For Prospect Hospice CEO Jeremy Lune death is part of his daily life as the head of a charity that provides palliative care.
As part of our sister organisation The Ink's Community Talks, Jeremy will be holding a talk about 'death' and how it shouldn't be a taboo subject.
The free entry talk will take place at 7.30pm on Monday 9 September upstairs at The Hop Inn on Devizes Road.
The event is run in association with original music festival The Swindon Shuffle which fundraises for Prospect Hospice.
The Ink is our subscriptionbased news service favouring analytical and longform news sent direcly to your inbox. It costs £5.99 a month meaning you get complete access to all our briefings four days a week. Swindonians have really taken to The Ink with its insightul, analytical news that gets under the skin of the town's issues. If you haven't already, sign up below.
Community charity organises neighbourhood-wide yard sale with everybody welcome
By Barrie Hudson barrie@swindonlink.com
A mass yard sale is being organised for Saturday 28 September by Eastcott Community Organisation.
The charity runs Eastcott Community Centre and aims to improve life for those living in the area.
Anybody in the Eastcott area who is having a good clear-out and want to make some cash, or who just wants to find a new home for pre-loved treasures is welcome to take part.
Participants can use their own gardens for the event, although people who are unable to do so will be able to hire tables at the centre.
“It’s a great way to de-clutter without adding to landfill, foster community spirit… and perhaps raise some cash too,” said Stephanie Newton, chair of the trustees who run the charity on a voluntary basis.
“You don’t even have to sell the items – you can put them out with a FREE sign if you are just looking to have a clear out. ECO promotes sustainability with repair café and free shop events and this is another way people can reuse and recycle items they no longer want.
“It will also be a great event for bargain and treasure hunters!”
It is planned to run the event from 10am to 2pm on the day, and ECO stresses that sales should only be held in safe and accessible gardens.
It will be residents’ responsibility to have the correct licence if they are selling food or drink; they must keep public footpaths and roads clear at all times; clean up after their event and make sure no rubbish is left behind and ensure items are safe to sell and comply with all regulations.
However, if residents do not have a safe spot to sell from, they can hire a table at Eastcott Community Centre for £5. There will also be refreshments for sale at the centre.
People who wish to take part – or those planning to do some shopping – can sign up or see who is taking part at eastcottcommunity.org/page/ eastcott-yard-sale
Up-to-date information will also be available on ECO’s Facebook page @ eastcottcommunitycentre
The mass yard sale is merely the latest in a rolling programme of celebrations and events organised by the charity.
The community centre itself is the venue for a diverse array of local groups.
News from SBC
Deadline extended to 13 September to register interest in Solar Together
Due to a higher than projected uptake of the Solar Together scheme, the deadline has been extended to Friday 13 September.
This will allow more time for people to register their interest and take advantage of considerable savings on solar panel, battery and EV charger installations from qualified installers.
Following the success of the 2022 and 2023 schemes, Wiltshire Council and Swindon Borough Council are working in partnership with iChoosr, independent
experts in group buying, on the third Solar Together scheme which has already seen over 3,700 residents sign up.
Solar Together gives residents and businesses the opportunity to invest in renewable energy from a trusted provider to reduce their energy bills and improve their carbon footprint. The scheme utilises group buying to leverage cheaper solar panel and installation costs from vetted providers.
The initiative offers rooftop solar panels (also known as solar PV) with optional
battery storage and electric vehicle (EV) charge points. It also offers battery storage installation for residents who have already invested in solar panels and are looking to maximise how much of their self-generated energy they can use at home and become less dependent on electricity from the grid.
Swindon Link readers can register their interest for free by 13 September on the Solar Together website, with no obligation to continue further: www.solartogether. co.uk/swindon/join
Council repaints School Safety Zones across the borough
The Highways team at Swindon Borough Council have been busy over the summer holidays making the areas outside 12 schools safer for children.
The road markings for 12 School Safety Zones and 22 roads have been refreshed as part of the council’s annual major and minor road resurfacing programme, which will see just over £4m invested to fix deteriorating road surfaces across the borough.
The schools that benefited included Highworth Warneford School and Southfield Junior School, Robert Le Kyng Primary School, Holy Cross Primary School (St Joseph's), Haydonleigh Primary School, Haydon Wick Primary School, Oaktree Nursery and Primary School, Millbrook Primary School, Lydiard Park Academy, Abbey Park Academy and Red Oaks Primary School, Swindon New College, Goddard Park Primary School, and The Deanery CE Academy and The Kingfisher Primary.
The relining of the roads will help keep young people safe as they enter and leave school.
Swindon CSP is tackling anti-social behaviour in Eldene
In line with Swindon Borough Council’s commitment to delivering safer communities, the Swindon Community Safety Partnership (CSP) spoke with Eldene residents in July and early August about anti-social behaviour in the area.
Focusing on the area around the Bowleymead square, the Swindon Community Safety Team were keen to hear from Eldene residents how they feel the area can be improved.
Safety and wellbeing are a top priority for the CSP, who are committed to working with local residents to achieve this.
In partnership with the borough council, Wiltshire Police and South Swindon Parish Council, the Swindon CSP team are taking steps to improve the safety of the square
and the wider vicinity. The long-term goal is to regenerate the area and make it a space that can be enjoyed by the whole community.
Anti-Social Behaviour Officer at Swindon Borough Council, Emma Phillips, said: “There have been 70 responses from the public which is excellent. Local residents told us they really enjoy living in Eldene, they feel it has a good sense of community, offers lots of green spaces for children to play on and is close to lots of local amenities.
“However, residents have concerns about the square in the middle of Bowleymead, which has been allowed to fall into a state of disrepair, and as such, attracted anti-social behaviour and unwanted drug
Other news across the borough
n Thousands of new homes planned at Wichelstowe. Work will begin soon to bring forward a total of 616 new homes in the latest phase of housebuilding at Wichelstowe. The move comes after the council’s cabinet agreed to transfer a parcel of land over to the joint venture which will eventually deliver thousands of new homes over the next 15 years.
activity.”
