South East Swindon Link July 2023

Editor’s Note

By Jamie Hill

Jamie@positive-media.co.uk

Lawn Manor Academy orchard grows apples and new learning opportunities

By Barrie Hudson barrie@positive-media.co.uk

It’s an exciting month here at The Link as we launch our innovative and exciting news subscription service called The Ink.

We have been running the new service in the background for the past month now and our official launch will be on Monday 3 July with the great and the good attending.

It’s a simple idea and will enable us to provide high quality news directly to people who sign up to the subscription service.

The Ink itself is a very different beast to The Link as we will be able to put out news and analysis three times a week with brand new content not found in the magazine or website.

We hope you like it as it has a different feel to anything else we’ve done. You can find out all the details on page 8 and it costs £5.99 a month with your first month free (so you can always unsubscribe if you don’t like it)

A Swindon school is planting a special combination of fruit trees to enrich pupils’ lessons and eventually give back to the local community.

Development of the forest school area at Lawn Manor Academy started last year, but has recently stepped up a gear with apple, pear and cherry trees planted for the orchard and re-digging the existing pond.

The area, which was formerly overgrown and in need of attention, is being transformed by the forest school afterschool club, which meets weekly and is led by geography teacher and Forest School Lead Lee Horsford.

He said “As we continue to clear out and plant the area, we’ve got some great opportunities to use it as an ecological area and quiet space for pupils to access.

“The trees came from the Woodland Trust and are all native species.

“We’ve planted one section as a defined wood and we will have another section designed as an

exploratory wood where pupils can walk in and around the trees and learn.

“A lot of the trees we’ve just planted are young and so it will be a couple of years before they start producing fruit.

“When they do, we plan to use the fruit in cookery lessons, and also plant a vegetable patch. We’ll make soup and pies and donate them to charities that support the homeless in Swindon.”

The centrepiece of the orchard is an apple tree planted to celebrate the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, and the latest work has been undertaken thanks to a donation by former

Governor, Nigel Cox, to commemorate his retirement. The space is already being used to great effect by all in a variety of subject areas. Pupils have been using it as part of their fieldwork for geography, studying ecosystems in science classes, learning about ratios in maths, and using it as a quiet reading space in English lessons.

The forest school and orchard are also central to developing relationships between Lawn Manor Academy and primary schools in the area, allowing the planning of mutually beneficial learning and easing the transition from primary to senior school.

Group Editor and Owner: Jamie Hill

Deputy Editor: Barrie Hudson

Reporter: Jessica Durston

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The Eco Briefing

Solar panel group-buying scheme again open for registrations

Swindon residents have the opportunity to come together to invest in renewable energy through a group-buying scheme for solar panels and battery storage.

Wiltshire Council and Swindon Borough Council are working with iChoosr, independent experts in group-buying, to launch a second Solar Together scheme, following the success of the first in 2022.

Since the first round of the scheme launched in May 2022, over 1,500 home owners across Wiltshire and Swindon have so far installed over 8,500 solar panels and 720 storage batteries to benefit from generating their own renewable energy. This is

also estimated to shrink the carbon footprint of these households by more than 650,000 kilograms of Carbon Dioxide in total.

The scheme offers solar panels with optional battery storage and electric vehicle charge points, as well as retrofit battery storage for residents who have already invested in solar panels and are looking to get more from the renewable energy they generate as well as increase their independence from the grid.

There is also the chance to discuss options to divert solar energy to power the immersion heater in your hot water tank if you have one.

It is free to register, without any obligation to continue and the procedure is simple:

- Registration: you can register online at www. solartogether.co.uk/Swindon by providing details about your roof, such as its size and orientation (a roof’s position relative to the sun, for example south facing). The more people register, the better the deal should be for each household

- Auction: a list of prevetted solar installers will bid for the work and the most competitive offer wins the auction

- Personal recommendation: you will then be emailed a personal recommendation for your home

- You decide: you will have six weeks to decide if you want to accept the recommendation

- Installation: if you accept,

the winning installer will contact you to survey your roof and set an installation date

The Solar Together website has lots of information available to help residents consider whether solar panels are right for them. The independent Energy Savings Trust also provides a comprehensive guide to solar panels on its website, search ‘energy savings trust solar panels’ online.

RIAT tickets selling fast with less than a month to go until showtime

By Barrie Hudson barrie@positive-media.co.uk

RIAT is now sold out for Saturday, 15 July, but tickets are still available for Friday and Sunday, 14 and 16 July.

Last year saw the event return following a twoyear hiatus due to covid, with over 250 aircraft participating across the weekend.

Organisers say July’s show is set to be another exciting instalment, with a variety of aircraft already being unveiled as participants such as the Red Arrows, historic Jet ME262 which is making a UK airshow debut and the Spanish Harrier.

Riat is hosted by Royal Air Force Charitable Enterprises. CEO Paul Atherton said: “I’m absolutely thrilled that the

public continue to support RIAT, especially during the current economic challenges we are all facing.

“This year promises to be yet another fantastic occasion drawing participants from around the world and demonstrating

what a massive event RIAT continues to be.”

On the ground there will also be a lot to see, especially for youngsters who are curious about aviation, with the event’s Techno Zone.

There, industry leaders

will bring interactive tech exhibits to capture the imagination of the aviators of tomorrow.

RIAT Proceeds are donated to the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust, and tickets are available at www. airtattoo.com

Trust director Justine Morton said: “Every year we are overwhelmed with the amount of young people who come to the show.

“Ensuring that while they’re here, they’re inspired by what they see is a key aim of the charity and to encourage more young people to come, we offer free entry and travel to the show.

“We are really looking forward to this year’s event and hope to see plenty of people on the airfield next month.”

Refurbished Lydiard Park Hotel and Conference Centre officially launched

By Barrie Hudson barrie@positive-media.co.uk

The location often referred to as the jewel in Swindon’s heritage crown has begun the latest chapter in its long history.

Guests ranging from historians and heritage groups to local companies and charities, together with VIPs including new Swindon Borough Council leader Cllr Jim Robbins and council chief executive Susie Kemp, were present at the official opening of the refurbished Lydiard Park Hotel and Conference Centre.

The hotel, attached to the historic Grade I Listed Lydiard House owned by Swindon Borough Council for eight decades, has been

completely transformed in a project lasting three years.

Previously offering some 35 rooms, the hotel has been remodelled to feature 32, including family rooms and a room specially designed for guests with disabilities.

