North West Swindon Link May 2018

LINK No 432 May 2018

Swindon

Delivered door to door to 50,000 households across Swindon with Est. overall readership of 125,000

Your Community Magazine

The Service Sector p39

North & West Edition

Swindon Life p27

www.swindonlink.com

Swindon Lives: The inspirational story of Sarah Forbes p33

The Puzzle Page p47

Strongman Lawrence thrills Abbey Park pupils p3 Community: P2-20

Swindon Wide: P21 - 29

Leisure: P30-39

Getting literary in May

Strongman pulls in the crowds with bus stunt

By Group Editor Jamie Hill jamie@swindonlink.com

Swindon is getting a bit bookish this month with the Swindon Festival of Literature.

This year is its 25th anniversary and to celebrate it's managed to pull in some very big names from runner Jo Pavey, AC Grayling, Michael Rosen, Will Self, Harriet Harman, Judy Murray and Camila Batmanghelidjh.

It takes place from Monday 7 May to Saturday 19 May and includes everything from its opening dawn chorus to performance poets.

The Litfest is one of the key events in Swindon's cultural calendar and it showcases that the town has a lot more going for it when it comes to the arts than you get at first glance.

Just a small scratch beneath the surface reveals that the town has a whole cocktail of theatre, music and arts. Having been the editor of cultural magazine The Ocelot for the past 12 years I am definitely in a unique position to attest to the wealth of culture available within the Swindon borough.

Turn to page 46 for the entire festival programme and get to as many of the events as you can.

You will literally love it.

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

By Ben Fitzgerald ben@swindonlink.com

Strongman Laurence Shahlaei demonstrated his pulling power by single handedly hauling a mini-bus full of youngsters in front of their classmates at Abbey Park School in Swindon.

The 26-stone man mountain had been invited to the school by sports teacher Alex Philpot as part of the school’s policy of introducing pupils to inspirational people from all walks of life.

Mr Philpot, who also runs an extra-curricular sports programme for exceptional students explained: “We wanted to invite Mr Shahlaei in to demonstrate to the children that if you are dedicated and work hard, you can achieve amazing things in sport.

"Not only is he going to pull the mini-bus today, but he’s also going to be taking time

out to give an inspirational talk to the children about having a positive mindset and working hard.”

A cheering crowd of youngsters watched as Laurence made short work of hauling the mini-bus across the tarmac surface of their school playground on the hottest recorded April day in 70

years.

Hardly out of breath he punched the air after his feat and said: “It was easy. I’ve pulled light aircraft before, so this was not a huge stretch for me.”

The 35-year-old from Swindon is preparing to fly out to Marbella next week to take part in the annual World’s Strongest Man competition.

As part of his taxing training routine, he explained that he has to consume 6000 calories a day - an average man requires 2,500.

Speaking to the pupils gathered around him after the stunt, the father of one said: “I just want to demonstrate that with hard work, you can achieve your dreams.

"I was once just like you, just some kid going to school, but if you are prepared to put in the effort, you can do what you want to.”

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

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They're off the rail

s!

Skaters, BMX and scooters flock to 4th annual Urban Rider Games Skaters, BMX and scooter riders gathered in Swindon for the 4th annual Urban Rider Games 2018.

Taking place at Swindon's only indoor skate park - ATBSHOP Skate Warehouse, the not for profit event was designed to showcase the talent of followers of the sport.

More than 500 people packed out the venue to watch participants take part in a raft of competitions.

Champion mountainboarder Matt Brind, from action sports entertainment group Nitro Circus, was one of the judges along with pro rider Ben Wilkins.

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School's out for Sports relief Local puppy training school let the dogs out to raise some cash for Sports Relief.

Janet’s Puppy Skool ventured on a mile walk last month with a hoard of canine companions to raise money for Sports Relief.

So far the Puppy Skool, and its furry friends, have raised £160 for the charity. Speaking before the event Janet Garrett said: “We have a wonderful group of people who come to Janet’s Puppy Skool. They are always willing to help me raise money for good causes – this weekend is no exception when we are raising funds for Sports Relief."

Swindon headteachers and staff took on the running challenge for Sports Relief.

A cluster of lycra clad teachers, headteachers and support staff threw themselves into a run for Sports Relief at Westlea

Primary School last month.

The challenge, organised

by Westlea Head Teacher Rose Carberry – to complete a 5k or 10k route around the school grounds – had originally been scheduled for the week before but a flurry

of snow meant that the event had to be put on ice.

However, although somewhat chilly, there were no available weather-based excuses this time to prevent the enthusiastic runners from taking on the challenge.

They were waved off by pupils at the school and were also supported by Radio 1’s Greg James and Professor Greg White who sent a voice message to congratulate the Swindon schools for taking part on such a wide scale.

And they're off: The Mad March Hare, Swindon 2018

By Claire Dukes claire@swindonlink.com

Last month hundreds of runners took off from Lydiard Park Academy, racing to raise funds for Breast Cancer Now. Swindon’s Mayor, Cllr Maureen Penny, launched the race with many participants getting into the spirit by wearing fancy dress.

Starting out in 2008, The Mad March Hare was inspired

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by Irene Hare – a founding member of local walking group Swindon Twin Peaks Power Walking Group. In 2006 Irene passed away from breast cancer.

This year runners, walkers, and canine companions, set out on their 10K and 5K routes circling back to Lydiard Park Academy for the finish line.

Last year alone the event raised over £100,000 for Breast Cancer Now.

Rise to the challenge Swindon Mindful Employer Network is holding a special resilience workshop entitled Rising to the Challenge on Tuesday 22 May for representatives of local employers. The event is being hosted at WRc at Blagrove in Swindon which is a supporter of the network.

Adrian Embling of Mindset Wessex will lead the presentation team and will be joined by special guests Squadron Leader Penny Granycome and Commander Karl Santrian of the Intrinsic Leadership and Behaviours Team, Defence Academy of the United Kingdom based in Shrivenham.

Places for this event are available for representatives of employers in the Swindon and surrounding area only.

For more information about this event contact: smen@ swindonmind.org

Police welcome funds

Wiltshire’s police and crime commissioner Angus Macpherson has welcomed £1.6m extra funding from the government in the wake of the recent nerve agent attack in Salisbury.

He said: “This has been an unprecedented incident for our Force which has meant that significant costs have been incurred because of the scale of the investigation.

“It was important that these additional costs were not of detriment to the residents of Wiltshire."

Improve your balance Exercises to improve balance and prevent falls will feature in the next meeting of the Swindon Osteoporosis Support Group on Friday 11 May at 1.30pm. The meeting will be held in the Central Community Centre, Emlyn Square, Swindon SN1 3QA. Entrance costs £2.50. Contact Ali e-mail swindonosteoporosis@ googlemail.com.

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Revamp of Victorian building almost complete The renovation of 1 and 3 Faringdon Road is reaching its conclusion and will provide eight apartments and two separate commercial units of 1000sqft and 1400sqft.

The buildings were originally built in the 1890s by businessman Alderman W.G. Little to house a haberdashery and millinery business until his death in 1927.

Their renovation is part of the council’s wider ambitions to improve the link between the railway heritage quarter and the town centre.

The premises have been empty for several years and the transformation will provide well designed, spacious urban living in one of Swindon’s most beloved heritage buildings and is the beginning of regeneration in the area.

The close proximity to the town centre and railway heritage quarter aims to transport residents into the Swindon’s past while maintaining a modern tone.

The council investment forms part of other ongoing works in the area including improvements to Wellington St due to start soon and the RICS nominated unit 3 & 5 project at the Carriage Works which continues to progress at pace with tenants due to move in soon.

Cllr Garry Perkins, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, said: “The regeneration of Faringdon Road is an exciting and positive step towards the restoration of Swindon’s town centre.

"Not only will this project

create a charming place for people to live but will help bring life and energy back into the surrounding area. We are making some really good progress with Forward Swindon on regeneration in this area of the town centre and at this site it was really important we took the time to renovate these buildings carefully to keep the heritage, whilst at the same time improving them for modern day use.”

Excalibur saddle up for charity ride around the world

By Claire Dukes claire@swindonlink.com

Staff at Excalibur have hopped in their bikes to cycle around the world in 80 days for charity.

In a bid to pledge £1 per mile, and inspired by the around the world in 80 days journey, the Excalibur team have been virtually cycling various routes across the UK including Portsmouth to Swindon

and the same route cycled by Mark Beaumont in 2017.

Setting off 23 March, cycling on the road and in the Excalibur office, the company are set to cycle 18,000 miles and have so far completed over 4,000 miles.

The money raised will be distributed amongst various charities, which will be named at a later date.

For further information visit www.excaliburcomms.co.uk

Oliver Tomkins Primary set to double nursery provision

By Ben Fitzgerald ben@swindonlink.com

Oliver Tomkins Primary School is doubling its nursery provision from September.

An existing building, at the Toothill school, is being revamped to cater specifically for early years children – boosting the number of available places from 26 by a further 30 places.

The expansion, funded by National Lottery and the local authority, will include a £50,000 outdoor learning area.

Head teacher Rhian Cockwell said: “There is a huge demand and interest for nursery places here so this is a great opportunity to meet that demand. Nursery and reception will be together which means that children who attend our nursery will have a smooth transition as they move into the school. We are a very inclusive school and we welcome all

Oliver Tomkins Primary School and inset, an artist's impression of the proposed new outdoor learning centre

applications.”

Oliver Tomkins is open for nursery place applications for 30 hours or part time places, Monday to Friday.

Parents or carers are welcome to contact the school to arrange a visit. www.olivertomkinsschools.co.uk Email admininf@ olivertomkinsschools.co.uk Or call 01793 870471.

