Wigwam Magazine Issue No.1 by wigwampropertynews

ISSUE No.1 2020

Wigwam

THE PREMIER PROPERTY MAGAZINE FOR SWINDON AND THE SURROUNDING AREA

Expertly crafted integrated marketing campaigns. It’s in our DNA. —— Brand. Design. Digital. Film.

At Jazzbones, we create eye-catching graphic design, innovative websites that click with your customers, advertising with insight, digital marketing campaigns that grow your business and branding that conveys your unique story.

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CONTENTS ISSUE No.1 2020

CORONAVIRUS BRINGS PROPERTY SECTOR TO A STANDSTILL

After much soul-searching, Wigwam, Swindon’s first ever dedicated property website, launches as UK goes into lockdown.

LIVE ON THE EDGE OF THE COTSWOLDS

One of the real joys of living in Swindon is that wherever you live in the town you are close to Wiltshire’s bucolic countryside.

KAPADA VINTAGE FEATURE

Swindon’s independent retail scene has received a welcome boost with the opening of Kapada Vintage in Old Town.

PEPPER&CO. FEATURE

Pepper&Co bring a dash of style to residential and commercial properties across Swindon.

MIELE LAUNCH INNOVATIVE 3-IN-1 VACUUM CLEANER

Miele’s first cordless vacuum cleaner combines exceptional cleaning performance with impressive flexibility.

wigwamswindon.co.uk

CONTENTS ISSUE No.1 2020

ENJOY 'CANALSIDE' LIVING IN SWINDON

Live life in a modern home alongside the Wilts & Berks canal in Swindon.

ESTATE AND WILLS PLANNING

Amy Touson from Bower & Bailey answers our legal and property questions.

DON'T MOVE IMPROVE

Over the last few years, the saying: ‘don’t move, improve’ has become more and more relevant to UK homeowners.

AMBITIOUS SWINDON TOURISM GROUP MEET FOR FIRST TIME

The Swindon Tourism Group held its inaugural meeting at Doubletree by Hilton Hotel.

FLOWER POWER! LEADING SWINDON ARTIST IS INSPIRED BY NATURE

They might just be the most inspired series of giant flower paintings since Andy Warhol’s 1960s silkscreens.

wigwamswindon.co.uk

For films that tell your brand story. Tune in to compelling film production, creative CGI and engaging motion graphics from the Jazzbones video team. Get your film project underway today 01793 847300

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WigwamÂŽ is published by Jazzbones Creative Ltd.

Printed by MPD Offset

Cover Image Credit

Registered In England No: 0658 6564 VAT Reg No: 891 859463

Units 4/5, Rivergate, Rivermead Drive, Swindon SN5 7ET

Photo by Taisiia Stupak

2nd Floor, Cornmarket House, High Street, Swindon SN1 3EB

01793 495522 mpdprint.co.uk

on Unsplash

01793 847300 www.jazzbones.co.uk

Please recycle this magazine when you have finished with it.

Wigwam is a new property magazine that curates the hottest property news from across Swindon and the surrounding areas. Welcome to Wigwam, Swindon’s brandnew property magazine. We’re mainly an online beast, but as devotees of quality print we’ll also produce a bimonthly print version, hence the one in your hands! Whatever the medium, we’ll be unapologetic cheerleaders for Swindon and its property market. As someone who has lived in some insalubrious flats in London and Barcelona I bring an outsider’s eye to the Swindon property market. That means I really appreciate how much bang you get for your buck here. And what a location - surrounded by beautiful countryside, close to Oxford and Bath, barely an hour to London by train. Enjoy the magazine and our town!

Jeff King Editor Wigwam Swindon press@wigwamswindon.co.uk

Get Involved: List your property business in the Wigwam Directory. Advertise your business with Wigwam Swindon. Sign up for our weekly e-newsletters. Share your property news and videos with us. Follow us: wigwamswindon.co.uk

8 | ISSUE No. 1

CORONAVIRUS BRINGS PROPERTY SECTOR TO A STANDSTILL

After much soul-searching, Wigwam, Swindon’s first ever dedicated property website, launched as the UK went into lockdown. When the UK government announced that everyone buying or selling a home should put their transaction on hold until the emergency measures to combat coronavirus are over, it effectively shut down the whole property sector. Buyers, sellers, tenants, estate agents, builders and tradesmen, to name just the most obvious cases, face an unprecedented and challenging time as the coronavirus pandemic has put our lives – and the housing market – on hold. So why choose this precise moment to launch a property website? We thought long and hard about whether the Wigwam launch was appropriate when everybody and everything is on lockdown. We are not insensitive to the personal tragedies caused by COVID-19 and we certainly don’t want people to view the launch as frivolous. But Wigwam is primarily an online initiative and one side effect of the crisis is that people stopping at home to stem the tide of the virus are spending more time than ever online. We go online for news and we go online to be entertained – the two things which Wigwam sets out to do. Nobody is going to be viewing homes for a while and nobody will have the interior designers in for a makeover, but that’s not to stop us looking and planning. Fantasizing about your dream home and dream décor is something most of us have done at some time, and there’s no reason to stop now.

As for the long-term consequences of the lockdown, it’s clear that the property market will take a hit. Even before the government issued its guidelines, online property portal Zoopla reported that transactions were down 60%. And the stock market has already factored in house price falls of 12%, according to the market analysts Jefferies. Is there a silver lining to the crisis? If you’re a first-time buyer and house prices fall you won’t be complaining. And mortgage rates have fallen to an all-time low after the Bank of England lowered its rates in response to coronavirus, which is good news for mortgage holders on variable rates or with a fixed term product about to end. Yes, in the short-term house price growth will stagnate as there will be fewer transactions going through. But as we saw with Brexit, the UK property market is very robust, so it’s highly unlikely that prices will crash in the coming months. Crucially, for the vast majority of us, property is a long-term investment. We typically stay in our homes for 21 years before moving, so analysing the market over a long period of time does make sense. In the last quarter of a century, which, of course, includes the financial crash of 2007/08 property prices in Swindon have increased by 212%. In January 1995 the average selling price was £75,414; in December 2019 it was £235,436. So for most of us it’s a case of hang on in there, and we hope you enjoy Wigwam in the meantime. Take care, the Wigwam team. wigwamswindon.co.uk

So, on balance, we decided there were more reasons to launch than not.

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Bassett’s No.1 Sales & Lettings Agent

£775,000

Lydiard Millicent

Kevin Hawkins

Chris Hawkins

Steve Hawkins

Paul Hawkins

Director Lettings

Director Sales

Director Lettings

Director Sales

Tel: 01793 840222 | alanhawkins.co.uk Alan Hawkins Estate Agents Ltd. 26/26a High Street, Royal Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire SN4 7AA

Bassett’s No.1 Sales & Lettings Agent

Hilmarton

£675,000

Broad Town

£399,995

Tel: 01793 840222 | alanhawkins.co.uk Alan Hawkins Estate Agents Ltd. 26/26a High Street, Royal Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire SN4 7AA

01793 512345 info@moovahome.co.uk moovahome.co.uk

Rodbourne Cheney

£375,000

Moovahome offer this three-bedroom detached home for sale in Cheney Manor Road, Swindon for sale at £375,000. The property has been extensively refurbished to a high standard of accommodation. Three double bedrooms, modern kitchen and utility, 22 ft lounge, dining room and a bar in the garden. There is parking at the front.The rear garden is one of the best we have seen, complete with chill out seating area, and fully stocked bar! It has electric lighting throughout, a sound system, professionally fitted relaxation area with a fire pit. Moovahome offer video tours as standard. To discuss this fantastic property, contact the Moovahome team.

moovahome.co.uk One to one account manager throughout – available on the phone, who will know your property inside out and chases the chain throughout right through to completion.

