The Swindonian June 2019 by The Swindonian

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CONTENTS

The Swindonian Magazine is now one year old! We have always tried to bring you a variety of content from throughout the town and are looking forward to continuing to do that into our second year as a publication.

In this issue we spotlight next months MFOR Festival taking place at Lydard Park and share the news that GWH are supporting the local LGBTQ+ community by adopting the new rainbow badge initiative. We try and help the local council improve on the speed of the recycling process with a request for residents to sort out their rubbish and also bring to you the news that Robert Buckland is planning to simply and tidy up the UK’s complex sentencing laws. Allan Trinidad shares with you the latest offering from Walt Disney World Florida whilst Dave Franklin and Ben Thomas share with you the best of Whats On this month. If you have any spare time on your hands Wiltshire Air Ambulance are on the lookout for volunteers to help them keep up their life saving work. On a final note, The Swindon Magazine is always on a quest to serve our readers with more content about the people, charities and organisations within our community. We wouldn’t be able to do this without the continuous support of our loyal readers and advertisers. Many of you have been with us since the beginning online back in 2015 and we thank you and hope you continue to stick by us in the future. If you have any news you want to share please get in touch with us getintouch@theswindonian.co.uk

See you again next month...

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

GWH supports LGBTQ+ community by adopting new Rainbow Badge Scheme

Free Disney Dining and Drinks holiday promotion Make your next travel arrangements with a knowledgeable, trustworthy and friendly travel expert.

Residents are encouraged to sort their recycling We get an update from Swindon Borough Council on how to be more efficient wtih your waste.

MFOR Festival Graham Stobbs and Debra Collins bring us up to speed on the plans for this summers festival at Lydiard Park.

Justice Minister, Robert Buckland plans “clean sweep” to sentencing laws

Your local councillors share the latest news around the Swindon communities.

Wiltshire Air Ambulance seeks volunteers to help save lives!

Whats On! Looking for some entertainiment then check out our whats on page.

Musical Musings! with Dave Franklin

Stage Coach check out whats on at your local theatres

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MAY SHORTS THESWINDONIAN.CO.UK // JUNE 2019

No Emergency Services show this year The trustees of the Emergency Services Show have announced that there will be no event in 2019. In a statement, they said: “Unfortunately, we have been unable to secure a suitable and affordable site for the Show this year, with our previous location ruled out due to a range of issues, including traffic management and a proposed significant increase in costs. As a registered charity, we have to balance land size, logistics and safety alongside 4

affordability, whilst seeking to keep the Show within Wiltshire. Despite our best efforts, time has beaten us for 2019 but we are still actively seeking a new home for 2020.” If anyone who can offer a potential site, with land large enough to accommodate the Show and good road access, the trustees can be contacted at www.emergencyservicesshow.com– a grass-only site can be considered, but would mean the loss of the emergency vehicle rides.

THESWINDONIAN.CO.UK // JUNE 2019

Police warning of HMRC phishing scam Wiltshire Police have announced that they have been receiving lots of calls from people who have received letters from someone purporting to be from HMRC with a demand for money. A phone number is provided to call, which will connect to Wiltshire Police so appears genuine.

for every £80 you pay towards childcare, the government adds a further £20 – a boost of up to £2,000 a year per child, while parents of children with qualifying disabilities can get up to £4,000. This benefit is available to all children up to and including the age of 11, as long as you and your partner – if you have one – are both working and are earning at least £131 a week.

This is a scam, and people receiving these letters should be aware that Wiltshire Police will only provide the 101 number for members of the public to make contact in these circumstances. Do not call the number in the message nor attempt to make contact with the sender. With 1.5 million families being eligible for the scheme across England, news that just one in every six have signed up means many are missing out. To take advantage of the scheme, you need to pay for childcare via a special Tax-free Childcare account, which you can create at https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-tax-freechildcare If you have received one of these letters there is no need to call Police, but they are encouraging you to report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or online at https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/ as a phishing scam. You can find more information and advice here: https://www.wiltshire.police.uk/ article/723/Frauds-scams-and-cyber-crime

Parents could be up to £4,000 better off per child with free childcare – but many are missing out Are you benefiting from the government’s Tax-free Childcare scheme? The scheme was launched in April 2017, and means that 5

GWH supports LGBTQ+ community by adopting new Rainbow Badge Scheme

Members of the LGBTQ+ community are being represented and supported at Great Western Hospital thanks to the NHS Rainbow Badge Project. Staff across the Hospital are signing up to become Rainbow Warriors, and receive an NHS Rainbow Badge to wear.

rolled out across the NHS nationally, and Great Western Hospital is proud to have adopted the scheme. The aim of the initiative is to actively break down barriers that LGBTQ+ people may face within the NHS.

Originally initiated by Mr Michael Farquhar from Evelina London Children’s Hospital, the project is being

“As advocates, people who work in healthcare can play a key role in making things better. Simple, visible symbols, including the new rainbow badges, can make a big difference for those who are unsure of both themselves and the reception they will receive if they disclose their sexuality or gender identity.

