North West Swindon Link October 2021 edition

No 472 October 2021 GPS-tracked, door to door delivery to over 40,000 homes across Swindon with Est. overall readership of 100,000

Swindon

LINK Your Community Magazine

North & West Edition

It's time to Be The Change for future generations p4

swindonlink.com Slagerij at The Vic during this year's Swindon Shuffle (picture by Chris Clark)

Swindon is alive to the sound of music p22

Swindon artist and author turns Chitty Chitty Bang Bang electric p8 NW October Master pages.indd 1

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Lydiard Park digital archive gathers a thousand years of history

By Jessica Durston jessica@positive-media.co.uk The Friends of Lydiard Park charity has launched a unique digital archive chronicling the long life of a jewel in Swindon's heritage crown.

The Lydiard Archives are an online collection of objects, portraits, records, manuscripts, photographs, memories and ephemera, compiling a thousand years of the history of Lydiard Park and the people and parish of Lydiard Tregoze.

Working with local residents, archives and authorities, as well as global institutions, the Friends have created a digitised collection reflecting Lydiard Park’s precious legacy.

From early medieval prosperity to its sacrifices and losses during World Wars, and from dereliction in the 1940s to its rescue and dedication

Launch day for the archive

to the people of Swindon, The Lydiard Archives tell of a rare heritage built on survival and tenacity.

Treasures included in the archives include the portrait of Holles St John, the younger brother of John 2nd Viscount.

St John, of Lydiard Park, was stepbrother to the famous politician and political philosopher Henry St John, 1st

Viscount Bolingbroke.

A portrait of him as a young child hangs in the drawing room of Lydiard House alongside another childhood portrait of his sister, Henrietta.

Sarah Finch-Crisp, Chair of the Trustees and a former Keeper of Lydiard House, spotted the portrait for sale in a London gallery.

The Trustees for Friends

enlisted the help of 18th Century portrait specialist Anthony Mould and the vendor, Miles Barton of the Miles Barton Gallery, to acquire the portrait for the Lydiard collection.

The archives can be seen at at www.TheLydiardArchives. org.uk, and there is no charge for viewing them.

Visitors can browse art and architecture, research family history, read articles and news clippings, and see memories of people connected with Lydiard Park through the centuries.

Whether they are used for education, social history, genealogy, research or simply local interest, The Lydiard Archives are intended to be a unique living testament to the wide range of primary source materials and objects associated with the house, park, St Mary’s Church and the surrounding parish of Lydiard Tregoze.

It's time for all of us to start living again There's definitely the whiff of change in the air.

For 18 months it's as if the world has been holding its breath just waiting for us all to start living again.

As a business, it's been pretty hard and we've made a few changes as we pivoted to muddle through the new pandemic-caused reality.

Although we're still a long way from pre-pandemic business, it's all heading in the right direction mainly thanks to the

Group Editor and Owner: Jamie Hill Deputy Editor: Barrie Hudson Reporter: Jessica Durston

Sales: Dave Stewart and Rosy Presley Office Manager: Karen Randall Photography:

Calyx

hugely successful vaccine rollout.

The phone is ringing and our inboxes are starting to get full again as the organisations of Swindon start to come alive to do what they do.

Three events over the past few weeks definitely caught our attention as proof that Swindon is ready to start living normal life again. They were Live at Lydiard, The My Dad's Bigger Than Your Dad Festival and the Swindon Shuffle.

All three showed off the talent that

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Swindon has to offer especially when it comes to live music, and their popularity proved how much we as a town have missed these cultural events that bring us all together.

So here's to us all starting to live again, supporting our local businesses and finally getting out and about to enjoy the buzz.

Jamie Hill Group Editor jamie@positive-media.co.uk

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The Eco Briefing

Be the Change: reduce your energy use - and your bills The energy price cap has increased for the 15 million customers it protects.

That’s why reducing the amount of energy we use at home has never been more important. Not only will this help to decrease bills, but it will also reduce our impact on the environment.

Here are eight easy things you can do to help reduce your heating bills and carbon footprint: 1. Turn the thermostat down by one degree and you could save £80 a year. If you have health concerns, are elderly or have small children in the

house, don't go below 18 degrees.

2. Put on another layer before you turn the heating on. Remember, lots of thinner layers keep you warmer than one big one.

3. Make sure your furniture isn't right up against your radiators as this will block the heat.

4. Close the curtains when it's getting dark and tuck them in behind the radiator. This keeps heat in the room.

5. If there's a room you don't use much, turn down the radiators in there and close the door so you don't waste energy heating it. (But don't turn those radiators off completely or the room may get damp over

time.)