Contact Details

20 Ergo Business Park, Kelvin Road, Greenbridge, Swindon. SN3 3JW 01793 512345 sales@moovhaome.co.uk

01793 512345 info@moovahome.co.uk moovahome.co.uk

Barrington Close

ÂŁ239,999

Moovahome offer for sale this spacious, three-bedroom semi-detached home situated in Liden, East Swindon. The home comprises of a lounge kitchen/diner, cloakroom, three excellent sized bedrooms and a family bathroom. Additional features of the home include a spacious, west -facing, enclosed rear garden, a single garage complete with an electric supply, a newly installed heating system and a modern finish throughout. The property is ideal for first time buyers or a growing family as the space available is generous for a three bedroom home. A viewing is highly recommended via Moovahome.

moovahome.co.uk One to one account manager throughout â€“ available on the phone, who will know your property inside out and chases the chain throughout right through to completion.

Contact Details

20 Ergo Business Park, Kelvin Road, Greenbridge, Swindon. SN3 3JW 01793 512345 sales@moovhaome.co.uk

SALES:

01793 701111 dewhurstandco.com

Preston Leigh, Cirencester **ONLY TWO REMAINING** Preston Leigh is a simply stunning development of just six exclusive homes on the edge of this delightful Cotswold market town. All feature well designed accommodation including a spacious entrance hall, sitting room, separate dining room, study, superb kitchen/family room, utility room and cloakroom. The master bedroom has built-in wardrobes and an ensuite shower room, whilst there are a further 4 bedrooms, a second en-suite and a family bathroom. Now complete and ready to move in to.

Prices from

ÂŁ950,000

dewhurstandco.com Dewhurst & Co Estate Agents, Abbey Meads Village Centre, Elstree Way, Swindon SN25 4YX

01793 701111

SALES:

01793 701111 dewhurstandco.com

Smoke Acre, Blunsdon Chestnut House is an outstanding brand new property situated in Smoke Acre, a small exclusive development of just three properties on the edge of Blunsdon. It is now complete and ready for occupation. Accommodation includes a feature entrance hall, cloakroom, study, large open plan kitchen/family/dining room with delightful lantern roof light and stunning fitted kitchen with integrated appliances plus a spacious sitting room. Four double bedrooms (two with en-suite) and a family bathroom. It also enjoys a good size south facing rear garden, ample parking and a detached double garage.

Price

ÂŁ725,000

dewhurstandco.com Dewhurst & Co Estate Agents, Abbey Meads Village Centre, Elstree Way, Swindon SN25 4YX

01793 701111

01793 814 542 incentivised.com

offers over

Home Close, SN4 0ND An immaculately presented and thoughtfully extended FIVE bedroom, DETACHED, property situated in a quiet CUL-DE-SAC in the sought-after village location of Chiseldon. The property offers spacious living over two floors; to the ground floor there is a large, open-plan family/reception room with bi-fold doors that allow access to the landscaped rear garden there is also a high-spec kitchen, utility, study and downstairs toilet. The first floor boasts FIVE DOUBLE BEDROOMS all of which with fitted wardrobes. The master bedroom has the added benefits of an ensuite bathroom as well as a Juliet balcony. There is also a separate family bathroom and a spacious landing area. There is ample parking to the front of the property as well as a double garage. The accommodation is just shy of 2200 sq. ft including the double garage.

incentivised.com

ÂŁ625,000 For more info on the featured property contact Ross Sutton Wroughton Office

01793 814 542 rosssutton@incentivised.com

01793 814 542 incentivised.com

offers over

Medbourne Lane, SN4 0EY If you’re looking for the perfect blend of countryside and convenience, then you’ve come to the right place. Start your day right and enjoy a delicious breakfast in the kitchen/breakfast room, with plenty of space to fit everyone round the table, you’ll never have to miss the most important meal of the day. If you’ve got little ones running around you could use the dining room as a playroom, or if dinner parties are more your thing then leave it as it is. The dining room and living room open into the atrium, making it the ideal place to host the next family birthday or New Year’s Eve party and for the summery months, leave the doors open and make the most of the fresh country air.

incentivised.com

£650,000 For more info on the featured property contact Ross Sutton Wroughton Office

01793 814 542 rosssutton@incentivised.com

Lifestyle Feature PROPERTY NEWS Pepper&Co

REDROW ABBEY FARM

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Live on the edge of the Cotswolds in Redrow’s latest Swindon development One of the real joys of living in Swindon is that wherever you live in the town you are close to Wiltshire’s bucolic countryside. And when we say close we mean close, in many cases barely a ten-minute drive. Situated to the north of Swindon, on the edge of glorious open Cotswolds countryside, Redrow’s Abbey Farm development is a delightful place to set up home, to raise a family or to enjoy your golden years. Here you’ll get to enjoy all the superb facilities of Swindon without living in the town itself, giving you the best of both worlds, just like Redrow’s Heritage Collection homes.

Abbey Farm is an exclusive development of 4 and 5 bedroom homes, available from £389,995. The Redrow difference has always been in the detail. That’s why in practically every room, in every Redrow home, you’ll find a special feature or an inspired touch that’s been designed to impress. Redrow consistently strive to be at the forefront of design and innovation, and continue to review new and emerging trends to ensure they bring you the best available finishing touches to help you create your own truly inspirational home. Touches you’ll find all around you in the Abbey Farm homes. From stunning brick detailing, high quality sandstone plinths, headers and sills, wide bargeboards, decorative ridge work and ornate finials, every home is built to an individual specification. There will be a convenience store on the development when it’s completed, and there’s also a Tesco Extra and a Cost Cutter close by for your day-to-day needs. The huge Asda at Orbital Shopping Park is also conveniently close for your weekly shop. From Abbey Farm, you’ll also enjoy excellent commuter connections, with the A419 just a couple of minutes away taking you to Cirencester, the capital of the Cotswolds in barely 10 minutes. Also close by are the M4, opening up the whole of the south of England, and the station with direct trains taking you to London Paddington in less than an hour. In a nutshell, Abbey Farm offers genuinely high spec homes in a truly privileged location. Exclusive housing is available from £389,995 redrow.co.uk

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CELEBRITY HOMES WIGWAM FEATURE

JACKIE BROWN LIVED HERE!

FROM SWINDON TO HOLLYWOOD, PAM GRIER’S UNCHARTED ROUTE TO BIG SCREEN GLORY.