The Great Western Hospital offers open, non-judgemental and inclusive care for all our staff, patients, and their families including those who identify as LGBTQ+. The rainbow badge identifies that the wearer is there to listen to an individual without judgement and can signpost to further support if needed.

and care services,” said Daniel Boden, Trust lead for LGBTQ+.

“Mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety, are more common in people who identify as LGBTQ+. Many still feel afraid to disclose their sexuality or gender identity and, for those who do, barriersstill impact on their ability to access key health

“If you are visiting the hospital, make sure to look out for our staff wearing their rainbow badges. Whether you are a member of the LGBTQ+ community, or just have any questions, our Rainbow Warriors are always happy to help.”

THESWINDONIAN.CO.UK // JUNE 2019

Free Disney Dining & Drinks is back!

PLUS 14 Disney Park Days for the price of 7 This incredible Disney offer is back for 2020! Guests can dine for FREE during their entire stay when booking a participating Disney Value, Moderate, Deluxe or Deluxe Villa Resort and Ticket package for a minimum of 5 nights. Bookings available now and must be made by the 5th November 2019. Key Dates: •

Book by Date: 5th November 2019

•

Travel Arrival Dates: 1st January to 29th March 2020 & 19th April to 3rd October 2020

•

Blackout Dates: 30th March to 18th April 2020

•

Minimum Night Stay: 5-nights

Participating Resorts Value Resorts:

Disney’s All-Star Resorts, Disney’s Pop Century Resort (excluding Pool View Rooms), Disney’s Art of Animation Resort (excluding Little Mermaid Rooms).

Moderate Resorts:

Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort (excluding Water View Rooms), Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground and Disney’s Port Orleans Resorts 8

(excluding Riverside Standard Rooms & Riverside Standard 5th Sleeper Rooms).

Deluxe Resorts:

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge (excluding Pool View Rooms), Disney’s Beach Club Resort, Disney’s Boardwalk Inn, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and Disney’s Yacht Club Resort.

Deluxe Villa Resorts:

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Villas – Kidani Village, Disney’s Beach Club Villas, Disney’s Boardwalk Villas, Disney’s Old Key West Resort, Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa, Disney’s Grand Floridian Villas, Disney’s Riviera Resort and Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge.

Disney Dining Plans Value Resorts -

FREE Breakfast Dining Plan Guests can dine at over 50 locations across Walt Disney World Resort at Disney’s Self Service restaurants. To qualify for a FREE Breakfast Dining Plan, book a package for 5-nights or more at a Disney Value Resort and Disney Tickets for the entire party.

FREE Breakfast Dining Plan - per person (ages 3+) for each night of your stay includes: 1 Quick Service Breakfast meal (entrée or combo meal if available) with 1 alcoholic (over 21 years only) or non-alcoholic beverage

Moderate Resorts -

FREE Quick-Service Dining Plan Guests can dine at over 50 locations across Walt Disney World Resort at Disney’s Self Service restaurants. To qualify for a FREE Quick Service Dining Plan, book a package for 5-nights or more at a Disney Moderate Resort and Disney Tickets for the entire party. Disney Quick Service Dining Plan - per person (ages 3+) for each night of your stay includes: 2 Self Service meals 2 selected Snacks 1 Refillable Resort Mug per stay 1 alcoholic (over 21 years only) or soft drink per meal (including speciality refreshments) **Available to upgrade to full Disney Dining Plan at additional cost** Guests can save up to £555 per adult when staying for two weeks!

Deluxe & Deluxe Villa Resorts - FREE Disney

Dining Plan

Guests can dine at over 100 locations across Walt Disney World Resort at Disney’s Self Service and Waiter Service restaurants. To qualify for a FREE Disney Dining Plan, book a package for 5-nights or more at a Disney Deluxe or Deluxe Villa Resort and Disney Tickets for the entire party. Disney Dining Plan - per person (ages 3+) for each night of your stay includes: 1 Self Service meal 1 Waiter Service meal 2 selected Snacks 1 Refillable Resort Mug per stay 1 alcoholic (over 21 years only) or soft drink per meal (including speciality refreshments) **Available to upgrade to full Disney Deluxe Dining Plan at additional cost** Guests can save up to £795 per adult when staying for two weeks! Disney’s 14-day Ultimate Ticket for the price of 7-days includes FREE Disney’s Memory Maker valued at $199 per adult Book now, and I’ll make sure you don’t miss out on Disney’s four amazing theme parks and two splash-tastic water parks, with all those once-in-a-lifetime Disney character experiences.

Fancy experiencing the Disney magic for yourself? Contact me and take advantage of exclusive benefits including a 24-hour duty office and full financial protection. Make your next travel arrangements with a knowledgeable, trustworthy and friendly travel expert. I deliver a personal, professional and bespoke travel service.

Contact me: allan.trinidad@travelcounsellors.com © Disney.

