Swindon 'Outer Circle' Town Crier Magazine May/June 2015 by Town Crier

♥ TownCr er Magazine COVERING ROYAL WOOTTON BASSETT, HIGHWORTH, LIDDINGTON, WROUGHTON, WANBOROUGH, CHISELDON, SOUTH MARSTON, BLUNSDON, PURTON, STANTON FITZWARREN, PURTON STOKE, LYDIARD MILLICENT, HOOK, GREATFIELD, WICHELSTOWE, THE LAWNS & MARLBOROUGH ROAD

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MAY /JUNE 2015

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The Town Crier Magazine | MAY/JUNE 2015

FOOD l HEALTH & BEAUTY l MOTORING l GARDENING l PET CARE

     

  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      The Town Crier Magazine | MAY/JUNE 2015     

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The Town Crier Magazine | MAY/JUNE 2015

MAY/JUNE 2015

Editor’s Letter Welcome to the May/June edition! Many of us will be very much looking forward to two Bank Holidays – and Summer just around the corner! There’s a Get Ready for Summer feel to this issue - if you are preparing for a holiday, or a short break take a look inside. Talking of days out, why not take a trip to Blakehill Farm Nature Reserve near Cricklade - see our feature on page 18 for details. A big date for your diary this month is the Royal Wootton Bassett Carnival on 16th May - and there’s plenty more ideas in What’s On. One more date to remember – don’t forget Dad on Father’s Day on Sunday 21st June! Once again, a big thank you to everyone who sent in contributions to this issue - Highworth & Swindon Walking Club, Swindon Armed Forces Day, Wiltshire Air Ambulance and many more. Until next time ...

Annie

Your Local

TownCr er Magazine The Stables, Fishers Brook, Calne, Wilts. SN11 9HB Tel: 01249 811068 www. towncriermagazine.com Deadline for submissions for the July/August 2015 issue: 8th June 2015 Editor: contact@towncriermagazine.com Advertising: steven@towncriermagazine.com Artwork: production@towncriermagazine.com CONDITIONS OF ADVERTISING: The Editor reserves the right to refuse any copy which she feels may not be appropriate material for print. No responsibility will be taken for any damage or loss of material caused by inaccuracy or omission of any advertisement. Artwork prepared by us remains the property of The Town Crier Magazine and reproduction in any form is expressly forbidden without prior permission from the Editor. We provide artwork free of charge and where possible we will adhere to your request on layouts and type, but we cannot guarantee an exact copy. If you wish to produce your own artwork to a specific layout, or have any changes to an existing advert, please ensure your copy is with us by the 1st of month prior to publication at the latest.

The Town Crier Magazine | MAY/JUNE 2015

IN THIS ISSUE 6 16 18 22

What’s On

Local News and Events

Puzzle Corner

Blakehill Farm

Wiltshire Wildlife

Ladybird, Ladybird

Looking after the garden

24 Chelsea Flower Show Well worth a visit 26 Sunglasses and Swimsuits Get ready for the beach 28 Recipe Summer Cocktails 29 Pedicures Sweet Feet! 30 Microwaves A quick guide to the

Crossword/Sudoku

kitchen essential

34 Father’s Day 21st June

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The Town Crier Magazine | MAY/JUNE 2015

ON W NE HAT A R ’S YO U

Local Focus MAY/JUNE 2015

What’s happening locally • News • Events • Charities • Clubs

Swindon Armed Forces Day

Jazz in the Church presents

Maggie Reeday Quartet

FARINGDON ROAD PARK, SWINDON SATURDAY 27TH JUNE FROM 11AM TO 5PM. NO ENTRY FEE!! A GREAT DAY FOR ALL THE FAMILY

Maggie Reeday is one of the country's finest singers and has worked in both television and radio with some of the greatest musicians, including Scott Hamilton, Mark Nightingale, Dave Green, Digby Fairweather, and many more . . . Maggie's style is unique, as she not only portrays some of the great Jazz standards, her smokey voice also lends itself beautifully to the more soulful and blues songs.

Planning is well under way for the Swindon Armed Forces Day in Faringdon Road Park on 27th June. We have just about finalised our line up of entertainment for the whole family. The Military Wives Choir from the Defence Academy at Shrivenham will perform on the stage. In the arena, as well as a marching band from the Army, two bands from local Air Training Corps squadrons as well as the Corps of Drums and drill team from the local Army Cadets will entertain us. We’ll have performances by two civilian bands including the junior section of the Great Western Youth Orchestra. To support this great line-up, we‘ll have a funfair including a bouncy castle, face painting, street dancing, interactive games from the Wyvern Theatre and activities by streetgames.org. There will be displays of military equipment and local car clubs and motorcycle clubs will be there to display their “pride and joy”. For those veterans in the town, there will be a full line up of military charities to answer your questions and a veteran’s parade after which the Mayor will award veteran’s badges to those who do not yet own one. There’ll be the usual food and beverage outlets including a hog roast and a bar that will remain open throughout the event. There are more details on our website – www.swindonarmedforcesday.co.uk.

The Town Crier Magazine | MAY/JUNE 2015

Her quartet features the excellent keyboard player Craig Milverton (voted jazz pianist of the year 2010) plus the very talented and much in demand jazz musicians Coach York (drums) and Al Swainger (bass).