The restaurant has been completely remodelled, conference capacity expanded from 80 to 120 covers and a new bar, pictured, which is reminiscent of an Art Deco palm court and with an almost full length skylight, has been created where a swimming pool once was.

Cllr Robbins said: “What an amazing asset for Swindon.

“I think the team have done an absolutely brilliant job on this place.

“They have delivered it on time and on budget - and clearly I’m claiming that as the first Labour victory since we’ve been in power!

“It’s great to be here. I really hope that this is a venue that you can all use, that you can encourage people to use, and we can get people coming in, enjoying the beautiful park that we’ve got here, get people into the venue and

that they can just see what sort of thing we can actually do in Swindon.

“Hopefully we can use it as a springboard to try to get some more investment in the town, get things going and make Swindon the place we want it to be, and build the better Swindon we’ve been promising.”

Bus field hospital created in Swindon for Ukraine handed over

By Barrie Hudson barrie@positive-media.co.uk

Representatives of Swindon Humanitarian aid Partnership (SHAP) and Swindon’s Bus Company met in Westminster for a poignant ceremony.

They officially donated a bus which has been converted into a field hospital and is destined for Ukraine.

The bus was handed over to His Excellency Vadym Prystiako, Ambassador of Ukraine to the United Kingdom.

Those present included SHAP chair Mike Bowden, Swindon’s Bus Company managing director Andrew Wickham and Christian Schreyer, chief executive of The Go-Ahead Group, which owns Swindon’s Bus Company.

Mr Bowden said: “SHAP was formed when Russia first invaded Ukraine. A small group of local peopleUkrainian, Polish, Lithuanian and British - met to learn about the desperate situation many in Ukraine found themselves in. We all wanted to ‘do something’ and the seeds of SHAP were planted.

“Since then, we have delivered hundreds of

tonnes of aid to either the Poland/Ukraine border or into central and eastern Ukraine.

“We’ve also been providing extensive support to refugee visitors arriving here.

“All of our work is carried out by volunteers and relies upon donations from generous companies and individuals. With such a dire situation happening

right now on the ground in Ukraine, the country is in need of mobile field hospitals to aid the recovery of civilians, and those risking their lives to defend their homeland.

“We are indebted to Swindon’s Bus Company for the donation of a bus that allowed a group of committed local volunteers to convert a standard public service bus into a mobile medical facility for use in Ukraine.

“It is hard to comprehend what our Ukrainian friends are having to endure but in the best British tradition all we can do is support them with all our might.”

More information about SHAP can be found at shapuk.org and about Swindon’s Bus Company at swindonbus.co.uk

(Picture: Richard Wintle, Calyx)

The South Swindon Parish Council column

By Cllr Neil Hopkins - Chair of South Swindon Parish Council

Since the Parish Council elections it has been an incredibly busy period with the council busy completing many projects.

Quarry Road Tennis Courts

I am delighted to say the Quarry Road Tennis Courts redevelopment is nearly completed and will be open soon. This redevelopment will turn what was pothole ridden tennis courts into some of the highest standard public tennis courts in the country.

The National Tennis Association (NTA) will be managing the courts. They have a great track record of running the Swindon Tennis Centre at the St Mark’s Recreation Ground, as well as other courts

across the south and England and I can’t wait to see them recreate the same successes at Quarry Road.

Badbury Park Community Hub

The Badbury Park Community Hub is due to open on 1 July with a formal opening which all in the community are invited to. 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 be open three days a week.

The new library will be run by the same fantastic team from Old Town Library.

The Community Hub is available for bookings. To make a booking email community@southswindonpc.gov.uk or phone 07798 743668.

Buckhurst Family Fun Day

I’d like to thank everyone who came along to the Buckhurst Family Fun Day on Saturday 3 June. The purpose of the event was to showcase local organisations and provide free or highly discounted entertainment for families and judging by the response from residents this was really welcomed. A big thank you to Buckhurst Community Centre, volunteers and parish council staff for organising this event. I would also like to thank Nationwide Building Society and their Oakfield Team for sponsoring this event. This sponsorship made a huge difference.

Town Gardens Aviary

Our parish maintenance team have been busy redeveloping the aviary in the Town Gardens. The

aviary was originally built as a timber/metal aviary in 1928 and was refurbished into its current structure in 1994 as part of the Town Gardens Centenary Celebrations. It will be great to create a new legacy for the aviary for residents.

Town Gardens Bowl Events

Now the summer has started we will be putting on a range of events in the Town Gardens for people to enjoy.

This summer we have a range of music acts from Supersonic Queen to the My Dad’s Bigger Than Your Dad Festival which features local acts. It will also host outdoor theatre and nationally known stand up comedians. To find out more information and to book tickets for events in the Bowl visit: www. towngardens-swindon.co.uk

A new dawn for journalism in Swindon

An innovative and ambitious news subscription service called The Ink is being launched in Swindon in association with Swindon Link. The new publication will be sent directly to people’s inboxes three times a week and will only cost £5.99 a month with the first month free so you can cancel it if you don’t like it before paying a penny.

By Jamie Hill

We want Swindon to have better journalism – quality writing and investigative journalism that drives change.

Our mission at The Ink isn’t just about making the media better though, it’s about making Swindon better and more accountable. Swindon has a rich culture and heritage, and an extremely generous community.

We want it to be a place where we face our failures and spread good ideas. Where we understand and hear each other’s perspectives. We want Swindon to be better informed.

These might be lofty principles but over the past three decades we have seen the media industry eat itself with quality going by the wayside as we chase clicks instead of insight. The industry has swapped print advertising pounds for digital pennies and the quality has dipped because of this.

So we have had to find a way around this. A way of still providing the insight and quality of good journalism but still having the means to survive as with the best ideals in the world no-one can

survive on air.

From a tiny newsroom in Old Town, we will endeavour to put together stories that will make you better informed and more closely connected with this great town. We want to use our stories to create a better Swindon and build a better community.

The idea is to provide three paid for curated news bulletins a week (Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays) with a free one going out to our free members on a Friday summarising the week and giving people a taste of what they’re missing from not being a paid member.

We will still be just as passionate with Swindon Link, which we believe provides a thread joining the different communities of the town on a monthly basis.

But The Ink will be more analytical and give us the ability to really delve down into what really makes Swindon tick.

We do realise that this is a whole new concept for Swindon and for us as well. We have been creating The Ink for more than a month now just to ensure

that we can do it justice.