THESWINDONIAN.CO.UK // JUNE 2019

Prime Theatre are calling out for Swindon’s best young actors

Prime Theatre are introducing a new course for Swindon’s best young actors, aged 14 to 25. The Actors’ Elite, is a new drama school experience consisting of a 10-week masterclass course for the region’s best and most promising young actors. The Actors’ Elite will work with professional directors and actors from major drama schools and theatre companies such as the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts, the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre. This is an opportunity for young people to explore their artistic voice, learn from professionals and start to imagine and shape a future 10

career in theatre without having to leave Swindon. A final public showcase at Swindon Arts Centre on the 31 July will shine a spotlight on each individual member. Guiding the training is Prime’s Artistic Director, Mark Powell. He explains, “The Actors’ Elite is a chance for young people in Swindon who are serious about acting to take the next steps in their training. You won’t have to leave Swindon to get a taste of what it takes to work professionally in the theatre industry.” Thanks to Arts Council England support, Prime is offering this course for half its actual cost at a discounted fee of £150.00. A limited number of discounted and free places are available.

Interested young actors are invited to attend a group audition this month on Wednesday evenings at the Wyvern, with a chance to meet staff and showcase their skills. Applicants should demonstrate a passion for acting, an ability to work in a team and a desire to learn and improve their skills. To book an audition or find out more, applicants should contact Emma Barr, Prime Theatre’s Associate Director by email at emma@primetheatre.co.ukor call 01793 614 864. The Actors Elite will run at the Wyvern Theatre on Wednesday evenings from 6-8pm commencing in June, with the addition of two Saturday afternoons per month.

THESWINDONIAN.CO.UK // JUNE 2019

Allergies are for life, not just for the summer! Just like us, our pets can also suffer from allergies - a condition that causes your pet’s immune system to overreact to common harmless substances. When exposed to these substances through physical contact, inhalation or ingestion, your pet’s immune system initiates an allergic response, resulting in allergy symptoms. Substance(s) that cause your pet’s immune system to overreact are called allergens, and can include weeds, pollen, insect and flea bites, as well as some foods. Signs and Symptoms The most common allergy symptom is irritation of the skin, which often results in: • Itching and scratching • Redness • Hair loss • Reoccurring ear infections • licking or chewing paws Allergies in cats are more likely to go undiagnosed, as a common symptom is overgrooming, which can be easily mistaken for normal behaviour or attributed to stress and anxiety.

• Irritation of the lungs – resulting in sneezing or trouble breathing • Irritation of the digestive system – resulting in vomiting and diarrhoea Diagnosis To determine if your pet has allergies, your vet will first perform a thorough physical examination and review your pet’s clinical history to rule out other possible causes of irritation. Once all other possible causes are eliminated, allergies can be diagnosed by either a skin test or blood tests. Your vet will know which test is most appropriate for your pet. Treatment and Management Allergies are a condition that require continuous management. While allergies are not preventable, symptoms can be reduced by minimizing exposure to

allergens. Food allergies, for example, can be managed by simply eliminating the specific food from your pet’s diet. Allergies can also be treated with immunotherapy, which works to build your pet’s tolerance to allergens by exposing them to small repeated doses of the substance. We offer Artuvetrin Therapy, the only licensed immunotherapy for pets in Europe, which is both safe and effective for longterm use. If the treatment plan prescribed by your vet is closely adhered to, symptoms often improve within a few months. If you have any questions or concerns, please visit our website for more information or to book with our dermatologist Nick Hartley.

Allergies can also cause: • Irritation of the eyes – resulting in squinting or watering

Fire Service offer water safety advice Cooling off in rivers, canals, ponds, quarries and lakes can have deadly consequences. Every year, firefighters are called to incidents where residents (particularly children and young people) get into difficulty when swimming in open water. Dangers of cooling off in open water, the water may look calm on the surface. There may still be strong undercurrents that could pull even a strong swimmer under.

The water may also feel relatively warm on the surface, but just a few feet below can be icy cold – even in the hot weather – and can very quickly cause severe cramp and hypothermia. Young people often misjudge their swimming ability – they may view a river or lake as a tempting means of cooling off during a hot spell of weather, but fail to appreciate the harmful effects that the cold water can have on their stamina and strength.

Key safety tips for staying safe near water! The following are some key safety tips for staying safe near water: • Alcohol and swimming do not mix – stay out of the water if you’ve been drinking. • Always watch your child while at the beach, lake or other natural bodies of water. • Never let older children swim in unsupervised areas like quarries, canals or ponds. • Don’t swim near motor boats, jet skis or other power vehicles. • Never interfere with lifesaving equipment – you might need it yourself. • Learn to spot and keep away from dangerous water. • Take safety advice – heed notices which warn you of the danger. See national water safety signs for guidance. • Children should always visit open water sites with a grown-up. • Swimming anywhere other than at purpose built and supervised swimming pools is highly dangerous and is not recommended, unless as part of an organised club.