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Local Tae Kwon Do group host action-packed fundraiser

By Claire Dukes claire@swindonlink.com

Martial arts experts were put through their paces to raise cash for a specialist school in Swindon.

North Wilts Tae Kwon Do club members took 100 rounds of sparring for Uplands School.

The Swindon-based school is a specialist institute which provides education for children, aged 11 to 19, with learning difficulties including Down

Syndrome, and children on the Autistic Spectrum.

Run by recently married husband and wife, Paul and Leanne Lolley, North Wilts Tae Kwon Do have been actively teaching and developing martial arts practices for over 15 years.

Leanne, who joined North Wilts TKD back in 2003, said: “Paul’s son, Zac, is a student at Uplands School and we wanted to raise some funds for the

amazing work they do.

“We also wanted our students at North Wilts Tae Kwon Do to experience sparring with people from other clubs as it helps with their development and confidence, so we decided to combine the two.

“Paul and I both strive to make training fun and enjoyable with upbeat fast moving sessions while still sticking to some of the important traditions of ITF

Zac and Paul Lolley

(International Taekwon-Do Federation) style Tae Kwon Do.” Sparring is a semi-contact competitive style of fighting, which is designed to minimise damage to an opponent. The sparring sessions are split into quarters, continuously sparring for one minute and then rotating around the group.

In total the group sparred for 100 rounds and raised £1902.40 for Uplands School.

Paul and Leanne Lolley

Prospect Hospice becomes latest Switch On to Swindon Campaign ambassador Leading local charity Prospect Hospice has become the latest organisation to add its voice to the Switch On to Swindon campaign, which aims to highlight the town’s strengths as a place to work, live, visit and invest.

The place marketing campaigns director Gavin Calthrop recently visited the hospice in Wroughton, where he met with staff at the charity to finalise Prospect Hospice’s addition to the list of organisations encouraging others to actively support the town. The team explained the range of free-of-charge services that it provides for people with life-limiting illnesses and those important to them. The charity also gained the campaign’s backing in highlighting the benefits to employers of Swindon’s Dying Well Community Charter, through which local businesses are given free support for 10

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people affected by the issues of death and dying via a variety of resources including giving them their own Prospect Hospice representative.

Gavin Calthrop said: “This has been a great visit. I have been particularly struck by the full range of services that Prospect Hospice now offers for people locally. In Swindon, Prospect Hospice is a well-recognised and muchrespected brand and I think by us working together we can help to highlight all that Prospect Hospice does and has available for people.”

“The Dying Well Community Charter is something the campaign’s ambassadors will find very easy to support.

It enables employers to demonstrate their commitment to staff at the toughest of times, and that will leave staff and their loved ones feeling supported and loyal. That has to be in everyone’s interests.”

Prospect Hospice’s Head of Community Engagement, Warren Finney, added: “It was great to welcome Gavin here today to show him all that we do to support people with end-of-life care needs and to gain his support for the Dying Well Community

Charter. As a prominent charity in this community, we are really pleased to join forces with Switch On to Swindon and look forward to supporting each other’s aims in future.”

To find out more visit www. prospect-hospice.net/discussingdying

West Swindon film to be premiered on 16 May The anniversary of a poem about West Swindon written twenty years ago will be marked by a film to be shown at 6.30pm on Wednesday 16 May in West Swindon Library.

The 671 lyrical lines known as Westwords has been edited and read for the film by three thirty year olds who attended Greendown Community School, and six Lydiard Park Academy students.

The poem was first performed at Swindon Festival of Literature in May 1998, but it was never published or recorded.

With funding support from West Swindon Parish Council a permanent record of this unique, enchanting description of the area has been created.

West Swindon based film maker Keith Phillips has worked with youngsters at Lydiard Park Academy who have been involved in shooting the film and the audio recording. Viewers will recognise many locations

Students in 1998 working with poet Marcus Moore and Greendown School English teacher Cristina Bennett on Westwords, ready for the first performance

around West Swindon which feature in the poem.

The premiere, which is one of many events taking place during the 25th Swindon Festival of Literature, will be followed by a discussion about

the community of the area.

A booklet of the full poem with photographs of the area taken over the last forty years will be published at the event.

The film is free to attend and is open to all.

Don't forget to take ID with you on May 3

By Ben Fitzgerald ben@swindonlink.com

Swindon residents are being reminded that they will need their poll card to vote at the elections on 3 May as Swindon is taking part in the Government’s Voter ID pilot scheme.

The scheme aims to reduce fraud by asking voters to present a form of identification before voting.

Swindon is one of five local authorities piloting the scheme.

If the scheme is successful, it may be rolled out nationally.

Swindon residents who are voting at a polling station will receive their poll card handdelivered by 26 April.

The poll card is the quickest and most convenient method of voting.

This is because the poll card contains a barcode which is unique to the individual.

At the polling station, a voter will hand over their poll card

to the clerk. The clerk will then scan the poll card and ask the voter to confirm their name and address.

The voter will then be issued a ballot paper and be instructed to place their vote for one candidate only.

Electoral Services Manager, Sally Sprason, said: “The barcode on the new poll card makes voting more secure

and the process much more efficient.

"The council has already sent out letters to every household in Swindon where residents are registered to vote, alerting them of the need to have their poll cards ready for 3 May.” For more information about the pilot and the identification required, visit: www.swindon/ gov.uk/VoterID

Battery scheme

Swindon is set to be home to one of the UK’s largest battery-based electricity storage facilities after Public Power Solutions (PPS), the wholly-owned company of Swindon Borough Council, received planning consent for the project.

The battery storage scheme, at the former Mannington Depot owned by the Council, has a permitted capacity of up to 50 MW making it one of the largest standalone batteries to be developed so far in the UK. Connecting large batteries to the National Grid helps to smooth out the peaks and troughs which occur in power demand, and match them better with variable supply.

The batteries can be used to store energy when it is abundant, and therefore cheaper, and discharge it when demand is greater and the cost is higher.

Capital applications

The Swindon & Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership is launching the next round of the Growing Places Infrastructure Fund (GPIF) Loan Programme.

SWLEP are inviting applications to the fund to support capital investment by local businesses. Businesses can make applications from £750,000 up to around £2m in support of capital projects.

Loan payments will be made in line with the development plan for the investment. For details email Phil Clement, Head of Investment & Export Phil.Clement@swlep.co.uk.

Council's top earners

Seven Swindon Borough Council executives earned more than £100,000 in the 2016/17 tax year according to a town council rich list.

Chief Executive John Gilbert was the biggest earner at Swindon Borough Council having received salary and pension contributions to the value of £192,904. swindonlink.com n May 2018

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Westlea Fire Station receives some little helping hands

By Claire Dukes claire@swindonlink.com

Meadowpark School’s Reception class paid an action-packed visit to Westlea Fire Station.

The fire department gave the children a tour of Westlea Fire Station whilst also teaching the youngsters lessons in fire safety.

A spokesperson for Cricklade’s Meadowpark, Melissa Spagnoli, said: “What began as new fireman and officer accessories in the reception classroom at Meadowpark School in Cricklade, led to a visit to the Westlea Fire Station.

“The pupils spent time talking about these heroic professions and when teacher, Bev Millin, learnt that a Teaching Assistant had a relative at a local fire station, Mrs Millin made

the arrangements and took her pupils for a visit to see real firemen.

“Once at the Westlea Fire Station, the children spent time being taught about fire safety and how to stay safe in dangerous situations. The Westlea firemen gave the pupils an opportunity to use the fire hose, practise responding if they see a fire, and sit in the fire truck.

“Mrs Millin said that all the children now want to be fire fighters after such an exciting day of using the fire hose and exploring the fire truck (and learning about fire safety, of course).”

Mrs Millan added: “When we returned to the classroom, it was fantastic to see how the children worked together to put out imaginary fires and rescue each other. They really loved the visit.”

Hero Simon calls on Swindon residents to nominate their Brave Britons Falklands war veteran Simon Weston is calling on the people of Swindon to help find the unsung heroes who represent ‘The Best Of British’.

Simon, who was named the Nation’s Favourite Hero in 2014, has joined forces with global hearing specialist Amplifon for The Amplifon Awards for Brave Britons, which will celebrate truly remarkable people who are an example to the nation.

Set up in honour of Amplifon’s founder, Second World War hero Major Charles Holland, the awards will recognise the courage and achievement of people from all walks of life in the following categories: Service to their Country. This award will recognise current or former members of the armed forces and emergency services who’ve shown outstanding bravery serving the UK. Against all Odds - this award will go to a person who has overcome adversity to take on

an exceptional challenge or achieve outstanding success.

Hero Pet - this award will honour a hearing dog or other animal who has transformed the life of their owner.

Young Hero - this award will be given to a young person under 18 who has shown outstanding courage or taken on an exceptional challenge.

Charity Champion sponsored by hearing loss charity Action on Hearing Loss,

this award will recognise a volunteer, charity worker or fundraiser who has made a real difference to a cause they care about.

Active Agers - this award will recognise an individual aged 60 or over whose attitude and approach to ageing is an inspiration to us all. They could be someone who has achieved significant success in the fields of sport, the arts, business, education or science and

technology, or anyone who has accomplished a remarkable feat later in life.

Simon, who will head up the judging panel for the awards said: “The Amplifon Awards for Brave Britons will shine a light on a very British breed of hero: those who, like Major Charles Holland, through incredible acts of courage, bravery and incredible selflessness, are an inspiration to others.

“We all know someone who deserves recognition for their service to others, their country or community and we’re calling on the people of Swindon to nominate these amazing individuals.”