Off the back of the activity, the CSP is working to find ways of improving the area, including erecting CCTV in the square, making improvements to the brick planters, cutting back the overgrown foliage and organising community activities for local residents to enjoy.
n Swindon to have chalet-style Christmas market. LSD Promotions and the council have teamed up to launch Swindon's free entry Chalet Christmas Market, from Saturday 23 November to Saturday 21 December at The Parade in the town centre. n Pitch and putt and crazy golf returns to Coate Water. The golf facility is open between 11am and 6pm from Thursday to Tuesday each week. A round of pitch and putt costs £5.80, with crazy golf costing £4.60.
Police Community Support Officers from across Swindon, Cllr Mike Davies, Emma Phillips, Dean Tilling and two of Community Safety Wardens.
Ukrainian visitor a welcome voice from home for an elderly compatriot
By Barrie Hudson barrie@swindonlink.com
A Ukrainian guest in Swindon has been bringing comfort to an elderly woman from her homeland who is in a local care home.
Liliia Ponomarenko, a supermarket supervisor in Ukraine before she was forced to flee, is one of many Ukrainians who work with Swindon Humanitarian Aid Partnership (SHAP). She first heard about the elderly woman, Valentina, from a fellow volunteer.
Valentina's husband is being cared for by a family member in Cirencester, but for medical reasons the two cannot be in the same care home.
SHAP is working to ensure the two can meet as often as possible, but in the meantime Liliia ensures Valentina is not without company.
Speaking through an interpreter, Liliia said their first meeting was a very moving experience for both women. It is two-and-a-half years since Russia's unlawful invasion of their homeland, and SHAP was formed shortly afterwards.
Chair Mike Bowden said: "We have come from very humble and small beginnings "More than two and a half years on from those early days when we were collecting clothes, sorting them, boxing them and sending them out to
Ukraine, the situation in Ukraine is objectively more severe, certainly for the people living there.
"Lots and lots of people have been killed and maimed and the trauma goes on and on.
"In our local work we've all come to know our 300plus locally-based Ukrainian visitors. We have helped them with a range of issues "Systems that we take for granted are inevitably quirky, so whether you're trying to find accommodation or a host
or get a dental appointment or a doctor's appointment, or you've got an agonising pain and need to go to the hospital, or you need help with a benefit application - or, or, or! - we've helped across the board with those things.
On a national level, SHAP's work has twice been mentioned in Parliamentary record Hansard and has liaised with organisa SHAP tions throughout the country.
It has also earned a growing international reputation, and recently contributed to a 45-vehicle aid convoy, with Mr Bowen invited to speak alongside the Ukrainian Ambassador and other Ukrainian dignitaries.
Further information about the ongoing work of SHAP and how people can help that work can be found at www.shapuk. org
Liliia Ponomarenko doing voluntary work at SHAP
Wiltshire & Swindon Pride a joyful celebration
By Barrie Hudson barrie@swindonlink.com
The organisers of this year's Swindon & Wiltshire Pride hailed the event as a triumph.
They say festival-goers took new venue GWR Park into their hearts, continuing a history of public celebrations there which began in the 19th century
Turning the clocks forward to 2024, the relocation of Swindon & Wiltshire Pride meant the second Saturday of August was again filled with a sea of colour and noise as people gathered together to celebrate diversity and love.
The new location was chosen due to increased demand, and the organisers expect the celebration to grow still further.
The day started with the Pride March, in which 1000 people sang and danced their way from Regent Circus through the town centre before joining the crowds in GWR
Park for the main event.
Some 10,000 people joined in the celebrations throughout the day, where two stages of entertainment included Sonia, The Cheeky Girls and The Royal Serenity.
The After Party at Boom Battle Bar continued until the early hours, with a Beyoncé tribute act, drag artist Dixie Normous and DJ Nemz bringing the day-long festivities to a close.
Press Manager Andy Midwinter said: “We are so touched by the reaction we have received, it was heartwarming to see our fans come with us to our new home and fall in love with the venue as much as we have.”
Chairperson Paul Stewart thanked all volunteers, supporters and sponsors who made the event possible. The main sponsor was Nationwide Building Society.
Picture: GRH Vision
The South Swindon Parish Council Column
By Neil Hopkins Chair of South Swindon Parish Council
South Swindon in Bloom
At the end of July, our South Swindon in Bloom entry was judged as part of the wider South West in Bloom competition. A big thank you must go to all the fantastic volunteers who work year-round across various community projects and gardens.
We’re looking forward to hearing the judges feedback at the South West in Bloom awards ceremony in Bath in October.
Queen’s Park Mesothelioma Garden
At the time of writing the Mesothelioma Garden redevelopment is progressing very well.
The new garden has been designed by the gardeners at Queen’s Park and shaped by a community consultation last year. The design incorporates raised planting, new seating and herbaceous and sensory planting.
Buckhurst Field Improvement Project
The exciting Buckhurst Field Improvement Project has continued in August with the commencement of resurfacing work on the Shrewsbury Road car park.
I’m also really excited to see Swindon Robins Junior Football Club start the new season at the start of September, utilising the newly regenerated football pitches. Work will soon begin on the old changing rooms, which will be transformed into a new pavilion for the football club to use. A section of the building will also be used as a mini depot for parish grounds staff.
South Swindon Parish Summer Events
September, including Town Gardens Heritage Tours, Bandstand concerts every Sunday until the 8th September and Park Yoga in Queen’s Park every Sunday until the 15th September.
Keep an eye on our social media and future newsletters as we’ll be announcing our Christmas events very soon.