Residents are encouraged to sort their recycling A month-long campaign to help Swindon Borough Council’s recycling crews sort residents’ waste quickly and more efficiently has been launched. The recycling box sorting campaign aims to increase the number of residents who are sorting their waste into two or more boxes. The campaign will be the first of a series initiatives that will take place over the next 12 months and will contribute to the Council’s 10-year Waste Strategy, which has been developed in order to achieve the best environmental and economic outcomes for 14

Swindon. It also aims to increase the Council’s recycling rate to 60% by 2029, a year ahead of the national target. Residents are encouraged to split all paper and card products into one box, this should include paper, broken up cardboard (no bigger than the size of the recycling box lid), nonmetallic cards and wrapping paper, junk mail, leaflets, catalogues, magazines, newspapers, booklets and envelopes. The other box should contain all metal and glass products including glass bottles and jars, metal cans

and tins, empty aerosols and foil. Households who produce more recycling, can order a separate recycling box for each material. Textile recycling must be presented in a tied carrier bag marked ‘textiles’ and placed on top or inside of recycling boxes. Plastics should be presented in a transparent or white plastic bag. Plastics may be subject to a separate collection and residents can find out their collection days at www. swindon.gov.uk/rubbishcollectiondays.

The Council’s crews hand sort recycling into the collection vehicle at the kerbside. This type of collection ensures the Council collects high-quality recycling to send on to the re-processors. Sorting materials correctly carries a number of benefits to both crews and residents. It is easier and safer for crews to handle and empty sorted boxes than boxes that contain a mix of recyclables. Efficient sorting allows crews to quickly empty boxes and move to the next street faster, reducing the impact on local traffic and residents. The recycling crews always aim to leave streets clean before moving on, if boxes are sorted correctly there is less risk of recycling escaping and being left on the street. Councillor Maureen Penny, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways and the Environment, said: “Our crews have to work at a fast pace to ensure all collections are completed on time. In order for crews to be efficient we need our residents’ help to sort their recycling into the correct boxes. With a few small changes to their recycling routine, residents can help our crews out enormously.”

Residents who require additional boxes to separate their recycling can order more at:

www.swindon.gov.uk/newbox. 15

THESWINDONIAN.CO.UK // JUNE 2019

Music therapy improves patient experience for those living with dementia funding follows a recent BBC documentary, The Dementia Choir (pictured), which saw a group of people living with dementia come together in their love for music and singing.

Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is funding a Nordoff Robbins music therapist who visits the hospital and spends time with patients living with dementia, in a bid to reduce distress and improve patient experience. Nordoff Robbins is the largest independent music therapy charity in the UK, dedicated to changing the lives of vulnerable and isolated people with a wide range of needs. Jupiter ward is regularly visited by Gillian Farkas-Blake, a local music therapist, and a number of other roving musicians. The musical team interact with dementia and delirium patients through use of music and instruments, bringing joy and a muchneeded distraction to the often distressing nature of a hospital environment. Alongside the clinical care, staff at Great Western Hospital have seen an improvement in the patient experience for those with dementia, as they see the positive response that music can bring. The 16

Gillian Farkas-Blake said: “Music isn’t a pill that I can give a person to make them better but through musical interaction, a person can feelbetter. We will have all experienced hearing a song on the radio that will take us right back to when we first heard it- the power of music to trigger memories is well known.” “On occasion, people who are at the end of their lives are unable to offer very little musically apart from their breathing. In those instances, I will sing with their breath, offering them a musical companionship of sorts. Sometimes, they cannot resist the pull of music and will mouth along with words or tap their fingers in time with the music around them. “I have received so many lovely comments since working on the ward from people who are grateful for the time I have spent with their family member, saying how it calms them and how they had seen a side of them that they hadn’t seen for a long time.” The good news follows the Dementia Action Week and patients living with dementia have been invited to a Tea Dance. This is an opportunity for the elderly patients to take a trip down

memory lane, listen to music and have a dance. A dance teacher will also be on hand for those patients who need some practice in learning the steps. The Trust Choir have also been joined by representatives from Alzheimer’s UK, as they take part in a sing-along with staff and patients. Consultant geriatrician and clinical lead for dementia, Sarah White, said: “The clinical care we provide for patients with dementia and delirium is vitally important but sometimes, holistic approaches can enhance the quality of that care and really help a patient to feel better. “We know that music can reduce agitation and lower stress levels and for individuals with dementia or delirium in an unfamiliar hospital environment, that is so important. “I have seen people with dementia on Jupiter ward, who have barely interacted with the ward staff, sing songs with Gillian and some patients with limited mobility, even with the physiotherapists, have been able to move more with the aid of music. “It really is remarkable. We are thrilled that Gillian will be staying with us for the coming months to compliment the care that we provide to all our patients.”

World Cup winner Sir Geoff Hurst is coming to Swindon

Ask AMS

Swindon based Red Sky Promotions are pleased to announce ‘An Evening with Sir Geoff Hurst’ to take place at MECA in Regent Circus on Friday 26th July. Talking about his West Ham and England career and his life in general, Sir Geoff no doubt has many a great stories too share.