Friday 5th June 2015 7.30pm St Michael’s Church, Highworth Tickets £10 (complimentary refreshments)

Buy @ the Lighthouse Bookshop, Highworth, also at the Visitor Information Centre at Central Library, Swindon. Alternatively: Tel. 01793 764979 or email fo-ao@uwclub.net In aid of:

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Your Local

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Local Focus

Doug Hughes retires Doug Hughes, a solicitor with one of Wiltshire’s oldest law firm Bevirs, is retiring after working in the county for 40 years. Doug, aged 65, trained in Newbury, Berkshire in the late 1960s under Peter Faulks, the father of famous author Sebastian Faulks. He qualified in 1972 and came to Wiltshire three years later to join H Bevir & Son, as the company was then called. His wife Mary and their son Ben soon followed, as the family made Royal Wootton Bassett their home. They were joined by a new daughter Rebecca. In 1983, Doug struck out on his own and became a sole practitioner over many years in both Swindon and Royal Wootton Bassett, although he did work for a short period for another law firm. However the burdens of paperwork and formalities placed upon a sole practitioner meant that in 2012, Doug took the opportunity to return to Bevirs as a consultant where he’s worked as a valued team member ever since. Sonyia Woolnough, partner at Bevirs’ Royal Wootton Bassett office, said: “Doug was a solicitor here when I started as a trainee solicitor in 1982 and was as lovely to work with then as he has been on his return 30 years later. Although we’ll be sad to see him leave us, we know he has exciting plans for this next phase in his life. We have enjoyed welcoming him and his clients to Bevirs and we look forward to continuing to serving them with the same care and attention Doug did.” In his retirement, Doug, who now lives with Mary in Tetbury, Gloucestershire, is looking forward to spending more time with his grandsons Charlie and Samuel. He also wants to enjoy more chamber and choral music. When the family lived in Royal Wootton Bassett, Doug and Mary were founder members of the Wootton Bassett Choral Society. Their son Ben was in the local church choir but was spotted as an emerging talent and became a chorister at Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford. Today Ben is Principal Cello in the BBC Concert Orchestra.

The Town Crier Magazine | MAY/JUNE 2015

01793 602502 or www.rightathomeuk.com/swindon swindon@rightathomeuk.com

The Town Crier Magazine | MAY/JUNE 2015

Food &Focus Drink Local

Diary Dates MAY 2015

THE ARTS IN ART: THEATRE, DANCE AND CREATIVITY IN MODERN BRITISH ART EXHIBITION 6 May -12 Sep 2015 Swindon Museum and Art Gallery Swindon A major display of editioned works on paper by Ian Hamilton-Finlay will be on show, as well as a fascinating selection of Shakespeare engravings by contemporary print makers. MARLBOROUGH ARTISTS EXHIBITION 2015 8th-10th May 2015 Marlborough Town Hall High St, Marlborough SN8 1AA Marlborough Artists Exhibition 2015 - Affordable Art For Sale Entry is free but Wiltshire Air Ambulance will be supported by donations and proceeds from picture sales. Original paintings in all media, prints, glassware and ceramics will be on sale. www.marlboroughartists.org/art/ ROYAL WOOTTON BASSETT CARNIVAL 16 May 2015 - see page 8 MARLBOROUGH FOOD & DRINK FESTIVAL FESTIVAL 16-17 May 2015 Over 100 local and regional exhibitors the two day event promises visitors a display of cuisine delights, with producers tantalizing your taste buds. PEWSEY VALE ARTS WALK 2015 17th May from 11.30 am - 4.30pm A free and creatively open event in Pewsey Village Centre. CREAM TEA IN THE MOONRAKER 17th May 2015 Swindon and Cricklade Railway Blunsdon, Swindon Enjoy a cream tea on board The Moonraker 10

REAL ALE AND CIDER FESTIVAL 23-25 May 2015 Blunsdon, Swindon Swindon and Cricklade Railway Saturday 23 May sees the start of the ninth Swindon & Cricklade Railway Real Ale & Cider Festival, which continues over the three days of the bank holiday weekend. CHIPPENHAM FOLK FESTIVAL

22nd - 25th May A National Festival in the Heart of Wiltshire. Four days of the best in folk song, music, dance and traditions in the heart of Wiltshire www.chippfolk.co.uk/ THREE LITTLE PIGS 23-31 May 2015 Roves Farm Visitor Centre, Swindon Bringing the classic story to life...’ Huff and Puff’ your way around the farm on one of the free tractor rides. WHITSUN RACE DAY 25 May 2015 Castle Combe Circuit, Castle Combe Look forward to a fantastic day of racing with the BRSCC including the Mazda MX-5 Championship and SuperCup plus their Ultimate Saloon Championship. GRITTLETON PLANT / FOOD FAIR 31 May 2015 Set in the stunning surrounds of Grittleton House, plant lovers and “foodies” are in for a real treat, with the chance to browse the many stalls selling plants from specialist nurseries, stunning accessories for your “room outside”. JUNE 2015

KIDS GO FREE WEEKEND 6-7 Jun 2015 Swindon and Cricklade Railway Blunsdon, Swindon Any adult or senior buying a ticket may take a child with them free of charge. OLD TOWN FESTIVAL June 6th - 14th 2015 including Family Fun Day on The Lawn on 7th June - for details see: www.oldtownfestival.co.uk

The Town Crier Magazine | MAY/JUNE 2015

WILTSHIRE STEAM & VINTAGE RALLY 7-8 Jun 2015 Marlborough The 2015 Steam and Vintage Rally will be held on at Rainscome Park, Oare, Near Pewsey Wiltshire. BOWOOD CHARITY DOG SHOW AND SUMMER FAIR 21 June 2015 Bowood House This will be the 10th Bowood Charity Dog Show and Summer Fair, started by the Marchioness of Lansdowne to raise funds for local charities, and provide an event for all the family. FATHER’S DAY 21 Jun 2015 Swindon and Cricklade Railway Blunsdon, Swindon Lunch and cream tea on the Moonraker. Pre-booking required. SWINDON ARMED FORCES DAY 27 Jun 2015 Faringdon Road Park, Swindon See page 6 for details. SWINDON FOOD & DRINK FESTIVAL 27-28 Jun 2015 Lydiard House & Park, Swindon The weekend of Saturday 27th & Sunday 28th June sees the launch of the Swindon Food & Drink Festival at the beautiful Lydiard Park, Swindon SN5 3PA. 20TH MUSIC FOR AWHILE SUMMER FESTIVAL 28-29 Jun 2015 Marlborough The 20th Music for Awhile summer festival will take place on June 28 & 29 2015 in All Saints Alton Priors including a concert of Bach Cantatas on Sunday afternoon. LYDIARD BARK DOG SHOW Sunday 5 July, 11am to 4pm Lydiard Bark is back for a second year with an even bigger and better dog show. There are more classes, more stands and even more great prizes. Entry to Lydiard Park and the event is FREE! www.lydiardpark.org.uk

