Page 4 - link magazine

TOOTHILL
4
After School Club to go ahead Toothill Church 10 years on

Toothill's After School Club is to very pleased with the decision. A special service was held at the end of November to commemo-
restart on 1st April, exactly a year We've stayed together and kept rate the dedication of Toothill Church in 1988. Olive King, West
after it closed down. up the enthusiasm for the idea of Swindon's first minister, looks back to the days without a
The club was very well sup- an after school club. church
ported by local children when it "I would like to say a big thank A few houses ready for occupa-
closed at the end of March 1988 you to the parents and our sup- tion set amongst unfinished
following the withdrawal of staff. porters." roads, surrounded by acres of
Since then parents of the children The After School Club Cam- fields dotted with building sites -
have been campaigning vigor- paign group are holding a meet- that was Toothill in April 1976.
ously to get Thamesdown Coun- ing on 11th January, 8p.m. - My job as minister for all the main
cil Arts and Recreation Commit- 930p.m. at Toothill Farm, churches was soon as that of
tee to provide the cash to keep the Bodiam Drive to discuss how substitute grandmother.
club going. things should be organised, now There were no shops and it was
Although groups of parents that the cash to run after school a long walk on a main road with
and children lobbied the several activities has been found. no footpaths to find any so I had
Committee meetings, councillors This includes the setting up of a suitcase of staples in my car and
refused to provide the backing a management committee and the the newsagent who brought
they were demanding. Working employment of club leaders. All papers took shopping lists back
on another front however, the parents who have children who each day. There was no public
parents have secured the finan- might like to go to the club can transport so I fetched prescrip-
cial support from the Allied attend, whether they have been tions and took people to clinics. I
Dunbar Staff Fund and the Th- involved in the the campaign or had no office so I worked from
amesdown Community Trust. not. my car, balancing typewriter on
Altogether, some 30 parents pastry board and helping to fill in Some of the present staff at Toothill
have been involved in the cam- • Although Thamesdown Coun- forms, leaning on the steering Church in the Local Ecumenical
paign over the last eight months, cil's Arts and Recreation Com- wheel. There were no schools so Project with past members who re-
receiving assistance from local mittee has not funded the Tooth- the few school-age children were turned for the special service in
councillors and community ill After School Club, it has agreed ferried by taxi across town to Park. November
workers. One of the parents, to appoint a Play Development The community had the use of
Diane Stuckey, said its great that Worker for West Swindon from one of the houses for 6 months so About this time we started the
the parents have reached their 1st April. This will involve work- we soon had coffee mornings and forerunner of The Link. It was an
target. "We're really pleased by ing with other local groups want- evenings, mother and toddler A4 sheet badly typed and dupli-
the backing from the charitable ing to start after school and holi- groups, sewing, knitting and cated by me - the most popular
trusts. All the parents should be day play activities. handicraft groups and residents bit was the map which I updated
meetings going. about every 6 months top up
Towards the end of 1976 we with the expansion. Bus services
RALPH PALMER PHARMACY acquired THE HUT. A shop was were started; civilisation had
opened in half of it and we used arrived!
Ralph Palmer, M.P.S. Dispensing Chemist
the other part for all our activi- It was as chaotic as beginnings
3, Deerhurst Way, Toothill ties. The first church service was usually are and I wouldn't have
held on November 28th, in the missed it for anything. Toothilli-
Hours of Opening: Mon—Fri. 9a. m. - 1p.m.; 2p, m. —6p.m.
hut. ans are lovely people.
Sat. 9a.m. - 12 noon
Telephone: 512063
Local Credit Unions setting up
by Toothill Neighbourhood Worker Lucie Hartley
Have you ever wished you could:
ing out more, then come along to one
Raymond Stansfield - save regularly?

of the meetings shown here. They
- borrow money cheaply?
will be very informal and refresh-
- improve your money management ments will be provided.
skills?
Craftsman Decorator I wonder how many of us in the TOOTHILL MEETINGS
past few weeks have wished we had
Tuesday 17th January 1.30p.m. to
in West Swindon with started saving earlier for Christmas? 2.45p.m.,ToothillCommunityCentre
Saving seems to be an old fashioned with a free creche.
over 30 years experience word these days. Many of us owe
Tuesday 17th January 800p.m. to
money on credit cards, loans, H.P 930p.m., Toothill Community
would like to wish customers agreements etc. - or we simply Centre.
struggle to make ends meet. One
If you can't come to these meet-
of times past and those of the way to start managing your money ings, but would like to talk to some-
one about credit unions, then come
better is by joining a credit union.
future all the best for A credit union is a community along to the community centre on
bank, owned and run by its mem- Thursday 19th January between
a successful 1989. bers. The aim of a credit union is to 2.00p. m. and 4.00p.m. to talk to Lucie
work in the interests of all its mem- Hartley or Linda Beck.
bers. It does this by encouraging
Craftsman in Paint and Decor, regular savings, giving out cheap FRESHBROOK MEETING
Monday 9th January 700p.m.
specialising in Paperhanging, Graining, loans and by mutual help in personal
money management.
Freshbrook Community Centre.
Marble and Decorative Effects There are a large number of very
& Special Finishes successful credit unions all over Brit- For more information please phone:
ain. Because of their success and Toothill Lucie Hartley 26161 ext.
obvious benefit, a number of people 3092; Linda Beck 692771; Caroline
Telephone: (0793) 874299 are trying to set up credit unions in Jones 511802
West Swindon. If you are interested Freshbrook Kingsley Matthews
in joining, getting involved or find- 511802; Linda Beck 692771