South Swindon Link

No 33 May 2019

GPS delivered door to door to 55,000 homes across Swindon with Est. overall readership of 137,500

Swindon

LINK Your Community Magazine

The thriving culture of Swindon town centre p4

South Edition

Ale be there for you as The Hop takes over The Pig on the Hill Page 13

Page 15 Food gets naked as The What a picture!

Core launches instore Swindon Photographic Nude Food shop Society reveals the winners of this year's competiton

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Page 3

Page 12 Great Western Hospital takes delivery of five new incubators thanks to Brighter Futures

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Spring/Summer Styles Now In Also Stockists Of

BLAYLOCKS SHOES

Bath Rd Corner, Old Town, Swindon SN1 4AS • www.blaylocks-shoes.co.uk

Tel: 01793 534271

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Being positive about being positive

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

One thing that always makes me proud is how Swindon Link has a real positive impact.

From helping a charity to raise funds to making people feel part of the community by letting them know what's going on, we are a magazine that puts the reader first.

It's very easy to sit in a bubble and not see the effect that you have on those around you but we are reminded every day that Swindon Link is a positive force for the town from advertisers letting us know how it has helped their business to letters from charities telling us how grateful they are for the much-needed exposure that we have given them.

In recent months we have been inundated with positive emails, visits and letters about our The Heart of Swindon campaign offering ideas on how the town centre could be improved. The one overiding subtext to these correspondences is how much people love Swindon and how they would like to see it improve.

Keep it up Swindon as together we can make positive change.

Group Editor and Owner: Jamie Hill Deputy Editor: Ben Fitzgerald Reporter: Claire Dukes

Sales Admin Manager: Sue Roberts Sales: Dave Stewart, Rosy Presley, Kay Wainwright Office Manager: Karen Randall Photography: Richard Wintle & Rachel Davis - www.calyxpix.com

First zero waste ‘Nude Food’ store launches in Old Town A group of passionate, environmentally conscientious volunteers, who have been trying to find a location to launch a zero waste shop in Swindon, have secured a launch site inside The Core juice bar in Swindon’s Old Town.

The store-within-a-store model includes a range of up to 60 dried goods including, among other things, speciality pasta, gluten-free muesli, locally grown quinoa, wholegrain rice, lentils, raw nuts and herbs.

Core owner, Kris Talikowski, said: “I fully support this fantastic initiative and I’m proud to offer them free space in The Core to launch their idea.

"I regularly recommend lots of the products they’ll be selling to my customers and now people can get them from The Core in reusable packaging.”

The group headed by Old Town resident Lesley Chandler, feel passionately that this is a good move for Swindon and a good move for the planet.

Lesley said: “In recent years people have become even more aware that our use of plastics is having a detrimental impact on the environment and whilst recycling schemes are in place to tackle some of this waste, a large majority ends up in landfill or oceans around the world.

"We want to do our bit to

save the planet and so a zero waste not-for-profit shop felt like a great first step.”

The group are planning to not only sell dried foods but will also be selling similarly ecological products like bamboo toothbrushes and running education workshops on how to reduce plastic waste.

Zero Waste shops are popping up all over the country, with the closest in Marlborough, Bath and Bristol.

Swindon’s ‘Nude Foods’ enterprise will be purchasing their food in bulk in reusable sacks, and selling to customers in their own containers, removing the need for packaging. Around 15

volunteers have been involved in the initiative so far and they are looking for more volunteers.

The group hosted a launch evening in April at The Core to welcome peopled interested in the zero waste initiative.

For those wishing to join the movement, Lesley added: “Start saving your containers; takeaway tubs, coffee jars, old plastic bottles.

"Anything can be used as long as it is reusable, containers will be weighed before and after filling so you’re just paying for the produce you’re buying.”

To join the Swindon Zero Waste Initiative visit www.facebook.com/SwiZwi

ADVERTISING Call 01793 781502 or email: advertising@swindonlink.com Closing date for June adverts and editorial: 10 May June edition published: 24 May Our Statistics Est. Readership of 137,500 in print & c.50,000 monthly online visitors.

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Got a community story or feature? Contact newsdesk at publisher@swindonlink.com or 01793 744677 swindonlink.com n May 2019

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Prime Theatre Artistic Director Mark Powell: Something's happening in Swindon

By Ben Fitzgerald ben@swindonlink.com

Swindon’s arts scene is in good shape, in comparison to similar towns, thanks to Swindon Borough Council’s continued commitment to provide core funding - which in turn unlocks funding streams from a myriad of other sources.

This is further enhanced by the combined will of passionate providers of the arts who work closely together to pool skills and resources in a mutual support network.

Far from being a luxury in these tough times - there is growing recognition of the economic dividend that having a strong cultural offer brings in addition to the more obvious recreational and educational benefits.

So much so that the town’s business community has linked up with creative organisations in Swindon to launch a Cultural Development Partnership - an affiliation of organisations and individuals working together to secure funding and increase cultural engagement.

The contribution of the arts sector to the economic health of the town is often overlooked, but it is something that prompted the local business community, represented by Business West, to approach Swindon Borough Council to offer their support.

Mark Powell, Artistic Director of Prime Theatre explained: “The business community, represented by Business West, approached the council saying that firms were having trouble persuading executives and their families to relocate to Swindon - saying that one of the factors was that ‘Swindon doesn’t have a cultural offer.’

“Slowly, slowly there’s a movement towards what’s called a cultural development partnership. This will be a 4

combination of business, local authority and the arts, using their resources to make the best of Swindon. Because one of the challenges of the arts is that it can be lots of tiny things that people don’t know about.

It’s going on but people don’t know about it.

"The good thing that’s coming out of that is a new organisation called the Creative Swindon Network.”

He explained that the creative network had been set up to prepare an application for a share of the £5m Arts Council fund called Creative People and Places. Recent changes to the allocation criteria mean that for the first time Swindon is eligible to apply.

“This was specifically for the towns that have the lowest quarter of engagement with the arts. It’s been going for about eight years but we didn’t previously qualify. This is where Swindon being average comes in; we weren’t in the bottom quarter, we were just above it. This year they changed it to the bottom third, so for the first time Swindon is now eligible.

“As part of the bid you have to give them a 10-year vision and Swindon didn’t have one at this point which is why all the work that Dale Heenan started has actually hit us at the right time (Swindon Borough Council’s cabinet member for the town centre who has proposed the creation of a new cultural hub to replace the Wyvern Theatre with a building that will also house the Museum and Art Gallery and the council offices). The timing and the vocal cross party support is great. We are not ready to apply for it at this time but it certainly means that we are going to be ready next time.”

As part of the bid, the Creative Swindon Network is

calling on people in the town to answer an online survey, running until the end of May, to give them a say in what sort of cultural investment they would like to see.

"We will then be able to take what people say, mix it with the emerging plans about the cultural quarter and we suddenly get closer to having our 10 year strategy. So weirdly, I think the stars are aligning. I have to say that Dale Heenan’s plans are really exciting.

“The most important thing for Swindon will be high quality venues, because we are a little hindered by our heritage. The Wyvern opened in 1971with a 30-year lifespan so you can see why the building has started to deterioriate.

Swindon Dance, a major dance organisation, is not in a purpose built building it's in a Victorian town hall, the museum is in a Georgian town house which has loads of problems with accessibility. This is a chance for us to take stock, talk to the community about what they feel they want or are missing.

"Brilliantly the local authority, who are still a major funder at this point, are also taking stock of what’s possible. It might be

one of those valuable moments in time where there is synergy for once.

Because one of the other criticisms of Swindon is not that it’s static but that it is constantly moving but often in opposite directions.

"I think the one thing that Swindon doesn’t have, is a sense of entitlement. I was here for three years and then I went to work in Salisbury, and what they did have was a clear sense of entitlement that arts and culture was for everyone. But I think we have to teach a sense of entitlement because that will help with our aspiration, academic achievement and the fact that yes, we do deserve a university. At this point I think we can design our future rather than let things happen to us.

It does feel like something’s happening in Swindon Remarkably so."

To take part in the Creative Swindon Network survey on the arts, log on to (at bit.ly/creativeswindon) There will also be launch event as part of the Swindon Spring Festival: https:// swindontheatres.co.uk/Online/ tickets-creative-swindonnetwork-2019

swindonlink.com n May 2019

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Swindon has a richness of talent Your voices...

Swindon has massive potential I’ve only lived here for a bit over 10 years and it’s always struck me the massive potential Swindon has. Its location on the map is perfect, its country-life feeling is one to envy and the fact that it keeps growing is only confirming that this town has great potential.

These would be my proposals: Build that new motorway junction in the Wroughton bridge Build a glass roof on top of the high street in the town

Sally Taylor, left, and Vicky Silver of Artsite

“Artsite has been in Theatre Square for the past ten years. Occupying empty council owned buildings, playing a much needed part to regenerate the area. Our aim has always been to create a sustainable hub within the Cultural Quarter, providing creatives an affordable and supportive space to develop themselves and through it the town centre.

As a charity, we are totally self funded through our studio members and mainly run by volunteers.

Over that time we have built an inclusive arts complex for access by creatives from across the community.

Affordable spaces in which to make, experiment, take risks, collaborate, bring people together socially and have fun without pressure or fear of failure.

Promoting and celebrating the wealth of talent within the town, we have worked with and mentored students and degree graduates and championed the strength

of the arts and mental well being. The pressure to maintain a program and the buildings throughout these years has been immense.

Vandalism has not only cost us much needed money but time and energy. Over the past year we have been looking for funding to add artwork to the boarded broken windows to make the area more attractive and give opportunities for artists in Swindon. The first mural is being painted with help from the community and it will be in place during May. Artsite are also working with InSwindon to add some colour through another mural in Regents Street.

Swindon has a richness of hidden talent within the town with more graduates coming back home to live.

Compared unfavourably with Bristol It would be good to see the large businesses within the town supporting the arts as a way of making the town centre more vibrant."

