I'm one of the committee members for a free original music festival called Swindon Shuffle, which took place from Monday 9 September to Sunday 15 September.
And it was fantastic. There were 73 acts in total with events taking place at venues across the town including Swindon Central Library, The Vic and The Beehive.
The work that goes into something on this scale is mindblowing and I believe that every single one of us who volunteer to organise and make this happen did a fantastic job.
It was an event that showed how strong the Swindon community is and how when we put our minds to things we can make things happen. Another thing that we believe is at the heart of the community is The Ink, our subscriptionbased news service favouring analytical and longform news sent direcly to your inbox. It costs £5.99 a month meaning you get complete access to all our briefings four days a week. Swindonians have really taken to The Ink as it gets under the skin of the town's issues. If you haven't already, sign up below.
Prospect Hospice CEO highlights financial crisis facing organisation
By Barrie Hudson barrie@swindonlink.com
The latest Ink Community Talk saw Prospect Hospice CEO Jeremy Lune speak to a packed house upstairs at The Hop in Old Town.
The talk was the latest in a series organised by The Ink, the online subscription news and features service run by the team behind Swindon Link.
Called Don't Mention the D Word, the talk - part of the Swindon Shuffle, which itself raises vital funds for the hospice - saw Jeremy highlight squeamishness about death, the work of the hospice and its ongoing funding difficulties.
The audience learned that in spite of bringing help, comfort and reassurance to some 2,000 patients per year, not to mention bringing help, comfort and reassurance to countless loved ones, the hospice had a £1 million budget deficit for this year alone.
Jeremy revealed that the hospice made far more from its charity shops - from the stock gifted by the public and the money handed over by customers - than the tiny fraction of its running costs given by Central Government.
"We've got to start shouting and we will shout," Jeremy said. "I'm not going to keep quiet about it.
"How much longer can we keep asking you to jump out of aeroplanes and bake cakes?
"At the moment we have
to keep asking more from everyone, and people have not got bottomless pockets themselves.
"It's my duty to make things change, either at Government level or in other ways. The system is in complete denial about it."
Jeremy shared some of the thoughts Dr Catherine Mannix, a palliative care doctor and bestselling author who has long campaigned for a better approach to the way we and our leaders look at end-of-life treatment.
"In our lives," Jeremy said, echoing her sentiments, "there are two days where we do not see the full 24 hours.
"The first we celebrate every year. We light candles on the cake and all the rest of it. The second of those days we do not really talk about until it steams into view in our lives.
"For me that's incredible. We look the other way."
Information about the work of the hospice and the many ways in which people can help it can be found by visiting its website, www.prospect-hospice.net
News from SBC
Have you checked if you are eligible for free school meals?
Swindon Borough Council is inviting parents to complete an online application form to see if their child qualifies for free school meals.
All children in reception, Year 1 and Year 2 are entitled to universal free school meals (UFSM). However, parents can also apply for free school meals from Year 3 if they receive specific benefits including Income Support and Universal Credit. Ensuring children receive a free healthy meal during school not only saves parents money on buying a lunch or making a packed lunch, it can also open up other opportunities to receive help and support during the holiday period.
Applying for benefits-tested free school meals allows schools to claim Pupil Premium funding.
This is additional funding provided to
schools to support eligible pupils to ensure they benefit from the same opportunities as their peers. Schools have the flexibility to use this money in any way they see fit to provide additional support both in and out of the classroom. This can include funding or part-funding school trips, wellbeing support, extra tuition or additional support in the classroom.
Parents whose children receive free school meals can also take part in the Holiday Activities and Food programme, which runs during some school holiday periods and provides funded activities for four hours a day – plus a nutritious meal. In addition to this, eligible families will also receive food vouchers to support them during the school holiday periods.
To check if they are eligible, parents should search for ‘Free Schools Meals’ on
Swindon Homeline going digital
Homeline users and their loved ones are being reminded of a change in the system.
In Swindon, more than 3,000 vulnerable residents depend on the Homeline community alarm system for round-the-clock assistance.
Swindon Borough Council says that as the UK transitions from analogue landlines to upgraded digital technology, it is taking significant steps to ensure this crucial service remains uninterrupted, which includes securing data-sharing agreements with BT, EE, and Virgin Media.
A spokesperson said: "These agreements allow telecom providers to identify customers using the Homeline service, helping us ensure that their devices function correctly after the upgrade. This collaboration is vital in preventing inadvertent disconnections
the council website and use the online form to carry out a free school meals check. The council will carry out a free school meals check for most schools in the local area, but if the school does not use the council’s free school meal checking service, parents should contact their school office who will be able to signpost them in the right direction.
during the upgrade process.
"To provide further support and information, BT hosted a dropin event on Wednesday, 11 September, from 10am to 2pm at the Central Library in Regent Circus.
"We strongly encouraged all Homeline users and their families to attend. This event was a great opportunity to ask questions and ensure your service continues to function seamlessly through the digital switchover."
The spokesperson added: "If your landline is due for an upgrade and you use a Homeline device, it’s important to inform your telecom provider.
"Please also notify us at 01793 464430 or 01793 616427 so we can make sure everything is in place for a smooth transition."
Council repaired more than 14,000 potholes last year
Recent research estimates that it would cost £16.3bn to clear road maintenance issues across England and Wales. Locally, Swindon Borough Council has said it would take approximately £142m to return all local roads to a ‘like new’ condition.
It comes as transport bodies call for investment, with the RAC saying: “It’s as clear as day that councils simply haven’t had the financial support they need to bring the standard of the roads in their care up to a reasonable standard.”
Working with limited resources, the council has confirmed that in 2024/25 it will spend £2m on proactive road resurfacing work across Swindon, a further £170,000 on reactive pothole repairs and £715,000 on patching repairs to larger sections of road.
Using its available resources, between April 2023 and the end of March 2024, the council repaired 14,411 potholes in the
borough.
Fixing a simple pothole, which can be repaired by two council employed workers with minimum machinery and materials, will see the council spend around £48.
A more complicated repair, which may require the road to be dug up and involve the work of additional vehicles, can cost around £83 per square metre. Additional costs may include any required traffic management.
Residents can help by identifying potholes and reporting them on the council’s website. The council uses measurement criteria adopted by many local authorities – that a pothole is at least 40mm deep in the road surface (which is roughly the height of two 20p coins).
When potholes are reported, the council will risk assess the reported defect. Those that pose a very high level of safety risk are completed within 24 hours, with the
council aiming to complete other repairs within 10 working days.
With some exceptions, all repairs are considered permanent. However, a particularly deep pothole creates additional problems to the road surface around it, so the team will fix the initial hole and programme a patch to this section of the road at a later date.
