South East Swindon Link October 2022

No 72 October 2022 GPS-tracked, door to door delivery to over 42,000 homes across Swindon with Est. overall readership of 105,000

Swindon

LINK Your Community Magazine

South & East Edition

swindonlink.com

Swindon remembers Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II p4

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An iconic figure who will be sadly missed across the Swindon borough

By Jamie Hill Jamie@positive-media.co.uk The sad passing of Queen Elizabeth II has hit the town of Swindon hard.

As I'm writing this we are a few days into the 17 days of mourning that have been announced by Buckingham Palace and a lot of people are still coming to terms with her death.

Whatever your views on the monarchy it is definitely an end of an era as she had been front and centre of British life for most people's lives.

As Great Britain's longest serving monarch, reigning over 70 years, she was the embodiment of what it means to be British, carrying her kind and caring demeanor wherever she went across the globe.

During her reign she visited Swindon five times and every time the crowds gathered to catch a glimpse of Her Majesty as she went around the town shaking hands and talking to its residents.

At the age of 96, The Queen fulfilled her duties to her country to the very end, even greeting Britain's newest Prime Minister at Balmoral only two days before her death.

The impact of her death

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

is being felt across the world and millions of people will have been deeply affected.

For most of us, as a country and as a town, we have not had to deal with such an event before as she had been such a big part of all of our lives.

There's no set way to how people mourn and people will be coming to terms with her passing in lots of different ways.

We can only feel deep sadness for what her family is going through and pay our respects how we can.

The Borough of Swindon will miss her dearly but also remember what she meant to

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us and how she always acted with calm dignity in every situation, something that we can all learn from.

We will miss you Ma'am.

You were a rock in sometimes very uncertain waters for this

country.

You have now left us in the capable hands of King Charles III who will be doing all he can to live up to your memory.

Rest in peace.

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Got a community story or feature? Contact newsdesk at publisher@swindonlink.com or 01793 644540 swindonlink.com n October 2022

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Tears and tributes for Her Majesty the Queen

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

Swindon people were among the many millions worldwide who were plunged into grief when the death of Her Majesty the Queen was announced.

Her Majesty, who was 96 and had served dutifully as Sovereign for seven decades, passed peacefully at her beloved Balmoral during the afternoon of 8 September.

At Swindon's Civic Offices, the flags were lowered to halfmast as a mark of respect, and a book of condolence was opened on the council’s website.

Over the following days, the authority issued details of other condolence books and tribute locations.

Mayor of Swindon Cllr Abdul Amin said: “It is with great sadness that we hear of the news of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the longest reigning monarch in British history.

“The Queen accomplished many things during her reign and never faltered in her commitment to the people of this country and the Commonwealth. She saw many changes throughout her lifetime for which she will always be remembered.

“On behalf of the residents of Swindon I convey our deepest sympathy to the Royal Family at this very sad time.”

Cllr David Renard, the Leader of Swindon Borough Council, said: “It is incredibly sad to hear of the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Her Majesty served our country with great dignity and the longevity of her reign speaks for itself. The love and respect felt by the people of this country are an honour to her lifetime of commitment to us all.

“On behalf of everyone in Swindon, I would like to pass on our condolences to the Royal Family at this difficult time."

Wiltshire Chief Constable Kier Pritchard said: “Everyone 4

Her Majesty, pictured here on a walkabout during her 1997 visit to Swindon, always made time to greet her subjects

at Wiltshire Police is deeply saddened to hear of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on 8 September 2022.

“All of my officers, staff and volunteers send our deepest condolences to The Royal Family at this time.

“We will remember her as a guiding light for us all throughout times of prosperity

Tomlinson said: "The nation's heart is broken.

"You have been a constant, dedicated and dutiful example for us all. We all feel a very personal loss and this is very sad news. RIP Ma’am."

Among Swindon people, memories were stirred of visits by Her Majesty which began before she assumed the role she would perform with

Opening a new nursery at Gorse Hill Infants School in 1997

and also through times of uncertainty and challenge."

South Swindon MP Sir Robert Buckland said: "Queen Elizabeth II dedicated her long and remarkable life to public service. She was loved and admired across my South Swindon constituency, Wales, the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth and the World.

"Our deepest condolences to His Majesty The King and to the Royal Family."

North Swindon MP Justin

steadfast dedication.

The late Queen was just 24 years old when she made her first official visit to the town.

At the time of that visit, on 15 November, 1950, she was Princess Elizabeth. Her 70year reign as Queen would not begin until February of 1952, on the death of her father, King George VI. 1950 was the year in which Swindon marked a half century of being officially recognised as a borough, and the future

monarch's visit was the highlight of the commemoration.

Her official duties included opening the Garden of Remembrance in Queen's Park and the new playing fields in Moredon.

Throughout the visit, cheering crowds greeted Her Royal Highness - as she then was - and the audience for the ceremony at Queen's Park included loved ones of those who had given their lives for their country.

By the time of her next visit, in July of 1954, Her Majesty was in the third year of her long reign. Arriving by train, she was driven to Wroughton Airfield to present the Royal Welch Fusiliers with new colours.

As with her visit in 1950, the streets along which her car passed were lined by cheering crowds. It would be 17 years before Her Majesty next visited Swindon. In 1971, she and her husband, Prince Philip, made an official visit to open the new Wyvern Theatre.

The next visit was in November of 1997, when her duties included appearances at Wharf Green, the Brunel Plaza and Gorse Hill Infants School, and in October of the following year she was in Swindon once more to open Motorola's new Groundwell plant.

(All images of Her Majesty by Calyx Pictures)

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The Eco Briefing

Take the first step to tackle climate change People across Swindon are getting behind Swindon Borough Council’s ‘Be the Change’ campaign by making lifestyle changes to live more sustainably and play their part to address the climate crisis.

Change can begin with the everyday choices we make – big or small. Individual efforts to tackle climate change are every bit as important as political action, and we can each take responsibility for doing what we can to rethink our day-to-day behaviour and the choices we make.

So where to start?

Try the MyBalance app MyBalance is a new app available for your phone, which will help you measure, reduce and offset your carbon footprint. You can download the app for free via your usual app store, answer a few questions and then you’ll receive tailored tips and

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information to help you lower your carbon footprint and start making a difference.

Be inspired by Sustainable(ish) Jen Gale is a mum from Wiltshire, who has built an online community called Sustainable(ish), helping normal people make small tweaks to their lives to live more sustainably in a realistic, maintainable way.

If you want to start making a difference, but aren’t sure where to start, then the Sustainable(ish) website, Facebook page, or either of her books, are probably a good place to start – covering everything from top 10 food waste tips to a beginner’s guide to compost. Just search Sustainanable(ish) on Facebook or Google.

