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No. 123 June 1992 • Circulation 10,500 96-99 Manchester Road, Swindon
• zi- (0793) 534907 & 513705

Freshbrook School first to West takes on
consider opt-out status blue hue
Link to disappear The governors at Freshbrook If parents are to be asked to de- The local election for seats on
next month School are the first local school to cideon the school's future, the ear- Thamesdown Council on 7 May
liesta ballot could take place would
saw West Swindon swing behind
declare that they will investigate
No, The Link magazine isn't whether to break away from Wilt- be September. A 'yes' vote would the Conservative Party candidates
going out of business! Things shire County Council control. then be sent for agreement by the in all three seats in contention.
have never been healthier. Across the country abouta dozen Secretary of State for Education. In the Toothill Ward, which in-
However were publishing primary schools now have Grant and new funding arrangements cludes Westlea, Skew and Spar-
our guide to West Swindon, Maintained Status which means would come into effect next year. cells, two seats were up for elec-
WEST next month (deferred funding comes direct from the De- "The key thing is to provide par- tion. Linda Green and Michael
from June). Instead of being partmentof Education andScience. ents with good, clear, balanced in- Rutland received enough votes to
found inside The Link as last However there is said to have been formation about the issue and we retain one Conservative seat and
year, WEST will be published a flood of enquiries about GMS would aim to make this available," win the place held by the late La-
on the outer pages and the since the general election in April. said Mr Gurney bour councillor Ricky Midwinter.
July Link news will occupy the Freshbrook headteacher Phillip In Freshbrook and Grange Park
centre pages. Gurney said the governors had the Conservative's Neil Bristow de-
By doing this we hope to started to discuss opting-out six posed Labour's Bob Pixton, the
encourage readers to keep months ago but the idea had been area's councillor for six years.
WEST handy as an invaluable frozen pending the outcome of the In a shock move just before the
election. 'The governors are at the
, •guide to facilities in the area stage of investigating the pros and elections, theToothill Ward Labour
and as a quick reference to the cons of Grant Maintained Status as County Councillor Alan Winn-ill
announced he was defecting to the
businesses providing a serv- faras this school is concerned. They Conservative Party. He said he
ice to the people who live here. will review whether it meets our would continue to represent local
There's still time to needs in June and then decide people irrespective of their politics
advertise in WEST. whether to put the issue to a ballot but declined to declare whether he
Telephone 871793. of parents." would be putting himself forward
in nextyear's County Council elec-
tions.
Aid to Albania
June Festival of Fun
f., On page 13 photographer Neil • Alan Winmill explains his reasons
There's going to be loads of - Atkinson from Grange Park for changing sides on page 4.
fun for pre-school children describes the trip organised by the • Bob Pixton reflects on six years as a
and their parents during Wootton Bassett Appeal for councillor for Freshbrook and Grange
West Swindon's fourth Albania in early May. Park on page 77.
Under 5s Festival in June. /
The events include a
day out amongst the Rising to the challenge
animals at Lower Shaw Farm, a teddy All the staff of Allied Dunbar are taking ALLIED
bears picnic at Lydiard Park and an activity day at the Link Centre. part in Challenge '92 during early July. DUNBAR
New this year is a nature day atRoughmoor Social Hall with visits the Community groups are being invited to challenge
ancient woodland at Peatmoor Copse to collect materials for artwork them to carry out tasks which can be completed over a weekend.
A full programme is printed on page 14 of this edition of the Link If you've got ajob and you need people power to get it done, telephone
magazine. Cut it out and get involved. Jenny Shearer on 514514.

óOs concert tickets selling well Link a tune with the band and win a pair
of tickets to the big charity concert in June
Tickets are still available for the Link Swindon in memory of the late
Centre's first big pop concert on councillor. 44f9. te4e ie4?
Sunday 14 June. Tickets for the four hour show cost
Stars of the 19 60s The Tremeloes, £10 and details of how to book can Silence is golden Know the answers? It was either The

Merseybects, The Tremeloes or The Searchers
Mike Pender's Searchers and The be found on page 15. Sorrow
Send your answers to:
Merseybeatswill beperforming their Promoter Andy Cotton said the Needles & Pins
many hits in aid of the new Ricky bends offer great value for money Wishin' an Hopin' The Link magazine, 13 Castle Dore, Freshbrook.

MidwinterTrustwhich is being set up and the cash raised will be going to Twist & Shout
The first three correct answers drawn on
to help the young people of West a good cause. Sugar and Spice 6 June win 2 tickets each.