The winners will be announced at a ceremony at the Army and Navy Club in London Tuesday 16 October.

The closing date for entries is Friday 3 August, and nominations can be made via the Amplifon website www.amplifon.com/web/uk/ awards. swindonlink.com n May 2018

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Historic picture donated to church conservation project A previously unseen picture has been donated to St Mary's Church Lydiard Tregoze Conservation Project.

The picture is a detail of one of the wall paintings depicting the murder of Thomas Becket and has the inscription ‘A Copy of an Ancient Painting found

by Accident at Fine Liddiard Church’ and dates from September 1837.

The Thomas Becket painting has been donated by 93-yearold Joy Brake who grew up with the picture but cannot explain how it came into her family’s possession.

Although Joy Brake grew up at 32 Wood Street, Swindon her family roots are planted deep in the history of Lydiard Tregoze.

The Edmonds family was large and well established in the parish of Lydiard Tregoze by the mid-18th century, and the name Edwin Edmonds turns

Chairman of the Friends of Lydiard Park, Alistair Stevenson, local historian Frances Bevan and Chairman of St Mary's Conservation project Paul Gardner and inset above, a detail of the medieval wall painting

up several times in the history of St Mary’s.

Joy’s father, Fred, was born at Coped Hall in 1885, one of Edwin Hugh and Fanny Edmonds’ 14 children. Fred worked in the agricultural engineering firm before establishing the Swindon Motor Company.

But taking another step back

in Joy’s family history might provide the answer to how the picture was acquired. Joy’s great great grandfather, Jacob Edmonds, was born in the parish of Lydiard Tregoze in 1787 and was baptised in St Mary’s Church on May 27 of that year.

Jacob worked as a carpenter, mealman and grocer and a tea

dealer, but the vital clue as to how the Edmonds family might have acquired the picture of the wall painting comes in the census of 1871 where Jacob describes his occupation as Parish Clerk. Jacob died three years later in 1874 and the headstone on his grave stated that ‘he was for 62 years parish clerk’. The discovery of the wall paintings in 1837 would have been during his tenure as parish clerk.

The Friends of Lydiard Park have paid for the conservation and framing of the painting donated by the Brake family.

It's all change for quirky iconic Swindon building It’s the end of an era at the Swindon Business Centre at Alexander House as workmen moved in to remove the quirky BMW Minis from the side of the building.

The landmark building, near Fleming Way, run by Lenta Business Centres has been sold to another buyer.

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Hindu community celebrate Holi with a splash of colour

By Ben Fitzgerald ben@swindonlink.com

Swindon’s Hindu community celebrated Holi with a blaze of colours.

The traditional festival of colours, which signifies the victory of good over evil, the arrival of spring and the end of winter – was marked by participants covering each other in brightly coloured powder.

Community members were joined by invited guests, including Wiltshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner Angus Macperson, at the Swindon Hindu Temple and Cultural Festival in Cheney Manor.

Chairman of the Swindon Hindu Temple Trust, Pradeep Bhardwaj, said: “This cheerful event is being organised to promote & foster equality and tolerance and to bring people & communities together.”

Those taking part were treated to a buffet of

wonderful food, a professional Bollywood DJ and Indian drums (Dhol).

This is the second year that Swindon has hosted Holi – which is now the biggest Holi event in the South West region.

Swindon's Nepalese community celebrate their new year

By Ben Fitzgerald ben@swindonlink.com

Members of Swindon’s Nepalese community gathered to celebrate their new year in a colourful evening of dance, food and traditional dress.

The event, on Friday 13 April at the Punjabi Community Centre, marked the start of the year 2075 according to the Vikram Samvat solar calendar, which has been used officially in Nepal since 1958.

Among the invited guests were Swindon Mayor Maureen Penny. The event was organised by Wiltshire Nepalese association, which was formed in 2006 and provides a range of events and services for its members who are mainly ex-Gurkhas. swindonlink.com n May 2018

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Rick Stein’s Head Chef from Marlborough cooks up a storm with Swindon College students Kevin Chandler visited Swindon College Catering Students 28 March, to give a guest lecture on how to prepare a dish from the current menu at Rick Stein’s restaurant in Marlborough.

The dish selected was stir fried squid with chorizo, red pepper and potato.

Kevin demonstrated how to clean and prepare the squid, and how to cook and put the dish together. Watching over the students as they prepared their own, he gave them plenty of advice as they progressed.

The students all set to work, preparing the squid and the other ingredients – new potatoes, red pepper which had to be roasted and chorizo plus herbs and seasoning, producing finished dishes that reflected what they had been shown.

The second demonstration

was how to shuck oysters. The students then had the chance to sample the oysters and two or three had a practice at opening oysters themselves.

Kevin said that it is a skill which he has acquired over the years and he can shuck oysters very quickly in comparison to some of his staff.

Tutor Paul Kelly said: “Kevin coming into the college reinforces what I am teaching, and the students just need to choose carefully where they place themselves, to keep working at high standards and to keep knocking on the doors for those great opportunities.

We are running a new qualification this year which is a VTCT NVQ2.

“It is a lot more in-depth and very skill-based so the students come away with better technical skills.”

Punters praised for charitable efforts

By Claire Dukes claire@swindonlink.com

After a stretch of fundraising efforts, staff of The Jovial Monk Pub presented £2,000 to support vulnerable and disadvantaged adults.

Throughout 2018 staff and customers at the North Swindon-based pub, The Jovial Monk, have been raising funds for local charity The Open Door Centre.

Raised by in-house raffles, sponsor days from the Jovial Monk Golf Society, and party in the car park, the pub 18 swindonlink.com n May 2018

presented The Open Doors Centre with a £2,463.20 cheque.

“I’d like to thank Gary Causer and Steve Bay from the Golf Society for getting donations for our auctions.

With the charities we like to go from one extreme to the other, so it’s different each time.

"For our next charity we’ve selected Naomi House & Jacksplace, which is a children's hospice. We’ll be holding another Party in the Car Park, 14 July – it’s great because it brings everyone together."

Team photo with Kevin Chandler from Rick Stein's Marlborough

Wiltshire Air Ambulance lands at new airbase

Wiltshire Air Ambulance carried out its first landing on the helipad at the charity’s new airbase at Semington, near Melksham.

This milestone was followed by the official handover of the airbase to Wiltshire Air Ambulance. The building will now be fitted out before the charity’s fundraising, administrative and operational teams move in by this summer.

David Philpott, Chief Executive of Wiltshire Air Ambulance, said: “Today has been a significant day in the history of Wiltshire Air Ambulance with the handover of our new airbase. We are

now in the final phase of the building work as we undertake the fitting and equipping of it before it becomes operational.

“Our primary contractors, Rigg Construction (Southern) Limited, and our architects and project managers, CMS, have ensured that our new home has the best possible facilities for our helicopter, our pilots, paramedics and our charity team to enable us to continue to save lives in the future.

“We have received amazing support from people for our new airbase, including donations, and we’d like to thank everyone for their backing.”

Advertising feature

Can you kick it? Yes you can, at Swindon's only football golf course Swindon’s only 18-hole football golf course is opening to the public this month.

Football golf, a hybrid sport of golf and football, has taken the country by storm in recent years and continues to grow in popularity with adults and children alike.

Based just two minutes drive from J16 of the M4, Basset Down opened up a 6-hole football golf course back in 2015, and then expanded to 12-holes the following year.

Due to popular demand, the complex is opening a brand new, 18-hole course on Saturday 5 May. Providing a year-round leisure activity to the local area and further afield, the football golf course is great fun for groups of adults, families, team days out, stag and hen parties and alternative corporate days out. Similar to golf, the aim of the game is to kick a football (size 3-5s) from a tee into a

large hole on a green with the minimum amount of kicks possible. The person at the end of the round with the lowest score wins.

The course is set in 100 acres of beautiful scenery overlooking the backdrop of the North Chalk Downs, with the course spreading over 2,183 yards. To keep things fair, the course also features Academy Tees with shorter distances for younger children.

It also has many natural obstacles, including trees, water and bunkers to play around.

Owner of Basset Down Golf Complex, Juliette Nutland, said: “Football golf has proved to be a popular activity for groups of family and friends looking for something different to do in Swindon. It’s great fun for birthdays, special occasions, and also popular with local football teams for their end of season presentations.'

"We want to break down the boundaries and assumptions about golf courses. We’re an open and inclusive club.

Everyone is welcome in our clubhouse, whether you’re a golfer or not. Football golf

has helped us to introduce new people to Basset Down and even to the world of golf”.

Work is also underway at Basset Down on a separate 9-hole crazy footgolf course, which will be the first of its kind in Wiltshire.

The course will feature lots of obstacles using natural materials for visitors to kickthrough and around. Each hole will be themed and named after famous local landmarks, including Stonehenge and The Ridgeway.

The course is due to open on the Whitsun Bank Holiday in May. For more information on opening times and prices on both courses, visitors can call the clubhouse on 01793 812336 or visit their website www.swindonfamilygolf.com.

Prices start from £7 for children / £12 adults for 18 holes, family and group discounts are also available.

Brunel’s drawing instruments join Steam collection A set of Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s technical drawing instruments has recently been acquired at auction by Steam – Museum of the Great Western Railway.

The set is contained in an oak case inlaid with a brass plate inscribed “I K BRUNEL”.

The inside is lined with purple velvet and has individual compartments for each instrument.

Steam’s curator, Frances Yeo, said: “We are very excited to have purchased this set of drawing instruments at auction.

This has been made possible by a generous contribution from the Friends of Swindon Railway Museum together with visitor donations to Steam’s Acquisition Fund.