Sally Taylor of Artsite

centre.

Look at connecting the Wyvern Theatre to Regent Circus by refreshing the buildings that go on the walking path from one to the other.

I would also like to see more outside dining areas in Old Town Once more, I do believe Swindon has great potential and I’m hopeful that this initiative helps transform Swindon into the great town it can be.

Nicolas Grilli

An opportunity to evolve town It would not be a quick fix but I would like our town centre to evolve and become known as a place with style, to be unique with great architecture with excellent retail, leisure, culture, and entertainment.

Attractive places attract visitors. Mis-matched buildings just don’t work and Swindon has far too many.

and Granville Street Car Park area.

Some of my ideas: Outlet village link to town replicate the successful style of the old railway quarter on Firefly Avenue by the Outlet Village and implement the brick colour and materials in new town centre apartments in the long awaited Aspen House site on Temple Street

Museum - Create a replica of the pattern store. It was used to house drawings for the railway in its heyday so it would be quite fitting.

Perhaps we could have a tick box survey for the people of Swindon to see what most people want.

Lee Walsh

Railway Station - not only is Wellington Street’s revamp underway butthe area past the old Paragon Laundry needs to improve as thousands of football fans take this route and get a bad impression of Swindon.

Sunday parking introduced to town centre In a bid to bring more revenue to Swindon's town centre, drivers can park for free every Sunday.

inSwindon BID, and its shopping centre partners The Brunel, Regent Circus and The Parade, are backing a scheme brought in

by Swindon Borough Council to provide free parking in the town centre on Sundays.

In an attempt to increase footfall,

the organisations hope that the free initiative will encourage more residents and visitors to spend more time in the town centre and support local retailers on Sundays.

Free parking is available all day every Sunday and starts this Sunday 7 April. For the list of participating car parks and tariffs, please visit the parking section of the Swindon town centre website.

Visit www.swindontowncentre.co.uk swindonlink.com n May 2019

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Police and Crime Commissioner Angus Macpherson to stand down Police and Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire and Swindon Angus Macpherson has decided not to stand for re-election to the post of PCC in 2020.

The position of an elective PCC was created to replace Police Authorities in 2012.

Angus, who served as a magistrate member on the local Police Authority for seven years prior to the change, was elected as Wiltshire and Swindon’s PCC in 2012 and then re-elected in 2016.

Angus will be stepping down from the position in May 2020 once a new PCC has been chosen by the public.

Speaking after making the decision not to stand again, he said: "I have decided not to put myself forward for reelection in May 2020 after serving for two terms as Police and Crime Commissioner for the county.

"As we enter another decade I feel it’s the right time to let another person, with their own

energy and vision, continue the good work which I and my office have done so far.

"I have served the people of Wiltshire and Swindon as their PCC for nearly eight years and in that time I have made many changes to Wiltshire Police to improve its efficiency and to make it match fit for the 21st century.

"In addition, I have been passionate about bolstering services for those caught up in the criminal justice system, vulnerable people and victims of crime.

"I believe I have accomplished many of the aims which I set out to achieve within the Police and Crime plan, but there is always more to do and I remain fully committed to my role over the next 12 months.

"When I leave in a year’s time I want to make sure I leave with things in the best shape possible for whoever succeeds me so they can continue to build on the important role.

Electric vehicle charging site created by Arval in Swindon

By Ben Fitzgerald ben@swindonlink.com

A significant new electric vehicle charging site is to open next month at the headquarters of vehicle leasing and fleet management company, Arval.

At its Windmill Hill Business Park offices, 43 charging points will be available to Arval employees along with an additional seven for other businesses using the same building.

Arval has also unveiled plans to install new charging points at its other UK premises in Manchester and Birmingham.

Ailsa Firth, Human Resources Director, explained: “As a business, we are committed to supporting the ongoing energy transition toward electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles and this means giving drivers convenient access to charging points.

In our own company car fleet, we already have around 100 plug-in vehicle drivers and we expect this number to grow over the coming

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months and years as availability, choice and experience grows.”

There is already research, notably from the International Council on Clean Transportation, suggesting EVs cost less to operate than petrol and diesel cars. With this project, we hope to prove the cost and practicality arguments for ourselves.”

The charge points and charging services at the Arval UK offices are being provided

by NewMotion, the European leader in smart charging solutions

for EVs. General Manager UK, Alan McCleave, explained that their complete infrastructure and service offering is intended to make EV charging as easy as possible for employees and visitors.

“We’ll be holding roadshows at Arval’s UK head office to introduce employees to the charging sites, the surrounding framework, and to show them how they work.”

All Arval employees who register will be provided with a

validated charge fob. This will enable charging sessions at the NewMotion charge points at the Arval office.

"They will be able to charge at work for free for the first six months from when charge points go live. In addition, they will be able to use over 100,000 publiclyavailableNewMotion charging locations throughout Europe, accessible with the same charge fob.

Miguel Cabaça, Managing Director at Arval UK added that the new charging development was also intended to act as a test ground and working example for customers who were thinking of increasingly electrifying their company cars and vans.

“We are delighted to be working with NewMotion on such a major installation. Every day we see a growing interest in electric vehicles from a broad cross section of our customers. By leading the way in adoption and creating the necessary infrastructure, we hope to provide a real world illustration of the practicalities behind the energy transition.”

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From garden parties to parking problems - your update in Old Town

By Linda Kasmaty Old Town Residents Association

Old Town Open Gardens is being held again this year on 22 June from mid-day until 5.30pm.

Ten gardens are opening this year, with £5 tickets available a month before the event at local shops; some of the money raised will be spent on our Britain in Bloom entry, and the rest will be given to other charities, yet to be decided. We will apply for Parish funding for a bench by Marriott roundabout bed and raised bed made from railway sleepers near the Co-op on Newport St. We asked if the leak on Croft Road near Pleydell Road is in fact a natural spring? Other news from Councillors: the half bus lane on Pipers way is part of a rapid transport system, and Hesketh Play area will soon have more equipment for children to play on.

We also discussed planning this month: there’s a concern that garages in back alleys are being converted into offices and then possibly into accommodation. The planning application made by the Clifton St School developer has been refused and a date set for reinstating it to its former condition before part of the roof was taken off. The steps beside the school still remain sealed off. We wondered what enforcement action can be taken and when? Also the former vets opposite the garage in Marlborough Road has an application for the car park to have two coach houses and five garages built on it, however this development would back onto four properties behind cutting off a lot of their light.

Traffic remains a problem in the Croft area with traffic bringing children to school twice as high as predicted how could we encourage more

children to walk? There is not enough parking at Nationwide - employees are using Marlborough Park, Broome Manor Lane and Marlborough Road as car parks making life difficult for residents. Traffic group meetings with interested parties are taking place regularly with the hope of finding solutions.

The next AGM will be on 16 May from 6pm to 7.30pm at Swindon Museum and Art Gallery. Next gardening mornings will be held on 28 April 10.30am at the Mr Cod bed on Victoria Hill. Meetings held third Monday of the month in the Wheatsheaf.

Volunteers wanted for the Old Town Festival Next month the Old Town Festival returns for its twentyeighth year from 9 to 15 June.

Since 1991 the festival has seen thousands of residents across Swindon join in the festivities. In order to make 2019's event a reality, committee members are looking for up to 50 volunteers to join the team.

Denise Rogers, Chair of the Old Town Festival Committee said: “Every year over 15,000 residents from right across Swindon and the surrounding area come and enjoy the very best of what our community has

to offer during the Old Town Festival.

"But this is only possible due to the generosity of a legion of volunteers who give their time to support this important community event. Volunteering is great fun, and there are lots of different ways to get involved during the festival.

"So, if you can give as little as two hours please do get in touch and help us make the event even better in its 28th year.”

For further information email swindonoldtownfestival@gmail. com swindonlink.com n May 2019

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Fly tippers beware Swindon Borough Council will this year be stepping up enforcement activity to catch people illegally dumping waste.

The renewed focus on tackling fly tipping is part of the council’s promise to ensure the streets are kept clean and safe for residents.

Last year, the council received 1,726 reports of fly tipping from members of the public.

To report incidents of fly tipping, log on to: https://bit.ly/2nvzaE3.

Trefoil get together More than 500 members of South West England’s Trefoil Guild will attend their annual meeting at Swindon's Steam museum on 11th May. This is a return visit because last October it was the launch venue of Trefoil’s South West England event that involved eleven steam railways throughout the South West, ten days – and 1,300 members.

Trefoil is a fun-loving organisation for adults, aged from 18 to 80+ that welcomes anyone who supports the ethos of girlguiding.

Bardolino rebrand

Wood Street restaurant, Bardolino by Marco Pierre White, has now rebranded as The Bank bistro bar cafe. As part of the rebrand, the restaurant has introduced a new menu of contemporary Italian food.

A spokesperson for the company said: "We are open as usual, please be assured all deposits and bookings will be honoured and business as usual."

For more information, see the restaurant's website: www.thebank.bar 8

Taekwondo instructor becomes blackbelt champion

By Claire Dukes claire@swindonlink.com

A Taekwondo instructor from Swindon has been named 'Blackbelt Female Sparring Champion' after competing in the Great Britain championships.

Leanne Lolley, a senior instructor at North Wilts Tae Kwon Do, came out on top after recently competing in the GBTF's (Great Britain Tae Kwon Do Federation) ITC (International Tae Kwon Do) Northern Championships.

Leanne, 32, has been practicing Taekwondo since she was 16. After representing North Wilts Tae Kwon Do, she knocked out her competitors in her category and took away the title for ITC's Northern Continuous Blackbelt Female Sparring Champion.

Speaking of her win, Leanne said: "I'm very pleased - it's nice for myself and the club to achieve something on a bit

Centre: Leanne Lolley

more of a national level."

Leanne and her husband, Paul Lolley, are senior instructors at North Wilts Tae Kwon Do. Since Leanne joined the club in 2013, the pair have been teaching and developing martial arts practices with a wide range of age groups as well as abilities.

