The Swindonian August 2019 issue

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Editors Comments

Welcome to August, this year is flying by and it seems like only yesterday I was typing out the ‘Happy New Year’ comments for the January edition.

CONTENTS

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July Shorts

This month is a busy one in the Swindon calendar, schools are out which means people are looking for things to do with the little ones.

Wyvern Theatre as always in the summer holidays are on hand with a number of shows and activities including the Family Fun Day on August 4th which also includes a free Storytime with the 2019 panto star Chris Jarvis. Make sure you book tickets early for this.

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Waste-Industry competitors unite charity bike ride raising over £7000 for the Alzheimer’s

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Big Yellow Bus Project

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Swindon & Wiltshire Pride 2019 map of the event

Swindon and Wiltshire Pride also returns this year to brighten up the streets of Old Town before a family day at Town Gardens. The Nationwide sponsored main stage will be home to many acts throughout the day before headliners N-Trance set revellers free to enjoy the rest of their evenings.

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Swindon radiotherapy unit to open after government loan

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If you’re a fan of murder mystery boxset binges, the Wyvern Theatre has a real life (and death) treat for you this September.

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What’s On! Looking for some entertainment then check out our whats on page.

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Musical Musings! with Dave Franklin

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Stage Coach what’s on at your local theatres

Great news in this months magazine with the new Radiotherapy unit getting the go-ahead thanks to some amazing fundraising work from the team at Brighter Futures and then Gerry Watkins bringing his successful Big Yellow Bus Project to Swindon to assist in the town’s homeless problem.

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Just in case you missed it, check out the news from the last month.

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comes to Swindon

Swindon & Wiltshire Pride 2019 Swindon & Wiltshire

Pride celebrates its 11th year.

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Good news on the employment front too with BMW confirming the new electric mini will be built just along the A420 meaning that the panels will continue to be pressed at the Swindon plant.

One sad point of note this month is the announcement that the Swindon Half Marathon will be running for the final time as mounting costs and lower numbers of runners may take their toll. If you were looking to run the Swindon Half and have always put it off, apply for your place now, get your running shoes on, and support this amazing local event, who knows maybe with enough support the decision to cancel it may be reversed.

Enjoy your August and I will see you again in September.

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JULY SHORTS THESWINDONIAN.CO.UK // AUGUST 2019

Two men aged 16 and 22 years old from London A 16-year-old male and a 22-year-old man both from London were arrested on suspicion of drug offences after a stop and search uncovered 100 wraps of class A drugs and £1,000 in cash.

Sheep cause M4 delays Motorists were delayed between junctions 15 and 16 of the M4 motorway after sheep escaped from a farm near Coate Water.

2019 Swindon Half Marathon to be the last Organisers of the Swindon Half Marathon have taken to social media to advise the 2019 race will be the last. “I’m afraid to announce that the 2019 running of the Nationwide Swindon Half Marathon on September the 22nd will be the very last.

When we took this race on at the end of 2016, we wanted to be able to create something a bit special for Swindon, to put it on the running map and to build a race that pulled together the vibrant running community of our town and the surrounding areas.

Unfortunately, despite giving it our best efforts, we’ve simply not been able to make it work financially with the numbers of runners that have attended, and the amount of work associated with organising the race has taken over our lives more than we could have ever imagined or expected.

The race has been staged in 2017 and 2018 in a grand fashion, which I think is only fitting to a town the size of Swindon, in the hope to attract more runners.

However, the break even point for the event is around 3,500, which is a number we’ve yet to achieve, and is looking very unlikely to be achieved in 2019.”

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Graeme Hardie and Leigh Bint - Organisers, Nationwide Swindon Half Marathon The 2019 Race, to be held in a little over 2 months on September 22nd, is still open for entries on our website, and we would love to be able to send it off with our biggest runner numbers and atmosphere yet.

Build your own Grand Design Crest Nicholson, have applied to Swindon Borough Council for permission to create a plot for 14 custom-built houses on the western edge of the village.

If approved, the company will divide the land into 14 plots and construct roads and services – water, gas, electricity and sewage – to supply them.