“Owned by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, the size of the set suggests these may have been instruments he took with him when he travelled across 20

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the GWR railway network.

“These instruments have an excellent provenance, having been given to the seller’s grandfather by Brunel’s son Henry Marc Brunel in 1902.

“As possibly the greatest engineer of all time, these drawing instruments were the tools of Brunel’s trade. He was instrumental in the development of the GWR and the building of ‘New Swindon’. We have a number of signed Brunel engineering drawings within the Steam collections, which may have been drawn using these very same instruments.

“We are very grateful for the support of the Friends of Swindon Railway Museum and to the visitors who kindly made donations. This is an especially important acquisition for Steam.”

The Brunel instruments are now on display in the museum's exhibition area.

From the archives: By Roger Ogle & Richard Wintle

Seeing double: Link photographer Richard Wintle captured Pierce Brosnan and Dame Judy Dench on the set of The World is Not Enough at Swindon's Motorola building in 2000 and right Roger Moore strolls around the former Renault building in West Swindon with veteran actor Patrick McNee during a break in the filming for A View to a Kill way back in 1984.

Story sack project gets the seal of Royal approval with school visit HRH Princess Anne visited Westlea Primary School on 18 May 1998 to discover more about the Story Sacks Project invented by former headteacher Neil Griffiths.

In the early 1990s, to promote early years literacy, he came up with the idea of creating a bag of items based around a children's book. A loyal band of parent volunteers made stuffed toys, finger puppets, games and sound tapes which parents and carers could use to bring the book alive. At the time of the visit Neil had left Westlea to work with the Basic Skills Agency to spread the Story Sacks idea and had successfully helped set up groups at nurseries, schools and hospitals across Britain to make their own sacks.

Princess Anne was the patron of the agency and actively 22

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promoted Story Sacks on visits to educational settings around the country and abroad.

Neil has become a successful children's author and tours the world promoting literacy.

Right, Judith Blake and Sue AxonEves present Princess Anne with a Story Sack which she would take with her on visits related to her work on behalf of the Basic Skills Agency

Swindon Wildcats reign champions after win against Sheffield Steeldogs

By Claire Dukes claire@swindonlink.com

Swindon Wildcats skate out of the season as winners of the NIHL National Cup. Following their Autumn Cup win Swindon Wildcats are celebrating after their 6-4 win against Sheffield Steeldogs.

The sell-out game was packed to the rafters.

With their opening leg finished at a 2-2 draw, the Wildcats upped their game securing their championing title with a 4-2 win at Better Link Centre yesterday afternoon.

Swindon Wildcats will return to the rink this coming September – until then the squad are the season winners of the NIHL National Cup.

Mark Smith unveils plans in1998

swindonlink.com n May 2018

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The National Self Build & Renovation show is back

Swim team gets backing from housing developer

Celebrating DIY craft, the National Self Build & Renovation Centre (NSBRC) will be hosting a free show for budding designers and selfbuilders.

Taking place Friday 11 May to Sunday 13 May the show will include free seminars, over 200 exhibits, live demonstrations,

Housing Developer Persimmon Homes pledged support to local swim team, Swindon Dolphin ASC, as part of their Healthy Communities initiative.

Swindon Dolphin ASC are among the finalists for the national Healthy Communities competition where the winning sports team will receive funding of £200,000.

Speaking before the results Alan Holmes, of Holmes Music in

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and a host of experts and self builders in attendance.

A previous visitor said: "An event not to be missed by anyone serious about building their own home or planning to undertake major renovations."

For further information, and to register for a free ticket, visit www.nsbrc.co.uk.

Swindon, said: “If the swimming club was to win, the funding will help give children the most important life skill – to learn to swim. The club plans to use the prize money to try and help to re-open the Health Hydro teaching pool in Swindon.

“Alternatively the club will launch numerous swimming camps and train new teachers as well as rebrand the squad with new kit.”

West Swindon Parish Council Spring 2018 newsletter

We're a solid team We have worked hard to establish the parish council since the elections of last May, putting structures in place and developing a solid team ethic amongst our fifteen parish councillors.

We are strongly motivated to ensure West Swindon is a well-cared-for, active and developing parish: it is in fact one of the largest parishes in England.

West Swindon Parish Council - (from left) Cllrs Peter Stoddart (now resigned), Caryl Sydney Smith, Vinay Kumar, Tim Makofu, Steph Exell, Nigel Gibbons, John Lenton, Nick Martin, Matt Walker, Mary Martin, Matthew Courtliff and Tim Swinyard.

Inset - Cllrs Keith Williams, Ellen Heavens, Suresh Gattapur.

Getting a new parish started We have set up a new office at the West Swindon Library providing an administrative base for our Parish Manager Paula Harrison, which also acts as a hub for events, surgeries and council meetings.

There is a calendar of meetings which are attended by the public and focuses our delivery of services to meet the needs of the community.

Notice boards have been installed at West Swindon Library, and at Shaw and Freshbrook village centres.

Here is a snapshot of what we have been doing: Litter Bins: We have undertaken an audit of litter-bin provision throughout the parish to assess its fitness for purpose and to strengthen the current

provision. We have recently completed a first phase of this initiative and a second phase is planned. The feedback we receive reflects the strong level of concern, if not frustration and anger among residents, over the continuing level of littering and rubbish in West Swindon. Littering blights our environment, puts our civic pride to shame and rubbish is costly to remove and dispose of. Regrettably, despite the best efforts of our streetcleaning team and our many volunteers, littering and to a lesser extent fly-tipping remain endemic in parts of our community. To tackle this issue, Cllr Ellen Heavens and Cllr Keith Williams have established a new committee solely dedicated to driving

a range of initiatives around flytipping and litter including bin provision, recycling, awareness, education and enforcement.

Play Area Investment: We have been inspecting and maintaining local play areas and are planning investment into the redevelopment and make-over of a number of playgrounds.

Grants:

The parish council grant funds the West Swindon Library for extra staffed hours. We

are actively supporting local community groups and have made a number of grant awards.

Planning Matters: We are acutely aware of the pressures of new development within and around the boundaries of our parish, particularly the stress this places on local services and infrastructure. We are considering a Neighbourhood Local Plan to establish a planning framework for the parish. We work hard to protect our open areas and are active stakeholders in promoting and protecting the essential setting of Lydiard Park.

Nigel Gibbons - Chair of West Swindon Parish Council.

New sites for allotments to be identified to satisfy growing demand

One of our biggest costs is the provision of grass-cutting and landscape services. We have recently instructed consultants to review and evaluate the current service provision to establish if the present contract is market-facing and provides best value.

The first phase of new Spring planting is now flowering

and we have adopted the allotments at Blagrove.

We are keen to identify new sites for allotments to satisfy a growing demand.

The parish council has agreed to set the same charge for each council tax band as last year in order to sustain a budget that will continue to focus on local facilities and

Website: www.westswindon-pc.gov.uk

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community.

Visit our website for more information on the council and for councillor contact details.

We welcome your feedback and support, and hope to see you at one of our forthcoming council meetings, the dates of which are available on the website and parish notice boards.

Telephone: 01793 466418

Email: parishmanager@westswindon.org.uk

Swindon Life

Celebrating town living

Swindon Link joins film podcast Admit One Movies at The Beehive When our reporter was invited to join in a podcast recording about film at The Beehive one evening, she wasn’t really sure what to expect.

Turns out, it’s a pretty much a ‘does what it says on the tin’ kinda job – two guys, in a pub, talking about films over a pint, or two, or three…

Credit where it’s due this set up that Simon Oxlade and Matt Purvis have created is actually quite impressive. Two years later, after bonding at a rugby match, these two guys in the pub have got quite a good following, and

that’s probably because their podcast is both entertaining and interesting.

When asked why they record at The Beehive in Swindon Simon explained: “It’s a really nice artsy pub where one night they’ll have poetry, the next a band, sometimes poker, and now every other week two guys recording a podcast. It’s also because the staff here are incredibly welcoming and friendly.“ If you want an honest approach towards films, and a recommendation, these are your guys.

To check out their podcast Admit One Movies, head to www.admitonemovies.com

Shining star Maisie honoured by Swindon Borough Council

By Ben Fitzgerald ben@swindonlink.com

Swindon’s six-year-old superstar Maisie Sly was honoured by Swindon Borough Council for her role in highlighting disability and as a role model to youngsters from the town.

Mayor Maureen Penny met with Maisie, her brother Jack, sister Chloe and parents Elizabeth and Gilson - all of whom have hearing difficulties and communicate using British Sign Language.

After the reception in the mayor’s parlour, Maisie was presented with an engraved trophy to the cheers of councillors and officers in the council chamber.

Engraved on the trophy are the words: On behalf of Swindon Borough Council.

In recognition of your work highlighting the silent disability of deafness, raising the awareness of British Sign

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Language in the film ‘The Silent Child’ and for being a role model to all the borough’s children.

Maisie played the lead role of Libby in Oscar winning film The Silent Child. The 20-minute short tells the story of a profoundly deaf girl born to hearing parents - who lives in silence until a support worker (played by former Hollyoaks actress Rachel Shenton) teaches her sign language.

Top right, Maisie and her family meet Mayor Maureen Penny.

And below right, Maisie is all smiles as she picks up her award alongside her mum Elizabeth.

Swindon Spotlight

YOUR GUIDE TO THE MONTH AHEAD In the community l MFor Festival has announced Atomic Kitten as one of its headlining acts at Lydiard Park, 28 July .

Other acts include Pixie Lott, Peter Andre, Aston Merrygold and 5ive. www.mforfestival.co.uk

Book now...