6. Turn the heating completely off overnight and when no-one is in the house. You can use your central heating timer to do this for you automatically.

7. Stay warm at night with a hot water bottle. This is a much cheaper alternative to an electric blanket.

8. If you have night storage heaters, find out how to use them properly so you don’t waste money.

Free energy-saving advice is available from the national Government-endorsed Simple Energy Advice service on 0800 444202.

The Be the Change campaign website has lots of tips and resources to help you better

understand the environmental impact of your day-to-day lifestyle and the ways you can make positive changes www.swindon.gov.uk/ bethechange As part of the ongoing campaign, two Electric Vehicle Discovery Days have been scheduled for October.

One will take place on Friday, 8 October between 1pm and 6pm at the Orbital Shopping Park in North Swindon, and the other on Saturday, 23 October between 10am and 3pm at Lydiard Park.

The free events are intended to give people an insight into electric vehicles and the ways in which they benefit the environment.

MP backs campaign to restore historic pond South Swindon MP Robert Buckland has backed a neighbourhood campaign to restore a pond dating back more than a century.

The pond, near The Prinnels in West Swindon, may have originally been a so-called dew pond, created and lined with clay as a watering place for livestock, and associated with the nearby farmhouse which still survives.

However, in recent years it has become overgrown with willow and other vegetation, and people living nearby are campaigning to have it returned to its former state.

Swindon Borough Council is investigating what can be done and when, as the pond is thought to be home to a number of scarce species of plants and animals.

Mr Buckland said: "I've always felt that 4

South Swindon MP Mr Buckland, third from right, with some of those involved in the project

one of the joys of West Swindon is the green open spaces. The fact that the teams here and the residents have got together to restore this much-loved open space speaks volumes for the life and health of our community in West Swindon.

"I'm proud to represent them."

One of the leading figures in the campaign, Jane Wilcox, said: "It's quite

a big pond and it's going to cost a lot of money to get it done.

"No-one really knows it's here unless they know it's here. Everybody in the neighbourhood is on board. The object of the project is to get it fully restored.

"It's thriving in spite of how it looks. Can you imagine how it's going to be when it's restored? It's going to be fantastic!"

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Green campaigner says welcoming wildflowers can save our planet

By Barrie Hudson barrie@positive-media.co.uk A veteran Swindon environmentalist says wildflowers in gardens and other spaces should be encouraged.

Glynis Hales, who lives in Freshbrook and presents the Birds and Bees radio programme on Swindon 105.5, insists the plants are vital to the soil, the air, wildlife and the environment as a whole.

She said: "What I'm trying to get through to people is that the wildflower is doing a lot. We've lost, some say, 97 percent of our wildflower meadows since the 1930s.

"There are various studies, although it's a bit of a new science. Everyone is putting trees in to sequester the carbon, to take it out of the air.

"The thing with trees is that they do, but they put the carbon in their trunks - that's why they get so big.

Glynis Hales in her naturefriendly Freshbrook garden

"When wildflowers sequester carbon, they sequester it into the soil, so when you have wildfires they will burn all those trees and release that carbon, but if you've got wildflowers, yes, they will be burned off, but you can very quickly re-seed and they will start sequestering the carbon that year - whereas if you plant trees it's going to take a while before they start doing their job.

"We need both, of course,

but I think more emphasis, especially as we're in a race against time, needs to be on the wildflowers and what they're doing."

Glynis, in common with the authors of many studies, believes modern farming methods have disrupted a great deal of the natural balance. She said: "Nature has been doing this for millions and millions and millions of years.

Homo sapiens have only been on the planet for 250,000

years.

"We've only been farming, possibly, for about 10,000 years. So we don't know what we're doing. We've got no idea.

"For example, people use pesticides but the pesticides get rid of everything, the good guys and the bad guys.

The problem is that you then need to keep on using these pesticides because other pests come along and start eating your plants!

"If you just leave it to nature, the natural pesticides are wasps, lacewings, earwigs and all these other insects.

"Yes, you're going to lose a bit of your cabbages or whatever, but we're not doing without at the moment and I think we should allow that."

Glynis would like to see more public land given over to the natural growth of wildflowers, and more people allow at least part of their own garden to be natural.

New revamped skate park for Haydon Wick Haydon Wick Council opened its £80,000 refurbished skate park in September.

The skate park features artwork from local graffiti artist Ed from Thevisualdrop.

Ed was brought in to add a flair of creativity to the park by decorating the skating ramps.

It is designed in such a way that it can be used with

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skateboards, scooters, bikes and wheelchairs and to suit a range of ages and abilities.