Some may remember Pam Grier as a sassy, gun-toting heroine in 1970s blaxploitation movies like Sheba Baby and Coffy. Others may recall her as the star of Quentin Tarantino’s masterpiece Jackie Brown. Current US audiences know her from the hit sitcom Bless This Mess. But few know her as the former resident of Clifton Street in the Eastcott ward of Swindon. Grier’s father Clarence was a sergeant in the United States Air Force who was stationed at what his daughter describes as Swindon Air Base (probably RAF Fairford) between 1956 and 1958. Home was what she calls “a two-story brownstone” at 101 Clifton Street, just across the road from The Clifton pub. So what does the Afro-American icon remember about her hometown from the age of seven to nine? “I loved Swindon. The amazing thing was that the people accepted me and my parents. They wanted to know about American music and food. That was one time when I thought: ‘Wow, everyone really likes me.’ It wasn’t just: ‘You’re the wrong colour, the door’s closed.’ There was an openness that I’ll cherish for the rest of my life.” “I think we were the only black family in the neighbourhood, but there wasn’t any of that: ‘The nigger on the block.’ I’ve never felt so accepted. In the US, especially in the South, we were never

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able to get buses to stop for us, we couldn’t eat in certain restaurants, couldn’t use certain bathrooms. Up until 1969, there were department stores in which my father and I weren’t even allowed to try on clothing. But it was different in England.” “Our landlady was a sweet woman called Carrie Lofton. We had the upstairs rooms and she lived downstairs with her husband. We saw straight away that she embraced all of us and I will never forget her gentle nature and consistent generosity.” “I can still see my mom and Mrs Lofton dancing in the living room to American music by artists like Patti Page, Fats Domino and Nat King Cole. Mrs Lofton often invited over a group of women to knit and dance, and my mom and I showed them all the latest dance steps. Then we’d have crumpets and tea with clotted cream, orange marmalade, and freshly churned butter.” “At school, I learned to play cricket while I taught the British kids how to play double Dutch jump rope and baseball. Though I was shy, I felt more secure than back home in Denver because no one persecuted me in Swindon.” Swindonians are justifiably proud of their welcoming nature and the town’s diverse culture. It’s good to know that it has long been that way and comes with the Hollywood seal of approval!

Harry Potter author JK Rowling has done what many of us only dream of doing - she has bought her idyllic childhood home, the Grade II listed Church Cottage in Tutshill, in the Forest of Dean.

HARRY POTTER (CREATOR) SLEPT HERE! AUTHOR JK ROWLING BUYS CHILDHOOD HOME

She reportedly purchased the Gothic style cottage with her husband for ÂŁ400,000. She has been granted planning permission to rebuild a garage on the property and also to install two rear dormer windows. Remnants of Rowling's childhood remain at the house, including graffiti written by her aged 17, which reads, 'Joanne Rowling slept here, circa 1982.' The Harry Potter author lived at Church Cottage between the ages of 9 and 18, and has often drawn inspiration from it for her series of magical novels set in the world of wizards, muggles and dementors. Fans of the books and films will be delighted to hear that the period property features a trap door - not unlike the one that is guarded by a three-headed dog named Fluffy in the first book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.

There is also a cupboard under the stairs, which resembles the one lived in by Harry when he is at home with the Dursleys in the early novels. Rowling was Head Girl at the nearby Wyedean School and is believed to have based several of the characters in her books - set at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry - on pupils and teachers that she encountered there, not least Professor Severus Snape and Harryâ€™s ginger-haired pal Ron Weasley. On leaving school Rowling left home and went to Exeter University before studying in Paris. She worked for Amnesty International in London before moving to Scotland, which has been her home country ever since. It was while living there that she wrote her first novel, which became a best seller and led to the seven book series we know and love today.

LIFESTYLE FEATURE KAPADA VINTAGE

KAPADA VINTAGE DEVIZES ROAD, OLD TOWN, SWINDON

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OLD TOWN BOUTIQUE BRINGS A TOUCH OF VINTAGE FLAIR TO SWINDON Swindon’s independent retail scene has received a welcome boost with the opening of Kapada Vintage in Devizes Road, Old Town Swindon.

Several of our suppliers are from Swindon doing things like sustainable clothing, candles, and even bow ties for men and dogs!

Kapada – which means ‘apparel’ in Hindi - started as an online boutique in 2016 selling a collection of handpicked vintage clothing and accessories. The Old Town store opened last October stocking independent brands and gifts, as well as the core vintage clothing lines for men and women.

“The opening was incredible,” continues Ellen, “we had a packed shop and since then we’ve had so many lovely customers popping in and supporting me. I aim to bring the best unique pieces whilst offering exceptional personal service.”

So what can you expect to find in Kapada? For starters, how about black crushed velvet trousers, vintage western shirts, pink ‘80s jumpers, tied dye t-shirts, white crochet pearl gilet vests, lime Hawaiian speedo shirts and abstract colour blouses? All reasonably priced, with most items under £20. “After selling online for three years I decided to take the plunge,” says Kapada Vintage owner Ellen Wray, who is from Bishopstone just outside Swindon and studied fashion design and technology at Bournemouth Arts University. “It’s always been a dream of mine to have my own shop and when I saw the space it just all fell into place. I wanted to get away from the cliché of vintage shops being dark and gloomy, so I have created a really nice, bright space.”

“I source the pieces from thrift stores and wardrobes from all around the world, including Paris and New York, so when you buy from me you’re not only getting a great quality item, but something with a story behind it and that’s going to be re-loved.” “Vintage style never goes out of fashion,” says Wigwam fashion lover Mia Sandhu. “In the ‘90s when our dad was hitting the clubs he often popped on his vintage ‘70s black leather ‘Shaft’ jacket (can you dig it?) and vintage shirts from the then hip vintage shop ‘The Rockin’ Emporium’. So it’s great to have a new shop in Swindon to source classic clothes from the past.” One thing is for sure, Wigwam loves Kapada’s vintage thrift with a contemporary twist! kapadavintage.co.uk

“I also wanted to do a different take on the standard vintage shop and mix vintage with local artists, designers and makers as well as new gifts.

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COMMERCIAL PROPERTY

NATIONWIDE BUILDING SOCIETY

NATIONWIDE BUILDING SOCIETY CONTINUES TO INVEST IN ITS SWINDON TECH HUB

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Nationwide Building Society has long called Swindon ‘home’ with an array of offices across the town including its UK head office on Pipers Way. Now the world’s largest building society has outlined its long-term commitment to Swindon with the opening of an additional site, Ramsbury House, to house around 700 people from the Society’s digital team. Representing a multi-million-pound investment in the local area, Ramsbury House will play a key role in continuing to meet the needs of the Society’s near 16 million members, through the delivery of new digital services and experiences. It will provide a state-of-theart working environment and stimulate new ways of working across the whole business, enabling the Society to build on its existing digital and technology capabilities. Richard Newland, Nationwide’s Director of Branch & Workplace Development, says: “The opening of this building is a huge milestone for Nationwide and a culmination of months of careful planning. We’re proud to be investing in our hometown where we want to attract, retain and develop talent locally and continue to be an innovative employer, that people want to work for and recommend to their friends.” “This is a multi-million-pound investment for Swindon, the Society, our colleagues and our members and will accelerate our approach towards digital innovation and technology. We’ve designed the space using industry-leading best practices to ensure our people are equipped to

continue to provide the very best services and experiences for our members. We’re incredibly proud to bring this world-class facility to our home in Swindon.” Ramsbury House is the most sustainable building the Society has built to date, with 100% of its energy needs coming from renewable sources and recyclable materials used throughout its construction. Nationwide has also partnered with Wiltshire-based charity, Waste to Wonder, to help redistribute, rather than throw out, any unused office furniture and IT equipment to schools who really need it. The building includes calm and relaxing spaces, an onsite gym and large cycle park, as part of the support the Society offers its people to promote wellbeing at work. An impressive ‘town hall’ space will be available for employee gatherings and for use by the local community or businesses. The latest technology will allow collaboration and agile ways of working across multiple locations. The government’s business secretary, Greg Clark, says: “Nationwide’s expansion plans are a vote of confidence in Swindon as a place to invest and grow, as well as the dedicated workforce.” “It also represents a significant investment in jobs for the future, just as Swindon is set to benefit from a new Institute of Technology, offering training in the key digital and technological skills that forward-thinking ambitious companies like Nationwide value so highly.”

