South East Swindon Link April 2024

No 90 April 2024

GPS-tracked, door to door delivery to homes across Swindon with Est. overall print & online readership of 105,000

Swindon

LINK Your Community Magazine

South & East Edition

Fab events coming up this summer p22

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Breaking ground on Swindon's future at Panattoni Park p14 4 DAYS 4 STAGES

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Editor's Note

By Jamie Hill

Hope and optimism of Ukrainian people celebrated at poignant Christ Church concert

By Barrie Hudson This year seems to be shooting barrie@swindonlink.com past us at a rate of knots.

It seems like only yesterday Christ Church in Old Town was that it was January and then the venue for a fundraising we've blinked and we're already concert marking the second a quarter of the way through the anniversary of the Russian year. invasion of Ukraine.

Once again Swindon will be The event was organised by plunged into election fever over the volunteers of The Swindon the next few weeks with the Concert Band and Swindon council elections taking place on Humanitarian Aid Partnership 2 May. (SHAP).

Expect lots of politicians to The Ukrainian flag flew show up on our doorsteps whilst proudly outside as the packed they harangue us into supporting church was entertained by a their team by promising the varied programme including world, in the full knowledge that music by Bach, Gershwin and we'll have to go through the Elgar, together with a selection whole charade again when the of Ukrainian compositions which General Election is finally called were greatly appreciated by later in the year. the dozens of Ukrainian people Whatever party you support, in the audience. though, it is important that we The concert was a successful all use our vote so please make fundraiser, with band musical sure you are registered and director Malcolm Webb remember to bring ID with you handing a cheque for £2,373 when you go to the polls. to SHAP Chair Mike Bowden.

One thing that people have SHAP has delivered almost voted for in their droves is our 2,000 tonnes of aid to Ukraine sister paid-for news subscription and also helps Ukrainian guests service, The Ink. forced to leave their country in Swindonians have really taken the wake of the invasion. to this type of new long-form Board member Nataliya journalism which is insightul, Suhova spoke movingly of the analytical and really gets under dreadful impact of the war on the skin of the issues facing the her homeland, and thanked town. all in Swindon who continue to You can subscribe below. support Ukraine and its people.

She said afterwards: "I so enjoyed the performance.

"The band were absolutely superb and I urge local people look out for their future concerts."

Rev Canon Simon Stevenette had opened the proceedings

Group Editor and Owner: Jamie Hill Deputy Editor: Barrie Hudson Reporter: Amanda Wilkins Sales Manager: Rosy Presley Accounts Manager: Karen Randall Contributors: Tyler Ody, Becky Cox, Maurice Spillane and Alfie Howlett

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while holding a flickering candle in Ukrainian blue and yellow, made by SHAP volunteers to symbolise the positivity and optimism of Ukrainian people.

Two Ukrainian refugee visitors, Julia and Kateryna, thanked the musicians for their performance and the people of Swindon for their ongoing support and kindness.

Christ Church is also a major supporter of SHAP's Candles for Ukraine initiative, which involves collecting candles, both used and unused. Their wax can be placed in tins to create what are known as trench candles - a vital source of heat during harsh weather in locations where power is cut off due to the destruction wrought by the invaders.

Following a recent article in The Church Times, about 50

churches from Cornwall to Cumbria have sent candles.

SHAP chair Mike Bowden said: "Back in October 2022, my colleague Zoreslava told us about the need for trench candles to help keep people alive in temperatures as low as minus 28C and suggested we start collecting old candles.

"Nearly 18 months on SHAP have made many thousand trench candles and sent around 40 tonnes of candle wax to Ukraine."

The Rev Stevenette praised the project, saying the symbolism around the candles of hope, light and peace resonated with people.

People can keep up to date with the work of SHAP and find out how they might be able to help in that work by visiting www.shapuk.org

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News from SBC Local elections are coming soon. Are you ready to vote?

Anyone who is registered to vote in Swindon will soon receive a poll card letter which provides details of their closest polling station as well as the photo ID requirements for the local borough and Police and Crime Commissioner elections taking place on Thursday, 2 May. It is important to make sure that you’re registered to vote.

It takes five minutes to register on the Government’s website – just search ‘register to vote’

online and register before 11.59pm on 16 April.

Anyone who wants to use a postal vote at this year’s elections will need to register by 5pm on 17 April. And for a proxy vote, applications must be submitted by 5pm on 24 April 2024. More details can be found at www.swindon.gov. uk/info/20073/elections_and_ voting/448/different_ways_ you_can_vote.

Anyone voting at a polling station will need to bring an

accepted form of photo ID, which could be a UK passport, a driving licence (either full or provisional), an older person’s bus pass or a PASS card. A full list of acceptable forms of photo ID is available at www. swindon.gov.uk/voterID. Voters can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate if they do not have acceptable photo ID and would need to apply before 5pm on Wednesday, 24 April. To apply, voters can: - Visit the council’s website

- Call Swindon Borough Council on 01793 445500 to request a postal application form - Apply in person on any working day between 9.30am and 4pm at Civic Reception, Civic Offices, Euclid Street, Swindon, SN1 2JH Everything voters need to know about the elections is available on Swindon Borough Council’s website: www. swindon.gov.uk/voterID

Help your children to get a healthy start in life

Swindon Borough Council is encouraging parents and expectant parents to check if they are eligible for an NHS Healthy Start Card.

Anyone who is more than 10 weeks pregnant or has a child under the age of four may be entitled to help to buy healthy food and milk Those who are eligible will be sent a Healthy Start Card with pre-added credit that can be

used in some UK shops. Funds will then be added onto the card every four weeks.

The card can be used to buy: • plain liquid cow’s milk • fresh, frozen, and tinned fruit and vegetables • fresh, dried, and tinned pulses • infant formula milk based on cow’s milk The card can also be used to collect Healthy Start vitamins,

used during pregnancy and breastfeeding, as well as for vitamin drops for babies and young children, which are suitable for newlyborn babies up to those aged four years old.

Those who receive Child Tax Credit may be eligible for a Healthy Start card if the family’s annual income is £16,190 or less, or they do not

receive Working Tax Credit.

Most people who receive Child Tax Credit can apply online on the Healthy Start Card NHS page www.healthystart.nhs.uk

Thank you for playing your part in recycling across Swindon Since Swindon Borough Council launched the new recycling service in late November, residents have already recycled over 1,275 tonnes of food waste.

Recent Government figures showed that over the last 10 years, Swindon’s annual recycling rate had fallen to 33 per cent (from 50 per cent), but statistics since the

start of the new waste and recycling collection service last November show positive signs that this trend will be reversed.

Thanks to residents’ efforts, 1,390 tonnes of paper, 1,110 tonnes of glass, as well as 746 tonnes of cans and plastic have also been collected from the kerbside.

If you’re unsure if something can be recycled, you can

search items using the Waste Wizard on the council’s

website: swindon.gov.uk/ wastewizard

friend or neighbour who uses Homeline, here are three important things they need to do. Firstly, when their telephone provider contacts them, they need to let them know that they have a Homeline device to make sure this doesn’t get disconnected.

Secondly, they should call the council on 01793 464430/616427 to let them know when their telephone

provider is upgrading their landline service.

Thirdly, service users are advised to test their Homeline device once a month by pressing the button on their pendant. This won’t automatically call 999. The Homeline team will check if they’re ok first, and service users just need to tell them they’re testing the device. The team expect these calls.

Help spread the word to Homeline users Is someone you know one of over 3,000 residents in Swindon who use the community alarm system Homeline, operated by Swindon Borough Council?