Visit the Be the Change webpages These are just two resources

you can use to help you begin living more sustainably.

There are lots of changes you can make to protect the environment, while saving yourself some money too – for example by reducing your

energy use or by leaving the car at home.

Visit the Be the Change webpages for more tools, tips and resources to help you on your way: www.swindon.gov. uk/bethechange

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Fleming Way closed to all traffic for major regeneration project

A key town centre road has closed to pave the way for major redevelopment.

Over the next three years, Swindon Borough Council will lead a £100m programme of investment in projects to upgrade transport links, the public realm and heritage assets as well as bringing to life the 20-acre regeneration site next to Zurich’s new offices.

The project will include a new bus interchange and improved cycling routes.

Highworth Warneford GCSE excellence

Staff at Highworth Warneford School have praised their GCSE students following an impressive results showing.

Successful pupils included Bo Yeates (nine Grade 9s, a Grade 8 and an 'A' at AS Mathematics), Heather Patton (seven Grade 9s, two Grade 8s and a Distinction Star) and Thomas Whittaker (six Grade 9s, three Grade 8s and a Distinction Star).

Headteacher Andy Steele praised students for their work amid the challenges presented by the covid pandemic and lockdowns.

Launch of new GWH specialist centre

Swindon's Great Western Hospital has launched its first care co-ordination centre.

The new centre aims to physically integrate colleagues from across the GWH NHS Foundation Trust's whole health and care system, meaning it will help to better coordinate its patients’ care from the moment they dial 111 or 999, or as they physically enter the hospital.

Personnel at the centre include clinical staff, therapists, social care workers, mental health care professionals and representatives of the voluntary services and transport staff.

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Look out for National Adoption Week 2022

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

This year’s National Adoption Week will run from 17 to 23 October.

During the week you will hear stories from those affected by adoption, and discover more about what it means to adopt – and to be adopted - today.

In the meantime, why not check out your local regional adoption agency? Since 2017, adoption services in Swindon have been provided by Adopt Thames Valley (ATV), a shared service across seven local authorities.

Caroline, a team manager with ATV, is eager to make it clear that adoption is a viable option for a wide variety of people.

She said: “Children come in all sorts of shapes and sizes and we are keen to reach out to prospective adopters who are able to provide a safe, stable and loving environment

for a child.

“We invite people from all walks of life to adopt including single adopters, members of the LGBTQ+ community and people from all cultures and backgrounds.”

As part of the six-month assessment process prospective adopters attend a three-day adoption preparation course and work closely with an experienced social worker who will help them to agree the type of child who would suit

them and identify a potential match.

Once matched with a child, the support doesn’t end there. ATV has a dedicated Permanence Support team who are there to provide advice should it be needed.

The service includes a helpline, access to therapeutic support, training and social events.

To find out more, call 0800 731 0171 or visit the Adopt Thames Valley website adoptthamesvalley.co.uk

A message from Swindon Accident Solicitors Unfortunately, some accidents can cause extremely serious injuries and have a lasting impact on both the injured person and their family.

This may be a head/ brain injury, a spinal cord injury, amputation or other catastrophic injury.

Every case is different and we always provide individual attention to our clients and the challenges that their claims bring.

Serious injuries can affect your life in relatively modest ways, but they can also be debilitating and affect your education, ability to work or motor functions.

The injury may also present itself more subtly, affecting things like memory and even personality.

You may find that life at home has suffered for the worst and you are struggling with day to day activities - things which you took for granted before your accident.

All of these problems can be challenging to overcome and you need to make sure that you are helped by experienced legal experts who understand what you are going through.

When choosing who should help with your claim it is important that you obtain advice from experienced solicitors.

Your solicitors should understand the availability of locally sourced experts who will be able to support you in the months and years ahead.

You may need specialist help with rehabilitation, specialised housing or home adaptations, benefits, transportation or nursing care.

Whatever your needs, we are here to help and get you back on the road to recovery.

We have a wealth of experience of helping people in Swindon successfully claim for serious injury.

Why choose Swindon Accident Solicitors?

- Proven results with over a 95% success rate.

- Friendly Advice. You deserve expert professional advice from approachable solicitors who understand how stressful compensation cases can be.

- Trusted local name. The experienced solicitors in our team in Swindon have over 25 years' experience fighting for clients in Swindon.

- Satisfied Clients. Reassuringly our clients recommend us personally to their friends and family. Most of our work comes through personal recommendations.

Looking after your claim, looking after you.

Swindon Accident Solicitors have the skills and legal expertise to assess your claim and take you through the claims process.

The first interview is always free so don’t delay, call Robert or Cristina today on 01793 425595 or email robert@ swindon-accident-services.co.uk

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Prospect Hospice charity cafe reopens for Swindon community After closing due to the pandemic, Prospect Hospice is now ready to open the 'Heart of Hospice' cafe to members of the Swindon public.

The café reopened to the public on Wednesday 14 September, and is serving a variety of hot and cold meals and drinks. The cafe is open from Monday to Saturday between 11.30am and 2pm.

When lockdown was enforced in March 2020, the hospice closed its doors to the public to ensure it could protect their staff and patients while continuing to deliver end of life care both in the hospice and in people’s homes.

Catering manager Carl Golding said: “We know the Heart of the Hospice café was a big hit with the community looking for a good home cooked meal, giving them the opportunity to support a local charity at the same time.

“I’m delighted that we are ready to reopen and we have a refreshed regularly updated menu so there’s always something different to try.

“The hospice is all about its people and there’s been a little something missing since our community hasn’t been able to come in and enjoy lunch with us so I’m really excited about welcoming them all back.”

The Heart of the Hospice is based in Prospect Hospice on Moormead Road in Wroughton.

All proceeds from the cafe go straight back into the charity to help care for local people with a terminal illness.

People who have a few hours to spare each week and would like to join the friendly café team serving customers can get in touch with the hospice via volunteering@prospecthospice.net or by calling 01793 816193.

Swindie Makers Market confirmed to return this November

By Jessica Durston | jessica@positive-media.co.uk The Swindie Makers Market will return to the Christ Church Community Centre in November.

It will give local businesses and creatives the chance to display and sell their wares.

The autumn market will run from 1pm to 5pm on Saturday, 5 November.

Over 30 local small businesses will be selling a variety of different products at stalls, for members of the public to browse.

The market will have everything from gifts, food, art, homewares, sustainable clothing, unique jewellery to kids' accessories and candles.

A cafe will also be available, and entry to the event will be free.

