By Jamie Hill Jamie@positive-media.co.uk
What there will be are stories which are honest, measured, fearless, utterly without any form of political or other bias and completely concerned with things you care about.
However, as a monthly printed magazine, it can only do so much under constraints including limited space and the inability to break major stories as they happen.
Swindon's most influential people gathered to hear about The Ink at its official launch in July at Swindon’s Pick-Up Point.
The innovative and ambitious paid-for news subscription service is only in its infancy but it's already making waves in the town. Figures from the worlds of business, charity, politics, the arts, culture and heritage were invited to hear about something fresh and new which represents a new dawn in Swindon journalism. More importantly, it represents not just a pledge to make reporting better but a pledge to make the community proudly served by that reporting a better place for all. As a reader, you are part of that new dawn right at this moment.
There will be no advertising, no clickbait, no stories without any relevance to Swindon produced by people hundreds of miles away who couldn't point to the town on a map, no lists of dreary nonsense accompanied by the message that number seven will amaze you.
Group Editor and Owner: Jamie Hill
Deputy Editor: Barrie Hudson
Sales: Dave Stewart and Rosy Presley
Accounts Manager: Karen Randall
Contributors: Tyler Ody, Becky Cox, Maurice Spillane and Alfie Howlett
We shall demand that those in a position to change things in this town for the better do so - and we shall hold ourselves to the same standard.
As I noted in my speech at the official launch, local news coverage in Swindon, like local news throughout the country, has suffered in recent years
Local newspapers just did not know how to deal with the rise of digital. The rise of the internet. And now, although they still have their place, the local newspaper industry is a shadow of its former self.
The Ink is something different entirely, an ambitious and exciting new journalism project for the town.
It’s a paid-for news subscription service where curated news is sent directly to your inbox. It’s something new that has never been done before in Swindon.
The main job of journalism is to inform. To let you know what is happening. To hold those in power to account. To analyse. And to raise awareness.
The Ink is being run in association with Swindon Link, which for the best part of half a century has held a special place in the heart of Swindon.
This is where The Ink comes in. Every person who signs up for the paid-for subscription service will enable us to take on more reporters and to make journalism in Swindon better.
It costs £5.99 a month. Which is about £1.50 a week.
There is a free version every Friday but if you only sign up to that you will definitely be missing out.
For that £1.50 a week, you will get 12 curated news bulletins a month sent directly to your email. That’s three a week. They will come to you on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 3pm like clockwork.
Apart from simply news in association with Swindon Link, you will get analysis, a look under the bonnet of what makes Swindon tick, as well as columnists who will make you think, laugh and cry.
We have Tyler Ody, whose column The Autistic Journalist informs and breaks down barriers. We also have a weekly cultural round-up on a Friday as well as a look at The Link's archives.
You will also be a member of a community. You will be able
to interact directly with us and we will be holding quarterly exclusive members events where we will have different speakers talking to you about stuff that really matters to Swindon.
The idea of The Ink is to put together proper insightful, investigative pieces about Swindon. Looking at the issues. From the dark side of our borough to the light.
The Ink is about championing all of you.
To subscribe you can scan the QR code below with your phone or you can visit theinkswindon.substack.com/ subscribe
Closing date for September
The countdown to the biggest change in waste and recycling services in Swindon for 15 years will begin in earnest over the next few months when new recycling containers start being delivered to residents.
And households are being encouraged to put their new containers in a safe place until the new collections begin being rolled out this autumn.
Homes across Swindon will soon receive weekly food waste recycling collections, as part of improvements to the council’s waste and recycling services, which will also include changes to the way recycling is collected.
The changes are designed to increase Swindon’s recycling rate and help keep the town’s carbon footprint as low as possible, while providing a cost-effective service. Swindon uses a kerbside sort method of collection which helps us recycle more, closer to home.
This method has also been shown to produce better sorted recycling with less ‘contamination’ by other materials.
Weekly food waste collections will be rolled out to the majority of households across Swindon, excluding communal properties such as flats which will be included as part of a later phase of the project. This rollout follows a successful
food waste collections trial which approximately 11,000 households in Swindon have been part of since 2019. Since the trial began, households have recycled over 3,100 tonnes of food waste.
To implement weekly food waste collections, changes also need to be made to the way residents put their other waste and recycling out. From autumn 2023, collections will be made as follows:
l General waste in wheelie bin or blue bags
l Paper and card recycling in one of the existing black/ orange recycling boxes
l Glass recycling in one of the existing black/orange recycling boxes
l Plastic and metal recycling in new weighted bag (which will be delivered over the summer)
l Food waste in large outdoor food waste bin (which will be delivered over the summer to residents who aren’t currently on the food waste trial)
l The council’s garden waste collection service will continue in the same way.
General waste and household recycling will continue to be collected fortnightly, while food waste collections will be made every week.
Over the next few months, households will receive a new
weighted bag for plastic and metal recycling, as well as a five-litre food waste caddy for indoor use and a larger 23 litre caddy for outdoor use. Residents who are on the food waste collections trial should continue to use the existing containers they already have. It is anticipated that, although the frequency of collections will not change, many households will have a change of collection day. However, no changes are being made yet – all affected households will be written to later in the year, ahead of the rollout, to explain the changes in more detail.
More information about the new service will be available in a leaflet which will be included with the new containers when they are delivered to households.
In Swindon, a detailed analysis of the levels of residual waste being
More than 1,300 Swindon residents have already registered for this year’s Solar Together scheme – why not join them?
Solar Together Wiltshire is now in its second year and gives Swindon residents the opportunity to come together to invest in renewable energy through a group-buying scheme for solar panels and battery storage.
The initiative is a partnership involving Swindon Borough Council, Wiltshire Council and independent experts in groupbuying, iChoosr Ltd.
Last year, Marion from Wiltshire had 10 solar panels and a battery storage unit installed at her home. She said: “Solar Together gave us the insight and confidence in following up our application, which was very straightforward and any questions
were
generated across the borough was completed last October. This work showed that food waste made up the majority of residual waste, forming 38.9 per cent of the total – of this food waste, 73 per cent was avoidable while 43 per cent of all discarded food was still packaged.
Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport, Cllr Chris Watts, said “These important changes will enable us deliver a comprehensive waste collection service for residents and increase Swindon’s recycling rate.
“Containers are starting to be delivered across the summer. Once you’ve received your new containers, please keep hold of them as you don’t need to use them just yet. Further information will also be available on our website, which we’ll keep regularly updated.”
answered. We’re so pleased we took this decision.” There is still time for people to register at: www.solartogether. co.uk/swindon. Registration is free and there is no obligation to continue further.
The world's first balloon dog art trail runs throughout Swindon until 3 September.
The Big Dog Art Trail, launched at Lydiard Park, features 30 Swindogs with designs by local and national artists and 42 Swinpups created by local schools, youth and community groups.
The trail is a community project presented by the Wiltshire-based Julia's House children's hospice charity and Wild in Art to raise funds for the charity.