Thank you to everyone who attended our summer programme of events across the parish this year. I’ve really enjoyed attending lots of fantastic theatre and music performances throughout the summer. There are still a few events left in
If you are interested in hiring one of our community facilities, please get in contact with the council’s Community Facilities Officer: community@southswindon-pc.gov. uk
My Dad's Bigger Than Your Dad Festival held at Town Gardens in July - Picture by George Hill
Ever wanted to play bridge? Now's your chance to have a go
Swindon Bridge Club has announced a programme of weekly classes at Lawn Community Centre.
The club is the only local one with a bridge teacher, Mike Baker, and classes for beginners will be held on Tuesday evenings from 7-9pm, beginning on 24 September.
Classes for improvers will be held on Monday evenings from 23 September at the same time.
Club chair Glenis Curtis said: "At our AGM we recognised that ours is the only bridge club with a bridge teacher.
"Also we recognised that the future of bridge has to be through teaching new people how to play.
"We need to encourage more people to come and learn to play bridge, or if they've played in the past, to have some improver classes."
There are currently about 70 club members, ranging in age from twenties to nineties and from an array of backgrounds. They are united by their love of a game which, though fairly complex, can be readily learned by anybody with an interest in doing so, and who relishes a game combining skill, chance and psychology.
There is also a strong social aspect.
Glenis said: "It's absolutely fascinating. You learn all the time and it's an absolute pleasure. It's not just playing the game, it's what you can do with the game as well.
"You meet lots of like-minded people, and in this club in particular we're all very much mutually supportive, not only through being members of the same club but also through the fact that we are supportive of each other.
"During lockdown we had members who were on their own but could play bridge online."
Full details of the classes and further information about the club itself can be found at bridgewebs.com/swindon/
Review: The Roxi Foundation Summer Fiesta
By Barrie Hudson barrie@swindonlink.com
The Roxi Foundation hosted a fantastic fundraising fiesta at The King and Queen in Highworth, writes Ele Spreckley
As you approached The King and Queen you were greeted by welcoming and colourful balloons. The pub was filled with happy faces decorated with gorgeous glitter and face paint.
The fiesta space was filled with sunshine and activities including fabulous fete classics like the lucky dip, hook a duck and smack a rat. Food and drinks were available throughout the event - Dizzy Donuts, GlamoRose Cakes and jacket potatoes.
The Roxi Foundation’s mission is to help Swindon’s young people who may be neurodiverse get timely and accurate diagnoses. Their journey started because
of Roxi, founder Matt Pound’s daughter. Roxi excelled at school but had anxiety related to attending and had incredibly impulsive thoughts. Matt and the family fought for answers to help Roxi. Eventually she was referred to have an Autistic Spectrum Condition assessment; however, the wait for that was 18 months. After the diagnosis she was finally given some help but there was still more to it. Roxi was later referred for an
The man who wants to talk to us
By Barrie Hudson barrie@swindonlink.com
Prospect Hospice CEO Jeremy Lune will give the next free entry Ink Community Talk at 7.30pm on Monday 9 September at The Hop Inn in Devizes Road.
The talk will be part of The Swindon Shuffle which takes place that week.
The Ink is Swindon Link's sister publication, an online in-depth subscription news service, and more information about it can be found on page 3 of this edition.
Jeremy's talk will be entitled ‘Don’t mention the D-words’ and will discuss the charity’s vision of a community where death is no longer a taboo and everyone lives and dies well.
He said: “People have a very one-dimensional view of hospice care - that it's about a very elderly relative spending their last couple of days drifting in and out of a kind
ADHD assessment but the wait time again was going to be over 12 months.
The family made the decision to go private and the diagnosis was made within six weeks.
The foundation’s wish is that every neurodiverse person receives the support they need to thrive and this is what they are fundraising for and why the fiesta was held.
The foundation's website is www.theroxifoundation.co.uk
about death
of medically-induced coma, almost, but that is a tiny part of what happens here.
"Ninety percent of the care that we give is out in the community. We help in the most mundane ways which are hugely important.
"A lot of people say to me, 'You're really passionate.'
"If I'm talking from the heart about something, I can talk! That might be a small private
room or it might be on a stage in front of 760 Starlight Walkers wearing tutus! I will talk about something I'm so passionate about.
"I'm going to go out and bang the drum on behalf of what my colleagues do."
People can find out more about the work of the charity and the many ways they can support it by visiting www. prospect-hospice.net
Reprieve for Swindon Carers Centre
An agreement has been reached to keep Swindon Carers Centre open next year.
The revelation came in a joint announcement by Swindon Borough Council, Bath and North East Somerset Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board and the carers centre itself.
Early in August, Swindon Carers Centre announced that it would close at the end of the year, citing a breakdown in the process of negotiating a new contract.
The joint statement said: "We're pleased to announce an agreement has been reached between Swindon Carers Centre, the Council and Bath and North East Somerset Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board.
"Following positive discussions, we are pleased to announce an agreement has been reached between Swindon Carers Centre (SCC), Swindon Borough Council (SBC) and Bath and North East Somerset Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board (BSW ICB) for Swindon Carers Centre to provide interim carer services in Swindon from January to December 2025. This will follow on from the end of the current contract ending 31 December 2024.
"This provision will give stability to carer support in Swindon and to Swindon Carers Centre, which would have had to close in December following the end of the current contract; whilst allowing SBC and BSW ICB to review commissioning processes before going through a full and quality procurement for the carer services contract to start in January 2026.
"We acknowledge this has been a difficult and uncertain few days for unpaid carers in Swindon and for Swindon Carers Centre’s staff and volunteers and we are all committed to working in partnership to ensure services remain carer focused and of high quality."
Juice bar and health cafe reopens in new location
By Jamie Hill jamie@swindonlink.com
Old Town favourite The Core, which first launched in 2013, has now re-opened inside Jack’s cafe on Victoria Road.
With a new partnership built with Jack’s, The Core will be serving up all of their popular smoothies, fresh juices, acai bowls and healthy brunch dishes alongside the existing offering at Jack's.