Additionally, there will be live music for people to enjoy while they shop.

More information can be found at www. swindiemakersmarket.co.uk.

People can also follow the market's page on social media: @swindiemakersmarket

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Lydiard Park protection orders against nuisance dogs set to continue An order to encourage responsible dog ownership at Lydiard Park has been renewed following a public consultation.

The council introduced a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) at the park in 2016.

A total of 356 people took part in a six-week consultation which asked them if they supported both the ban on dog fouling and the exclusion of dogs from enclosed children’s play areas.

96% of those who took part in the consultation supported the dog fouling element of the PSPO, while 95% were in favour of prohibiting dogs from enclosed play areas.

Swindon Concert Band to host charity concert The Swindon Concert Band will be performing a show to raise funds for the Swindon Music Trust.

The show, entitled 'Autumn Gold', will take place on Saturday, 22 October, at Christ Church in Old Town.

The concert will begin at 7.30pm. Tickets will be priced at £10, and will be available on the door, or via tickets@ swindonconcertband.co.uk, or 01793 813 095.

Accompanied children under 16 will go free.

Nepalese Association of Wiltshire hold annual Nepali Cultural Day

By Jessica Durston jessica@positive-media.co.uk The Nepalese Association of Wiltshire hosted a day of cultural celebration at Faringdon Park.

The event ran from 11am to 7pm, with a variety of different stalls and cultural displays for locals to enjoy.

The guests of honour attending the celebrations included South Swindon MP Sir Robert Buckland, the Mayor and Mayoress of Swindon, and Hilary Pearce of the Gurkha Welfare Trust.

All the guests of honour joined Mr Gyan Prasad Gurung, President of the Nepalese Association of Wiltshire, and the traditional Nepalese band, in procession through the official archway and along the red carpet.

Sir Robert Buckland and Mayor of Swindon Cllr Abdul Amin were invited to light the ceremonial candles up on the

stage area to officially open the day's programme of events.

The culture day gave members of the public the opportunity to enjoy traditional music from the Baglung Samaj Naumati Baja band, and see a fashion show with examples of traditional Nepalese dress.

Different traditional Nepalese garments were worn and people could learn more about how they are put on, and what occasion they would be worn at. There were also dance displays.

Amongst the local organisation stands were staff from Livewell

Swindon, the Swindon Carers Centre and Swindon Police.

Later in the day, a cheque of £1,000 was presented to the Gurkha Welfare Trust by volunteer John Patel. Guest of honour and Partnerships Manager of the Gurkha Welfare Trust Hilary Pearce was there to accept the cheque. Additionally, Drs Rosa and Ian Matheson from Friends of Angel's Orphanage were in attendance at their own stall.

A picture gallery can be found at swindonlink. com/news/nepali-culturalday-2022.

Swindon woman to support suicide prevention charity with 20mile walk fundraiser

Tracey Boxall of Grange Park will be bringing suicide prevention charity CALM's Lost Hours Walk campaign to Swindon.

Tracey will be taking part in a sponsored walk around Swindon with 25 other people in aid of the charity this October.

CALM stands for Campaign Against Living Miserably. The charity aims to help those Taylor Wimpey to begin affected by suicide, or suicidal work on new Swindon thoughts, and offers help to those struggling with their housing development mental health.

Taylor Wimpey will soon begin The charity's latest statistics work on a development of show that 125 people die by 127 homes in Swindon after suicide every week. CALM exchanging on an area of receives over 147,000 calls to land at Lady Lane, Swindon. its support helpline a year.

Taylor Wimpey say Robin Tracey's son Alex 'Box' Boxall Gardens will comprise a took his own life almost three mix of two, three and fouryears ago. The family received bedroom homes, suitable a call on 14 November 2019 to for a wide range of buyers. say that Alex had passed away.

Planning permission was He was 19 years of age. granted in June and following Tracey describes Alex as a the exchange of contracts in young man who was full of life, August, work is due to start on who had an infectious smile and site soon. who was kind and supportive of

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Image credit: Sneha Gurung

his friends and family.

CALM runs an annual fundraising event called The Lost Hours Walk.

The sponsored Tracey (left) with her family and Alex's photo at walks take place CALM's The Last Photo Exhibition in June, 2022. on 29 October, "I find these walks really to coincide with the clocks uplifting, and I like that it is changing, and the UK a positive thing. I do crash experiencing a 'lost hour.' afterwards because it is Last October, Tracey tough, and it is very close to organised her own Lost Hours Alex’s anniversary and it takes Walk to take place in Swindon. everything out of me, but I She and nine other people wouldn’t change a thing.” walked 10 miles around the She will be joined by friends town and raised just under and supporters that will be £3,000 for the charity. travelling from Suffolk, London, This year, Tracey will be Burton-on-Trent and other UK conducting another walk around locations, as well as Swindon. the town. She will walk with a She has set up another group of 25 people, and they JustGiving page where people aim to cover 20 miles. can donate - www.justgiving.

Tracey said: "I think it could com/fundraising/tracey-boxall take around eight and a half People can read the full story hours. We will be wearing at swindonlink.com/charity/ t-shirts, flashy lights and bright tracey-boxall-last-hourssocks – anything bold. CALM walk-2022. colours are yellow and orange.

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The South Swindon Parish Council column

By Cllr Chris Watts Chair of South Swindon Parish Council

Enchanted Gardens Light Trail 2022 By the time this edition of the Link Magazine hits your letterbox, tickets will be on sale for this year’s Enchanted Garden Light Trail in the Town Gardens.

We are really excited about running this event again after last year’s very successful Light Trail, which raised £30,000 towards the new Urgent Care Centre at the Great Western Hospital, through the Brighter Futures charity.

The event will be running again from 2 to 31 December and Parish Councillors have successfully pushed for even better light installations to make sure we are delivering value for money to people.

I am delighted that South

Swindon Parish Council is once again leading in Swindon with providing such a wonderful event for our residents, which utilises the large trees in the Town Gardens and brings many people from around Swindon and beyond to Old Town, which stands to benefit nearby local business.

Make sure you book your tickets through the Skiddle ticket platform. Search Enchanted Gardens Light Trail to bring up this event. Ticket charges for this year is £11 for an adult and £6 for children.

We are delighted that yet again the ticket charges for this event delivers fantastic value for money compared to similar events, at a time when we are going through a cost-of-living crisis.

Buckhurst Family Fun Day The Light Trail event in the Town Gardens will follow another

fantastic event that recently took place at Buckhurst Field on the 27 August. It was fantastic to see so many families come out and enjoy Buckhurst Family Fun Day, which was sponsored

by Nationwide Building Society and ran in association with Nepalese Association of Wiltshire.