Covering a 16-mile trail throughout the town, the Swindogs and Swinpups feature design themes ranging from nature and the heritage of Swindon to a giant hot dog.
Children's cookery author and dog lover Annabel Karmel MBE helped with the launch, and explained a personal reason for knowing the value of respite at times of heartache and stress.
She said: "My three-month-old daughter died from encephalitis in hospital, but I would have liked to have had somewhere like the Julia's House children's hospice to come and take her.
"In those times when you feel so desperate, to have a room where you can be with your child when they're coming to the end of their life would have been very comforting."
By the time you will have read this the Britain In Bloom judging will have taken place and I am eagerly awaiting the results!
Our community-led movement, South Swindon In Bloom, has flourished with the dedication of numerous volunteer groups, such as the Old Town Residents Association Gardeners and the Growing South Swindon Community, who have worked tirelessly on gardening projects across our parish.
Last year, their efforts were rewarded with the prestigious Silver Gilt award in the Britain In Bloom competition. We also secured the Pennant Class for a Town & City in the northern section of the South West.
I am really grateful to all the volunteers for all their hard work and I am excited to hear the outcome of the judging later this year.
July 1 was another landmark date in
the Parish Council’s history as we held the formal opening of the Badbury Park Community Hub and Library.
It was fantastic to see local residents come along and have a look at their new facility.
We encourage you to make use of this marvellous resource and actively engage with the services it offers. As well as being a hireable space for community bookings, the centre is also going to host the brand new Badbury Park Library, which will initially be open 3 days a week.
The new library will be run by the same team from Old Town Library, who have done a fantastic job over the years and I’m sure they will continue to do so at this facility. I’m so pleased to see this facility open after many months of hard work from our Councillors and staff.
The Community Hub is available for bookings. To make a booking email community@southswindon-pc.gov.uk or phone 07798 743668.
The Town Gardens Bowl is set to host an exciting array of events this summer,
ranging from music and theatre to comedy and open-air cinema.
As I write this column, we have just wrapped up our first theatre event of the season, Shake It Up: The Improvised Shakespeare Show. To find out more information and to book tickets for events in the Bowl visit: www.towngardensswindon.co.uk
While these events are taking place, we are also busy gearing up to organising the Enchanted Gardens Light Trail which will be taking place in the park again in December with new and improved light installations. More details are to follow so watch this space!
Wiltshire Police laid on a special display for the crowds at the Wroughton Carnival. Three veteran vehicles from the force fleet were sent to add a touch of nostalgia and historical interest.
The cars were a 1968 Austin Cambridge, a 1989 Ford Escort and a 1994 Vauxhall Senator.
A force spokesperson said: "We have serving officers who are considerably younger than these vehicles!"
More than 100 people attended the 30th birthday celebration of the Friends of Swindon Museum and Art Gallery at Christ Church Community Centre.
Speakers included chair Linda Kasmaty and other important figures associated with the organisation, who talked about its history and aims. The organisation - friendsofsmag.org - is committed to supporting and promoting the Museum and Art Gallery.
Kelmscott Manor, the iconic country home of William Morris, will be holding children's activities throughout the summer holidays.
A variety of activities are available in the Learning Barn for all ages to enjoy including trails, jigsaws, craft making and much more. Throughout the holidays there's also a series of drop in family workshops on Saturdays where visitors of all ages can join in with various crafts.
Opening hours: April to October; Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 10.30am-5pm. kelmscottmanor.org.uk
used foodbanks
Swindon Borough Council says the number of residents relying on food bank supplies in the year to May 2023 was more than 11,000.
The council is highlighting the work of Swindon Food Collective, which in the last year has given out more than 122 tonnes of food, toiletries and household products as the financial crisis continues to bite.
Further information about the collective, including collection and distribution points and how people can help, can be found at www. swindonfoodcollective.org
Swindon's new Labour leader and Cabinet set out their aims during a special briefing at the Civic Offices.
Leader Cllr Jim Robbins pledged that his administration would prioritise listening to the community it served and work toward a better Swindon.
However, he warned that the financial constraints on the town, including a debt of more than £400m, were still very much an issue.
Cllr Robbins said: "We've got a budget gap that's really tricky. We're going to see further cuts next year."
Referring to the national Labour Party, he added: "The message we have had from Labour politicians is that things will get better under Labour but do not expect the return of pre-2010 levels of local government funding.
"We're in a situation where
we're trying really hard to protect the essential services that we do, and we really want to make sure that we're using the money we have as wisely as possible to support residents.
"We will be a listening council and ensure we take decisions with residents instead of forcing decisions on to people.
"We want to make sure residents are included in decisions about changes to services so we can protect the most needed services."
The leader reiterated his
council's three major priorities: combating inequality, building a better Swindon with improved facilities and infrastructure and achieving its Net Zero environmental impact goal.
The council, he said, aimed to get Swindon moving with better roads, keep Council Tax as low as possible, create a stronger local economy, improve leisure facilities, bring life back to the town centre, fight knife crime and ensure developers' plans included inadequate green spaces.
Wiltshire Police and Crime
Commissioner Philip Wilkinson visited Haydonleigh Primary School for a special assembly honouring a group of pupils.
The Year Six group came first in the county in the annual Junior Good Citizen scheme, and were rewarded with a trophy and certificate.
Junior Good Citizen is described by organisers as a multi-agency event aimed at equipping young people with the life skills and knowledge to cope in an emergency or a potentially dangerous situation, which could result in them becoming victims of crime and/ or sustaining personal injuries.
The children interact with a number of simulated lifelike scenarios, raising their awareness of the contribution they can make in preventing crime and increasing their own safety.
The emphasis is on interaction and children are encouraged to deal with a variety of safety problems such as
fire, road safety, anti-social behaviour, home safety and weapons awareness.
Police and Crime Commissioner Mr Wilkinson said: "A lot of my job can be quite grim, but coming to something like this and presenting a prize to the school and seeing all of those proud and happy little faces makes me feel better.
"You get a positive energy from engaging with young people like that. It's set me up for the day, really!"
He added: "The fact that this year and last year we had
over 30 schools participating in this scheme across the county - that's a serious number and it shows how engaged our school teachers and our schools are in what is clearly a very productive and positive scheme."
The Haydonleigh Year Sixes came top by a substantial margin, and proud teacher Sam English said: "This year there were 34 schools and we came out as number one."
Headteacher Frances Billinge also spoke of her pride in the hard work and achievement of the pupils.
Bus Boulevard could be delayed until late 2025
A key part of the revamp of Swindon's town centre might be delayed by a year.
Work began last year on a vast regeneration project including the Fleming Way Bus Boulevard scheme, intended to see Fleming Way completely transformed to accommodate all bus services in the town, and scheduled for completion by Autumn of next year.
The plans also include a new public open space on the north side with a green central spine to increase biodiversity.