Leanne added: "It’s a great leveller - you meet and spend time with a cross section of

society and it’s amazing what you learn from each and every person you meet. Everyone comes along to train for their own unique reason.

"We teach several times a week and we really strive to be a family club where everyone is included and has the same opportunities." www.international-taekwondocouncil.com

MP Justin Tomlinson to reprise his role as Minister of State for Disabled People, Health and Work

By Ben Fitzgerald ben@swindonlink.com

North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson, is to return to the role he previously held from 2015 to 2016 - Minister of State for Disabled People, Health and Work.

He was invited

to take on the post after the position was vacated by Brexit rebel Sarah Newton a few weeks ago.

In a tweet he said: “Proud to have been asked to become the DWP Minister of State for Disabled People, Health and Work. This area has been a key focus for me and I look forward to continuing to work with charities, stakeholders and those helping to make a real difference in such a vital area.”

His new responsibilities include: l Crossgovernment disability issues l Work and health strategy, including sponsorship of the Joint Work and

Health Unit l Disability employment, including Disability Confident, Work Choice, Access to Work, the Work and Health Programme and mental health in the workplace l Support for those at risk of falling out of work, including occupational health and Statutory Sick Pay l Financial support for sick and disabled claimants, including within Universal Credit, Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment, Employment and Support Allowance, Attendance Allowance, Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit, Carer’s Allowance l Specific welfare and health-related issues, including Motability and arms-length compensation schemes l Oversight of the Health and Safety Executive and the Office for Nuclear Regulation.

swindonlink.com n May 2019

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Waste boss banned

Riders gear up for first Hydra Ride road cycle event

By Ben Fitzgerald ben@swindonlink.com

Swindon boss Lee Averies has been disqualified from running limited companies for six years after he caused two waste companies to breach environmental regulations. This comes after he was ordered to pay £200,000 by Swindon Crown Court, as well as £15,000 costs to the Environment Agency and a five year ban from the waste industry.

Lee Averies (49), from Wanborough, Wiltshire, has been banned for six years after he signed a disqualification undertaking in connection with his misconduct while director of Averies Recycling (Swindon) Ltd and Swindon Skips Ltd. Each company ran waste treatment and transfer sites in Swindon.

In his undertaking, Lee Averies did not dispute that he caused Averies Recycling to breach environmental legislation at the Marshgate site in Swindon.

Housing developer donates high-vis jackets to local youth group

Taking the lead!

By Claire Dukes claire@swindonlink.com

Wiltshire Police has recruited two new police dogs to the force - Betty and Rudi. The two German Shepherds have undergone a 13 week training course, and were presented with their licences by Superintendent Mark Sellers at police headquarters alongside their handlers PC Cindy Hargreave and PC Tracy Doughty on Friday.

The pair have taken over from retired police dogs Tyke and Max who left the force at the beginning of the year.

The dogs are tested on a variety of skills, including obedience, agility, tracking, searching and crowd control.

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Cyclists are being sought to take part in The Hydra Ride - a new road cycling event taking place in Swindon on 30th June.

Organised by the Friends of Lethbridge Primary School, the event boasts three routes - the Hydra 5 (34 miles) Hydra 7 (43 miles) and the Hydra 9 (54 miles). But applicants will need to book soon as numbers are limited to 100 riders.

Starting from Wood Street in Old Town, cyclists are taken out along the hills and countryside to the south-east of Swindon.

Registration will start from 8am and with the first racers setting off at 8:45 for the longest route. All riders will receive a free coffee and pastry at the start of the event and a woven finishers badge at the end. All profits will go to the Friends of Lethbridge to support education in the school For more information see www.thehydraride.co.uk

Thanks to a housing developer a local youth group can enjoy more of the outdoors after being suited and booted with high-vis jackets.

A housing developer based in Oxfordshire has donated 72 high-vis jackets to the 3rd Swindon Wichelstowe Beavers, Cubs and Scouts.

Taylor Wimpey, a prominent developer in the Wichelstowe area, has donated the jackets to the local youth group so that they are more visible to drivers and pedestrians whilst out and about in their local community.

Andy Gould, Group Scout Leader of 3rd Swindon Wichelstowe, said: “The children's safety is extremely important to us, so we’d like to say a huge thank you to Taylor Wimpey for the new high-vis jackets.

"The Beavers, Cubs and Scouts spend a lot of time outside and with these high-

Organiser James Nethercott with his daughter Isabelle

vis vests, we’ll be able to plan more fun adventures, even when out and about after dark. In fact, we already have night hikes planned with the group.”

Danielle Heard, Sales and Marketing Director at Taylor Wimpey Oxfordshire, added: “Scouting has helped young people across the world develop life skills for decades.

"We’re proud to donate these much needed high-vis jackets to the 3rd Swindon Wichelstowe

club as we know they’ll go a long way in not only helping the children stay safe during outdoor activities, but they’ll allow the Beavers, Cubs and Scouts to learn more about the great outdoors as they’ll be able to travel further afield.

"We understand that local community groups can benefit from our help, so it’s important that we provide support where we can to groups that give so much back to the community.” www.scouts.org.uk

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Exhibition looks at GWR’s race to become the world’s fastest railway A brand new exhibition charting the Great Western Railway’s (GWR) drive to be the fastest railway in the world launched at Steam last month.

In May 1904, the Swindonbuilt City of Truro locomotive achieved a world record speed of 100mph. Speed was the fascination of the 20th Century and a speeding locomotive epitomised both prestige and glamour.

The GWR rebuilt, refined and remodelled locomotives focusing on strength, power and speed. By the 1920s and 1930s these express locomotives became iconic symbols of the GWR. Entitled World’s Fastest, the new special exhibition at the Swindon Borough Councilowned museum explores how advances in design and technology have changed since City of Truro became the first train to travel at 100mph 115 years ago.

Elaine Arthurs, Assistant Curator at Steam, has created

the new exhibition and said: “A collection of fascinating objects and archive material from the STEAM collection are used to illustrate this story, including the famous Cheltenham Flyer headboard.

“Visitors to Steam will also get to test their knowledge of other World record breakers.”

This exhibition has been designed to complement Steam's other special exhibition that opened earlier this year: Time on Trial, which takes a look at the exhilarating speed trials that took place between the GWR and other railway companies between 1910 and 1948.

World’s Fastest is located in the special exhibition area, with the museum’s recreated 1930s Station Platform.

Admission to special exhibitions is included with Steam admission and free to Steam Season Ticket holders.

To find out more, visit the Steam website: www.steammuseum.org.uk

Slimmers raise charity cash by selling old over-sized clothes So confident they’ll never need their larger sizes again, slimmers across Swindon have raised £41,475 by donating the clothes they’ve successfully slimmed out of to Cancer Research UK. The Swindon Slimming World groups collected 1,659 bags of clothes, shoes, homeware and accessories as part of the Big Golden Slimming World Clothes Throw which will be donated to local Cancer Research UK shops.

As part of the Big Golden Slimming World Clothes Throw, six Swindon individuals also found special golden bag, giving them a chance to win a VIP shopping and makeover experience.

The event aims to raise awareness of how keeping a healthy weight can reduce the risk of developing some types of cancer. Each of the filled bags is worth around £25 to the charity, and this year’s

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campaign is aiming to beat the £3m total raised in 2018.

Since 2012, the partnership has generated more than £12million worth of stock.

Rebecca Martin, who supports the East Swindon team of Consultants said: “I can’t quite believe how many bags we managed to collect.

“Seeing our members

donating their bags full of toobig clothes was just the icing on the cake for us. We all find it so special seeing members transform before our eyes as they lose weight. Working as a team and a community and knowing we were making a difference and helping to find a cure for Cancer sooner was so rewarding. And we

had so much fun doing it! A massive thank you to Tesco for supporting us with a collection point as well.”

To find out more about Slimming World, joining the team of Consultants or the Big Golden Slimming World Clothes Throw interested parties should call Rebecca on 07816 281940.

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Crowds of supporters march in support of Swindon Honda workers

By Jamie Hill jamie@positivre-media.co.uk

Supporters flocked from across the country to march through Swindon to show their displeasure at Honda's decision to close the town's plant.

The Save Honda Swindon protest, which was organised by the union Unite, started at The County Ground where they set off on their march towards GWR Park after hearing a supportive speech from the union's general secretary Len McCluskey.

The marchers made their way along the Magic Roundabout, Fleming Way, Princes Street, Commercial Road, Milton Road before their final destination in the park off Faringdon Road.

At the rally at GWR Park further speeches were heard from Swindon Mayor Junab Ali plus various Honda workers and Unite representatives as well as Labour's Shadow Business Secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey.

Local singer Josh Kumra also played a set including his aptly named Number One single 'Don't Go'.

Afterwards Wiltshire Police announced that the march had been peaceful and without incident. http://calyxpix.com

Five new incubators at GWH thanks to £175k charity boost

By Ben Fitzgerald ben@swindonlink.com

Vulnerable newborns will soon benefit from five £30k incubator units at Great Western Hospital - thanks to the fundraising efforts of the Brighter Futures charity.

The charity set a target to meet the £175,000 cost of the hi-tech Dräger Babyleo incubators last year. And thanks to the hard work of supporters who took part in a range of sponsored challenges, organised fundraising events and made generous donations, the target was hit in December 2018.

The equipment is now in place in readiness for vulnerable babies to support their complex needs in their first few weeks of life. The incubators create a micro-environment, whilst providing parents with ready access to their baby.

The incubators are also designed to allow wheelchairs to wheel right up to them 12 swindonlink.com n May 2019 S May Master pages.indd 12

with access for the chair underneath. This means that all parents, including mothers who have had a caesarean section, can get close to their babies with maximum skin-to-skin contact without any restrictions.

The innovative design also includes a USB port so that parents can FaceTime their babies, send voice recordings or play music.