It is open from 9am to 5pm October to March and then from 9am to 9pm April to September.

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Swindon artist and author turns Chitty Chitty Bang Bang electric

By Barrie Hudson barrie@positive-media.co.uk When the estate of James Bond creator Ian Fleming wanted an illustrator to help update the image of the author's other world-famous fictional character, they called in Swindon author and artist Steve Antony.

Steve, whose work includes the Mr Panda series, The Queen's Hat and other favourites familiar to countless children and parents across the globe, has given the public a new Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, complete with a carefullyresearched electric motor.

"I've always felt I've got a bit of an affinity with Chitty, ever since reading the book as a child," he said.

"It just captivated me. The whole idea of a car having a personality and being able to fly and taking you on all sorts of adventures - that stayed with me.

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Steve Antony with copies of You Can! and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

"All of the cars that I've had in my adult life, I've named all of them and I've imagined that they've had personalities.

To be given this job was just amazing."

Not long before he was approached with the offer, Steve wandered into an antique bookshop during a visit to London and picked up a copy of one of the three original Ian Fleming volumes.

It was on his desk when his agent relayed the message from the Fleming estate.

"I looked at the email and I looked at the book, and it was surreal. I had to read the email more than once for it to sink in!"

Another of Steve's recent projects involves a completely new book, due for an October release.

You Can!, written by Alexandra Strick, is based on

the thoughts, hopes and wishes of a group of real-life young people.

Steve's illustrations include a series of double-page spreads in which the story of each can be followed from babyhood to the age of 18.

He said: "I read the text, and to me it seemed like a really positive manifesto, and immediately I thought to myself, 'Wow, this is something every classroom needs.'

"It's such an incredibly positive and inclusive book.

It was a really challenging book to illustrate because it's not a story as such. I had to take their thoughts and their comments and somehow visualise them and create a visual narrative, so the way that I approached it was by creating 14 characters, all diverse characters, of different abilities, identities, ethnicities, and this book follows them from birth. As you turn the page they get one year older."

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Call to secure school places in good time Swindon Borough Council recommends parents complete applications to primary, junior and secondary schools earlier to avoid oversubscription.

This year, the council said, it was able to give 96 per cent of applicants their first choice primary school and 87 per cent their first preference secondary school, but early applications are still urged.

Parents can find out about the application process, deadlines and schedules by visiting www.swindon.gov.uk/ schoolplaces

Zero tolerance for flytipping in Swindon Swindon Borough Council handed out 37 Fixed Penalty Notices for flytipping between May and 2 September.

The fines were part of the council's ongoing zerotolerance policy toward fly-tipping, which costs the borough's taxpayers £200,000 per year in clearing and enforcement.

The council has also deployed mobile CCTV to help catch offenders, and members of the public are asked to report incidents and share information via www.swindon. gov.uk/flytipping

Swindon UTC open day announced Swindon's University Technical College will hold its first open event of the year on Saturday, 2 October from 10am to 1pm.

Visitors are promised the chance to find out more about studying at an engineering and digital technologies school.

Principal Jon Oliver will give talks about the UTC and its work at 10.15am and then again at 12.15pm.

Places can be booked by searching for 'UTC Swindon' at www.eventbrite.co.uk, which also has further details.

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New Swindon choir promises friendly welcome to all

By Barrie Hudson barrie@positive-media.co.uk Anybody who loves to sing and has always wondered what it’s like to sing in a choir can now find out.

The new no-audition Swindon Good Afternoon Choir runs on Thursdays from 1pm to 3pm at Freshbrook Church, and a warm welcome is promised to anybody who goes along to find out more.

Bath-based music man Grenville Jones started his Good Afternoon Choirs 12 years ago and Swindon is one of eight new ones.

He said: "Come along and meet the Swindon Good Afternoon Choir on a Thursday afternoon from 1pm at Freshbrook Church. There’s no charge for attending the first rehearsal, and bring a friend.

“Choirs are great for meeting new friends and enjoying the best hobby in the world!”

John Sandford, who leads the

Choir leader John Sandford has years of experience

Swindon choir, lives in Bath and is a choral music director with over 30 years of experience running choirs for children and adults.

He holds a Certificate of Teaching from the Royal School of Music, specialising in voice training, and loves to work with individuals and groups to improve their singing technique and vocal health. He is also a member of the Association of British Choral Directors and has taken part in workshops led by

leading composers such as John Rutter, Eric Whitacre and Bob Chilcott.

The choirs sing popular melodies in harmony and each choir raises money for a local charity selected by the members.

In 2019, prior to Lockdown, the Good Afternoon Choirs raised over £22,000 for local deserving charities.

