Page 5 - link magazine

TOOTHILL 5

Cafe reopens New Minister for Toothill
Toothill Community Centre relaunches its cafe on Thursdays from 1 It was good to see Toothill Church full once more on Wednesday 2
October, 10am to 12noon. September for the welcome of the Revd Mark Roper, our new minis-
Centre coordinator Annette Kennedy says the cafe will give local ter, writes Ann Hall.
people the chance to drop in for a chat and find out what's going on in Mark was welcomed as Meth-
the area. Coffee and tea will be available at reasonable prices and odist Minister of Toothill Church
children are welcome.
and Free Church Minister for the
If volunteers come forward, the cafe could open on other days. Ecumenical Parish of West Swin-
don and the Lydiards. He will
Council considers legal graffiti site have pastoral responsibility for
Toothill and will also lead services
On 24 September the Community and Leisure Services Committee in the other churches of the parish.
were asked whether they wish to continue to allow graffiti artists to The service was led by Revd
use Toothill Barn on Bodiam Drive as a site for their activities. Roger Faulkner, Superintendent
Some years ago, the barn man- Minister of the Upper Thames
agement committee, with unoffi- Methodist Circuit. Also taking part
cial agreement from the Borough, were the leaders in the area of the
decided to allow the barn to be Anglican, Baptist and United Re-
used by graffiti artists. However, formed Churches, and the Roman
it has never formally been desig- Catholic Church was represented.
nated a legal site. In other towns Mark is 33 years old and is mar-
where graffiti is a problem, having ried toAmanda. They have a baby Amanda, Galilee and Mark
an accepted place has proved to be daughter, Galilee, and come to us
a positive step. from Basingstoke, where Mark was ter in the Parish and goes to work
Large, intrusive graffiti pictures a Methodist Minister for five years. mainly at Lydiard Millicent.
have probably been contained to We are very grateful to the Revd Our last song summed up our
the farm because artists know they Jan Partridge who has been our feelings on that happy evening.
are accepted. part-time Minister for the last 18 'To God be the glory! Great things
However opinion is divided be- months. She continues as a Minis- he hath done!'
tween those who are prepared to
Flashback to November 1997 Link:
recognise that graffiti can be a le- local artists are interviewed at Toothill
gitimate art form when it is ap- Farm by Richard Wyatt for an HTV Disco with style
plied in 'acceptable' places and documentary on graffiti The Swindon Dance Company holds weekly freestyle disco lessons in
those who find it unsightly and Toothill Community Centre on Tuesdays, 6pm to 9pm.
degrading in any form or location. Marchment. "The artists don't like Principal Bobbie Tomlinson says freestyle disco is a highly energetic
"We're working with two sepa- the bad press they get because of but disciplined form of dance which allows dancers lots of room for
rate issues - tagging and grafitti," tagging. I think the Farm provides interpretation.
says local youth worker Jo the community with a service." The classes are suitable for under 5s through to late teens.

Superstore
VASDA
V MARTINS Newsagents

Electrical Retailers
FAMILY V DIXONS
V MOTORSAVE
Motor Accessories
V ROSEBY'S
Curtains & Bedding

SHOPPING t/ JD BROWN Jewellers

Familywear
V OS
V CARLSON
WORLDWIDE
Travel Agents
WITH A SMILE! V COOPERS
Chemists
V THE SPORTS

FACTORY Sportswear & Equipment

V MR. MINfl Shoe repairsIKey cutting

V CLARKS Shoes
VTHE BAGGAGE

Yes, shopping with the family can be fun - FACTORY Travel Goods
especially at the West Swindon Shopping Centre V MORRISON &

MASTERS Solicitors
where you can visit all your favourite shops in an
V BARRATIS SHOES Shoe Shop

all-weather, relaxing atmosphere. Take advantage of VJOHNSONS Dr1, Cleaners

our children's creche, places to eat, low priced V TAYLORS Estate Agents
petrol and free and secure parking - all on one level. V NAT WEST BANK

VHK97 Chinese Take-away
V DOMINO'S PIA

Opticians
V HOLMES
V PARTNERS Hairdressing Salon
V VIDEO SOLENT
V LADBROKES Turf Accountants

V TRAWLERMAN Fish & Chips Takeaway
V HARVESTER PUB
WEST SWINDON SHOPPING CENTRE V HALIFAX Building Society
V DENTAL PRACTICE
Tewkesbury Way, Swindon V RED BALLOON Restaurant