Nikki Taylor, Senior Sister on SCBU, said: “We are so grateful to Brighter Futures and everyone who helped to raise the necessary funds so

that we could purchase these new incubators.

“It is so important that we give premature babies the best possible start in life, and these incubators will help to do just that. They are specially designed to cater for the complex needs that many of our premature babies are born with, and they will enable families to be able to care for their babies easier and remain close to them.”

Jane Leighton, Major Gifts Manager for Brighter Futures, said: “We can’t thank our

supporters enough for this very special delivery of eight new incubators. Thanks also to the amazing support from our supplier Dräger and our wonderful fundraising partner, New Life.

“Donors and fundraisers smashed our original target – raising an incredible £202,812.

"Our local community has been right behind the Appeal.

We hope they can now help us raise the funds to purchase two final Dräger Babyleo incubators.”

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Simply Gym's set kit list: a 14 Treadmills a Six Crosstrainers a Two Vario Trainers a Six Bikes a Two Powermills a Two Wattbikes a Six Concept2 Rowing Machines a One Concept2 SkiErg a 16 Fixed Weight Equipment a 10 Olympic Plate Loaded Leg Press & Hack Squat a Two Squat Racks a Two Smith Machines a 12 Free Weight Benches a Four Olympic Benches a Two Deadlift Platforms a One 5 Station Cable Crossover Machine a Two Dual Adjustable Pulley Machine a 24 Spin Bikes a One Multi Function Rig a One Boxing Bag Station a One Prowler track & Sled a 10 55Kg Barbells a Two 60Kg Dumbells

Simply Gym launches new site in Eldene This month Simply Gym will be inveiling their latest branch in Eldene, East Swindon.

The new gym will feature up to 50 classes a week on its timetable - classes are also included in memberships.

There are two large studios, one of which is specifically for the hugely popular spin classes. It is equipped with new, top of the range bikes and fancy LED lighting. In the large aerobic studio there will have a range of classes from yoga and pilates to Zumba and HIIT classes. The new branch will also have the renowned Les Mills Body Combat, Body Pump and Body Balance classes.

Ample changing facilities and parking are also available at the new club.

A spokesperson for Simply Gym said: "From early May, our fantastic team of friendly staff and Personal Trainers will be there to welcome you to Swindon’s newest and

Image of Simply Gym - not Eldene branch

innovative gym in East Swindon.

"With an extremely large free-weights area and functional training zone, our experts will put you through your paces, to help you achieve your goals."

Simply Gym also has an established site in west Swindon, at Chelmsford Road.

With the option of a multisite membership coming soon, you will be able to access both clubs. Simply Gym Swindon West also has the added facilities of Sauna, Steam room and Sun beds. You can see the

extensive class timetable online, which is all included in the dual site membership.

Memberships start from £16.99, including more than 50 free classes a week, access to the gym 24 hours of the day, free parking, and personal training. www.simplygym.co.uk

The Hop relocates - a great move for the pub and Old Town community

By Claire Dukes claire@swindonlink.com

"It’s been really successful," says the owner of a popular family-run boozer in Old Town after relocating to bigger premises.

After opening its doors on Devizes Road nearly seven years ago, The Hop quickly established itself as one of Old Town's go-to spots for premium cask and keg beers.

It's part of the reason the pub's owner, Jason Putt, and his wife Karen, decided to make the move next door.

Since The Hop's move, back in March, to the former Pig on the Hill site the management team, Jason and son-turned bar manager, Ben Putt, say that it's been "buzzing". Jason, 64, said: "It’s been really successful – it’s exceeded expectations.

"The move here was to extend what we offered in the old place. The advantage of this is that it’s got a garden

area, - which I’m sure will be quite popular in summer – and we’ve got an upstairs room which will enable us to do other things like live music to widen our horizons."

Ben, 36, added: “When the proposition was first put to us, we thought it was a bit crazy but we changed our minds.

"We knew we could translate from next door to here easily in terms of décor and products, but the thing that we couldn’t replicate 100 per cent was that intangible feeling, – the ethos – but I think that comes from the people who come in here – they’re the ones who ‘make it’.

"All of our regulars have been so supportive, and they’ve been really positive about the feel of the place – it’s been great."

According to Jason and Ben, the move has not only been great for business but also the Old Town community - both the punters and the night

“It’s a family business" - father and son: Jason and Ben Putt

time economy appear to be reaping the benefits of Devizes Road’s thriving bar scene.

Ben said: “Personally, I think, in this area we’re definitely the premier cask destination in Old Town. But we’re huge supporters of Old Town in general – we want this place to become a destination.

We’ve got great links with The Eternal Optimist, Los Gatos and The Tuppenny, – we’re very close personal friends with all of them – and we talk to each other about what we order.

“Our aim has never been to take business away from elsewhere - it’s to produce more business for the area.”

The bar scene in Old Town has been progressing rapidly over the last few years, seeing revamps and refurbs most recently from The Royal Oak and The Plough and the arrival of the new kid on the block, The Eternal Optimist. Jason said: "Old Town’s buzzing.

“The more nice places there are in the area, the more people will visit – simple as that.” swindonlink.com n May 2019

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Youth Groups offered share of £1m Groups working with under18s in Swindon are being urged to apply for their share of a £1million pot in a major scheme being run by a regional housebuilder.

Dozens of charities and organisations have already applied but Persimmon Homes Wessex is urging groups in the area to enter quickly as the scheme will only run for four months.

The firm launched its national Building Futures programme in partnership with Team GB, the British Olympic Association – the housebuilder is an official partner of Team GB as it prepares for Tokyo 2020 and beyond.

The scheme aims to support community groups across three categories: sports, education and arts, and health.

Persimmon Homes Wessex will give away £1,000 each month to one vital grassroots project in its operating area. Each of Persimmon’s 31 regions plus

Persimmon Plc will also choose a monthly winner.

Managing director Richard Briggs said: “The scheme launched in February and attracted a lot of entries.

“We are looking for groups, charities and individuals who have amazing ideas on how to spend the big cash prizes to come forward.”

Three initiatives will each go on to win a national £100,000 prize through the award scheme following a public vote.

The winners will be named at a gala dinner for finalists in October.

In each sector – sport, education and arts, and health – as well as the £100,000 first prize, there will be a £50,000 second prize and a £20,000 third prize, while a further 87 shortlisted projects will each receive £5,000.

To find out more about or to apply to Building Futures visit www.persimmonhomes.com/ building-futures/

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swindonlink.com n May 2019

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Rotary ball fundraiser supports children with special needs Guests at the annual Rotary Club Charity Ball have funded life-changing improvements to special needs pupils in Swindon.

The annual ball, which returns to the Marriott Hotel this May for its 30th year, has raised more than £870,000 since it began.

The Uplands Trust, in partnership with the Uplands School on the Tadpole Garden Village, says the cash raised has made the world of difference to some of its most disabled pupils.

The school got £11,000 from the ball, which went on a piece of technology called an Eye Gaze to help nonverbal students communicate in class, and £6,000 to set up a community enterprise centre in Penhill.

Jackie Smith MBE, the CEO of the Uplands Trust, said: "You can see the difference it makes, it's very tangible.

"We have very disabled young people and it gives a voice to the students who don't have one.

"It's fascinating, because they can make eye contact with the screen, very much like Stephen Hawking.

"It's absolutely made the world of difference, it allows them to be engaged with the class, to communicate with their friends and contribute to lessons.

"It's been absolutely lifechanging for them."

The community enterprise centre is staffed by paid employees with special needs and even runs events in the

style of Come Dine With Me. "It's a real enterprise initiative," added Jackie, "they have all sorts of jobs and roles at the enterprise centre.

"It's about helping them help themselves."

There are only a few tables left, businesses can donate prizes for raffles if they can't attend.

The ball will be at the Marriott Hotel on Pipers Way on May 11.

It will be a Shanghai-themed affair, with a three course meal, cabaret, music and entertainment, a raffle, and a diamond draw from Deacons Jewellers.

Contact Sue Frawley on charityball-swindon@outlook. com to buy tickets or for more information.

Swindon Photographic Society at 120: this year's winners

By Claire Dukes claire@swindonlink.com

A long-standing photography club has reached a milestone anniversary, celebrating 120 years of local photographers.

Last month saw Swindon Photographic Society host the club's most recent competition to celebrate its anniversary. At the beginning of March photographers, of all abilities, were asked to take images which captured their interpretation of 'What Swindon Means to me'. Robert Albright, The President of the Royal Photographic Society, judged the final fifteen entries for the 120th Birthday Competition.

Since its inception in 1898 the club has evolved through members, artistic talent and greeted the digital age. A spokesperson for the club added: "We would like to thank Robert for all his work, experience, and skill in finding

the winners. We would also like to thank Olympus for their kind generosity in sponsoring prizes for our top three.

"The enjoyment of photography for anyone wishing to become a member has always been at the heart of the club. During our 120 years, photography has continued to evolve. The art of photography is knowing where to point the camera and when to press the shutter.

John Day, of Swindon Photographic Society, added: "All of us who organised the 120th Birthday Competition felt that it all went very well and the winner’s night was a great success.

"What impressed me was the quality of all the entries especially when viewed with the reason that particular image was chosen by the entrant.

"The judges all had a very difficult job.” www.swindonphotosoc.org.uk

First place (top): 'Windmill Hill Reflection' by Chris Donohoe amd Third place (bottom): 'Lydiard Tranquilty, Free For All' by Terry Walters swindonlink.com n May 2019

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West End Bowls needs you!

Swindon West End Bowls Club is calling for new members to join in the fun.

The future of the club, which was formed in 1926, has been thrown into doubt following the withdrawl of council subsidies and the increased costs for caring for the green.

The organisation is hosting an open day on Saturday 11th May to allow those interested to find out more about the friendly and social club.

The club is based on Wootton Bassett Road just past the Runner Pub at the bottom of Kingshill.

It offers outdoor lawn bowls during the summer months, and various social events throughout the year. It has the benefit of a skittles alley, licenced bar and kitchen facilities.