The design of the houses themselves will be built to plans put together by those who buy the plots.

Andrew Dobson, managing director of Crest Nicholson strategic projects, said: “We are always looking for innovative ways to respond to customer demands. Over time we have seen demand increase for individual, bespoke homes within our communities.

The custom-build plots will allow a customer to select a building plot and then design a house that responds to local context and suits their lifestyle and budget needs.”

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Wichelstowe footbridge officially open A 35 metre bridge crossing the Wilts and Berks Canal at Wichelstowe opened in July allowing easy access between Waitrose and the Hall and Woodhouse pub.

Councillor Gary Sumner, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning, said: “I am delighted to see another piece of the Wichelstowe jigsaw slotted firmly into place.

“The Canalside development is really beginning to take shape and this footbridge, so beautifully designed by Sebastien, will act as a focal point that will make getting around the District Centre much easier.”

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Waste-Industry competitors unite to raise funds for charity A team of cyclists from Swindon’s CMS SupaTrak took part in a mammoth charity bike ride raising over £7000 for the Alzheimer’s Society, despite being faced with dreadful riding conditions!

Waste on Wheels is a group of 20 riders from 15 different waste-related businesses cycled from Reading to Weston-SuperMare contending with the typical British summer – gusting winds and torrential rain! Mike Allen, from CMS SupaTrak, was one of the team’s support crew and was kept extremely busy

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during the three-day event.

“The weather really wasn’t good! There were punctures galore, torn Lycra, broken wheels, shredded tyres and several riders ended up out of the saddle. Cuts and bruises, stitches and even broken ribs all made for a very challenging few days!”

Riding in the challenge was Jason Airey, MD of CMS SupaTrak who said: “We are delighted that Waste on Wheels has raised so much – it makes what we all went through really worthwhile.

Several of the cyclists have family affected by

Alzheimer’s so they know first-hand how important fundraising events such as this are.

This is also a wonderful example of people in our industry, who are competitors in business, coming together for a common good cause. I don’t know of another industry that does this.”

This is the fourth time that the waste-industry cycling team have worked together to raise money for good causes, bringing the total raised to around £120,000 so far.

THESWINDONIAN.CO.UK // AUGUST 2019

Panels for new electric Mini to be built in Swindon BMW has given a boost to the Swindon jobs by confirming that the production of its new electric Mini will start in Oxford this November with the cars panels to be made in Swindon.

will be fully integrated into the production process at Oxford and Swindon.

The panels will come from Swindon which means the plant is integral to the car.”

Deliveries of the brand’s first fully electric car will start in March 2020.

Peter Weber, Oxford and Swindon plant managing director said: “This is such a proud moment for every single one of our team.

“It shows our commitment to the UK. The Mini Electric

Copyright BMW Group

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THESWINDONIAN.CO.UK // AUGUST 2019

Local school pupils learn the ropes with NHS staff Local students from Lydiard Park Academy and St John’s Academy in Marlborough came together to watch staff from across the NHS respond to a road traffic collision as part of a community simulation event.

Organised by Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, in partnership with Oxford Brookes University and Bristol Medical School, students were able to watch different professions from within the NHS work together when faced with an emergency.

The simulation event saw a patient actor treated for a trauma at the roadside, before being transferred to hospital where the care was 8

passed over to hospital staff.

Oxford Brookes’ clinical skills suites provided the hospital setting, where the students followed the patient’s journey from the Emergency Department, to the operating theatre and then to multidisciplinary team care on the ward.

Students also got the opportunity to learn basic clinical skills, including CPR and how to take observations.

Dr Andrea Pereira, Clinical Teaching Fellow from Great Western Hospital, said: “This was a really exciting and engaging event for local school children to witness the teamwork and dedication from those who work in the NHS.

“We wanted to highlight the importance of the service, and show the students that from the paramedics through to theatre staff, nurses and everyone else involved in patient care, the NHS is a truly joined-up organisation that is always on hand to provide help to those who need it.

“This was also a good opportunity for any of the students who are considering a career in the NHS to find out more, and to ask any questions about the way that the service runs, or about how staff provide treatment to the sickest of patients.”