However, at a briefing given by the new Swindon Borough Council Cabinet, it was revealed the project might not be completed until the end of 2025.
Fancy volunteering for nature this summer?
Swindon Forest Meadows is offering volunteering opportunities throughout the summer.
Swindon Forest Meadows is a partnership between Wiltshire Wildlife Trust and Swindon Borough Council which offers community activities and conservation volunteering opportunities to help out on sites across Swindon.
People can find more details at https://shorturl.at/yDOW4
GWH starts construction work on renovations to Emergency Department
Construction work has started on Great Western Hospital's urgent and emergency care development, which will see an expanded Emergency Department and relocation of a number of other services, including assessment units, to create an improved and more joined-up service.
As part of the design process, GWH wants to collect ideas from patients, families and other local people about how things can improve and asking for people to complete the following survey: https:// gwh.formstack.com/forms/ uec_services_patient_2023
Bengal Square in Peatmoor is offering up the restaurant for free for fundraising nights. Owner Hanif Robbani wants to give something back to the community and believes his restaurant is a perfect venue for good causes to raise money.
The restaurateur is offering good causes and charities the ability to use the venue on a Monday or a Tuesday evening. Bengal Square would offer the organisers of the fundraising event a value for money set menu and the organiser can then sell tickets for the event, putting on what margin they want for the charity themselves.
He said: "We used to run regular charity nights when the restaurant used to be called Bombay Lounge from 2008
to 2015 and they were immensely popular.
"It was a shame they stopped and I had intended to bring them back but what with covid and what have you, it got delayed.
"We now need good causes to come forward and book us in as a venue they can use for whatever fundraising activity they need - from quizzes to raffles as well as a lovely Indian meal.
"It doesn't have to be for a registered charity as it could be for anything, like we had a young lady raising money to go on a golfing tour. As long as it's a good cause, we're happy.
"There was one charity evening a few years ago when the fundraising night was for
mosquito nets for Africa and at the end of the evening, the organiser told us that we had literally saved lives with the money that we helped raise. That really struck home. It's about giving something back."
If you are an individual or organisation wanting a fundraising evening, get in touch with the restaurant by emailing info@bengalsquare. co.uk or by calling 01793 887799.
At a Gala Awards Ceremony in June, the winners of the BestUKVets Awards 2023 were announced and Drove Vets were named Best In County for Wiltshire.
The Swindon vets were also given the Top 25 Vets in the UK award at the event, which was attended by over 150 veterinary professionals.
Lynne Gaskarth, Small Animal Director, Drove Vets said:."We’re delighted to have been given these awards, most importantly because it’s based on the views of our clients. We’re very proud of our team at Drove and think they deserve the recognition
for their constant efforts to go above and beyond for our patients and their owners."
The BestUKVets Awards celebrate vet practices that delight their clients and are presented to practices across the UK with the most four or five star online reviews in each category. In order to select the winners, awards organisers analyse over 15,500 reviews left by pet owners on vet practice websites throughout the year. Every vet practice in the UK is eligible and already registered via their listing on any-uk-vet.co.uk and VetHelpDirect.com and around half get involved.
Susie Samuel, CEO of VetHelpDirect, explained:
“The BestUKVets Awards were established 11 years ago to reward vet practices that delight their pet owning clients. We are so pleased that this practice has been recognised and local pet owners should be reassured that their pets are in very safe hands!”
For more information about the Awards visit bestukvet.co.uk.
Blaylocks Shoes promises to meet the 'back to school' footwear needs of Swindon. It offers top brands Clarks, Start-Rite and Angry Angels and, crucially, expert fitting by thoroughly trained staff using traditional measuring
equipment.
The Bath Road shop's philosophy is that all children's shoes should be expertly fitted as well as of excellent quality.
For more information about Blaylocks, visit blaylocks-shoes. co.uk.
Like many people whose work is a passion, Richard Wintle remembers the moment when he decided what he wanted to do for a living.
"What steered my career was one incident when I was nine or 10 and I was taken to London by my father.
"We had relatives who were chauffeur and maid to a lady who lived in Kensington, almost next door to Kensington Registry Office.
"He took me up there and we had a weekend in London, staying at the house.
"On the way back, coming out of London, out of Victoria Bus Station, we pulled around the corner and the bus driver had to do a fairly heavy stop when a BBC camera crew walked across a zebra crossing.
"My dad had put me at the front of the bus so I could see. The bus driver swore a little bit and said, "Bloody eyes and ears of the world, get out of the way!"'
"I thought, 'I want to be the eyes and ears of the world!'
"From then on I wanted to be a BBC cameraman, I think. I've done that, I've worked for the BBC on their Royal side, and I've also done stuff for Points West, a lot of news coverage.
"And ITV, obviously, and Sky, Germany, Japan, America, Italy, with the Royals."
Richard is originally from Dursley in Gloucestershire, but has been based in Swindon for more than 40 years.
His Calyx photo and media agency - calyxpix.com - is one of the most respected in the industry, and his work has appeared in and on countless local, regional, national and international publications and television channels.
Richard's images and video footage have reached
audiences in locations as diverse as Europe, Japan and the United States, and publications as diverse as Newsweek, People and the Weekly World News - a legendary publication whose issues interspersed celebrity gossip with off-the-wall tales of aliens and mythical creatures.
Richard's pictures of the late Diana, Princess of Wales and other members of the Royal Family proved particularly popular with international audiences.
His first camera was a Brownie 127 given to him when he was eight or nine years old.
"What did it do? It started me on a road that I'm still on. We're talking about 65 years later."
He used it to take general images of loved ones and surroundings.
"I've still got the negatives and one of my projects is to scan them in. I'm sure the Gloucester Archive would be very interested because the old house that we lived in, that was called Rangers House in Dursley, was demolished years
ago.
"My job ever since I got that camera, really, has been recording social history.
"I was processing my own films when I was 12, maybe. I was self-taught. To put it into a bit of context, my cousin, John Goss, ran the British Rail photographic department in London - in Marylebone and then Waterloo. He was quite a renowned photographer and I think he probably showed me in his attic darkroom in Gloucester what to do.
"He has a mega archive of steam trains.
"I had my first picture published when I was 13 or thereabouts, with a hot air balloon that we made for the CSE and flew it in the school field. I took some pictures and the 'Dirty Gadget' - the Dursley Gazette - published it and I got paid a guinea."
The sum, 21 shillings, was the equivalent of £1.05 in modern currency.
"I thought, 'Right, that's it! I'm going to make money doing this!'"
Later, Richard worked with
a freelance photographer for about 18 months, doing everything from wedding pictures to wielding a camera for the BBC.
That work saw him called to work for publications such as the Citizen in Gloucester and the Western Daily Press.
A job at a college in Liverpool, working in printing and video for teacher training, saw him mentored by a colleague who was a national newspaper photographer, and Richard's first picture in a national newspaper was used by the Manchester edition of the Daily Mail.