Lawn bowls is gentle exercise and very sociable.

Coaching available for beginners.

For more details or to get in touch, contact Colin Harvey Club President on 01793 331053 Email swindonwestendbc@ gmail.com or swindonwestendbowlsclub@ gmail.com.

A McDonald's restaurant at Greenbridge Retail Park has been given a suave refurb and seal of approval from North Swindon MP, Justin Tomlinson.

The fast food conglomerate officially unveiled its revamped Greenbridge site in March, which boasts an overhanging veranda that drivers can travel under - the first of its kind in the UK. The restaurant also implements customer-friendly digital devices including self-service kiosks and iPads.

Partnership aims to tackle pollution Difficult to recycle plastics can now be dropped off at Tesco supermarkets - thanks to a partnership with Swindon based Recycling Technologies.

The firm, which is based on the South Marston Industrial Estate, is rolling out collection points at ten Tesco supermarkets in the Swindon and Bristol area as a trial.

Customers will be able to drop off plastic products ranging from pet food pouches to shopping bags and crisp packets, items which cannot be recycled by local councils.

The move comes as part of Tesco’s efforts to make all its packaging recyclable, creating a closed loop – preventing packaging from going to waste.

Recycling Technologies has developed and patented a process to turn waste plastic back into oil, Plaxx® - a material which can then be used in the manufacture of new plastic.

16

North Swindon MP officially opens latest McDonald’s drive-thru

Tesco’s Director of Quality, Sarah Bradbury said: “Reducing and recycling plastics is such an important issue for us, for customers and for the future of our planet.

That’s why we are working hard to reduce the amount of packaging in our stores and have committed that all remaining packaging will be recyclable by 2025.

“Our trial with Recycling Technologies will make even more of our packaging recyclable and help us reach our target.”

WWF UK’s Sustainable Materials Specialist, Paula Chin said: “It’s great to see Tesco running this innovative trial offering customers an easy way to recycle more and waste less.

"While we can all do our bit by reducing the plastic we buy and embracing reusable items, we need producers, businesses and governments to face their responsibilities too."

Justin Tomlinson MP for North Swindon officially opened the site. He said: "It was great to open the newly revamped McDonald’s at Greenbridge which has significantly increased its capacity. The local McDonald’s franchise creates 1,200 jobs in Swindon and the surrounding areas, and also runs a popular and successful apprenticeship scheme. It’s always a pleasure to meet with members of staff and they are rightly very proud of their newly improved Greenbridge restaurant.”

3,000 homes given go ahead

Swindon Borough Council has granted detailed planning permission for the first homes to be delivered by the joint venture company set up to create around 3,000 new homes at Wichelstowe, south of Swindon.

Work on the first phase of homes will begin in late spring located next to the canal and adjacent to Waitrose supermarket and the new Deanery CE academy secondary school. The phase, named Canalside, will feature a mix of one, two, three and four bedroom homes.

The joint venture company is

a 50:50 partnership between Swindon Borough Council and Barratt Developments PLC. The scheme, on a 250-hectare area of land, will deliver the new homes over the next 20 years and includes two primary schools, a secondary school and an extensive area of open space. Homes will be marketed by David Wilson Homes and Barratt Homes on behalf of the Joint Venture partnership.

More than 1,000 jobs will be supported by the scheme in the initial stages and the first residents will be able to move in next year.

swindonlink.com n May 2019

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"Someone could get hurt" say residents living in 'rat run'

By Claire Dukes claire@swindonlink.com

Residents living in Old Town have raised concerns over drivers using their neighbourhood as a rat run.

Residents in St Margaret’s Road, Winifred Street and Evelyn Street have had enough of dangerous drivers speeding through their streets - which are home to many young families.

To avoid congestion commuters are using these roads as rat runs to cut through Old Town, but, as a result, residents have grown increasingly concerned over their safety due to aggression from speeding drivers. Some residents claim there have been incidences where drivers have become aggressive, and that they have been subjected to foul language and behaviour including being spat at.

Now, thanks to a questionnaire, part-instigated by local resident Zac Josey,

residents are making their voices heard. Zac said: "We felt it was time to find out how the whole population of the three streets felt.

"Ambulance drivers have been harassed as they have been blocking what is essentially a single lane carriageway. Residents have been spat at, drinks thrown over people and recently there has been a fight - this is in addition to the usual verbal abuse and hand signals aimed at local residents just trying to park, turn around or get children into their cars.

Someone could get really hurt."

Since receiving feedback from the questionnaire Zac says there has been a consensus building to close the junction off of Croft Road leading to St Margaret’s to stop drivers travelling through.

Labour councillor for Old Town Jane Milner-Barry, who is also local to area, said: “Certainly, that would be

something to consider.

"It’s certainly a problem.

With people speeding down Winifred Street, that is very dangerous - especially for children who might be crossing the road.

“The best thing to do is to have a meeting with residents.

We’re hoping to arrange a meeting in May.” Labour councillor for Old Town and East Wichel, Nadine Watts, added: "Residents have expressed concerns about the increased volume of traffic using the St Margaret's Road area as a cut through.

"We have met with local residents to discuss their

concerns. It is important to take a holistic approach. Councillor Jane Milner-Barry and I have been working with Swindon Borough Council’s highways officers. In May, the Council is looking to go to an informal consultation on a range of proposals to help improve parking in the area.

"We will organise another meeting with residents to discuss the way forward."

Builders unveil two new developments at Tadpole Garden Village in North Swindon

By Ben Fitzgerald ben@swindonlink.com

Developer Crest Nicholson has launched two new phases at North Swindon's Tadpole Garden Village development.

The Pinnacle and Meridian - are the two new phases at the rapidly growing Tadpole Garden Village development near Blunsdon.

Meridian is the first phase at Tadpole Garden Village to feature Crest Nicholson’s recently launched Aurora Open Living Collection of homes.

The three and four bedroom homes have been designed with open, flexible layouts to maximise the flow of natural light and communication within the home.

The Pinnacle comprises a contemporary collection of three, four and five bedroom

homes.

Offering a high specification throughout, each of the homes boast open living interiors with large expanses of glass providing an abundance of natural light. All homes come with fitted kitchens and integrated A-rated Bosch appliances.

Sandra Dixon, Sales and Marketing Director at Crest Nicholson South West, said: " “With its tree-lined avenues and large green open spaces – it really is the best of town and country living. We look forward to welcoming our first residents to Meridian and The Pinnacle this summer, adding to the vibrant community already established.”

To find out more about the new phases at Tadpole Garden Village visit www.crestnicholson. com/developments/tadpolegarden-village swindonlink.com n May 2019

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Ford Focus Active: hints of added SUV style

If a car is called an Active it seems only right to do active things. This is not something that comes naturally to this writer, but Ford don’t make a car called The Sedentary.

The Ford Focus Active then is a basic Focus with hints of added SUV-style. This new model Focus has been awarded the full five stars for safety thanks to a full complement of the latest safety equipment.

Family First It’s the latest Ford in a new family of Active crossover models inspired by sports utility vehicles. The Focus Active is available in spacious fivedoor hatchback and estate body styles with rugged exterior styling, a raised rideheight and a bespoke chassis configuration to retain those class-leading Focus driving dynamics.

The Car The Focus Active features, we

The test car was powered by a 1.5L EcoBlue Start/Stop diesel engine with emissions of only 110g/km, driving through an 8-speed auto with paddle shift. With 118bhp the Active won’t leave a trail of burning tarmac behind it but the engine does deliver more than adequate power.

learn, unique springs, dampers, stabiliser bars, and front and rear knuckle geometries. This along with a ride height raised 30mm at the front front and 34mm at the rear (over the standard car) means added ground clearance and a high hip-point on the seats that makes access easy. Just step in.

With 17” alloy wheels fitted with higher-profile 215/55 R17 tyres as standard, all Focus models have Normal, Sport and Eco selectable drive modes. In addition, the Active adds a ‘Slippery’ mode, which adjusts the electronic stability

and traction control settings for increased confidence on surfaces with reduced grip such as mud, snow and ice. Further, there’s a ‘Trail’ mode, which helps maintain momentum on soft surfaces such as sand; adjusts anti-lock braking to allow for greater wheel slip and configures traction control to allow higher wheel spin that cleans sand, snow or mud from the tyres. Blessedly, there was no opportunity to try it on snow but on a gravel farm track it worked a treat. Ideal if fullblown four-wheel drive seems over the top.

The Interior Inside the cabin, which is typically Ford, a leather steering wheel and bright elements on the dashboard and door panels plus ‘Active’ scuff plates all deliver a high-quality feel. There’s tons of leg room and the usual array of technology including navigation, multi-media plus a reversing camera. Overall, this is a fine car. The standard retail price is around £24,300 but with the extras like special paint on the test car this rose to £26,500. It’s worth it; the ideal motor for active families.

Geoff Maxted

Tesla treat for GWH kids thanks to donation!

Children staying on the Children’s Ward at Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust can now travel to surgery in style thanks to a donation from Tesla Owners Group UK of a brand new mini Tesla car.

The Trust’s newest transport service arrived at the hospital and was driven onto the Children’s Ward. Complete with built-in sound system and space for teddy to ride shotgun, staff hope that the journey to surgery will make the process a lot less daunting for the Trust’s young patients.

The car, a ride-in toy model S, has been donated to the Trust by Tesla Owners Group UK. The organisation raised enough funds to purchase 150 cars for NHS services across the UK, to benefit children who are in need of 18

extra care and opportunities for play.

Tesla co-founder, Elon Musk, also donated some money to the cause.

Catherine Newman, Associate Director of Fundraising for Brighter Futures, said: “We are so grateful to Tesla Owners Group for this amazing donation.

“Often, the thought of surgery can be very scary for children, but we are sure that the mini car will act as a great distraction, and will make them feel much calmer.

“The car is certainly a much more fun mode of transport than the usual hospital beds.