Swindon homeless to benefit as Big Yellow Bus Project comes to town Swindon trucker Gerry Watkins raised £4,000 back in 2017 to buy a double-decker bus which he converted it into a homeless shelter in Cirencester.

The upper deck of the bus provides seven beds including two specifically designed to provide females with additional privacy and security. There is also a further bed on the lower deck to accommodate an overnight warden.

He now plans to expand the project into his home-town after purchasing a second bus. “I know

Swindon needs more than just one bus, but this is a start,” he said.

“The whole project relies on the sheer kindness of the community and fundraising events to raise funds to purchase materials.”

All work carried out on the buses is checked by the relevant authorities before any homeless person is able to use the facilities and anyone using the bus must be signed up to a rehabilitation course.

It is also hoped that the Big Yellow Bus Project will

in future set up training courses to help the homeless get back into work.

If you are able to help support the Big Yellow Bus Project in any way please get in touch with the charity on 07808 030220 or by email hello@bigye llowbusproject.co.uk To get more details on the project you can visit the website www.bigyellow busproject.co.uk

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THESWINDONIAN.CO.UK // AUGUST 2019

Swindon & Wiltshire Pride celebrates its 11th year.

Swindon & Wiltshire Pride returns this month and organisers are promising the event will be ‘Bigger and better than ever before!’

The event will begin with a parade around Old Town starting at 11am followed by a free music festival in Town Gardens.

After taking a year out last year due to a lack of volunteers the 2019 event

has been made possible with support from one of Swindon’s biggest employers Nationwide.

Electronic dance group N-Trance and Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalist La Voix, will be headlining the event with many other local and national acts taking to the two stages, the main Nationwide Stage and also the Stephen G Sloan Stage, sponsored by Thames Water.

This year also sees the introduction of a craft

zone and also the usual shopping, family and community areas.

Thames Water will be providing a water filling station to keep you hydrated throughout the day but you are reminded that all bottles must be empty upon entry to the park.

For details visit www.swin donwiltshirepride.co.uk or email swinwiltspride@live. co.uk

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Swindon radiotherapy unit to open after government loan Swindon’s new £18.4 million radiotherapy centre will finally be built thanks to a successful fundraising appeal by Brighter Futures and a loan from the government.

Currently 100’s of cancer patients have to endure the 70-mile roundtrip to the Churchill Hospital in Oxford for treatment.

These patients will now be able to receive their life-saving radiotherapy treatment at the new unit.

Dr Claire Hobbs, head of radiotherapy at OUH, said

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she was “very grateful” for the funding model that will “allow us to go ahead with our dream of bringing radiotherapy services closer to people’s homes”.

Jason Dorsett from OUH said: “I am so pleased that at last we have been able to sort out the finances to make this much-wanted project a reality.

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (OUH) said it hoped work would start on the building by next spring.

“I am very grateful to the people of Swindon and beyond for their patience and their generosity.

The Department of Health and Social Care will provide a loan to OUH to allow the unit be built and the £2.9 million raised by Brighter Futures will be used to buy specialist equipment.

“We are now focused on getting everything in place to start work on site, which we hope to be able to do by spring next year.”

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If you’re a fan of murder mystery boxset binges, the Wyvern Theatre has a real life (and death) treat for you this September.

From Mon 2nd – Sat 7th of the month, you’ll want to pause Prime and knock Netflix on the head as ‘Master of Suspense’ Alfred Hitchcock’s The Lady Vanishes premieres its brand-new star cast on the Swindon stage.

Building on the phenomenal decade-long success of The Agatha Christie Theatre Company, The Classic Thriller Theatre Company presents a quick-witted, devilishly fun thriller, based on the 1939 Hitchcock classic, ranked as one of the best British films of all time.

Set on a train travelling from Vienna to Zurich just before the outbreak of the Second World War, this stylishly staged and highly atmospheric drama begins when Socialite Iris’ travelling companion disappears.