You can get more information by visiting the Frequently Asked Questions section by searching ‘Potholes’ on the council website at www.swindon.gov.uk
Creation of multi-million pound Swindon youth centre under way
By Barrie Hudson barrie@swindonlink.com
Work has begun on a new Swindon youth centre which will offer everything from counselling services and education to a gym and music recording facilities.
Backed by £3.8m from the Government's Youth Investment fund, the Swindon Borough Council facility at the Lyndhurst Centre site will be able to support more than 400 children and young people per week. It is a key priority in the council’s corporate plan, the Swindon Plan, and aligns with one of the local authority's stated missions - to Build a Fairer Swindon.
Ward councillors, borough council officials, members of the building team, key representatives of local organisations and the media gathered at the site to see the
Swindon
work in progress.
Cllr Paul Dixon, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Children’s Social Care, said: “This is a really exciting project and I am so pleased we have begun work to transform this empty building into a fantastic facility for children in Swindon.
“This is what building a fairer Swindon is all about. Ensuring no one is left behind and equipping young people with
the skills and opportunities to have a bright start in life.
“I am thrilled young people have been engaged with this project from the start as their input has been invaluable in ensuring we get the right mix of activities in the youth centre.
“I can’t wait to see the centre open next spring."
The inclusive centre will have open access youth services for all children and young people aged between 11 and 16, and
aged up to 25 for people with disabilities, in Swindon, offering a Child First model designed to support children to access services to avoid potential harm outside the home.
The Lyndhurst Centre building is being fully refurbished by local contractor RJ Leighfield and a wide range of activities will be available to children, with local youth support services SMASH Youth Project, STEP Swindon and WAY engaged as a partnership to deliver much needed services and opportunities.
Toby, 17, one of the Young Changemakers from WAY, said: “For too long others have decided what’s best for us young people. Now it’s our turn.”
Young people have been involved at every stage of the development of the centre, which is expected to be completed next March.
joins 100 local authorities in call to save council homes
By Jamie Hill jamie@swindonlink.com
Swindon Borough Council has joined an unprecedented crossparty coalition of over 100 council landlords, who have jointly published five solutions for the Government to secure the future of England’s council housing.
The local authorities warn that England’s council housing system is broken and that urgent action is needed for the Government to deliver its housing promises. In July, 20 of the largest council landlords published an interim summary of their recommendations. Significant traction – including an urgent meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister - has led to over 80 more councils backing their recommendations and signing the final report.
This more detailed report, led by Southwark Council with contributions from housing policy experts Toby Lloyd and Rose Grayston, sets out a full roadmap to renew the country’s
council housing over the next decade and critical policy changes for the realisation of the new Government’s social housing ambitions.
It explains how an unsustainable financial model and erratic national policy changes have squeezed councils’ housing budgets and sent costs soaring. New analysis from Savills shows they will face a £2.2bn ‘black hole’ by 2028.
They warn that unless more is done soon, most council landlords will struggle to maintain their existing homes adequately or meet the huge new demands to improve them, let alone build new homes for social rent. Across the country development projects are being cancelled and delayed, with huge implications for the local construction sector, jobs and housing market.
Rather than increasing supply, the reality is that some councils will have no option but to sell more of their existing stock to finance investment in an ever-
shrinking portfolio of council homes.
The recommendations include urgent action to restore lost income and unlock local authority capacity to work with the new Government to deliver its promises for new, affordable homes throughout the country.
The five solutions set out detailed and practical recommendations to the new government:
- A new fair and sustainable HRA model – including an urgent £644m one-off rescue injection, and long-term, certain rent and debt agreements.
- Reforms to unsustainable Right to Buy policies
- Removing red tape on existing funding
- A new, long-term Green & Decent Homes Programme
- Urgent action to restart stalled building projects, avoiding the loss of construction sector capacity and a market downturn
They make up a plan for a ‘decade of renewal’, with local authorities and central
Government working together to get Housing Revenue Accounts (HRAs) back on stable foundations, bring all homes up to modern and green standards, and deliver the next generation of council homes.
Cllr Janine Howarth, the council’s Cabinet Member for Housing, said: “We were only too happy to support this national campaign because we need the Government’s support if we are to reform council housing and provide the funding councils need.
“Here in Swindon we have 4,230 people on our housing waiting list, a backlog of repairs and we are facing a big challenge in ensuring our homes are energy efficient and meet modern standards.
“Something needs to change and the five solutions set out in the future of council housing report will go some way to putting us on the right path to deliver affordable and green homes for people in Swindon in line with our own and the new Government’s ambitions.”
Will Stone
From left: Sandra Ebenezar (WAY), Councillor Paul Dixon (Cabinet Member for Children’s Social Care), Joel Howarth (WAY)
Six new interns with learning disabilities
join the council
Swindon Borough Council was delighted to welcome six new interns at the start of September, as part of the DFN Project Search programme.
Project Search provides a valuable opportunity for young adults with learning disabilities to be part of a workforce. The programme provides real-world work experience and training, enabling young people to achieve their future aspirations.
The interns have joined the council’s teams in Customer Services, Registration, Campus
Support, Business Support, the post room and Children’s Services. They will rotate between these teams to gain valuable skills.
They will be supporting the work at the council for the full academic year and will then complete six additional months with the Support into Employment team.
Pavinder, Mac and James (pictured) started their internship by helping the council and by providing feedback on health and safety signs throughout the offices.
30 years of the Great Western Community Forest
This year marks 30 years of the Great Western Community Forest (GWCF).
The area, with Swindon at its heart, covers 39,000 hectares (over 168 square miles) stretching from the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty to the River Thames and is one of just 15 community forests across England.
Some of Swindon’s much-loved green spaces form part of the GWCF and you might not even know it. Unlike traditional forests, community forests aren't geographically restricted to one place. Instead, they are spread across a mix of community woodland, private woodland, on-street, urban woodland, wooded habitat corridors and hedgerows.
Sites like Nightingale Wood, Stanton Park, Stratton Wood and Shaw Forest Park are all included in the GWCF.
The project has gone from strength to strength since it was established in 1994. Over that time there have been 37
community woodlands created in and around Swindon and more than 600,000 trees planted covering more than 540 hectares with the help of volunteers, businesses and community groups.
Cllr Emma Bushell, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for the Build a Greener Swindon mission, said:
“The Great Western Community Forest is an incredible scheme that I’m really proud we are part of here in Swindon.
“It’s important we enhance and maintain our green spaces to ensure they remain places that people can enjoy for generations to come.
“I can’t wait to see how our green spaces evolve across the next 30 years.”