But for us journalists it’ll be a way that we can get the information of the day directly in front of people’s eyes. And it will also be completely advertising free as we want to provide completely unfiltered news and analysis to our readers.

The plan is to provide an Ink briefing on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays with people who sign up for the free version getting an update on a Friday. Another thing that we will ensure is that no-one is ever tied into anything. You can join and leave when you want without incurring any extra costs.

The first month that you sign up for is free so you also have the ability to taste what we’re doing and then unsubscribe if it’s not your cup of tea (although we assure you it will be!)

As an organisation we’re very excited and we have ideas aplenty to make this a good read for anyone who wants to stay in the know on local matters in Swindon.

You can subscribe by scanning the QR code on the advert opposite with your phone.

New EV for parish council fleet

Haydon Wick Parish Council has added another new electric vehicle to its Parks & Open Spaces.

The Transit-style van will be used in grounds maintenance work.

Parish council chair Cllr Vinay Manro said the organisation was proud to add another electric vehicle, and that by reducing the council’s carbon footprint it would make Haydon Wick a greener place to live.

Swindon Pride goes

Nationwide

Swindon & Wiltshire Pride have announced the return of Nationwide Building Society as main sponsor for the 2023 event.

This year Pride is heading back to Queens Park on Saturday, 12 August for what organisers are promising will be even bigger and better than last year’s popular Pride Picnic.

New Arkell’s brew to mark centenary of car maker MG

Arkell’s Brewery have created a limited-edition beer to mark 100 years of MG.

‘Petrol Head’ is described as a 4.5% ABV pale beer brewed using traditional Norwegian Kveik yeast which adds a unique orangy flavour.

In 1923 brewery family member ancestor Oliver Arkell was the first person documented to purchase an MG, choosing a Raworth-bodied Super Sports model, of which no examples survive.

Quarry Road Tennis Courts to be managed by national group

By Barrie Hudson barrie@positive-media.co.uk

South Swindon Parish Council and the National Tennis Association (NTA) have announced a partnership to manage the newly refurbished Quarry Road Tennis Courts in Old Town.

The NTA will take on the management of the courts for a 12-year term from June, paying rent to the parish council which will be used as a sink fund for ongoing maintenance and eventual refurbishment in 10 to 12 years’ time.

The courts had been managed by the borough council until earlier this year, when the courts and recreation area off Quarry Road were leased to the parish council for 99 years.

South Swindon Parish

Council chair and Old Town councillor Neil Hopkins said: “It’s fantastic to see the tennis courts receive a much needed makeover.

“The site was in a real state of neglect and disrepair, so the investment is a welcome boost to the local community.

“The NTA have a great track record of involving the communities around their sites and improving the access to tennis in the area.”

The National Tennis

Association was established in 2004 and is the leading tennis management and coaching operator in the UK. It is a not-for-profit Community Interest Company which is committed to reinvesting surplus income into tennis programmes and facilities to enable long-term sustainability.

Since 2014 it has been managing the Swindon Tennis Centre, which is based at St Marks Recreation Ground in Pinehurst.

Kelmscott Manor promises visitors a treasure trove

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

Visitors are welcome at the Manor house and adjoining farm buildings loved by Morris as a work of true craftmanship, totally unspoilt and unaltered, and in harmony with the surrounding countryside.

A spokesperson said: “Enjoy our new temporary exhibition where gems from our reserve collection are on display.

“Exhibits include works by Pre-Raphaelite artists Dante Gabriel Rossetti and Edward Burne-Jones, and exquisite embroideries by Jane and May Morris.

“Kelmscott Manor also boasts enchanting riverside

gardens and the River Thames is located just a few hundred yards away.

“Beyond the walls of the formal garden stand the impressive farm barns – two of which house the Tearoom and beautiful Shop.

“A variety of activities are available in our Learning Barn for all ages to enjoy including trails, jigsaws, craft making and much more.

“Throughout the summer holidays we also have a series of drop in family

workshops on Saturdays where visitors of all ages can join in with various crafts. Follow us on social media for details on upcoming workshops.”

Opening hours are from 10.30am to 5pm on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, and new for this year is the option of an annual pass.

Full details can be found at kelmscottmanor.org.uk, and Kelmscott Manor is also on Facebook and Instagram.

Health services release archive images in run up to NHS 75th anniversary

Construction underway on new sporting hub in Moredon

By Jamie Hill

Work is underway to build a brand new £6.3m multi-sports community hub in Moredon.

The new Moredon Sporting Hub, just off Akers Way, will offer sport and leisure for all ages and will be aimed at those new to the sports available at the site.

With one month to go until the UK celebrates the 75th anniversary of the NHS, the Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust are sharing some images that tell the story of healthcare in Swindon.

This collection available to view on GWH’s Facebook features royal visits and aerial views of both the Great Western Hospital and old Princess Margaret site, as well as glimpses at care which was funded by the Great Western Railway Medical Fund.

High Sheriff Concert raises £4,500 for Domestic Abuse Support Services

Organised by the Rotary Club of Swindon under the ‘Swindon Cares’ banner, the concert was hosted by High Sheriff Pradeep Bhardwaj. Through programme advertising and donations, the evening raised over £4,500 which will go to Swindon Domestic Abuse Support Services.

Better With Music Cafe heads to Old

Town

The Better With Music Cafe, organised by Sounds Like Women, will take place at Christ Church Community Centre on Saturday 29 July from noon to 4pm. The free musical event will include workshops and singer Melissa James.

It will also be aimed at those who may have stopped playing, but are keen to return to sport and physical activity, as well as those wishing to continue their activity in a better environment.

Highlights of the scheme include:

- Full size floodlight 3G pitch, fully enclosed with metal fencing, suitable for multiteam training and senior and junior matches.

- A 1km regional standard cycling closed road circuit with a number of internal loops and cross over points – allows for three separate groups to use the track at one time

- Grass sports pitches including three football pitches and two cricket pitches.

- New pavilion with enhanced changing areas, café and reception area.

The project will be delivered by four main contractors who will build the pavilion, cycle track and sports pitches. TigerTurf UK and McArdle Sport Tec are constructing the artificial sports pitch, Snape Contracting Services Ltd and Talus Construction are bringing forward the pavilion and Spadeoak is creating the cycle track and

new car park.

While the project is being delivered by Swindon Borough Council, once open, the hub will be operated by North Central Swindon Parish Council.

