Page 4 - link magazine

The Link Magazine • August 2001
Kryten Systems Ltd Is there a West Swindon community?
Specialists in Cambridge University geography student Rachel Wood from Grange Park is researching the question of
community in West Swindon. Here the former pupil of Windmill Hill, Bradon Forest School and The
web design Ridgeway 6th Form describes her project and how you can help her.
e are currently being if life is really like this anywhere. It is these questions I hope to
From a single page website to
bombarded with ideas Are there streets in the real world, answer with my research. I am
an online store, we have
packages to suit all budgets. W about community. The where everybody knows every- looking at the small scale sense of
government and the local council body else's name? Are there places community, and want to consider
Friendly, personal service from want to bring local people together where best friends really do live whether it has ever existed in West
a local company that knows again, in the hope that community next door to one another? Are there Swindon. If it did, does it still exist
how to help your business make is the key to a better future. And it people whose lives still focus around or what has replaced it. Are there
an impression on the internet is this hope which has prompted a local sense of community? different 'modern communities'
Call Clare on 01 793 729815 me to research community in West I don't know all the people in which are just as important as the
to discuss your requirements Swindon' for my university re- my street, and often community traditional kind?
search project. centres and parks are not areas in To answer all these questions I
[email protected]
www.krvtensystems.com As I sat watching the lunchtime which all neighbours can meet. need to talk to people of all back-
soaps last term, I began to wonder People can actually feel excluded. grounds, from all areas of West
But how have we come to this? Swindon about their experiences
West Swindon was specifically of community.
uklinks4 PARKING designed as a set of cul-de-sacs a formal community group, or an
Whether you are already part of
arranged in small 'village-like' ar-
CENTRAL SWINDON eas, with a village centre and lots individual who feels detached
There are some of small parks, to encourage peo- from the place you live in, or per-
Annual long stay ple to inter-act with each other. haps you have formed informal
great resources But this seems a far cry from to- groups of your own, I would like
parking only day's picture. to hear from you.
on the Internet. Is there such a thing as a 'tradi- I hope to run some discussion
£47.80 per month tional community' or has it been groups during September. If you
But do you know Contact Alison Kearney replaced with new arrangements would be interested in taking part,
based on interests at a local, na- please contact me via The Link, at
where they are? Tel: 01793 - 616333 tional and global level? the address below.

We do! Can you write a cry?

www.uklinks4.com your partner in business Swindon's Town Crier Fred Ferris needs some help to give him a
winning cry.
After three years in the
job, his shouts at town ,,
crier competitions have
not been rated very highly
and other criers have sug-
One look at our windows, gested he needs to rewrite
doors or conservatories his material. "I'm getting
a bit despondent that I'm °.
and you'll know you've going to other towns and
made the right choice. shouting for Swindon,
but not getting the mes-
sage across," said Fred. Fred with Queen Victoria, Mary Ratcliffe,
at the Old Town Festival in July
7 RMIN "It's not all about volume. 100 word cries on different sub-
The judges are listening for clarity,
WINDOWS inflection and also the meaning of jects, which must start with three
the words." '0 yays' and end with 'God Save
Soffits • Fascia • Guttering
If you can help Fred with 75 to the Queen', call him on 721800.
3 Overton Gardens, Stratton St

The Link
Published by
West Swindon Publications Editorial copy date for
Papermakers House, Westlea September: 10 August
Swindon SN5 7BD Published: 25 August
Tel: (01793) 872282 Copy for October: 14 September
Fax: (01793) 878189
For a new style or colour, Shaw Village e: [email protected] "The Link was first published for the West
Swindon community in December 1978.
call in today for a www.swindonlink.com It is completely independent of Link Centre
free consultation and, in fact, won a competition to name the
g2 Publisher/Editor: Roger Ogle leisure centre in 1984. Distribution in North
with our friendly staff ^1 Park Editorial: Tel: (01793) 872282 Swindon commenced in January 1994."
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