Page 18 - link magazine

- 4
18 swet

De Vere serves up Curry for Festival of Literature

Former government minister turned broadcaster and best selling novelist Edwina Currie is one of the star authors booked for this year's Swindon
Festival of Literature during the first ten days of May.
Her new book The Ambassador The programme is taking shape Still considering their diary com-
set in Europe one hundred years for another fine festival. Already mitments are Booker prize winner
from now is published at the time of booked are Oxford University sci- Ian McEwan, novelists Beryl Bain-
the festival and she will be speak- ence professor Richard Dawkins, bridge and Jilly Cooper, column-
ing about it at a dinner at the De author of best-selling books includ- ists Julie Burchill and Virgina
Vere Hotel in the Shaw Ridge Lei- ing The Selfish Gene and more Ironside.
sure Park. This is the first time the recently Unweaving the Rainbow. After five years single minded
hotel has pa rticipated in the event. Royal biographer Penny Junor, commitment to getting things liter-
whose recent work Charles: Victim ary onto the Swindon scene, festi-
Girls with twirl or Villain? caused an uproar, could val director Matt Holland is build-
reveal some insight into high ing a tremendous reputation for
The GWR Drum Majorettes are places. the town far and wide. This line up
looking for girls aged 7to 14 to join By contrast, mimic, comic and for the sixth festival proves it is
their troupe. poet Alistair McGowan whose vo- putting down roots into the world of
If you would like to learn to play a cal impressions of footballers and literature.
drum or bell-lyre, shake a pom-pom commentators are second to none, "It is very exciting that leading
or twirl a baton at fetes and festi- will have you wondering which role authors are keen to appear in Swin-
vals around the country, call Sharon comes next. Edwina Currie don," said Matt.
on 870992 or Pam on 870996. Right wing philosopher Roger Amongst the sponsors are
Scruton, outspoken on fox hunt- Muriel Bloch from France will be Dominic Winter Book Auctions,
Are you a clubber? ing, pop music and use of the coun- spinning a few tales alongside wick- Dillons and Waterstones, South-
tryside, is sure to stimulate edly funny word-wangler Sid Kip- ern A rts, Swindon Council, the De
HTV is planning an innovative new
thoughts, whilst fabulous sto ryteller per from No rfolk. Vere Hotel and Unilan Ltd.
television series dedicated to the
south west's party animals.
They are looking for up-for-it guys Winner discovers new photograph of grandfather
and girls to follow with their cam-
era as they get ready, pub and club Janice Potton, from Woodhall Park, tions in the Hemel Hempstead area.
their way through a wild evening. won a copy of 'Swindon: A Sixth Both are members of the Wilt-
If you think you would look good Selection' offered in the October shire Family History Society which
on screens in the region, call the Link. holds monthly meetings at Gorse
producers on 0117 972 2201. To her surprise she found a pic- Hill community centre. To find out
ture of hergrandfather William 'Jim' more, call Richard or Marjorie
Dunford as a butchers's boy at the Moore on 537103.
beginning of the century. She im-
Janice Potton with her daughter
mediately confirmed the discovery
Rachel, holding up the book fea-
with her mother Pat, and Jim's
turing her grandfather's picture
YOUR FIRST STOP FOR widow Lil, who is aged 90, and
lives in Cheney Manor. • The Swindon Society holds
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
"It was a complete surprise to meetings on the second Wed-
From a 13 amp fuse, cleaner bag see the photograph," said Janice. nesday of the month at Broadgreen
or consumer unit to fridges, "We were all really pleased; none Centre, Salisbury Street, 7.30pm.
freezers or vacuum cleaners , of us had seen it before." On Wednesday 10 February, Mr
we offer a fast, efficient Janice is a keen researcher into I Weight talks on the National Trust
and personal service. her family tree and has traced her and its associations.
Only 5 nunutes from West Swindon roots in Wiltshire back to the early Call 521418 for details.
Ample free parking 1600s. Husband David started
looking back about five years ago
11 The Arcade, High Street Pictures in The Gallery
and although he spent his child-
Wootton Bassett hood in Australia, he has traced
Tel: 01793 854378 the Potton family back six genera-

Hillside Building Services
s
F ^,^ Extensions, loft conversion, '4•. '
R a
specialists in all types of building & plastering
All work full insured
Contact Dave on 01793 488470

Photographs covering nearly 300 years of the development and design
^1tiGLC FCGC ^Glx^e1 CGbrGLtbr of hospital buildings are on exhibition in The Gallery at the National
p119 ) Monuments Record Centre atChurchward. The picture above was taken
gxterivr uxd E,rterior rCeL: in Great Ormond Street Hospital for Sick Children in the 1890s.
1 \ Eft/RtAtnr free 8s5O9 The Gallery, near the Designer Village is open Wednesday to Sunday
11 am to 5pm.