If you want to spend the evening in the presence of the only man to have scored a hat trick in a World Cup Final you can purchase tickets from www.redskypromotions.co.uk

80+ videos on Search ‘AMS Accountancy’

Is income from selling at car boot sales and eBay taxable? It all depends on whether you are trading. If you sell unwanted presents, or items after moving house etc., you need not tell H M Revenue & Customs about this income. If you buy or obtain items to sell on and do this regularly and if you make a profit on goods you have bought/made/grown, then you are trading. In this case you should register as self-employed with HMRC. You may also have to prepare accounts and submit them to HMRC, and pay tax on the profits. If you are on Benefits, you should notify the Benefits Office of your extra income – which could affect benefit claims/tax credits. Example: Jim buys goods at car boot sales and sells them on eBay. It is trading, even if he only does it once a month. 01793 818400 @AMSAccountancy www.ams-accountancy.co.uk

THESWINDONIAN.CO.UK // JUNE 2019

MFor Festival takes place at It is safe to say that Swindon’s relationship with the concept of decent-sized music festivals that cater for more than just the local circuit is probably best described using terms such as “fits and starts” and “one off.”

True Radio One toyed with it and there have been some cool one-off events at the Old Town Bowl but by and large it is something which has never really taken root or experienced any great continuity. Well, if the organisers of MFor Festival have their way, all of that is about to change. At the moment it is a one-day event but with a five-year plan and a bigger, weekend version already sketched out, it should prove to be a perfect combination of community gathering and national event, a place where rising artists, established names and the best of the local crop can all tread the boards.

And the roots of the event come from a very charitable place. I asked co-organiser Graham Stobbs how they came to be embarking on such an event. “We put on a fundraiser for veterans mental health charities and it did very well and because we had to organise licenses, raffle

tickets, advertising etc, afterwards we thought about how we could organise a bigger event, now that we knew just what was involved.

Lydiard Park seemed like the perfect venue, we approached Years & Years and it just grew from there.”

THESWINDONIAN.CO.UK // JUNE 2019

t Lydiard Park on 27th July Debra Collins, the other half of the organisation adds,

“We thought to ourselves ‘what doesn’t Swindon have already,’ and it doesn’t have a decent sized venue for bigger artists to come and play.” As Graham points out “ If you want to go and see bigger bands you have to go to London.” So MFor aims to bring bigger bands right to Swindon’s doorstep. The line-up represents a real mix of acts. Years & Years are an established electro-pop band who blend 90’s dance sounds with modern R&B and energetic pop, Ella Eyre provides cutting edge pop with a neo-soul vibe and HRVY is in Graham’s opinion “about to explode.” But as well as gathering together the best of the current chart crop, Toploader bring a touch of indie nostalgia to the proceedings and Jasmine Douglas adds the local connection.

Beneficiaries of the event are not only nationally established veterans and mental health charities as the organisers plan to set up a local fund as well, one that they can use to support more local concerns.

castles, climbing walls to go-carts, there is even an assault course for the more adventurous.

The edges of the festival site will be the home to all sorts of free activities and events for children of all ages from archery to bouncy

With plans to grow the event over the coming years, (& years) MFor festival is putting the roots down for what could become an important event in the social calendar.

And the event isn’t just limited to music either.

105.5 radio will also have their own stage to showcase local acts, BBC Wiltshire will be broadcasting live from the event and local stalls and traders will be found all around the site.

A coming together of community spirit and national sounds and all done for all the right reasons, to help those who need a little hand up to get themselves back on track. And if you can do that whilst providing fun and music to the town then you can only admire the organisers vision.

THESWINDONIAN.CO.UK // JUNE 2019

Hundreds of young people recognised at annual Children in Care awards Children and young people who have been under the care of Swindon Borough Council came together to mark their achievements at two special events. Swindon’s Children in Care Awards recognised the hard work and success of hundreds of young people in a range of categories. Awards were presented for school achievement, involvement in community projects, creativity and art, and overcoming challenges in their personal lives. In order to make sure all children and young people were able to take part, two events were recently held. A party for younger children was held at Kidz About in West Swindon, while an ‘Oscars’ style event for young people and their carers was hosted at Blunsdon House Hotel. In total, 270 children and young people were invited to collect their Achievement Awards. Nominations were received from a wide variety of people who work with children including social workers, independent reviewing officers, the Virtual School, nurses and personal advisors. Dey Ricketts, who had previously been in care was the inspirational speaker at the event at Blunsdon 20

House Hotel. After completing a Masters in Education, she is currently teaching and is working towards a PHD. Photographs from the evening were taken by a young person from the Leaving Care Team who is currently studying photography.

The Dick Lovett Foundation also recognised young people’s achievements and provided a VIP Invitation Day experience at their Ferrari dealership for the five young people who won the Outstanding Categories.

Swindon’s business community also threw their weight behind both events with the Literacy Trust donating books and Blunsdon House Hotel, Intel, Hills Group Limited, Dynamatic Ltd UK and Rock Star Climbing Centre all providing sponsorship.