SWINDON FESTIVAL OF LITERATURE

Philosopher A.C.Grayling, former Kids Company boss Camilla Batmanghelidjh, Andy’s mum Judy Murray, poet Matt Harvey, former punk musician and now writer Viv Albertine folk and singersongwriter Peggy Seeger, are among the early confirmations for this year’s Swindon Festival of Literature. The event is due to take place on 7 to 9 May. Also on the line-up is the award-winning author Elizabeth St. John. By Love Divided is Elizabeth’s second novel in her ongoing series The Lydiard Chronicles which follows her debut novel The Lady of the Tower, both of which are based on Lydiard Park and its family ties which she tracked all the way to the Tower of London. Elizabeth will be speaking at Lydiard House Thursday 17 May at 7pm.

For further information, and tickets, visit www.swindontheatres.co.uk.

JEREMY HARDY

Following a sell-out tour last year, Jeremy Hardy hits the road in 2018 with his new show, which sees him at his politically astute best but paying more attention to the human condition.

Jeremy will be bringing his latest show to Swindon Arts centre, 2 May. Tickets at £16.50 www.swindontheatres.co.uk

WUTHERING HEIGHTS

The Music of Kate Bush will be gracing the stage of Swindon's Wyvern Theatre 30 May. Fully equipped with a live band Rachel Sinetta will be paying homage to the icon by reenvisioning some of the artist's most famous songs.

Tickets at £28.50 www.swindontheatres.co.uk

Venues

Arts Centre, Devizes Road SN1 4BJ. Tel: 01793 524481 www.swindontheatres.co.uk Central Community Centre, Emlyn Square SN1 5BP. Tel: 01793 420649 The Platform, Faringdon Road, Swindon SN1 5BJ Phoenix Theatre, New College Drive, Swindon, SN3 1AH. Tel: 01793 732889 Shoebox Theatre, Theatre Square, Swindon SN1 1QN. Tel: 07340 758497 St Michael’s Hall Lechlade Road, Highworth, SN6 7HQ. Tel: 01793 763907 Roves Farm, Sevenhampton, Nr Highworth SN6 7QG. Tel: 01793 763939

THE LITTLE MIX EXPERIENCE

Paying tribute to one of The X-Factor's most successful bands, The Little Mix Experience comes to the Wyvern Theatre 29 May for an all-singing, all-dancing, family-friendly evening of entertainment. Songs include Wings, and Black Magic.

Tickets from £28.50 to £38 www.swindontheatres.co.uk

Shoebox Theatre, Theatre Square, Swindon SN1 1QN. Email: shoebox@wrongshoes.co.uk Swindon Information Centre, Central Library SN1 1QG. Tel: 01793 530328 Swindon Museum and Art Gallery, Bath Road SN1 4BA. Tel: 01793 466556 The Victoria, 88 Victoria Road, SN1 3BD. Tel: 01793 535713 Wyvern Theatre, Theatre Square SN1 1QN. Tel: 01793 524481 - www.swindontheatres.co.uk

Confirm date, time & price with venue

l The local election will be taking place Thursday 3 May. For those voting at poll stations, Swindon Borough Council is urging residents to bring their poll cards with them.

Swindon Borough Council’s Electoral Services Manager, Sally Sprason, said: "The poll cards contain a barcode that is unique to the individual, which will be scanned before they place their vote on polling day." l Old Town's Beer Festival returns Friday 11 May and Saturday 12 May for its sixth run.

Sponsored by The Hop Inn and Los Gatos, the festival boasts over 45 beers and over 30 ciders for ticket holders to enjoy.

For further information viit www.theoldtownbeerfestival. com l The Swindon Society will be hosting a fundrasier for The Friends of Christ Church, Friday 8 June at 7.30pm. The group aims to promote and share Swindon's cultural and historic heritage primarily through photography.

Swindon Society Chair, Andy Binks, will putting on an evening of entertainment with Swindon artist and muralist Ken White.

For further information visit www.theswindonsociety.co.uk swindonlink.com n May 2018

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Wake up and smell the flowers – new business caters for the finer things in life

By Claire Dukes claire@swindonlink.com

Green-fingered caffeine fiends welcome Coffee and Flowers pop-up to Faringdon Road’s Darkroom Espresso.

Since opening in 2015 Darkroom has opened its doors to The Harbour Project, On The Wall, – monthly art exhibitions – free music gigs, Darkroom Espresso Cycling Club, and now Coffee and Flowers.

Adding to Swindon’s growing population of pop-up businesses, Coffee and Flowers will be setting up shop weekly, from Friday to Sunday, at Darkroom Espresso.

Coffee and Flowers started as a delivery service where customers could buy online and have coffee and flowers delivered to their door. Starting on Valentine’s Day this year Coffee and Flowers CoFounder, Sherylee Houssein, said the positive response encouraged the idea to

develop into a pop-up store.

She said: “I really like flowers and where my day job is so admin-based I felt that I wasn’t doing anything creative.

I became really interested in learning about the different types and since have been putting on flower arranging classes in Darkroom.

“They’re not as cheap as you can get in supermarkets but they last longer, and I think they’re more interesting and uniquely organised – no two are the same – and we think they appeal to a younger demographic."

Speaking of the collaboration, Co-Founder and Darkroom Espresso owner Will Davies said: ““It’s something I thought I could help with as I’ve done start-up businesses before, so I think I have a good mind-set for knowing how these things go wrong and fail."

For further information visit Facebook @coffeeandflowersswindon.

Will Davies and Sherylee Houssein

The gloves are off for local boxer and New College Sports Manager for photography project

By Claire Dukes claire@swindonlink.com

A Sports Manager and a Swindon-based boxer have joined forces to create a Muhammad Ali inspired photography project.

Dan Thorley, New College's Sports Centre Manager, and Luke Watkins, previously a pupil of Dan's who has turned boxer, have entered new depths to pay homage to the notorious sportsman Muhammad Ali. Enrolling on New College's part-time Discover your Digital SLR Camera course, Dan said: “My main interest is surf photography, for example, capturing pictures of massive waves at point break. When the 30

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end-of-course project was announced I was desperate to incorporate underwater images. I also have a keen interest in boxing and the idea of photographing a boxer underwater then came to mind. Straight away I thought of Luke.”

Speaking of the collaboration with his former tutor, Luke said: “It’s been really enjoyable working with Dan and great to collaborate with him on this project, it’s so interesting and different to anything I’ve done before. I’ve seen very few photographers attempt shots like this, with a handful of elite athletes, one of those being Ali.” For New College courses visit www.newcollege.ac.uk

Luke Watkins photographed by Dan Thorley

There's plenty to smile about at Studley Grange Craft Village May Is National Smile Month and during this last month of spring there is a lot to smile about at Studley Grange Craft Village, Butterfly World and Farm Park.

We have two bank holidays and half term to look forward to this month and this means lots of fun activities to see and do!

Starting inside the Craft Village there is plenty to keep the ‘little ones’ entertained as well as adults alike. If you love something sweet then Chocolate Comforts and Cake Creations is the place to go.

There will be lots of yummy cakes and treats to decorate as well as take home kits for activities to do at home.

There are some exciting changes at the LEGO® based exhibition, including expansions and new displays. You can also learn new skills and experience pottery painting, quilting and jewellery workshops and now

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knitting and crocheting classes too at the newly opened unit, Wool & Cotton Snuggies.

May Day is traditionally the time to celebrate springtime ‘abundance’ and there is definitely an abundance of new life out on the farm park and in the zoo with the joeys (baby wallabies), lambs and

kids (baby goats), and chicks.

And with the brighter weather trailer rides will be starting up again taking you on a fun ride to see the many favourites like pigs and cows, goats and sheep and even alpacas.

To find out more please call 01793 852400 or visit www.studleygrange.co.uk

Swindon Lives IN CONVERSATION WITH: Sarah Forbes

By Claire Dukes claire@swindonlink.com Sarah Forbes is a Covingham-based mum of three, but by all means not your average one, with the ability to change nappies with her feet.

As of a few months ago Sarah became a casualty simulation actress. This involves staging simulated crash scenes for practicing and “high end” paramedics to practice on amputees. But more recently she also started a modelling career.

Born in 1980 and currently Wiltshirebased, when Sarah was 22 months old she lost one of her arms in a lift accident in Spain. She explained: “It was one of those old lifts that you open and close the cage before you get in the lift, except there was no cage door – it was like a big dumbwaiter. I put my hands out and both of my arms went down into the lift shaft.”

Sarah’s right arm had to be amputated at the shoulder, and her left at the elbow.

Unfortunately, after the operation her left arm was infected by gangrene which resulted in a further amputation above the dead tissue before being reattached.

According to Sarah, this has in no way held her back – it has in fact “catapulted” her forward.

She said: “I am one of the lucky ones, because where I was so young I don’t remember anything – I haven’t been damaged by childhood memories or trauma, this is what I’ve always known. My Dad was an RAF man and never allowed me to say ‘I can’t’ – it was either I will, or I won’t.

“When I was younger, and I went for my first swimming lesson, my dad grabbed me and said ‘hold the air in your lungs and you will float’ and then he chucked me in the water. Now I am such a water baby, I love the water!

“What was difficult for me was when I went to get my first job at 16. I had gone to a convent school and wasn’t treated any differently – no special treatment.

So when I went to get a job they said I couldn’t because I wasn’t registered as disabled, but my parents didn’t raise me

as disabled and I’m not disabled – I am an amputee and there is such a huge difference. I wasn’t able to get a job because I wouldn’t categorise myself as disabled – I felt discouraged by society" - this again has only pushed Sarah forward to challenge society’s perception of amputees.