Brothers' £4,100 Three Peaks climb for Prospect
By Barrie Hudson barrie@swindonlink.com
When Swindon brothers Lewis and Bruce Farrant decided to climb Britain's three highest mountains in 24 hours in aid of Prospect Hospice, they set themselves a target of £1,000. They instead ended up raising a total of £4,100, including a last-minute addition of £80 on the day they handed the cheque over at the Wroughtonbased hospice.
Burning an estimated 19,000 calories each during their sponsored Three Peaks Challenge, the brothers emerged happy but not exactly unscathed.
The challenge takes in Ben Nevis in Scotland, England's Scafell Pike and Snowdon in Wales.
Lewis, a floor layer, said: "It was incredible and insane!
"I personally found the uphill fine, but it was the downhill - I pulled my Achilles. Coming
down Snowdon I was nearly in tears!"
Bruce, a Mercedes technician, said: "Coming down Scafell, the second one, my legs just turned to jelly and they didn't really recover all the way up Snowdon and back down."
At one point Bruce fell and dislocated a finger.
The brothers were supported by friends and loved ones including Lewis' wife, Louisa, and Bruce's partner Hannah Combellack.
In one of the towns en route, Lewis was hobbling across a car park when a concerned elderly man asked him whether he was alright.
Bruce recalled being overtaken by a person using a walking frame as he struggled along a pavement.
Of the countless donations which helped Lewis and Bruce on their way to more than quadrupling their original target amount, one was especially poignant.
Lewis said: "My uncle's brother-in-law was actually being cared for here.
"He unfortunately passed away last Monday, but he donated £50 whilst he was here, and that was while we were actually on the mountains.
"It's hard to meet somebody who hasn't been helped by them in some way."
Prospect Hospice CEO Jeremy Lune said: "For me, what the Farrant brothers have done is another example of people going above and beyond.
"Lewis said it was a real challenge, and that he went outside his comfort zone, which is amazing.
"That £4,100 will be changing people's lives, and it never ceases to amaze me just how generous our community are in the support they provide for us."
Information about fundraising opportunities can be found at www.prospect-hospice.net
Bruce, in green shirt, and Lewis Farrant holding the cheque, flanked by members of the hospice team including CEO Jeremy Lune
New
surgery service for Swindon glaucoma patients
Community healthcare provider CHEC has announced the launch of a transformative glaucoma surgery service in Swindon.
Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS) is an innovative approach combining glaucoma treatment with cataract surgery, utilising advanced techniques to minimise blockages at different pressure points in the eye, enhancing natural fluid drainage.
The combination of improved fluid drainage and a microscopic implant added to a membrane within the eye works to tackle the symptoms of glaucoma and cataracts, minimising optical nerve damage and vision loss, and supporting long term eye health. More information can be found at chec.uk/minimallyinvasive-glaucoma-surgerymigs
Council thanks Swindon people for recycling
Swindon Borough Council has thanked people for taking part in waste recycling efforts across the borough.
Since the council launched the new recycling service in November 2023, residents have already recycled more than 4,000 tonnes of food waste.
The council has also reassured residents who have got in touch to voice worries that their food waste isn’t being recycled properly and is being emptied straight into general waste section of the refuse lorry.
In fact, the council’s refuse lorries have two compartments, one which holds the non-recycled waste and one which holds food waste collected for recycling.
All food waste is taken to a company in Wiltshire, where a process called anaerobic digestion is used to break it down, generating methane which is collected and converted into biogas that is used to generate electricity.
13th annual trauma group conference at Hilton
By Barrie Hudson barrie@swindonlink.com
Swindon Trauma Group held its 13th annual conference at the town's Doubletree by Hilton Hotel.
The group, as chair Dick Hilling explained, was founded in 2008 and originally known as the PTSD Trauma Incident Group, and provides support, help and advice to people who have undergone trauma and their loved ones.
Participants in the conference included a range of people with expertise or a strong interest in the subject.
These included Prof Gordon Turnbull, one of the foremost trauma experts, whose work included helping hostagesincluding Church of England envoy Terry Waite - on their release from captivity in Lebanon.
Also present was singer and former Generation Game co-presenter Isla St Clair, who
devotes a great deal of time to publicising issues affecting veterans.
Prof Turnbull said: "It is an important event because we still haven't resolved the problem of trauma and what to do about it.
"There are several different ideas - medical techniques, behavioural techniques and psychological techniques - but nobody knows exactly what we should do. There are no golden rules about what to do.
"It all really boils down to this: the more we know about trauma, the more you realise, I think, that it shouldn't be regarded as a disease or as an illness in a purely medical sense, I think you realise that it's something which is a reaction, a normal human reaction, to adversity, to something going wrong."
Further information about Swindon Trauma Group can be found at www. swindontraumagroup.org.uk
Swindon Heritage Action Zone project success celebrated
By Barrie Hudson barrie@swindonlink.com
The completion of Swindon's Heritage Action Zone (HAZ) project was celebrated with a gathering at the Carriage Works in the heart of the Railway Village.
The zone was launched in June 2019, as an ambitious five-year plan to revitalise the town’s unique railway heritage. It has included events and improvements throughout the histioric area of the town which includes iconic landmarks the Railway Works, the Health Hydro and the Carriage Works.
Detailed information about the project can be found at www.swindon.gov.uk/ info/20181/the_swindon_ heritage_action_zone
Guests at the celebration included Deputy Mayor of Swindon Cllr Fay Howard, borough council Cabinet Member for Placemaking
and Planning Cllr Marina Strinkovsky, Conservative Group Leader Cllr Gary Sumner, Heritage Action Zone Project Officer Karen Phimister, parish councillors and representatives of heritage and business organisations. Karen Phimister was presented with flowers to thank her for her work on the project.
The Deputy Mayor said: "It's
brilliant to see more made of Swindon's heritage and us building on that heritage. Just to see these old buildings come to life, and the work that has been done on the GWR Park is amazing."
Cllr Strinkovsky described the project as wonderful and looked forward to further work on improving other parts of Swindon including the town centre.
Heritage Action Zone Project Officer Karen Phimister, centre, flanked by Swindon Borough Council Conservative Group Leader Cllr Gary Sumner and Cabinet member for Placemaking and Planning Cllr Marina Strinkovsky
Participants at the conference including, inset, Isla St Clair
Swindon date for acclaimed jazz star
Dennis Rollins MBE
Dennis Rollins MBE will be performing on 8 October at The Royal Oak in Old Town with special guests the George Cooper Trio.
The star is well-known on the British and international jazz scene and is celebrated for his versatility and muscular approach to playing the trombone.