Choir rehearsals are in four terms of 10 weeks each, and members pay £50 per term.

This covers all room and piano hire, music, admin and the musician fees.

There is no obligation to join at the start of a term - people are invited to simply come along to any rehearsal and pick up a membership form should they wish to join the choir - their fee will then be worked out for the remainder of that term.

Further information can be found at www. goodafternoonchoir.org

Free fire service visit that could save your life

Firefighters are urging the public to take advantage of a free home safety visiting service.

Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service's Safe & Well scheme is intended to help keep communities safe in their homes.

Visits can be requested via www.dwfire.org.uk/safe-andwell-visits/ and by calling free on 0800 038 2323.

Topics covered include: - Using electricity safely - Cooking safely - Making an escape plan - What to do if there is a fire - Keeping children safe - Good practice – night time routine and other relevant points relevant to you - Identifying and discussing any further support you may need if necessary A service spokesperson said: "During the coronavirus pandemic we are still able to offer support to you in your home, albeit with a slightly

different approach to help prevent the inadvertent spread of the virus.

"Your safety is really important to us, so to help us before we visit your home we will telephone you to provide you with home fire safety advice and to identify if any additional equipment may be required, such as smoke, heat or CO alarms.

"We will then arrange to visit you at a convenient time

to install any equipment and briefly look around your home to identify any fire risks.

"To help us keep you safe we will wear appropriate PPE whilst in your home and will ask you to remain at a safe distance away from us, as well as wear a face covering, if possible."

The fire service website www.dwfire.org.uk - has free downloadable leaflets covering a range of fire safety issues.

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Brighter Futures and Swindon Rotary Club to host Christmas charity run The 'Santa vs Rudolph Run' will be held at Lydiard Park on Sunday 5 December.

Members of the public can register at www. swindonsanta.org.uk.

Fundraising for the event will go to Brighter Futures and Wiltshire Air Ambulance.

The event page is at www. brighterfuturesgwh.nhs.uk.

Registration for the run will start at 8.30am and the main event will start at 11am. The distances are 3k, 5k, 10k which participants can either run, jog or walk. Families, dogs and pushchairs are also welcome.

Swindon Borough Council to provide smarter street lighting across borough Towards the end of the summer, Swindon Borough Council said lanterns on more than 17,800 lighting columns had been upgraded to more energy efficient LEDs. SSE Enterprise Contracting continued to upgrade lanterns mainly in the Central, Eastcott, Lydiard & Freshbrook, Old Town, Walcot & Park North, Western and Mannington areas of Swindon.

Lighting columns that have reached the end of their service life were replaced in the Old Town, Walcot & Park North areas over the same period.

A council spokesperson said: "A continued thank you goes out to residents who have accommodated requests to move vehicles to give our contractor the space either side of a column to accommodate the vehicle required to remove and replace the column."

In the coming weeks, lantern upgrades and column replacements are planned for the main/larger roads in West and Central Swindon.

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Swindon Air Rifle League encourages newcomers

By Jessica Durston jessica@positive-media.co.uk Swindon Link visited Swindon Air Rifle League members from the Brown Jack A and B team.

People of all abilities are welcome to come along to the meets which take place weekly at the North Swindon Club off Cheney Manor Road. Members need to have the strength to hold a rifle so it's for 12-year-olds and above.

Members are lent rifles and shooting gear, if they wish to use them.

People with disabilities are welcomed and accomodated with different shooting styles.

Membership for the year costs £15 for over 18s and £5 for under 18s. An extra cost of £2 for every practice helps to cover the free use of the equipment and the pellets and scorecards supplied.

Mark Dobson, the Brown

Members of the Brown Jack A abd B shooting teams

Jack club and A team captain said: "We like to try and make our practice and competition sessions fun.

“We’re friendly and easygoing. I think of everyone here as my Brown Jack family and I think that is what other people will find by joining not only us, but any club that is part of the Swindon & District Air Rifle League."

Safety training is available on first visit and the handling of the rifle and correct stance will be explained. Members shoot from either side of a screen partition at their scorecard,

held at a distance of around 6.2 metres.

The Swindon and District Air Rifle League and Brown Jack Shooting Club have public social media pages. Members of the public can join the private and public groups and keep up to date with competition outcomes and team victories.

Brown Jack Bs team member Ken Goodchild has been known to write a match report that he posts to their Facebook page.

Local air rifle clubs within Swindon can be found at www. swindon177.co.uk/

First phase of Fleming Way rejuvenation underway

By Jessica Durston jessica@positive-media.co.uk

The renovations of Fleming Way have started with the demolition of a car park, to help pave the way for a £33m scheme to improve Swindon town centre.