Between now and the end of December 2025, many telephone providers (e.g. BT, Virgin Media and O2) are moving their customers from old copper landlines over to new digital fibre landline services.

While these changes are 4

happening, the council wants to make sure that all users’ Homeline (careline) devices continue to work correctly. The council has been made aware of instances where elderly and vulnerable customers have had their Homeline service inadvertently disconnected when phone providers enter customers’ homes to complete the upgrade.

If you have a family member,

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Precious historic rose bowl back home at Lydiard House after painstaking restoration by Deacons

By Barrie Hudson barrie@swindonlink.com A unique artefact from the Lydiard House collection is back home after expert cleaning by the firm which supplied it more than a century ago.

On March 15 1917, Vernon Henry St.John turned 21 and became the sixth Viscount Bolingbroke - the last Lord of Lydiard.

Celebrations were low-key as the birthday fell in the midst of World War One, but the tenants of the Bolingbroke estate at Lydiard Park, who were fond of the family, were determined that the event should be properly marked.

After months of fundraising, they bought a solid silver rose bowl from Deacons at a cost of over £75, or around £6,000 in today’s money, and it was

Deacons who painstakingly cleaned it more than 100 years later.

The return of the bowl to Lydiard House was marked with a recreation of a

photograph taken when it was originally presented to the young Viscount, who went on to serve in the war and lived until 1974. The image appeared in the old Daily Sketch

newspaper, which eventually merged with the Daily Mail.

The recreated image, at the same location 107 years on, shows from left: Cllr Marina Strinkovsky, Swindon Borough Council Cabinet Member for Heritage, Art and Culture, Chair of the Friends of Lydiard Park Sarah FinchCrisp, Deacons Managing Director Richard Deacon, who is holding the rose bowl alongside Swindon Museums Manager Frances Yeo, and grandson and grandfather Sam and James Woolford, whose ancestor sat on the committee which organised the purchase and presentation of the rose bowl in 1917. Swindon Link's Barrie Hudson can just be seen entering the building, recreating the presence of Edward (Teddy) Hiscocks, Lady Bolingbroke's estate steward, in the original.

Museum and gallery to open its doors at The Civic Offices this spring

By Barrie Hudson barrie@swindonlink.com

Swindon Borough Council says completion of the new home for the town's superb art and artefacts collection is set for Spring.

A special gathering was organised at the Civic Offices location of what is now called Museum and Art Swindon to show off the project's progress.

Those invited included representatives from local arts and culture groups, Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire Mrs Sarah Rose Troughton, Swindon Borough Council Leader Cllr Jim Robbins and Cllr Marina Strinkovsky, the council’s Cabinet Member for Arts, Culture and Heritage.

The museum has moved from Apsley House in Old Town to the Civic Offices in order to make the council’s collection of artwork and artefacts more accessible to more people.

The new name, Museum and Art Swindon, comes as it enters a new phase of showcasing the borough’s artworks and artefacts.

When complete, the Civic Offices will provide around 40 percent more display space compared to its previous home at 6 swindonlink.com n March 2024 SE April Master pages.indd 6

Apsley House.

The new venue will also provide improved working conditions and additional areas for staff, volunteers and researchers, presenting an opportunity to restart the museum and art gallery’s volunteer programme.

A space will be developed as a schools learning and lunchroom, which will also be used to host museum events, especially those aimed at families and focusing on the museum and art gallery’s extensive collections.

Along with the behind-the-scenes event, the new website for Museum and Art Swindon was launched - www. museumartswindon.com Cllr Strinkovsky said: “It’s hugely exciting to see the new museum and gallery so close to completion.

“It’s been a long and difficult road to get to this position but I’d like to thank the project team for their hard work in getting all the complex building work complete and in a position where we can now begin the fit-out of this new home for brilliant collections.

“When it’s open, I hope everyone gets the chance to see the new space and

explore Swindon’s amazing history.

From the dinosaurs all the way up to the railways, there’s something that I’m sure will interest everyone.”

Lord-Lieutenant of Wiltshire Mrs Sarah Rose Troughton said: “I am absolutely delighted to see Swindon’s legendary collection of Modern British Art in the council building, will be open to all.

“Sir Kenneth Clark, when chairman of the Arts Council, said ‘they take art seriously in Swindon’, and indeed they do.”

Linda Kasmaty, Chair of the Friends of Museum and Art Swindon, said: “It’s just fabulous to be here looking around the first floor of the Civic Offices.

“What we’ve got now looks fantastic.

The team are very dedicated, they’re all obviously very enthusiastic and that’s amazing to have.

“It’s very beautiful, it ticks every box and it’s a great way to repurpose the building.

“It’s something to be proud of. People need museums and galleries to visit.

Swindonians will be thrilled and the town can be very proud of it. It’ll be a destination for art lovers across the country.”

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The South Swindon Parish Council Column

By Neil Hopkins Chair of South Swindon Parish Council Buckhurst Field Improvements As parish councillors, our goal is to make South Swindon a vibrant, desirable place for families to call home. Part of that mission involves providing quality public spaces and recreation amenities that bring people together and promote active, healthy lifestyles.

That's why I'm proud to announce the improvement programme we have underway at Buckhurst Field. This potential £600,000+ investment represents the largest project ever undertaken by South Swindon Parish Council.

The proposed plan includes a state-of-the-art skate park, fully refreshed children's play area, a new inclusive ‘PlayZone’, restored football pitches and pavilion,

landscaping, a new cycle path and more. Our goal is to create an accessible community space with engaging options for residents of all ages, backgrounds and abilities.

Work on the play area will be starting in early April and should take 3-4 weeks to complete. We will be announcing the commencement of the other works in due course.

For more information about this project, please visit our website: www.southswindon-pc. gov.uk/buckhurst-field/ Quarry Road Tennis Courts We are pleased to share that after a lengthy process of assessing the drainage problems and finding an appropriate contractor, work has commenced to properly address the standing water and other drainage challenges faced at the site.

We know this has been frustrating for residents eager to use the courts, and we appreciate everyone's patience as we complete the work. It’s been frustrating for everyone concerned and I’m delighted that work can now take place.

Summer Events 2024 As the warmer weather approaches, I am delighted to announce this summer’s programme of events at the Town Gardens Bowl.

This year we have a diverse selection of fantastic events, including theatre, music and opera, kicking off with Old Time Sailors on Friday 3rd May. Other highlights include Comedy at the Bowl on 1st June, Supersonic Queen tribute on 7th June, open-air theatre with productions like Sherlock & Watson and A Midsummer Night's Dream, and familiar

favourites like the My Dad's Bigger Than Your Dad Festival.

Visit www.towngardensswindon.co.uk/events/ for the full schedule.

If you are interested in hiring one of our community facilities, please get in contact with the council’s Community Facilities Officer: community@ southswindon-pc.gov.uk

Swindon septuagenarian's Parkrun success

By Amanda Wilkins amanda@swindonlink.com

A Swindon woman who took up running at the age of 73 has completed a nine-week ‘Couch to 5K’ challenge and raised more than £1,700 for a local charity.

Dee Vaughan, who lives in Old Walcot, had never even owned a pair of running shoes before, but crossed the finish line in the Parkrun at Lydiard after completing the 5k race.

The money raised will go to Parkinsons UK, who support the Swindon Parkinson’s Activity Group.

The group provides exercise and social activities for those with the condition.

Dee said: “I have never been sporty before but since my husband was diagnosed with Parkinsons I have seen its effects first hand."

Swindon Parkinson's Activity Group meets regularly and offers activities including 8

Dee Vaughan and supporters

exercise classes, Tai Chi, walking football and movement to music. Exercise has been shown to be the only thing to slow the progression of Parkinson's disease.