Everybody had a great time and we were lucky to

have such good weather to accompany our fantastic free entertainment. Thank you to all the stallholders and partners who helped make this event happen.

The Buckhurst event was organised to offer summer activities at a free or discounted rate for young people living inside the Parish.

Through the keyhole to extra self-sufficiency

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

A Swindon gardener's experiment with a spacesaving growing technique has yielded an excellent crop.

John Pryce, a retired professor of mathematics and computing, first heard about so-called Keyhole Gardens through Practical Action, a charity he supports and which works to promote smallholder farming in much of the developing world.

One of the techniques involved is Keyhole Farming, in which each growing space is a small circular plot with a 'slice' cut out, allowing access to a central area where composting is placed so it can nourish the soil.

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Prof John Pryce in the midst of his keyhole garden

dozen bean plants.

He said: "I would recommend it to anybody who doesn't mind getting their hands dirty, but you do not need to be a good woodworker.

"The idea originated in Africa. It is designed for places where water supply is limited, and whole communities wonder how to put food on the table.

"I started it at the beginning of February. It's all built from found wooden pallets - my neighbour helped me gather

together nine."

Two metres is the usual diameter for a keyhole garden, and the composting section at the centre can be fed with everything from kitchen scraps to pruned vegetation from elsewhere in the gardener's plot.

When Prof Pryce began his Keyhole Garden, Russia had yet to invade Ukraine and the cost-of-living crisis had yet to get into full swing.

The professor believes being

able to grow produce, even in limited spaces, might help to reduce at least some worrying household expenses as grocery prices rise - and minimise water use while maximising garden productivity.

Keyhole Gardens can be constructed from a broad range of materials, and further information can be found at practicalaction.org/newsmedia/2021/08/19/howto-create-your-own-keyholegarden/

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Swindon families needed to help test new Christmas elf app

By Jessica Durston jessica@positive-media.co.uk Tizzy the elf, a smartphone app created by Swindonians Ben and his dad Keith, launched last Christmas with the support of local parents and kids.

Now the Tizzy team are calling for more help in testing the updated app before they make the final changes before Christmas.

Tizzy the elf is a brand-new elf creation, born in Swindon.

Last year, parents and kids helped test the smartphone app called Tizzy AR, as it uses a smartphone camera to place Tizzy in a room - AR stands for augmented reality.

The app creators say there are videos on Instagram and YouTube of children playing with Tizzy, for members of the public to take a look at.

Kids can watch Tizzy arrive from the North Pole, make Tizzy dance and take an ‘Elfie

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Selfie’ to share with friends and family.

The Tizzy team say that there is also now a secret new feature which needs to be tested before it goes live.

Keith said: “Helping to test is really important as everyone has different phones, making it impossible to be sure it works for everyone.

"We want Tizzy to be the best experience for as many kids as possible, so we need your help!”

Swindon families can help by making the sure the app works on their phones, and by giving feedback regarding the features they like the best.

Everyone that helps the team will receive a £10 amazon voucher.

If you are a parent of a four to seven-year-old and have a smartphone, you can help by going to facebook.com/ tizzytheelf and signing up or by going straight to tizzytheelf. app/Swindon.

Keith (left) and Ben with Tizzy the elf

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Our Vision At Haydonleigh, our united vision was created by our pupils, parents and staff alike.

Our school is committed to working in partnership to ensure every child achieves their best.

Welcome to Haydonleigh!

We provide a secure and happy environment where the work is varied and challenging and every child and adult is valued.

We set the children and ourselves high standards to enable every child to develop his or her potential to the full and become confident learners.

School Profile: Haydonleigh Primary Get to know the schools in your area This issue: Haydonleigh Primary School Address: Haydon Court Drive, Swindon SN25 1JP Contact: 01793 700 443 Website: www.haydonleighschool.co.uk

Respect Responsibility Enthusiasm Unity Creativity ‘I am talented together, I am amazing!’ underpins our philosophy.

We believe in nurturing our individual skills and working together to enable everyone to meet their full potential.

We believe that learning should be active, so our staff and governors work hard to ensure each child is offered a varied and exciting curriculum, whatever their ability.

We pride ourselves on providing our children with a stimulating education. The school was visited by Ofsted on 19th January 2019 and was judged to be “good”.

All parents are very welcome at Haydonleigh, and we see home and school working together as very important for your child.

School Values

High expectations in learning and behaviour are maintained throughout our school.

Our Facilities

"Create the best future for your child"

We are a three-form entry school with a capacity of 630 children, made up of 90 pupils in each year group.

Our school has amazing facilities including a dance studio, theatre, pastoral room, award-winning kitchen and a purpose built Early Years Foundation Stage “nest.”

Our large grounds boast playfields, a wooded wildlife area, large outdoor gazebo classrooms, a number of trim trails, a kitchen garden, a London bus library and a role-play caravan.

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Major award for Swindon author

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

A Swindon Anglo-Romani author has received a prestigious award.

Karen Downs-Barton is among the winners of the Creative Future Writers' Award, which recognises the work of underrepresented writers.

Karen is also a workshop facilitator and PhD candidate at Kings College London, and is writing a magic realist poetry collection exploring identity and minority languages in the entertainment and sex industry communities.

After an early life travelling from place to place, including spending time in state childcare, she put down roots in Swindon.

Karen won the 2021 Cosmo Davenport-Hines poetry award, and her poetry has appeared in publications including Tears in the Fence, Rattle, Ink Sweat and Tears;

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and the North.

Her latest accolade is the Silver Award from the Creative Future Writers' Poetry category.

The mission of the Creative Future awards is to make publishing more diverse and representative.

More information can be found at www.creativefuture. org.uk/for-writers/creativefuture-writers-award/

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Link Business

Local optician backs national campaign to help children’s sight Haine & Smith are backing a national campaign this summer to raise awareness of the link between screen time and shortsightedness in children.

Myopia is said to be a growing, global, epidemic linked to the amount of time spent looking at tablets, phones and TV screens.

If left un-diagnosed, opticians say this can cause serious eye problems in later life.

Anna Lewin, Clinical Lead at Haine & Smith, advised: “Along with cutting back on screen time, we’re also encouraging parents and guardians to get their children’s eyes examined regularly.

"This will allow your optician to see the health of the eyes and whether they have deteriorated at all since the last exam. Our opticians can provide helpful tips on ways to keep your children’s eyes healthy which

is extremely important while they are still growing and developing.

“The World Health

this figure down.”