It showed a group of youths crossing the M57 motorway, and Richard was paid £20 or £30.
Decades later he has an archive of more than 2m negatives, between 2m and 4m digital images and a video archive with untold hours of footage.
Many images from between about 2000 and about 2008 have vanished into what he calls a black hole - the deterioration of CDs which were once a popular storage medium for images until it emerged that, contrary to what manufacturers insisted, the discs were 'fallible'.
Richard is the author of three books of images with a fourth on the way, and which contain pictures ranging from traditional local media pictures now of immense historical interest to celebrity appearances including Mick Jagger and Michael Caine.
Some of the proceeds from the books are donated to Neuroendocrine Cancer UK, a charity devoted to helping people with a rare form of cancer, and one with which Richard himself lives.
Signed copies of the books can be ordered through calyxpix.com
By Barrie Hudson barrie@positive-media.co.uk
Swindon's Museum of Computing marked its 20th birthday with a well-attended gathering in the courtyard of the Central Library.
There were tours of the museum, which is based in nearby Theatre Square and houses exhibits ranging from throughout the history of computing, ranging from early calculating machines to vintage hand-held gaming consoles. Guests included volunteers, supporters and local VIPs including South Swindon MP Sir Robert Buckland, South Swindon Labour Parliamentary Candidate Heidi Alexander, new Swindon Borough Council leader Cllr Jim Robbins and several councillors.
There were exhibits charting the history of the museum, activities including a chance for people to try their skills at vintage classic game Pac-Man
and refreshments including a specially-decorated cake.
Museum chair and co-founder Jeremy Holt gave a speech of thanks to all who had helped make the museum into such a success.
He said: "I've always been very proud of the museum because we have a very wide range of volunteers.
"The computer museum has always been a very broad church - you don't necessarily have to be interested in
computers!
"That might sound strange but I'm not very interested in computers myself, but I am very interested in the computer industry."
Mr Holt praised a number of organisations for their help and support - both practical and financial - over the years, including Nationwide, Intel, Swindon Borough Council and Dennis's Removals and Storage in South Marston.
However, his warmest praise
was for co-founder Simon Webb, who was present with his wife, Linda, and who served as Chief Curator until his retirement last year.
Mr Holt said: "Simon spent 14 years getting the museum off the ground. It got off the ground in 2003. He very kindly donated his personal collection of computers to the museum, thereby saving his marriage to Linda!"
The museum began life in 2003 at the Oakfield Campus of what was then the University of Bath in Swindon.
When the University left Swindon, the museum faced uncertainty, but Swindon Borough Council was able to provide a new home in Theatre Square, and the museum reopened in 2009.
It offers coding lessons for children and young people together with other educational projects. The museum - www. museumofcomputing.org.ukwelcomes volunteers.
A trophy-winning girls' football team has new kit thanks to Swindon fitness trainer Bryony Bradbury.
The Highworth Under-11s squad is being sponsored by her organisation, Bryony Bradbury Personal Trainer.
Bryony, who is not only a personal trainer but a mental health first aider, a menopause wellness practitioner and a specialist in nutrition and weight loss, spoke of her delight and pride in sponsoring the team.
Bryony has agreed to sponsor the team for two years, and the new strip bears the logo of her company.
She said: "I keep seeing in the press self-employed men sponsoring boys' teams so I really wanted to address the balance for women and girls, especially playing football."
A club spokesperson said:
"The current U11 girls have played an important part in the club and have won numerous trophies along the way, and recently retained the Oxfordshire Girls Cup for 2023.
"The team is made up of 14 very talented young females."
The sponsorship deal came about because Bryony trains with Darren and Vicky Smewing, parents of player
Lexie.
The team was founded in 2019 by Dean Hall, and in their first year in the Oxford League had to play up a year as there was no Under-Eight category.
This gave the players the chance to grow as a team and gain experience ahead of the following season, when they played as Under-Nines.
During the covid pandemic,
the founder kept the team members in touch with one another with a weekly Zoom quiz, and in the three years since they have won the Oxford Girls Cup every year.
Further information about Bryony Bradbury and all aspects of her work can be found on her 'BBPT - Bryony Bradbury Personal Trainer' Facebook page.
Everything the school does is based on five clear and powerful principles:
Excellence: every student must aim for excellence in everything that they do
Aspiration: students should aspire to do amazing things and not settle for doing ‘just enough’
Highworth Warneford School is a small, collaborative and successful 11-16 school serving the market town of Highworth and the surrounding area.
We have a proud tradition of academic excellence and the school is a very safe and vibrant learning environment. Just as importantly, this is a place where the students are all ‘known’ and valued: the quality of pastoral care is outstanding.
You are always welcome to come and visit us to see the school in action.
We are an inclusive school catering for the needs of all of our young people, no matter what their ability or background.
We provide a well-rounded education that enables our students to acquire and develop the skills, knowledge and personal attributes they will need throughout their adult lives.
This is complemented by an absolute focus on academic achievement, with our students aiming for the very best exam grades that will ensure ongoing success.
Some of our students need extra support and our amazing SEN and Pastoral teams are always there to help where needed.
Get to know the schools in your area. This issue: Highworth Warneford School
Address: Shrivenham Road, Highworth SN6 7BZ
Contact: 01793 762426
Website: www.warnefordschool.org
We are very proud of our school and our amazing students. When youngsters join us, they become part of our family and we do everything to nurture them and enable them to reach their potential.
Our House system forms the backbone of the school and underpins much of what we do – from pastoral care to student leadership and beyond.
We are modern in outlook but also cherish our traditions. We celebrate our students’ achievements at every opportunity and hard work is rewarded.
Behaviour and attitudes to learning are excellent – our specialist teachers can teach using the very best educational approaches and students can learn without distraction.
We are particularly proud of the many opportunities available outside of the classroom – clubs, activities, sports, music, events, trips, work experience, Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and residentials.
There is something for everyone!
Challenge: we will improve students’ resilience and help them to adapt to face life’s many challenges
Values: our students will develop independence and confidence and become moral, curious and enterprising learners, leaders and adults
Community: the school is part of a local, national and international community
Sited on the edge of Highworth, we have plenty of outdoor space and this definitely gives the school a lovely, rural and community feel, as well as giving us strong sporting provision. The school has excellent, specialist facilities that enable our students to access a wide range of subjects at a high level. This includes a large, modern Sports Hall, a full range of DT and IT rooms and well-provisioned Science labs.
Business Profile - Tile Energy
Business Type - Supplying, designing and installing Solar PV (Photovoltaic) technology systems
Established - 2013
Telephone number - 01793 228777
Website - www.tileenergy.uk/contact
By Barrie Hudson barrie@positive-media.co.uk
Simply put, Tile Energy is a renewable energy specialist. The company, based in Royal Wootton Bassett, promises independent and down to earth advice on renewable energy technologies, and its clients range from householders wanting to save on energy bills to large organisations and institutions wanting to do pretty much the same.