They also organise social coffee mornings and meals out.

Dee said: “The generosity of

people has been amazing. It inspired me to keep going with my training when it was tough!”

Her husband, Graham, said: “I am really proud of Dee, once she said she would do it she was never put off, not even when training during the worst of the wind and rain over the

last few months.”

Dee's JustGiving appeal page is www. justgiving.com/page/deevaughan-1704662463497, and Swindon Parkinson's Activity Group can be contacted via swindonparkinsons.org.uk

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Major improvement plan for Buckhurst Field

By Amanda Wilkins amanda@swindonlink.com

South Swindon Parish Council has announced plans for a full scale upgrade programme at Buckhurst Field.

They are intended to enhance sport and recreation amenities across the site.

Planned upgrades include rebuilding the play area, the skate park and sports facilities, as well as pitch improvements, landscaping, and other works.

The parish council will be working with partners including Swindon Borough Council, the Football Foundation and the Oakfield Development Board.

If the project were delivered in full, the field would receive over £600,000 of investment over the next 18 months.

The current play area will be renovated with new inclusive equipment to enable use by children of a range of abilities and ages. There will be new swings, a sensory play board, a zipline, hurricane swing and more.

The pathways around the play area will also be widened and improved. The design was presented to local disability advocacy group Mums on a Mission, who welcomed the design and its accessibility.

Work on the play area will start later in the Spring and will last three to four weeks.

The inactive football pitches will be restored by specialist contractors to game condition, including drainage improvements and improved turf.

Additionally, the current changing rooms will be reformatted into a new sports pavilion that will be used by

local junior football group, Swindon Robins.

The parish council will also be resurfacing the potholed car park that serves the changing rooms.

Residents will be asked to stay off the affected land until it recovers.

The parish council will be aiming to remodel the skate park with a modern design focused on play value, accessibility, and ease of maintenance.

The new design incorporates accessibility for sports such as skateboarding, roller blading, BMX and scootering.

Cllr Linda Kasmaty, Chair of Leisure, Environment and Amenities, said: “This programme represents South Swindon Parish Council's largest investment ever in recreation facilities for our community.

We've worked hard to create an inclusive vision that increases access to exercise, social interaction and just plain fun.

"We’re delighted to work with the borough council and that they support our vision for the future use of the field.

And we're proud to welcome an established local club like Swindon Robins FC to make Buckhurst their home ground.”

Cllr Jim Grant, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Joint Working, described the scheme as fantastic.

For more information about this project, people can visit the website: www.southswindon-pc. gov.uk/buckhurst-field/

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New venue for popular Swindon's enthusiastic World Book Day celebrations makers' market

By Barrie Hudson The Swindie makers' market returns on Saturday 20 April at the Pattern Church in Penzance Drive from noon to 5pm.

The church in Rodbourne is a new venue for the event.

The modern makers' market has up to 100 makers including Shadow Candles, Mama Thea and independent fashion brand Lote 75.

Organiser Lora O’Callaghan said: "We are now on our fifth Swindie. After the success and demand of the last event at Steam, we've moved to a new venue.

"The Pattern Church boasts three floors, making way for up to 100 talented makers and small businesses all showcasing their modern, trend-led products."

Accolade for Swindon & Wiltshire Pride

barrie@swindonlink.com

School pupils and staff across the Swindon area celebrated World Book Day with a variety of special events.

The enthusiastic participants included The Park Academies Trust (TPAT), whose schools held a week of themed activities.

Pupils came to the Swindon schools dressed as characters from books they’ve enjoyed reading, with costumes inspired

by J K Rowling, David Walliams and Julia Donaldson.

Staff created events designed to encourage pupils to explore much-loved and inspiring stories.

Swindon-based children’s author and school parent Kate Claxton, whose debut book 'My Mum's a Tiger' became a worldwide success, visited Orchid Vale primary school, where she has been running a series of writing workshops with the pupils and is the school’s

Author Kate Claxton visited Orchid Vale Primary School

resident author.

Across the Trust children have been completing reading and writing activities around their chosen books.

Class teachers made videos to show all their hard work, which have been sent to the other TPAT primary schools.

On World Book Day, children dressed up as their favourite book characters to match this year’s 'Read Your Own Way' theme.

Each class at Bridlewood primary school also received a book gift from the other primary schools and completed book-related activities throughout the week.

Bridlewood held a Poetry slam, with the three winners from each class reciting their poems to the whole school.

Pupils were encouraged to listen to their favourite stories told by their friends and class teachers.

Swindon & Wiltshire Pride has been named as Community Group of the Year at the Wiltshire Life Awards.

The awards champion “...tales Mayor of Swindon calls for St George’s Day celebration of creative endeavour, bravery became a legendary figure

By Barrie Hudson and community spirit.” in English history due to his barrie@swindonlink.com Last year's Pride celebration courage and bravery, and saw over 6,500 people come Mayor of Swindon Cllr from the ninth century onwards, together for a day of joy Barbara Parry is calling on people have been coming and love in Queens Park as local residents and businesses together here in England to part of the 15th anniversary to come together and join her celebrate the day of our commemoration. to celebrate St George’s Day Patron Saint.

Prospect Spring Run across the town.

“Patron Saints are chosen as Mayor of St George’s Day is celebrated special protectors or guardians raises over £18,000 Swindon Cllr on 23 April every year and over all areas of life, and I Barbara Prospect Hospice's Spring Run Parry is recognised as England’s am calling on the people of was a resounding success. national day.

Swindon to join me and mark Against the backdrop of Coate “Or why not celebrate with The mayor’s focus this year this special day.

Water Country Park, around your family by cooking a has been to spread love and “There are so many ways 200 enthusiastic participants traditional English meal, maybe happiness, and in line with her that you can celebrate St laced up their running shoes to a roast beef dinner, or toad passion to help and support George’s Day, from making and take on either a 5km or 10km in the hole, or perhaps some young people she has also been wearing a red rose to flying challenge. traditional scones?

There are a working hard to raise money or displaying the St George’s Among the runners was whole host of free St George’s for local charities BEST and Cross flag.

Sharon Greasley, who said: Day recipes available on the Swindon Young Carers.

The Mayor added that she "Participating in Prospect internet, including on the BBC During her time as mayor, Cllr “A whole host of ideas and Hospice's Spring Run was an Good Food website: www.

Parry has also been focussing free resources are available incredible experience. bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/ on providing children and other for children online, including "The atmosphere was electric, collection/st-georges-dayinterested residents with a making a cardboard sword, and the beautiful weather recipes?page=3" greater understanding of the or your own cardboard shield, made every step enjoyable.

The Mayor added that history of the town, and she is as well as learning about the Knowing that our efforts were people were welccome history of St George on the contributing to such an important now calling on the people of to post images of their charity made crossing the finish Swindon to join her to celebrate English Heritage website - www. celebrations with the hashtag St George’s Day. english-heritage.org.uk/visit/ line even more meaningful." #stgeorgesdayswindon2024 Cllr Parry said: “St George whats-on/st-georges-day/. swindonlink.com n March 2024 10 SE April Master pages.indd 10

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Mobility Zumba dance class every Wednesday A Zumba mobility dance class takes place every Wednesday at 11am at St Mary’s Church, Commonweal Road.

No booking is required.

A spokesperson said: "Starting with a tea, we get to know each other before we start dancing. Our Mobility Dance Class, tailored for seniors, offers seated options, welcoming everyone including those with disabilities. Expect gentle movement, and an inclusive atmosphere where everyone can thrive and enjoy the benefits of dance.