When Sarah went on maternity leave with her daughter, now three and half, the company she worked for moved to Bournemouth. She said: “I took this as fate and, scary as it was, decided to go for a career change.”

Always looking for the next challenge, Sarah wants to encourage and inspire people to be body confident – particularly as an amputee. She said: “Kelly Knox is someone that I have a lot of admiration for. She’s all very ‘hey I’ve got one arm but don’t I look good though’ – she’s got edge.

I know it’s a lot later than you would expect someone to start modelling but I’ve had a really good response and I’m really doing it to say ‘things are changing’ – it’s 2018!”

You could argue that because of Sarah’s childhood experience that this is why she’s lived more than most people.

But again, this is quite irrelevant in the grand scheme of things – she has a lot of energy and a fiery personality. Two anecdotes in particular establish her as very down to earth. She explained: When my daughter was born I used to change her nappy with my feet, and day-to-day things like peeling potatoes, – I peel them by holding them with my feet - sometimes it can take 40 minutes, and opening doors when I'm holding coffee. I just get on with it.

"I do not consider myself disabled. In the English dictionary ‘disabled’ is defined as broken or disadvantaged – and that is not the case. Broken sounds like something you throw away, but I, and every other amputee, are just human.

We have bad days, sure, which involve pain killers, and physiotherapy, but that doesn’t stop us. I want people to see my good days. I think in this day and age the word 'disabled' should not be used, because these people who have been categorized by this are not broken - paralympians for example, they are not disabled, they are incredible! The view on the word needs to change.”

Spending her working days "covered in blood" during simulations, Sarah wants to send a different message within the modelling world by explaining "I'm 37 I'm not expecting to look like an eighteen year-old Size 0 as things have moved a little south (laughs), but I don't want to change who I am and I can't understand why people aren't happy with what they've got - there are people who are unable to feed themselves or even go to the toilet by themselves."

Sarah finalises that "sorrow and and sympathy is something that won't help someone, but support and ecouragement is - I am happy the way I am, and I'm always looking for the next challenge." swindonlink.com n May 2018

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Mitsubishi ASX: beat the Beast from the East

W

hen it snows, we still have to go about our lives. Strictly speaking of course, we shouldn’t. We should batten down the hatches (and hatchbacks) and wait it out. If only life was that simple. So when the Beast from the East roared in and I had to do the school run only to find that the school decided to shut for the day I had a moment of slip sliding away.

4WD On The Mitsubishi ASX Aft of the gear shift on the ASX is a rotary dial to select the four-wheel drive options.

2WD is the eco and default mode, prioritising fuelefficiency in normal driving conditions. 4WD distributes power to each wheel automatically to provide grip and improve handling in bad weather. This was the mode I used. Generally, the Mitsubishi ASX coped easily. It was

On Two Wheels

By Rod Derry of Swindon Cycle Campaign

Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy my cycle to work generally. But this last couple of months has been a struggle.

The weather hasn’t been great (there was some snow apparently) and after a period where I haven’t been cycling as much as I had before, it didn’t take much of an excuse for me to decide that I absolutely, definitely NEEDED to take the

very cold and on a sweeping, exposed corner I lost all traction and we went into an unexpected but exciting fourwheel slide. Thanks to this able car, this was quickly controlled.

This is why there’s another mode; 4WD Lock maximises grip in adverse weather like ice and snow. I subsequently selected this and all was well thereafter with grip aplenty.

The ASX was brilliant in the bad conditions.

About The Mitsubishi ASX The ASX rides high and gives the driver a lofty view of the

road. This high driving position lets you see further and clearer than lesser motors and in the battle with The Beast this was a good thing.

The model range starts at around £16,000 for the ASX2 spec and 2WD, rising up through the numbers adding trim and 4WD options with a choice of one petrol and two diesel engines. Our rangetopping version was the Mitsubishi ASX5 with a 1.6L diesel engine, a six-speed manual gearbox and the aforementioned 4WD and

car to work.

My commute is about 7 miles and takes me about half an hour (although that first one back after Christmas was a touch slower for some reason!)

We’re looking to move offices and one of the places that is looking favourite is only about 2 miles from home.

Now, most people would think “Oh great, it won’t take me as long to get to work in future, that’s fantastic!” but us cyclists aren’t normal are we?

I would probably miss my

commute and going from 7 miles to 2 miles changes the nature of that ride.

At the moment, I can don the lycra and make a bit of an event of it.

I can time myself on Strava and try to improve my fitness or get a quicker time up one of the small hills on my route.

For 2 miles it isn’t worth it and I will be able to jump on my bike in jeans and be in work a lot quicker than driving there.

One of my colleagues who is a much more active cyclist

than I ever have been – he does sportives and rides with Swindon Wheelers for example, had an even stranger reaction (well, it will seem strange to non-cyclists I imagine) in that he said he would have to put a loop around Cricklade or somewhere in order to make the ride worth bothering with!

Whilst the convenience will be fantastic, I’ll actually miss that longer route.

No wonder people think cyclists are not quite like the rest of us!

head, push the tap away from you slowly.

Ah, sweetness at the front, roastiness at the sides, bitterness at the back. This is the smooth, cascading loveliness of a great pint. Happy Days!

Flann O’Brien captures it in A Workman’s Friend: When things go wrong and will not come right, Though you do the best you can.

When life looks black as the hour of night - A pint of plain is your only man.

When money's tight and hard

to get And your horse has also ran.

When all you have is a heap of debt - A pint of plain is your only man.

When health is bad and your heart feels strange, And your face is pale and wan, When doctors say you need a change, A pint of plain is your only man.

• Swindon Poetry events – www.richardjefferies.org/ activities • Beehive Pub – Tuesday 8 May, 7pm www.bee-hive.co.uk

A pint of the black stuff is pure poetry... in my local, The Village Inn in Liddington. You now get one of the best pints of Guinness there, I’ve been on a mission for many handed over like a work of art a year, initiating bartenders in with a proud smile. how to pull a pint of Guinness The rules are simple: correctly. It makes such a • Hold the glass at 45˚ difference to the taste. When I • Let the stout bounce order, I watch the pull anxiously, off the Harp on the glass. Stop shouting “STOP” when it’s pulled when it reaches the top of the badly. I explain the rules, Harp. why it’s important to slow the • It takes 119.5 seconds process. I ask them to serve for the nitrogen bubbles to another customer as I don’t mind surge and settle. waiting for perfection.

• When there is a I’ve initiated the bartenders definite black line around the Poetry column by Poetry Swindon’s Maurice Spillane

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can be on the road for well under £30k which makes it good value. In the prevailing conditions I preferred the manual to the 2.2L automatic.

I find manual gives me more feel and control. It’s not a fast car clearly but the engine has gumption and a spread of torque and does the job well.

Our tested version came with an optional panoramic glass roof which makes the interior light and airy plus, as ever, all the now expected technology.

Would I Buy One? Yes, I think so. The ASX is maybe more for the urban crowd who like the idea of on-road SUV security. When The Beast From The East struck it proved to very capable in its own right and I rate it highly when you need a car that can handle a bit of adventure.

Geoff Maxted DriveWrite.co.uk

Spanish-style Swiss chard with chickpeas

{Serves 4-6 as a mezze or light lunch} Swiss chard is a favourite in Spanish kitchens and in this recipe Riverford Cook Anna pairs it with classic Hispanic ingredients – smoked paprika, chickpeas and garlic. It’s lovely warm out of the pan, but even better if left to infuse for an hour and eaten at room temperature.

2 large heads or bunches of Swiss chard (500g–600g) 2–3 tbsp olive oil, plus a little extra for garnishing

1 onion, thinly sliced 3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced 1 x 400g can chickpeas, drained 1½ tsp smoked paprika ¼ tsp cayenne pepper 2 tsp sherry vinegar, or to taste salt and black pepper Detach the chard leaves from the stems. Cut the stems into 2cm lengths and the leaves into 5cm-wide ribbons.

Blanch and squeeze the chard

stems and leaves.

Heat the olive oil in a wide frying pan and cook the onion with a pinch of salt on a medium heat for about 10 minutes, until soft.

Add the garlic and cook a further 2 minutes. Add the chickpeas, chard stems, paprika and cayenne and cook for 3–4 minutes, stirring often.

Finally, stir in the chard leaves and cook for a further 3–4 minutes. To finish, season

with salt and pepper, a drizzle of olive oil and a couple of splashes of sherry vinegar to brighten the flavour.

Variation Make a more substantial meal by adding thickly sliced Spanish cooking chorizo near the beginning, along with the onions, or tinned sardines near the end, along with the chard leaves.

For more delicious, healthy recipe ideas, log on to www.riverford.co.uk/recipes

Yak The Himalayan Kitchen - Review

By Ben Fitzgerald ben@swindonlink.com

I’ve lost count of the number of currys I’ve consumed over the past year - possibly enough to fill a standard sized bathtub.

Curry is my favourite thing but I’ve fallen into a bit of a routine with it.

Always a pint of Kingfisher, always two poppadoms, always chicken sag balti finishing with one of those thin mints, a red hot hand towel in a plastic tube and the bill.

Not so with Yak The Himalayan Kitchen on Devizes Road. This unassuming Old Town restaurant has been open for less than a year but has quickly garnered a reputation for excellent food and attentive service. It’s a curry

restaurant far removed from your usual generic offering.

As the downstairs area was busy, we were shown to our seat, up a winding back staircase into a cosy tucked away section of the restaurant.

My dining companion and I were the only two people up there… but the place quickly filled - clearly we weren’t the only ones who had heard good things about this place.

Sure there’s beer - but this is Gurkha beer.