After temporarily moving the business upstairs at their old location on Devizes Road to allow for the Los Gatos expansion, a new home was being sought. When the new Los Gatos owners recently bought Jack’s, it became a good opportunity to sit the two food businesses side by side and the partnership was built.
Kris Talikowski, who founded The Core, said: “I’m really excited to bring our healthy menu back to Old Town. When I first opened The Core over 10 years ago, I never thought Swindon would receive a health
food concept so well. In 10 years, over 6,000 people have tried one of our juice or food programmes, and we've served over a million smoothies! As well as bringing back what our customers love about The Core, we’re introducing new healthy products like matcha and wheatgrass juice shots.
Wheatgrass juice, for example, is one of the most nutrient packed liquid foods on the planet!”
The Core team have refurbished the bar area and function room at Jack's and
added natural materials to soften the aesthetic. The venue includes a new relaxed seating area for collection and a self-serve takeaway kiosk, for faster service.
The reopening represents a homecoming for Georgia, the bar manager. "I worked for The Core as my first job back in 2014, 10 years ago. I left to move to Australia, where I ran cafes and ice cream stores, and I’m back where it all started, running The Core in its new home."
www.thecorejuicery.com
Swindon dancer helps bring home gold in the Olympics of the dance world
By Barrie Hudson barrie@swindonlink.com
A Swindon dancer has returned from the ‘Olympics’ of the dance world after helping to secure the gold medal for England.
Amelia, who is 15, dances with The Kirsty Farrow Dance Academy in the town and recently competed as a member of the England team against 65 other countries in the Dance World Cup, with Team England bringing home first place.
While at the Dance World Cup, Amelia competed in two separate dances, performing a traditional Turkish dance and also, as part of a musical theatre group, performing a dance from Charlie and The Chocolate Factory, where she played Mr Salt.
Amelia also had the opportunity to attend a special Q&A session with international dance instructor Abby Lee
Miller, as well as taking part in a choreography class with award-winning choreographer Dane Bates.
Amelia said: “It was a real honour to go to Prague and take part in the Dance World Cup, especially taking one of the leading roles of Mr Salt in our musical theatre performance.
"We rehearsed for weeks ahead of the competition and we spent two weeks in Prague competing. It was a great opportunity and I was able to meet Abby Lee Miller
and Dane Bates, which was incredible.”
After helping bring back the gold medal, Amelia also took her Grade Five exam in Musical Theatre, scoring an impressive 90 out 100, and then went straight on to compete in the All England Dance Grand Finals in Wolverhampton, coming second with her tap group, ‘Iron’.
Amelia, who is a pupil at Lawn Manor Academy, has been dancing since she was four years old.
Amelia with Abby Lee Miller
Mammoths, bison, hyenas and even prehistoric sharks discovered in huge dig just outside Swindon
By Jamie Hill jamie@swindonlink.com
In what has been described as the biggest dig of its kind, nearly 200 students from 20 universities have descended upon a former quarry in Cerney Wick to see what treasures they can unearth.
The site, a former quarry owned by Swindon-based The Hills Group, featured in a huge documentary four years ago with Sir David Attenborough, after what was described as the world's biggest mammoth graveyard was discovered.
This is the second dig at the site and it took place for three weeks from the start of July until Monday 5 August.
This time, in the dig entitled 'Mammoth 2.1' the site, which is believed to date back to around 220,000 years ago, Neanderthal hand axes, ancient bison bones and a prehistoric shark fin were all discovered as well as more mammoth teeth and tusks.
The project leads were Dr Neville Hollingworth and his wife Sally, who made the original mammoth graveyard discovery back in 2019.
The couple, who describe themselves as amateur archaeologists, started studying the site only once it had already been quarried for gravel as it revealed the prehistoric layers so the first dig could take place.
According to Sir David
Attenborough the original discoveries were one of the most significant Paleolithic finds in the UK.
Steppe mammoths were an ancestor of the woolly mammoth, and this site is believed to date back to around 220,000 years ago.
The site had been allowed to return to being a lake, before it was drained so this second major dig could be undertaken. There is evidence that the site was a river and the fossils became trapped in the silt and rocks on the river bed.
The mammoth teeth that have been found are well preserved, some complete with roots. They have been found alongside shoulder bones and two partial tusks, one from a small mammoth and one much larger. Half a bison skull was found complete with horn, and a bison rib bone attached to a vertebra.
On this second dig experts and volunteers were joined by students from around 20 universities across the country, with many of them camping at the dig.
Now that the dig is finished the research and conservation of all the finds will be carried out.
According to the Hills Group, 180 volunteers and 20 universities were involved over three weeks - making it the biggest project of its kind in the UK.
A company spokesperson
said: "Special thanks go to the Quarry Products’ team who helped prepare the dig site – and Transport Administrator, Sally Hollingworth and her husband Neville, who led the project and have done an amazing job with the organisation, ensuring the health and safety of everyone on site, whilst helping the volunteers get the most from the dig."
to find Steppe Bison, teeth of crocodiles, fins of sharks.
Peter Andrew, the director of Hills Quarry Products, said this his biggest hope had been to find a mammoth's tusk with a Neanderthal's head on the end of it to conclusively prove that they were there at the same time.
He said: "Ever since Sally and Neville first came along, after we had extracted the sand and gravel and they found the bones sticking out the floor, it's just taken off from there.
"We're heavily involved in archaeology. At every site before we start digging for sand and gravel we have a process that we have archaelogists in to assess any finds that might be there, look at the area to see if there's anything of any interest. That's all mapped and logged as we strip the soils off.
"The unique difference here is that we had already done all that and we'd taken the gravel out and then they found the Steppe Mammoth bone and from there we've gone on
"It's the site that keeps on giving.
"I think we've always tried to have good working relationships with interested parties like archaeologists and local communities. At the end of the day we're a family company and legacy is really important to us and the fantastic thing about this is we have had 19 universities with hundreds of students attending over the three week period. What a superb event. What a superb opportunity for them."