"Join us for a fitness journey filled with laughter and support."

What to expect: - Toned body with elastic bands.

- Loyalty card rewards.

- Fun, uplifting music.

- Inclusive, friendly community.

-PAYG For more details please call 07311 677205.

Swindon charity Dressability is looking for new trustees Dressability is a registered independent charity which supports the clothing needs of people with disabilities and those with limited dexterity.

For people with physical diasbilities, learning difficulties and the over 65s, finding clothes that reflect a personal style, fit well and are easy to take on or off, is often an impossible task. To make life easier Dressability provides a low-cost clothing adaptation and alteration service.

Dressability has a board of trustees who are legally responsible for all the charity's activities and they are currently looking for new trustees to join them.

A spokesperson said: "If you have previous experience in business, or have good marketing and media skills, you may be the perfect fit."

Email sharontombs@ dressability.org.uk for details.

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Wichelstowe school to join Park Academies Trust following Ofsted special measures judgement The Deanery Academy and Kingfisher primary school and nursery in Wichelstowe are to join the Swindon-based Park Academies Trust in September.

In September of last year the Deanery received a Special Measures judgement from Ofsted.

At the time both schools and the nursery were part of the The Diocese of Bristol Academies Trust.

The Ofsted rating led to a Termination Warning Notice being issued by the Department for Education, which advised that they were minded to rebroker the Deanery to another multi-academy trust.

The Park Academies Trust already runs six schools and a Sixth Form centre and was the Department for Education’s preferred choice of Trust for the Deanery and Kingfisher because of its strong record in school development.

The process of transferring the Deanery and Kingfisher to a new Multi Academy Trust has taken almost six months and has been carried out in close consultation with the Department for Education (DfE) and the DfE’s Regional Director for the South West.

James Nicholson, Interim CEO of The Park Academies Trust, said: “We are delighted to welcome the Deanery and Kingfisher as the latest schools to join our Trust and we are committed to ensuring a smooth transition for pupils, families and staff.

"We are a Trust with a proud

sense of community and family at the heart of our ethos and we know we can grow stronger together. We look forward to extending the support and resources which benefit all of our schools to the Deanery and Kingfisher as well.”

Stephen Mitchell, CEO of The Diocese of Bristol Academies Trust, said: “It is important to us all at the Diocese of Bristol Academies Trust that the Deanery and Kingfisher schools both continue their journeys to grow and flourish, within a Trust that will do the best for the pupils and the community that the schools serve.

"We are looking forward to continuing our work in the coming months, with our colleagues in The Park Academies Trust, to ensure a smooth transition” Kelly Osborne-James, Interim Headteacher at the Deanery CE Academy, said: “We are delighted to be joining The Park Academies Trust as the Deanery CE Academy continues its journey of rapid improvement.

"We have been blessed to already develop positive working relationships with various members of staff across the Trust and have been grateful for the support they have provided.

"We look forward to growing such professional relationships as we collectively serve our students, their families and the community so all can flourish.”

Sharon Bishop, Headteacher at Kingfisher CE Academy, said: "The Kingfisher family is delighted to begin a new chapter in our story with The Park Academies Trust. We look forward to introducing everyone to our incredible learners, parents, carers, staff and community.

"All of us at Kingfisher CE Academy are very proud of all that has been achieved since our opening in September 2021 and we look forward with Hope, Wisdom, Resilience and Service to all we can achieve together as a school, a campus and part of a new Trust family."

Latest Swindon mural unveiled A new mural showcasing Swindon's canal history has been painted at the Sheppard Street underpass near the railway station.

The mural was created by Luke Gray with input from the Wiltshire and Berkshire Canal Trust who gave reference images and design advice.

The artwork is part of the ongoing work to improve the

area and underpasses.

London Street and Sheppard Street will see the bulk of the £3m improvements which include the widening of the pavement in front of the Carriage Works.

A number of trees will be planted, and the space outside the Bristol Street tunnel is set to be improved with new railings and planting.

Cllr Marina Strinkovsky, Cabinet Member for Heritage, Art and Culture

Additional trees will be planted in Sheppard Street and a pocket park will be created.

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Prime Minister makes flying visit to former Honda site to mark redevelopment

By Jamie Hill jamie@swindonlink.com

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak popped into the old Honda site in South Marston to mark the ground breaking of the new Panattoni Park.

The old Honda site will be demolished completely over the next 10 months ahead of the £900m construction of business and logistical facilities

by Panattoni, and it is hoped the site will eventually employ more than 7,000 people when completed in approximately five years time.

Speaking to a huddle of reporters after breaking ground at the new development, the Prime Minister said: "I am here today to celebrate one of the largest investments in the South West. When completed this site will create thousands and thousands of high quality jobs for the area.

"This is great news for Swindon and great news for the entire region and it is testament to the hard work of our local MPs Robert Buckland and Justin Tomlinson, who have worked tirelessly to make this happen.

"Swindon has such good transport links which is why it is such an attractive place for investment like this. With news like this Swindon definitely has a brighter future."

After the PM's visit, North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson said: "We are absolutely thrilled that Rishi Sunak visited today. Both me and Robert have worked very hard for Swindon since 2010 when we became the MPs for this town.

"And we both pushed to ensure that this development got through the planning stages as quickly as possible to ensure the town's future success. One thing that this development tells the world is that Swindon is open for business."

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The Prime Minister with dignitaries including North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson, extreme left, and South Swindon MP Sir Robert Buckland, third fron left

South Swindon counterpart Sir Robert Buckland said: "One of the great things about Swindon is its ability to reinvent itself. It reinvented itself from a railway town to a car manufacturing town and now once again it is reinventing itself for the next generation.

"It is that strength of versality of always being able to evolve that makes Swindon such a great town for people to live in and work.

"The PM's visit today highlights the good news story of Swindon and how it will be a prosperous place for years to come."

Later that day, Swindon Borough Council leader Cllr Jim Robbins and Mayor of Swindon Cllr Barbara Parry were among VIPs who gathered for a second ground breaking ceremony.

Speaking against the backdrop of demolition work on the old Honda structure, Cllr Robbins said: "I'm really pleased to be here - it's great to see a huge investment in Swindon.

"I've been really keen to make the argument that Swindon is open to business, and keen to bring in inward investment."

The council leader said that in addition to the work of Panattoni, there was a lot the council could do to make Swindon attractive to potential

new businesses.

He added that in addition to hoping for future announcements from Panattoni about investment, people could look forward to a council announcement about the town centre.

"Hopefully," he said, "you will see that Swindon is a town

and that's where they first met and fell in love and lived happily ever after.

"It's interesting to see it evolving into something new."

Recalling her meetings with senior Panattoni officials, the Mayor said she had been excited to hear of their plans and the expected investment

From left: Project Delivery Director Owen Follett, Development Manager Ethan Greene, Development Director James Watson, Mayor of Swindon Cllr Barbara Parry, Panattoni Managing Director Matthew Byrom and Swindon Borough Council Leader Cllr Jim Robbins

that's really on the up. There's loads of great reasons for people to come and invest in Swindon, not least the amazing employment land behind me and which is being created, but also as a town we're hugely productive." Mayor of Swindon Cllr Parry has a personal as well as an official interest in the project.

"It's quite a funny feeling being on this site and seeing the buildings," she said. "My husband worked on this site for 27 years and prior to that his parents worked at Vickers -

which would be drawn to the town.

Panattoni Managing Director Matthew Byron said Honda had been eager to work with a partner they trusted and who could deliver.

Highlighting the location's role in Swindon's industrial history, including wartime aircraft production, Mr Byron said that once the infrastructure was complete towards the end of this year, the first warehouse on the site would cover a million square feet or about 23 acres.