Anna has also given some signs to look out for which could indicate your child is

Organisation (WHO) predicts that up to half of all people will have myopia by 2050.

This is a startling figure which is why we have to educate people now to hopefully bring

short-sighted.

She added: “Children could be struggling to see the board at school, squint when they try to see something in the distance, hold their screen close

to their face or sit close to the TV and maybe even complain of headaches.

"Although sometimes there are no signs or symptoms, which is why regular eye tests are so important.”

The aim of the national campaign by Myopia Focus is for myopia to be recognised as an ocular disease by the NHS and for there to be free myopia management for all children in the UK. Haine & Smith has signed the petition and is giving its full support to get this agreed upon.

Children under the age of 16 are entitled to a free NHS eye test and, if needed, free glasses.

To make an appointment with Haine & Smith, individuals can either visit their local practice, call them to book a test, or fill out the contact form on the website at www.haineandsmith.co.uk

Zurich overhauls graduate hiring process to help candidates disadvantaged by lockdowns Zurich UK is changing its graduate hiring process to cater for 'generation covid' after lockdowns scuppered young peoples’ chances to gain work experience.

The insurer, with a base office in Swindon, says the lack of internships and work placements during the pandemic has left graduates with less real-world experience than previous generations as they enter the jobs market.

The business adds that around a quarter of these young people now feel that they have been unable to gain the right employability skills during their studies.

Zurich UK says it has adapted its hiring process to ensure that these applicants are not penalised for having fewer life events to draw on in the assessment process.

To achieve this, competency-based interviews have been scrapped in favour of strength-based assessments to ensure candidates from diverse backgrounds are not at a disadvantage. In addition, the insurer says it will help to identify candidates who may not match criteria for one role but may be more suitable for another area of the business.

Zurich will also ensure that every applicant who takes part in the assessment process, successful or not, receives detailed feedback to help them on their journey. The bespoke report will aim to detail strengths and areas for development to help aid future job applications.

To support neurodiverse applicants, Zurich has also removed group interviews from its recruitment process, which it says can unfairly disadvantage these candidates. It is estimated that one in seven people have conditions that are linked with

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neurodiversity.

With its new hiring process, Zurich also aims to create a level playing field for graduates from disadvantaged backgrounds who may not have had the same opportunities to gain the same work and life experience as their peers.

Zurich’s actuarial team are launching an industrial placement programme for 2023. Five graduates will complete a year in industry at Zurich in pricing and reserving. The conversion rate from the internship to the graduate scheme is high, at 82%.

Zurich are recruiting for 31 graduate roles and 21 internships across six areas: Business Management, Change and Technology Management, Actuarial, Finance, Data and Analytics and Sustainability. Roles are available across the UK including Swindon, London, Fareham, Glasgow and Birmingham. Starting salaries for the graduate programme have increased from last year to £29,400, increasing to £32,550 for actuarial and data and analytics streams.

Applications for the 2023 graduate scheme opened on 12 September and close on 30 October 2022.

28/09/2022 12:30

The Politics Page The moment so many hoped would never come A column by Swindon Borough Council Deputy Leader Gary Sumner By the time you read this column we will have lived through one of the most extraordinary events in our country’s history.

The death of our Monarch, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, was a moment many of us hoped would never come because she was such a constant in our lives for so long.

Her 70-year reign was quite incredible.

To witness the nation’s outpouring of grief and admiration over the last few days has been truly humbling and, as I write, preparations are underway for Her Majesty’s State Funeral before she is finally laid to rest.

Seeing the crowds gathering in Edinburgh and in London has

reminded me of the last time I saw Her Majesty.

It was with my family on 3 June 2012 as we watched the Diamond Jubilee procession on the Thames.

London was packed for the celebrations and our children were waving their flags at the Royal Barge as The Queen passed by.

It has been fascinating to watch and listen to all the many personal stories and memories from people right across the country and beyond.

To think that Her Majesty carried on her duties for another 10 years is difficult to comprehend and we are unlikely to see such unstinting service and dedication from our Monarch in our lifetimes.

Swindon sends its thoughts and prayers to her family and stands ready to serve the new King.

Although it is with great sorrow we mourn the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, we now have to look forward to the reign of our new Sovereign.

I was privileged to be able to attend the local Proclamation ceremony at the Civic Offices with the Mayor of Swindon, Councillor Abdul Amin, and Vice Lord-lieutenant of Wiltshire, William WyldboreSmith, as we formally announced the beginning of the new King’s reign.

To be part of such a unique tradition was a proud moment and the singing of the national anthem to honour the King Charles III and the ‘Three cheers for the King’ that followed was an uplifting snapshot of the future within what has been a sorrowful time for our country.

I would like to thank Swindon Brass and The Royal Wessex

Yeomanry for their support on an historic day for Swindon.

I must also thank everyone who took the time to write heartfelt messages in the many books of condolences that were placed in locations across the borough.

As I write, these will be collected after Her Majesty’s funeral and archived for future generations as a record of this important part of our history.

Each individual tribute and memory paints a picture of an amazing person we were lucky to call our Queen.

May she rest in peace.

Swindon Labour leader Jim Robbins reflects on the end of an era Swindon Labour Party were deeply saddened to hear the news of the Queen's death.

We pay tribute to her many years of outstanding public service and leadership of the country and Commonwealth.

She has been a constant in many people's lives and few Swindonians will remember the time before she was crowned.

We send our condolences to the family.

The political world has been overshadowed by the death of the Queen.

I was in a work meeting when the news first broke that the Queen was under medical supervision and came out of the meeting to several messages both from the council and the local media.

The plans for the death of the Queen, codenamed Operation London Bridge, swung into action over the rest of the day, with the council flag lowered after the official announcement of the Queen’s death, and books of condolence were opened across the borough.

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Plans for the local Proclamation of the new King were made, and the Labour Group of councillors were pleased to attend the ceremony.

The Mayor, Cllr Abdul Amin, did a fine job of making a speech to mark the occasion and provided a dignified reading of the official Proclamation.

We were also lucky to have the hugely experienced Cllr Kevin Small advising us all and ensuring that we all were in the right places and responding at the right times.

Council meetings have been stopped during the national mourning period and the Government is in recess, but other issues of national importance do remain.

The Government need to find time to enact the freeze in energy prices before they are due to have another recess for the Party Conference season at the end of the month, and locally in Swindon, the council needs to determine how it

will be ensuring that we help people through the cost-ofliving crisis and rising inflation.

People will be coming to terms with the change of Monarch, as well as a change of Prime Minister last week, and reflecting on what this means in a modern country.

The new King has a challenging job to do to fill the shoes of his mother, who managed to unite the country with her steadfast commitment to doing her duty over so many years.