Nigel Larkin, Museum Professional at Natural History Conservation, said: "By supporting this project Hills have done the archaelogy and paleontology community a massive favour by letting this project happen.
"We've found mammoths here. Maybe even woolly rhino as well. Marine reptiles, horses and hyenas were also here. We know that they were here as we've found droppings.
"It's been a superb opportunity for everyone."
The essential guide to School Open Days in the area
Primary Schools:
Bridlewood Primary School
School tours with Headteacher:
Friday 27 September 9:30am
Wednesday 16 October – 1:30pm
Tuesday 12 November – 9:30am
Thursday 28 November – 1:30pm
Wednesday 4 December – 1:15pm
Friday 10 January – 9:30am
01793 706830
admin@bridlewood.org.uk
www.bridlewoodprimaryschool.org.uk
Kingfisher CE Academy
School Tours with Headteacher
Wednesday 6 November 9:30am & Tuesday 12 November 1pm Friday 22 November 9:30m & Thursday 5 December 1pm Friday 10 January 9:30am
Open Evening Wednesday 27 November 5:30pm
01793 379521
www.kcea.org.uk
Brook Field Primary School
Open Mornings:
Saturday 28 September – 9:30am & 11am
Wednesday 23 October – 9:15am
Wednesday 6 November – 11:00am
Haydonleigh Primary School
Open Day: Saturday 12 October 9:30-12 Noon
01793 874582
office@brookfield.swindon.sch.uk
www.brookfieldprimary.org
Orchid Vale Primary School
Open Evening:
Wednesday 25 September 4:30pm5:30pm
Open Morning: Wednesday 2 October 9:30-11.15am
01793 745006
enquiries@orchidvale.org.uk
www.orchidvaleprimaryschoolswindon. co.uk
Swindon Academy
Open Mornings
Alton Close Primary:
Thursday 8 October 8:30-9:15am
Thursday 12 November 8:30-9:15am
01793 700443
office@haydonleighschool.co.uk
www.haydonleighschool.co.uk
Red Oaks Primary School
Open Evening:
Monday 23 September 4.30pm-6pm Tuesday 19 November 3.30pm to 5pm Tour every Thursday 11.15amOctober onwards - Call to book
Headteacher Tour - Call to book: Wednesday 18 September 11am-12pm & Wednesday 9 October 1-2pm
01793 493920
admin@redoaks.org.uk
www.redoaks.org
01793 426900 admin@swindon-academy.org
www.swindon-academy.org
Beech Avenue Primary: Thursday 8 October 8:30-9:15am Thursday 12 November 8:30-9:15am
More Swindon children with special needs assessed as needing extra support last year
More children in Swindon with special needs were assessed as needing extra support last year, new figures show.
Across England, the number of new education, health and care (EHC) plans rose by more than a quarter, but nearly half of all children and young people receiving one experienced prolonged waits before getting it. Department for Education figures show 371 children and young people aged up to 25 received an EHC plan from Swindon Borough Council in 2023. This was up from the 320 plans issued the year before.
An EHC plan is for children and young people who need more support than is available through conventional special educational needs support. EHC plans identify these needs and set out additional support required to meet them.
Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the school leaders’ union NAHT, said: “The number of children needing additional support through education and healthcare plans is now at a record high, but many families are still waiting too long for the assessments, and provision that they need.”
Secondary, Sixth Form, and Colleges
Abbey Park School
Open Evenings: Tuesday 10 September 5pm-7:30pm Wednesday 11 September 5pm–7:30pm
Open Mornings: Wednesday 25 September 9:15-11am Thursday 26 September 9:15-11am
Open Evening: September 2025 Starters Thursday 12 September 5.30pm - 7.30pm
01793 525231
Call to arrange a viewing www.dorcan.co.uk enquiries@dorcan.co.uk
01793 209700
Sixth Form Thursday 17 October 5.30pm-7.30pm www.gwacademy.co.uk office@gwacademy.co.uk
Open Evening: Thursday 19 September 6pm-8pm Headteacher's presentation - 6pm
01793 487286
admin@lma.ascendlearningtrust.org.uk
Lawn Manor Academy www.lawnmanor.org
Lydiard Park Academy
Open Evenings: Tuesday 10 & Wednesday 11 September, 5.30pm-8pm
Open Mornings: Wednesday 9 & Thursday 10 October, 9am-11am
01793 874224
ask@lydiardparkacademy.org.uk
www.lydiardparkacademy.org.uk
Pupils from Highworth Warneford School
Swindon Academy sixth former Oana Tudor who is now going to study at Cambridge after her excellent A-Leve;l results
Kingshill Cirencester
Open Mornings:
Fri 6 September 9:15am -10:45am
Thurs 12 September 9:15am – 10:45am Fri 27 September 9:15am – 10:45am Weds 2 October 9:15am – 10:45am
Open Evening:
Thursday 19 September -4.30pm7.30pm 01285 651511
admissions@cirencesterkingshill.gloucs.sch.uk
www.cirencesterkingshill.gloucs.sch.uk
Royal Wootton Bassett Academy
Year 6 Open Evening: Wednesday 18 September 6pm-8pm
Sixth form Open Evening:
Wednesday 16 October 6pm-8pm
We are accepting applications for Sixth Form 2025
01793 841900
admin@rwba.ascendlearningtrust.org.uk
www.rwba.org.uk
Swindon Academy
Open Evening
Wednesday 26 September, 6pm to 8pm
United College Sixth Form Open Eve
Thursday 7 November 6pm to 8pm Friday 8 November 9am to 11am
The Parks Academy Trust Sixth Form
Open Evening:
Tuesday 12 November 6pm - 7.30pm
01793 874224
ask@theparkacademiestrust.com
www.tpatsixthform.org.uk
Ridgeway School
Open Morning (no booking required):
Thursday 26 September Year 6 Open Evening
Thursday 26 September - 6pm to 8pm
Sixth Form Open Evening Thursday 10 October - 6pm to 8pm
Booking via website - For info contact Transition Coordinator, Hannah Ornov
01793 846100
Ornovh@ridgeway.com
www.ridgewayschool.com
The Deanery
Years 5 & 6 Open Evening:
Thursday 26 September 5pm - 7pm
01793 426900
admin@swindon-academy.org
www.swindon-academy.org
01793 236611
admin@dcea.org.uk
www.dcea.org.uk
Ridgeway School celebrates A-Level success
Ridgeway School is celebrating its best ever set of A-Level results.