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Regeneration work begins at The Parade The next phase in the Fleming Way scheme has begun at The Parade, outside the old Debenhams building.

All shops will remain open and accessible throughout the works, and access to the pedestrian route to the bus station will be maintained at all times.

Enhancing the public open space around Fleming Way is a major part of the ongoing improvements, which will create a new public transport hub and improved cycling facilities.

When complete, new paving and landscaping will be installed, including planters that will be home to new plants and trees. The intension is to make the area more vibrant and a better place for residents and visitors to the town centre to enjoy and spend time in.

A total of 166 new trees and over 23,000 plants will be planted as part of the Fleming Way scheme, and there will be new cycle lane facilities that

link up the main cycling routes across the town.

In December 2020 the Government approved a thorough business case and agreed to pay 75 per cent of the costs of a major upgrade of Fleming Way, as the main gateway into the town centre.

The project is one part of the transformation of the area,

intended to stimulate further investment in the town centre by increasing land values and making it more attractive for investors to bring forward new homes, offices, shops and leisure facilities.

It has already been a catalyst for investment, with Zurich pointing to the regeneration as a key reason why it wanted to

build its new office block, Unity Place.

FI Real Estate Management has also spent £7m upgrading its office block at the TriCentre, while plans to transform the former Debenhams store and Falcon House above it were influenced by the improvements currently taking place.

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The return of Eastcott Window Wanderland

By Barrie Hudson barrie@swindonlink.com Windows across Eastcott were once again turned into a huge public gallery as Window Wanderland returned for the sixth year running.

Eastcott Window Wanderland is organised

by Eastcott Community Organisation (ECO), a volunteer-led charity which runs Eastcott Community Centre and aims to improve life for all who live in the area.

The theme for the event was Favourite Book, Film or TV Show, although display makers were free to let their imaginations run wild.

The organisers were delighted by and grateful for the support shown by the community, together with quality and variety of the works of art created.

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Interview: Swindon 105.5 station manager and presenter Shirley Ludford is a household name in local broadcasting

By Barrie Hudson barrie@swindonlink.com To say that Shirley Ludford is a passionate advocate of community radio in general and Swindon 105.5 in particular would be quite the understatement.

“It provides a service that's not met by any other media. It provides opportunities, unique opportunities.

“It gives people training and volunteering experiences that can help them into further education, into employment or into other volunteering, and because of our flexibility and our expectation to work within the community, each station is very different.

"We have two elements to our service. One is providing a wide range of support and training for people of all ages and all abilities, and we've seen a huge building of confidence and development of skills. Many people who have come through our doors in our 16 years have gone on to jobs within the industry.

“We have people at TalkSport, BBC Television, commercial and BBC Radio, British Forces Radio, people who've gone into the police force and various services.

Some have gone on to university, who never thought they would.

"Everybody can achieve if they are given the opportunity and they have the passion and desire to achieve. It's what they can do, not what they can't.

And if you build on that there are amazing results.

"It all helps to raise the profile of the town as well, because we like to think we represent the community at large and also the town.

"The town's often talked down, isn't it! Usually by Swindon people! I'm a Swindonian - I can say it! But the community 18

aspect of the town is vibrant.

The arts community is vibrant.

"It's something the station really believes in promoting, the positive side of our town and our communities.

"I think community is at the heart of what I do. I was with the BBC for 12 and a half years.

"You couldn't keep me in!

Any chance I had to go out, anywhere across the borough and across the county, I'd be out. Radio isn't just behind four walls; radio should be out there in the community, being part of the community.

“That's a benefit to everybody, and people love it; they see people they listen to on the radio, they meet you and they can feel part of it.

"I think radio can sometimes be too formulaic, too safe.

It's often said, 'Don't work with children or animals' but I actually love it. I love seeing what comes next and working with the unexpected.

“It's fun, it's perhaps more challenging, but it adds another aspect to broadcasting so it's not just people sitting in a studio - you're actually hearing real life.

"You take listeners on a journey when you're outside.

You've got atmospheres and sounds, so you actually take listeners with you, and that adds something quite positive and important, I think.

LINK PEOPLE

her name - got in touch to request that the cable station have local radio between television broadcasts. At the time, Radio Bristol was used because Swindon had no local radio station.

Challenged by engineer Peter Knight to put a programme together, Shirley responded with a show whose guests included a Miss Thamesdown and an actor from a popular television programme, Dr Finlay’s Casebook. Music "They say that radio paints came courtesy of a 78rpm pictures in the mind, and I radio collection played by an totally agree with that." enthusiast called Alan Burston A Swindon woman and a who is today Swindon 105.5’s staunch advocate of the town, oldest presenter at 82.

Shirley modestly insists she "And that was me in only became a broadcaster by broadcasting!" accident.

She has been with Swindon "I'm someone who believes 105.5 since it began in that if something feels right, temporary studios at the long have a go. That's been my since-demolished Bulldog pub, ethos all my life. A lot of what seeing it grow and change I've done in my life has not locations until reaching its been planned." current Liden base.

Before broadcasting, her The station has amassed an career seemed to be heading impressive roster of accolades. toward a secretarial path, with The Duke of Kent visited in a stint at Burmah oil before a 2014 on behalf of the late change of direction when she Queen and delivered the was offered the chance to live station's Queen's Award, for with a French family in Corsica example. Shirley, a Deputy in the Mediterranean and teach Lieutenant of Wiltshire, is a English. recipient of the High Sheriff's After Shirley returned to Award, and last year a Prince Swindon, her mother was of Wales Award was presented featured in an item on a Friday to the station at the Royal Bath evening news programme on and West Show. the town’s pioneering cable "I suppose my life has gone television network. As Shirley around in a circle. I started and her mother did not have off with cable TV, which was cable, they went to view the making opportunities for the programme at the station’s public, the community, to come headquarters in Victoria Road. in, tell their stories, learn how Shirley showed such an to make their own stories, their interest in the station that own programmes. its manager invited her to "And here I am now with a volunteer the following day. community radio station doing Later, she was offered a three- the same thing. month contract to fill in for a "If someone's got a will to do secretary who was injured. It something and they've got a was during this time that a Park passion for what they do, I'll South woman called Betty Kerr put as much time in as needed."

- Shirley has never forgotten

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BUSINESS PROFILE

Business Profile - nicenstripy Business Type - Garden care Established - 1996 Location - 75 White Eagle Road, Swindon SN25 1PY Telephone number - 0800 014 2420 Website - www.nicenstripy.com #nicenstripyuk

By Barrie Hudson barrie@positive-media.co.uk When nicenstripy was founded 28 years ago the organisation had a vision to change the gardening industry.

As nicenstripy puts it: "The age old complaint that gardeners were unreliable became the spur to design a business that met the demand for a reliable, professional service that still had the friendly, trustworthy face of the local gardener.

"Secondly, nicenstripy wanted to be consistent in offering a high quality of workmanship and customer care.

"To that end, we invested in the best equipment on the market and trained our managers and staff to work to nicenstripy ‘standards’.

"We work quickly and efficiently to minimise inconvenience to our customers - a combination that sets us apart from our competitors.

"We will go the extra mile to ensure our customers are not only pleased and totally satisfied with the jobs we perform for them, but have a great experience that no other company can match.

"That’s probably why

nicenstripy customers are also nice people!"

The company says it is proud to have established itself as dominant market leader in the domestic market, but has never rested on its laurels.

"Today, we also service a number of commercial and utility customers where quality, service and workmanship are vital. Indeed, growth in the Commercial and Utility market has been phenomenal over the last three or four years.