There are poppadoms but these are shaped like a small bowl and come with an unfamiliar dip. And then there’s the curry. I opted for the Everest Lamb (what a lamb is doing prancing around on the world’s highest mountain

is anyone’s guess) and black lentil dal. My friend ordered Himalayan Pork Belly. And our excellent waiter asked what level of heat we would like this is a first and this underlined that our bespoke dishes were being cooked to order.

It came beautifully served in

a decorated metal dish, the curry was delicately spiced and warming as well as being piping hot. And the dal was warming, comforting and filling, as it should be.

As for the Himalayan Pork, I was assured it was a ‘melt in the mouth thing of loveliness’ I tried a sample. It was.

Prices on the menu were the equivalent of a typical curry restaurant, with main dishes setting you back a shade under a tenner - but the quality of the food and service at this lovely family run restaurant is far higher than you might expect at any old curry place.

Call to book on 017935 22368. www.yakthehimalayankitchen. co.uk swindonlink.com n May 2018

35

It's Lemur week at Cotswold Wildlife Park

Cotswold Wildlife Park & Gardens will be celebrating Lemur week with an array of family-friendly activities.

During May half term Cotswold Wildlife Park will be holding its annual Lemur Week (Saturday 26 May to Sunday 3 June) in aid of raising as much funds as possible for their Madagascan conservation projects.

There are lots of fun activities planned such as competitions, board games, Lemur themed merchandise to purchase, and two Lemur talks held within the walkthrough each day Outside of the Madagascar exhibit, guests can talk to the Lemurs' Keepers, learn about their conservation work in Madagascar and find out how you can help to protect these charismatic primates.

For further information visit www.cotswoldwildlifepark. co.uk or telephone 01993 823006.

swindonlink.com n May 2018

37

TRUSTED IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR 40 YEARS. 50,000 copies printed every month and delivered to homes across Swindon.

That’s an estimated readership of 125,000 each month!

Join our community and stay up to date on all things local.

PART OF

IMAGES BY CALYX PHOTOS * Price is based on 12 months in one edition and excludes VAT

Yo this au can rea Adve udience ch t r from tise with oo! u as lit tle as s

£ 5o * per m 1 nt h

01793 781502 www.swindonlink.com advertising@swindonlink.com Stay up to date with us on Facebook and Twitter

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

01793 613642 or 07841 826390 for a Free Estimate

David Hawkins

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

Stump removal

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

01793 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

•

• Fencing supplied and fitted at excellent rates • • • • • • • • • • • Carpentry Work • Odd Jobs • • Gutter, Fascias & Soffit Cleaning • Window Cleaning • • Laminate Flooring • Painting & Decorating •

Grass Cutting & Hedge Trimming Tree Pruning & Garden Clearance Planting - Trees/Shrubs Tree & Chainsaw Work Sheds Patios, Paths & Gravel Waste Carrying Licence

•

www.freethfencingandgardenservicesltd.com

swindonlink.com n May 2018

39

SERVICE SECTOR

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

Chris Payne

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

aerials & satellite systems

www.bookkeepingswindon.co.uk

N O

Phone: 07502 442726 or 01793 734379

Tel: 01793 700637 or 07963 637748

VA T

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

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

MILESTONE Building Services

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

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

Contact us for a quote:

01793 877677 www.enlan.co.uk

ACP

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

Extension & Garage Conversion Specialists • 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

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

THE CLEANING & IRONING SERVICE ● General carpentry ● Fitted kitchens/bedrooms ● Laminate and solid flooring ● Replacement doors ● Skirtings/architraves ● General building maintenance

40

swindonlink.com n May 2018

House cleans start from £18 per house.

Around £30-35 for a large 4 bed.

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

Ironing £18 per basket, returned next day.

Call 01793 875665 07780 625244

Home Improvements & Building Services • • • • • • • •

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

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

SERVICE SECTOR

CLEANING, COMPUTER SUPPORT, DECORATING, DOMESTIC APPLIANCE REPAIRS

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

DECORATOR INSIDE AND OUT

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

DECORATOR Quality painting and decorating at an affordable price

PR

ID

or eco

&D ter

EP

ain

REDUCTIONS FOR OAPs

rat

INTERIOR & EXTERIOR

01793 321981 07775 840236

COMPUTER SUPPORT

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

FREE ESTIMATES

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

Computer problems?

Let us help

Call 01793 334823 or 07788 572043

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

Call Andy: 01793 729354 or 07900 835116

andysweeney1@virginmedia.com

DECORATOR

40 years experience No VAT Free estimates For professional, reliable and friendly service call

GBD Services 01793 979282 or 07453 966627

Call 07976 885203 or 01793 721455

www.trevorwyse.com

Basics

01793 525807 www.basicsswindon.com • basics@xln.co.uk 1 Sherborne Place, The Drive, Nythe, Swindon SN3 3PE swindonlink.com n May 2018

41

SERVICE SECTOR

CARPENTRY, CLEANING, COMPUTER SUPPORT, GARAGE DOORS ELECTRICAL, GARAGE DOORS, GARDEN BUILDINGS,ELECTRICAL, HOME IMPROVEMENTS

Approved Electrician Approved Electrician Part P Registered Part P Registered

• Extra Sockets/lights

Replacement Fuse Boards

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

Kitchen & Bathroom Electrics

• • Testing andInspection Inspection Testing and Complete Rewires • • Complete Rewires

Home Networking

No job too small!

• • No job too small!

Garage Power Installations

Connected Connected Electrical Electrical && Property Services Property Services

Home Extensions Wired And more, please ask!

Fully insured to £2m

Call Geoff : 07824 314080 or Tel: 07824 314080 or 01793 703308 01793 703308 Email: connectedelectrical01@gmail.com

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

Email: connectedelectrical01@gmail.com

Certified Electrician NICEIC Domestic Installers (D606759)

Reliable Local Company • Re-Wires, Alterations & Additions • Inspections, Testing & Certificates • Consumer Units Replaced • LED Lighting Installations • Emergency Lighting • Fix Wire Testing

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

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

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

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

42

swindonlink.com n May 2018

Manor Garden Centre Cheney Manor, Swindon 01793 526691 Open 7 days a week

Quality TGB garden buildings for any situation Bespoke sizes available Base laying & installation available

PRICES HELD F

OR F MORE OUR WEEKS

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

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

www.grservicesswindon.co.uk

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

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, FENCING & CARPENTRY, LOCKSMITHS, PLANS DRAWN, PLASTERING, PLUMBING

PLANS DRAWN

M. Newman

Fitted Kitchens Bathrooms & Bedrooms Tiling & Worktops Laminate Flooring Skirtings & Architraves Dados & Coving Doors & Decking And much more

For a FREE no obligation quote call now on 07874 021004 or 01793 701797

Fencing & Carpentry Services • All traditional fencing • Screening and trellis ● • General Gardencarpentry waste removed ● kitchens/bedrooms • Fitted Carpentry

● Laminate and solid flooring No job too small ● Replacement doors Free quotations given ● Skirtings/architraves Call Mark: ● General building maintenance

01793 881336 07526 345636

marknew1971@gmail.com

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

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

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

Semi-retired Plumber

Plastering and Decorating

• Skimming and plastering • Artex to smooth • Plaster repairs • Coving • Painting and decorating • Stud work and boarding

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

SURESTOP SWITCH

installed for hard to get at or seized stop cock

188262

• 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

Please contact Brian Jones:

07976 572905 01793 725834

Professional, reliable and friendly service

Tel: 01793 324116 Mob: 07788 621772

www.swindonplasterer.com

217129

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

07845 90 80 60 or 01793 700 820

www.assured-plumbing.co.uk

swindonlink.com n May 2018

43

SERVICE SECTOR

PLUMBING & GAS SERVICES, PROPERTY SERVICES, REMOVALS, ROOFING, SAND & GRAVEL, SECURITY

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

Haydon Wick Heating Services

7 YEAR GUARANTEE on Worcester Bosch Ri Si and Cdi boilers

• Competitive rates • All work guaranteed

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

Accredited Installer

• No job too small

For further details call Richard on 01793 879156 or 07747 723606

Tel: 01793 748333 Mob: 07733897039

203455

Quality Plumbing & Heating Est. 30 years

All types of domestic plumbing work undertaken.

Small jobs welcome.

Fully insured.

07470 094941

harbourplumbingservices @gmail.com

• • • • • •

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 • • • • •

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

NEW: Licensed to remove fridges

Call for a FREE quote Mobile: 07796 236436

Installation & Maintenance of Electronic Security Equipment

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

swindonlink.com n May 2018

All heating and plumbing works undertaken

hwheating@googlemail.com

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

SERVICE SECTOR

SKIP HIRE, TOOL HIRE, TILING, UPHOLSTERY, WARDROBES, WASTE REMOVAL, WINDOWS

GILES BROS

M & J Upholsterers

FLOOR & WALL TILING SPECIALISTS

RE-UPHOLSTERY & ALL SUITE REPAIRS

Free Quotes Call Lee on 0771 8102 921 Call Mike on 0778 8444 084 or 01793 520526 Find us on Facebook

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

Re-upholstery of 3 piece suites, dining & fireside chairs etc.