Funding for the sporting hub has come from Swindon Borough Council, Central North Swindon Parish Council, the Premier League, The FA, Government’s Football Foundation and Sport England. The project is scheduled to be finished by next Spring. Visit footballfoundation.org. uk for more information on the Foundation and view the Plan for your local area.

Lawn Manor Academy gets crafty for charity

Lawn Manor Academy pupils have been busy creating a range of hand-made keyrings to raise money for the DEC Ukraine and TurkeySyria appeals.

The group of four Year Nine pupils, Hayden, Ellie, Melissa and Helena have raised almost £40 selling keyrings made using Hama beads to fellow pupils.

The four are part of the Connect9+ class, which provides a supportive and nurturing learning environment to pupils with additional needs in order to ensure they leave school achieving the highest academic qualifications that they’re capable of, as well as supporting the development of their social and life skills.

The group approached the project in a business-like way in order to make the most money possible for charity. They started by conducting market research across the school to measure the demand for keyrings, what sort of designs people wanted and what they would be willing to pay.

From this, they worked on their costings

and designs, finally making each keyring by hand and selling to fellow pupils for £1 per keyring.

Connect9+ Teacher, Kelda Sproston, said: “The class has worked really hard to raise money for the DEC appeals and we’re really proud of the money they’ve raised for charity.

“The most popular designs were football teams, Disney characters and animals. They were really well received by the other pupils in the school of the school outside of the usual Connect classes area.”

www.lawnmanor.org

Year Nine pupils, Hayden, Ellie, Melissa and Helena from Lawn Manor Academy

Charity Big Dog Art Trail set to delight people throughout summer

By Barrie Hudson barrie@positive-media.co.uk

The Big Dog Art Trail in aid of the Julia’s House children’s hospice charity will run from 15 July to 3 September.

A total of 30 Swindogs and 41 smaller Swinpups, decorated by companies, sports teams and individual artists, will be displayed across the borough, with details at www. bigdogarttrail.co.uk/ sculptures/

On this page we showcase creators (top) international artist Kitty Shepherd, (middle from left) local companies Wasdell, Nationwide and Intel and (bottom from left) Swindon firm Arval and mother-and-son team Judy and Morgan Guillery.

New Prospect Hospice chief will tackle death taboos

By Barrie Hudson barrie@positive-media.co.uk

The new leader of Prospect Hospice greeted community members at a reception and set out his vision for the future.

He spoke at an informal reception attended by guests from the worlds of healthcare, business, the arts, local politics, the voluntary sector and people whose lives been touched by the work of the Wroughtonbased organisation.

The cafe area featured prominent pieces created by acclaimed photographer Rankin as part of the I Remember series for national charity Hospice UK, blending images of people who died while in hospice care with images of surviving loved ones.

The new chief said: “It’s a real privilege to be here as part of an organisation that has supported the community that I have lived in for 36 years.

“We’re at a very exciting time in the history of Prospect. For the last few years, understandably, we have been quite inwardlooking - as so many organisations have and particularly the healthcare sector in general because of covid.

“Everything had to be drawn in and lots of things got cut, and we’re at a time now when we’re starting to look outward again. I’m privileged to be here at the start of a new five-year strategy.

“That strategy is based around a vision, and the vision is a community where death is not a taboo and

everyone has a right to live and die well. That’s quite a strange thing to talk about in many ways; we’re a very sophisticated society, we’re at a very sophisticated time in history, yet in this part of the world at this time we still flinch at talking about death.

“That’s something we would like to start to change.”

The new CEO introduced Nancy, widow of BBC Radio Wiltshire journalist Ashley Heath, who died in 2021 at 55, having been diagnosed some years earlier with a brain tumour. She and the CEO are pictured above.

Ashley was a patient for three weeks before his death but was involved with Prospect long before.

Nancy said: “He was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2015 and he contacted the Prospect pretty early on with that. He very much wanted to die here if possible. If you knew my husband you know that he made decisions and they happened.

“The reason that he wanted that is that he did not want me to have the memory of the living room as where he breathed his last, and I’d be sitting there watching a soap opera and thinking, ‘Oh...’

“Instead he wanted his last days to be somewhere apart from our home. The other thing he really wanted was for me to be his wife rather than his carer at the end, and that was absolutely instrumental in his end of life care for me.

“It was just unbelievably supportive and wonderful for those last few weeks for me to have all that medical stuff taken away from me and to have Ash cared for completely by people, and I’d just come in and hold his hand.

“And that was just precious time that we had together.”

She added: “The Prospect Hospice is incredibly important because it’s one of those services that, until you need it, you don’t really think about it. But

like Jeremy says, we need to be having these end of life conversations. We need to be talking about this. I’m sorry - none of you are getting out of here alive! But it’s very important to have that conversation, not be afraid of it. Not having that taboo means that when it comes your turn in the queue it’s so much easier for you and your loved ones. They’ll know what you want for your funeral. They’ll know what you want for end of life care and you’ll know what they want.

“Those conversations need to happen. Please try to get over your squeamishness and please have those conversations.”

Guests at the receptiion included South Swindon Labour Parliamentary candidate Heidi Alexander, pictured below, who described Prospect Hospice as an absolutely integral part of the Swindon

community providing outstanding care for patients and loved ones.

More information about the organisation and what people can do to help can be found at www.prospecthospice.net

Interview: Artist Marilyn Trew’s unique maps can be seen in beauty spots throughout the Swindon area

By Barrie Hudson barrie@positive-media.co.uk

Marilyn Trew loves art and loves creating maps.

The results of that happy combination of loves are displayed in public places and private homes throughout the Swindon area and beyond.

She maps not just places but their history, their wildlife and the people - sometimes generations of peoplewhose stories are intertwined with that of the landscape.

Her work can be seen at Wichelstowe, at Shaftesbury Lake, at Jubilee Lake, at TWIGS Community Gardens and many other locations.

There are also private commissions, ranging from watercolours of beloved family homes to maps not just of places but of lives.

“I do things for 60th wedding anniversaries, anniversaries or birthdays.

“I did a map recently for a headmaster. It was commissioned by his wife and it was the story of his life.

“It contained every house he lived in, every school he was a teacher or a headmaster at, their holidays all over the world, the phonebox where she made a phone call to make the first date - so I’m almost like a stalker into their lives, basically!”

Originally from Wimbledon, Marilyn worked for many years as an HR manager for Lucent Technologies in Malmesbury, a high-powered role involving recruiting specialist engineers. She volunteered as a

Samaritan and later spent many years as a professional counsellor and eventually a teacher of counselling.