The Parade multi-storey car park behind the H&M store, which has been closed to the public for a number of months, is being removed as part of the Fleming Way Bus Boulevard scheme.

The council says the disused car park is being demolished so that the site can be included in the wider plans for the new bus interchange, providing the bus stops for some of Swindon’s rural bus services.

Local demolition specialist Lawson Group have been appointed to carry out the demolition work which began on 20 September and will last

An artist's impression

approximately two months.

With the work ongoing pedestrians are now unable to access the walkway alongside the car park on Fleming Way. However, they are still able to walk along Fleming Way at the upper level.

The Bus Boulevard scheme aims to see Fleming Way completely transformed to include a new public open space on the north side with a green central area to increase biodiversity.

The scheme will also feature improved pedestrian and cycle routes and the removal of the current Fleming Way underpass.

The borough council is currently in the process of procuring a main contractor for the Bus Boulevard scheme.

Members of the public can receive updates on the Fleming Way Bus Boulevard scheme by signing up the project’s e-newsletter at www.swindon. gov.uk/newsletter

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Our Vision At Haydonleigh, our united vision was created by our pupils, parents and staff alike.

Our school is committed to working in partnership to ensure every child achieves their best.

Welcome to Haydonleigh!

School Profile: Haydonleigh Primary

We provide a secure and happy environment where the work is varied and challenging and every child and adult is valued.

Get to know the schools in your area

We set the children and ourselves high standards to enable every child to develop his or her potential to the full and become confident learners.

Website: www.haydonleighschool.co.uk/

This issue: Haydonleigh Primary School Address: Haydon Court Drive, Swindon, SN25 1JP Contact: 01793 700 443

All parents are very welcome at Haydonleigh, and we see home and school working together as very important for your child.

School Values Respect Responsibility Enthusiasm Unity Creativity ‘I am talented together, I am amazing!’ underpins our philosophy.

We believe in nurturing our individual skills and working together to enable everyone to meet their full potential.

High expectations in learning and behaviour are maintained throughout our school.

We believe that learning should be active, so our staff and governors work hard to ensure each child is offered a varied and exciting curriculum, whatever their ability.

We pride ourselves on providing our children with a stimulating education. The school was visited by Ofsted on 19 January 2019 and was judged to be “good”.

Our Facilities

"Create the best future for your child"

Haydonleigh Primary serves the local community as a dynamic and exciting place to be.

We are a three-form entry school with a capacity of 630 children, made up of 90 pupils in each year group.

Our school has amazing facilities including a dance studio, theatre, pastoral room, award-winning kitchen and a purpose built Early Years Foundation Stage “nest.”

Our large grounds boast playfields, a wooded wildlife area, large outdoor gazebo classrooms, a number of trim trails, a kitchen garden, a London bus library and a role-play caravan.

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Estate agents Perry Bishop welcomes new member of its Swindon sales team Darron Bailey who, alongside Paul Dearing, has been appointed at Perry Bishop to look after sales and lettings in Swindon and surrounding villages on behalf of the award-winning estate agents.

Darron started his journey in property in 1988 and since then has helped hundreds of families and individuals on the move in Swindon, Oxford and across Devon.

He grew up in Wiltshire and now lives in Covingham. Darron says he is delighted to be joining Perry Bishop, an awardwinning estate agency who say their reputation has been built on providing exceptional customer care.

He said: “There have been a great many changes in the way properties are marketed since I first became an estate agent in the late 1980s. However, one thing remains the same – estate agency is all about people and

delivering the best possible moving experience. I never forget that.”

Darron has two grown-up children and when he is not valuing and selling and letting properties, he enjoys cycling across the beautiful Wiltshire countryside.

Those who are interested in selling or letting their property can contact Darron for property advice and a free valuation.

Darron's contact information: Telephone: 01793 686305 Email address: darronbailey@perrybishop. co.uk

New community hub, arts space and café for town centre A new community hub, arts space and cafe called Swindon Hub is opening its doors in the town centre.

The hub aims to be a meeting and event space for community groups and small businesses to hire.

It was planned to open at the start of October but organisers opened the doors for a special viewing and Big Clean-up Party event in September.

The new cultural hub is situated in the heart of the town centre, making use of the empty River Island shop in The Parade.

An inclusive social enterprise powered by volunteers, the Hub is supported by more than 20 community groups.

The team behind the Hub say their aim is for the building to be a welcoming, accessible, affordable and sustainable place for everyone in Swindon.