The Town Crier Magazine | MAY/JUNE 2015

Local Focus

Foggy’s meetings We will be holding friendly meets twice a month; the first Wednesday of the month at Liden Community Centre, Barrington Close, Liden, Swindon SN3 6HF 12noon2pm and every third Wednesday of the month at the Boundary House, 1 The Street, Moredon, Swindon SN25 3ER also 12noon-2pm (please note change of day). Due to an Awards 4 All grant, we offer free Hydrotherapy sessions (and jacuzzi) every Monday, for an hour at Thamesdown Hydrotherapy Pool for our paid members. We offer advice, support, a shoulder to lean on, where you can chat about anything, everything and nothing. It’s amazingly relieving to know that you’re not alone. We are dedicated to providing support, raising awareness and promoting positivity, for “invisible condition’s”, primarily for Arthritis and Rheumatic Condition’s, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and M. E., Endometriosis, Fibromyalgia, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Polymyalgia Rheumatica and Giant Cell Arteritis, Seasonal Affective Disorder and Trigeminal Neuralgia. You can contact us 0844 887 2377 or 0844 887 2485 between 12 and 4pm. Our website is www.butyoudontlooksick.co.uk email information@butyoudontlooksick.co.uk

Wessex Male Choir

Forthcoming events: 16th May 2015 Cor Meibion, Pontarddulais, Wales. Contact 01792 884279 23rd May 2015 With Rutgers University Choir, USA in SJE Arts College, Oxford in aid of Parkinson’s UK. Contact 01865 613507 13th June 2015 St Mary Magadalene, Taunton in aid of Childrens Hospice South West. Contact 01271 325270 25th July 2015 Steam, near McArthur Glen Outlet centre, Swindon. Contact www.wessexmalechoir.co.uk

The Town Crier Magazine | MAY/JUNE 2015

Highworth & Swindon Walking Club The Highworth & Swindon Walking Club is a friendly group whose members enjoy walking in the countryside. We organise walks every Sunday and Wednesday throughout the year - usually within a 35 mile radius of Swindon, which covers many beautiful areas such as the Cotswolds, Thames Valley and Marlborough Downs. We cater for walkers of different abilities, with walks graded from very easy to very hard. Good footwear and suitable clothing for the weather conditions are recommended. Sorry, no dogs. Members meet in Swindon or Highworth as indicated on the programme, and, to minimise the use of cars, we share cars wherever possible, the costs being shared between the driver and passengers. Every second Wednesday there is a short walk of up to 6 miles with the offer of an optional Pub lunch at the end. Otherwise our ‘standard’ walks have itineraries ranging from 8 to 11 miles in length; for these please bring a packed lunch and enough water. On one Sunday each month we arrange a Welsh walk, usually in the Brecon Beacons National Park. The Club also has walking weekends away each year, exploring different parts of the country, as well as social events. The programme of walks and events is published with a Newsletter every 4 months. Prospective members are welcome to participate in a walk for a maximum of 3 times before being asked to join the Club. The Club is an independent organisation affiliated to The Ramblers. Currently the annual membership fee is £5.00 per person. Anyone interested can view our current walks and events programmes on our website: www. highworthandswindonwalkingclub.btck.co.uk . Further information can be obtained by contacting the Club Secretary, Hilary on 01793 644797.

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Doctor Ed brings his skills to Wiltshire Air Ambulance

XPERIENCED trauma doctor Ed Valentine has been appointed as the base doctor at Wiltshire Air Ambulance (WAA). In his role, which is part-time, Ed will be carrying out a minimum of two days flying a month with WAA, provide on-going support to the air ambulance paramedics in developing their Critical Care skills and assist and deliver presentations on Clinical Governance. He joins as the charity has started operating a dedicated air ambulance using a Bell 429 helicopter. As a member of SWIFT Medics, Ed, 35, has worked with WAA providing pre-hospital care to sick and injured people for the last four years. He received a Chief Ambulance Officer’s Commendation, along with the WAA crew and land ambulance crew, for the life-saving treatment he gave to 18-year-old Dylan Jones, who suffered catastrophic injuries in a road traffic collision at Lechlade, Gloucestershire, in August 2012 Ed’s full time job is as a Consultant in Emergency Medicine at the Royal Gwent Hospital, Wales. He has been a doctor since 2002.

Ed, who is married with two children and lives in Corsham, said: “It’s a huge privilege to work for WAA and develop the service with the new aircraft. At WAA we all love what we do. It’s one of the best charities in the UK, it’s very forward thinking. “Working on an air ambulance is far more challenging than working in a hospital because you are in a very unpredictable environment. You have limited information and need to make quick decisions in the best interests of the patient. We can provide Critical Care skills to the sickest patients and improve the chances of survival and hopefully reduce long term disability.” David Philpott, Chief Executive of WAA, said: “We are extremely fortunate to have Dr Ed Valentine joining our highly skilled team of Critical Care paramedics. As a local man from Corsham, Ed knows only too well how vital the air ambulance is in our open countryside and on our busy roads. His clinical leadership and training will ensure that Wiltshire Air Ambulance continues to provide leading edge thinking and practice for the benefit of all of our county’s residents.”