A spokesperson said: "The class of 2024 will see over 80% of the year group head to university, with others taking up excellent employment and apprenticeship positions.
"With 33% of grades at A* or A, and approximately 60% at grades A*-B, the students are leaving with the qualifications they need to open doors to their futures. We are particularly proud that a quarter of our students achieved AAB or better."
Notable successes include:
- Ewan Ridge: A* in Maths, Further Maths and an A in Computer Science
- Tia Loveridge: A* in Art and Graphics and a Distinction in Applied Business
Hannah Spackman: A* in Maths, Graphics and an A in Geography
- Alex Steimer: A* in Law, Economics and an A in History
- Aidan Vallender: A* in Economics, Maths and an A in Physics and an A in EPQ
- Lucy Walker: A* in Biology, Chemistry and Maths and an A in Further Maths
- Sophie Walker: A* in Biology, Chemistry and Maths
- Ben Wigley: A* in Maths and Physics, A in Computer Science and Further Maths and an A in EPQ
Nova Hreod Academy
Open Evening: Thursday 19 September -6pm - 8pm
Open Mornings: Tuesday 1 October & Thursday 10 October - 9am-11am
Catalyst STEM Stream Open Morning Thursday 26 September 5pm to 6pm Tuesday 15 October 9am-10am
01793 528800
admin@novahreodacademy.org.uk
www.novahreodacademy.org.uk
St Joseph’s Catholic College
Open Evening: Wednesday 25 September 6pm - 8pm
01793 714200
info@stjosephscollege.net
www.stjosephscollege.net
Swindon Academy student secures place at Cambridge Students at Swindon Academy are celebrating their A Level results, with one student Oana Tudor gaining a highly sought-after place at the University of Cambridge.
Having achieved an impressive two A*s in History and her EPQ, and two As in Religious Education and English Literature, Oana is set to study Law at Corpus Christi College. Many more of the school’s students have also achieved strong grades, enabling them to take up places at a range of Russell Group universities.
Among those Sixth Formers celebrating are:
• Leanne Fernandes, who achieved an A*, A, B and two Cs and will be going to the University of Sussex to study Biochemistry;
• Leo Fallon, who achieved three As and will be going to Durham University to study Law;
• Joseyana Costa, who achieved two As and a Distinction and will be going to the University of Kent to study Modern Languages;
• Timmy Fateru who achieved A, B, C and will be going to the University of Leicester to study Medical Physiology.
Veteran Swindon artist exhibits for charity
By Barrie Hudson barrie@swindonlink.com
Swindon Hub is hosting a retrospective exhibition of works by artist David Gibbons throughout August.
Covering the period from the 1950s to the present day, the exhibition at the town centre arts, culture and community venue includes works in watercolour, oil, acrylic, etching, portraits, marbling, alcohol inks and other media. Proceeds from sales will be donated to international medical aid charity Medecins Sans Frontieres.
David studied at Birmingham's Moseley Art School and the city's College of Art, and was an apprentice at a printing company.
His career outside of art saw him work for the YMCA and the London Borough of Bexley, although he continued to produce artworks throughout this time.
A heart attack when he was
55 prompted him to take early retirement and concentrate on art.
His works hang in many collections and spaces, and he was invited to design one of the London Olympics commemorative 50 pence coins.
That piece, featuring Taekwondo, was struck 1,644,000 times and is prized by collectors, sometimes changing hands for much more than its original face value.
David said: "There will be
about 30 works.
"I've got some stuff going back to when I went to college in 1950 to 52, but most of the paintings have been fairly recent - the last four or five years."
David first discovered his love of art in earnest when he was about 12 years old.
"I went to art school from secondary school; this was Moseley School of Art, from 1947 to 1950.
"I found that was very
interesting, and I got encouragement from the teachers there who said I was a good draughtsman, which is what they called drawing in those days.
"I then went on to Birmingham College of Art for two years, and there I got a comment from one of the tutors, who said, 'I wish I could draw like that.'"
David still has the drawing in question, which shows a working heavy horse.
His work ranges from strictly representational pieces to works in various media showcasing aspects of history. One striking piece, for example, covers the history of the discovery of radiation, beginning with the experiments of Newton and continuing through luminaries including Einstein.
Swindon Hub is open 10am5pm, Tuesdays to Saturdays.
More information about David and his work, including examples, can be found at davidgibbons.weebly.com
Artist David Gibbons in his studio
What to expect at the 22nd Swindon Railway Festival
14 and 15 September, 10am – 5pm
By Jamie Hill jamie@swindonlink.com
The Swindon Railway Festival is returning to the Steam Museum on Saturday, 14 and Sunday, 15 September.
This year’s festival includes over 20 model railway layouts and demonstrators that will be displayed alongside iconic Swindon-built GWR locomotives.
New for 2024 is a modelling area featuring vintage Hornby locomotives and rolling stock from the Dubloseven group, alongside displays by the South West Meccano Club. This year’s show also sees a new ‘0’ gauge layout making its festival debut, the new creation by Mike Baker entitled ‘Newton Heath Works’ which models the workings of the Dorset clay industry.
Sally Langheim, Steam’s Events and Conferencing Officer, said: “This is the 22nd Swindon Railway Festival and is one of our biggest annual events. It’s a celebration of all things Great Western Railway and features some of the UK’s finest model railway layouts.
