Page 23 - link magazine

LocalLives 23
Ecumenical Parish of
West Swindon
A Month in Romania & The Lydiards
Edward Glennie from Westlea works for the Water Research Centre at Blagrove Industrial Estate. He has Anglican, Methodist,
recently returned from Romania, where he was a member of a team led by Swindon based engineering U.R.C., Baptist.
company Haicrow which is advising the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development St. Mary's L.Tregoze for
A month in Romania has left me Manyof these industrial processes of the Black Sea coast, the Danube Freshbrook & Grange Park
with many impressions. We may are now old, and one of the coun- delta with its wildlife, fortified mon- Rev. Rob Buries 870244
think of Romania as a poor country, try's priorities is to make up for the asteries from the 16th century full of Westlea Church
and so it is in some ways. But this is 1980s when President Ceaucescu cut wall paintings and the Carpathian & All Saints, L. Milhicent
not the whole picture, as I will try to Romania off from the West. He mountains for skiing and climbing Rev. John Flory 770217
explain. wanted money to invest in his gran- I returned from Romania feeling
Romanians are very conscious diose building projects in the capi- that Ihad been enriched. Perhaps in There are vacancies for
and proud of their history. The tal, Bucharest, and therefore starved the future more and more British Ministers at Toothill & Shaw
Romans called the country 'Dada the industries of money for invest- people will be able to enjoy what it Churches. Contact Rev Buries
felice' (happy Dada). Their influ- ment. At the same time life became has to offer. or Rev Flory for support
ence remains in the language, which hard; electricity supplies became un-
is similar to Latin. reliable, district heating was inad-
equate and people were required to MOBILE Freshbrook
'volunteer' for extra weekend work. Evangelical Church
This led to the 1989 revolution. MECHANIC
Romania now has a democratic Worsley Road
government, but life is still hard for WE COME TO YOU Will give YOU
many. Prices have risen faster than • Non-Starts • Servicing • Tuning a warm
incomes and a typical family spends M.O.T. Work • Breakdowns welcome
more than half its income on food. • Electrical Faults
In some areas water and heating • Clutches fitted Sunday Warn
have been off for days during the Family Praise with children's
winter. Economists believe that 1993 Covenanter Movement & creche
will be a difficult year, and that in 6.30prn Evening Worship and
1994 the standard of life will start to Communion
improve. For details of mid-week meetings,
I found my Romanian colleagues No Garage Prices or Waiting house groups and other
very pleasant to work with; for ex- Please Telephone activities, telephone the
ample our team of three interpret- 876211 ANYTIME Church Office, Tel: 873050
ers, all of them expert scientists in
their own right; ourdriver, who kept
Edward Glennie, back in England a rather unreliable Dacia car on the
Like many eastern European road with the minimum of fuss; our
countries, Romania has been part of secretary, a graduate in Romanian
different empires at different times; literature who spoke several lan-
the Ottoman (Turkish) empire, the guages and who made appoint- Whether it's a boat, caravan or trailer
Austro-Hungarian empire, and re- ments for us, translated and gener- BRITANNIA TOWING CENTRE
cently the Soviet empire. It became ally kept everyone in order. Unit 16, Station Industrial Estate, Swindon
an independent country about 100 I listened to some wonderful CAN HELP!
years ago, and had to use its wits to music, from a young Romanian pi- * Towbars for Cars, Vans & Light Vehicles
survive through two World Wars. ano soloist and from an amateur * Seat Belts (Kangol & Bi-itax Approved)
Under the Communist govern- choir. Musical talent seems to flour-
ments from 1945, Romania was in- ish in Romania. I returned with * Child Safety Seats
dustrialised. Today it refines oil, three long playing records, though Tel: (0793) 613147 or 488622
makes locomotives and has chemi- cassettes and CDs are not yet avail-
cal,steeland paper industries. There able.
are several pig farms, each with Romania has the potential to be a
100,000 pigs! wonderful holiday area. It has part

French day trip and visit to hypermarket
Shaw Residents' Association is organising day trip to France onSaturday
24 April. Depart Shaw Village Centre at 5am, return at midnight. The cost
is £24. Seats are limited. To book, telephone Bob BaWd on 886193. HILLIER
Take to the stage
Rehearsals are underway for the May production by the Haydon Wick FUNERAL
Players. Following the success of their Christmas pantomime, two 45
minute plays are being worked on. New members are needed for the SERVICE LTD.
production.
Actors and people to help with prop, staging, lighting, sound and
lighting will be welcomed. The players meet at the Haydon Centre on 55 Victoria Road 252 Whitworth Road

Swindon
Monday or Thursday, 730pm. For more information, call Janet on 614529. Swindon
Tel: 522797 Tel: 522145
MGM winners
Winners of the MGM Word search competition in the February edition of PRIVATE CHAPELS OF REST
The Link for CDs and tickets to the cinema - Greg Coxhead, Cothngton 24 hour personal service throughout the year
Close, Freshbrook; Gemma Harris, Holbein Close, Grange Park; Rebecca A FAMILY BUSINESS OFFERING HELP
Khatib, Castlefield Cl, Eastleaze; Chris Hughes, Middleleaze Dr, Shaw; AND ADVICE WHEN MOST NEEDED
Max Hewitt, The Bramptons, Shaw Ridge.