It will be great for the patients to be able to use around the ward too.

Thank you so much for this donation.”

swindonlink.com n May 2019

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Pets and Nature

Palahniuk's Toys & Comics and Shelly's Smellys launch at Studley Grange An enterprising young couple are expanding their business located within the Craft Village at Studley Grange Butterfly World & Farm Park.

Having started the business, initially to run from home, having two small children and an increasingly busy customer base, it became apparent that alternative premises needed to be found.

This was not only to accommodate the growing business but also to provide customers with a retail shop where they could browse and purchase items direct.

The business comprises two distinct sections both catering for a variety of customers who visit the craft village as well as on line customers.

Palahniuk’s Toys & Comics and Shelly’s Smellys.

Palahniuk’s Toys & Comics sells vintage and modern toys, games, and collectables, as well as a wide range of toys, ranging from WWE to Marvel,

Barbie, Polly Pockets, Power Rangers, She-Ra, He-Man, Thundercats and so much more.

Including both old and new toys, along with comic books from the 70s to present day.

Shelly’s Smellys sells all things fragrant to make your home smell amazing, with many items being handmade. Wax

warmers to diffusers, are also available.

Having joined the craft village in the autumn of 2018, the couple are currently doubling the size of their craft unit, to meet the demands of their growing business.

Other changes taking place in the craft village include the

Joining the Ridgeway Farm Community Drove Vets new Branch at Ridgeway Farm is well underway! The new premises, located between Taw Hill and Peatmoor, has walls and even plaster on them! Des, Drove’s Maintenance Manager, and Project manager for the build is pleased that we are on schedule to open in June; watch this space for more information on the opening.

Two of Drove Veterinary Hospital’s branches, Moredon and Taw Hill, will be merging to create Ridgeway Farm.

We are delighted that the teams from both branches

will be relocating ensuring continuity of care and the experience that you are used to from Drove Veterinary Hospital.

The Team are all really looking forward to becoming part of the community at Ridgeway Farm for existing and new clients alike.

Lucy Millard, Veterinary Surgeon at Drove Vets Moredon says, “We are all so excited to be moving to our brand new premises at Ridgeway Farm. The merge brings together caring and experienced teams from

both Moredon and Taw Hill branches so you can expect the same friendly service as always with fantastic new facilities”.

Steph Hovey Veterinary Surgeon at Taw Hill echoes Lucy’s excitement by saying, “We are really looking forward to welcoming all our clients old and new at Ridgeway Farm very soon!”

The team will continue to provide both Vet and Nurse clinics and on site operations in the purpose built theatre, and they will now be able to offer more extensive in-house

total redesign of the brick themed exhibition, Bricks and Pieces, ready for the Easter Holidays, with a whole new series of highly detailed layouts and displays.

Studley Grange just off junction 16 of the M4.

Tel: 01793 852 400 www.studleygrange.co.uk

By Drove Veterinary Hospital

laboratory testing, x-ray and ultrasound, as well as a complete dental service with a separate dental area and dental x-ray.

Lucy adds, “There are separate dog and cat wards so if your pet has to stay with us we can make it as stress free as possible.”

The new Ridgeway Farm branch will have weekday, evening, and weekend appointments available and 24 hour, 7 days a week out of hour support from the main hospital on Croft Road, nr Wroughton. swindonlink.com n May 2019

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The Business Brief

Expansion for accountancy firm paves the way for future

By Ben Fitzgerald ben@swindonlink.com

Law and accountancy firm Optimum Professional Services has relocated to new offices in Swindon as part of ambitious expansion plans.

The company was created in 2017, combining legal services with accountancy services under one roof.

Initially based in serviced offices in Regus, West Swindon, the firm has now moved to its own premises in Stratton.

The team of 15 have taken on the previously empty Vicarage Court in Ermin Street – a three-storey building, offering space to grow, as well as a large boardroom area for hosting networking events, workshops and seminars.

Richard Mathews, CEO of Optimum – a contender in this year’s Wiltshire Business Awards for Start-up Business of the Year - said moving from serviced offices into their own building was a great boost to the team.

He said: “We are delighted with our new premises which better reflect us as a company,” he said. “They are in a great location, and have the facilities we have been looking for to allow us to expand and also to run events which support the local

business community.”

Optimum was the first professional services firm in the Swindon area to break away from the traditional mould by offering a suite of services under one roof.

The legal team, headed

by Iain Mason, deals in all

areas of commercial and domestic property law, wills and probate. The accountancy team’s services include personal and business tax planning, business development and exit planning, as well as bookkeeping and payroll. The team are currently focused on ensuring their business clients are ready for HMRC’s new Making Tax Digital regime, which is being rolled out from April.

Richard added: “We have already run an event here for clients to talk them through the implications of Making Tax Digital.

"We are also planning to run one for landlords on the changes affecting the lettings sector. Adding value to the service we offer to clients and local businesses is central to the ethos we have here at Optimum.”

For more information about Optimum Professional Services visit www.optps.co.uk, email info@optps.co.uk or call 01793 538 198.

Accountant Mike Shawyer retires after counting up 45 years

One of Swindon’s longest serving accountancy professionals, Mike Shawyer, has retired after 45 years at MHA Monahans.

Mike joined MHA Monahans as a trainee accountant in 1974 at the age of 19 and worked his way up through the ranks to become a Partner in 1985 and subsequently Managing Partner in 1996.

When Mike joined Monahans, the firm was based in the Newport Street offices they still have today but computerisation hadn’t yet reached the profession.

Mike explained: “When I started we only had one adding machine for the whole office and so almost all the work was done by hand or mental arithmetic. It meant that the job was a lot more labour intensive with checking and rechecking figures, but also we didn’t have things like self-assessment tax return deadlines to worry about!

It wasn’t until the early 80s that we began to computerise, and initially that meant that we only

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had one computer which was used by one data entry person for the whole office. Things have moved on considerably now, with our sophisticated integrated systems and each member of staff having two screens per desk.”

The firm has also changed significantly during Mike’s time. Whereas Monahans had just three offices in the 70s, MHA Monahans is now spread across the South West with offices in Swindon, Trowbridge, Chippenham, Bath, Melksham, Glastonbury, Frome and Taunton, with the added benefit of the Monahans Wealth Management division too. Mike oversaw the business becoming part of MHA, a UK-wide association of independent accountancy firms, and the global network of Baker Tilly International, opening up opportunities for the business as well as career progression and specialism potential for the firm’s employees.

Mike added: “I started as a trainee and in those days the

opportunities for specialising were very limited. I was initially responsible for audit, accounts and personal tax work and then over the years developed specialisms in VAT and rural businesses. I still tell today’s trainees not to go down one route too early as a broad knowledge base is very important.

Mike handed over the reins of the business to current Managing Partner Simon Tombs in 2016.

“Simon and the executive team are very forward looking and I know that the firm is in safe hands.

I’m proud to have been part of the

success of MHA Monahans over the past 45 years, “One of the most important things I’ve learnt from my time at MHA Monahans is that you should strive to work with people you like, both as clients and colleagues, and to always treat people with respect.

The team at MHA Monahans have become more than colleagues to me and collectively we share our professional and personal highs and lows – the people here are really what makes the firm great and help continue our success.”

Mike will be spending his retirement making the most of his family, which includes three young grandchildren.

He has plenty of travel plans, including following Swindon Town Football Club with his wife Linda to as many away games as possible, and he plans to continue playing competitive bowls.

For more information on MHA Monahans, visit www.monahans. co.uk.

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Swindon Life

Celebrating town living

The Butterfly Lion at The Barn Theatre – “a very endearing show” For those unaware of Michael Morpurgo’s novel ‘The Butterfly Lion’, it doesn’t really matter. Familiar or not, The Barn’s stage adaptation recreates a beautiful children’s story that instills warmth into the most pessimistic of adults (I should know).

As a young boy growing up in South Africa befriends an orphaned white lion, Daniel Buckroyd’s adaption really captured the view of the world from a child’s perspective and accentuated the sweet simplicity of long lasting friendships.

The use of puppetry in the production encapsulates the more traditional elements of childhood. Granted, the story is set in as early as the 1900s but whether or not this was an intended move, for me, the puppetry really linked the era to the story’s adolescent themes.

The Butterfly Lion is a very endearing show indeed, and (I imagine) a marvellous family night out.

The Butterfly Lion will run at The Barn Theatre, Cirencester, until 2 May. For tickets visit www.barntheatre.org.uk

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Swindon Fringe Festival News and reviews

From show premieres and award-winning acts, to local and international talent, Swindon Fringe hosted its best line-up yet - and saw its "biggest launch night ever".

Last month Swindon's seventh Fringe Festival hosted its biggest launch night ever at The Crossing. This year the Fringe's co-director and founder, Matt Fox, said in terms of acts this year was also the biggest line-up the festival has ever seen.

At the launch Matt said: "This year’s Swindon Fringe is the biggest in terms of acts. It’s international again so we’ve got acts from all over the

world like America, and we’ve also got a couple of local acts back in this year It’s a whole smorgasbord of acts this year.

"At the moment in Swindon lots of people are doing lots of things, but I don’t think they’ve felt that there was a collective and I hope the Fringe is something that can be seen as collective. These are the Swindon bohemians, – we’re like 1800s Paris here, and we’re the people making the art for no money – and that doesn’t just exist in big cities, it can happen in Swindon.

"This year it feels like it’s properly landed – you spend years and years building it up, and you feel like no one cares.

This year it’s so different - it feels like ‘we are here’."

Nobbo

Tropez!

The Great Emptiness

Commercial Waste

Despite that the script for Nobbo had been purchased from LazyBee Scripts, it was well executed by the young cast.

I felt more could have been done by our two leads through their physical performances – verbally their pace and chemistry really shone through, but the depiction of their characters lacked much depth.

However, our dame was sensational and certainly a highlight - he had the audience in the palm of his hands and left me in hysterics. All round, it was very enjoyable.