“The layouts are built by some of the UK’s most experienced and expert model railway creators, and some are brand new to the model railway circuit. One highlight I am particularly looking forward to seeing is the magnificent vintage Hornby locomotive displays by the Dubloseven group.”
“The museum will also be selling our brand-new 00 gauge Western Enterprise D1000 model locomotive at the festival.
LINK FEATURES
Exclusive to the museum, only 500 limited edition models have been produced and will be available over the weekend.”
On both days of the festival, smoky smells and evocative sounds will emanate from the front of the museum as Swindon firm Hatch Heritage & Steam Engineers display a selection of their vintage traction engines.
History will come to life when live steam is used to power the museum’s own replica of the famous Swindon Works Hooter. The hooter was sounded every day until the Works closed in March 1986 - to remind GWR employees and their Swindon families of the time. Steam will be sounding the hooter every hour to bring back this ‘Sound of Swindon’.
On Saturday, visitors will have access to the footplates of many of the locomotives on display, including GWR 4-6-0 King Class No. 6000 King George V, GWR 4-6-0 Castle Class No. 4073 Caerphilly Castle, and GWR 4-4-0 Class No. 3440 City of Truro.
More attractions at the show include trade stands selling model railway locomotives, kits and accessories, tools, and railway books and gifts. A number of local and national preserved heritage railway organisations will also have displays at the event.
Visitors can observe fascinating modelling demonstrations throughout the weekend and chat with specialist modellers for tips and advice on loco and wagon building, soldering, and weathering techniques.
Refreshments include hot meals and snacks, along with a real ale bar in the festival’s outdoor enclosure. Steam’s Platform One Café, upstairs at the front of the museum, will also be open.
The event is also a great opportunity to view Steam’s new exhibition series for 2024, entitled ‘GWR What’s Your Emergency?’ and highlights the emergency services, including Police, Fire and Ambulance and the importance these organisations have on the Great Western Railway.
Family activities include the special children's interactive model railways, activity trails, and thought-provoking activities inside the museum.
Admission prices are: £14.50 for adults, £9.70 for children, and £11 for students and seniors. Under threes, go free. Family tickets are also available. Steam Season Ticket holders receive 10% off.
Doors open between 10am and 5pm on both days. Tickets are on sale now: www. steam-museum.org.uk
Great Western Brick Show celebrates 21 Years of LEGO® Magic at Steam
The much-anticipated Great Western Brick Show is set to return to Steam on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 October, for its 21st year of showcasing incredible LEGO® creations. The family day out features new model displays, an actionpacked LEGO® Robot Battle arena, and a host of interactive activities designed for LEGO® enthusiasts of all ages. Every model on display has been created by Brickish members,
making this one of the largest exhibitions of LEGO® fan creations in the UK.
This year’s event features a range of highlights, including:
- Interactive LEGO® Mosaic: Contribute to a giant LEGO® mosaic made from over 100,000 bricks!
- LEGO® Robot Wars: Witness the thrill of LEGO® Robot battles in a live arena.
- UK's Largest Brick Fairground: Marvel at an
expansive fairground made entirely of LEGO® bricks.
- LEGO® and Duplo® brick pits and tables for children
- LEGO® Fan Creations: Explore stunning models, including railway layouts, buildings, spacecraft, and more.
- LEGO® Marketplace: Shop for the latest sets, rare items, and collectibles.
The Great Western Brick Show began at Steam with just
a handful of LEGO® fans and a small train display. Over the years, it has grown into one of the UK’s largest exhibitions of LEGO® fan creations.
To commemorate the 21st anniversary, Steam has partnered with LEGO® to produce an exclusive limitededition gift set, featuring custom Steam and Swindon tiles. Available only from Steam Museum. Doors open between 10am and 5pm.
Arun Quay - photo by Gordon Gravett
Gearing up for another spectacular Swindon Shuffle
CULTURE
By Jamie Hill jamie@swindonlink.com
The cream of Swindon's musical talent are getting ready for this year's Swindon Shuffle, set to take place at venues across the town from Thursday 12 September to Sunday 15 September.
The festival, whose headline sponsor is Swindon-based UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), will again be raising money for Prospect Hospice.
All events are free, but music lovers are invited to donate.
Acts lined up include Chasing Dolls, Matt Owens & The DVP, Ellis Evason, Talk In Code, Reuben's Daughters, NervEndings, JB & The Mojo Makers, B-Sydes and Subject A.
Organiser Ed Dyer said: "We're into the 18th year of the Shuffle and the 17th running of it.
"What we're trying to do is really illustrate to everybody the breadth of musical talent in Swindon. It's all original acts - singer-songwriters, bandstheir own music, and no genre is off limits."
Those genres range from
heavy duty guitar bands to folk and all points in between.
Ed added: "We're highlighting the talents that are around in the town, but also another key part of keeping us motivated is to encourage the venues who support the venues."
The venues are The Beehive, The Castle, The Hop Inn, The Tuppenny, The Victoria, Baristocrats, Eastcott Community Centre, Swindon Central Library and The Eternal Optimist.
"It's good to give something back to support the work they do all year round for Swindon," Ed said.
"And of course, it's raising money for Prospect Hospice."
Ed highlighted the work of the hospice, which must raise the overwhelming bulk of the funds it needs to help people both at its premises in Wroughton and in people's homes throughout the communities the charity serves.
Only a small fraction of its funding is provided by the Government.
There is also a poignant personal reason why so many of those involved with the local
music scene are committed to supporting the hospice. The late Dave Young, a major figure in that scene who worked tirelessly to promote and offer spaces to local musicians, as well as being a gifted musician himself, died at the hospice in 2021.
Another major Swindon music event, the My Dad's Bigger Than Your Dad Festival, was established in his honour. Full details are at www. swindonshuffle.org.uk
Organiser Ed Dyer
Talk in Code
NervEndings
Chasing Dolls
When mother-in-law died, we disconnected the land line. She was the only one who called. I’d say “It’s for you” and my wife would answer. But like all changes it had a memory ripple.