The Town Crier Magazine | MAY/JUNE 2015

The White Horse Challenge 2015 4 - 5 July 2015 Now in its 10th year, the White Horse Challenge is one of the highlights of our events calendar. Organised by Monahans, this two-day circular trek around seven of Wiltshire's magnificent white horses takes in breathtaking views, lush meadows, shady farm tracks and quiet country lanes. For families and those who can't do the full walk, there are also shorter options covering half the route or the final seven miles. The White Horse Challenge has raised over £100,000 for us so far, we hope you'll join us in making this year's Challenge the best yet! To find out more visit www. whitehorsechallenge.co.uk

Photo: Matt Sudol Photography

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The Street, Brinkworth, SN15 5AF Tel: 01666 510366 www.threecrownsbrinkworth.co.uk The Town Crier Magazine | MAY/JUNE 2015

What’s On

PUZZLE CORNER

Concert at the Kings Saturday May 30th 2015 At the time of going to press the following acts were confirmed to appear; Lindisfarne, Squeeze, Howard Jones, Sweet and Animals and Friends. “Concert At The Kings”, The Kings Arms, Pub Lane, All Cannings, Devizes, Wiltshire, SN10 3PA (01380 860328). Saturday May 30th, open from 12 midday to 11pm. Information: www.concertatthekings.co.uk www.facebook.com/ConcertAtTheKings Twitter: twitter.com/concertatkings For tickets availability: The Kings Arms, All Cannings (01380 860328), Sound Knowledge, Marlborough (01672 511106), Wadworth Visitor Centre, Devizes (01380 732277).

The Grittleton Plant & Food Fair 31st May 2015 - 11am The Street, Grittleton, Chippenham, SN14 6AP Set in the stunning surrounds of Grittleton House, plant lovers and “foodies” are in for a real treat, with the chance to browse the many stalls selling plants from specialist nurseries, stunning accessories for your “room outside”, and delicious local artisan produce. It is going to be a fantastic day out for friends and family. Refreshments will be available. Organised by children's charity Action Medical Research, a special guest appearance by the big fluffy mascot himself, Paddington Bear will be there to greet the younger members of the family. Free parking is available. www.action.org.uk/ grittleton-plant-and-food-fair

The Town Crier Magazine | MAY/JUNE 2015

ACROSS 1 Prejudice based on ethnicity (6) 5 Erotic fixation (6) 8 Hope, desire (4) 9 Addictive drug (8) 10 Sacred songs or hymns (6) 11 Marrying twice without divorce (crime) (6) 12 Dull heavy noise (4) 14 Sick (3) 15 Female (4) 16 Horror-struck (6) 18 Place of Christian worship (6) 20 Nazi symbol (8) 22 Military force (4) 23 Iconic Australian city (6) 24 Twinging, hurting (6)

DOWN 2 First sign of the Zodiac (5) 3 Breathed in (7) 4 Short item of ladies’ clothing (4,5) 5 A long way away (3) 6 Strip of leather, shoe (5) 7 Sparkle, glitter (7) 11 Warm headwear, ski-mask (9) 13 Main road, carriageway (7) 15 Hungarian soup or stew (7) 17 Set a fire with criminal intent (5) 19 Pungent spice (5) 21 Evergreen climbing plant (3) Solutions to the crossword and sudoku on page 32

Ask AMS Advice for small businesses

Turnover for vanity; profit for sanity; cash for reality? I was talking to a client recently about whether he would be tendering for a large construction project for a well-known department store. He said: no, they wouldn’t because if they got it they’d have to hire a permanent manager and foreman (as well as extra sub-contractors). Then they would have to ensure they got future work to keep the two employees busy – which might mean having to bid low to ensure that they secured this extra work - and “before you know it you’re working for nothing”. He said they prefer to go for the “bits and pieces of work on the fringes” where they can charge a competitive but profitable price without needing to worry about keeping permanent-staff busy. He summed it up with the phrase “Turnover for vanity; profit for sanity”. I liked the phrase and thought how it was relevant to all businesses. It can be very tempting to increase sales by keeping prices low, or by agreeing a lower deal with a hard-negotiating client - but often you are causing yourself more problems than you are solving. I looked his maxim up on the internet and discovered that the full phrase is “Turnover for vanity; profit for sanity; cash for reality”. This is a reminder that profit might look good on a piece of paper, but you need your customers to pay you or you won’t have money in the bank. So, it’s a bit of a hammy phrase – but one to keep in mind.

Peter Bromiley ACA AMS Accountancy Ltd. Swindon SN5 7XF. 01793 818400 www.ams-accountancy.co.uk

The Town Crier Magazine | MAY/JUNE 2015

Wiltshire Wildlife Trust

Beauty and the beasts From airfield to beef farm, from betony to barn owls, there is a wealth of history and wildlife at Blakehill Farm Nature Reserve near Cricklade in north Wiltshire. Susan Litherland of the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust tells us more …..

LAKEHILL FARM nature reserve is Britain’s biggest meadowland restoration project and the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust is working hard to return this landscape to one that our forebears would have recognised – one of drifts of wildflowers among swaying grasses, above which the air thrums with the sounds of bird song and insects. Blakehill Farm nature reserve has a remarkable history that stretches back through the paranoia of the Cold War, the tragedy of the Second World War, the traditional farming methods of olden days to being a part of the Braydon Forest, a hunting ground for King John. It was bought by the Trust in 2000 and its latest reincarnation is as a nature reserve and farm base for our northern reserves, that combines the best of traditional farming methods with modern technology. The Trust has put in place a special grazing regime using traditional and rare breed livestock and, in designated places on the site, cuts the hay in July or August after ground-nesting birds have left and at a time best suited to the spreading of wildflower seed. This will help the land gradually revert to hay meadow - unimproved neutral grassland. Today this neutral grassland is very rare in Britain. Intensification of agriculture has resulted in the loss of 97 per cent of UK hay meadows in the last 50 years. Although they are neutral in name, these grasslands are far from neutral in character and their wealth of colourful flowers and host of insects, along with other wildlife, makes them a joy to experience. Approach the reserve in early summer and your ears tune into the ‘shooshing’ of the meadow grasses, the throb of bees and the burbling, bubbling song of skylarks, Blakehill’s most numerous birds. And if you are lucky you will see curlew’s that are now beginning to reuse the site once again