Liz Truss will have thought about her first week as Prime Minister a number of times throughout the Conservative leadership contest, but she probably won’t have envisaged the week turning out that way that it did.

Events do have a way of changing the best laid plans, as Harold Macmillan famously observed, and it remains to be seen how the tumultuous events since she took office impact her time as Prime Minister.

I hope that Swindon can

observe all of the formalities and the ceremonial events of this time well and ensure that the Queen has a fitting send-off, and we pay tribute to her years of impeccable public service before ensuring that we get on with the big political issues of the day and ensure that we are supporting Swindon residents to get through the difficult winter ahead.

As we set to that task, our thoughts will obviously be with the King and his family as they adjust to the loss of Queen and the new roles they face.

We wish them well in their task and repeat what we have already shouted on Proclamation Day: "God Save the King."

28/09/2022 12:30

LINK

Gigs, quizzes and feasts for The Team Link Sahara Desert Trek in aid of Prospect Hospice Some of you might have read that Swindon Link has put a team together, including myself, to cross the Sahara Desert next year, all in aid of Prospect Hospice.

You might think we're idiots (especially me who is approaching 50 and is already sweating buckets at the thought) but at least we're idiots who are doing it for a good cause and you don't get much better causes than Prospect Hospice.

Well, as part of this, having already paid for the trip ourselves, we have to raise a huge amount of money for the charity by Christmas.

So with this in mind the team, including myself Kieran McCarthy, Amy O' Reilly and Laura Johnson have put together five different events this Autumn to help in our fundraising efforts.

These include a feast evening at The Pick Up Point in Devizes Road, a fundraising gig at Level 3 on Commercial Road and three separate quizzes at The Tuppenny in Old Town.

Monday 24 October at 7pm The Sahara Desert Fundraising Feast @ The Pick Up Point, Devizes Road A delicious three course meal with entertainment including Jim Blair and a raffle at The Pick Up Point in Devizes Road, Old Town. There will be a glass of prosecco or orange juice on arrival and vegetarian and vegan options are available.

Tickets are £37.50 including booking fee and are available from bit. ly/3PrmWFe Monday 31 October at 7.30pm @ The Tuppenny, Devizes Road The Amazingly Scary Tuppenny Halloween Quiz You scream, I scream, we all scream

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FEATURES TEAM LINK ARE CROSSING THE DESERT IN AID OF PROSPECT HOSPICE

TEAM LINK

Sahara Desert Trek

for a quiz team. A blood-curdling quiz night that will keep you guessing. £2 per person. Registration at 7.30pm for quiz start at 8pm.

FUNDRAISING FEAST IN AID OF

Saturday 26 November 8pm to 3am Team Link Fundraising Gig Night at Level 3, Commercial Road A night of amazing music with Buswell & Nyberg opening, followed

by Death is a Girl and Slagerij with DJ Dust on the decks until 3am.

Tickets cost £5adv £7dr available from level3swindon.com Monday 28 November at 7.30pm @ The Tuppenny, Devizes Road The Tuppenny Does Taskmaster Challenge Night A series of brainstormingly silly challenges to shock, laugh at and be a bit confused about. £2 per person.

Registration at 7.30pm for quiz start at 8pm.

A delicious three course meal with entertainment including Jim Blair and a raffle at The Pick Up Point, Devizes Road, Old Town, Swindon Glass of Prosecco or orange juice on arrival Vegetarian and vegan options available

MONDAY 24 OCTOBER @ 7PM TICKETS £37.50 INCLUDING BOOKING FEE

SCAN HERE TO BOOK

or online at bit.ly/3PrmWFe

TEAM LINK SAHARA TREK FUNDRAISER IN AID OF PROSPECT HOSPICE

Monday 19 December at 7.30pm @ The Tuppenny, Devizes Road The Tuppenny Big Fat Quiz of the Year Time to get out from under that rock you've been hiding beneath and answer all things 2022. £2 per person. Registration at 7.30pm for quiz start at 8pm.

The Sahara Trek takes place in the Moroccan Sahara where the Link team members will experience the vast and diverse landscapes including the Atlas Mountains.

The trek will span over 60 kilometres and takes place from 19-26 March 2023.

You can find out more about the trek at www.prospect-hospice.net/ saharatrek

THE AMAZINGLY SCARY

TUPPENNY

HALLO W E E N QUIZ YOU S CREA M, I SCRE AM SCREA , WE ALL M FOR A QUIZ T EAM!

INCLUDING PRIZE FOR BEST COSTUME

THE TUPPENNY DEVIZES ROAD SWINDON SN1 4BD

MONDAY 31 OCTOBER £2 PER PERSON REGISTER 7.30 8PM START

Or if you just want to donate visit www.justgiving.com/team/linksahara

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Words by Jessica Durston SE October Master pages.indd 22

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What's On: Moving theatre performances in Swindon in October Swindon Arts Centre hosts My Voice Was Heard But It Was Ignored The Red Ladder Theatre Company will be bringing a story tackling racial identity, by Nana-Kofi Kufuor, to the Swindon Arts Centre stage on Tuesday 11 October.

The show will begin at 7.30pm.

A spokesperson for the show described the plot: "15 year-old Reece is roughly accosted by the police outside M&S. His teacher Gillian watches as his face is pressed into the wet gravel with a policeman’s knee in his back, frozen out of fear for her own safety.

"The next day Reece locks them both in her classroom, refusing to relinquish the key. He wants her to pay – and to fully understand the pain her inaction has caused."

The recommended age for audience members is 14-plus. Content warnings include distressing themes, and strong and racially sensitive language.

Tickets can be purchased at swindontheatres.co.uk/Online/ tickets-my-voice-was-heard-but-it-was-ignored-swindon-2022

Paul Jones, original frontman of Manfred Swan MannLake at the

LINK

CULTURE

Wyvern Theatre

Words by Jessica Durston

In October, members of the public can be dazzled by the wellloved ballet, Swan Lake, at Swindon's Wyvern Theatre.

Classical Ballet & Opera House will be bringing the popular ballet to Swindon audiences on Thursday 13 October, at 7.30pm.

The show will feature a live orchestra with over 30 musicians present.

A spokesperson for the performance describes the plot: "Swan Lake is a tale of two young women, Odette and Odile, who resemble each other so strikingly that one can easily be mistaken for the other.

"Swan Lake captures, like no other ballet, the full range of human emotions – from hope to despair, from terror to tenderness, from melancholy to ecstasy."

Tickets can be purchased at swindontheatres.co.uk/Online/ tickets-swan-lake-ballet-swindon-2022 This is a rescheduled date from November 2021.

