are perceived as

being perhaps more family orientated; more rugged. The suggestion of SUV qualities makes it appeal to the family buyer. With this car this is endorsed by the very good sized boot which also benefits from a false floor, offering additional, more secure, storage.

On The Inside The front seats have ample space and headroom and have sufficient adjustment to cater for most size of driver. The dashboard is neat and uncluttered with a clear, generous touchscreen and, on the tested car, basic

air-conditioning. Infotainment and safety technology is all commendably bang up to date and well specified.

The cloth on the seats feels hard-wearing and the trim levels are good with ample extra in-cabin storage. Tall back seat passengers won’t fare so well – this isn’t by any means a big car and the provision of a commodious boot detracts from leg-room.

Conclusion The Stonic certainly looks attractive and has kerb appeal above and beyond some of the more homely opposition.

The 1.0L 3-pot engine – the only one really worth considering – is lively and responsive. If this type of family transport appeals then the Kia Stonic, should be at or near the top of your list.

Geoff Maxted DriveWrite.co.uk

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Advertising Feature

Crafters and kids will love what's on offer at Studley Grange For all ages and all interests, there is something fun for everyone at Studley Grange Craft Village; especially if you are a ‘crafter’ and love to create.

Knitting and crocheting are growing in popularity and whether you’re already an expert or struggling to learn we’ve got you covered at Studley Grange Craft Village with classes and workshops for all ages and levels. Perhaps it’s jewellery making you’ve always wanted to try or even quilting; we’ve got something for you too with regular classes and workshops.

And now you can try your hand at something new at Sparkle Dreams; from mixed media to card making to scrap booking, there’s lots coming up in the next few months.

With drop in sessions and the possibility of one-to-one tuition there’s the chance for everyone to learn a new skill or hobby.

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swindonlink.com n July 2018

Throughout the holidays there will also be lots of children’s activities and drop in sessions, as well as lots of new crafting materials and equipment for your new found passion.

Your little ones will also love an adventure at Soft Play, and with longer opening hours there’s now even more time to fill with fun packed play!

Not only that but Soft Play is now available for after school parties - so why not book something special for your little one’s birthday this year.

Remember to use the Butterfly World carpark when visiting us, this will ensure you will always be able to access Butterfly World, the Craft Village and Soft Play through our main entrance, even when our tenants, Wyevale Garden Centre are closed.

To find out more or to book a party package visit www. studleygrange.co.uk or call us on 01793 852400

SERVICE SECTOR

GARDENING AND SERVICES GARDENING ANDLANDSCAPING LANDSCAPING SERVICES

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

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

01793 976084 07967 594707 david.hawkins100@hotmail.co.uk

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

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SERVICE SECTOR

ACCOUNTANCY, BOOKKEEPING, GARDENING AERIALS, BATHROOM & KITCHEN FITTING, BUILDING SERVICES, CLEANING, COMPUTER SUPPORT AND LANDSCAPING SERVICES

CJD

ACCOUNTANCY LTD

Craig Dell FCCA

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

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

Tel: 01793 700637 or 07963 637748 www.bookkeepingswindon.co.uk

MILESTONE

Chris Payne

Building Services

aerials & satellite systems

O N

Phone: 07502 442726 or 01793 734379

VA T

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

Bathroom & Kitchen Fitting

Reliable Local Company Established 2003 FULL Installation and Design of Bathrooms and Kitchens including: • Tiling & Plastering • Painting • Plumbing • Flooring • Electrics & Gas

All building work undertaken

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

All work guaranteed, FREE quote and advice

All Building Works Undertaken No job too small • Free estimates

Mob: 07956 301957 Tel: 01793 348597

Contact: Dean Scanlon Telephone: 01793 422032 Mobile: 077 8968 1536

Building/Groundworks & Hard Landscaping Extensions, Garage & Loft Conversions Driveways & Patios

Contact us for a quote:

01793 877677 www.enlan.co.uk

www.haynesconstruction.org.uk

ACP

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

• Alterations/Renovations • New Builds and Barn Conversions 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

Abacus Cleaning Services Carpets, Rugs and Fabric Upholstery

Hard Floors Cleaned & Sealed Carpet & Upholstery Protection Treatments Insecticide & Anti-Static Treatments Spot & Stain Removal Fully Insured, NCCA member

Independently owned & operated To arrange for a free estimate call

01793 421802 www.abacuscleaningservices.co.uk

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Home Improvements & Building Services

Extension & Garage Conversion Specialists

MOORES SERVICES Exterior Cleaning

DRIVEWAYS, PATIOS FASCIAS, CONSERVATORIES

also

HEDGE CUTTING, GRASS CUTTING, WEED CONTROL

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

• • • • • • • •

General building maintenance Garage conversions Bathrooms and Kitchens Carpentry • Wall & floor tiling Plastering/Plaster boarding/Coving UPVC doors, windows & repairs Fascias, soffits, guttering Patios and fencing Insurance work undertaken For a prompt professional service contact Andy: 07969 350160 / 01793 430109 www.acphomeimprovements.co.uk

Computer problems?