The Town Crier Magazine | MAY/JUNE 2015

At any time of year you may spot brown hares and roe deer, while scrub woodland at the fringes attracts nightingale, barn owl and reed buntings. The ponds are breeding sites for great crested newts and the stonechat, fieldfare and redwing are just some of the birds to visit the reserve in winter. It is Blakehill’s history that makes it such a suitable site for a project of this magnitude. Over the centuries the Braydon Forest became a patchwork of small fields and hedgerows, and incorporated Blakehill Farm. Then came the Second World War, and in 1943, the farm and the adjacent areas were purchased by the War Department and an airfield was constructed. After the War Blakehill was used by GCHQ as a communications centre and listening post. The aerials have been removed and where the masts had been ring-fenced, which prevented tenant farmers from fertilising the ground, wildflowers that grew in abundance. These untouched pockets of grassland contain adder’s tongue, fern, dyers greenweed, great burnet, spiny restharrow, knapweed, devil’s bit scabious, saw-wort and more than 20 species of grass. They form little reservoirs of meadow biodiversity and are being encouraged to spread across the whole of the site to provide habitat for wildlife such as the meadow brown, white-letter hairstreak and orange-tip butterflies and birds. Looking to the future, the location of Blakehill Farm on the edge of the Braydon Forest area is vitally important to the Trust’s attempts to help wildlife adapt to climate change. The Trust already owns or manages a number of smaller hay meadow nature reserves nearby. Blakehill helps to join up this network of fragmented meadows; giving the species they contain a better chance of survival.

WILTSHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST EVENTS

British Zoos May 12 Tuesday 7.30pm Memorial Hall, Station Rd, Royal Wootton Bassett

NATIONAL MEADOW DAY Saturday 4 July from 1pm Blakehill Farm nature reserve, near Cricklade SN6 6RA

This will be a brilliant free open day with talks, guided walks, demonstrations, kids’ workshops, food and fun. Food and drink will be available to buy. This event is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and is part of the Save Our Magnificent Meadows project, funded by HLF and led by Plantlife. How to get there. Blakehill Farm Nature Reserve is signposted off the B4040 Malmesbury Road, between Minety and Cricklade, adjacent to the village of Leigh. From Cricklade drive about 1.3 miles from the edge of town. The reserve entrance is on the left after about 100 yards after entering Leigh. From Minety, drive about 3.2 miles. Reserve entrance is on right about 0.5 miles after the Forester’s Arms pub. Visit wiltshirewildlfe.org/Reserves for more information and maps. By bus – service 50 travels from Cricklade to Cirencester via Leigh and Ashton Keynes. Service 52 travels from Swindon through Royal Wootton Basset via Minety.

Photos: Above: Blakehill Farm, Steve Webb WWT Inset left: Brown Hare, David Kjaer Below: Old runway with ox-eye daisies, David Kjaer

Bristol Zoo’s Dave Maish will discuss the role and value of zoos in current society. It will take place at the Memorial Hall, Station Road, Royal Wootton Bassett. Entrance to hall and car park are through the gate in Tanners Close near its junction with Station Road. Adults £3.00, accompanied children free. Refreshments available, as is a raffle. Contact: Barry Bissett (01793) 848217 barry.bissett@btinternet.com

Badger watching in the Slad Valley May 17 Sunday 6pm

Minibus trip to the Slad Valley for a daylight viewing of a family of badgers under the guidance of local expert Tony Dean. Cameras can be used but no flashes please. Minibus will leave Boroughfields car park Royal Wootton Basset, promptly. There is a hilly walk of about half a mile and one stile to climb. Please bring something waterproof to sit on and wear sturdy boots. Booking essential. Tony Dean asks for a donation to support his conservation work and there will be a donation for minibus fuel. Excellent photos of the badgers are available at modest cost. Barry Bissett (01793) 848217 barry.bissett@btinternet.com

May – what a picture! May 23 Saturday 10.30am Stanton Country Park, Swindon Capture nature’s favourite time of year at Stanton Country Park at this family event suitable for 6-14 year olds.. Bring along your camera or phone and take your own special picture. The colours and patterns of life make a wonderful image. Meet at the visitor centre in the car park. Cost: £1.50. Phil Dean (01793) 695901 phildean1@live.co.uk The Town Crier Magazine | MAY/JUNE 2015

ADVERTORIAL

Local businesswoman to take on McDonalds for national award

WINDON businesswoman Hilary Coates faces stiff competition after being listed as a finalist for New Franchisee of the Year at the National 2015 EWIF (Encouraging Women in to Franchising) Awards. Hilary, who runs Swindon based dog boarding business Wagging Tails, is one of three finalists for the Award and is up against franchisees from national fast food chain McDonalds and bookkeepers Rosemary Bookkeeping. Hilary launched her Wagging Tails franchise in April 2014 giving dogs in the Swindon area their very own holiday when their owners are away. Guest dogs stay in the homes of specially selected carers, all of whom are experienced dog owners, licensed by their local councils and fully insured. Hilary’s service has received huge demand with a many owners in the area using Wagging Tails for their dog’s holiday. Mike, a dog owner from Swindon who has used the service commented, “We can’t speak highly enough of the excellent service received from Hilary and the care given to Monty by Steve and Teresa. They made him very welcome in their home and we genuinely believe his holiday was every bit as good as ours”. Hilary attributes the success of the business to the focus she places on the welfare and individual needs of each dog placed in Wagging Tails care. “We spend a lot of time finding out about each dog who stays with us to ensure they have the most enjoyable holiday possible. Our aim is to ensure that our owners can go away and enjoy their break knowing that their dog is having a great holiday too and remove the stress often associated with leaving your dog behind in a kennel. To be nominated for an award for doing something that is so rewarding is fantastic and to be in the company of a globally recognised brand like McDonalds is incredible. I’m keeping my fingers crossed!!!” The 2015 Award winners will be announced at the EWIF Awards Ceremony which takes place on Tuesday 12th May at the RBS Building, London.