The project hopes to support the regeneration of Swindon’s town centre, targeting the problem of empty shops and

the need for a community space where groups and individuals can interact, exchange ideas, and share resources in a sustainable, low cost venue.

The Hub team say they have a strong environmental ethos and that the Hub will be run in a sustainable and ethical way with involvement from local environmental organisations and upcycled furniture provided by Renew Men’s Shed.

As well as providing a social space where people can meet, eat, learn and create, the Hub provides spaces where small businesses and community and cultural organisations can be based, run events and share ideas and resources. The arts space will host a programme of exhibitions, workshops and events.

Volunteer Jol Rose said: “There is so much energy and potential in Swindon - the Hub will be a place where people can connect and make things happen.” www.swindonhub.org.uk

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The Politics Page Swindon is such a welcoming place Swindon Council Leader David Renard's monthly column

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The ACRS will welcome up to 5,000 people in the first year, up to a total of 20,000 over the coming years, leading the way in the global response to the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan. The scheme will provide vulnerable refugees from Afghanistan and those put at risk by recent events in Afghanistan with a route to safety.

I am extremely proud that Swindon has continued to support a number of asylum and refugee programmes over the years.

You may not be aware, but Swindon is one of only five places in the South West that regularly support and house refugees throughout the year.

In fact, we currently have around 300 households in Swindon under this programme including some historic Afghan cases.

We also continue to support the Unaccompanied Children

Asylum Seeker Programme and at present look after 30 children who arrived on our shores without any family members Much of our work to support refugees and those seeking asylum is aided by the fantastic work of local charity The Harbour Project. They are always looking for volunteers and are working tirelessly to support those who have been affected by the events in Afghanistan.

If you can spare a few minutes please have a look at their website harbourproject. org.uk to see for yourself the great work they do on a daily basis and to see how you can lend your support.

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Words by Jessica Durston

I have lived in Swindon now for 31 years and I have always been struck by what a welcoming place it is.

The town’s unique location and excellent job opportunities have seen our population grow significantly in recent decades and many of those people who moved to Swindon in search of work have stayed and brought up their own families here.

Like me, many residents soon realised that Swindon is a great place to live but that it also has a strong and diverse community where people look out for one another.

This was particularly evident last year when, in the throes of the covid-19 pandemic, people across the Borough came together to show their caring side and to rally round to help those who needed their support the most.

But we also extend a caring and welcoming hand to people from outside our communities each and every year.

I am sure you will have watched with horror at the events unfolding in Afghanistan over the past few weeks.

I have been contacted by many residents to ask if there is anything we can do as a council to support those who have been forced to flee from the Taliban.

I would like to assure all Swindon Link readers that we are doing everything we can and we have already put forward a motion declaring our intention to do everything possible to help those affected.

At the time of writing, I have responded to the Government to pledge our support to the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS), which will see us find homes for Afghan families who need somewhere to stay.

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Louie Spence revealed as star of Swindon Pantomime

FEATURES

Words by Jessica Durston

Louie Spence will appear on the Wyvern Theatre Stage as The Spirit of the Beans in the pantomime Jack and Beantalk from 4 December - 2 January.

A spokesperson for the theatre said: "Follow Jack and climb a beanstalk of gigantic proportions to cloudland in this giant pantomime adventure.

Doomed to sell his trusty cow, join Jack as he fights to outwit the evil giant and win riches beyond his wildest dreams!

"Expect laughs, music, special effects, magic beans and bundles of audience participation at Wiltshire’s biggest Christmas show."

Tickets for the performance are available at www.swindontheatres.co.uk/Online/panto-swindonpantomime There will be a relaxed performance on Friday, 10 December at 1pm. Sign language interpreted performances will take place on Friday, 10 and Saturday, 11 December at 1pm.

An audio-described performance will take place on Thursday, 23 December at 1pm.

Due to the coronavirus outbreak, the 2020 pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk at the Wyvern Theatre had to be postponed until 2021.

The Wyvern Theatre says those with tickets for 2020 will have the same seats as previously booked for a rescheduled date. A full list of the rescheduled dates can be found on the website.

The theatre has issued the following advice for members of the public who have paid for their tickets before 20 August 2020: • Holding onto your tickets is the best way to support us.

• Tickets will be honoured at the original price even if prices subsequently increase.

• A £5 panto voucher will be emailed to paid ticket holders to redeem against ice-cream, drinks, sweets or merchandise.

• Your existing tickets will remain valid for the new date.

Members of the public can join the social media conversation with #SwinPanto.