As a kid, we’d a scoutmaster who said home phones were the future. Such vision. He promoted the telephone scout badge. I dialed from a phone box, shaking. At first, he didn’t answer. I pressed
Decades of the phone as friend and foe
Maurice Spillane: Of Poetry Swindon
button B to get my money back. On the second call he answered, and I pressed button A. “Well done, Maurice. See you Friday” was my first phone conversation.
In the 60s I managed a rock band. We’d difficulty getting gigs so we recruited other bands and became brokers with promoters, persuading them to hire several bands per night. Three teenagers – only one had a phone and
an understanding mother. We took shifts that glorious summer and made serious pocket money.
When my first daughter was born in Zambia in 1973. I sent a telegram, five words to keep the cost down: “baby girl [stop] both fine [stop] maurice”. I booked a slot to phone my wife’s parents, minimum 24 hours later, maximum three minutes. No time to share the
African sun squeezing the skyline through a small window in a sterilized room
disseminating colour as if on cue
Then the 1980s, running to phone boxes in America
between business flights, checking dozens of messages and not getting to the last message which said: “Your meeting’s been cancelled.” The breakthrough was a new system where your PA could prioritise messages. Imagine!
Home to remote Baltinglass where the phone had a handle to wake up the grumpy postmistress. She phoned for you, listened in, and the village knew your business within hours.
I miss none of that.
Events: www.poetryswindon. com 4 September 7pm
www.mauricespillane.co.uk
New Kids' Cycling Clubs at Moredon Sporting Hub
Monthly column with Becky Cox of Swindon Cycle Campaign.
Have you got a child who loves cycling? Why not sign them up for one of the exciting new kid’s cycling clubs and sessions starting at Moredon Sporting Hub (MSH) this September!
Local cycling coach Paul Ashman will be starting a new cycling club from Monday 9 September for children of primary school age (6-11 years).
PACVELO cycling club will run on the traffic-free cycle track at MSH, with sessions focusing on bike-handling skills, group riding and having fun on a bike. The weekly sessions will take place on Mondays, between 6 and 7pm. Sessions are £6 per week, paid on a termly basis.
Paul Ashman will also be starting a new group from Monday 9 September for kids aged 12-16. These Peloteens
Alfie Howlett: Swindon Town FC writer
Swindon have taken their first steps on their 2024/25 journey, and it’s fair to say that they’re taking the line that we all predicted.
They look structured, compact, and organised, which are all vital qualities, but they’re lacking razzmatazz and flair and quickly find themselves becoming an ordinary League 2 club.
Although Town are starting a new chapter with their change in philosophy, I still sense a hint of frustration among the faithful, frustration which has nothing to do with the team but more so the status of Swindon’s situation.
For as long as I can remember, Swindon have always tried to be a good footballing team.
Sometimes to their advantage and sometimes to their disadvantage, The Robins have
sessions will be focused on developing road riding skills on the MSH cycle track, providing a step up into cycling clubs and competition.
These sessions are currently grant-funded, so are free of charge until the end of the year. They will run on Monday evenings, between 7 and 8pm.
If you are interested in either the PACVELO or Peloteens sessions please contact Paul
Ashman on 07590688808 or email paul@ paulashmancycling.com .
Cotswold Veldrijden will be re-starting their kids' cyclocross sessions for 4-16-year-olds from Saturday 7 September. These ‘Mini Racers’ sessions run on Saturday afternoons, from 2-3.30pm at Moredon Sporting Hub and are led by British Cycling coaches. They normally take place
on grass and all abilities are welcome, with the sessions focusing on developing cycle skills and providing opportunities to get into racing. It’s £3 per session, and for more information see www. laatste-ronde.cx/, email miniracers@laatste-ronde. cx or see Facebook.com/ cvyouthracers
We’ve also started some sessions for SEND children this summer holidays, and we have the funding to continue these on a more regular basis through term-time, as well as during holidays.
We’ll be able to confirm dates and times for these sessions within the next few weeks. If you’d like to find out more you can follow Swindon Cycle Campaign on Facebook or email: rebeccacox@ britishcycling.org.uk.
STFC: solid but unspectacular LINK FOOTBALL
always played a possessionbased game.
There remains a great sense of pride in the teams which have had success through adopting the brand.
However, this style ultimately doesn’t bring success in League 2. Hence why Town have moved towards a direct style of play.
And in truth, it does get results in this division, more over it suits the current crop of players. However, I feel it’ll take a bit of time to get used to.
I find that where I’m pleased to see Swindon make the change, I’m sad to see it unfold. As a fan when you’re watching Town lump the ball long, you realise it’s a poignant reminder of how far the club has fallen.
As is always the case, August gives us the chance to cast our eyes over the new arrivals. There’s always one which
shines out from the pack, and sometimes they either continue to sparkle all season, or fade out.
In my opinion, Will Wright’s star will shine bright in Swindon colours for some time.
The central defender looked like a good signing on paper, and on grass he seems even better.
As far as debuts go, the former Crawley man couldn’t have introduced himself in a better way.
An incredible point grabbing goal, and a commanding display from the back, demonstrated how Wright will be the main man this season. Technically Wright is incredibly good for a League 2 defender, as we saw with his goal against Chesterfield. Defensively he is the beating heart of the backline with his alert positioning and strong covering.
I also like the dynamic which Harry Smith offers Swindon. The tall striker is no stranger to The County Ground, having had a brief spell on loan in 2017.
Seven years later Smith is a more mature and cannier player.
He now knows how to get the most out of his frame for the good of the team.
Whether that’s his hold up play or his flick ons, the former Sutton man does a lot for those around him.
It gives us an insight into how the attack could work should we get the right players around him.
So, for now, while I’m not excited, I’m also not dreading the long stretch of season ahead.
Something which I was fearing for a lot of the last.