I was left crying with laughter after watching this awardwinning comedy duo's French farce!

Tropez! is the perfect combination of BBC One's Miranda and The Pink Panther, with a Faulty Towers twist. The show is comedy gold - an ode to the art of clowning, satirical script writing and minimal props with maximum effect.

Nathan & Ida are the epitome of what fringe theatre, and high-quality comedy, is all about. This is why you go to fringe festivals!

Tropez! is a must-see!

By the end of her set, I wanted to go for a drink with Isa Bonachera - a Spanish scientistturned-comedian. She's created a clever, charming and witty dialogue about our universe.

It was obvious she's new to the circuit but played this to her advantage. Her wellwritten space themed sketch, although a little too long, was both thought-provoking and unapologetically dark. I honestly appreciated that she reminded everyone that in this infinite world of time and space we are ultimately nothing.

Sign me up for her next show!

This one-woman show left me with great affliction, because it depicted a grossly accurate representation of how our society is in bed with social media - how our Instagram status is basically modern-day currency (all very Black Mirror).

The premise was nothing new, but it was certainly relevant and gripping - thanks mostly to our captivating lead, Madison Worthington who embodied multiple characters as well as the play's sadistic motifs.

I left elated having seen such a high-quality show, yet aghast by how sharply brusque it was.

By Claire Dukes claire@swindonlink.com

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Swindon Link's Festival Guide

By Claire Dukes

This month it's May and that means festival season has officially arrived!

For a good festival you need not travel far - you can see some of the UK's best acts right on your doorstep including Toploader, Years & Years and Olly Murs.

Swindon and Wiltshire are also home to some of the best local events supporting up and coming artists - this year sees the thirteenth run of Swindon Shuffle, the much-loved Stratton Festival and the always popular Festival on the Farm in Purton!

Don't miss a thing...

Lechlade Festival When: 24 May to 26 May Where: Riverside Park, Lechlade Who: The Feeling, That 80s Rock Show, Rob Heron & The Tea Pad Orchestra, Chay Snowdon, The Marley Experience, Jetstream www.lechladefestival.co.uk

Cheese & Chilli Festival When: 6 July to 7 July Where: Lydiard Park Who: Cheese Bomb, Glastonbury Dairy, Heritage Cheese, Lymn Bank Farm Cheese, The Cheese Wedge Co Ltd., The Culmstock Chilli Co www.cheeseandchillifestival.com

Forest Live

RunFestRun

Tom Kerridge's Pub in the Park

When: 31 May to 2 June Where: Bowwod House & Gardens What: The Nation's biggest running party!

Who: Chris Evans and Vassos Alexander present: Olly Murs, Razorlight, Reef, Ten Tonnes, Colin Jackson and Paula RadCliffe www.runfestrun.co.uk

When: 21 June to 23 June Where: Royal Victoria Park, Bath What: A three day gourmet feast with music Who: Will Young, Texas, Basement Jaxx (DJ Set), Gabrielle, Soul II Soul Soundsystem, The Bluetones, The Cuban Brothers www.pubintheparkuk.com/bath

Swindon Shuffle

Mfor Festival

When: 12 July to 14 July Where: Swindon Old Town venues What: Swindon's musical calendar highlight Who: Gaz Brookfield, Wyldest, The Astral Ponies, Raze*Rebuild, Flour Babies, Fake Walnut Dash, Wilding, The Bone Chapel, The Oxymora www.swindonshuffle.org.uk

When: 27 July Where: Lydiard Park What: Swindon's brand-new festival Who: Years & Years, Toploader, Ella Eyre, HRVY, Jahmene Douglas, the Army’s Red Devils parachute display www.mforfestival.co.uk

When: 6 July Where: Westonbirt Arboretum Who: Stereophonics, Paul Weller, Jack Savoretti, Haçienda Classiçal www.forestryengland.uk

Stratton Festival When: 6 July Where: Grange Leisure, Stratton Who: Kova Me Badd, Echo, Ukey D’Ukes, Sister Sister, a mini animal petting zoo, Bandido’s Burritos www.strattonstmargaret.gov.uk

Festival on the Farm When: 2 August to 4 August Where: Purton House Organics, Purton Who: The Wurzels, Get Carter, Rave Against the Regime, Surpressed, Pink Mac, Ska Bucks Earthworm Recording Studio's Jon Buckett - photograph by Jennifer Berry www.festivalonthefarm.co.uk S May Master pages.indd 23

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Swindon Spotlight

YOUR GUIDE TO THE MONTHS AHEAD In the community l The Art of Writing Stories with Elizabeth St.John - the critically-acclaimed author of The Lydiard Chronicles. explore and discover the key elements of writing a story and learn useful techniques to help achieve your writing goals.

16 May at Tregoze Suite, Lydiard House Tickets £10

Book now...

SWINDON SPRING FESTIVAL RETURNS THIS MONTH

Swindon Spring Festival, a celebration of literature and the arts, takes off this month throughout venues across Swindon - including Swindon Arts Centre, Richard Jefferies Museum, Lower Shaw Farm and Lydiard Park.

From 6 May to 19 May poets, spoken word artists, painters, dancers, musicians and circus performances will spring into action to celebrate Swindon's evolution through arts and culture.

Events this year include Festival in the Park, Swindon Poetry Slam, Storytelling and the Festival Finale!

Festival Director, Matt Holland, said: "It promises to be a fantastic feast of the arts. We’ll be spoilt for choice!” For further information visit: www.swindonspringfestival.co.uk

FESTIVAL IN THE PARK

The festival will be hosting a whole day of performances, activities, and fun for all the family 12 May. Due to the popularity of the event this year Festival in the Park has been moved from Lower Shaw Farm to Lydiard Park.

FREE swindonspringfestival.co.uk

CREATIVE SWINDON NETWORK LAUNCH

Culturally, what’s actually going on in Swindon in terms of arts, crafts, and performances? What would you like to see happen? Have your say at Creative Swindon Network's launch party and join the discussion on how to keep art thriving in Swindon.

Tickets £5 swindonspringfestival.co.uk

SWINDON SPRING FESTIVAL FINALE

To round up the event, the Festival Finale will be held at Town Hall, Regent Circus, 19 May. The evening will include music, dance, acrobatics, theatre, magic, and wordplay with performers, dancers, storytellers, and live musicians, in a relaxed cabaret setting.

Tickets £10 to £12 swindonspringfestival.co.uk

Venues

Arts Centre, Devizes Road SN1 4BJ. Tel: 01793 524481 www.swindontheatres.co.uk Central Community Centre, Emlyn Square SN1 5BP. Tel: 01793 420649 The Platform, Faringdon Road, Swindon SN1 5BJ

Phoenix Theatre, New College Drive, Swindon, SN3 1AH. Tel: 01793 732889 The Rolleston, 73 Commercial Road, Swindon SN1 5NX. Tel: 01793 534238 Shoebox Theatre, Theatre Square, Swindon SN1 1QN. Tel: 07340 758497 St Michael’s Hall Lechlade Road, Highworth, SN6 7HQ. Tel: 01793 763907

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Roves Farm, Sevenhampton, Nr Highworth SN6 7QG. Tel: 01793 763939 Shoebox Theatre, Theatre Square, Swindon SN1 1QN. Email: shoebox@wrongshoes.co.uk Swindon Information Centre, Central Library SN1 1QG. Tel: 01793 530328 Swindon Museum and Art Gallery, Bath Road SN1 4BA. Tel: 01793 466556 The Victoria, 88 Victoria Road, SN1 3BD. Tel: 01793 535713 Wyvern Theatre, Theatre Square SN1 1QN. Tel: 01793 524481 - www.swindontheatres.co.uk Confirm date, time & price with venue

l The twenty-third Swindon Poetry Slam - hosted by Clive Oseman, Nick Lovell, and special guest! Presented in association with Oooh Beehive.

18 May at Luxborough Room, Lydiard House Tickets £8 l Fugitives in the Garden - art and adventure for the young (ages 5 to 10 years). Take a trip to the Wild Frontier with artist Lucille Moore and feel what it is like to be on the run, or on the hunt, and making cardboard characters to hide among the trees, flowers and plants of the rich and varied gardens of the Richard Jefferies Museum.

9 May Tickets £5 l Writing Workshop and Writer's lunch with awardwinning author Pamela Holmes. Before the workshop you can lunch with fellow writers. Afterwards... Do you feel there’s a story, novel, or memoir in you but you just need some encouragement to write it? Or do you already have work in progress? Whatever stage you are at, this is a workshop for you!

18 May at Lower Shaw Farm, West Swindon Tickets £30

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Painting the town more than red - community makes mark on new mural

By Claire Dukes claire@swindonlink.com

A new community art mural is set to be unveiled this month.

Members of Swindon's community took part in a collaborative art project in April to celebrate the town's artistic evolution - from Isambard Kingdom Brunel to the present day.

A community art hub called on Swindon residents to get involved with the creative art project.

Thanks to funding from South Swindon Parish Council, Artsite commissioned Swindon artist Billy Beaumont to design and create a mural along the side of its resident art gallery, Number Nine.

The mural, entitled 'Swindon Then, When and Now', was also formed through a questionnaire sent out to the community asking what creative figures and landmarks in Swindon best represent the town's heritage and present day.

The mural, which is set to be unveiled this month, looks to celebrate arts and culture in and around the town. Artsite hopes that this will showcase Swindon's thriving art scene.

Artsite Trustee, Sally Taylor, said: "Artsite are looking for further funding to work with artists on the boarded up vandalised windows on the rest of the two buildings to enhance the run-down area, making it more attractive for people passing by or visiting Artsite.

"It will also create an opportunity for local artists to add to their neighbourhood and brighten up the top of the town centre.”