Born in 1964 to Jamaican parents, Dennis cut his teeth at the age of 14, studying in brass bands and an extended spell under tutorship at the Doncaster Youth Jazz Association. After studying he moved to London where he joined the National Youth Jazz Orchestra (NYJO) and legendary all-black jazz big band, The Jazz Warriors.
The Royal Oak Old Town is the home of a weekly live Jazz session.
Purton artists to host their annual exhibition in November
Purton Artists' Exhibition opens on Friday 1 November from 6pm to 8pm when early birders will be treated to wine, musicand art!
The exhibition is also open on Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 November from 10am to 4.30pm.
It will feature a wide range of local artists showing off their talents in a number of different styles as well as glassware and wood craft - and lots of colourful greeting cards at a much lower price than in many stores.
There will also be a pre-loved art and craft stall and the artists demonstrating their work while you browse.
A spokesperson said: "This is a wonderful opportunity to brighten up your homes with new art work for your walls and as we move ever nearer to Christmas, to buy some presents for your nearest and dearest! "Refreshments will be served on all days, so come and enjoy!"
Candlelit vigil for murdered Indian doctor held in Swindon
By Jamie Hill jamie@swindonlink.com
A candlelit vigil for a brutally murdered female doctor at her workplace in Kolkata was held in Regent Circus, organised by Swindon's Bengali communitySHAROD.
Dr Abhaya (original name withheld) was on night shift duty when she was raped and murdered in the premises of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Ko in the early hours of Friday 9 August.
The crime sent shockwaves around the world, sparking mass protests across India about the incident itself and the bungled investigation into the rape and murder by the police and The Government.
The vigil in Swindon had about 25 people attending including doctors from Swindon, Oxford and Bath.
It was organised by a Bengali organisation SHAROD (Swindon Holistic Association for Religious
and Optimistic Development).
One of the members of SHAROD Dr Indrani Mukherji, who works at GWH and John Ratcliffe Hospital in Oxford, said: "We are here this evening to show solidarity with our fellow Bengalis/ Indian and people in the medical profession holding vigils across India and the rest of the world.
"This was a truly horrendous crime. To think that a doctor was raped and murdered in her place of work whilst on
duty. It's dreadful. Since this tragedy there has been an outcry around the world and the purpose of our vigil was to raise awareness and show solidarity."
Organizer Mr Arindam Roy Chowdhury mentioned that the publicity on this would be sent to the High Commissioner of India in the UK, requesting him to seek the President of India’s attention. This is being done across the UK and other parts of the world.
Window Wanderland event to light up Lawn
By Amanda Wilkins amanda@swindonlink.com
After a very successful Window Wanderland last year, the Lawn Community Association are planning their second event this November.
The Winter Wanderland is a creative event where local residents are invited to decorate their windows for five days so that everyone can enjoy a trail of decorated windows in the community.
Lawn Community Association have planned a series of events that will take place over the coming months, including a workshop where you can pick up materials to help create your window.
A spokesperson for the event said: "If you would like help with creating a window, or have ideas and experience to share, we will be running a couple of workshops at the centre where you will also be
able to pick up materials."
The workshops take place at the Lawn Community Centre on Saturday 28 Septembe from 2pm - 4pm and Sunday 13 October from 2pm - 4pm.
Residents need to register their window before 14 October.
The Window Wanderland trail will be launched on
Wednesday 6 November at 4.30 pm, at the Lawn Community Centre.
The trail will then continue from Wednesday 6 November until Sunday 10 November. A celebration party will be held on Saturday 16 November at 6.30pm in the Lawn Community Centre.
Swindon loses a local historian and icon: Robert 'Bob' Townsend
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Robert 'Bob' Townsend, a beloved historian and icon of Swindon, on 14 August.
Bob was a well-known figure in the Swindon community, contributing immensely to the preservation of the town's rich history and leaving an indelible mark on all those who knew him.
Diagnosed with Dementia in 2018, Bob battled the disease bravely until he passed away at the age of 83. His life was celebrated at a funeral held at Immanuel Church, Upham Road on Monday, 2 September, which anyone who knew him was able to attend.
Born and raised in Swindon, Bob took immense pride in his hometown, dedicating much of his life to researching and preserving its history. After completing his apprenticeship at Swindon Railway Works, Bob worked for the Royal Navy on Wroughton Airfield, servicing helicopters and maintaining ground equipment. He later worked as a Conservator for the Science Museum's outstation site on Wroughton Airfield. Bob was deeply passionate about
athletics, representing his country in Germany, Norway, and Switzerland, and setting the record in the 3,000-meter senior steeplechase at Marlborough College.
His dedication to running and commitment to his community inspired many and he was featured in The Swindon Book Companion.
In his later years, Bob played a crucial role in digitalizing the Beaney Collection purchased by the Swindon Society
Fireworks displays to light up the town
The annual Swindon Scouts fireworks display at Lydiard Park will be held on Saturday 2 November.
Tickets are available for purchase at www. lydiardfireworks.com and cost £10 for adults (15-plus) and £5 for children (5-14) before any discount is applied.
Also planning a display are Tadpole Farm C of E Primary Academy, whose event - a celebration of its 10th anniversary, will be held on Friday 18 October with the doors opening at 5.30pm and the display starting at 7pm.
The school's website is tadpolefarmcepa.co.uk
The Swindon Lions Fireworks and Funfair is set for 6.45pm on Saturday 2 November at the Polo Ground in Marlborough Road, and full details can be found at swindonlions.org/fireworks
The Lions have been organising their display for more than 30 years.
The organisation, founded in 1964, organises many charity events throughout the year.
The Scouts' fundraiser on 2 November empowers young people in Scouting and supports vital community organizations.
The night of family fun, featuring a dazzling display of fireworks, live music, and exciting activities, promises to be bigger and better than ever, with something for everyone.
This year's event will feature thrilling fairground rides and a spectacular bonfire, together with delicious food and drinks.
Proceeds from the Lydiard Park Fireworks display directly support Scouting in Swindon.
Ticket purchases help provide young people with valuable skills for life, including confidence, leadership and first aid.
This year the event will sponsor Wiltshire Search and Rescue, who will be showcasing their important work.
and Swindon Museum and Art Gallery, scanning thousands of photographs, and even discovering an image of himself which was later featured on Swindon News' front cover.
Bob Townsend's love for Swindon, its history, and its people was unwavering. His contributions to the town will not be forgotten, and his legacy will live on in the countless lives he touched. He will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and all who knew him.
Interview: Auriel Chandarana is the manager of Swindon community support organisation Enterprise Works
By Barrie Hudson barrie@swindonlink.com
For an organisation which has performed a vital role for many years, Enterprise Works in Gipsy Lane doesn't exactly have a high profile.
