Page 5 - link magazine

FRESHBROOK & GRANGE PARKM 5

WINDMILL COURT FUN NIGHT
WHAT IS THE FRESHBROOK
VILLAGE GROUP

Two community centres! Freshbrook's permanent centre rises up Windmill Court residents take a breather. Left to right: Ruby Young,
behind the temporary building - March 1984.
Ethel (ET) Haig, Verdon Young, Joyce Wallace.
Few people living in Freshbrook
TUMBLE TOTS and Grange Park nowadays are There was an air of un—reality at life is very good," said Len
aware of the 'Freshbrook Village Windmill Court Elderly Persons Huzzey, Chair of Windmill Court
Group Dwelling in Freshbrook Social Committee.
Group'. In some ways they have
NO MORE • no reason to be as the FVG has one evening in January. Mrs. Davies, warden of Wind-
A number of parents with not kept itself at the forefront of Fairies, a St. Trinians schoolgirl, mill Court where some 45 people
young children turned up at the community attention over the last Yaser Arafat, Ghandi, Britannia live, commented, "There is a
Freshbrook Community Centre couple of years. Over the next five and Crocodile Dundee all wan- happy atmosphere here. I think
in early January to discover the months The Link will look at the dered around with many other the residents are going to wear us
pre—school gymnastic group, history of West Swindon's longest fancy dressed residents who took out soon!"
Tumble Tots, had closed down. running community organisations part in a grand after Christmas Eighty—six year old Mrs. Aida
and consider some of the changes
To add to the dissapointment and problems it faces. knees up. It was also impossible Kate Brookes said she was pleased
some felt that they had some of The Village Group was formed to decide between the staff and with her move to Freshbrook. "I
their annual membership fees in the early days of Freshbrook, residents. had lived on my own for years.
due to them. in March 1979, about rime months "We've been open only twelve I'm very happy to be living with
Local group organiser Barbara after the first people moved into months and there is a great so many nice people and the party
Collier explained that she decided Turnham Green and Chudleigh. community spirit here; our social was really great."
not to re—new her licence in the The first residents met in each
Autumn and had stopped taking others houses and borrowed show
membership fees a couple of houses from developers for
months before Christmas. "The meetings and day time groups for It ~4w I".-
Tumble Tots team completed under-fives.
The organisation was estab-
the sessions which parents had lished to campaign on behalf of
paid for up to Christmas," said the new community for the basics
Barbara. "We put up posters such as a temporary footpath to kndy restaurants & k-owoys
saying that Tumble Tots was the shop at Toothill, a few street ish I
closing until a new organiser was lights and to hurry up the process
appointed and we tried to speak of getting their own community CHOOSE US FIRST
to every parent personally. building and shops in the Village
"I was required to return all Centre. Members of the organis-
the equipment and the paper- ing committee met with Thames-
down Council officers, made FOR THE BEST QUALITY
work to the organisation in themselves heard and soon saw
London. All membership fees some of the basics on the ground. TAKE HOME FOOD AVAILABLE.
were always paid directly to In early 1981, a temporary com-
Tumble Tots; they have a record munity centre was opened on the
of the people who joined in the area in front of the present FRIED FRESHLY FOR YOU -
middle of the year. Those who permanent centre. The shops at COD, PLAICE, HADDOCK, SKATE,
feel that they should have a the Village Centre opened six
months later.
refund should contact Tumble Although responsible for the HUSS, SCAMPI, CHIPS, VARIOUS PIES,
Tots in London. 'hut' as it was known, where many SAUSAGES AND CHICKEN.
"Having said that, I would not of Freshbrook's Community
want anybody to be upset about groups started up, the FVG still
what has happened and I am concerned itself with issues that WHY NOT TRY ONE OF OUR DELICIOUS
willing to talk to anybody who is affected residents, such as health CURRIES FOR A CHANGE?
facilities, the site for a church,
disappointed."
the annual fun day and secondary HAVE YOU HAD ONE OF OUR BIG
school housing. The FVG was also
*Barbara Colliers telephone
centrally involved in discussions BEEFBURGERS? THEY'RE GREAT.
number is 24287. about the community centre
*Tumble Tots (UK) Ltd., Canon which Thamesdown agreed to
Sports Club, Cousins Lane, build in 1982. OPEN MONDAY - SATURDAY
London EC4. Tel: 01-621 0904. But did the coming of a per-
manent community building start 11.30am - 2.30pm;4.30pm - 11pm
*See page 17 for details of the the decline o( an important com-
muni ty voice. Next month we look CAR PARK 'A' WEST SWINDON CENTRE
new Link Centre pre—school
gymnastics group. at the responsibilities of running a 'PHONE ORDERS WELCOME - 870455
community centre.