Her love of art, like her love of maps, began in childhood.

Marilyn traces her fascination witn maps back to family holidays in the 1950s aboard the Lanchester car shared with an uncle and five cousins. Her father would challenge her to keep track of the journeys.

“Every 10 miles I had to say what the temperature of the car was, where we were on the map and approximate time to our next destination.

“I could tell on an Ordnance Survey Map the difference between a church with a spire and no spire.

“I could tell what was a

marshland or a bridge.

“So I got very heavily into maps and curiosity for travel, really. That’s manifested itself now in the maps.”

And art?

“I did go to art school. I passed the 13-plus in Art so I went to art school from when I was 13 to when I was 17.

“Then I started my life and art didn’t really play a part, apart from the odd poster for the scouts or stuff for the children.

“It wasn’t until I retired that I thought about art and then became an artist - with proper pictures, as it were!

“I painted pictures - I belonged to the artists’ forum in the Brunel Centre in Swindon. I ran three art groups with about 70 people each week for a number of years, maybe

four or five, until covid struck, and then that stopped that!

“The maps started about eight years ago.

“I went to Peatmoor Woodland, just for a walk on my own - get a bit of solitude and birdsong - and I got lost in there. I couldn’t find my way out for quite a while.

“Then, when I came out of it, I saw these lovely signposts ready for a map or a sign.

“There was nothing on the posts but they had lovely tiled roofs, just waiting for noticeboards.”

Marilyn called Roger Ogle, who she had got to know while living in West Swindon.

Roger, in addition to a career which includes being founder editor of Swindon Link, has looked after the woodland for many years.

“I said, ‘I think you need a map, Roger.’ That was the very first one that I did, and I’ll be forever grateful to Roger for letting me do that.

“He’s looked after the woodland for 30 years. There are many, many places like that in Swindon, where people have looked after them for 30 years, many small places.

“I’m currently mapping West Swindon for the green spaces, however small they are.

“I hope that the maps increases people’s curiosity about places.”

Further information about Marilyn and her work can be found on Facebook at Marilyn Trew-Artist and Marilyn’s Maps.

Welcome to Abbey Farm Educate Together

Our vision for Abbey Farm ET Primary is to create a school where every child is valued, nurtured, developed to the best of their ability.

An environment that is holistic in approach and enables the children to continue their education upon leaving and develop into the very best that they wish to be.

Our committed staff team strive to provide our children with the happiest and best education possible. We look forward to welcoming visitors to our school so that we can share our exciting learning environment and ethos whilst sharing our vision for Abbey Farm Educate Together.

Our community consists of more than just our children and staff: it extends to our parents and families, local residents within the Abbey Farm estate.

We believe all play an important part in partnership with us to enable the school to integrate and support both our children and the local community. Something that is growing by the day.

School Profile: Abbey Farm Educate Together Primary

Get to know the schools in your area

This issue: Abbey Farm Educate Together

Address: Diamond Crescent, Abbey Farm, Swindon, SN25 2SJ

Contact: 01793 251109

Website: abbeyfarmet.org.uk

We are a two form entry school with 60 children in each year group. In September 2022 we opened our pre-school and reception class. The school will grow by opening an additional year group each September until we are full in 2028.

Our pre-school and primary school offers:

- A unique ethical curriculum.

- A place where no child is an outsider.

- A well-resourced indoor and outdoor learning environment.

What we offer: Our Curriculum:

We actively question whether what we do is for the children’s learning and welfare. We believe that a commitment to high academic standards is possible alongside a creative and ethical curriculum. The ‘Learn Together Curriculum’ is embedded in everything we do and integrated with the National Curriculum.

Pearce Funeral Services unveils planned West Swindon location

Former bank premises in Westlea are to become the new West Swindon location of Pearce Funeral Services.

The company will be the only one in the area able to locally offer dedicated premises.

The firm is led by John Pearce DipFD MBIE, who has more than 33 years of experience in the profession. He and his team pride themselves on offering compassion and kindness as well as all the practical help and expertise clients need in their time of loss.

John Pearce said: “As a family owned and run, independent funeral directors, we are proud to serve the community of Swindon, and all the surrounding areas.

“We are very excited to be able to announce that

we are moving to a new premises in West Swindon.

“We are currently converting the former Barclays Bank, Rivenhall Road, Westlea, and will be moving our Groundwell Road branch to West Swindon once the

renovations have been completed.

“The new premises will also benefit from its own specified car parking spaces, ensuring that families never have to worry about parking arrangements when visiting.

“We will then be the only funeral director in West Swindon able to locally offer dedicated premises with large, comfortable, arrangement rooms for families to visit and discuss funeral arrangements for their loved ones.”

Business Profile - Pearce Funeral Services

Business Type - Arranging funerals of all kinds with an emphasis on client choice

Established - 2009

Telephone number - 01793 832072

Website - pearcefuneralservices.co.uk

By Barrie Hudson barrie@positive-media.co.uk

The philosophy behind Pearce Funeral Services is a simple one which has nevertheless helped countless clients through some of the saddest periods of their lives.

“We’re a family service and we base ourselves on family values,” said Managing Director John Pearce.

“When somebody’s loved one comes through our door, as far as we’re concerned that family’s loved one is a member of our family for as long as they are with us.

“We treat that loved one as if they were our father, our mother, husband, wife.”

The company’s main base is in Ermin Street, but it has another premises in Groundwell Road and is readying one, pictured middle, in Rivenhall Road, Westlea.

Pearce prides itself on being a help to all, from those who prefer a modest, inexpensive ceremony to those who want

something more elaborate.

The company has conducted, for example, funerals for motorcycle enthusiasts involving a sidecar hearse to carry the coffin.

It once arranged, at the behest of loved ones, a funeral procession led by a special type of cement mixer invented by the deceased.

Members of the Pearce team, each specially chosen for their compassion as well as their

professional abilities, have worn football shirts and band shirts specified by loved ones.

The company will adapt ceremonies to suit the wishes of the deceased and their loved ones, from hosting them in village halls and garden marquees to arranging ceremonies elsewhere in the country for deceased who had wanted to have their funerals in their original home communities.

History of Pearce Funeral Services

John Pearce, Managing Director

Services, regards being in the industry as a privilege.

It is a sentiment echoed by his wife, Liz, who is Company Administrator.