For Managing Director Leke Alabi, there is no ambiguity as to why such systems are desirable - and why we should consider investing in one.
Speaking about energy consumers in general, he explained: "The benefit of what we do is in terms of being selfsufficient.
"It's my ultimate goal for people to not have to rely [on energy providers] - to have energy on their property.
"It's important that we should be self-sufficient.
"If we can have energy and be self-sufficient in it, that's the biggest priority.
"We can see what's happened in the last 18 months regarding the energy crisis, and that's because we are not selfsufficient.
"We could have been self-
sufficient, and then we would not have been in this mess."
Mr Alabi is worried that many people, both householders and people in charge of businesses and other organisations, will be tempted to act out of desperation in a late bid to become self-sufficient.
This, he says, potentially makes them potential prey for sharp operators who pop up during energy crises, call themselves experts and install inefficient and even dangerous systems.
Inept design and installation makes not only for an inefficient system but one which is a potential fire risk.
Tile Energy customers, in contrast, can look forward to sound advice based on many
years in the sector, with no false claims of systems paying for themselves in a few months - although Mr Alabi says Tile Energy systems tend to pay for themselves in under 10 years.
When people think of solar power for houses or businesses, they generally think only in terms of a solar panel - or an array of them - simply converting the sun's energy into electricity.
However, systems can also include storage for electricity generated, for example, during the day when householders are out at work. This stored power can be used later or even sold to energy companies.
Tile Energy welcomes inquiries from potential customers, whatever their requirements.
When people opt for a Tile Energy system, they can expect equipment of the finest quality tailored to their needs and installed by experts with years of experience in the industry. However, Managing Director Leke Alabi promises that they can also expect something even more important - help and advice wherever possible on how to use their new acquisition to its best advantage.
It's all part of Mr Alabi's philosophy of trying to present customers with everything they need to become self-sufficient in energy and not at the mercy of future energy crises or other economic circumstances beyond their control.
There is no guarantee that the current crisis is the last.
He said: "If you don't do anything you're putting yourself in a position where you will experience what has happened in the last 18 months.
"We have customers ringing us and saying, 'Thank God we listened to you.'"
The new Labour Administration was delighted to hold its first Cabinet meeting last month, where we formally dropped the previous administration’s pledges and voted through the three missions we have pledged to adopt.
These are Reducing Inequality to help all residents meet their potential and build a fairer society, Building a Better Swindon to create the town with the jobs, houses and facilities that we need for the next twenty or thirty years, and Achieving the Net Zero targets we are committed to meet as a council.
At the Full Council meeting the next day, we established three new Policy Development committees to push forward the missions. By the time you read this, the committees will have had their first meetings and set their workplans for the year as they drive forward key policies
to help us meet the missions.
We also were excited to make a new senior appointment at the Full Council meeting, with Sam Mowbray, the council’s Chief Operating Officer stepping up into the Chief Executive role to replace the outgoing Susie Kemp, who had announced her intention to resign ahead of the elections.
Sam has enthusiastically embraced the new direction of the council, and is keen to help achieve the missions, improve the way we engage with the public and make sure we deliver on our pledges.
I’m pleased to say that we have made a start on these pledges with some good progress with the Highways department.
When we awoke to news of a Thames Water mains water leak on County Road, Cllr Chris Watts as the Cabinet Member and the Highways team were quickly on the case and were able to ensure that planned maintenance works on the road were quickly brought forward
so that they could be carried out alongside Thames Water’s work to fix the pipe, meaning that a planned closure later in the year is no longer needed and we will be able to keep Swindon moving.
This proactive approach is to be encouraged, and we will be keeping it going throughout August with a real focus on sorting potholes across the town.
We have invested in another pothole machine and are working flat out to get the town’s roads in a much better state before we go into another winter period.
Unfortunately, it isn’t all good news to report in the Highways area. The Bus Boulevard project that we inherited on Fleming Way is significantly delayed due to some very slow responses from utility companies on the project. It appears that it is yet another project blighted by contractors finding uncharted utility pipes under the road.
We are really frustrated that another project has been poorly planned and the council has
been left responsible for the overrun costs by the deal struck by the previous administration. We are doing all we can to minimise the delays but want to be open and honest with residents that the delay will be significant and could be around a year.
We are determined to properly learn the lessons of the delayed projects and will do all we can to improve the planning of these projects, understand exactly what is in the area and set more realistic contingency periods so that residents aren’t continually let down.
policy over the course of three meetings this year.
We have just had the first Scrutiny Committee meeting of the new municipal year as well as the first Full Council.
Clearly the Labour administration wants to put their stamp on changes at the borough, which is quite understandable.
They have cancelled the Conservative administration's ‘Visions, Priorities & Pledges’ and will aim to have something to replace them by the end of the municipal year.
We viewed this as unnecessary until they have an alternative strategy in place to guide the council – now there is nothing in place for 11 months.
They have, however, introduced three new committees which will consider
At the Scrutiny meeting the ‘Cost of Living’ policy came up and it was gratifying to have the new Cabinet Member acknowledge that the work contained in this was entirely that of the Conservative administration.
I congratulated them on the roadshows, but at this time they have no additional funding to add to what we allocated or obtained from the Government.
Their Cabinet Member for Finance (& Planning) also acknowledged (in answer to my question) that their aim of ‘getting tough with developers’ was also going to be difficult to deliver - as we already knew.
Independent assessments mean that if a developer demonstrates that they can’t deliver enough affordable housing then there is little that
The last thing the council needs is the new Labour administration racking up legal fees by refusing developments which should be allowed.
Two of our Conservative councillors on the Scrutiny Committee (Cllr Jake Chandler and Cllr Dan Adams) had demanded action on missed waste collections and Cllr Chris Watts (Cabinet Member for Waste & Recycling) agreed to an emergency meeting for the Scrutiny Committee to hear what steps he will take to get this crucial service working again.
What the Labour administration are finding is that whilst it’s easy to make big promises (as they did in their leaflets) it is going to be impossible to deliver on most of them.
Budgets are tight, pressures
continue to grow, but we have committed to working with them to try to find solutions.
We had asked officers on numerous occasions to look at securing children’s homes within the borough to reduce costs and deliver a better service.
I have promised the Labour leader that we will support their wish to do the same.
Politics aside it’s a tough job, and we will work with them wherever possible for the benefit of the residents of Swindon.
By Jamie Hill jamie@positive-media.co.uk
Swindon Pride will be returning to Queens Park for a day of celebration, live music and fun for all the family on Saturday 14 August.
As part of Pride week, which runs from Monday 7 August until Sunday 15 August, the Saturday outdoor event is free to all and has welcomed thousands of revellers from all ages and backgrounds over the last 15 years.
This year the event is showcasing a diverse line up of live acts including local talent and nationally known artists.
