Page 1 - link magazine

west Swindon's

Magazine EXPRESS
CYCLE SPECIALIST

cycle helmetsin
stock from

£17.95
Think SAFETY
Concrete hurts heads

No. 122 May 1992 • Circulation 10,500 96 - 99 Manchester Road, Swindon
ir (0793) 534907 & 513705

Golden Oldies play for youth PCs back on
the beat
60s concert to launch Midwinter Trust for young people in West Swindon
Policemen are back on the stitts
Three top bands from the 1960s 1,800 tickets are now on sale. Shawsaid the concert would fea- in Toothill and Freshbrook follow-
will be performing in June in aid If all are sold, the trust will benefit ture the music Ricky liked. The ing a review of police operations
of West Swindon's young peo- by about £10,000. music of bands like The which came into force on 1 April.
ple. Tremeloes, the Searchers and PC Anthony Osman covers
The Tremeloes, Mike the Merseybeats appeals right Toothill and PC Mark Cams is re-
Pender's Searchers and The across all age groups. This sponsible for Freshbrook in a big
effort by Wiltshire Constabulary to
Merseybeats are booked for concert will bring members improve and strengthen commu-
a charity concert at Link Cen- of the community togetherto nity relationships.
tre on Sunday 14 June in aid enjoy themselves and help Although 'Beat Officers' have
of the new Ricky Midwinter Me- young people in our area. been nominally involved ata neigh-
morial Trust. The trust is being We'll be offering four bourhood level in the past, the same
set up in memory of the area's hours of great entertain- officers also carried a full load of
longest serving councillor and ment from top names in Police duties and were used for a
will aim to help the youth of the the 60s era, plus an wide range of other jobs as well as
area. amazing laser light being sent away on courses. The
Other well known Swindon show." result has been the often heard com-
artists and local celebrities are He said that another plaint that people never see a Po-
being invited to visit the concert. TPe refl1eb0es concert would be arranged if the liceman unless there's trouble.
Now, having carried out consul-
Gilbert O'Sullivan, who lived two June event is sold out. tation meetings and analysed ques-
doors from Ricky in their youth, Local companies are being ap- tionnaires, the Wiltshire Constabu-
and Justin Haywood of the proached for sponsorship in or- Turn to page 10 of this lary is making a much stronger
Moody Blues have been con- der to keep costs down. edition of The Link to find commitment to community polic-
tacted. Impressario Andy Cotton from out how to buy a ticket. ing. Acting Inspector Joy Robert-
son, theOfficer responsible forWes t
Oak tree planted in rememberance Swindon, said, "the new scheme
Ricky Midwiriterwas remembered of management has the long term
at a special assembly of children in aim of allowing Constables to re-e
ally
the playground at Westlea School ally get to know the community
on the last day of term when his and for local people to get to know
widow May and daughter Phihipa theirPoliceman. Occasionally Iwill
planted an oak tree in his memory. call on them for other duties, but I
Headteacher Neil Griffiths told will have to have justification and
the children that Ricky had said give a reason to the Constable con-
that they and the school were the cerned.
most important part of his life after 'We recognise that the public
his family. wants to see more Policemen on
Ricky was a Governor since be- the beat; they provide continuity,
fore the school opened in 1983. security and public identification.
The tree is the centrepiece of a It's the best way to build trust and
garden ofrememberancededicaled respect on all sides. Residents will
to Ricky planted by parents and be able to meet 'their' Policeman
children. on the strtets and he will be going
May said, "It is something he into local schools to meet children.
would have liked very much." Continued on page 2

Don't let election fatigue get you down!
Having voted for your M.P. you now have a chance to vote for local councillors to represent you on Thamesdown District Council.
On page 4 we have photos and write ups from the candidates in the Toothill Ward (which includes Westlea, Shaw, Sparcells
and Peatmoor) where there are two seats to be filled. On page 9, the candidates for Freshbrook (including Grange Park)
write about themselves. The election takes place on Thursday 7 May.