Auriel Chandarana would like to see that change.
"We're open, we're here, come and visit!" she said.
The nature of the organisation, run by Swindon Borough Council, is as simple as it is life-changing.
Auriel, who has been in charge since April, said: "Enterprise Works is a timber and fencing supplier. We also make and provide sheds, planters, decking - anything with wood, basically - and they are all hand-made in our workshop.
"Enterprise Works, previously known as SEQOL, has been going since 1963, but as Enterprise Works since 1990. We've been running as a social Enterprise from the very beginning.
"We support people with disabilities back into employment. We are a Supported Employment employer. We support people with all disabilities. It can be physical or non-physical, visible or non-visible.
"Part of our workforce is from a Supported Employment background, and we support them. Our longest-serving person has been with us for 44 years. We support and develop and upskill people back into employment or just help them with general life skills."
There are currently seven Supported Employment staff, and over the years there have been hundreds.
Displayed on a wall inside the building is displayed a timeline showing key points in the organisation's history and
some of the people who have been involved - some of whom are still involved today.
"We still have four people on that timeline through the years that are with us today; three who work within the workshop, one who is our business support and a further two who are working in our retail store on the shop floor.
"With our existing Supported Employment staff, in the beginning they were trained on how to do carpentry. At the moment we work with DWP very closely to make sure we can provide the support and access that they need.
"They are Enterprise Works employees and a part of the team. We work and support each equally.
"Supported employment is a personalised model for supporting people with disabilities to secure and retain paid employment.
"It's amazing. You can actually see the journey people have taken from thinking that they aren't supported, that there's no hope for them to get work or they can't go back into work because of their abilities. We can actually see the change
traditional personal banking up to being a senior business manager, and I was there for 15 years.
"I then took a bit of a career break for my kids, and when I went back into work I started working at New College as a work experience/employer engagement co-ordinator.
I supported teaching ESOL (English for Speakers for Other Languages), I helped embed the T-Level pilot programme, which then took me on to being employed by the council as a careers hub co-ordinator. This role was created to embed careers advice and engagement in schools."
in people knowing they have been given the opportunity.
"We have loyal staff - 44 years and still going is no joke! - but you can actually give them a space where they feel that they are part of a community. You can see that because they come into work every day, they learn new things, they support you, they support the team and basically work and earn a living so they can support themselves.
"I think, to an extent, they have also supported a lot of myth-busting for people who are not aware of what people with disabilities have and can do."
Auriel is originally from Zimbabwe, is of Greek heritage and has lived in Swindon for longer, as she puts it, than she hasn't.
"I lived in Greece for a little bit until I was about 18, and I decided I wanted to come to England. I went to college here, did my A-Levels, met my husband, so I've been here for a while!
"After doing my A-Levels I decided to go into work, and I worked at Barclays Bank. I went from doing the old
Then, still with the council, Auriel became manager of the Building Bridges supported employment project.
"That gave me the opportunity to set up support into employment for 16-to-25-yearolds with the council with the support of managers and so forth.
"I also set up the Project Search, which is a final-year-oftraining programme for young people with disabilities as a pathway to employment. The first cohort started in 2023 at Great Western Hospital and this year we've got two, one at Great Western and one at Swindon Borough Council.
"Which leads me on to being the Enterprise Works Manager!"
Auriel also leads the Tenant Academy, based at the Gipsy Lane location, which helps and supports tenants with life skills ranging from budgeting to healthy eating and many more.
All tradespeople and members of the public are welcome to come and find out more about the products the Enterprise Works team offer, and can do so via enterpriseworksswindon. co.uk
Auriel said: "What we offer is quality, it's handmade and it's done with a social value."
Welcome to Abbey Farm Educate
Together
Our vision for Abbey Farm ET Primary is to create a school where every child is valued, nurtured, developed to the best of their ability.
An environment that is holistic in approach and enables the children to continue their education upon leaving and develop into the very best that they wish to be.
Our committed staff team strive to provide our children with the happiest and best education possible. We look forward to welcoming visitors to our school so that we can share our exciting learning environment and ethos whilst sharing our vision for Abbey Farm Educate Together.
Our community consists of more than just our children and staff: it extends to our parents and families, local residents within the Abbey Farm estate.
We believe all play an important part in partnership with us to enable the school to integrate and support both our children and the local community. Something that is growing by the day.
School Profile: Abbey Farm Educate Together Primary
We are a two form entry school with 60 children in each year group. In September 2022 we opened our pre-school and reception class. The school will grow by opening an additional year group each September until we are full in 2028.
Our pre-school and primary school offers:
- A unique ethical curriculum.
- A place where no child is an outsider.
- A well-resourced indoor and outdoor learning environment. We actively question whether what we do is for the children’s learning and welfare. We believe that a commitment to high academic standards is possible alongside a creative and ethical curriculum. The ‘Learn Together Curriculum’ is embedded in everything we do and integrated with the National Curriculum.
Business Profile - SN Heating & Plumbing Ltd
Business Type - Domestic and commercial gas, heating and plumbing engineers
Address - Unit 96, The Pembroke Centre, Swindon SN2 2PQ
Telephone number - 01793 753169/07711 938094
Website - www.snheatingplumbing.co.uk
By Barrie Hudson barrie@positive-media.co.uk
When customers come to SN Heating & Plumbing Ltd, they feel the benefit of owner Neal Young's quarter century in the sector and the collective experience of his small, highly dedicated team.
"We have quite a diverse customer base," said Neal.
"We deal with domestic customers, we deal with commercial customers and we also have our contract clients.
"We deal with Natural Gas, LPG and oil, and within the oil sector we cover quite a lot of the slightly more rural villages outside of Swindon, such as Minety, Brinkworth, Ashton Keynes, places like that.
"We fix stuff and install stuff, basically.
"The gas and oil installation, service, repair and maintenance is where our key focus is - but that said, if somebody comes to us and says, 'Neal, can you get somebody out please because we've got a dripping tap and it's doing my head in!' then certainly we will."
The company has an excellent reputation which it works zealously to maintain and improve.
"Once an individual or a company has that trust in what
you're doing," Neal said, "the word spreads."
Neal explained the key principles of SN Heating & Plumbing Ltd:
* Personal service – built on a commitment to professionalism.
* Reliable and responsive service – as flexible as possible when it comes to scheduling jobs and will always turn up at the time promised.
* A genuinely competitive price – the company doesn't claim to be the cheapest because it doesn't cut corners, if a job’s worth doing it’s worth doing well. "But we do offer the keenest prices possible," explained Neal, "so as well as a job well done you do get value for money."
"Because your boiler from a domestic perspective is shut away in a cupboard or in a loft space or wherever it may be," said SN Heating & Plumbing Ltd owner Neal Young, "people tend to forget about it.