This month will also see the verdict for a new town centre mural - a proposal is to be submitted to Swindon Borough Council by Artsite and SCAN (Swindon Climate Action Network). If the scheme goes ahead inSwindon BID is offering £2,000 for Artsite to commission a local artist. www.artsite.ltd.uk

A poetry column by Maurice Spillane: calling all closet poets A dear friend handed me a poem for my birthday with a note to “read it when you get a chance.” It’s a poem with a catchy title, several stanzas with no rhyming, slightly opaque and very funny. I read it again and again and opened ever more layers.

Brilliant!

But who wrote it? I looked up the title on Google but no luck. I phoned my friend and he said he’s the author.

It’s his first poem. He’s well read, but not in poetry, yet the poem was in his head for weeks. The hardest part was handing the poem to me, going public, and I recognise that.

This poem is good enough to be commended in Swindon’s Battered Moon competition and I’ve encouraged him to enter. If I tell you his name or quote from the poem he’ll be disqualified so we’ll revisit this later.

I came across an amusing poem called “Not Writing” by Anne Boyer which might encourage you closet poets to get out there! Note the non-

rhyming structure, more like a stream of consciousness: When I am not writing I am not writing a novel called 1994 about a young woman in an office park in a provincial town who has a job cutting and pasting time. I am not writing a novel called Nero about the world's richest art star in space.

Look it up. It’s great. If you’d like to get involved join the Poetry Swindon Reading Group. Chat in an informal atmosphere about what you've been reading recently, or just hear what other people have been reading.

• Poetry Reading Group – Monday 13 May, 7pm to 9pm at Richard Jefferies Museum • Open Mic – Monday 27 May, 7.30pm Regent Hotel, Victoria Road • Beehive Pub – Tuesday 14 May, 7:30pm www.mauricespillane.com swindonlink.com n May 2019

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Swindon Lives IN CONVERSATION WITH: Richard Wintle

Swindon Link’s veteran photographer Richard Wintle is no stranger to putting himself through hardship to capture the best images - but as these spectacular images of the state-of-the-art Eurofighter Typhoons refueling on the wing show, it was worth it!

Richard, who runs Calyx Picture Agency, explained: “I had called in at the last minute to cover Operation Joint warrior - a huge military exercise that takes place every two years.

“It was a very early start at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire where I boarded a huge Voyager refuelling aircraft - a derivative of A330 airbus.

"It’s not the first time I’ve covered an operation like this, I used to do a lot of work out of RAF Lyneham.

“As to be expected, there was a fair bit of sitting around, but it was a really comfortable flight - essentially I was there with seven other photographers, so there were eight of us in an aircraft with 300 seats! We picked up

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the aircraft at two locations, initially over the Orkneys and then later on over the Wash. It was quite a challenge because I was taking the pictures through quite small windows with thick glass.

“For the photography nerds out there, I used two Nikkons, a D810 and a D500 using an 18-300mm lens. I’m really pleased with this set of images. You know, taking pictures of cheque presentations is one thing, but taking pictures of refuelling aircraft at 20,000 feet is quite another!”

Richard has worked in Wiltshire for more than 40 years, as a well-known Royal Photographer, videographer, press and sports photographer.

Exercise Joint Warrior is a

major bi-annual multi-national military exercise which takes place in the United Kingdom, predominately in north west Scotland.

Joint Warrior is Europe's largest military exercise and can involve up to 13,000 military personnel, from all three British

armed forces, Nato and other allied countries.

Up to 50 naval vessels, 75 aircraft and numerous groundbased units participate in a typical exercise.

Joint Warrior exercises take place in the spring and autumn and have a duration of two weeks.

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Restaurant reviews

By Claire Dukes claire@swindonlink.com

I was so pleasantly surprised after a recent lunch at Hall & Woodhouse.

The boat-themed pub is the latest instalment at Wichelstowe's canal side boasting eye-catching views, - both inside and out - as well as, in comparison to other pub chains in the area, a high-class menu.

For lunch I opted for the Falafal Burger. Nothing ground-breaking, but from my experience with veggie burgers this one was a highlight - not too oily and it

By Richard Wintle publisher@swindonlink.com

Pick-and-Mix food has hit Swindon; as I discovered when I went to eat in The Crossing in the Brunel Centre, and found Broccoli Pizza & Pasta.

I say Pick-and-Mix, as that’s exactly what it is. Behind a glass fronted counter you are confronted with a row of shining stainless steel trays containing vegetables, sauces, meats, fish and a range of shapes of cooked pasta from which you make up your order.

It’s free-cooked there and then.

The single sheet menu guides you through the complex task of selection, detailing the vegetables, the selection of sauces available including: Bolognese, chilli, and mushroom; and then the choice of meats and fish, which are added to the meal.

wasn't dry or stodgy. Although torn between this and the Chicken Ceasar Salad burger, I was completely satisfied with my decision.

The other members of my dining party opted for the Chicken Caesar Salad, Chicken Caesar Salad Burger, Salmon Pavé, Stuffed Roasted Aubergine, Flat Iron Steak and Vitality Salad.

Ben had the salmon. He said: "It was brought to the table piping hot and had an excellent crispy skin - which is my test for a good piece of salmon. It went down well with a good dollop of tartare sauce. No complaints.

I chose the onion, broccoli and pepper, with a tomato bolognese sauce, my personal favourite, prawns and tagliatelle pasta. My friend chose similar but with chicken. The chef cooked our meal to order in front of us, and served it in expanded polystyrene carryout trays.

We were pleasantly surprised to be presented with a complimentary slice of hot garlic bread on a hot platter.

A very nice accompaniment to the Italian meal.

The food was hot and very tasty with a not too spicy sauce, combining with the pasta and prawns resulting in a well-balanced taste experience.

My friend also found the meal an enjoyable experience, but for her, the quantity was a little too much. We departed feeling satisfied with the taste, texture, and service

Definitely up there for pub grub."

From the interior decor to the menu itself Hall & Woodhouse have implemented small refined touches to make this pub border on gastro (for Swindon, anyway) - from the table service to an already laid-out table upon arrival and product upgrades from Fanta to Rio and Appletize to Causton Press. I also loved that that staff weren't wearing uniforms, - it's outdated, and the uniforms themselves often look cheap.

For the most part this canal side restaurant balances edge with elegance - friendly, and

knowledgeable, service goes hand in hand with good food. The food's relatively expensive for what it is, - it's a safe menu to say the least - however the feeling of the pub itself overrides this aspect and I left pleased with the overall experience.

Hall & Woodhouse, although not the most imaginative of names, is a fantastic asset to Swindon's pub circuit but also the Wichelstowe development.

I would happily return here for a meal, and hopefully board the in-house narrow boat for a pint or two.

although I did feel we almost needed a degree in food technology to fully appreciate the complexities of taste that this interesting franchise has to offer.

The multichoice system of ordering enables you to return time and time again and get a different taste combination every time, and the choice of pasta or pizza can be daunting. But hey, any excuse to try out new culinary experiences.

My only concern is that the meal was served in an

expanded polystyrene tray with one off plastic knives and forks, which is not as environmentally friendly as I would have expected from an outlet dedicated to ‘sharing their passion for a healthy lifestyle’.

Will I be returning to try out the rest of the range of tastes and textures? Yes, I will be back to enjoy Broccoli’s exciting Pick-and-Mix food, but I will check out the menu online first to save that decision-making pause at the counter. swindonlink.com n May 2019

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SERVICE SECTOR

BATHROOM & KITCHEN FITTING, BOOKKEEPING, CARPENTRY, CLEANING, DECORATING, ELECTRICAL, FENCING/PATIOS/ANDSCAPING, GARAGE DOORS

Bathroom & Kitchen Fitting

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

01793 877677 www.enlan.co.uk

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

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

Tel: 01793 700637 or 07963 637748

MN Services Light carpentry work undertaken

• Door hanging/Repairs • Replacement Kitchen cupboard doors & repairs • Shelving • Curtain Rails No job too small Friendly and reliable service Fully insured No obligation free quotes

www.bookkeepingswindon.co.uk

Call Mark 07526 345636 or 01793 881336

DECORATOR

Approved Electrician Approved Electrician

Abacus Cleaning Services Carpets, Rugs and Fabric Upholstery

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

Independently owned & operated To arrange for a free estimate call

01793 421802 www.abacuscleaningservices.co.uk

Part P Registered Part P Registered

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

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

Interior & exterior painting and decorating.

20 years serving local people.

Call Andy on

07970 533569

between 8am and 5pm

No job too small!

• • No job too small!

01793 721455

Call 07976 885203 or 01793 721455 www.trevorwyse.com

Connected Connected Electrical Electrical && Property Services Property Services Call Geoff : 07824 314080 or Tel: 07824 314080 or 01793 703308 01793 703308 Email: connectedelectrical01@gmail.com

Email: connectedelectrical01@gmail.com

Certified Electrician NICEIC Domestic Installers (D606759)

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

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

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

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

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SERVICE SECTOR

LANDSCAPING & GARDENING SERVICES, MOTORING SERVICES, PLANS DRAWN, PLUMBING & GAS SERVICES, REMOVALS, WARDROBES, WASTE REMOVAL

David Hawkins Fully Qualified

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

Stump removal

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

01793 828055 07967 594707 david.hawkins100@hotmail.co.uk

THE AUTOBOSS SWINDON LTD

...A SERVICE YOU CAN TRUST 01793 612131 info@theautoboss.co.uk Unit 2a, Station Road, Swindon SN1 2AD

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

From initial concept to full working drawings my service includes: • written specifications; • contractor tender documents; • all forms and paperwork carried out; • liaison with relevant authorities; • Party Wall Act paperwork and advice given.

7 DAY DESIGN SERVICE for most domestic work Established 1980. All areas covered

www.theautoboss.co.uk

Call Bob on 07778 324228

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

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

NEW: Licensed to remove fridges

Call for a FREE quote Mobile: 07796 236436

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

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Valuation Day opportunity with Thomas Forrester TV expert on Flog It! The Antiques Road Trip & Bargain Hunt

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

Monday 13th May 10am to 3.30pm

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

www.specialauctionservices.com

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