William Shakespeare's Richard the Second at Swindon Arts Centre On Tuesday 25 October, Tangle, in association with MAST Mayflower Studios, will present a Shakespeare classic at the Swindon Arts Centre.

This special production of Richard the Second will be performed at 7.30pm.

Tangle says it will be bringing the immortal Bard's work up-todate in distinctive Southern African Township style.

A spokesperson for the production said: "With an original score of Zimbabwean music and song, Tangle’s new multicultural production offers a fast, powerful and fresh take on this state of the nation play, while celebrating the excellence of globally talented artists whose multi-national voices are at the centre of the work.

"Richard The Second continues Tangle’s long-term commitment to championing African Caribbean artistic excellence, presenting classic plays in new and surprising ways to audiences of all kinds."

The recommended age for audience members is 12-plus.

Tickets can be purchased at swindontheatres.co.uk/Online/ tickets-richard-the-second-swindon-2022 swindonlink.com n October 2022

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Swindon CAMRA Beer Festival to take place in October

LINK FOOD & DRINK

In October, Swindon residents will have the opportunity to celebrate all things beer at the CAMRA Beer Festival 2022.

The 34th Swindon Beer Festival will take place across three days at the Steam Museum.

The dates and times are as follows: - Thursday 20 October - from 6pm - 11pm (admission £10) - Friday 21 October - from 11am - 4pm (admission £8) - Friday 21 October - from 6pm - 11pm (admission £15, which includes £5 worth of beer) - Saturday 22 October - from 11am - 7pm (admission £5) Those paying for admission will get a glass and programme.

CAMRA members will receive £3 worth of beer tokens on production of a current membership card.

Every beer festival session will be operating on a pay-at-thedoor basis, apart from the Friday night session.

Friday night tickets are on sale now from the following venues: - The Beehive, Swindon, SN1 3JS - The Glue Pot, Swindon, SN1 5BP - The Hop Inn, Swindon, SN1 4BJ - The Carter's Rest, Wroughton, SN4 9JU Food will be available to attendees at all the beer festival sessions, and organisers are reminding members of the public that no pets are allowed, aside from assistance dogs.

More information about the Swindon Beer Festival can be found on its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/SwindonBeerFestival

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Image from the Swindon Beer Festival 2018

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LINK

POETRY

When breakfast might be the only meal of the day The volunteers were led

by Charlotte who would signpost outreach charities if requested.

I can’t think of anything more worthy. The Pilgrim Centre is, in the words of Louis McNeice, like:

Maurice Spillane: Of Poetry Swindon

“France?” said Terry. “I’ve never been outside Swindon in my life. No, tell a lie. I went to Wootton Bassett once.”

He pondered, fiddled his fingers. “France? I get lost in West Swindon. Imagine getting lost in France.”

I was on duty serving guests, guests with stories. It’s difficult to paint a picture in words: people coming in and going out, calm and respectful, with the delicious whiff of an English breakfast as a back-

drop. James took orders on an iPad as if it was his day job. Wayne cooked to order.

Lizelle was on toast, then a final check before sending me to the table. Jon and Qamber provided tea or coffee on arrival. It could’ve been any streamlined restaurant in Swindon.

But it wasn’t. The difference could be summarised in one order: “I’ll have a full English but without the bacon as I’ve no teeth, and no egg as it makes me bilious. White

bread but I’ll have to leave the crust.”

For some, it may be the only meal they’d have that day.

I could hear the late Sister Theresa saying: “If you can’t feed a hundred, then start with one.”

The charity, Big Breakfast Plus, started with four breakfasts and has certainly surpassed its objective – nearly 50 received a nourishing meal that morning.

There was no judgement, no cajoling, just good catering.

Review: Swindon bar and restaurant Kenzo 72

By Jessica Durston | jessica@positive-media.co.uk

The staff from Swindon Link took a lunchtime stroll down to Kenzo 72, which can be found within Godwin Court in Old Town.

The restaurant is an Asian fusion establishment, with contemporary kitchen and bar. The menu carries everything from Chinese takeaway favourites and global tapas, to American steaks.

Customers can enjoy their Kenzo 72 meals and drinks in the restaurant itself, or can order takeaway or delivery dishes.

The Link group were provided with a cozy corner table, with booth seating. The ambient lighting and mood music helped to create a calming environment, and the sleek and stylish Asianinspired decor brings the menu's theme through into the dining area.

Kenzo 72 use transparent Asian-style screening to seperate the restaurant and create a more intimate dining experience, without making the space feel cramped, or blocking the light that filters in from the front windows.

The majority of the meals ordered by the Swindon Link team were part of the restaurant's lunchtime menu. This select menu means customers can choose any dish listed for £12.70, and also get a free soft drink included. There are also options for children on the lunch menu.

The Vegetarian Pad Thai was described as follows: "A decent selection of vegetarian options can be found at Kenzo 72 – always the sign of good menu planning. The Vegetarian Pad Thai was perhaps a little too sweet for me, but came with some nicely marinated tofu and plenty of crunchy veg to contrast with the rice noodles. And the chef didn’t scrimp on the fresh chilli on top either - which was welcome for capsaicin-addicts like myself!”

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"...the bare bones of a fanlight Over a hungry door" It will become even more immediate this coming winter.

“Big Breakfast Plus” is open Monday to Friday, 7:30 to 9.00, at the Pilgrim Centre on Regent Street. Sponsor, volunteer or donate at: https://bigbreakfastplus. org.uk www.mauricespillane.co.uk

LINK FOOD & DRINK

Kenzo 72's Vegetarian Pad Thai

Another dish selected from the lunch menu was the Southern Fried Chicken - which is served with sweet potato fries and Japanese curry sauce. The recipient of this meal said: "The more American-style fried chicken was cooked perfectly, and melded well with the distinct flavours of the Japanese curry. This is an example of a fusion dish done well."

The final meal chosen from the lunchtime menu was the Steak, Egg and Chips. The diner in question said: "The lunch menu is extremely good value for money, but with this saving, I found I had to sacrifice the quality of the steak. There was also no steak knife provided to cut it with. Additionally, the chips were a bit disappointing and on the dry side.

"I have had steaks at Kenzo 72 before, and I know they are better than this one."

Overall, the trip to the Old Town eatery was enjoyable. Staff were polite and attentive. More information about Kenzo 72 can be found on its website at www.kenzo72.com/swindon swindonlink.com n October 2022 25 28/09/2022 12:30

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LINK

Saving money on cycling Monthly column with Becky Cox of Swindon Cycle Campaign.