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RESIDENTIAL NEWS

TADPOLE GARDEN VILLAGE

28 | ISSUE No. 1

ARKELLâ€™S BREWERY SECURES PLANNING PERMISSION FOR PUB AT TADPOLE GARDEN VILLAGE

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RESIDENTIAL NEWS

TADPOLE GARDEN VILLAGE

32 | ISSUE No. 1

SWINDON BOROUGH COUNCIL GRANTS PERMISSION FOR PUB AND MICRO-BREWERY ON CREST NICHOLSON DEVELOPMENT.

It has been over a year in the pipeline but Arkell’s Brewery has finally secured planning permission for the first pub to be located on the Tadpole Garden Village development. It is Swindon-based Arkell’s first new-build pub for fifteen years. The brewery will deliver a pub for the new community of Tadpole Garden Village, where 1,855 homes are being built on the old Tadpole Farm site. This is one of Swindon’s major housing projects and the pub is just one of a whole range of amenities completed or planned for the site, including shops, a primary school and community sports facilities. Brewery director George Arkell said, “We’ve been rooted in Swindon for 177 years and we are thrilled to have the opportunity to build a pub for this new community.”

“We are really looking forward to starting work on the pub and will be putting our years of experience and knowledge of Swindon to work. More than 18 years ago we began work on The Tawny Owl at Taw Hill, Swindon. It opened in 2003 and is one of our most successful Swindon pubs which is now at the centre of a thriving community.” Andrew Dobson, Managing Director of Crest Nicholson’s Strategic Projects division, said, “The new Arkell’s pub will be a wonderful addition to our thriving new community at Tadpole Garden Village. It’s great to be supporting a local business, especially one with such a strong heritage and links with the local area. We are looking forward to working with Arkell’s as the project develops and as we continue to deliver new amenities to the residents at Tadpole Garden Village.” arkells.com

“Tadpole Garden Village is an enormous project and our new pub will not only offer residents a place to socialise but will also provide the community with a vital hub for local activities.”

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Mark Pepperall Interior Designer Pepper&Co

Pepper&Co.

LIFESTYLE FEATURE PEPPER&CO

36 | ISSUE FeatureNo. 1

SWINDON INTERIOR DESIGNERS DELIVER STUNNING MAKEOVERS

Pepper&Co bring a dash of style to residential and commercial properties across Swindon. Natives of Swindon are infamously fond of knocking the town’s lack of style, but when it comes to interior design one Old Town business is proving that good taste is not reserved for the super wealthy in bigger cities. Based at the top of Victoria Road, the Pepper&Co studio is housed at the back of the decidedly funky Oink Gallery. Led by designer Mark Pepperall, its passionate team of artisan tradesmen make sure every detail of every project is planned and delivered to an exceptional standard. With 23 years’ experience working in the design industry, Mark’s passion for interiors and all things design is clear for all to see. With meticulous attention to detail and a strong eye for colours and shapes, he delivers original and cohesive interiors and spaces.

And the interior design studio is complemented perfectly by Oink, with its large collection of art, furniture, lighting and designer products. Eye-catching recent projects include a window design for the Brunel Centre’s fashion retailer The Forum and an office makeover for estate agents Richard James. But if you’re looking for an example of what Pepper&Co could do for your home, look no further than its absolutely stunning – and we mean stunning - makeover of a 14-room house in Oxford Gardens, off Bath Road. The exciting project involved stripping this beautiful house back to the bare bones, rethinking the layout to create a better flow, adding some key architectural features and stripping the decor of all 14 rooms back. Then the designers created new interiors from scratch.

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The result? Opulent chic with rich colours and warm textures, plus original artwork to give the house a genuinely unique finish. “The whole process was so exciting working with Mark and his team of very talented tradesmen,” say proud homeowners Ian and Nicole. “The work Pepper&Co have done has really changed our lives and the way we use the space. I would highly recommend using them and my advice as a client is to be trusting and sit back and enjoy the process”. To book a free one-hour consultation to discuss your interior design requirements with Pepper&Co, call 01793 421540 or email mark@pepperand.co pepperand.co

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LIFESTYLE FEATURE MIELE TRIFLEX

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MIELE LAUNCH INNOVATIVE 3-IN-1 VACUUM CLEANER MIELE’S FIRST CORDLESS VACUUM CLEANER COMBINES EXCEPTIONAL CLEANING PERFORMANCE WITH IMPRESSIVE FLEXIBILITY. Call us anoraks if you like, but the houseproud Wigwam team can get really excited when it comes to a top-of-the-range vacuum cleaner. And we’re really excited by Miele’s latest offering, its first ever cordless handstick model. Featuring a unique 3 in 1 design, the Miele Triflex can be configured as a cordless handstick, a cordless handheld or a cordless upright vacuum cleaner. This pioneering system enables the user to easily change the setup of the Triflex to suit their cleaning needs, and it comes complete with two batteries, offering up to 120 minutes of unstoppable power. Three models in five colours were launched in February 2020.

We have researched the best the market has to offer and combined these learnings with our expertise in this sector, creating the Triflex – the ultimate cordless vacuum cleaner.” The key components of the Triflex – the PowerUnit, suction tube, floorhead and handle – can be quickly reconfigured into a choice of three modes for complete flexibility and versatile handling; Reach, Comfort and Compact. In Reach mode, the Triflex is set up as a cordless handstick, which is ideal for cleaning hard to reach areas, such as under furniture. In Comfort mode, the Triflex is set up as a cordless upright vacuum cleaner. The centre of gravity is shifted lower, creating the perfect ergonomic balance for vacuuming large areas.

Joseph Yaxley, category manager at Miele GB says, “At Miele, we continually strive to innovate, creating products that improve the lives of consumers.

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LIFESTYLE FEATURE MIELE TRIFLEX

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In Compact mode, the Triflex is set up as a cordless handheld. The PowerUnit is detached from the tube and floor head making it ideal for quickly removing crumbs from the breakfast table or cleaning the car. The Triflex is powered by a lithium ion battery from Germany’s premium manufacturer, Varta. Comprising of seven high performance cells, the battery offers up to 60 minutes of continuous cleaning. When the Triflex is operated in the second of three power levels, recommended for regular soiling, more than 1100 square feet of flooring can be cleaned on a single charge. When used at the maximum power level, the Triflex HX1 offers exceptional cleaning performance comparable to Miele’s award-winning Complete C3 Cat & Dog cylinder vacuum. To extend the run time, additional rechargeable batteries are available to buy separately. The flagship Triflex HX1 Pro, with 2 batteries offering up to 120 minutes run-time, also features a second charger as standard. The Triflex draws its suction power from Miele’s tried-and-tested Vortex Technology, as featured in their Blizzard CX1 bagless cylinder vacuum cleaners. It is this system that allows Miele to achieve the same cleaning performance with the Triflex HX1 as an award-winning Miele corded vacuum cleaner.

Thorough cleaning of all types of floor coverings is guaranteed by the 28cm wide MultiFloor XXL floorhead, with its electrically driven brush. Incredibly, it automatically detects the type of flooring and will increase the speed of the spinning brush for outstanding cleaning on carpets. The HX1 Cat & Dog and HX1 Pro models also feature an LED headlight, helping to find the last specks of dust in the darkest of corners. The integrated Hygiene Lifetime Filter traps up to 99.98% of dust particles – releasing cleaner air back into your home. Allergy sufferers will benefit from the HEPA Lifetime Filter, found in the Cat & Dog and Pro models. The Triflex also proves highly flexible when it comes to storage. With the PowerUnit in either the lower or upper position, the appliance can be suspended from the provided wall bracket. If there is insufficient space or to avoid the need to drill holes, when configured as a cordless upright, the Triflex can stand on its own. So, it’s a handsome piece of kit with great functions, astonishing flexibility and it’s easy to store, and available to buy from £479.00, what’s not to like?! Buy online from £479.00 miele.co.uk

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Location Location Location’s Kirstie Allsopp sings the praises of Swindon’s Old Town.