"But they tend to find that when the thing fails it's quite a stressful period.
* Top quality workmanship.
* A good reputation – endorsed by the recommendations of satisfied customers
* Free quotes – the company will come out and look at what needs doing, explain how it would do the work and provide a quotation.
* All work is guaranteed and fully insured.
"Our key thing is to make them feel they are in safe hands and that we'll get the work done quickly, efficiently and cost-effectively."
This commitment has always been at the core of what the company does, whether the customer is a member of the public or a business.
Neal takes pride, for example, in the fact that his organisation will never source cheap and possibly inferior parts from online marketplaces in order to save money in the short term, but will instead go out of its way to make sure every component it installs is genuine and sourced from reputable merchants.
This, he says, is one of the many reasons why SN Heating & Plumbing Ltd enjoys such an enviable reputation.
Looking forward to an exciting time for the people of Swindon
A column by Swindon Borough Council Leader Cllr Jim Robbins
September has been an exceptionally busy time for the council, with lots of meetings and lots of plans being pushed forward.
We have had a review of the council carried out by the Local Government Association (LGA) and a visit from Ofsted, both of whom will publish reports on us in due course, as well as plenty of council meetings.
I’m pleased that the initial feedback from the LGA and Ofsted are both positive and constructive, praising our improvement work and giving us good advice on how to further improve.
I’m looking forward to bringing forward some exciting plans on the town centre to the next Cabinet meeting, and will be working with town centre businesses, land-owners
and other key stakeholders in the next few weeks to refine and improve the plans before we bring them forward to residents.
We are looking to hold another series of ‘Let’s Talk Swindon’ events to get residents' feedback on the plans later in the Autumn, and we can’t wait to get into detailed discussions about what we can do.
As you’ll be aware, both local government and national government aren’t flush with cash at the moment, so we will look to partner with other organisations in both the public and private sectors to bring forward the plans, so getting
the right level of ambition and aspiration for the plan and public support will be really helpful.
I know that residents will have seen many plans for the town centre come forward over the years but not get implemented, and you will be rightly cynical about whether these plans will be the same. I totally get that view and am determined to ensure that this time will be different.
We will use our land-holdings in the town and influence to get projects going as soon as possible, and push forward to build the better Swindon that residents are desperate to see.
We should also have reports coming forward setting out the results of the residents and staff surveys we carry out each year.
I’m pleased to report that both surveys have seen more people respond to them than last year, and I’m waiting to
see what people have been telling us.
I was also pleased to see the recent Demos and Pricewaterhouse Coopers report setting out that Swindon is rated as the fourth best place to live in the country, based on a set of metrics including our jobs, productivity, skills, green space and more.
It didn’t surprise me, as I’m continually talking up the town, and I never struggle to have good things to talk about.
Just in the last few weeks, we have seen the Swindon Paint Fest brightening up our streets with amazing murals, enjoyed outstanding live music and new ideas from the Swindon Shuffle and we have more amazing art on show through Swindon Open Studios.
It’s no wonder that the Arts Council have designated us as a Priority Place, which has opened the door to new funding opportunities!
Agreeing with Jeremy Corbyn for the first time ever
A column by borough council Conservative Group Leader Cllr Gary Sumner
I never thought I would ever quote him, let alone agree with him, but in a recent Facebook post, Jeremy Corbyn said: “Politics is about choices - and the government is choosing to inflict pain and poverty across the country.” He is right!
The new Chancellor hopes to raise £1.5bn to ‘fix the nation’s finances’ by removing pensioners' automatic right to the Winter Fuel Allowance
However, with 800,000 pensioners currently eligible for Pension Credits and not claiming them, that saving will disappear as more pensioners claim entitled benefits
According to Age UK, one in three pensioners eligible for the benefit doesn’t claim itmissing out on an average top up of £2,200 a year!
If all 800,000 claimed, it would cost the treasury £1.76 billion and those people would also claim Winter Fuel payments – another £200 million! Easy to see that this is a false economy!
It’s also heartless as those pensioners who aren’t eligible for a top up, could still be facing real hardship.
Many elderly people are asset rich and cash poor. They may own their own home, but
they have very little disposable money.
They are particularly vulnerable because they are not eligible for benefits but are certainly not able to lead ‘comfortable’ lives.
Their wellbeing is threatened by the need to choose between food and fuel in the colder, damper months and they are going to be more reliant on support services.
Women are particularly vulnerable in this age group as many relied on their husband’s pensions for support and have very little of their own financial security.
Increasing daily expenditure is worrying and adds to the anxiety, fear and depression that inevitably affects their mental and physical health.
It is in the interests of the whole country that our pensioners stay fit and well. Pressure on Adult Services
across the country is growing at a fast rate.
Swindon is no exception and we should be doing all we can to help elderly residents stay independent for as long as possible.
Being cold or hungry (for many that will be the choice), will lead to poor health and constitute a risk to that fierce determination to remain independent!
In the short term, cutting winter fuel payments to over 28,000 pensioners (almost 20% of our Swindon population) will be devastating and in the longer term, may prove to be expensive to the public purse.
Agreeing with Jeremy Corbyn is alien to me but ‘Politics IS about choice’.
The new Labour Government need to get better at choosing whom they penalise in their quest to save money.
Artist immortalises businesses in aid of Prospect Hospice
By Barrie Hudson barrie@swindonlink.com
A Swindon artist has turned a pandemic lockdown pastime into works of art which help a vital cause.
Annie Harvey, a retired nurse who has worked in a variety of healthcare roles, produces detailed and unmistakeable images of familiar business premises.
By the time of writing, she had completed 58 pieces, with fees for her work amounting £4,185 - every penny of which goes to aid Prospect Hospice in its vital work of bringing help, support and comfort to patients and their loved ones throughout the Swindon area.
The artist said: "Like a lot of people I started painting during lockdown and actually sold some for Prospect and [Great Western Hospital
LINK FEATURES
and
After not painting for a while,
She said: "I took some photos of the beautiful buildings/ businesses in Old Town and posted a couple on Facebook. "Someone asked if I was selling them so I thought, ‘Why not raise some funds for Prospect Hospice?' as I know they, like a lot of hospices, are struggling at the moment.
"Through social media it has snowballed.
"I am getting the businesses to donate directly online to Prospect to make it easier for all."
Annie can be contacted via Facebook and via the hospice's fundraising team.
Charity] Brighter Futures."
Annie found herself bored while football was on television
got out her brushes once more.
The Swindon Shuffle - a festi Swindon community
Thousands crammed into pubs across Swindon from 9 to 15 September for the 18th year of The Swindon Shuffle - the original live music festival. Jamie Hill reports...