The foundation also provided vouchers to young people who acted as ambassadors of education.

In addition, Curtis Entertainment, Shooting Star Celebrations and Highworth Emporium and Kidz About also helped make the events extra special.

If you would like to find out more about the Children in Care achievement awards and how to become a sponsor please email: challengeandparticipation@ swindon.gov.uk

THESWINDONIAN.CO.UK // JUNE 2019

Justice Minister, Robert Buckland, plans “clean sweep” to sentencing laws Robert Buckland QC MP has spoken about his plans to simplify and tidy up the country’s complex sentencing laws following the announcement of his appointment as Justice Minister. Judges currently have to contend with more than 1,300 pages of convoluted and overlapping law – making it difficult to apply the law consistently and causing unnecessary delays to the justice process. A new Sentencing Code will bring greater clarity to sentencing laws, reducing the number of errors made whilst making sentencing hearings more efficient. The Sentencing (Preconsolidation Amendments) Bill introduced to Parliament today will make necessary technical amendments and remove historic, now redundant layers of legislation, to pave the way for the Sentencing Code. This will include enacting a ‘clean sweep’ to sentencing procedural law, which will allow for all offenders convicted after the Sentencing

Code comes into force to be sentenced according to the most up to date law, irrespective of when they committed the offence. The clean sweep will be subject to exceptions to make sure that no offender is subject to a greater penalty than was available at the time the offence was committed. Justice Minister Robert Buckland said, “It is vital that judges have we want to do all we can to reduce the complexity of the law,

some of which is centuries old. This is something that as a barrister and part-time Judge that I have long recognised as an issue and that I am pleased to be able to introduce this reform “This Bill will pave the way for the Sentencing Code, simplifying the statute book and helping the public to better understand the sentencing process.”

THESWINDONIAN.CO.UK // JUNE 2019

An Evening of Dance, Song, and Banter! time in their brand new production - The Ballroom Boys, a show they say is going to be “a lot of fun!” as the title suggests! The night will be packed with dances, songs and loads of banter! Neither are strangers to life on the road, with It Takes Two regular Ian having done several tours with former dance partners Camilla Sacre-Dallerup, Natalie Lowe, and most recently Oti Mabuse. While Strictly’s original and best-loved Italian, Vincent, has graced theatres up and down the country with Flavia Cacace in their Argentine Tango inspired shows. So what made the two popular professionals join up for a so-called ‘boys tour’?

Strictly boys unite for 2019 UK and Ireland tour…with a stop at the Wyvern on Thu 20 June

BBC Strictly Come Dancing’s favourite male professionals, Ian Waite and Vincent Simone are joining together for the very first

“With so many Strictly tours going out on the road in 2019, we wanted to do something a bit different, so Vincent and I spoke about a boys reunion and The Ballroom Boys idea came to life!” says Waite Argentine Tango legend Vincent and King of the Ballroom Ian, will be joined by professional dancers

THESWINDONIAN.CO.UK // JUNE 2019

Ksenia Zsikhotska, from Dancing with the Stars Ireland, and the multi-talented Crystal Main, who has toured with dance shows around the world. On vocals is the Olivier award-winning James Lomas, who has played Billy in the smash-hit musical ‘Billy Elliot’ in London’s West End. Simone, who has lost none of his cheeky

Italian charm, says “I’m looking forward to working with Ian again! As you know, we are both quite funny, if I say so myself!” Expect dances including the Waltz, Quickstep, Paso Doble, Foxtrot and of course, the Argentine Tango! Get ready for a high intensity evening of glitz

and glamour with Ian & Vincent… THE BALLROOM BOYS! Tickets are on sale at swindontheatres.co.uk or through the Ticket Office on 01793 524481. There are also a limited number of VIP tickets available, where people can meet Ian and Vincent before the show and have photo opportunities. 23

THESWINDONIAN.CO.UK // JUNE 2019

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Community NEWS Local Election Results

On May 2nd Old Town and East Wichel residents voted on who they wanted as their Borough Council Councillor and Parish Councillors. In the Borough Council election the Conservative Candidate won by 15 votes over the Labour Candidate, Neil Hopkins. In the Parish Council election we are delighted that the Labour Old Town and East Wichel Candidates were all elected with a majority of more than 500. Nadine, Jane, Linda and Neil will now serve you as Parish Councillors for the next four years and are looking forward to improving our parks, libraries and community centres and protecting our green open spaces. No matter which way you voted we will continue to work for you. You can get in touch using our contact details below.

Old Town Festival The Festival takes place from Sunday 9th to Saturday 15th June, with the parade starting at 11am on Sunday on Wood Street. We were delighted to support South Swindon Parish Council contributing a grant to help make this event happen and thank you to all the volunteers of this event.