Among the special guests at the open air event are Eurovision stars Scooch who as well as their hit 'Flying The Flag' had four other top 40 hits. Another former UK entrant, Nicki French, will also be performing. Nicki also entered the charts with her club version of 'Total Eclipse of the Heart' and is a favourite of UK Pride events.
Also joining the lineup will be Ru Paul's Drag Race UK star Tia Kofi. The live singing Drag Queen shot to fame in Season Two of the reality competition and emerged as one of the fan favourites.
Local singer Jade Young has a passion for country music and will be showcasing a celebration of Shania Twain, whilst twin singing sensation Billy & Louie will be entertaining the audience with songs made famous by singers
such as George Michael and Abba.
World Champion Beatboxer and multi instrumentalist Bellatrix will be performing as well as Drag King comedian and singer Don One. Completing the line up are Spotlight Choir and dancers from Lawn Manor Academy.
In another national and local collaboration, the live stage show will be hosted by established Drag Queen Miss Jam Tart who hails from Bristol and local host Evie Em-Jay. Evie said: "We are really excited to showcase a diverse live show featuring artists from across our community. We hope all the community will support the event to once again celebrate love, inclusion and
The event is proudly sponsored by Nationwide and the committee are working together with South Swindon Parish Council to deliver the event.
This year sees the return of their Family Circus Zone, a fully licenced bar and a new addition of the Chill Out Zone. Pride is also happy to welcome back the sign language interpreters thank to Arval’s support.
The colourful Pride March is open to all and anyone attending should meet outside H&M at 11am. The main event will run from 11am until 6pm which includes a quiet hour from 11am-midday. After the event at Queens Park the
celebrations continue at the official afterparty being held from 7pm at Battle Boom Bar. Entry is free but to attend, and so that numbers can be monitored people will need a ticket which you can order here - www.swindonwiltshirepride. co.uk/pride-2023
Learning to swim at any age is a huge milestone and an important life skill, that’s why, as the largest provider of swimming lessons in the UK, you can feel confident in choosing Better to help you or your child start their swim journey.
Across the country, we help over 135,000 people learn to love the water and keep active, by becoming capable and confident swimmers.
We have designed our swim school programme to be flexible and affordable and we offer a range of payment options from monthly direct debits to annual payments. What’s more, free swimming sessions are included in swimming lesson memberships for your children* in all Swim for All Sessions.
All our swimming lesson memberships also allow you to track progress through a dedicated online tool: Home Portal. You’ll be able to keep track on the go and
be updated directly by your swimming instructor.
Depending on your child’s experience, you can choose between SWIMBiES and preschool lessons for little ones. As your child progresses, you can move them through into Foundation, onto Development and finally Academy.
Don’t forget, it’s not all swim lesson focused! We offer a range of fun family sessions for you all to enjoy at The Link Centre and Dorcan Better Health & Recreation Centre, just pre-book and enjoy a refreshing family day out!
Discover more by visiting better.org.uk/lessons
*please note this does not include Swimbies lessons
Studley Grange has something to offer everyone over the summer.
The Garden Restaurant will be offering a BBQ in their outdoor seating area on selected dates in August (weather dependent). They are now partnered with Crumps Butchers and will be cooking some of their delicious meats. The dates will be put on social media and the website nearer the time.
They have recently gained an alcohol license so there will be some exciting events being run in the restaurant over the coming months; watch social media for news.
in the Farm Shop - look out for the Wiltshire Honey labels.
I saved a life recently.
I tell you this because CPR works. I often wondered about Heimlich who developed the Heimlich manoeuvre for choking. He used it once, in his care home, a year before he died. I bet he was thrilled.
That's how I felt about CPR, dozens of practices on dummies but never for real.
There is always lots to do and see out on the farm. This includes include Meerkat, Reptile and Owl experiences and can make an ideal present for a loved one. They have now collected honey from their own bees and this can be purchased
Inside why not let the children decorate handmade cupcakes or biscuits in the Chocolate Heaven/Cupcake Delight shop situated next to the airconditioned soft play area. Are you looking to revamp your garden? Then visit the outdoor plant section which has recently had extra covered walkways built.
Join their Loyalty Card scheme and access exclusive offers throughout the store.
www.studleygrange.co.uk
I was in Stratford with three 15-year-old grandchildren, walking to the church where Shakespeare’s buried.
An elderly man collapsed as we passed. I got him in the recovery position, then eyes gawped open, he stopped breathing.
I started CPR while another man called an ambulance. It took several minutes until he started breathing again.
"Sorry," he mumbled, "I slipped. Can you help me up?" I asked him to stay down, that an ambulance was on the way.
"I can't go to hospital," he responded, “my friend is being buried.” He pointed to a coffin being carried into the church. The other man cancelled the ambulance and walked away, which was weird.
I walked the old boy slowly to the church, making him talk, gave him feedback, then passed him to his wife. He promised he’d go to hospital after the service.
Three white faces stared at me. “He could’ve died, Grandad,” one said.
“We could’ve slipped him in with his friend,” I replied, “two for the price of one.” They laughed and relaxed.
He’s scrambled my head since. Was he ok? Did he go to hospital? We need Shakespeare’s “Seven Ages of Man” for comfort:
The sixth age shifts
Into the lean and slippered pantaloon, With spectacles on nose and pouch on side; His youthful hose, well saved, a world too wide For his shrunk shank; and his big manly voice, Turning again toward childish treble, pipes And whistles in his sound.
The National Self Build & Renovation Centre (NSBRC), the UK'S only permanent venue for independent homebuilding advice and support, has been shortlisted for two categories in the 2023 National Sustainability Awards.
The National Sustainability Awards recognise the pioneers of sustainability, with the judging panel looking for great stories of innovation and breadth of impact across all sectors, that can help build a more sustainable and better future.
The NSBRC, in Lydiard Fields near the M4's Junction 16, has been shortlisted in two categories, ‘Team of the Year’, recognising the efforts of the centre’s Marketing Team to promote their eco offering and ‘Rising Star of the Year’, recognising the individual efforts of the centre’s Content Marketing Manager, Katy Hardwick.
Harvey Fremlin, the NSBRC’s
Managing Director, said: ‘We are thrilled to be nominated for these prestigious awards. We have placed sustainability at the heart of all our activities and are proud of the workshops, surgeries and courses we have run, designed to help people improve the energy efficiency of their homes.
"The first thing visitors to the NSBRC see, as they walk through our doors, is our sustainability pledge, our promise to help visitors build better, more sustainable homes. These nominations recognise the work we have done in this crucial area, and will act as motivation to keep going on this important mission.’
Although the awards, which are in their second year, are a celebration, they also serve to show how our society can, with good leadership, be lead through the post-pandemic recovery into a new and more sustainable path. The
awards look for the best in every category, recognising organisations that understand the importance of ensuring that future generations will be able to live in a cleaner, greener world. There are many well known organisations that are nominated in 2023.