The Town Crier Magazine | MAY/JUNE 2015

Hilary & Bandit will be attending a few dog shows this summer and you can meet them at the Old Town Festival Show on Sunday June 7th; the Bowood Charity Dog Show on Sunday June 21st and the Lydiard Bark Dog Show on Sunday July 5th. Come and have a chat about becoming a carer or using the service in your area’.

Frisky Fridays During May we are discounting the cost of neutering for cats, dogs and rabbits. Neutering clinics are running at our Greenbridge and Royal Wootton Bassett clinics on: Friday 8th May 2015 Friday 22nd May 2015 ÂŁ40 Discount for Dogs ÂŁ30 Discount for Cats and Rabbits

Availability is limited Contact us on 01793 511267 39B Station Road, Royal Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire SN4 7ED Tel: 01793 230266 Open: Monday to Friday 9am-6.30pm Saturday 9am-12noon

www.thameswoodvets.co.uk The Town Crier Magazine | MAY/JUNE 2015

Wildlife

Ladybird, Ladybird . . . Keep looking after our gardens for us!

AST weekend my husband and I spent a long overdue day tidying the garden. During our labours I became intrigued by the number of ladybirds populating the leaves and bushes, which made me curious about the world of this mini beast.

Popular with children and adults alike, I wondered how much we actually know about them and thought I’d do a little research. The ladybird is actually a member of the beetle family and its scientific name is Coccinellidae, meaning ‘little red sphere’. There are over 42 different species in the UK, the most common being the bright red variety that has seven spots and is thought to have given the insect its name: “Lady” referring to the Virgin Mary (Our Lady) who in early paintings is seen wearing a red cloak, and the seven spots being symbolic of the seven joys and seven sorrows of Mary.

The ladybird starts life as a tiny, shiny, yellow egg, laid in a cluster on a leaf from late spring into summer. Each egg hatches to release a small, black, 6-legged larva which eats greedily and increases in size by shedding its skin three times in its lifetime. The full grown larva eventually attaches itself to a leaf and forms a pupa, from which the adult beetle emerges 1-2 weeks later. Beetles and larvae feed through the summer and ladybirds that hatch early will produce a new generation of beetles during mid to late summer. During its short life span, a ladybird will lay around one thousand eggs. When the colder weather comes it looks for somewhere warm to hibernate for the winter, where it may stay for up to nine months. Very few will survive to hibernate a second winter - one year is the common life span of a ladybird. They emerge from hibernation in late March to April, to feed and mate and begin the process all over again! Ladybirds have brightly coloured wings which beat about 85 times per second while flying. The wings are also used to warn off predators. In times of danger, ladybirds are able to roll over and play dead. They secrete a fluid from the joints in their legs that gives off a foul tasting fluid that prevents their enemies from finishing them off! Ladybirds are a gardener’s friend and should be made welcome as they are one of the best deterrents against garden pests. They eat aphids (tiny soft-bodied insects) that destroy foliage and plants such as roses and tomatoes, their particular favourite being greenfly. They also eat small caterpillars, mealy bugs, mites and even some scale insects. A ladybird will consume around 5000 aphids during its lifetime.

by Debbie Singh-Bhatti 22

The Town Crier Magazine | MAY/JUNE 2015

DMB

The Town Crier Magazine | MAY/JUNE 2015

Gardening

Chelsea Flower Show by Rachel Leverton

HELSEA FLOWER SHOW, 19th – 23rd May is to gardening what the Paris catwalks are to fashion. Paris fashions may seem outlandish, but they push certain trends, which in a watered-down version end up in high-street shops. Likewise, though many of Chelsea’s show gardens are fantasy pieces which demonstrate outrageous ideas, the horticultural trends on display will find their way into our own more modest plots. For example; did you know that bonsai specimens and topiary gardens were introduced at Chelsea in 1913? Rock gardens were introduced in the 1940s and decking in the eighties. All of these can now be bought in garden centres up and down the land. In 2006 James Dyson even produced a water feature in which

the water ran uphill. Actually I’m still waiting for my garden centre to stock one of those! Maybe one day . . . Chelsea isn’t just about high fashion though; it reflects environmental trends too. In recent years there have been hosepipe bans in the great Pavillion and many of the gardens have showcased drought-tolerant planting schemes. Chelsea draws over 150,000 visitors each year. For the past ten years it’s been held over five days instead of four, such is its popularity. The sheer quantity and varieties of plants on display to the general public is breathtaking. Chelsea really is window-shopping at its finest. It’s like walking through a real-life version of the best garden design catalogue in the world.

The Town Crier Magazine | MAY/JUNE 2015

And if you visit on the last day you don’t have to restrict yourself to window shopping. At 4pm precisely a bell rings and the great Chelsea sell-off begins. The poor designers, after all their hard work, begin the mammoth task of dismantling their creations. The good news is that the public can buy them. It’s perfectly possible to end up owning a little piece of a prize winning garden. So what should you choose? If it were me I’d want something special; a reminder of my visit. I’d go for a species which I know would grow in my garden, but an unusual variety, not available in my local garden centre. In my case it would probably be an unusual lavender or fuchsia. Choose carefully and you could have a little piece of Chelsea gold adorning your plot for years.