Bewildered to find fellow passengers deny ever having seen her, Iris enlists 20

the help of musician Max to turn detective and attempt to solve this perplexing mystery…

BAFTA-nominated Gwen Taylor and ‘Villain of the Year’ Andrew Lancel are reunited for the first time since their two years together in Coronation Street as Anne Foster and her evil son (who she killed!) Frank Foster.

Starring alongside Gwen and Andrew is Denis Lill, star of the highly acclaimed TV drama The Royal; Emmerdale and Call the Midwife, actress Scarlett Archer, TV and theatre star Mark Wynter (The Mouse Trap, Witness for Prosecution); Nicholas Audsley, best known as the Duke of Monmouth in smash hit TV series Victoria and Ben Nealon (Soldier Soldier).

The production is directed

by Roy Marsden who is best known as an actor, particularly in his role as Commander Adam Dalgliesh in ITV’s P.D. James series, which he played for 15 years. He has also been directing plays since he was

15 years old and had successful West End runs with Noel Coward’s Volcano and Agatha Christie’s (under the pen name Mary Westmacott) A Daughter’s a Daughter.

This is now Roy’s third time directing a Classic Thriller Theatre Company production having previously directed Rehearsal for Murder and A Judgement in Stone.

The Lady Vanishes runs at Swindon’s Wyvern Theatre from Mon 2 – Sat 7 September. To find out more and book your tickets, visit www.swindontheatres.co.uk

or call Ticket Office on 01793 524481.

THESWINDONIAN.CO.UK // AUGUST 2019

**Pictures used are of previous cast**

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Community NEWS Old Town Library News: There’s lots going on at the Old Town Library in August.

The library will be running The Summer Reading Challenge for children 4 and over. Children are challenged to visit the library 3 times and read at least 6 books.

There are incentives at each visit and a gold medal to collect at the end!

The Rubber Ducky Club for 0 - 3 year old children is an early literacy programme focusing on reading, talking, writing, playing and singing.

opening hours. The Library will now be open from 11 am to 4.30 pm every weekday and from 10-1 on Saturdays.

There are 3 sheets to complete over the holidays with a rubber duck prize when the challenge has been completed. Story Time and Craft will start again on Tuesdays in September.

Play Area Improvements: Barring minor adjustments, work has been completed at the Hesketh Crescent and Savernake Street play areas.

Work on the East Wichel play area will be starting soon. Initial reactions of parents and children have been extremely positive.

With older residents in mind, the library is hosting a Bingo session on 14th August and a Quiz for individuals on 28th August.

Both these free events are from 2pm - 3pm and include a hot drink and a biscuit.

Both will be regular monthly events.

The improvements are part of a programme planned by the Leisure and Amenities Committee of South Swindon Parish Council. In two years’ time all 23 play areas in South Swindon Parish will have been improved significantly.

Old Town Library has been much busier since South Swindon Parish took over, and the Parish has decided to extend the

Marlborough Park Area – Parking Update: Nadine and Jane are continuing to work with Nationwide and Borough

Council officers to mitigate parking problems in the Marlborough Park area.

Together, we have identified proposals for Marlborough Park, Broome Manor Lane and a section of Marlborough Road that we will take to an informal consultation with residents in September.

Affected residents should have received a letter containing more details on the proposals.

The barriers will remain in place until a decision has been made on the introduction of permanent parking restrictions.

Additionally, at the end of 2019, Lakeside residents will be consulted about lifting parking restrictions on Bank Holidays.

Revised Parking Standards: SBC has drafted revised parking standards for new

THESWINDONIAN.CO.UK // AUGUST 2019

developments. The draft makes changes to the number of parking spaces required, and also extends to more roads in Old Town the central parking sector where no parking provision is required.

Stratton St Margaret News Update From Barrie Jennings: I am a Stratton Parish Councillor, however I am writing in a personal capacity and my views are not necessarily those of the Parish Council’s.

Public consultation was expected to commence late July and residents can comment on the draft standards by completing a questionnaire on the SBC website, which includes a link to the draft.