Also new seat interiors Seams - Zips - Springs

TEL: 01793 330975 MOB: 07919 255673

LEATHER CLEANING

Email: leon.jack@hotmail.co.uk

Established 1972

Kitchens, Bathrooms and Conservatories

Call 07709 453949

Repairs carried out in situ

emanjayupholstery@gmail.com

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

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 swindonlink.com n May 2018

45

Your guide to Swindon Festival of Literature 2018 Monday 7 May DAWN CHORUS 5.30am Lawn Woods, High Street, Old Town SN1 3EN 01793 771080 WILD ANIMALS 11am Richard Jefferies Museum, Marlborough Road, Coate Swindon SN3 6AA 01793 917466 CAT WEATHERILL & STORYWALK 2pm Lydiard House, Lydiard Park, West Swindon SN5 3PA 01793 771080 FREEDOM RUN 2pm Lydiard House, Lydiard Park, West Swindon SN5 3PA 01793 771080 JO PAVEY 3pm Lydiard House, Lydiard Park, West Swindon SN5 3PA 01793 524481 HUGH WARWICK 7pm Lower Shaw Farm, West Swindon SN5 5PJ 01793 771080

Tuesday 8 May

DARREN HENLEY 7pm Arts Centre, Devizes Road SN1 4BJ - 01793 524481 BEN OKRI 8.30pm Arts Centre, Devizes Road SN1 4BJ - 01793 524481

TWO POETS & A BARGAIN WITH THE LIGHT 6.30pm Arts Centre, Devizes Road SN1 4BJ - 01793 524481

JOHN MAN 7pm Central Library Regent Circus SN1 1QG - 01793 466454

NO PETTICOATS HERE 8pm Arts Centre, Devizes Road SN1 4BJ - 01793 524481

Thursday 10 May

MIRANDA DOYLE 12.30pm Arts Centre, Devizes Road SN1 4BJ - 01793 524481

EDITH HALL 6.30pm Arts Centre, Devizes Road SN1 4BJ - 01793 524481

PAM AYRES 6.30pm Arts Centre, Devizes Road SN1 4BJ - 01793 524481

VIV ALBERTINE 8pm Arts Centre, Devizes Road SN1 4BJ - 01793 524481

FOUR QUARTETS 8pm Arts Centre, Devizes Road SN1 4BJ - 01793 524481

Friday 11 May CHRISTIE WATSON 12.30pm Arts Centre, Devizes Road SN1 4BJ - 01793 524481 RACHEL HEWITT 6.30pm Arts Centre, Devizes Road SN1 4BJ - 01793 524481 ALAN WINFIELD 8pm Arts Centre, Devizes Road SN1 4BJ - 01793 524481

A C GRAYLING 6.30pm Arts Centre, Devizes Road SN1 4BJ - 01793 524481

Saturday 12 May CAT WEATHERILL Storytelling Workshop 10am Central Library Regent Circus SN1 1QG 01793 466454

MARK FISHER 7pm Central Library Regent Circus SN1 1QG - 01793 466454

THE GREATEST STORY NEVER TOLD 12noon Arts Centre, Devizes Road SN1 4BJ - 01793 524481

WONDERWORDS 7.30pm Central Community Centre SN1 5BP - 07960 322215

SWINDON SLAM! 7.30pm Arts Centre, Devizes Road SN1 4BJ - 01793 524481

Wednesday 9 May

Sunday 13 May

AFUA HIRSCH 12.30pm Arts Centre, Devizes Road SN1 4BJ - 01793 524481

CHILDREN & FAMILIES DAY 10am – 4pm Lower Shaw Farm, West Swindon 01793 771080

MICHAEL ROSEN 5.30pm Arts Centre, Devizes Road SN1 4BJ - 01793 524481

OUR STORIES – performance!

7pm

46

swindonlink.com n May 2018

Monday 14 May

JOHN TUSA 12.30pm Arts Centre, Devizes Road SN1 4BJ - 01793 524481

TREVOR COX 12.30pm Arts Centre, Devizes Road SN1 4BJ - 01793 524481

GILL SIMS 8pm Arts Centre, Devizes Road SN1 4BJ - 01793 524481

Central Library Regent Circus SN1 1QG 01793 466454

JUDY MURRAY 8pm Wyvern Theatre, Theatre Square SN1 1QN 01793 524481

Tuesday 15 May HARRIET HARMAN 12noon Arts Centre, Devizes Road SN1 4BJ - 01793 524481 KEVIN TOOLIS 1.30pm Arts Centre, Devizes Road SN1 4BJ - 01793 524481 CHARLES LANDRY 6.30pm Arts Centre, Devizes Road SN1 4BJ - 01793 524481 WILL SELF 8pm Arts Centre, Devizes Road SN1 4BJ - 01793 524481 GRAHAME LLOYD 7pm Central Library Regent Circus SN1 1QG - 01793 466454

Wednesday 16 May HELEN PANKHURST 12.30pm Arts Centre, Devizes Road SN1 4BJ - 01793 524481 CAMILA BATMANGHELIDJH 6.30pm Arts Centre, Devizes Road SN1 4BJ - 01793 524481

ANNA MACHIN & REBECCA STOTT 8pm Arts Centre, Devizes Road SN1 4BJ - 01793 524481 WESTWORDS 6.30pm West Swindon Library, Link Centre SN5 7DL

Thursday 17 May LIBBY JACKSON 12.30pm Arts Centre, Devizes Road SN1 4BJ - 01793 524481 LIBBY PAGE 6.30pm Arts Centre, Devizes Road SN1 4BJ - 01793 524481 PEGGY SEEGER 8pm Arts Centre, Devizes Road SN1 4BJ - 01793 524481 ELIZABETH ST JOHN 7pm Lydiard House, Lydiard Park, West Swindon SN5 3PA 01793 524481

Friday 18 May MATT HOLLAND 12.30pm Arts Centre, Devizes Road SN1 4BJ - 01793 524481 KATE RAWORTH 6.30pm Arts Centre, Devizes Road SN1 4BJ - 01793 524481 THINK SLAM! 8pm Arts Centre, Devizes Road SN1 4BJ - 01793 524481

Tuesday 19 May WRITING WORKSHOP & WRITERS’ LUNCH 12.30pm Lower Shaw Farm, West Swindon SN5 5PJ 01793 771080 FESTIVAL FINALE: STORIES, POEMS, PERFORMANCE & MUSIC! 7.30pm Town Hall, Regents Circus SN11QG - 01793 601700

11

13

14

11

14 Good; 17 Very Good; 20 Excellent.

12 15

16

15

17

20

22

18

19

22

21

22

23

24

27

28 29

30

31 32

ACROSS 1.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

16.

17.

18.

20.

21.

23.

25.

26.

29.

30.

31.

32.

Bank account deficit (9) Epistle (6) Small stone particles (4) Expensive (4) Searched deeply (6) Warned (7) Rubber tube (4) Top of a building (4) Afflict (3) Female sheep (3) Unconscious state (4) Gone by (4) General pardon (7) Price list (6) Fine particles (4) Oil reservoir (4) Western French city (6) Numbing (9)

E D Y

R E V

SUDOKU

25 26

Any word found in the Concise Oxford Dictionary is eligible with the following exceptions: proper nouns; plural nouns, pronouns and possessives; third person singular verbs; hyphenated words; contractions and abbreviations; vulgar slang words; variant spellings of the same word (where another variant is also eligible).

Y O B

DOWN 2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

13.

14.

15.

18.

19.

22.

23.

24.

27.

28.

In truth (6) Go to bed (6) Steering device (6) Wing part (4) Frighten badly (7) Counterfoil (4) Willingness to believe (9) Affirming (9) Irish Gaelic (4) Tenet (5) Unfortunately (4) Jeered (7) Astounded (6) Stomach enzyme (6) Flower part (6) Skating floor (4) Melt (4)

There is just one simple rule in Sudoku. Each row and each column must contain the numbers 1 to 9, and so must each 3 x 3 box. This is a logic puzzle, you should not have to guess.

1 8 3 5 6 3 6 5 7 8 2 9 8 4 7 2

2

6 5 3 4 9 5 7 8 1 4 1 3 7 8 2 6 5 9

Using all 16 letters of the phrase above, form four words each of four letters which, when placed correctly in the grid, will form a magic square in which the words can be read both horizontally and vertically.

SOLUTIONS

Stub; 8 Credulity; 13 Attesting; 14 Erse; 15 Dogma; 18 Alas; 19 Scoffed; 22 Amazed; 23 Pepsin; 24 Stamen; 27 Rink; 28 Fuse.

10

10

QUICK CROSSWORD Across – 1 Overdraft; 9 Letter; 10 Grit; 11 Dear; 12 Probed; 13 Alerted; 16 Tyre; 17 Roof; 18 Ail; 20 Ewe; 21 Coma; 23 Past; 25 Amnesty; 26 Tariff; 29 Fuzz; 30 Sump; 31 Nantes; 32 Deadening.

11

Down – 2 Verily; 3 Retire; 4 Rudder; 5 Flap; 6 Terrify; 7

10

CHEAP ESTATE HOMES

NONAGRAM bode; body; bored; bred; breed; debye; deer; derby; derv; doer; dory; dove; dree; drey; drove; dyer; erode; EVERYBODY; eyed; obeyed; overdye; rede; redo; reed; reedy; robed; rode; roved.

9

MAGIC SQUARE

How many words of four letters or more can you make from this Nonagram? Each word must use the central letter, and each letter may be used only once. At least one word using all nine letters can be found.

Target scores:

MAGIC SQUARE past; ache; shoe; teem.

8

3 1 7 9 5 8 6 2 4

7

5 9 4 2 3 6 1 8 7

7

6 2 8 1 4 7 3 5 9

NONAGRAM 6

8 4 1 7 9 3 2 6 5

7

6

2 7 5 8 6 1 9 4 3

5

9 6 3 5 2 4 8 7 1

4

1 5 9 4 8 2 7 3 6

3

4 3 2 6 7 9 5 1 8

2

7 8 6 3 1 5 4 9 2

QUICK CROSSWORD 1

swindonlink.com n May 2018

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