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Swindon post-covid crowds come CULTURE out in thousands for live music Swindon has been rocking out to live music festivals over the past month with packed crowds at Live at Lydiard, My Dad's Bigger Than Your Dad Festival, and Swindon Shuffle. Live at Lydiard was held on Saturday 21 August and Lydiard Park crowds were wowed by headline acts Ann-Marie and Dizzee Rascal. Then on Saturday 29 August, a packed crowd streamed into The Bowl at Old Town Gardens for My Dad's Bigger Than Your Dad Festival, which was in aid of Prospect Hospice and in tribute to local music legend Dave Young. Headline acts included The Boys From County Hell, Kova Me Badd and Gaz Brookfield and The Company of Thieves. From Thursday 9 September to Sunday 12 September, the pubs of Old Town including The Vic, The Tuppenny, The Hop, The Beehive, Baristocats and The Castle, were all packed out for the annual Swindon Shuffle Festival which was also in aid of Prospect Hospice.

Gaz Brookfield & The Company of Thieves at My Dad's Bigger Than Your Dad Festival (pic by Jennifer Berry)

The crowds enjoying Live at Lydiard (pic by Angelos Shiapani)

Revellers enjoying Live at Lydiard (pic by Angelos Shiapani)

Buswell and Nyberg at The Castle Inn at this year's Swindon Shuffle

Kova Me Badd at My Dad's Bigger Than Your Dad Festival (pic by Jennifer Berry)

Thought Crimes at The Beehive during the Swindon Shuffle

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MOTORING

Honda CR-V : One of the most dependable crossovers on the market

The Honda CR-V has just celebrated its 25th birthday and in the process has become the world’s best selling SUV. Not bad for a car which was built in Swindon a few years ago but now where sadly there is no production at all.

Experts say a new Honda CR-V can last between 250,000 to 300,000 miles on the road which means a lifespan of between 16 and 20 years, making the CR-V one of the most dependable crossovers in the market.

The latest evolution now of the CR-V is a hybrid and after two years it is doing rather well in the market place. The customers like it, the experts rate it and while it is expensive at around £36,000 it is an excellent car.

The two litre engine

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POETRY

Leigh Robinson: Motoring writer

works in line with two electric motors giving you a top speed of 112mph and a 0-60mph in nine seconds.

And being a hybrid you get more than 50 miles to the gallon.

The 2.0 i-MMD hybrid is the only engine option for the new CR-V and it is pretty lively. Should you require a 4x4 there is one available emissions are between 120 and 126 CO2 g/km.

There is a massive amount of space. Take the rear seats down then you get almost 1,700 litres of space and your fuel tank is

57 litres.

Automatic emergency braking lane-departure warning, traffic sign recognition, e-Call emergency response and lane-keeping assistance are all standard.

The CR-V range starts with the S trim, which comes with a good amount of kit including 17in wheels, auto lights and adaptive cruise control, plus all the safety features and visibility aids. Up for the next is the SE, which adds the infotainment upgrades (Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and a 7.0in screen),

The unusual haunts of poetry Maurice Spillane: Of Poetry Swindon

I often say you’ll find poetry in strange places. Here’s one.

Walking from Liddington Hill to Aldbourne, past the deserted village of Snap, you’ll come across a deserted barn, known as Lower Lodge Barn. The brickwork and timbers represent centuries of change. An ugly fence stops you from getting close, as it’s dangerous. Surely this building should be preserved rather than left to decay and collapse. It’s listed, but what’s 24

as well as the extra parking aids. Then there is the dual-zone climate control, 18in alloy wheels, privacy glass, auto wipers, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror and a leathertrimmed steering wheel.

The SR with the £36,000 price tag adds leather seats, heated front seats, ambient lighting and keyless entry, while the top-of-the-range EX features 19in alloy wheels, a powered tailgate, a heated steering wheel and a head-up display and then you are up to the £40,000 mark.

the point of being listed?

I ranted on about the barn to a friend of mine, David Hughes, who is a Recorder of old buildings. It turned out he knew a great deal about the barn as he’d surveyed it. He gave me a copy of his report, admitting “...it was technical and tedious.” I’ll give him that, but I read it.

Then came the fascination.

Roundheads had stabled overnight before the battle of Newbury, builders had been several times between the Glorious Revolution

Lower Lodge Barn

and the Seven Years War, carpenters had left their initials. The language of tools and methods long gone from our vocabulary came to life.

I wanted to know more about these people.

The report inspired a long poem, “The Recorder” available on my link below.

Here’s a taster: And it’s quiet this day, the Recorder on his ladder, both hands to steady, pencil in mouth perhaps, excited by the cocktail of staggered tenoned purlins, the oak trusses calibrated on gunstock head posts, the straight and curved

raking struts and arched braces.

Poetry events are back.

