Page 23 - link magazine

The Link Magazine. February 1993 23
fpcallives
Freshbrook Ecumenical Parish of
Evangelical Church West Swindon
First resident gives
Worsley Road & The Lydiards
Anglican, Methodist,
historical connection Will give YOU U.R.C., Baptist.
a warm
Mrs Irene Butler is one of the first residents of the 'modern' West welcome
Swindon. She arrived before the first houses were built and still lives St. Mary's LTregoze for
here. Maeve Whiteheight talked to her about those early days. Sunday lOam Freshbrook & Grange Park
Family Praise with children's Rev. Rob Buries 870244
Irene Butler, now 70 years old,
lived in Greenwich until she moved Covenanter Movement & creche Westlea
to Swindon with her husband John 630pm Evening Worship and Rev. John Flory 770217 t
in 1954. She had dreamed of living Communion Shaw and Sparcells
in an isolated country cottage, but it For details of mid-week meetings, Rev. Keith Boxall 770568
was not untilJohn was made redun- house groups and other
dant from Pressed Steel and got a activities, telephone the t also All Saints,
job with Thamesdown Council that Church Office, Tel: 873050 L. Millicent
her dream came true.
He became a supervisor for the
construction of the first roads and MOBILE
footpaths in Toothill when building RAY
work started in 1974. The Council MIZEN MECHANIC
had purchased Toothill Farm, on
BodiamDrive,and the tenant farmer WE COME TO YOU
had moved out. The Butlers were Repairs To All Makes • Non-Starts . Servicing • Tuning
asked to be caretakers and they read- of Domestic M.O.T. Work • Breakdowns
ily moved in. • Electrical Faults
They were surrounded by fields & Commercial • Clutches fitted
and grazing cows. At night the wind Mrs Butler, keeping up her mobility Vacuum Cleaners
whistling around the cranes and Close, on Freshbrook Way. They
construction equipment a few hun- lived there for 10 years until John Collection and Delivery
dred yards away, interrupted by died. Irene decided that the house
trains on the railway line closeby, was too big for her needs and moved 0793 881007
gave their isolation an eerie feel. to the recently opened Salzgitter 33 Angus Close No Garage Prices or Waiting
The overhead power lines had Court elderly persons group dwell- - Ramleaze Please Telephone
been taken down and power for the ing, in Toothill. West Swindon 876211 ANYTIME
farmhouse came from a portable Nowadays she looks after herself
generator until mains supply was in the company of the other resi-
available again. dents of the Court, sees her children
The walled garden was covered and grandchildren regularly, and
with roses, John built a crazy golf attends Toothill Church. Morrison & Masters
course around the farm buildings, Irene makes good use of the Dial-
one of which is now Toothill youth A-Ride transport service and once a TOWN SQUARE, WEST SWINDON CENTRE.
club,and in the summer they picked month is wheeled around Swindon TELEPHONE 870055
the apples, plums and pears from town centre by young offenders on
the Farm orchard. Community Service. She gets on for
Before the new roads came close very well with them and always House Sales and Purchases & all Property Work
to the Farm, the family had to make take them for a cup of tea to say (written estimates given)
their way along a track on foot. On thank you. Recently she bought
some occasions Irene would sit in herself an electric 'go-cart' to keep Divorce, Criminal and all Court work
the bucket of a JCB covered by a her mobile and independent. So if Wills and Probates
tarpaulin to protect her from the you see Irene around the commu-
mud thrown up by the giant wheels, nity, say hello. WEST SWINDON'S ONLY SOLICITORS!
to be given a bumpy ride home by
John. Are you a victim of Also at 20 Commercial Road, Swindon. Telephone: 52601
When her daughter Christine got
married, she rode on a tractor in her road death? and 69a Cricklade Road, Gorse Hill. Telephone: 481602
wedding dress to the nearest road. The primary victims are dead, but
Christine had put her name down the surviving relatives and friends
for a council house in Toothill and are victims too. HIV/AIDS HELPLINE
John had jokingly carved her name Now a branch of a national or-
in the wet concrete of a path leading ganisation RoadPeace, which aims Are you concerned?
up to one of the new houses. When to promote public awareness of da n-
the housing department informed geron the roads and give support to SWINDON PROJECT FOR AIDS COUNSELLING AND EDUCATION
Christine that she had been allo- people bereaved by fatal road acci-
cated a house, they were all delighted dents, has been set up in Swindon. Visit your local, friendly, Drop-In Centre
to discover that it was the house The town has been in the news
upon which her name appeared. because of several tragic accidents. which offers:
In 1977, with construction of roads The local branch of RoadPeace called confidential support, information and advice.
and houses in Toothill well The Compass has been carrying out
underway and with building in a survey and gathering names for a Or call us on Swindon (0793) 420620
Freshbrook about the start, the petition to be presented to the Home
Council decided to start converting Secretary. Helpline: Tuesday/Thursday 7pm - 9pm, 24 Hr Answering Service
the farmhouse into a community Anyone who wants to know more Drop-In: Monday/Tuesday/Thursday 12.00pm - 6.00pm
centre and the Butlers moved to one or can help should contact Mrs P 172 Victoria Road, Swindon
of the old cottages next to Yarmouth Cobban, 79 Bevisland, Eldene.