Eastern Villages Road Infrastructure Costs: Swindon Council has approved borrowing up to £60m by 2025/26 in order to progress with road schemes at the White Hart Junction, Gablecross Junction, Nythe Road Junction and Covingham Drive, Dorcan Way Roundabout, as well as building the new road connecting the Commonhead Roundabout with the Eastern Villages.

Speeding in East Wichel: In an initial response to residents’ concerns about speeding cars and buses on East Wichel Way, cables have been laid across the road to record speeds.

New Retirement Homes: Planning permission has been granted for assisted living/extra care accommodation for older people and a retail store at Wakefield House (the former energy centre) off Pipers Way. There will be 65 one and two bedroom apartments.

Construction is expected to take 15 months.

Any local issues, please contact: Jane Milner-Barry, Nadine Watts, Neil Hopkins (parish councillor) & Linda Kasmaty (parish candidate) Old Town & East Wichel Tel: 07864 839746 (Jane), 07595 071381 (Nadine), 07799 866396 (Neil) & 07765 050470 (Linda) www.fb.com/oldtownlabour

The Council’s plan is to build this infrastructure through borrowing and then seek to recoup its spending from the developers building the houses at the Eastern Villages. However Council Officers have described this massive borrowing as a “significant risk” to the public purse and many councillors have questioned whether the developer will pay back the money the council is borrowing over the period the Council expects.

At a time when the Council is having to make 4% Council Tax increases while still making cuts to local services, it is concerning that they are willing to risk £60m of Council-Taxpayers money in order to subsidise a private sector housing development.

It feels like we, the Council Taxpayer, are taking on the risk of this private sector development by paying for the infrastructure, and will have to endure the effects of these houses being built with all the disruption and extra traffic it will cause.

Meanwhile the developer takes on no risk from paying for the infrastructure and will make all of the profit from selling the houses.

See the below info for the Council’s planned dates for the junction works.

White Hart Junction Start - October 2019 Completion - March 2021 Gablecross Junction Start - January 2020 Completion - June 2021 Oxford Road / Nythe Road Start - March 2020 Completion - March 2021 Covingham Drive / Dorcan Way Roundabout Start - March 2020 Completion - March 2021

Contact details: If you have any local issues or concerns please don’t hesitate to contact me. You can call me on 07944740562 or email 1strattonjennings@gmail.com 25

Put the spring back in their step!

Arthritis, a condition that causes pain, inflammation and stiffness of the joints, is one of the most common causes of chronic pain in both people and pets.

Arthritis is, unfortunately, also a progressive disease that can become increasingly painful if not diagnosed early and continually managed.

It is vital that early signs are not ignored as this is the time to start preventable treatment to slow down the onset of debilitating arthritis.

Cats with arthritis may also… · Gain weight · Be slow or hesitant to go up stairs or jump off surfaces · Have difficulty balancing, making it difficult for them to properly groom · Have a scruffy coat as a result of poor grooming

Diagnosis

Symptoms of arthritis can be very subtle and difficult to recognize. Early signs to look for include…

If you suspect that your pet might be developing early signs of arthritis, they will require a thorough examination from your vet. During this examination, your vet will examine your pet for any signs of lameness and closely examine their joints for any swelling, discomfort or restriction in mobility.

· Weight gain

Treatment and Management

· Pacing or difficulty getting comfortable

The good news is… there are more treatment options available to pets with early signs of arthritis then there are for people!

Signs and Symptoms

· Sleeping more than usual · Reluctance to move or go for walks · Hesitation going up stairs or jumping into the car · Unexplained changes in behaviour or temperament · Licking a specific joint or limb more than usual 26

them to create a comprehensive management plan and tailor treatment to your pet’s needs.

Joint injections, such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and stem cell therapy are also an innovative treatment option for early stages of arthritis. These treatments work by taking some of your pet’s own cells, processing them in our lab, and inserting them directly into the joint to promote and accelerate healing. Physiotherapy and Hydrotherapy are also great options to manage arthritis by providing guidelines for appropriate exercise and helping maintain your pet’s mobility!

For example, Joint supplements that can help prevent arthritis by supporting overall joint health are now widely available for pets.