I’m looking forward to Innua Ellams, Poetry in the Pub, and Colm Tóibín at the Marlborough LitFest from 30th September: https:// www.marlboroughlitfest.org/ events/ From 21 October we have Swindon’s Big Poetry Weekend – all events will be streamed this year so you can choose from a good range of poets: bigpoetryweekend.com www.mauricespillane.com

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Hayes Knoll Road – A Safer Route to Cricklade

Cycling column with Becky Cox of Swindon Cycle Campaign

If you’ve cycled out to Cricklade from Swindon recently you’ve probably noticed the concrete blocks across the junction at Hayes Knoll Road (near the Cricklade & Blunsdon Railway).

Access is avaliable for pedestrians, cyclists and horseriders and the changes have created a much safer and more attractive environment to enjoy. Drivers can still access the road from the Cricklade end, but not use it as a through-route. Instead, they can use the Cricklade Road (B4553).

These changes are part of a temporary trial (18 months)

Alfie Howlett: Swindon Town FC writer

The leaves may be falling and the darker nights may well be closing in but the football is still only getting started.

Who would've thought just a few months ago that Swindon would have a full squad and would be winning games of football? Everyone involved in the club deserves a huge amount of credit. They've got everything up and running in such a short space of time, even putting together a competitive squad.

As well as this the engagement with the fans has been top class. From pulling pints to playing cricket with the fans, chairman Clem Morfuni has done everything in order to get everyone on board. This is already showing with the crowd attendances being above 8200 for the first four league matches for the first time in 27

to improve safety at this notoriously dangerous junction, and to provide a quieter route for people to enjoy by foot, bike, on horseback, scooter etc.

I rode down there recently - what a change! It’s always been a popular route for cycling but I’d never seen so many people enjoying the route on foot and bike.

Pedestrians, cyclists, equestrians and drivers have equal rights to use the public highway. However, those who don’t have the protection of a metal box encasing them have steadily been deterred from roads due to safety concerns: motor traffic has risen around 20% in the last two decades alone.

Since the fear of traffic and personal safety are the reasons that most people cite for not cycling and walking in their local area, creating more low traffic environments is absolutely vital, not only to our health but also the health of our environment.

If, like me, you’re keen to see this temporary measure made into a permanent feature, it’s important that you feedback to Wiltshire Council regarding this scheme by 13 November.

Let’s make a positive change

A new era of 'happiness and togetherness' begins at STFC years. In addition the feeling around the club is one of happiness and togetherness.

On the pitch things are certainly beginning to take shape. For a team that had virtually no pre-season Swindon have been doing exceptionally well.

You can already see the philosophy of manager Ben Garner being implemented on the pitch.

Swindon are definitely playing some nice possession based football with midfielder Louis Reed being at the heart of it.

Every orchestra needs a conductor and Reed is just that to this Swindon team. The player dictates the tempo of this Swindon outfit and he just keeps possession ticking. In the Town system he plays a pivotal role. He might not always

catch the eye but his range of passing is key and he reminds me very much of the roles Jorginho and Luka Modric play for their clubs. The 24-yearold will certainly be a crucial part if Town are to achieve something this season.

Another player who has caught my eye is Alex Gilbert.

The Brentford loanee joined the club on transfer deadline day and he certainly has a bit of Premier league class about him.

The 19-year-old already looks right at home on this Swindon wing. Gilbert is a technical player who can dribble well and get into good positions without the ball. It's a signing that'll not only improve the team but the squad with Gilbert joining Harry Mckirdy as the other winger. Which will free up the likes of Jack Payne and Ben Gladwin to play more

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CYCLING

and set a precedent for more low-traffic routes that everyone can enjoy. It only takes two minutes to complete the quick feedback form by following the link to the website below and selecting ‘Option 3 – TRO Consultation Form’. www.wiltshire.gov.uk/ troconsultation-c70-purton

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SPORT centrally.

I feel as if Swindon now have a well balanced competitive squad that could definitely push for the top half of league 2. My only concern would be the lack of a left back. Although Rob Hunt can play there he is right footed and his best position is at right back.

Ellis Iandolo has almost been converted into a left back from previous regimes. The club's longest serving player began as an attacking midfielder however now mainly operates at left back. Although superb going forward I still have one or two questions defensively.

The next part of the season will see the league table begin to take shape and perhaps we will begin to form an idea of who will finish where. A few more wins in the next matches will certainly see a side that was at the beginning fancied for relegation becoming a side talked about for promotion. How football can change. swindonlink.com n

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TRADE PAGES

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TRADE PAGES

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TRADE PAGES J’s Electrical

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