"Our customers differ in how much help they would like managing the garden, and so we offer flexibility- nicenstripy can carry out regular grass cutting through to a full garden maintenance programme, or a one off tidy up."

According to the results of customer surveys, reliability is the main reason why people stay with nicenstripy, closely followed the sheer quality of the work and the friendliness. nicenstripy operates a franchise model, giving dedicated and enthusiastic people the chance to work for themselves. The company is a full member of the British Franchise Association.

In Swindon, nicenstripy is represented by Adam Payne, of whom the company says:

"Adam is a green guru, an expert in all things lawns and landscapes, having spent the last 15 years getting his fingers greener and greener

in his home county of Wiltshire taming the unruly gardens and creating beautiful outdoor spaces for individuals and businesses alike.

"Adam is an expert in all things lawns and gardening, having built up his knowledge working for a specialist landscaping company for 15 years. This combined with his RHS training, will ensure the unruly gardens of Wiltshire are tamed, creating beautiful outdoor spaces for individuals and businesses alike."

Pride in a job well done

Swindon's Adam Payne has never looked back since becoming local franchisee for nicenstripy.

His work takes him not just throughout Swindon but also Cirencester, Chippenham and beyond.

"I want to be out meeting people and providing a service for the community," he said, "rather than just working for large corporate companies where you're distanced from interacting with customers."

Although Adam has many years of experience in all manner of garden tasks, his original career background is in accountancy, finance and IT. It was on turning 50 that he decided he needed to fully devote himself to the outdoor life and work he loves.

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LINK POLITICS Springtime - when politicians' thoughts turn to...elections!

A column by Swindon Borough Council Leader Cllr Jim Robbins As residents’ thoughts turn to Spring at this time of year, as politicians our thoughts turn to elections!

Despite Rishi Sunak apparently ruling out an early General Election, we will still have local elections in Swindon for you to choose your local councillors and a Police & Crime Commissioner on 2 May. I’m still humbled by the support that residents gave us last year, and as a new administration we have worked hard to repay that faith in us. We took over in tricky circumstances with Ofsted coming in almost immediately and rating the council’s Children’s Services as Inadequate. We also inherited a £10m in-year overspend and a £27m gap in our funding for next year.

I’m delighted to say that we have reduced the in-year overspend to zero, and should make a small surplus this year, and delivered a balanced budget for next year. We have made progress on our work with Ofsted and recently held the first of our monitoring visits with them which went well.

We have tried to reset the relationship that the council has with residents, and recently held the largest engagement exercise that the council has held in living memory.

The ‘Let’s Talk Swindon’ events were well-attended, full of fascinating conversations about the town, and very positive.

It was so clear how much love

people have for Swindon, and how much they want it to reach its potential.

There was widespread support for the three missions that we have set ourselves, to reduce inequality, build a better Swindon and achieve our net zero goals.

I was delighted that we brought a plan to the last Cabinet meeting outlining the masterplan for a new housing development around Marlowe Avenue.

The new scheme will deliver the largest increase in council housing for 30 years.

We have learnt lots in our first year in administration, making key appointments to roles in the council, getting the council back on a secure financial footing, working to rebuild the morale of staff and make the council a more effective and more responsive organisation, and I’m certain that we can really kick on and deliver more if

voters give us the opportunity.

Our pledges to you are: Town Centre - devise a bold regeneration plan for the town centre. Push property owners to introduce temporary uses to tackle empty shops in advance of redevelopment.

Young people - open new youth facilities and set up a council-run community engagement group.

Roads - lobby Government for additional funds for pothole repair and additional powers to manage roadworks better Get the Oasis re-opened - finalise the deal with the developer and explore options for a new performance venue for the town.

Tackle the Housing crisis increase the number of council houses in the town and support everyone to have a safe and secure home.

I really hope that you will support us to keep building a better Swindon.

believe these are the wrong cuts and would reverse them.

We all saw the impact of 1m missed waste collections, but did you know that in February, the Government stepped in to rescue the council with a £1.7m grant? Funny how Labour kept it quiet and more staff and vehicles mean service is almost back to normal.

An audit found the Highways department "rudderless and with no support". The councillor in charge is the same as for the bin collections. The council filled more potholes this year, BUT, they delayed almost all road and footpath resurfacing by 12 months.

You will also have seen your council tax increase by the maximum allowed (despite the Conservatives proposing to halve the amount) and Parish Taxes are increasing by up to 23%. Another hidden increase as Labour decides to offload

services they don’t want onto Parishes.

Finally, Labour celebrated our Conservative projects for new housing at Queens Drive, the commencement of works at Panattoni Park (the former Honda site) which will provide a £1.2 billion pound lift to our local economy and up to 12,000 jobs and a new masterplan for Greenbridge, which protects the allotments and Swindon Rugby club.

Swindon Museum & Art Gallery: We joined Labour in celebrating the opening of the fantastic new home for the collections, which, this time last year, was fiercely opposed by Labour and their supporters.

Please remember that in May you will have the opportunity to elect councillors in the Local Elections – please support my hard-working councillors to continue to hold Labour to account.

Assessing the performance of the new council

A column by borough council Conservative Group Leader Cllr Gary Sumner

The new Labour council – End of Term Report: We have just seen the final Cabinet meeting after a year of the new Labour council.

When you read the detail of the reports there are some interesting facts.

Council Finance Officers are predicting a staggering £102m of additional borrowing will be needed to pay for Labour ideas, and the details are unknown. Labour have made decisions in six months, which took the Conservatives 10 years of careful consideration to do.

The Labour ‘Swindon Plan’ was promoted extensively and yet the public won’t see the results until after the May elections – with the Labour Leader of the council cheekily 20

saying, ‘if they are still in power’. To be completely clear – even if the Conservatives won every seat there is no way of Labour losing control of the council in May. In 10 months, all anyone knows is that there were 350 completed surveys from a population of 230,000.

School Transport for Children with Special Needs (SEND) - budget cuts will mean that these children will be forced to walk up to three miles to school and the School Road Safety budget has been cut by 50%.

This is Labour making these decisions for themselves. We

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The community success of Tadpole Farm Market

By Amanda Wilkins amanda@swindonlink.com Tadpole Farm market returned at the start of March after a short winter break.

The increasingly popular local market is held in the car park of the Strawberry Thief pub on the first Sunday of the month between March and November.

The Market began in 2020 after a member of the Tadpole Garden Village (TGV) In Bloom gardening club, Coral Van Der Kamp, had an idea to help bring the newly-created community together.

Coral suggested holding a small market in the village allotments, offering plants and

car park of the newly built Strawberry Thief pub.

Today the market is still very much a community-minded venture, with all the funds raised going directly back into the local community.

The fee for running a stall at the event is a nominal £5.

This money goes directly back into the local community via TGV in Bloom, the community gardening club run by Pete Welsh. The club uses the money to buy plants and planters for the village.

These funds also supported larger projects around the village last year including the Thankful Village Memorial, the greenhouse, planters, Spring

produce from the allotments for donations alongside wares from local bakers and crafters.

The market was so successful that it became a regular event.

The market grew in popularity and size, eventually outgrowing the small allotment site.

Kraig Day and Caroline Penrose took over the reins from Coral and the market found a new home in the

bulbs and the hanging baskets.

Market organiser Kraig said: “When the market moved from the allotments to the Strawberry Thief overflow car park it was a fairly easy process” “The pub landlords, Tom and Mairead Titcombe, are so supportive of the local community and TGV in Bloom and they will do all they can to support us."