Marlborough Park Parking Barriers

The temporary Marlborough Park Parking Barriers have now been put in place. These barriers are only a temporary measure to determine the extent of a restrictive parking zone that tackles the problem of Nationwide employees parking in the Marlborough Park residential area. Any problems should be emailed to trafficmanager@swindon. gov.uk. The Council are looking at bringing in parking restrictions similar to Lakeside i.e. no parking Monday to Friday 10am-12pm.

Domino’s Pizza License The Domino’s Pizza Takeaway on Old Town High Street have withdrawn their application to extend their opening times. Domino’s had applied to extend their opening hours from a closing time of 3am on Saturday morning and 6am on Sunday mornings.

Residents raised concerns about the noise impact this would have throughout the night and we are delighted that Domino’s decided to withdraw their application. Parking enforcement can be contacted on 01793 463772.

Angel Ridge Play Area Following issues raised by local residents about glass in the play area, the parish rangers have now raked through the sandpit removing glass. We have also got graffiti on the straight wall between the cradle swing and Field Rise removed. The Parish Rangers will be check the play area twice a week throughout the summer. 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.facebook.com/oldtownlabour

THESWINDONIAN.CO.UK // JUNE 2019

Stratton St Margaret News Update From Barrie Jennings I am writing to update you on local issues affecting Lower Stratton & Coleview. 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.

Local Election Results

LOCAL ELECTIONS

2019 Thank you to everybody that voted in the local elections on May 2nd and a special thanks to those who voted for me in the election. The Conservative Candidate, Robert Jandy, won the Borough Council seat with 1,381 votes. I received 1,346 votes, 45

votes less than Robert. I have congratulated Robert on his victory and hope he is successful in dealing with the issues we face in Stratton St Margaret. There were elections also held in the Coleview Ward of Stratton St Margaret, to elect our Stratton Parish Councillors. I was delighted to be elected in this election with 546 votes. Jan Anderson and Tim Page were also elected with 416 votes and 242 votes respectively. I am delighted to have been elected as a Parish Councillor for Coleview Ward in Stratton St Margaret and will continue to serve residents in this capacity.

Eastern Villages Road Changes Consultation Events Swindon Borough Council are planning to organise multiple consultation events regarding the road changes resulting from the upcoming Eastern Villages development. The first two consultation events are confirmed for: Saturday 20th July, 9am to

12.30pm at Grange Leisure Centre And Wednesday 24th July, 1.30pm to 6.30pm at Coleview Community Centre. These events will be detailing plans for amongst other things, changes to the White Hart Roundabout and the Nythe Road junction to Oxford Road. The Council will be arranging further events throughout the summer and I will let you know the dates of these when they are confirmed.

Stratton Festival On the 6th July we have the Stratton Festival at Grange Leisure Centre. There will be a Mini Animal Petting Zoo, as well as a variety of other food stalls and entertainment acts. Do come along if you’re free.

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

Community NEWS 27

THESWINDONIAN.CO.UK // JUNE 2019

Wiltshire Air Ambulance seeks volunteers to help save lives! Be a mascot, give talks or help out at fundraising events – these are some of the volunteering opportunities available at Wiltshire Air Ambulance. As the charity launches a recruitment drive for people who are interested in becoming volunteers, existing volunteers have spoken about the rewarding nature of their roles.

Wiltshire Air Ambulance crew at the scene of a road traffic collision near Marlborough. Phyllis said: “We both get a buzz from volunteering for Wiltshire Air Ambulance. We feel we are doing something good and in our way we are helping to save someone’s life.”

Jeff Vincent, of Amesbury, became a volunteer four years ago and his wife, Phyllis, joined him two years later. The couple, who are retired, go to community events where they volunteer at the charity’s stand, attend cheque presentations and Jeff gives talks to community groups.

The charity’s volunteers are called GroundCrew and John Collins, of Trowbridge, became a volunteer four years ago after completing a skydive raising funds for Wiltshire Air Ambulance. He attends community events and is a drop off point for recycled materials such as Tassimo pods and crisp packets for the group Recycling for Wiltshire Air Ambulance.

The couple began volunteering after they witnessed the skill and professionalism of a

John, who is self-employed, said: “There are such a variety of events that I have been to

and there’s a really good social aspect to volunteering for Wiltshire Air Ambulance. Being a volunteer is fun and you’re giving something back to a great charity.“ Stewart Ackland, of Devizes, has been a volunteer since 2016 and attends community events, mostly as the charity’s paramedic bear mascot, Wilber. Stewart, who works in IT in Westbury, said: “Interacting with people while I’m Wilber is really rewarding, especially getting smiles from children. When I’m not Wilber it’s great to meet people at the events I volunteer at and talk to them about Wiltshire Air Ambulance and what they can do to help support the charity.” Roger Heafield, of Cricklade, gives talks about Wiltshire Air

THESWINDONIAN.CO.UK // JUNE 2019

Ambulance to community groups and has been a volunteer for seven years. Roger, a retired IT manager, said: “I give talks to a wide range of groups, including to children as young as four to people in their nineties. My record is five talks in one day! I’m helping to raise awareness of the charity and in my own way, along with the other volunteers, I’m helping to save lives.” Barbara Sealy, who helps run the family farm in Kington Langley, near Chippenham, has been a volunteer with the charity for 27 years and attends community events and cheque presentations.