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The Town Crier Magazine | MAY/JUNE 2015

Summer Special

The future’s so bright . . . I gotta wear shades! by Louise Addison

UMMER is just around the corner, and with it – hopefully – the sun. It’s a time to start thinking about eye protection. I have a theory that sunspecs are the coolest accessories ever invented. They add instant glamour to any outfit; disguise tired eyes, and offer handy hangover relief when required. In addition, you don’t have to worry about whether they make your bum look big, and even a designer pair won’t break the bank. Yet as useful as these qualities are they pale into insignificance beside sunspecs’ real function, which is to protect our eyes.

UV FACTS • UV penetrates clouds so even when you can’t see the sun your eyes may still be damaged unless you protect them • UV is most intense between 10am and 2pm. Make sure that your eyes are protected during this time. • UV is more powerful at high altitude • The effects of UV are amplified in reflective environments: snow, sand, water and concrete. • A wide-brimmed hat or baseball cap offers excellent eye protection screening around 50% of all UV. • Any UV light you’re exposed to now can cause eye problems years down the line, such as macula degeneration (AMD) and cataract. HANDY HINTS TO HELP YOU CHOOSE. • All sunspecs must carry the CE mark to prove they filter 99-100% of all UV rays.

The sun’s UV rays can damage the delicate structures of the eye, such as the lens and the retina. This damage can lead to cataracts and macular degeneration in later life.

• Wraparound styles offer the most protection but the large sunspecs favoured by WAGs and celebrities are also good. • Grey tints reduce brightness without distorting colour. • Brown and amber offer best protection from visible blue light and reduce haziness. • Green is good for contrast and a great all-rounder • Rose is good for water-sports and offers good contrast for objects viewed against blue or green backgrounds.

The Town Crier Magazine | MAY/JUNE 2015

Bathing beauty Swimsuit Guide

HE ultimate, most terrifying stage fright is the bathing suit. Thoughts about whether “my bum looks big in this” pale into insignificance as we consider exposing every bump and lump imaginable in the most revealing item next to our birthday suit! Everyone has something about their body that they think looks horrible in a swimsuit, so when looking for the ideal swimwear, the secret is to find something that creates a sense of balance and draws attention to the most flattering parts of our figure whilst masking our trouble spots. Most of us fit into three problem shapes – pear, apple and straight (or athletic). Pears are heavy around the hips and thighs, and wearing a plunging neckline or eye-catching top with ruffles or embellishments will make the bust look bigger and will also draw attention away from the heavier bottom half. Padded, push up tops make boobs look bigger and bandeau tops make the bust appear wider. High cut bottoms make the legs look longer if this is also an issue. Apples have large busts and thick waists with comparatively small hips. Boy shorts make the hips look wider and help to give balance. Tops that are cut straight across help to minimise large busts, and for extra support bikini tops should be under-wired, and one piece suits should have higher backs. If finding the perfect fit for both top and bottom halves is a problem, don’t be afraid to buy different sized separates in complimentary designs. For example bottoms in a bright or patterned fabric and a top in a plain, darker fabric, will help draw attention away from the bust. If you need to disguise a large tummy, a one piece suit with ruched panels or shirring will hide bulges and create definition, as will a wrap over design with crossover fabric. Straight shapes need to create the illusion of more curves, and the monokini is great for this, as is a one-piece with strategically placed cuts or slits. Bold prints, ruffles and embellishments on tops and bottoms accentuate the bust and hip lines, and skimpier bikini bottoms plus side ties will make your bottom appear curvier. Finally, before selecting your swimwear, consider how and when you plan on wearing it. Whether you intend to go swimming or scuba diving, or spend your time sunbathing will have an influence on the style, fabric and even the colour you choose.

by Debbie Singh-Bhatti The Town Crier Magazine | MAY/JUNE 2015

Summer Special

Summer Cocktails Is there anything nicer than sipping a cocktail on a warm summer evening in the garden? People can be very coy about cocktails, yet many are not complicated and are a great way to impress guests. So here are three perfect, refreshing cocktails; two alcoholic and one for non-drinkers.

The Mojito - serves 4 Ice cubes 6fl oz light rum 4 whole and 8 broken mint sprigs 6 tbsp fresh lime juice 4 tbsp sugar Club soda 4 slices lime Place the ice in a beverage shaker. Add the rum, the 8 broken mint sprigs, the lime juice and the sugar. Shake well and pour over ice in tall glasses. Top up each glass with club soda to taste. Garnish with a slice of lime and a sprig of mint. Serve.

The Sea Breeze - serves 1 Ice cubes 2 fl oz vodka 2 fl oz cranberry juice 2fl oz fresh grapefruit juice Lime wedge

The Shirley Temple - serves 1

Fill a tall glass with ice.

Ice Grenadine Ginger Ale 2 lemon wedges Fill a tall glass with ice.

Pour the vodka, cranberry and grapefruit juices over the ice.

Pour a couple of dashes of grenadine over and top up with ginger ale.

Stir gently, squeeze the lime into the drink then drop it into the glass. Serve.

Squeeze the lemon wedges over then drop into the glass. Serve.

The Town Crier Magazine | MAY/JUNE 2015

Pedicures by Debbie Singh-Bhatti

OST of us neglect our feet. They spend much of their lives covered up â&#x20AC;&#x201C; out of sight and out of mind â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and yet I for one love to give them the occasional pamper and am convinced they thank me for it! A pedicure, professionally done, is a therapeutic treatment for feet which can support chiropody if you have foot problems, can assist posture by helping you to walk more comfortably and can soothe and relax you whilst being done. Typically, a pedicure will begin with a soak of your feet in warm, scented water which will both cleanse and soften the skin. This is then followed by an exfoliating rub to get rid of dead skin. Salts and minerals are used, but exfoliation may also be done with pumice, especially on the heels or ball of the foot.