John began working the industry as a teenager in 1990, and was a professionally-accredited expert many years before establishing the firm in 2009. His sense of public service began in childhood.

“If you go right back to the very beginning,” he said, “I was brought up as a vicar’s son in a family that was very much serving the community. Although it was my father’s ministry, the whole family lived that lifestyle.”

He, alongside Liz and the other members of the tight-knit team take pride in compassionately guiding clients through the worst of times.

of Pearce Funeral

LINK POLITICS

A column by Swindon Borough Council Leader Jim Robbins

It has been a very busy month getting to grips with my new role leading the council and I have had a very full calendar of introductory meetings with a number of people and organisations around the town.

It has been positive to have received such a warm welcome from so many people, and it is staggering to see just how much positive and exciting work is going on in the town that we will be supporting as a council.

As councillors, we have been really busy trying to put our key pledges into action, and I’m looking forward to being able to start to make some really positive announcements over the next few weeks.

It hasn’t all been plain sail-

Challenges and decisions

ing, and we have certainly inherited some challenging issues from the last administration and there are tough decisions and tricky situations to manage.

We will be having an inspection of our Children’s Services department and it is clear from our pre-inspection work that the department isn’t currently running as we would expect, and we immediately put in place an action plan to improve it.

We are certainly committed to delivering the very best service for our youxng people and we are determined to ensure that we improve the service and ensure the very best outcomes for Swindon’s children.

As residents will know, the financial position for local authorities is very concerning and we will need to make in-year cuts to deliver the budget set for this year.

Next year’s budget will

also be very tight, and we are expecting to have to make even more significant cuts to the budget as the national Conservative Government continues to slash away at council’s grants.

Despite this lack of support from the Government, we are positive about the future and believe that we can change the direction of the council to deliver better and more responsive services in line with the priorities of the people of Swindon, but it may take us longer to achieve things due to lack of money to invest in the town.

We are committed to placing our three missions - to reduce inequality, to build a better Swindon and to reach our Net-Zero targets - right at the heart of the council and we will be bringing forward constitutional changes at the July council meeting to deliver three new policy committees to really drive

forward on this agenda. I’m really excited that it will make it easier for the public and all councillors to feed into the council’s decision-making process and help us set the strategy for the town.

I hope that all of the town’s political parties will buy into the changes and help us deliver a Swindon that works for all and that we can all be proud of.

New Conservative Group leader Gary Sumner will promote town

I was delighted to see spades in the ground on the £6.3m Moredon Sports Hub which will include a full-size floodlit 3G pitch suitable for training and senior and junior matches.

A 1km regional standard cycling closed road circuit with a number of internal loops and cross-over points – this arrangement allows for three separate groups to use the track at one time.

There are to be three football pitches and two cricket pitches and a new pavilion with changing areas, café and reception area. The Conservative administration fought hard for the funding to deliver this fantastic new facility, which will be completed next spring.

Also due to complete in July is the Southern Connector Road. A £40m fully grant funded 1.5 mile road which will serve around half of the 8,000 new homes in the New Eastern Villages’ and which will mean that local roads are not blocked with additional traffic.

It will also be used as the main construction access for the southern part of the development. It is a wide, treelined road and there are cycle ways and footways as well as habitat enhancements.

We secured £5m of funding towards the Health Hydro which (with £1.5m from the council) will deliver enhancements to the leisure facilities housed within the much loved building, repairs and maintenance to the structure and additional works to highlight the building’s

historical features.

This will enhance a unique leisure and heritage attraction to draw people into Swindon’s town centre and aid in transforming the next steps in urban regeneration.

Alongside this, work is also starting this summer on upgrades to the Bristol Street and Sheppard Street underpasses into the town centre – again funded by £3m the Conservative administration secured from the Towns Fund.

It is great to now see the new face of the Carriage Works buildings facing London Street – for the first time we can now see into the building from street level and inside we have a range of businesses, arts and educational organisations including the Royal Agricultural University.

People have often asked what we could do with the Town Centre, and to be honest we can only affect the parts in public ownership, whilst creating an environment where businesses can thrive in a town with a reduced retail footprint and with more people calling the town centre their home.

I will always be positivealways promoting Swindon.

Words by Jamie Hill

The 2023 Shuffle Announces Its Full LineUp

The Swindon Shuffle music festival is a main-stay of the Swindon music scene calendar. This year’s takes place between Thursday 14 September and Sunday 17 September.

The Swindon Shuffle has announced its full line-up for this years event, and it is packed full of the best talent the local music scene has to offer.

For those of you who like the rockier side of music there is plenty to keep you happy, from the alt-rock of All Ears Avow and Modern Evils to the sludgy doom of Phantom Droid. The likes of Stay Lunar, Moon, Viduals and Chasing Dolls keep the indie-kids dancing and there are first shuffle experiences for up and coming young bands Trippy Kicks, I See Orange and Mirrored Faces.

If something rootsier is more your thing you are also well catered for with the widescreen americana of Matt Owens & The Delusional

Vanity Project and Concrete Prairie headlining stages, along with folkier offerings from the likes of Fly Yeti Fly, Canute’s Plastic Army and Splat The Rat. Subject A bring a touch of Ska and Reggae to proceedings and there is creative and impossible to pigeonhole music from Will Lawton & The Alchemists, Richard Wileman & Amy Fry and new band The Wheel 2!, who feature many of the faces behind the amazing and much missed Diagonal People. THUD and Bone Chapel bring some blues to proceedings and Swindon Folk club again curate a stage.

With over 60 acts on the main bill there is something for everyone.

Alongside the main stages is a full fringe programme that

features local soul and R&B artists, electronica acts and vinyl DJ’s and much more.

All Ears Avow

Chasing Dolls

There’s nothing more depressing in an English village than a pub closed for months like The Village Inn in Liddington.

The edifice is sad, looms larger as months go by, competes with the grey church for emptiness.

Locals recycle stories as if it’ll never open again. It’s the last vestige of community after the shop and post office go.

A new hope at a beloved pub prompts poetic memories

Maurice Spillane: Of Poetry Swindon

I’ve been to every pub in North Wiltshire as my running group starts and ends in a pub.

We’re drinkers with a running problem.

I like good conversation, whispers of scandal, who’s sleeping with whom, fodder for poems.

I care less for TV, loud music and horror of horrors, a bishop’s collar on a pint of Guinness.

The previous landlords cut off heating last winter. I live by the adage “a bird never flew on one wing” and thus enjoy a second pint. There were few second pints last year.