“Music is like powerful, yeah. It transcends everything and it brings people together like nothing else.”
I’m standing in the smoking area of The Beehive. It’s a Sunday night.
Inside the pub it’s packed. A sweating mass of people. Smiling. Dancing. A band called Concrete Prairie are crammed onto the stage area. The crowd close enough to kiss.
It’s The Swindon Shuffle. Now in its 18th year and more popular than ever.
Outside in the smoking area, where I had popped out to get some air and cool down, I can hear the band going down a storm taking the festival-goers on some kind of folky melodic odyssey.
A random pub philosopher is talking to me. I didn’t catch his name but he’s in full flow.
“I mean. Take Swindon. Everyone likes to moan about it. Say there’s nothing going on and that it’s gone to the dogs. But they never mention things like this. The Swindon Shuffle. It’s brilliant. How can people slag off this town when you’ve got things like this going
on. Look at all these people. We’re all together this whole weekend. Together. We’re all part of something special. A community. And it’s all done through music.”
The man pauses and I expect him to continue. But he looks at me and smiles and says: “Great meeting you mate. I’m off to the bogs.”
And with that final pronouncement he shuffles off never to be seen again.
The Swindon Shuffle. It’s definitely something that the town can be proud of.
For 18 years it’s been at the centre of the town’s music community. A simple idea of live original music of every genre, taking over as many venues as possible in the town, following in the footsteps of the Oxford Punt and the Camden Crawl.
As an event, it keeps growing and has a life of its own.
This year, for the first time, it was actually a week-long celebration. Starting on the Monday evening with an Ink Community Talk from Prospect Hospice CEO Jeremy Lune and then ending last night
with a sweaty, amazing night of musical shenanigans at The Beehive.
It was actually a new band called JB and the Mojo Makers who took that final slot at The Beehive. Led by the very talented Jim Blair. You would never have seen The Beehive so busy. Jammed full of smiling, happy people having the time of their lives.
The Shuffle was definitely a beast this year. For a whole week there was music reverberating around the town. It definitely felt like the festival had gone up a level. People needed it. They needed the community. They needed to feel alive in a way that only music can make you feel.
From the grungey, heavy, rocky, poppy, indie sets of guitar bands at The Vic and The Castle to the folk/ Americana tinged goodness pumping out of The Tuppenny.
There was hip hop at The Hop (try saying that really fast!), a ruddy ceilidh at the Eastcott Community Centre, cool DJ vibes at the Eternal Optimist and even experimental soundscapes at Baristocats.
I’ve got a confession at this point. I’m actually on the organising committee and have been for the past few years. The other main committee members are the chair Ed Dyer, Paul ‘Paj’ Jellings, Avril Jellings, Linda Gulliford, and Paul Gemmill.
The work involved behind the scenes is massive to make this happen.
There were 73 bands this year. There would have been 75 but we had two pull-outs. But I don’t know if you’ve ever tried herding cats but try and herd 73 acts with all their instruments into the right places, at the right times and then get them all to put on something special for a crowd of the town’s music fans.
It’s like trying to put together a 1,000 piece jigsaw puzzle or a Rubiks Cube with 18 sides. And we are helped by a small army of volunteers doing everything from stage managing to bucket shaking. We couldn’t do it without them. This year, and one of the main reasons why the festival shifted up a gear, was because we had some money. There were
The Shudders I See Orange
val at the heart of the
several sponsors including Lewis Farrant Floor Layer, Deacons, Francis George, Gastech, Hop Kettle Brewery, The Ink, and Swindon Link.
But our main headline sponsor was UKRI - UK Research and Innovation - who were fantastic and gave us the means to make this festival as big as it’s become.
For me, the one thing I love about The Shuffle is that you get to discover new talent, and this year was no exception. Everyone is different and The Shuffle caters for everyone. But my personal standouts were In-Flight Movie, which sounded old school and new at the same time. Atari Pilot were another act that etched their way into my very soul as well as Subject A and Wild Isles. NervEndings, who headlined the Saturday night at The Vic, were especially wonderful too.
I heard there were other bands that completely wowed and amazed. Lucky Number Seven being one of them and The All Star Jamboree Function Band being another.
It was also a festival of moments.
That moment of being engulfed by the lovely soothing soundscape of Midiphonic at Baristocats or that moment of dancing like I’ve never danced to DJ Matt Baila at the aftershow party on the Saturday night at The Vic.
Everyone who went will have their moments.
But one of the most special things about the entire festival is that it’s entirely free and throughout we were raising money for Prospect Hospice with each audience really coming up trumps by generously donating to the cause.
We won’t know the full count
of what we raised for a few weeks yet. Buckets need to be collected and counted and that takes some time. But it will be in the thousands.
We are still taking donations and if you want to put your hand in your pocket for such a good cause, please visit www. justgiving.com/page/swindonshuffle-1712522900781
In summary though, The
Swindon Shuffle highlights all the best things about the town. It focusses on its inclusivity and togetherness.
It’s definitely something special that we should all embrace.
As the pub philosopher said: “Music transcends everything and it brings people together like nothing else.” www.shuffle.org.uk
Major accolades for Swindonbased vets LINK PETS
By Barrie Hudson barrie@swindonlink.com
The team at Drove Vets, an independent veterinary practice based in Swindon, are celebrating after being named one of the best UK vets in the county at the Best UK Vets Award 2024.
These awards are based solely on online client reviews, celebrating practices that delight their clients, and are presented to practices across the UK with the most 4 or 5-star online reviews in each category.
Drove Veterinary Hospital traces its origins back to 1839 and has changed hands and locations several times over the years as the practice grew to meet the needs of their community. However, their purpose has always been, and remains, providing outstanding care to pets in Swindon. As Swindon has expanded
POETRY
My friend, Graeme, was invited to Dublin. After agreeing, his teacher friends announced they’d be reenacting James Joyce’s novel, 'Ulysses'. Graeme was perplexed, confessed that halfway through page one “Ulysses” wasn’t for him.
Being a lover of Joyce, I offered to read some paragraphs and introduce characters in the book. We made a date. Friends
over the years, Drove has grown with it and today has branches in Abbey Meads, Ridgeway Farm and Stratton. They also have small practices in Royal Wootton Bassett and Marlborough so that they can provide care to the villages on the outskirts of Swindon, and the main hospital on Croft Road features the technical equipment required to diagnose and treat more complex conditions in animals. As well as caring for the pets in their community, Drove are conscious of the impact businesses have on
the environment, and are dedicated to doing as much as possible to reduce their carbon footprint. As a result, Drove has achieved a Bronze accreditation with the national environmental accreditation scheme, iiE (Investors in the Environment).