LIFESTYLE FEATURE

LOCATION LOCATION LOCATON

54 | ISSUE No. 1

Filming in Swindon for a recent episode of Location Location Location, presenter Kirstie Allsopp waxed lyrical about what she described as a “vibrant town”, noting that she was particularly impressed by “trendy Old Town”. So where are the hot spots that make for a great night on the town?

Further along on the same side of Wood Street is Mackenzies, a hugely popular bar for nearly 30 years that boasts a funky long bar and a large outside terrace. At the junction of Wood Street and High Street is The Goddard Arms, a traditional pub in an old converted coaching inn, with some great period features, history and character.

An ideal night out in Old Town would start at Baila Bar on Victoria Road, a diminutive venue which punches above its weight with its bespoke cocktails and roster of guest DJs playing retro funk and hip hop. Next door to Baila is the plush Longs Bar, a perennial starting point for clubbers on a night out, and the place to be on Thursday nights with its popular Gin & Rum Club.

Back onto the other side of Wood Street is The Brass Monkey, a fashionable destination over two floors, offering live music on Thursdays and modern grooves from the best DJs at the weekend.

On the next corner up from Longs is The Victoria, a pub which is dedicated to live music, offering an eclectic mix encompassing heavy metal, gothic rock, ska and Motown, Abba tribute bands and classic acts like Wilko Johnson or the Blockheads.

On the opposite side of the road is Swindon Arts Centre, a 212-seat entertainment venue with a diverse schedule of live music, comedy nights, theatre and foreign language cinema. On the same side of the road, The Hop free house is a family-run pub that has earned its reputation as Old Town’s prime venue for real ales.

In the same block as The Victoria are two more cocktail bars, Yard 93 and 1101 Cocktails. Yard 93 is renowned for its LGBT events while 1101 offers an intimate setting, with classic martinis and sultry jazz. Directly across the road is Jack’s Bar and Grill, which doubles up as a steak house, and yes, more cocktails! Coming to the end of Victoria Road, a sharp left down Albert Street will take you to The Roaring Donkey, a great spit and sawdust pub with real ales and a cracking jukebox that hosts poker nights on Thursdays and late opening on Fridays and Saturdays. Heading back up Albert Street, turn into Wood Street, the real hub of Old Town’s nightlife. The Kings doubles up as a hotel and a restaurant but is a sophisticated and stylish venue for a night out. Next door is The Bank, another popular spot spread over two floors with the upstairs dance floor and adjoining terrace a big favourite at the weekends.

Turning left into Devizes Road, the recently opened The Tuppenny pub offers a great range of keg and cask beers and a motto for the ages – ‘Education is important, but beer is importanter’!

Facing Devizes Road at the far end of the road, are three more great pubs – the beautifully renovated The Plough, old favourite The Wheatsheaf and the speakeasy-inspired The Eternal Optimist. Last but not least, a shout out to Tree in Hooper Place behind Wood Street, Wiltshire’s only super club. It’s a luxury multi-space environment across three floors fronted by renowned resident DJ Ace of Clubz, with regular guest spots by the UK’s top spinners and sounds ranging from urban, house and club classics. So, there you have it. All within a five-minute radius, a diverse night out in Old Town that’s fit for a Baron’s daughter (The Honourable Ms Allsopp) but equally entertaining for the rest of us.

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NEW BUILD

CANALSIDE WICHELSTOWE

ENJOY ‘CANALSIDE’ LIVING IN SWINDON LIVE LIFE IN A MODERN HOME ALONGSIDE THE WILTS & BERKS CANAL IN SWINDON.

56 | ISSUE No. 1

Everyone wants a home with character. At the game-changing Wichelstowe development in Swindon, it’s easy to find a place that fits your personality, and matches your lifestyle. Wichelstowe is located to the south of Swindon, close enough to the town centre and Old Town to walk or cycle to the shops and restaurants. It’s less than three miles to the station, which offers frequent trains to London, Bath and Bristol and provides quick access to the M4. With easy commutes, there’s more time to live life as you’ve always wanted. Unlike many developments, Wichelstowe is striking for the sheer variety of properties on show, no easy proposition when you are building 4,000 homes. In any given street you can find distinctive homes, each bursting with character and with a range of styles to suit different ages, families and budgets. The latest phase of the development is Canalside, a development of 1 and 2 bedroom apartments and 2, 3 and 4 bedroom homes forming part of a new community in Swindon. This new phase is surrounded by large areas of open space and as the name suggests, sits alongside the pretty Wilts & Berks Canal - swans, water voles, narrowboats et al. As part of this new community and already up and running are The Deanery CE Academy school, Hall and Woodhouse gastro pub and a Waitrose supermarket. Shaw Ridge Leisure Park with its cinema, bowling alley and restaurants is less than 10 minutes away by car. Currently under construction at Canalside are three key developments from David Wilson Homes, Freeman Retirement Living and Barratt Homes. You can find out more about this exciting development on the Wichelstowe website. wichelstowe.co.uk/canalside

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EXPERT OPINION BOWER BAILEY

ESTATE AND WILL PLANNING WITH AMY TOUSON OF BOWER BAILEY SOLICITORS 58 | ISSUE No. 1

Since beginning her training Amy has gained experience in a number of legal disciplines and is currently working in the Private Client, Wills and Estates Team. We asked her for the answers to some often asked questions relating to Estates Planning. Is there such a thing as a ‘common law’ marriage? There is no such thing in England and Wales, so if you live with a partner but aren’t married and don’t have a will, you will die intestate. Under the intestacy rules your estate would pass to your children or closest living relative. Your partner would not receive anything automatically but could make a claim against your estate under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 if they can show that they were dependent on you. How do I ensure my kids from a previous relationship inherit my property? If you would like to ensure that your property or a share of your property would pass to your children, you could set up a life interest trust. This allows your partner to live in your property until a triggering event occurs (e.g. death or re-marriage) but safeguards your share of your property for your children. Your property or share of your property is then held on trust for your children until the triggering event occurs, the house is then sold and your children would then receive your share of the proceeds. How much can my relatives inherit without paying tax? Each person in England and Wales has a ‘Nil Rate Band’ of £325,000. This means the first £325,000 of the value of their estate is exempt from inheritance tax, but tax is payable at 40 per cent of the value over and above this threshold. However a relatively new allowance has been introduced known as the ‘Residence Nil Rate Band’ (‘RNRB’). In simple terms, depending upon the value of your estate, an additional allowance of £175,000 can be claimed if you owned property during your lifetime and your estate is left to your children or grandchildren. This means the value of your estate which is exempt from inheritance can increase to £500,000. Also please note that spouses benefit from spousal exemption, so anything you leave to your spouse is exempt of inheritance tax. The estate of the surviving spouse may be able to claim any unused Nil Rate Band and RNRB of the first spouse to die so a total tax free allowance of £1,000,000 may be available per couple.