Call for a free, no obligation market appraisal from a professional team Chippenham 01249 447777 Calne 01249 813813 Swindon 01793 643643

A massage of the feet with creams and aromatherapy oils follows, to refresh and soften the skin. You may also be treated to a massage of the lower leg. Finally, cuticles will be clipped and nails cut and shaped before nail polish is applied to send you away with pretty toes! Any style of polish can be applied, from a French pedicure with white tips to gel polish which gives a long-lasting glossy finish which dries instantly. With summer approaching, now is the time to get your feet ready for those open toe sandals!

The Town Crier Magazine | MAY/JUNE 2015

Home

Marvellous Microwaves! Our guide to microwave ovens N

OTORIOUSLY poor at cooking, my mum earned herself the title “Microwave Mary” after she discovered the joys of this new invention in the mid 80s. It was like a dream come true for her: ready meals heated at the touch of a button, jacket potatoes cooked in minutes!

A basic microwave will defrost, cook and reheat food, but there are other options available. First is a microwave with internal grill, which will brown and crisp food in a way that is not possible with a basic model, and the grill and microwave can also be used independently.

The microwave oven has progressed somewhat since those early years, but they still make a great choice for busy people who can’t spare the time for cooking or for individuals who don’t have space for conventional ovens – and they also save energy for the cost conscious!

Higher up the range is the combimicrowave, which includes a convection (hot air) oven in addition to the microwave oven and grill. These models give most flexibility as all functions can be used independently or together. Combination ovens can halve the cooking time for most foods, and are able to roast brown and grill. Some combination ovens also offer a steaming function.

When choosing a microwave oven, first consider the needs of your household. Ranging in size from 17L to 32L, go no smaller than 27L if you have a family. You’ll need the larger turntable and greater interior height. Then decide on the power, which can vary from 800W-1100W. The higher the wattage, the quicker the microwave will cook. 30

Finally, there is the built-in option. This is available for any type of oven and will add to the design quality of your kitchen, whilst also freeing up work space. When deciding upon which features to have on your

The Town Crier Magazine | MAY/JUNE 2015

microwave oven, consider what type of cooking you do and select accordingly. Choose a grill or combi-oven if you do lots of grilling and roasting, and if you use lots of frozen food, look for an oven with a good defrosting feature. Some models offer an automatic cooking and defrosting function, which calculates the time needed for cooking based on the weight of the food. Microwaves with a sensor cooking feature detect the amount of moisture in food along with the humidity inside the oven and adjust power levels and cooking time to ensure the best results. A host of other features, including preset programmes for cooking popular foods and drop down doors for easier loading and emptying are also available. Microwave ovens are a great asset to the modern cook, and in my mum’s opinion, no kitchen should be without one!

by Debbie Singh-Bhatti

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www.haynesconstruction.org.uk The Town Crier Magazine | MAY/JUNE 2015

Books

Death, Dynamite and Disaster

HE coming of the Railway Age was also the coming of the Railway Accident. They brought excitement and travelling freedom, but they also brought mayhem, trauma, danger and death. Nowadays we do not travel anticipating accidents, but in the infancy and toddler-times of railways such was their frequency, that they gave rise to an entrepreneurial opportunity for the introduction of travel insurance for death and injury. In August 1863 The Saturday Review wrote: “As soon as ever the excursion trains begin to run plentifully, the accidents follow in like proportion...’the railway accident season’ has begun..” This book brings a ‘fly-on-the-wall’ account of some famous accidents such as that of William Huskisson MP, at the opening the Manchester & Liverpool Railway and the disastrous Tay Bridge Disaster as well as lesser known ones like the crash at Hexthorpe when the the Manchester, Sheffield & Lincolnshire Railway daily express train travelling from Liverpool to Hull smashed into Midland Railway’s Race Day Special for Doncaster’s Gold Cup, using victim statements, newspaper articles, and official reports.

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The coming of the railways brought technology and industrial development, but it also brought destruction and devastation as it razed towns, villages and churchyards to make way for its stations, hotels and Works. This chapter makes gruesome and almost unbelievable reading. Most people associate dynamite and railways with their construction, blasting cuttings and tunnels, but in this book the dynamite is in relation to the first terrorist’s attacks on the railways and the underground in the late 19th Century. It charts the development of dynamite, the ‘Decade of Dynamite’ in the 1880s and the way it became the Fenians’ ‘weapon of choice’ for their British bombing campaign. Few know that the first death from bombings on the underground was that of Harry Pitts back in 1897. This believed to be, but unproven, the work of anarchists. The book is written by local author Dr Rosa Matheson, Swindon’s best known railway historian and differs from her usual work on the Great Western Railway. It is available on-line, from bookshops such as Pen & Paper Old Town, Swindon, or for a signed and dedicated copy contact the author on 01793 764979.

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The Town Crier Magazine | MAY/JUNE 2015

A date to remember . . .

Father’s Day Sunday June 21st

ATHER’S DAY is celebrated worldwide in recognition of the contribution fathers make to the lives of their children. In the UK it takes place on the third Sunday in June.

There are various stories about the origins of the day. Some believe it is associated with pagan sun worship as the sun is known as the father of the universe and the June solstice occurs around the same time as Father’s Day each year.

Others claim that the tradition originated in the ruins of Babylon. It is said that a young boy called Elmesu carved a father’s day message on a card made out of clay around 4,000 years ago.

The UK is believed to have followed on after the USA started celebrating the annual occasion.

Again there are different versions, but most link the commencement of the modern Father’s Day with the campaign led by Sonara Smart Dodd.

When she was 27, Sonara decided after listening to a Mother’s Day Sermon that there should be something similar for fathers. The local Spokane Ministerial

The Town Crier Magazine | MAY/JUNE 2015

Association and the Young Men’s Christian Association supported her and a local celebration took place in 1910. The popularity of the day spread across the USA and it became officially recognised by President Woodrow Wilson in 1916.

by Susan Brookes-Morris

The Town Crier Magazine | MAY/JUNE 2015

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The Town Crier Magazine | MAY/JUNE 2015