Harvey continues: ‘It is an honour for our relatively small, employee-owned, business to be up against giant corporations with household names such as NatWest, Lombard and OVO Energy. For us the recognition of our activities is the biggest reward. We realised that sustainability must play a key part in our offering and the team have worked tremendously hard to ensure we are providing the best, impartial advice to our visitors – both here at the centre and online. I am particularly delighted for Katy, a younger member of our team who has embraced the opportunity and is our internal
‘sustainability champion’.
The winners will be announced on 5 October at an Awards Gala Dinner, taking place at The Waldorf Hilton, London.
The NSBRC is hosting an Eco Workshop on Heat & Energy on Saturday 12 August. The free event will provide over a dozen talks on topics such as Heap Pumps, Solar, Electric Vehicles and Rainwater Harvesting. For more information and to book free tickets, visit: www. nsbrc.co.uk/whats-on/ourworkshops/eco-workshop/
I’m Bella Ryder, on work experience at Swindon Link. I’m 15 years old, go to Commonweal School and I’ve been reading books and stories since I was little.
I share my love for books with my mum who has showered our house in them for me and my siblings to read. Without my mum, I’m not sure if I would have the passion for reading that I have now as she has shown me why its so important to read.
So, I am going to share these reasons with you and give you some recommendations and tips on what to read and how to start.
Reading a book has so many benefits; as well as just being enjoyable, it can reduce stress and improve your overall mental health. Reading even just a page of a book can distract you from worry and can give you a chance to relax and clear your mind.
Reading books, both fiction and non-fiction, allows you to learn new things, which helps you succeed in work and relationships.
Reading also improves your focus, memory, empathy and communication skills.
I also think that reading, especially when the book is thrilling, is just an overall enjoyable activity. It’s something to do when you're bored and it just puts your mind at rest.
Michael Ritchie, a bookseller at Bert’s Books in Swindon's Godwin Court, said: “Reading fiction can cause a person to acquire empathy because they
are being put into someone else’s shoes and seeing the world from different views.”
There are many places where you can buy books in Swindon, such Bert's Books or Waterstones in the town centre. However, Swindon Central Library is also a great option to borrow books, free of charge.
Once you have got to the stage of finding the place to supply your books, you may ask yourself, 'What book do I pick?' Well, this question is all down to your personal preference but here are some recommendations:
Michael Ritchie recommends any Agatha Christie book to someone who would like to start reading. He said “You can’t go wrong with an Agatha
Christie.”
He added: "It is mostly down to personal preference. Try to find a similar genre of books to one of your favourite films or television series.”
I personally recommend the ‘Maze Runner’ series. They are full of action and adventure, and have also been adapted into award-winning films.
My mum, Lucy Ryder, recommends 'A Tree Grows in Brooklyn' by Betty Smith. She said: “It's an amazing book which is an absolute classic.”
She also recommends ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ as it has a storyline which makes you think.
Sometimes it can be hard to muster the effort to sit down and read, but trust me, in my experience it is always worth it.
Just the other month I found
myself in a ‘reading slump’ and I didn’t read for weeks. However, I finally picked up a book on a long car journey to cure my boredom and it did exactly that! I finished the book in two days and I was once again back on the roll, finding new books to discover.
In my opinion, having the motivation to read all comes down to finding a good book. I’ve been through plenty of boring books that don’t inspire me, but it’s when you find a book you actually enjoy and you are excited to sit down and explore, that you will find your love and passion for reading.
Just remember - reading any book is good, small or large. You don’t have to sit there for hours, just try a page and see what you think!
The organisers of Swindon Railway Festival promise 20 of the UK's greatest model railway layouts, displayed against the backdrop of the full-sized treasures held by the town's museum of the Great Western Railway.
A spokesperson said: "You'll also see new special exhibitions, unique trade stands and modelling demos."
The model railways on display will be in a variety of scales, showcasing the skill of their modellers.
The demonstrations will come courtesy of some of the finest modellers, covering subjects such as soldering, model locomotive and wagon building and the best techniques for making models appear authentically weathered.
Visitors will also have the opportunity to browse the wares of many of the most respected traders in the hobby. For families the attractions
on offer will include children's interactive model railways, activity trails and thoughtprovoking activities including bridge-building.
Tickets are priced at £14.60
for ages 16 and over, and £9.70 for children aged 3-16 accompanied by an adult. Children aged under three will be admitted free.
Full details, such as steadily
updated lists of displays, vendors and other participants, can be found at www.steammuseum.org.uk/event/swindonrailway-festival/
In my 10 years of playing ice hockey my whole career has been with the Wildcats Academy.
I have been lucky to have some great coaches and teammates who push me to success, one of the coaches being my dad who came over to England from Toronto in 1998 to play hockey for the Swindon Chill. He has inspired me to play hockey and is one of the main reasons I play hockey today. I’m currently playing for the Swindon u16 Leopards. We have been very successful this season and I would like to share our season with you.
Firstly, in February our team had its second trip to Canada to play a tournament, this one being in Granby, Quebec. It was a great experience as we were with our teammates who we have known since we were around seven. This tightly bonded team has experienced lots of success, such as a previous tournament in Canada and a national championship. But this tournament in Canada was one to remember, as new additions such as Ethan Lock and Joel Meyers had strengthened the team, and they both played key roles in a small English town's fairytale run in a big north American
competition.
Our first game was a 5-2 victory against Voillers Aylmer at the Leonard Grondin Rink, thanks to goals from Jan Kostal, Ethan Lock and Ethan Taylor. Our second game was great, with our goalie Sam Ellis preventing a strong French Canadian team called Express Rive-Sud from scoring.
The game eventually finished 2-0 with goals from Josh Poole and myself. Then, sadly, in the quarter finals after being 2-1 up for the majority of the game we crumbled against one of the best teams in the province of Quebec for their division. Scoring two goals in the last five minutes, Draveurs MontLaurier came out victorious with a 3-2 win which brought Swindon’s international tournament run to an end.
After the tournament it was then time for the team to shift their attention on the league. Swindon were eventually crowned champions of the South England U16 Division 1 league. There were two key games which powered the team to the title - one of them being a 7-2 victory over Slough, with the line of Luca Kirk-Browne, Ethan Lock and I combining for five goals this game.
That line had been in form as of late, combining for three goals in the previous game when they beat Streatham 4-1. Then probably our most important game of the season was playing Chelmsford at home. We beat them 4-1 thanks to a wonderful penalty shot from Ethan Taylor and a
superb solo effort from star defence man Joel Meyers.
This win pretty much clinched the title for Ken Forshee’s team as they just had to beat Basingstoke at the Better Link Centre, which they did by the score of four goals to nil.
The team qualified for the national tournament and would face Manchester in the semifinals. Sadly, this was Swindon’s second loss all year. 2-1 was the final score in that game, with Forward Luca Kirk-Browne scoring the team's only goal just like in 2018, when he got the team's winning and only goal in the national finals when we beat Sheffield 1-0.
