Page 5 - link magazine

Celebrating 20 Years 5

Linked up for twenty years Impressive achievement
Matt Holland of Lower Shaw Farm writes Michael Wills, MP for Swindon North writes
Reading a lot, as I do, and watch- How could I not become a lifelong Twenty years is quite an achieve- and North Swindon.
V
ful of words in print, I took imme- reader. ment for anything in the ~' " For twenty years, The
diate note of a new magazine that From all of us down on this farm, media nowadays, so this 7 Link has been one of the
landed on our mat early in 1980. many thanks and congratulations magazine deserves con- most important ways the
There were three things that were to the hard-working Ogle editorial gratulations just for keep- members of these commu-
striking about it. team for having maintained the ing going so long. nities have talked to each
It dared to cover good news, it magazine's founding spirit these But I am not just applaud- other. It has been their no-
concentrated on truly local items twenty years while all the time ing its survival. I am cel- tice-boardd and their
and it seemed full of competitions improving its quality, design and ebrating the fact that for monthly news bulletin. It
to name new places, like pubs, appearance. And best wishes for twenty years it has done so much has been a glue which has helped
playgrounds and local magazines! many more years coverage of posi- to foster community spirit in the bond these communities together.
It was a pleasure to read, full of tive and local news. newer areas of the town in West It is a precious resource for all of
lively stories about successful us.
things that were happening in West Happy Birthday The Link.
Swindon. And what's more, it was True to its roots
a directory and source of informa- By Pam Pixton, Freshbrook resident and
tion too, which was invaluable in Swindon Borough Council Neighbourhood Worker, writes
an area of new developments.
By November of that year, it even I've lived in Fresh- of getting information
had a page that described a fasci- brook for 19 years out to the community
nating old place called Lower Shaw and I can remember and I always advise family fish` )Jreskwranfs & take-aways
Farm, that was running a course my first copy of The groups to make use of
call Life Through Literature and Link being deliv- it. It nearly always
another entitled Singing Weekend. ered. It had just one produces good re- Congratulations to
or maybe two pages, sults.
Matt Holland with an urban sheep The Link on 20 years
but it was very in- Of course the maga-
formative and help- zine is totally differ- of service to the
ed us to settle in. ent now from the first
Some time later, I copies I remember, community
went to a 'cut and but Ibelieve it has kept
paste' session, typ- its roots in the com- West Swindon Centre
ing up copy, manually cutting up munity and not lost touch. I wish
borders and text and pasting them it lots of success for the next 20 Tel: 870455
into a layout. I also volunteered to years.
deliver copies to some of West
Swindon's new homes.
Later, when delivery became
paid as The Link grew, my son and FREES 6 ^^TI ,. ATE & A`DVICE
daughter both took on rounds - I
did the work and they got paid." r
As a neighbourhood worker, The
Link has been an invaluable way YOUR LOCAL GARAGE DOOR
SPECIALISTS
Forward unto the Internet (continued from page 3)
UP AN^ I ^ IPPLIED,
Three features of the The Link ing and editorial. So many people
have remained constant. It has tell us they read The Link from FITTEDREP "RVAtLABLE)
always: 'cover-to-cover' because of the high REMro • ^, > i. ei ^ , ^z a
CUt;lnr ® ®
i. been free quality news, views and informa-
ii. been dependent on advertis- tion it contains.
ing for most of its 200 editions The relationship we have with
iii. had a high editorial content. readers makes it worthwhile
The first editions relied on putting in all the hard work to
Thamesdown Council, Hambro keep it going. Maxwell. House • Maxwell Street • Swindon
Life Charitable Trust and the good- And for the future: paper pub-
will of local printers. But from lishing will be around for some
Link no. 5, business has kept it time to come, but electronic com-
afloat with advertising. munication becomes more impor-
Obviously we must be doing tant by the month. GASTECH
something right for the advertis- Working with Mark Hodgson Reg No.142573
ers and we must give them a big from Grange Park, who runs Jupi-
thank you for placing their busi- ter Systems, a lot of The Link can
ness with The Link. now be read on our web site @
But more importantly, even www.swindonlink.com which • Central heating installation and efficiency upgrades
greater thanks should go to you, also brings together a lot of useful
the readers, for responding to the information which you might have • Repairs to all appliances and central heating systems
advertisements. to hunt for in many different places. • Servicing to central heating boilers
This means there is a great deal It's early days for the Internet. • Gas appliance fitting • Gas appliance sales
of trust between the magazine, its But were exploring how to make
readership and its commercial sup- swindonlink as good, useful and • Warm air heating • Combination boilers
porters. Its something we must as relevant as The Link has been
preserve and enhance. for the last 20 years.
We will do this by trying to main- Thanks for your continued sup-
tain a balance between advertis- port and encouragement.