Are there tax savings to be had if you donate money to charity in your Will? Gifts to charities are exempt from inheritance tax. In addition a reduced rate of inheritance tax (36 per cent) may be available if you gift at least 10 per cent of the net value of your estate, after all other reliefs and exemptions have been taken into account, to a charity. Are there any ‘trends’ in the provision people are making in their Wills at the moment? I would not say “trends” but with the increasing number of second (blended) families more people are choosing to incorporate life interest trusts into their Wills. When do you think someone should consider drafting a Will? I think everyone who owns property and/or other assets, is married or living with a partner, or is a parent should draft a Will. My reason for this is Wills enable you to have peace of mind; you can appoint guardians to look after your children and ensure your loved ones are financially secure in the event of your death. Are you involved in ‘Make a Will Month’? I will be coordinating Make a Will Month for Bower Bailey in October this year, with all profits going to Prospect Foundation as it is a wonderful local charity. I really enjoyed working with them in 2019 and raised just under £2,000 which we hope to beat in 2020. Along with Make a Will Month I also have talks arranged with the Citizens Advice Bureau and Swindon Special Educational Needs and Disability Families Voice to provide information on Wills and Lasting Powers of Attorney to the local community. I hear you like a challenge! Are you training for anything at the moment? I love hiking. I am from the Brecon Beacons in Wales and one could say it is in my blood. I have previously completed challenges such as the Snowdon Push in the past so, yes, I intend to climb Ben Nevis towards the end of this year. When do you finish your legal training and what are you looking forward to in 2020? I finish my legal training in November 2020 and I would like to qualify into our Private Client team. I am looking forward to celebrating 35 years of Bower Bailey in Swindon with my colleagues at Newbury races in the summer. bowerandbailey.co.uk

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Lifestyle Feature EXPERT OPINION Pepper&Co EXTENSION PRO

‘DON’T MOVE, IMPROVE’ IS A GROWING TREND AMONG HOMEOWNERS. ADD ROOM – AND VALUE - TO YOUR EXISTING HOME WITH A HIGH-QUALITY EXTENSION.

60 | ISSUE No. 1

Over the last few years, the saying: ‘don’t move, improve’ has become more and more relevant to UK homeowners. And as anyone who watches Kirstie and Phil’s ‘Love It or List It’ will tell you, love it usually wins! Previously it was pretty common for people to look at moving more than once in a ten-year period. Nowadays, families are over 15% less likely to make the move and it’s not hard to see why. It’s not easy being a homeowner, and less so for someone looking to buy somewhere new. From stamp duty, solicitors, surveyors and estate agent fees, the costs of moving house aren’t small. What’s more, in an uncertain UK housing market, you might be asking is now even the right time to move? But it’s not only these considerations that keep people from moving. For many, a home is far more than just bricks and mortar – it’s your community. Your neighbours, local shops, nearby walks, your kids’ school - all these wonderful things combined together are what give us that warm ‘home’ sensation. So why should you lose them when all you need is a little more room? Don’t forget, your home is also one of the best ways to invest your cash. Rather than have it languish in a low interest savings account, or at risk with stocks and bonds, a house lets you reliably grow your funds, whilst retaining control. Why not give your home a new lease of life as you wait for the right time to cash in? The type and size of extension you opt for can alter dramatically how much value you add onto your home. But that’s not the only factor you need to consider when it comes to building an extension. Naturally, where you are in the UK affects the value of your home, and it’s the same for your extension. The national average for value added by a 15m2 rear extension is around £40,000.

How you use your added space can also make a big difference in house price. While extending existing rooms like the kitchen can definitely be worthwhile, it’s the creation of new, quality rooms that gives you the biggest results. A new bedroom can be your greatest ally, but en-suite bathrooms can also be desirable to buyers. There’s always a temptation to try and cut costs when it comes to construction, but beware the downsides of this! Getting a quality builder should be your number one priority, as anything bad can seriously damage the value of your home. No one wants to be dealing with shoddy builder mistakes, nor live with an extension that doesn’t match the quality of the main building. Finally, ceiling prices send a cold shiver up the spine of anyone looking to add value to their home. If your neighbourhood is affected by a ceiling price, it means that no matter how much improvement you undertake your home is unlikely to exceed a certain price point on the market. This can be a nightmare if you’ve just invested a large amount of money into a pricey extension. So ensure you research the house prices in your local area before committing to extend. In my next Wigwam column we will take a look at different types of extension.

Bradley Quesnel Managing Director ExtensionPro extensionpro.co.uk

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EXPERT OPINION

OPTIMUM PROFESSIONAL

62 | ISSUE No. 1

ONLINE CONVEYANCING: WHAT’S THE RISK FOR SWINDON’S HOMEBUYERS? With seemingly everything available online, it is only natural for homebuyers to consider online conveyancing as a way of purchasing their properties says Iain Mason of Optimum Professional Services. So much works effectively online – and is often cheaper – that online conveyancing may seem an obvious way forward. After all, we can even buy a car online now without a test drive, so surely conveyancing is straightforward? However, this is very much a case of ‘buyer beware’. If you are considering using an online conveyancer there are a number of pitfalls to look out for. A house is one of the most expensive items you will ever buy, so it is important to get it right. So what does online house buying entail? This happens when the face-to-face element of the lawyer/client relationship is removed and there is a reliance on emails, Skype or similar video software, or phone. You will often be dealing with a call centre, rather than a traditional law firm. Pitfalls of online conveyancing Loss of personal service. When you see your conveyancer or solicitor, you build up a personal relationship with them. They get to understand you and your timescale. With an online service, you are usually dealing with a call centre, so you are unlikely to always speak to the same person; indeed, you may never speak to anyone but conduct the entire process electronically. This also brings the risk of loss of continuity; vital information slips through the net because it hasn’t been logged or passed on. Is online conveyancing cheaper? People often think this will be the case but an online service may not necessarily cost less. In any event, cheapest is not usually best, and for an expensive house purchase you should be looking for a quality service that matches your budget. Are there any hidden charges? Make sure you have a list of all the charges at the outset. There are many cases of online conveyancers producing charges that had not been made transparent.

Is the online conveyancer insured? Check they have indemnity insurance to cover any mistakes. Speed and efficiency. If you are aiming for a particular completion date, your solicitor or conveyancer will be aware of this and will work hard to achieve it for you. Online conveyancing can often take longer, which brings the risk of losing out on your property. Risk of conveyancing fraud. We all receive phishing emails and many are very convincing. If you are in communication with an online conveyancer, and receive an email that appears to be from them, can you be sure it is? There are many reported cases of homebuyers handing over their deposit or balance for their home, in response to an email request purporting to be from the conveyancer, only to find that they are victim of fraud. Keeping track of progress. Online conveyancers use an online tracking process that you can access, and where you can respond to and post queries as well as upload documents rather than send via post or email. It sounds ideal in principle but in practice, if the tracking process is not kept up-to-date by the online conveyancers then you may find you are in the dark about what is happening. How important is locality? An online conveyancer won’t have personal knowledge of the area you are buying in. Online searches will show up necessary information about, for example, potential development, but being ‘on the ground’ can be useful for having a true understanding of the vicinity. A report in 2014, from the Legal Ombudsman called ‘Losing the plot: Residential conveyancing complaints and their causes’, revealed residential conveyancing accounted for 17.5% of the 7,500 complaints handled by the ombudsman’s office at that time, making it the second most complained about area of law after family. The report also warned of the dangers of ‘conveyancing factories’ which pose a risk to homebuyers, by conducting a race to the bottom on price and commoditising the house buying process, to the detriment of the homebuyer. optps.co.uk