And into this misery came our new landlord, Adam Clay, who knows a thing or two.

People are smiling again in the village, especially the regulars in the pub corner: Dave, Chris and Nobby. The heart is back in the village.

To Adam, I dedicate three verses of “A Working Man’s Friend” written by Brian O’Nolan, whom I knew in my youth:

When things go wrong and will not come right,

Hop on down to Old Town for some ‘Nosh’ LINK FOOD & DRINK

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

I’ve got to admit the title ‘Nosh at the Hop’ doesn’t sound the most appetising destination for fine dining.

For some reason it fills my head with school dinners with slop shoved on a plate.

Don’t get me wrong. I love The Hop. It’s one of my favourite pubs in Old Town. It always has a great atmosphere and many a pint has been supped there. It’s just the word ‘nosh’ that doesn’t sit well.

But, I’m pleased to say, the food does sit very well indeed. The actual menu is perfect in its simplicity.

You’ve got the choice of

sandwiches, mac & cheese, bratwurst, burgers, and loaded fries. Each has its own sub-options to the brim with a great variety of fillings.

There’s even a ‘Waffles’ section for those who have a longing for something sweet.

On this occasion I opted for the lamb burger. It was advertised as the ‘Lambassador’ (showing that the people behind Nosh can come up with a good name given half the chance) and it consisted of minced lamb burger, chimichurri sauce, provoleta cheese, pickles, and grilled peppers.

It was delicious and succulent. You’ve obviously got a chef at ‘Nosh’ who

knows what they’re doing, with the ability to marry flavours to create a whole.

One of my colleagues, Barrie, went down the mac & cheese route. He went for the ‘Glastonbrie’ (the names keep getting better!). This consisted of Somerset Brie, butter panko breadcrumbs, crispy onions, and rosemary.

This was definitely a dish that went straight up the hit parade to number one. It took him a bit of time to calm down afterwards.

Finally, we had Karen. Our fussiest eater. She had the ‘Hail Caesar’ chicken sandwich. Although it’s a bit unfair for us to review this one as being a fussy eater she actually got rid

Though you do the best you can, When life looks black as the hour of night –A pint of plain is your only man.

When money’s tight and hard to get

And your horse has also ran, When all you have is a heap of debt –A pint of plain is your only man.

In time of trouble and lousy strife, You still have got a darling plan, You still can turn to a brighter life –

A pint of plain is your only man.

www.mauricespillane.co.uk

of the Caesar bit and really just had a plain chicken sandwich. You can’t take her anywhere. She loved it anyway and said it was a really decent and lovely bit of chicken.

To share we had cheesy fries. Which in Karen’s words were ‘delish’. High praise indeed.

All in all, we had an excellent meal at The Nosh at The Hop. They know what they’re doing when it comes to flavour and tastes. Definitely a lot better quality than their name suggests.

New exhibiton takes us back to the Swindon of 1957

By Barrie Hudson barrie@positive-media.co.uk

Images of Swindon gathered 66 years ago are on display at the Central Library until the end of July.

Taken by architectural historian Andor Gomme during a visit in March of that year as part of his research into townscapes, the images are a small selection from the Historic England Archive’s Andor Gomme Collection.

Gomme’s photographs show historic buildings in Swindon town centre, the Railway Village and Old Town. They also record Walcot East, Park South, and Old Walcot - the new housing estates which were being constructed as Swindon grew east of the town centre.

redevelopment, although the McIlroys tower is clearly

During the 1950s Gomme travelled widely across the country, recording the built environment.

The photographs he took at that time, now held by the Historic England Archive, depict the towns and villages of England during a period of rapid change.

This change was driven by a combination of factors; the after effects of the war, the growing importance of the car and a drive to modernise.

this, providing a record of traditional market towns and modern urban centres.

The Historic England Archive’s Andor Gomme Collection contains around 30,000 photographs of towns and villages in England and Wales, taken from the 1950s to the 1990s.

Details of opening times can be found at www. swindon.gov.uk/info/20026/ libraries/302/local_studies_ local_history_and_genealogy

Images include that of Regent Street on a busy shopping day (top), the Railway Works (middle) and a view along Leighton Avenue in Park South, then yet to be completed, toward the distant spire of Christ Church.

The Regent Street image shows Victorian shopfronts which would be changed beyond recognition or vanish altogether during town centre

recognisable.

Austin Harvey (Andor) Gomme (1930-2008) was Emeritus Professor of English Language and Architectural History at the University of Keele.

He was chair of the Society for Architectural Historians of Great Britain and editor of its journal, Architectural History.

The collection reflects

Latest Wichelstowe phase now on the market

next 20 years, along with new schools and community facilities.

The 250-hectare site on the southern edge of Swindon will include extensive open spaces, nature conservation areas, playing pitches and allotments.

Two, three and four bedroom homes are now available at Orchards View in Wichelstowe, with prices starting at £299,995. One and two bedroom apartments are set to be released later in the summer.

The Wichelstowe development is being built by Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes in partnership with Swindon Borough Council, and will deliver 3,000 new homes over the

Andrea Pilgrim, sales director for Barratt Homes Bristol, said: “This next phase of properties at Orchards View will continue to contribute significantly to the potential of Wichelstowe as a new and vibrant destination.”

The new homes are being sold from the Sales Office at Wichel Fields. Those interested should call 0333 3559273 or visit www. barratthomes.co.uk

Young Lionesses’ new club roaring for Swindon

By Barrie Hudson barrie@positive-media.co.uk

A Swindon girls’ football club described as the biggest in Wiltshire welcomes new members.

Nalgo Swindon Lionesses, based at the Nalgo Sports

girls squad, playing against boys in a male-dominated league, were difficult, but they persevered.

“The girls would come back disapoointed,” said Mr Pearce, and some would decide it wasn’t for them and go off and do

& Leisure Club in Cricklade Road, caters for team age ranges from under-eights to under-13s.

It already has about 80 members and fields some eight teams but aims to field 10 or more.

The club has its origins in teams founded by chairman and head coach Gary Pearce some six years ago, following daughter Isla’s experiences in a footballing world which at that time was even more male dominated than it is now.

“My daughter wanted to play football,” said Mr Pearce, “but not with the boys because they would never pass to her.”

The club was part of Stratton Juniors, but about a month ago became Nalgo Swindon Lionesses.

The early days of the all-

something else.

“But as time went on, they were loving it, and when we did manage to go to a girls only league they were so strong.”