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The market today has over 50 stalls which are run by members of the local community as well as local buisnesses. Produce from the Tadpole Farm allotments is still avaliable via the Pot 32 stall, alongside bacon sandwiches.

Stalls include hand woven baskets, beautifully handcrafted crochet toys, dog treats, cards, gifts and a wide variety of food vendors.

Stall holder Lisa Stranks said: "I started developing my interest in Pyrography and later Crochet after I was

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reluctantly forced to give up work due to ill health.

Community markets are very important for me to show that there is a way to put a smile on someone's face even if you struggle with a condition."

This year's dates are 7 April, 5 May, 2 June, 7 July, 4 August, 8 September, 6 October and 3 November.

For more information about the market or to book a pitch, people can contact Kraig via Facebook group TGV Community Markets.

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A summer of fabulous e

Kelmscott Manor is well worth a visit

Kelmscott Manor was the iconic country home of William Morris, poet, designer, craftsman, socialist and founding father of the Arts and Crafts movement.

This Grade I listed house was loved by Morris as an example of traditional craftsmanship in harmony with the nearby village and surrounding landscape, towards the very upper reaches of the Thames.

Today, visitors will find an outstanding collection. The Manor has so many intriguing stories to tell; its collections span over 300 years and reflect the lives, ideas, and creative legacy of those who lived and stayed there.

Perhaps the most famous is the portrait of Jane Morris by Rossetti, The Blue Silk Dress, which was completed in 1868 and is currently hanging in the White Room.

The domestic charm and ambience of the house is still retained and having influenced Pre-Raphaelite art and design and the Arts & Crafts Movement, its legacy still very much treasured today.

These internationally important works of art, design and personal possessions are on permanent display at the Manor from April to October; public open days are Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 10.30am-5pm with prebooked group visits on a Wednesday.

The purpose built Learning Barn has a variety of activities for all ages to enjoy including trails, jigsaws, craft making and drop in family workshops. Kelmscott Manor also boasts enchanting riverside gardens and the River Thames is located just a few hundred yards away.

For more information visit kelmscottmanor.org.uk

Country Comes to Town Saturday 18 May, 10am – 4pm Lydiard Park, Lydiard Tregoze, Swindon SN5 3PA Free entry Nature crafts | Face painting | Sheep | Birds of prey | Swap shop | And lots more!

Come along to this fun, family-friendly event to celebrate nature and wildlife with Wiltshire Wildlife Trust.

Join Wiltshire Wildlife Trust at Lydiard Park on Saturday 18 May to discover how we can all create a sustainable future for wildlife and people. Come along and make wild connections by enjoying nature crafts and a host of interactive wildlife

experiences and activities, including animal face painting and a chance to meet some sheep or encounter some birds of prey.

With free entry on the day, why not join us for a fun and educational day out for all the family!

Directions and parking: There is a pay and display car park at Lydiard Park, which includes disabled parking. There are two vehicle entrances to the park – one from Hook Street and one from Hay Lane. The Hook Street entrance closes at 5pm. The nearest bus stop to the Hay Lane entrance is Wilmot Close (bus route 1). Swindon railway station is a 35-minute bus ride to the park for those travelling by train.

A music and food extravaganza in South Cerney Nestled in the heart of the picturesque Cotswolds, Cotswold Fest is taking place at South Cerney Airfiled from Friday 26 to Sunday 28 July.

Head to Cotswold Fest 2024 for a laid-back weekend in the heart of the Cotswolds.

Camp under the stars, groove to local bands, and dive into family fun and tasty local eats.

Cotswold Fest is a celebration of community, music, food & drink, and the beautiful countryside.

The line-up so far includes tribute band The Faux Fighters headlining on the Friday evening with the rest of that night's lineup including Jimmy Moore, Mirrored Faces, Joli & The Souls, and Stephens.

On the Saturday Westrop School Choir will be joined by DJ Mike Case will be rocking the 90s. They will be joined by Shades of Silver, Busy Fools and Chasing Kites and on the 22

Sunday tribute band Noasis are joined by Carey Andrews and Pinkmac.

Keep an eye on the website as more acts and family activities are due to be added.

Food and drink is also a massive draw for the festival with drink aficionados being able to enjoy brews from Kaleb's Cider, Arkells Brewery and Cotswold Lakes Brewing Company. There will also be artisan pizza from Rosi Pizza, authentic Greek food from The Greek Graze Company, a BBQ from Gilo's, and fish and chips from The Cotswold Chippy.

For more details visit cotswoldfest.co.uk

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s events and activities

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Minety Music Festival – 4 days, 4 stages, over 100 acts!

Now in its sixth year, Minety Music Festival is a family friendly, 4 day festival set in the heart of the Cotswold countryside.

With four undercover stages, you can guarantee that it’s party time, whatever the weather. A huge Kids zone, a teen tent, dance and music workshops, and a great range of stalls and food vendors, mean there really is something for everyone!

This year is the biggest ever, when they play host to over 100 acts who will bring a huge variety of musical genres. This year’s headline bands are the phenomenal Ash, The Feeling, and Sleeper, supported by great names like Elles Bailey and The Chase, Flash – a tribute to Queen, and dozens of up and coming bands from all over the region, and further afield.

The festival has a strong family vibe,

with a huge free kids zone including bouncy castles, rock climbing, circus skills, storytelling, archery and more, a passion for fairly priced food and drinks, as well as some luxury suppliers, cocktail bar and everyone’s special favourite – a silent disco!

And if that isn’t enough to persuade you, it’s all in a good cause! Every year the festival supports local and national charities – this year they are Wiltshire Air Ambulance, Naomi House Hospice and Jacksplace, Combat Stress, and Kandu Arts, and they were awarded ‘Fundraising Event of the Year’ 2023

by Combat Stress.

Tickets start at just £95 for the weekend, camping is available, or why not join their team as a volunteer for free access to the festival?

The festival runs from 4th-7th July and information is available through their website - minetyfestival.co.uk See you there!

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Red Arrows set to celebrate 60th anniversary of RIAT

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By Barrie Hudson barrie@positive-media.co.uk The organisers of the Royal International Air Tattoo have announced that the Red Arrows and a host of Royal Air Force aircraft will be taking to the skies at this summer's event.

The nine-ship display team will be marking their 60th anniversary at RAF Fairford with a new routine, fresh for 2024.

The event, which sees 150,000 visitors across three days, is taking place from Friday 19 to Sunday 21 July.

Joining the Red Arrows at this year’s show will also be iconic warbirds from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, as well as the RAF’s modern-day combat aircraft such as the Typhoon and F-35B Lightning aircraft.

Squadron Leader Jon Bond, Team Leader and Red 1,

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said: “The Royal International Air Tattoo and RAF Fairford have played an important part in the Red Arrows’ story, not least with the team being based at the airfield for a short period of time in its earliest guise."

Tickets for this year's air tattoo are available via AirTattoo.com

Ready for the joys of Spring Maurice Spillane: Of Poetry Swindon

You should never admit to being retired.

It’s the quickest way to end conversation and watch your interlocutor search the room for someone more interesting.

At one stage I thought of describing myself as a professional athlete as I run a couple of marathons every year - and I do come in the top three for my age group, though over 70 is a 24

An RAF Typhoon

small group. Nowadays I say I’m a writer. With several poetry books published, a TV script written, I‘ve a better conversation opener.

If not a writer, I would’ve said I’m a gardener.

At this time of year, the five months of melancholy skies are about to dissipate, frog spawn is in the pond, daffodils are out, evenings are getting longer, potatoes are chitted, seed packets

are a beautiful fan and I’m happy.