Investors in the Environment is a national environmental accreditation scheme designed to help organisations reduce their impact on the environment. It is an accessible and proven
route to help organisations get started on their sustainability journey and keep going.
In the 12 years it has been in operation, iiE has helped hundreds of organisations from all sectors and of all sizes to improve their environmental performance. With their support, a group of colleagues at Drove have been able to identify areas for improvement. Many of these are already in place and the team have an ongoing plan of action.
No need to be daunted by a
James Joyce classic
meet towards the end, visit a whorehouse and multiple pubs. The day ends with Bloom’s wife taking us through a woman’s sexual fantasy in a stream of consciousness. It’s magnificent when read aloud.
joined us and we were nine, a secret society reading lurid material aloud in a Swindon pub. We could’ve been arrested.
“Ulysses” is a story about one day, 16 June 1904. Two men start their journey at 8am, Stephen Dedalus from the south of Dublin and Leopold Bloom from the north. With other fascinating characters they pass several times without knowing. They
Reading “Ulysses” for the first time, ignore the archaic words and focus on dialogue, read passages aloud and you’ll get your ear and eye in quickly.
It’s like reading a difficult poem. The second reading is a deep dive below the surface, know better where the poet is going. After other readings the poem aligns with your own life’s journey and becomes your poem.
Here's an extract:
"Mr Leopold Bloom ate with relish the inner organs of beasts and fowls. He liked thick giblet soup, nutty gizzards, a stuffed roast heart, liverslices fried with crustcrumbs, fried hencods’ roes. Most of all he liked grilled mutton kidneys which gave to his palate a fine tang of faintly scented urine."
Now read it again, knowing Bloom was Jewish. Dubliners love Bloom and every year celebrate Bloomsday on 16 June. Internationally, Bloomsday has become a big occasion.
Events: www.poetryswindon. com 2 October 7pm
www.mauricespillane.co.uk
Maurice Spillane: Of Poetry Swindon
Autumn cycling at Moredon Sporting Hub
It's back to school and the daylight hours are getting shorter, but it's not time to put the bike away yet!
There are plenty of exciting cycling opportunities over the coming months at Moredon Sporting Hub (MSH), for all ages and abilities. Here are some new sessions for September!
FREE BMXercise sessions for women & girls have started at the MSH pump track on Monday evenings, from 6-7pm
Local cycling coach Jennifer Purcell is running these fun and friendly sessions.
Beginners are very welcome. There are bikes and helmets available to borrow, thanks to grant funding from Wiltshire & Swindon Sport Partnership (WASP).
pump track at Moredon to be FREE for the public to use. Do you know an adult or older child who’d like to learn to cycle?
In addition to our weekly learn to ride sessions for women on Tuesdays, we’ve started a six-week programme of learn to ride and confidence sessions for adults and older children on a Saturday afternoon, from 3.30-5pm.
Sessions are led by cycle instructors and volunteers in a safe and welcoming environment, and bikes and helmets are available to borrow.
It’s just £3 to join, and you can book in advance on the MSH website or just pay at reception on the day.
at the session and ride around the track whilst the session is taking place.
Following our popular SEND children's cycling session that we started during the school holidays, we are now running a session for disabled children and adults on Saturday afternoons, from 2 to 3.30pm
alongside friends and family on the traffic-free cycle track at Moredon.
Participants are welcome to borrow one of our adapted cycles or standard cycles. It’s £3 per adult or child, and a parent/carer goes free of charge.
Booking is via the MSH website, or pop along to reception on the day.
We have also launched a weekly 'Pedal and Pastries' morning, every Wednesday, between 10am and noon.
This is a chance for people over 60 to enjoy a cake, coffee and ride around the track, for just £8 per person.
We hope to see you at Moredon Sporting Hub soon. For any queries, please get in touch with me at rebeccacox@ britishcycling.org.uk or call: 07515 606704. Monthly column with Becky Cox of Swindon Cycle Campaign.
WASP have also provided funding to enable the BMX
Alfie Howlett: Swindon Town FC writer
In football they say you’re only as good as your last result, and if this start to the season has taught me anything, then I buy into that phrase.
In what was one of their worst starts to the season, in history, Swindon have shown a bit of everything, leading to varying emotions from the fans, with the mood changing faster than a race car.
At times I’ve thought Town have looked steely defensively, showcasing a vast improvement on last season.
An example of this would be their resilient resolve on the road.
In their first three away trips in the league, Town conceded just two goals. This is a significant improvement from previous campaigns.
And yet, sandwiched in between this promise, Town found themselves hit for four at
Children and adults who can already cycle are welcome to accompany the learner riders
It’s an opportunity for anyone who identifies as having a disability to enjoy cycling
STFC: It's a strange sport LINK FOOTBALL
home to Walsall.
It saw what can be a very well-structured defence toyed with and caught out on several occasions.
As of now my takeaway would be that the back three is actually rather solid, but they’re being held back by the goalkeeper.
Jack Bycroft is only 22 years of age, which is incredibly young for a first team goalkeeper.
And although I see signs of promise, in my opinion it was a huge mistake by Town not to sign an experienced goalkeeper who could challenge and teach Bycroft Those two goals conceded away from home in the first three games were both Bycroft errors.
You could argue that with a better and experienced goalkeeper Swindon walk
away with three clean sheets away from home.
But for now, the defence aren’t getting the statistics they deserve, due to the shot stopper.
In attack, I was all ready to tear into Town.
And then, in one half, they go and stick four past Newport, and I’m left reconsidering.
What I’ve learned is they’re more fluent without striker Harry Smith.
The best I’ve seen of Town, on the ball, this season is when Smith’s not on the pitch. The passing, movement, and link-up play seems to just go up a notch.
And that is because all of those aspects aren’t something which we associate with Smith. He isn’t technically good, he doesn't have the pace to make a run, he’s just tall.
And to his credit he uses his
height to his advantage, but Swindon have been rarely able to utilise it.
I could count on one hand the amount of chances Smith’s had with his head in the box since August.
But nonetheless, when he returns from suspension it should be on the bench as an impact sub.
Swindon are a bigger threat without him, and for me more pleasingly better on the eye.
So, how do I tie all of this together?
It’s a tough one, I’m hesitant to give any sort of forecast for the next month, because Swindon right now are more changeable than English weather.
They very much are only as good as their last result.
What I do know, as we all do, is supporting STFC isn’t simple!
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Tel: 01793 875451 or 07940 247152 www.freethfencingandgardenservicesltd.com
Est. 1990 35 Spencer Close, West Swindon • Extensions • Driveways • Conservatories
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