The rising cost of living has led to more people getting on their bikes as a cheap form of transport and leisure activity.

You really don’t need any special clothing or equipment to get started. For most of my bike trips I’m in normal clothes and riding a secondhand shopping bike. Just invest in a good quality lock (e.g. A ‘D lock’ with the ‘Sold Secure’ label).

Here’s some tips to help you save on the cost of cycling: 1. Buy Secondhand – Not only does buying secondhand save money but older bikes are often built better and don’t look so flashy and attractive to criminals! Getting a hybrid bike can provide you with a comfortable ride around town, a great alternative to short car trips, saving you money on fuel and parking costs. My daily workhorse is a 30 year Alfie Howlett: Swindon Town FC writer With the leaves turning brown and the days getting shorter, Autumn marks the end of our most joyous season.

But for Swindon, Autumn should be the start of a new beginning. After what felt like the longest transfer window on record Scott Lindsey finally has a full amory to select from.

Although the quality of the armory is still up for debate it's certainly fair to say that Lindsey has been backed heavily by the board.

Therefore surely it should only be a matter of time until Swindon start progressing up the table.

On deadline day, the prayers of every Swindon fan were answered.

A goal scoring number 9.

Despite the remarkable Erling Haaland at Man City a prolific number 9 is a dying breed in football, making the acquisition

old Raleigh Cameo, it’s only got three gears but with a basket and a pannier rack it’s so useful and very reliable.

Why not check out Recycles in Swindon, a great social enterprise where you can buy a refurbished pre-loved bike for a fraction of the cost of a new one?

2. Get Your Bike Fixed or Security Marked for Free.

Throughout the year there are various chances to get your bike checked over and fixed for free by a local mechanic.

We’re funding a mechanic to provide these services at the Repair Café and Free Shop held at Eastcott Community Centre. The next event is on Sunday 6 November from 2-5pm.

Many events also offer free bike security marking (or ‘stamping’) with BikeRegister.

Keep an eye on the Swindon

Cycle Campaign Facebook page and the events page of the Swindon Travel Choices Website to find the next one.

3. New Development Cycling Incentives – If you live in a newer development it is likely to have a Travel Plan and offer incentives to help residents get cycling (and often help with bus travel too).

For example, residents of Badbury Park are able to claim a £100 cycle voucher to spend on a bike, equipment, or servicing at Recycles or Mitchell Cycles.

At Canalside in Wichelstowe, residents can try out cycling on a folding bike, hybrid or electric bikes for free as part of a six-week bike loan scheme.

Locks and helmets are provided along with the options of pannier bags, a childseat or a trailer.

Could Jephcott be the missing piece of the puzzle? of one extremely hard to come by. But thanks to the dominos falling into place on deadline day, Swindon had their man in Luke Jephcott.

On loan from Plymouth Argyle, Jephcott boasts an impressive record. Last season in League 1 he scored on 10 occasions and in the season prior to that he scored 16 times.

In addition the last time the 22-year-old played in League 2, he scored a goal every other game. Not only is that signing a statement but it's exactly what Swindon craved.

There's no reason why Jephcott, paired next to the already impressive Jacob Wakeling, can't go on to score 20-plus goals this campaign.

And should the Welsh youth international achieve that, Swindon will be looking towards the right end of the table.

It's hoped that Jephcott

could be the catalyst to covert Swindon's much famed draws into wins.

So far Swindon hold the record for the most amount of draws in League 2 this season.

We can interpret this statistic both positively and negatively.

The positive is that even with Town not quite at full strength they've managed to pick up points keeping the gap to the leading pack a bridgeable task. This could come in handy when Town do begin to hit their straps.

However, the same results could also be portrayed as negatives come the end of the season. People will argue what could've been had Swindon turned those draws into wins. It should also be mentioned that two draws have already come against sides competing with ten men. This consequently suggests that Town have lacked the

CYCLING

There’s a list of some of the offers from various developers at: swindoncyclecampaign. org/developments or you can get in touch with the Travel Plan Officer at Swindon Borough Council swindontravelchoices@ swindon.gov.uk to find out more.

Image below taken from an event at Badbury Park offering free bike repairs and security marking

LINK

FOOTBALL ideas to break down a compact defensive unit. Something which the focal point of Jephcott should solve.

To conclude this column I'd like to take the opportunity to thank Harry McKirdy for his time at SN1. The maverick striker recently left Town to move north of the border for Hibernian.

Scoring a total of 26 times for Swindon, McKirdy embodied the spirit around the club last season. Swindon needed McKirdy as much as McKirdy needed Swindon. McKirdy came into last season as an outcast. However the new fan favourite quickly found a home.

Initially a winger with bags of trickery and potential, McKirdy flourished into a clinical talisman of a striker. His goal against the Champions of England will be forever remembered in Swindon's history. swindonlink.com n October 2022

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LINK

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AGONY

GIRL

From the pages of Swindon Link's sister publication The Ocelot comes Agony Girl in the form of nine 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, How can I stop my dad from 'daddancing' at parties?

A concerned daughter, Abbeymeads Tell him to stop and then show him some good moves as if you don't show him some good moves he's going to carry on doing his stupid dad dancing. A high kick and a twirl and maybe some breakdancing should do it.

Dear Agony Girl, I am currently trying to get back into reading. Can you give me some advice on how to do this? And could you recommend some good books?

Cheers, Dave, Stratton You just have to read. You have to turn the telly off and whenever you try to turn it back on make it so you get a shock if

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you turn it on too much. You need to read silently and peacefully so you get into it. I recommend Stephen King books as that's what my dad reads.

Dear Agony Girl, My elderly mum is a very lovely lady but is going a bit deaf. Whenever I visit I have to speak very loudly to make myself heard and she also has the sound on her television so loud that the house shakes. How can I persuade her to go and have a hearing test?

Anita, Freshbrook Get her some of her favourite jewellery and say to her that I'll only give this back to you if you go and get your ears checked. I wouldn't like it if I couldn't hear anything as then I wouldn't be able to hear anything like laughter, talking and the cats meowing. I'd miss that.

Dear Agony Girl There's so much evil in the world like Putin, Trump, war, racism, homophobia and criminals like murderers and burglars. There's also natural disasters like floods, plagues and earthquakes which are awful. How would you make the world a better place?

Steve, Lawns I would become the Prime Minister or The Queen and then tell everyone to stop being evil. If they said no I would then protest outside their homes and be really annoying until they said yes. People like Trump, Putin and racists and the others you said are total idiots and they don't deserve anything good. They should all be put in prison if they can't act nicely.

swindonlink.com n October 2022

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