Vets can also now offer a wide range of products to reduce inflammation and provide pain relief, allowing

If you have any questions or concerns, please visit our website for more information or to book with one of our vets today!

THESWINDONIAN.CO.UK // AUGUST 2019

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Musical Musings

with Dave Franklin

Things always go a bit quiet in the heat of summer. With festival season in full swing, people eschewing indoor gigs for outdoor barbecues and big screen sport becoming the focal point for a while, it is understandable that there are fewer gigs to choose from this month.

their new album “Make Fun” at The Victoria.

Fewer, perhaps, but the town isn’t entirely devoid of

The following day at Level III you will find Familiar Spirit who revel in dark deliveries and heavy textures, explosive dynamics and subtle and supple changes

sonic sustenance for those who need their fix. On the 1st The Illustrations launch

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Not only their wonderful blend of quintessentially English pop and West Coast psychedelia but more of the same from Sister Bliss and the strange dreamscaping of Zero Gravity Tea Ceremony.

of pace. In a packed bill they are joined by Wars, Immerse, Heriot and Homeland, all of whom wander post-hardcore and metal pathways to varying degrees. Two men aged 16 and 22 years old from London Good value for money if ever there was.In support of their new song Ascension, Kaleido Bay take to the stage of The Victoria on 9th for a few salvos of their trade mark, post-punk infused indie groove.

THESWINDONIAN.CO.UK // AUGUST 2019

At the time of writing their “special guests” remain a closely guarded secret.

And talking of post-punk, if you are looking to recapture those years in a truly authentic fashion then the same night sees Absolute Blondie turn the Swiss Chalet into CBGB’s… sound-wise at least.

Something well wicked this way comes on 11th as Tragedy return to the scene of their sonic crimes, Level III. This is a band who take the iconic Bee Gees musical

canon and renders it into heavy metal anthems to create the greatest heavy-metal-meets-disco party you could possibly wish for. Imagine Saxon playing You Should Be Dancing…well, that.

On 15th back at The Victoria three new bands line up to showcase their musical wares including The Falmouths, who offer robust indie with a modish, power-pop twist.

guess is as good as mine and the opening act is yet to be named.

I point this out because some bands moan that not enough people come to their gigs…this triumph for online marketing may explain why.

Just sayin’….

The Halcyon are also on the bill but I found a dozen or so bands by that name so your 29

Stage Coach

THESWINDONIAN.CO.UK // AUGUST 2019

With Ben Thomas

The ochre heat of August always brings with it a relative lull in Swindon’s theatrical calendar.

That’s hardly surprising with the sweltering summer sun almost melting the finials off the Town Hall’s stone dressings.

Some of the venues simply choose to diversify while it’s too warm for theatre.

For example: The Art Centre in Old Town uses its summer off-season to serve as a pop-up sanatorium for the treatment of sun-damaged otters fished from the River Ray. The oven-like auditorium of the Shoebox Theatre doubles as a kiln used by the Dark Potters of Monkton Farleigh to fire their summer crop of X-rated tea pots.

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And what goes on behind closed doors at the Post Modern on Theatre Square must remain unspoken, although I believe large sheets of canvas, body paint and a man-sized catapult are involved.

Not that we’re completely starved of theatre in August. There’s open-air theatre at Lydiard Park. ‘Alice in Wonderland’ on 2nd August in this case. Lots of Cheshire Cats, Mad March Hares and the like.

The Wyvern are also presenting a Family Fun Day on 4th August.

Local musical theatre company SALOS are offering a Sound of Music workshop, Prime Theatre will be getting creative with Sleeping Beauty (if you’ll pardon the expression), CBeebies’ Chris Jarvis will be reading from Roald Dahl’s Revolting Rhymes and there are mini theatre tours of the Wyvern herself on offer.

And there’s the Summer Youth Project at the Wyvern as well, this year ‘Chitty-Chitty Bang-Bang’, between 22nd and 24th August.

Or you could do what I’m planning do, which is sit in a paddling pool filled with iced Pimms until September.

Based on Ian Fleming’s children’s book that promises to be a treat for audiences of all ages.

Cheers!

Other gin-based fruits cups are available.

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