Page 18 - link magazine

18 The Link Magazine • June 2001
No more commuting for new Bradon head Joyce Kirk-Browne
West Swindon resident Len Spiers is delighted to have been appointed head of Bradon Forest School
An appreciation, by David Allen,
from September, to succeed Chris Montacute who will be head at Wootton Bassett School.
Library Services Manager
He moved to the town ten years ago to marry well known dance school
teacher Jenny Sullivan, but has always travelled, first to London, then to On 22 April, Joyce Kirk-Browne,
Group Librarian at West Swindon
Gloucester when he became head of Severn Vale School in 1995. Library, lost her long battle against
"I will be sorry to leave Severn Vale but the move to Braden is an excellent
career progression," said Len. "I was struck both by the professional organi- cancer.
J oyce
sation and also the warmth and sense of pride that all involved take in the was born in
school. Newark,
"It really is a privilege to join a school that is developing both academically
and in what it offers the community. Swindon has got a lot going for it and I'm Notting-
hamshire,
looking forward to working with other schools in the area, particularly the
partner primary schools." before
Len is already well known to hundreds of children and their parents in the gainingher
area because of his association over the years with the Sullivan School of honours
Dance. degree in
English at
Newcastle,
First lick of paint for library in 16 years and then
qualifying
West Swindon library will be to become a librarian.
closed from 19 to 23 June for a She and her husband Paul
major refurbishment, the first moved to London, where they
since it opened in June 1985. raised their two children, Edward
During this time the letterbox and Sarah, and where Joyce also
will be sealed and items issued worked in school libraries.
from West Swindon will not be Paul's job brought the family to
due back. Swindon, and they settled in
Librarian Tracey Dowling apolo- Sparcells, so Joyce came to work
gises for the inconvenience, but is and live in West Swindon.
sure that users will welcome the Joyce was strongly committed
new look. Well read First Lines winners, from left, Pat and Cedric Hudson, Kim to the community in which she
The library thronged with peo- Littlewood, Julie Warburton, Adrian Fry, Moira Veitch, Margaret Bacon, lived and worked, and became well
ple at Libraries Festival Day on 3 Richard Barnes, Jane Deeley known to many library regulars
May as part of the Swindon Festi- for her helpfulness. She took great
val of Literature with an 'Oscar' Heave! Westlea School youngsters help storyteller Cat Weatherall pull out the pride in using the library to repre-
stand highlighting the DVDs and Giant Turnip sent the life, work and leisure of
videos available, and displays the West Swindon community.
about the Community Forest, Cre8 Joyce was particularly keen that
and the Early Years Development children and young people should
Partnership. have every opportunity and en-
The winners of a First Lines com- couragement to use libraries in
petition, including local writer support of their school studies, and
Margaret Bacon, collected their for leisure, in order to give them
prizes, whilst professional story the best possible opportunities in
teller and musician Cat Weatherill life.
hosted several sessions, enthral- Over the last twelve years Joyce
ling children and adults as she worked in many of the town's li-
wove her word magic. braries. She was well known for
her determination, for being vig-
Winners of the Hunt the Teddy Bears competition on Libraries Festival Day. Library on northern orous in support of her team, and
Left, librarian Tracey Dowling with Samuel James, Kristianne Drake with doorsteps for representing the needs of the
Ashleigh James and Lydia Rogers library users she served. She set
North Swindon residents can en-
I . demanding standards for herself
joy the facilities provided by the
Moredon Branch Library hidden and her colleagues, and was al-
away in Church Walk North. ways the first to recognise a job
It stocks a wide range of fiction well done. Often serious when the
and non-fiction, videos and spo- task in hand required it, Joyce also
ken word cassettes, as well as jig- had capacity for real enjoyment,
saw puzzles. Users also have ac- and this was most evident in her
cess to all items within the Swin- enthusiastic support for ice hockey
don library service through the at the Link Centre.
reservation arrangements. Joyce became ill two years ago
Children are particularly wel- and after treatment returned to
come and volunteers will be on work last spring. Unfortunately,
hand to discuss their favourite her illness recurred in the autumn.
books throughout the summer Always determined, Joyce helped
break. Call 464490 for details. to raise funds during her illness
towards a scanner for Princess
Margaret Hospital. She was a great
Megabowl offers fundraising opportunity to schools and groups strength to friends and library col-
Swindon Megabowl has just bought a mini-mobile 10 pin bowling alley which it will bring to fundraising leagues who were also receiving
events. All proceeds raised from use of the lane will be kept by the school or community group holding the treatment for cancer.
event, so long as Megabowl sales staff can pass out information about what the Shaw Ridge facility has to We offer our sincere condolences
offer. For more information and to make a booking, call Rob Bulzis on 889886. to Paul, Edward and Sarah.