Sadly Swindon couldn’t repeat the glory from their national championship-winning campaign, and instead had to settle for third, beating Chelmsford in the third place game 5-2. Goals from Ethan Taylor, Oskar Sagan, Ethan Lock, Josh Poole and Joel Meyers helped the U16 Leopards cruise past a morally defeated Chelmsford team.
Overall it was a great season. The team finished with one gold medal, a bronze medal and an international competition appearance, and coaches Ken Forshee and Danny Meyers are very proud of the team. You can come show your support and watch the U16 Leopards for free at the Better Link Centre. If you would like to play hockey there are Learn to Play sessions at the Link Centre every Friday at 6pm.
This is a great way to get into hockey.
Swindon Cycle Campaign’s final FREE Family Learn to Cycle and Cycle Confidence event is on Monday 14 August 12.30 - 4.30pm.
This is the fourth in the series of grant-funded events designed to provide a hub of free support and advice for anyone, of any age, looking to start cycling or build confidence in the saddle.
The events have been very popular, highlighting the huge demand for support in learning to cycle. As before, the event aims to be as inclusive as possible, demonstrating that cycling can be for everyone. There will be a range of adapted cycles available to try out for those with additional needs, from tricycles to tandems to wheelchair cycles.
Booking ahead is strongly
advised for the learn to ride and cycle confidence sessions, available via the Eventbrite link www.eventbrite. co.uk/o/swindon-cyclecampaign-61575400583
However booking is not required for other support on the day such as the free bike safety checks and repairs, BikeRegister security marking, electric bike trials, guided bike ride and more.
The grant funding has also allowed us to offer free private group and one to one sessions for those for whom need more specialist support or are unable to attend the events. This can be anything from helping an adult or child with additional needs to support with making a journey to school or work. We’re currently organising learn to cycle sessions for youth groups
and ladies-only sessions with female cycle instructors. If you are an adult, teenager or child who’d like to learn to cycle or develop your confidence in the saddle then do join us at our upcoming event. Or get in touch if you’d like to arrange some one to one cycle training or private sessions for a group. Our friendly, experienced trainers and volunteers will support you all the way. Whether you’d like to learn to ride a bike, or develop confidence making a journey on the road, we’ll do our best
It’s that time in the calendar again where even the most pessimistic football fan gets a tingling of excitement. All aboard the new season and strap yourselves in for what should be the most competitive League 2 season in history.
In and amongst this carnage, Swindon will be hoping for a return to League 1 at the third time of asking.
But are they further away from promotion than ever before?
My short diagnosis would be yes. In contrast to my previous column, I’m now deeply concerned by the lack of transfer activity at SN1. At the time of writing, Town are yet to sign an outfield player despite being halfway through pre-season.
We know that Michael Flynn is impeccable at working on
a budget but surely this is a stretch too far! In my opinion Swindon require a minimum of five experienced first team players as well as two to three loans.
Currently, Swindon’s squad is heavily bloated with inexperienced subpar players who will be hard to shift. In order to build a winning team, The Robins must add to the few assets they already have in the likes of Austin, Hutton, and Blake-Tracy.
In addition, Town will be hoping that their young talent in Clayton, McEachran, Cain, Hepburn-Murphy, and Wakeling can kick on from promising debut seasons. However, this alone will simply not be enough to trouble the promotion picture.
As you can see, Swindon lack experience and depth. This leads me to conclude that Town are forecasted another midtable finish.
Despite this, should the two identified problems be rectified before the closure of the transfer window the initial prediction should be reconsidered.
One reason why I feel as if The Robins require such a high volume of signings is due to the fact that their competition will be ferocious. I’ve never seen such financial power in League 2 as this season.
Of course, the most obvious example is Wrexham.
Funded by the multimillions of Hollywood’s Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney the Welsh side will be mine and many others' favourites for back-to-back titles.
Notts County, who last season pushed Wrexham all the way, are again well primmed to rival their promoted counterparts.
Elsewhere, last season's defeated playoff finalists, Stockport will be backed
to help.
For more information about the events and cycle training please get in touch at: SwindonCycleCampaign@ outlook.com or call 07508038670 (please note this is a voluntary position so a response may not be immediate)
to go one further this time around. Then we have two other outfits who both fell at the playoff hurdle in Bradford and Salford who will no doubt have promotion at the top of their agendas. Lastly, we have two teams that underachieved in the previous season.
Mansfield, after falling short of the playoffs, will be expected to at least secure playoff football. And Gillingham, who fought off relegation in the second half of 2022/23, should be looking to build upon their new financial power which has already seen them poach Jonny Williams from Swindon.
Finally, out of the three relegated League 1 sides I’d tip Forest Green as the most likely to bounce back.
To sum it up, in order for Swindon to be the best they must beat the best. And this season, more than ever, that is no mean feat.
Semi-retired Plumber
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Dear Agony Girl, You have been doing Agony Girl for nearly six years if you include your time doing it for The Ocelot magazine. What has been your highlight since starting as Agony Girll? You always cheer me up with your answers.
Tyler, North Swindon
Probably knowing that if I say a fun thing then people will laugh. When I started my new year at school I got to bring it in to Show and Tell and my teacher loved it.
Dear Agony Girl, I'm at a complete loss. Unfortunately I've just come to the end of my fixed term mortgage and the cheapest deal I could get in the current climate, saw my monthly payments go up by £500 a month, which is a fortune. Do you have any money saving tips that could help me out?
Lisa, West Swindon
If you see a really nice top that you want to buy but if you know if you buy it then you'll lose money, if you do buy it, get all your clothes from your shopaholic era
and have a massive sale to all the other shopaholics then gets lots of money. Or just not buy it and wait until you've paid off your mortgage and then buy it.
Dear Agony Girl,
I'm really worried. I once appeared on the BBC in a two-minute guest slot talking about the life-cycle of worms. This was five years ago, but with everything that's been happening lately, I'm worried that I will be accused of impropriety as an un-amed BBC celebrity. What should I do to keep a low profile?
Kevin Faulkenor, Penhill
If you have any social media app, make your name on it 'I love tickling people's toes' so people won't want to go on your profile and find out that you once were on the BBC talking about worms.
Dear Agony Girl
There is a spider living in an inaccessible corner of the bedroom where my partner and I sleep. The large, hairy variety. My partner hates
spiders but I’m quite fond of them and like to carry them gently out of the house when she spots one. Fortunately she had not spotted our eight-legged lodger. My problem is that the spider only appears when we are in bed, and if I try to catch it she’ll know it’s there and want to know how long I’ve known it’s there. How do I distract her so I can prevent a row?
Dave, Dorcan
Say I've made something romantic for you in the bathroom and then quickly catch it with a net and throw it out the window making sure it safely lands. Then when she comes back in the room saying that there's no romantic thing in the bathroom, make sure you've got some wine to hand and say surprise and she'll be none the wiser that you just rescued a spider.
the pages of Swindon Link's sister publication The Ocelot comes Agony Girl in the form of ten-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.