Success for the new club was not long in coming, with the under-12s scoring a league championship victory.

The club plays in the county’s women’s and girls’ league.

Nalgo Swindon Lionesses are looking for more girls to join its teams, and there are also various sponsorship opportunities for companies interested in supporting girls’ football.

Further information about the club can be found by searching for Nalgo Swindon Lionesses on Facebook.

Alfie Howlett: Swindon Town FC writer

I’m gaining a taste of what it must be like to support a normal football club in the summer - boring.

The only current action at The County Ground is the tumbleweed rolling across the facility. But that’s perfectly fine because unlike the previous Wild Wests of summers, Swindon will be in a good position to begin preseason.

Usually in years gone by I pen this column in the midst of a summer crisis for STFC. It can range from having a handful of contracted players, ownership problems, or being managerless.

This summer, Swindon are enjoying swimming in calmer waters. Michael Flynn, after taking over as

All Quiet on the Western Front LINK FOOTBALL

soon as Swindon finished their final game, has had an opportunity to get his feet under the table. This should allow for plenty of meticulous planning.

Another bonus is the fact that Town will be going into pre season with a settled squad. It has almost become tradition for Swindon to line up for their first game of pre-season with 10 trialists and Ellis Iandolo.

This time round Swindon will be able to begin with a full squad. Although admittedly the squad in question requires a lot of surgery in order to win promotion, it is a boost that for once Swindon won’t be starting from scratch in that department.

The big news to date

More free Learn to Ride sessions

Over the last few months Swindon Cycle Campaign has helped over 100 adults and children learn to cycle and develop confidence on two (or more) wheels.

We are running our final free event for children and adults on Monday 14 August. So far, the feedback has been extremely positive:

“Both my girls (age 7 and 4) learnt to cycle without stabilisers within about 2mins, the guy with them today was fantastic! Thank you soo much for hosting this event!”

“Brilliant initiative. My 4yo was a confident balance bike rider but had not ridden a pedal bike confidently. Within 10 minutes of arriving he was riding completely

has been the re-signing of Charlie Austin. Michael Flynn’s probable skipper has renewed his contract for a further year.

This is undoubtedly terrific news for Town because it means that they’ll be able to build around a clinical seasoned professional.

I believe that should Flynn adopt his 3-5-2 system that worked so well at Newport, Austin could be formidable alongside the correct strike partner.

This might end up being either Rushian HepburnMurphy or Jacob Wakeling who both enjoy playing with Austin. Although I feel as if both players will provide a strong option, I’d like to see one more striker brought

in. Preferably a number 9 with a bit of height which will offer Town a point of difference in their armoury. One player who Town will not to be able to call upon is Jonny Williams.

The former Welsh international has opted not to renew his contract, bringing an end to a memorable two years.

At the time of writing it’s unclear as to where the midfielder’s future lies. However, one thing that’s for sure is whoever attracts Williams has found a commendable asset. Williams has been a thorough role model for this Swindon team, remaining humble and fully committed to Swindon throughout his stay.

independently. Excellent teachers and just having a safe, smooth area for them in the company of others achieving the same thing gave him the boost he needed, thank you!”

Owing to the huge and continued demand for children’s Learn to Cycle sessions, we have also managed to secure some extra funding to organise further free training sessions during the summer holidays. These sessions will be run by expert local cycle coaches Paul Ashman and Jen Purcell, who will provide all the support your child needs to get them going on two wheels. They are 1.5 hours and extra support can be arranged afterwards if

needed.

Learn to Cycle sessions are targeted at children of preschool and primary school age who are unable to cycle independently, without stabilisers. Cycle confidence sessions are also available for children who can cycle independently; these focus on skills such as stopping, starting and manoeuvring.

The dates of the free children’s sessions are below and booking is required to secure your place:

Children’s Learn to Ride: 14/08/23, 15/08/23 and 16/08/23

Children’s Cycle Confidence/Skills: 15/08/23 and 16/08/23

Eventbrite booking link: www.eventbrite.

co.uk/o/swindon-cyclecampaign-61575400583

For any children requiring Bikeability training (formerly Cycling Proficiency), Life Cycle UK will be running free courses during the summer holidays. You can join the waiting list for training or check back in early July for dates: Swindon Holiday Courses | Life Cycle UK

In addition to these sessions, a limited number of private one-to-one sessions and group sessions are available. For further enquiries please contact swindoncyclecampaign@ outlook.com or phone 0750 8038670. This is a voluntary position so the response may not be immediate.

Monthly column from Becky Cox of Swindon Cycle Campaign

AGONY GIRL

From 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.

Dear Agony Girl, Summer is here! What summer games would you recommend? And how do you play them?

Tyler, Haydon Wick

Kiss, Marry, Kill. You ask a person if they would rather kiss someone, marry someone or kill someone. Twister is also good. With Twister it says on the instructions but you have to put your elbow by your feet. Tag is also good. Someone is ‘it’ and they try and catch you. I’m good at tag.

Dear Agony Girl,

It has come to my attention that the fortnightly bin collections that were introduced around Swindon a few years back, do make the whole town smell especially in the warmer months. What do you suppose we should do about it? How do we make it not smell? Should we all protest outside of the Civic Offices?

Daniel, Middleleaze

Just say to the Council to get all of the smelly bins and then put them in a country where it’s cold. Then it’s their problem but it won’t smell as much. You shouldn’t protest to the council because if you upset them they might decide to not collect your bins at all seeing as it’s a favour in the first place.

Dear Agony Girl,

At times of stress I find myself picking at little patches of dry skin on one of my fingers and one of my thumbs. Although I try not to do it, especially when my partner notices and nudges me, the affected parts end up looking as though I’ve caught my hand in a mincer. Sometimes when I go to shake hands with somebody, they seem to be afraid of catching something nasty.

Short of wearing mittens, what can I do?

Yours worriedly, Bloke with shredded digits

You just need to stop. I do that on my thumb but then I keep stopping. If you stop your thumbs won’t look like they’ve been in a zombie apocalypse. When stressed get a piece of paper instead and scribble as hard as you can.

Dear Agony Girl

I’m going on holiday soon but it’s down the coast in Weymouth and I’m dreading the non-stop traffic jams that I’m bound to face all the way down. How do you keep yourself from getting bored to death on long car journeys?

Karen, Ridgeway Farm

Pack an entertainment bag with paper and pencils. Download movies and pack fidget toys and books.