Let us help Est 2002

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 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

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

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

SERVICE SECTOR

DECORATING, DOMESTIC APPLIANCE REPAIRS, DOUBLE GLAZING REPAIRS, ELECTRICAL

DECORATOR 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

DECORATOR INSIDE AND OUT

www.trevorwyse.com

01793 321981 07775 840236

Call Andy: 01793 729354 or 07900 835116

or

andysweeney1@virginmedia.com

ID

eco &D

ter

EP

ain

REDUCTIONS FOR OAPs

• 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

rat

INTERIOR & EXTERIOR

PR

For free quotation call Paul on

Call 07976 885203 or 01793 721455

FREE ESTIMATES

• High class painting and decorating •30 years experience •Competitive rates •Interior & exterior •References available •Reliable friendly service, all work undertaken

DECORATING & CARPENTRY

DECORATOR

Call 01793 334823 or 07788 572043

Basics

01793 525807 www.basicsswindon.com • basics@xln.co.uk 1 Sherborne Place, The Drive, Nythe, Swindon SN3 3PE

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

upvc-swindon@hotmail.co.uk

Certified Electrician

Replacement Fuse Boards

Reliable Local Company

Kitchen & Bathroom Electrics

NICEIC Domestic Installers (D606759)

• 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

Home Networking Garage Power Installations Home Extensions Wired And more, please ask!

Fully insured to £2m

Call Dan: 07791 791513 Email: dan@boylectrical.co.uk Visit: www.boylectrical.co.uk

swindonlink.com n July 2018

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SERVICE SECTOR

CARPENTRY, CLEANING, COMPUTER SUPPORT, ELECTRICAL,HOME GARAGE DOORS ELECTRICAL, FENCING & CARPENTRY, GARAGE DOORS, GARDEN BUILDINGS/SHEDS, IMPROVEMENTS

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

M. Newman

Fencing & Carpentry Services • All traditional fencing • Screening and trellis • Garden waste removed • Carpentry

Electrical Automation • Up & Over • Roller • Sectional • Repairs •

No job too small Free quotations given Call Mark: 01793 881336 07526 345636

Unit 8, Central Trading Estate Signal Way, Swindon SN3 1PD

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

marknew1971@gmail.com Services

(Household Maintenance) Handyman

• Carpentry • Garden maintenance • Decorating, Coving • Groundwork • Tiling • Bathroom & Kitchen installation • Fencing & Patios • Power jetting • Building, installing partition walls, loft boarding & repairs Competitive rates, flexible hours, reliable, no job too small For a free no obligation quote call Gary on

Mobile: 07764 511933 or Tel: 01793 879069

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 FOR ALL YOUR PROPERTY MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS • Kitchen/Bathroom Installations • Painting & Decorating • Plumbing • Tiling • Minor Electrical • Carpentry • Garden landscaping/Maintenance • Patios & Decking

Tel: 01793 721677 Mobile 07919415849

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

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MJP Home Creations Creation Born Of Perfection Specialists in kitchens bathrooms and wetrooms Design and installation, plastering, plumbing, electrics, underfloor heating and tiling

Contact Matthew Pollard: 07779 318717 info@mjphomecreations.com See our customer testimonials: www.mjphomecreations.com

SERVICE SECTOR

HOME IMPROVEMENTS, KITCHENS & BATHROOMS, PLANS DRAWN, PLUMBING & GAS SERVICES

A.S.K.

Painting & Decorating Interior & exterior painting and decorating.

20 years serving local people.

Call Andy on 07970 533569 between 8am and 5pm

D.P.S Carpentry

For carpentry work and general building, including fitting kitchens, extensions, garages and general home maintenance.

Call Dave on 07951 058279 between 8am and 5pm

PLANS DRAWN 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

● General carpentryFitted Kitchens Bathrooms & Bedrooms ● Fitted kitchens/bedrooms Tiling & Worktops ● Laminate and solid flooring Laminate Flooring Skirtings & Architraves ● Replacement doors Dados & Coving ● Skirtings/architraves Doors & Decking ● General building maintenance And much more For a FREE no obligation quote call now on 07874 021004 or 01793 701797

Semi-retired Plumber SURESTOP SWITCH

installed for hard to get at or seized stop cock

• Leaks & burst pipes • Blocked drains, sinks & toilets • Immersions & hot water cylinders • Tap washers & ball valves • Complete bathrooms refitted • Dishwashers & washing machines plumbed in • Radiators changed

Tel: 01793 324116 Mob: 07788 621772

217129

188262

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07845 90 80 60 or 01793 700 820

www.assured-plumbing.co.uk

RJ PeaRce Plumbing & Heating ltd Over 20 years experience in plumbing & heating work • Central heating • Bathrooms & showers

7 YEAR GUARANTEE on Worcester Bosch Ri Si and Cdi boilers

• Competitive rates • All work guaranteed

Accredited Installer

• No job too small

For further details call Richard on 01793 879156 or 07747 723606

203455

swindonlink.com n July 2018

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SERVICE SECTOR

PLUMBING & GAS SERVICES, REMOVALS, ROOFING, SECURITY, SKIP HIRE

Plumbing

& 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

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

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

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

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24hr Locksmiths & Security Specialists DOMESTIC & COMMERCIAL WORK

Installation & Maintenance of Electronic Security Equipment

✔ Intruder Alarms ✔ CCTV ✔ Access Control www.allsetsecurity.co.uk 44

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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

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

SERVICE SECTOR

TILING, TOOL HIRE, WARDROBES, WASTE REMOVAL

GILES BROS

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

TEL: 01793 330975 MOB: 07919 255673 Email: leon.jack@hotmail.co.uk

Kitchens, Bathrooms and Conservatories

FLOOR & WALL TILING SPECIALISTS Free Quotes Call Lee on 0771 8102 921 Call Mike on 0778 8444 084 or 01793 520526 Find us on Facebook

Affordable luxury fitted wardrobes, measured, manufactured and fitted from only £495 Made to measure, floor to ceiling, a wide range of traditional and modern designs in various finishes For a free brochure and no obligation quote Call 01793 827188 www.mryprojects.co.uk

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