“Volunteering for Wiltshire Air Ambulance is the most satisfying job because people want to hear about the charity, donate their money and you meet so many lovely people. It’s a terrific way of getting out and filling your time,” she said. The charity is looking for new volunteers to do talks, be the teddy bear mascots, attend fundraising events, undertake bucket collections, collect and distribute collection tins. Other volunteering opportunities are available at the charity’s shops in Devizes and Westbury. Notably the charity has very few volunteers in Amesbury, Bradford-on-Avon and Royal Wootton Bassett.

Cas Loudon, community relationship manager at Wiltshire Air Ambulance, said: “We can’t thank our volunteers enough, we couldn’t do what we do without them. They are absolutely essential to our charity and are all worth their weight in gold. By donating their time they are helping to spread awareness and fundraising which enables our helicopter and crew to continue saving lives. “We are looking for new volunteers to join us, so if you are interested please contact us by emailing hello@ wiltshireairambulance.co.uk or call the charity team on 01225 300536.”

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Musical Musings

THESWINDONIAN.CO.UK // JUNE 2019

We kick things off this month with one half of a pair of Sheer Music related book-ends. Long known for being ahead of the musical fashion curve, those awfully nice people bring Modern Error to Level III on 6th June. Fans of angst ridden, textured, alternative rock will already be all over this, just throw in the emotive gloom and brutal tech-metal of Louts Eater and you have a slice of the sound of the future…and it sounds like a damned scary place.

If you prefer something a bit more chipper then Johns and Nowak bring their deft and dexterous Americana to The Tuppenny the very same day. Support comes from Sean Amor who has one foot in the folk traditions of this country and the other planted in the roots sounds of America, much like Rod Stewart on the cover of Atlantic Crossing only in more suitable footwear.

with Dave Franklin for some musical mayhem at The Regent. Sex Jazz’s gratuitous grooves make for the perfect sparring partner. And finally we come to the other half of the Sheer Music sonic bookends. Apparently Songs of Praise have been looking for an excuse to bring The St. Pierre Snake Invasion and their riotous, alt-rocking ways back to Swindon.

On 7th Scott Lavene brings his new band, The Pub Garden, to the Beehive to offer up some gutter pop and balladic punk tunes in the same vein as Ian Dury or a slightly less agitated Elvis Costello and on 15th The Rolleston is the place for a right good techno-knees-up as Rave Against The Regime revisit 90’s dance sounds and club culture. Two great gigs go head to head on 20th, firstly Lewis Clark is at The Tuppenny for a night of infectious folk and blues, jive and jazz all wrapped up in exquisite musical morsels with the ever effervescent Emily Jane Sheppard opening the night. Moving from the sublime we come to the ridiculous, meant in the nicest possible of ways, and The Martyrials who return to the parish

That excuse, and rather wonderfully showing how united local music promoters are around these parts, is Sheer Music head honcho and Eddie Redmayne stunt double Kieran Moore’s birthday. So head along to Level III on 27th, make sure you catch Middlenamekill also making a long overdue return, celebrate a night of great music and support the efforts of the people who keep things original, fun, weird and slightly out of control, musically speaking, in this town. 33

Stage Coach Spring has wound down and now we find ourselves at the start of the summer. And what better way to celebrate the arrival of the festival solstice than sitting in a darkened and stuffy auditorium watching grown adults shouting at the evening? What indeed? Plenty for the kids this month. ‘The Gruffalo’ is visiting the Wyvern on 15th and 16th June. Well, a man in the Gruffalo costume at least. Or a woman. Let’s play safe: an actor in a Gruffalo costume. And other actors in other costumes, I’d expect. That’s how these things generally work. Fun for all the family, I’d wager. Meanwhile, at the Shoebox Theatre on 8th June, there will be turtles. Real turtles! No, wait, sorry, not real turtles. Puppet turtles, which are probably better on some levels. ‘I Am Turtle’, by the Makeshift Ensemble, takes us literally to the bottom of the ocean (not literally) as the guide us (figuratively) through shipwrecks and seashells. Suitable for ages 3+. 34

At the Art Centre, between 12th and 15th June, the Western Players present a ‘Perfect Wedding’ by Rob Hawdon. A bridegroom wakes up on wedding morning with a strange girl in bed beside him and a series of farcical misunderstandings and riotous hijinks follow. Further hijinks of a different nature will be occurring at the Art Centre 7th and 8th June.

With Ben Thomas

Chocolate Theatre present ‘5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche’. No, really, that’s the name of the play. Details are sketchy as to what it’s about, it’s not entirely clear from the title. I tried Googling it, but… Well. There are some things that can’t be unseen. So there we have it: a veritable picnic of summer delights. A Gruffalo, turtles, a wedding and quiche. What could be more picnicky than that?

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