Succession sowing through Spring and Summer ensure we have salads, variety in vegetables and enough for the Winter freezer. But the real joy is working in shirtsleeves enjoying, as Monty Don says, the wellbeing, the bird song, the peace and poetry. This poem “The Garden” captures that.

I shall wear a garden smock with a belt of rope, exhibit dirty fingernails that have reached into the good earth to thank the earthworm.

I shall hold still by the spade handle, inertia still as in an Angelus, beating

time to the woodpecker drilling the false acacia.

This year I’ll not dig, just compost over paper folds, use covers to succour the heat for early crops, tell of the devilment sowing spuds through holes, and later swap nuggets with friends: the tryst of seed trays, new plants, over-abundant crops, the freezer bursting beyond the harvest.

Poetry Swindon meets at Lower Shaw Farm SN5 5PJ on 3 April from 7pm to 9pm. Contact Sophie Boyce sophie@poetryswindon.com www.mauricespillane.co.uk

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Cycle to Work Scheme's electrical boost Monthly column with Becky Cox of Swindon Cycle Campaign.

This month I spoke to Nigel Woodforth, owner of E-Zoom, a local supplier of electric bikes, and bike and e-scooter mechanic.

With e-bikes becoming increasingly popular and now representing up to a quarter of all bike sales, I asked Nigel what got him started.

“For me in was the onset of arthritis in my knee, my friend encouraged me to try his e-bike I was blown away.

"It was so much fun and changed my life, allowing me to get out into the countryside, and enjoy a bit of fresh air and exercise.”

Being a fair weather cyclist, Nigel freely admits that if it wasn’t for his e-bike he’d just drive everywhere, but he loves the freedom that the e-bike brings him and now regularly cycles to work.

Alfie Howlett: Swindon Town FC writer

Very little has changed since my last column, in fact very little has changed for some time now.

Swindon find themselves lost, floating around, and lacking direction. It’s only a matter of time until they sink.

To me it appears that Town are sleepwalking towards a cliff face. For the time being they’ll fall short of catastrophe, but next season it may well hit them.

What concerns and frustrates me is their reluctance to get their house in order now.

The fans can tell that Gavin Gunning isn’t the manager to take the club forward – he never was.

But are the Town hierarchy waiting until the end of the season to confirm that?

Or will the interim manager prove to be a manager in disguise?

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As a qualified electrical engineer and bike mechanic, Nigel’s love for e-bikes led him into opening a specialist e-bike sales and repair shop, now based just off the Western Flyer on the River Ray Industrial Estate.

E-bikes are great alternatives to cars, especially for trips round town, and they only cost a few pence to charge.

It’s important to buy from a reputable retailer rather than buying a cheap electric bike or conversion kit on the internet, which have more recently been associated with electrical fires.

Whilst good electric bikes can seem an expensive investment, schemes such as the Government’s Cycle to Work Scheme initiative can help.

The Cycle to Work scheme is commonly offered as a company benefit giving

employees the chance to save up to 40% on the cost of bike and equipment.

Payment is typically spread over 12-24 months, a tax-free benefit coming out of your salary. Generally you find a bike (and equipment) that

Directionless STFC At this point it wouldn’t surprise me.

A more serious football club would’ve already taken the opportunity to appoint a successor, and maybe even let them manage the rest of the campaign.

This would help sow the seeds and lay the foundations for next season. Instead, Swindon appear in no rush. And I have no doubt that this is down to their own incompetence.

This is because on the pitch, Swindon can’t be considered a serious football club. In truth they’re run like a sinking ship, and sometimes the word run would be considered too generous.

I struggle to recall many appointments or signings that have been a success in the Clem Morfuni era. Those that were can be traced back to the well-regarded former director

of football – Ben Chorley.

It therefore comes as no surprise that I have little confidence in Morfuni’s ability to turn matters around. It has unfortunately got to the point where I can only see Swindon travelling in one direction.

Backwards.

Matters are even more dire away from the dugout.

If we’re unsure as to who’ll be in the hot seat, we’re even more unsure when it comes to who’ll be sat in the dressing room.

Admittedly, Swindon are always used to experiencing a high turnover of players.

However, normally there’s always players who the fans would be keen to keep.

This season, that number is concerningly low.

If we’re to start from the back, Jack Bycroft will be a certainty in goal. From there it

LINK

CYCLING

you like at a local bike shop signed up to your company’s scheme and get a quote.

Your company then sorts the payment and you get a voucher to take to the cycle shop.

So if you’re thinking of investing in an e-bike why not check if your company offers the Cycle to Work scheme? If not, encourage them to join! It’s simple for businesses to sign up, and costs nothing but offers employees big savings.

If you need an incentive to get cycling this year, why not sign up to the MacMillan Castles Bike ride? The annual charity event is taking place on Sunday 2 June.

There’s a range of off-road routes suitable for all the family, all starting from Coate Water. E-bikes are welcomed too!

LINK FOOTBALL gets more difficult. In defence I’d only want to retain GodwinMalife, Blake-Tracy, and Brewitt.

In midfield, there is not a single player whose departure would concern me. And upfront only Paul Glatzel and Charlie Austin cut the mustard in my eyes.

Of course, those six players might even think that their future lies best elsewhere.

This time last season, Swindon found themselves in an identical position in terms of things to play for. But at least I had straws of optimism to clutch at with young players improving and the arrival of Michael Flynn.

Now, we genuinely have nothing to look forward to there is no hope. And this won’t change. And that’s the saddest thing you can say as a football fan.

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LINK

TRADE PAGES

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TRADE PAGES

Semi-retired Plumber SURESTOP SWITCH installed for hard to get at or seized stop cock

• Disabled extra high toilets fitted • Tap washers & ball valves • Toilet cistern repairs • Kitchen taps fitted Tel: 01793 324116 Mob: 07788 621772

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LINK

TRADE PAGES

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AGONY

GIRL

From the pages of Swindon Link's sister publication The Ocelot comes Agony Girl in the form of 11-year-old Amy. We read her the questions and she tells us the answers. To ask Agony Girl a question yourself email us at publisher@swindonlink.com with 'Agony Girl' in the subject line.

Dear Agony Girl, My boss sits opposite me and always has a really messy desk. It's actually quite annoying to look at. Can you please give him some advice to keep it tidy?

Regards, The office clean freak Get some tubs to organise your food in and try to whenever you get anything out put them back in the organisers and put the organisers back to the side of your desk.

Dear Agony Girl, Why does everyone hate Swindon so much? What can I say to people who say horrible things about our town?

Amanda, Haydon Wick Say, it has some pretty places like Town Gardens where I really like all

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the birdies. And also if they didn't like Swindon why are they talking about it? I also think the cinema is really nice.

Dear Agony Girl, I have recently become engaged to be married, in spite of being a bit old.

However, it is some time since my fiancee, who is also somewhat mature, last had a new prescription at the opticians.

I am worried that if she ever does get a new prescription she will take one look at me and realise that she has made a dreadful mistake.

How can I spruce myself up a bit so as not to disappoint her?

Yours worriedly, Man who looks like he puts his clothes on with a shovel.

By going to get some new clothes. Come

to me and I'll help you choose some stylish clothes and you could get a hair makeover and some new shoes would also help. And have a relaxing spa night so that your skin is very nice.

Dear Agony Girl, It's the elections coming up. How can I make myself more popular so people will vote for me?

Rishi, Westminster By selling puppies to people. Actually giving them to them. You could also lower the prices of expensive stuff like sweets and food and stuff. Try not to be too snobby and make summer holidays longer and get rid of maths altogether as lots of people don't like maths. I would vote for a person who did all that.

Write in to Amy at publisher@ swindonlink.com

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