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LIFESTYLE FEATURE VISIT SWINDON

Ambitious Swindon Tourism Group meet for the first time. 64 | ISSUE No. 1

The Swindon Tourism Group held its inaugural meeting at Doubletree by Hilton Hotel. Attendees included representatives from Swindon Borough Council, Brunel Centre, Jazzbones Creative, Swindon Speedway, Swindon Wildcats, GWR, InSwindon, STEAM, Designer Outlet, Blunsdon Hotel, Doubletree by Hilton Hotel, Jurys Inn, Royal Oak/Helen Browning’s Chop House, and Wyvern Theatre. According to statistics from Visit England™, the South West represents the highest proportion of all English regions for domestic overnight trips, 19% of total trips, and 23% of spend, in 2015 – 19.7 million trips and £4.4 billion in spend. There were also 136 million day trips (10% of all day trips in England), with £5.2 billion in spending. Reflecting on those figures, Nathan Sandhu, creative director of design and branding agency Jazzbones Creative says, “Currently Swindon is miles away from attracting its fair share of that tourism pie. The goal of the new Swindon Tourism Group is to bring together all the town’s major players to develop a strategy that positions Swindon as an alternative or compliment to neighbouring cities like Bath or Oxford when it comes to leisure and days out.” With fantastic travel links, both by road and train, Swindon is uniquely placed to attract visitors from beyond its borders. Importantly, its catchment area includes areas where a significant number of residents have high levels of disposable income. From the northern edge of Swindon, it is barely a 15-minute drive to Cirencester, the so-called ‘Capital of the Cotswolds’. Oxford is only 30 miles away, Bath just 36. “By putting the right people in the same room on a regular basis we can all increase our understanding of the tourism market and industry, work to maximise Swindon’s potential and decide how we can work together to share resources and expertise.” Lee Kilby, co-promoter, at Swindon Speedway adds, “Swindon Robins Speedway club are proud to be a part of the new Swindon Tourism Group. Like all the businesses and organizations involved in the group, we are proud of our town and have the best interests of Swindon at heart. We’re looking forward to the positive work this group can do to actively and collectively promote Swindon and our surrounding area.” visitswindon.org.uk

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FLOWER POWER! LEADING SWINDON ARTIST IS INSPIRED BY NATURE

ARTS & CULTURE CAROLINE DAY

68 | ISSUE FeatureNo. 1

CAROLINE DAY IS PASSIONATE ABOUT PAINTING IN OLD TOWN GARDENS, SWINDON’S “LITTLE GEM”. They might just be the most inspired series of giant flower paintings since Andy Warhol’s 1960s silkscreens. That said, Caroline Day’s ravishing paintings are more pastoral than pop! Anyone with even a passing interest in the arts in Wiltshire will be familiar with Caroline’s work. A freelance artist, her energy is extraordinary, producing an incredible body of work, as well as organising Visual Arts Swindon. Caroline graduated with a first class honours degree from Camberwell College of Arts in 1994, later receiving a distinction at Master of Arts. She then taught for 15 years and worked as arts coordinator for the Royal Borough of Kingston before returning to teach in her hometown Swindon. Working mainly in oils and acrylics, Caroline’s work is admired in the art world for its lavish use of bold colours and a unique style which marries together representation and abstraction. Wigwam loves the sculptural, 3D qualities in her one-metre square florals and the generous application of paint. Her paintings capture an energy that is genuinely uplifting - some radiate gentleness, others are strong and powerful in their boldness and composition.

But what does the artist herself say? “My compositions are rooted in a reverence for places and nature, evoking the ever-changing seasons,” says Caroline. “Florals, in particular, allow me to engage with colour, light and structure in a wonderful way. Ephemeral in their nature, they give me the unique opportunity to play with the boundaries of time and movement.” Caroline’s lifelong love of the Wiltshire countryside was nurtured by her father who was interested in ley lines and would take her exploring as a child in places such as Avebury. These days much of her inspiration stems from painting at Swindon’s “little gem”, the Grade II listed Old Town Gardens, which is just a stone’s throw away from her Goddard Avenue studio. “I attempt to capture the essence of a flower or a landscape through intense observation, experimentation with scale, and nuanced use of line and colour. I approach the anatomy of a flower in much the same way as I would a human form, emphasising its planes and contours.” Think Georgia O’Keeffe’s sensual close-ups, but in bunches.

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ARTS & CULTURE CAROLINE DAY

70 | ISSUE FeatureNo. 1

Among Caroline’s admirers are English Heritage who commissioned her to create the Rose In Bloom collection. The floral pattern is taken from one of Caroline’s original oil paintings titled ‘Seize The Moment’ that depicts the beautiful David Austin Rose ‘Jude the Obscure’. Taking this floral print as inspiration, a range of gifts – including bags, scarves, stationery and collectables - has been created to celebrate the beauty of flowers and the wonder of nature. Locally, reproductions of Caroline’s original works can be bought from Swindon Museum & Art Gallery, Swindon Central Library, Youngs of Wood Street and Elements of Avebury. “I am now in a position where I am thoroughly enjoying working as a professional artist, curating my own and others’ exhibitions,” says Caroline. “My passion lies in working together to raise awareness of the wealth of talented, inspirational visual artists in my home town.” More info: Caroline Day Facebook Page or English Heritage english-heritage.org.uk

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MONEY

NATIONWIDE BUILDING SOCIETY

FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR MORTGAGE HOLDERS IMPACTED BY CORONAVIRUS COMPREHENSIVE ONLINE RESOURCE PROVIDES MORTGAGE PAYMENT BREAKS DURING CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK.

Nationwide, Britain’s biggest building society, has developed a dedicated coronavirus support page to make it as easy as possible to arrange payment breaks. The online resource is intended for anyone who is or anticipates being in financial difficulty due to coronavirus - from loss of income or employment to anyone struggling to pay their bills or meet financial obligations. It is hoped that the resource will not only accelerate applications but also free up telephone lines in order to reduce waiting times, particularly for elderly and vulnerable members who may not use online services. Nationwide is offering members, regardless of arrears status, a three-month mortgage payment break for those impacted by coronavirus. These will not be registered as arrears on a person’s credit file and will be offered until at least 30 April. The payments breaks can be applied for online with the Society aiming to respond to those applications within five to seven working days, although this may take longer given the high volume of requests. A mortgage payment holiday would take effect from when the following month’s mortgage payment is due. In the event a direct debit is already in progress, the break would take effect from the following month.

72 | ISSUE No. 1

Nationwide is also supporting landlords and their tenants financially impacted by coronavirus by extending mortgage payment holidays to include rental properties. These can be arranged via The Mortgage Works – Nationwide’s buy-to-let arm. The Society’s support package comes in addition to the work Nationwide already does to provide support for those who are vulnerable or in financial difficulty. This includes penalty-free early access to savings in fixed term accounts and increased credit card or overdraft limits to help get through a short period of reduced income. Sara Bennison, who oversees Nationwide’s products and propositions, said: “These are difficult and uncertain times and we want to do what we can to provide support for those who most need it. Our support package is aimed at providing short-term relief to those who have been financially affected by coronavirus and to ease their worries by giving greater reassurance.” “We have focused on providing a simple online service which will not only help streamline applications but also free up our telephone lines for those who are unable to get online.” “As a mutual owned by our members, we have a responsibility to help those who require additional financial support. Never has that been truer than now.”

