Page 7 - link magazine

WESTLEA 7
Bureaucracy and tax changes force Thank you

popular pharmacist to pull out
FROM KEN SCHOFIELD
Thirteen years almost to the day after opening the Ashington Way Pharmacy, well-known pharmacist
Ken Schofield is selling up. ASHINGTON WAY PHARMACY,
WESTLEA, SWINDON
Since he opened shop next to the There is also a growing problem
Ashington Way surgery in 1985, in arranging cover to allow for As many people will know,
Ken has dispensed almost a mil- holidays. A national shortage of I have decided to sell
lion items to the people of West pharmacists will be made even Ashington Way Pharmacy,
Swindon. He speaks with obvious worse when the training changes and hopefully find a less
pleasure of the rapport he has built from three to four years. As a demanding life-style.
up with local families over the result there will be no new phar-
years. "It's been wonderful to macists qualifying next year. Over the last 13 years I have
watch children growing up, see- A further issue is the looming come to know many of my
ing them develop from toddlers to change in Capital Gains Tax which patients and customers very
adults." is expected to cut heavily into the well, and would count them
But now the frustrations of in- benefits gained from building up a as friends. I have watched
creasing Health Service bureauc- small business. children who were only
racy have taken much of the pleas- As a result of these pressures, toddlers in 1985 grow up to
ure out of the job. "These days I Ken has decided to retire from the be fine adults. It will be the
spend more time on forms than profession he first entered as a 14- day to day contact with you
with patients," says Ken, right. year old Saturday boy. At 50, he all that I shall miss the most.
now plans to take a break before
reassessing his future. Thank you for your support
Young Shakespeareans get The business is being bought by over these years and the
someone who owns a small chain interest many of you have
to grips with The Tempest of pharmacies, with a branch al- taken in my family and
ready in West Swindon. myself.
Schools across the land are learning how to respond to the Govern- Ken hopes and believes that it I am sure that the pharmacy
ment's requirement for a national literacy hour. At Westlea School, will move forward in the same
will continue to give the best
youngsters are taking up the challenge by learning their lines for a spirit that has made it so success-
production of William Shakespeare's The Tempest in December. ful during the last thirteen years. in the way that you
The takeover takes place on 1 have come to expect.
October. Once again,
thanks to you all

SPECIALISTS IN
FIRES & FIREPLACES
AT
THE
IREPLAC

F CENTRE

Visit our newly
extended showrooms
NOW TWICE THE SIZE
Also now stocking a wonderful Showrooms at:
range of gift ideas for anywhere in 1 Rodbourne Rd, Swindon
the home or for someone special. Tel: (01793) 612288
Tempest players looking forward to learning the great bard's writing: rear
from left, Katy Law, Daniel Nicholls, Kayleigh Ashton, Kevin Carr. Front,
Hadia Osmani, Michael Hapgood, Ashleigh Sam, Hang Wa
FR
The September Link magazine exclusively reported that National
Power would back a Shakespeare Festival during the Autumn. All 500
West Swindon year 6 primary pupils and the Greendown School year DOOR CN
7 intake have received a copy of The Tempest and will watch a
performance of the play in January. YOUR LOCAL GARAGE DOOR
SPECIALISTS
Swindon firm WH Smith have also joined the project by donating
U
£1,000 to sponsor prizes for children who contribute most during the UP AND OVER GARAGE DOORS SUPPLIED, U
festival. Greendown teacher Tim Noble, who is coordinating the 0
0 0
festival, said, "I'm overwhelmed by the support we are receiving. FITTED, REPAIRED (SPARE PARTS AVAILABLE)
National Power and WH Smith are really investing in children's educa- REMOTE CONTROL FOR INCREASED SECURITY
tion and development.
Mr Noble is directing the Westlea children who are excited to be SWINDON
involved in another Shakespeare production. Last December, year 6
put on 'A Midsummer's Nights Dream. "I'm really looking forward to
learning the lines and rehearsing," said Ashleigh Sam, 10. "We've read
the play through and we're starting to understand what it's about." Maxwell House • Maxwell Street • Swindon