Building Contractors Specialising in Extensions, Loft Conversions and General Building Contracts

AUSTE N DAWS ON .CO.UK

ARTS & CULTURE

JAZZBONES CREATIVE

POSTERS OF SWINDON FOCUS ON THE TOWN’S HIDDEN GEMS SWINDON DESIGN AGENCY ADDS TO ITS COLLECTION OF RAILWAYINSPIRED POSTERS.

A Swindon-based creative agency has expanded its evocative collection of posters celebrating its hometown. The prints – reminiscent of the art deco posters designed by railway companies like the GWR in the 1930s to promote holiday destinations – are the brainchild of Nathan Sandhu, founder and creative director of Jazzbones Creative in Swindon’s Old Town. Three years ago Nathan created a set of six posters featuring Swindon landmarks. That initial batch featured Coate Water Country Park, the towering David Murray John Building, the ‘as seen in James Bond movies’ Spectrum Building, the palatial Lydiard Park House, the Grade II listed Locarno, and the popular Oasis Leisure Centre. More recently, four more scenes have been added to the ‘hidden gems’ collection - Liddington Hill, Old Town Gardens, Peatmoor Lake, and Silbury Hill. Liddington Hill, which overlooks the town, is the site of an iron age fort and was a haunt of one of Swindon’s favourite sons, the nature writer Richard Jefferies. The poster shows a modern GWR train speeding towards the town from London with Liddington Hill in the background.

74 | ISSUE No. 1

Old Town Gardens is a green oasis created in the late 1800s as the railway town grew. A Grade II listed cast-iron octagonal bandstand with square clock tower forms the focal point of the gardens. Peatmoor Lake is another oasis, around which 20th century housing estates and business parks sprang up. The lake is overlooked by a Chinese restaurant built in a pagoda style. The pagoda and its reflection in the water, with the setting sun behind, are captured perfectly in the poster. Silbury Hill is part of the World Heritage Site at Avebury, just ten miles south of Swindon. The picture shows two neolithic standing stones surrounded by mist in the foreground, with mysterious Silbury Hill – the largest artificial mound in Europe, and built 4,400 years ago for reasons no-one has yet determined – in the distance. Nathan, who was born and raised in Swindon says: “We hope people like the poster designs in our Swindon vintage travel range and that they inspire people to discover more about our fantastic town and its hidden gems.” jazzbones.co.uk

Your loved ones are guaranteed a warm and safe environment at Coate Water Care

— Coate Water Care is a family-run business that provides high quality care service in all our Nursing, Residential and Dementia care homes. We provide 24-hour nursing, residential and specialist dementia care, as well as specialist care for clients with end of life and palliative needs. Respite and day care services are also available. All these services are provided by our friendly and fully qualified care staff. Let us help you find the right care for your loved ones. Please contact our ‘Welcome Team’ to arrange a visit to your local Coate Water Care home. Call: 01793 821200 or Email: info@coatewatercare.co.uk to request a brochure.

the house extension specialist extensionpro.co.uk | 01793 387 205

The team at ExtensionPro specialise in making the most of your home and the land around it. We delve deeply into how you live and use your property to enable us to produce an extension design that suits your needs, fits your budget and looks absolutely amazing! Our one-stop service means we carry out the complete design, planning, building regulations, structural calculation and other legalities on your behalf, with your dedicated project manager overseeing the whole

process! Meaning a clear and concise process, with no hidden costs or delays along the way. We can then construct the extension on your behalf ensuring your build is in safe hands, working with a company you already know and trust!

GRAND DESIGNS LIVE ANNOUNCES NEW DATES FOR AUGUST 2020

Grand Designs Live will now take place at the London ExCeL from 22-31 August. Media 10, the show’s organiser, said the decision to cancel was disappointing but was the “sensible course of action given the circumstances” and that the health and safety of visitors, exhibitors, clients and staff is paramount. Richard Morley, director at Media 10, said: “Media 10 continues to monitor advice from the government and the World Health Organisation, but we believe that the new event dates will ensure the delivery of a successful show.” “We have not taken this decision lightly, but we have the wellbeing of all those involved in this event at the forefront of our thoughts and plans.” Tickets already purchased for the event will remain valid or, alternatively, can be transferred to either the Birmingham show due to take place at the NEC from 7-11 October, or the London 2021 show. Whether you’re starting out on your first renovation, building a new home, adding the finishing touches or simply looking for inspiration, Grand Designs Live is a must-visit event.

Grand Designs Live is based on the hugely successful Channel 4 TV series and is presented by design guru Kevin McCloud. The event offers top expert advice, innovative products and eco solutions for your home. Not to mention, the chance to meet over 500 companies across four project zones and access to lots of live talks and demonstrations, all included in the price of your ticket. Ask an Expert is one opportunity at the event not to be missed. Specialists including RIBA architects, interior designers, landscape gardeners, financial, planning and eco experts will all be available to discuss your own grand design in free 30-minute consultations. Bring your plans, drawings and budgets to get the most out of your session. You can reserve your spot in advance, or by a firstcome-first-serve basis on the day. The Wigwam team were looking forward to Grand Designs Live in May, now with life-as-we-know-it on pause we’re really looking forward to it in August! granddesignslive.com

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MONEY

WIGWAM FEATURE

SWINDON HOUSE PRICES REPRESENT UNPARALLELED VALUE FOR MONEY There are many good reasons for living in Swindon, but the most compelling one of all is that property prices are significantly cheaper than anywhere else in the South West and along the M4 corridor. That is certainly the reason why more and more people are choosing to live in Swindon and commute to places like Bath, Bristol, Oxford and Reading. “Not only is it far cheaper to buy property in Swindon, but employment levels and average salaries are also high compared to the UK average,” says Sue Gidney of Richard James Estate Agents. As a current example, £190,000 gets you a small one-bedroom flat in Anglo Terrace in Bath, a short walk from the city centre. For the same price in Swindon, you can buy an attractive red brick, bay-fronted three-bedroom end terrace house in Brunswick Street, barely a five-minute stroll from the town centre and an easy walk to the railway station. In Oxford, the asking price for a one-bedroom flat near the Westgate Shopping Centre is £270,000. The same budget in Swindon would secure you a spacious three-bedroom detached house a stone’s throw from beautiful Lydiard Park.

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Three hundred and seventy-five thousand pounds in Clifton, Bristol’s most desirable neighbourhood, gets you a two-bedroom apartment in Sunderland Place - £375,000 in Swindon is enough to land you a stunning four-bedroom detached house in sought-after Blunsdon. As for Reading, £500,000 buys you a threebedroom apartment in Kings Road. Half a million pounds in Swindon buys you a four-bedroom detached house in sought-after Okus Road with stunning balcony views. “As people realise how close London is by train and as prices along the M4 corridor soar, more and more people will turn to Swindon as a viable alternative,” says Chris Dewhurst from Swindon estate agents Dewhurst & Co. “We are seeing growing interest from househunters currently based in places like Reading, Slough and Cirencester, especially first-time buyers and young professionals. And we are also attracting investors who realise that Swindon property prices are significantly lower than neighbouring cities while rental returns are almost identical.”

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Swindon is one of the South West’s best kept secrets, a thriving and diverse modern town that is full of hidden gems. Swindon offers a superb range of entertainment, leisure and accommodation for visitors of all kinds, with something for every budget - from five star breaks to budget days out. Swindon is an easy to reach destination for people visiting the South West or holidaying in the West Country - some 30 miles from Bath and Oxford, and just 16 miles from Cirencester, the capital of the Cotswolds. You can register for all the latest news, events and offers on the Visit Swindon website.