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2 The Link Magazine • May 2001 www.swindo
'Spirit of Swindon' takes to the water
Landlocked Swindon will soon see its name riding the ocean waves when Norman Butler from Westlea and Andy Norris from Lechlade make
a 70 day dash across the Atlantic in the Ward Evans Atlantic rowing challenge.
Eighteen months after entering We're aiming to with 40 foot waves, Atlantic
for the 3,000 mile race, Norman achieve a high storms, being run down by tank-
saw the next stage of his dream placing in the ers and overturned by whales.
come true when his self-built boat 'Spirit of Swin-
'Spirit of Swindon was launched don." 24 hour row for
at the end of March. Starting in asthma at Sainsburys
Now teamed up with Andy Tenerife on 7
Norris from Lechlade, Norman has October it will Meet Norman and Andy, see
built the 24 foot vessel from a stand- take between 70 the 'Spirit of Swindon' and find
ard kit of 27 sheets of marine ply- to 90 days to out about their adventure at a
wood which all fifty teams from reach Barbados. 24 hour machine row in aid of
around the globe have had to work The race will the National Asthma Campaign
with. Swindon businesses including impose extreme physical and men- on 17 and 18 May at Sains-
"It's really gratifying to see the Early Learning Centre, deSign, tal demands upon the teams. Along
'Spirit of Swindon' on the water Nationwide Building Society, the way they will have to contend burys, Bridgemead.
after all the hard work to get this Innogy, and Link Centre have pro-
far," said Norman. "Apart from vided assistance. Backing for fire-fighters China fundraising trek
constructing the boat in my spare Norman's confidence in success
time, we've built a support team to has not faltered since he entered Fire-fighters from Group 2 at Westlea station all went blond in public
help us prepare ourselves physi- the race in September 1999. "Hav- at a mass bleach at the West Swindon Centre on 14 April with the help
cally and mentally, and attracted ing Andy aboard is tremendous; of hair stylists from Partners hair salon.
some major sponsorship." we get on well and he is very fit.
The event
raised money
for the Fire Serv-
ices Benevolent
Fund and to
help Sean Dun-
inip vements. ham take part in
the Fire-fighters
Trek along the
Installers of quality replacement PVCu Great Wall of
China in aid of
windows, doors and conservatories the fund.
Sean travels
Also fascia boards, soffits and claddings to the remote
eastern areas of
Styles and China in mid-
elegance to ®^ June to negoti-
complement _^ ®^ ®Y^ ate mountains
and deep gorges. are a £300 mountain bike and
your home
See the blonde bombshells with passes to the Wiltshire Festival
Free quotations ^^^ t l ' 1 ; ^.^ their roots emerging at the fire sta- Party in the Park and Classical
and computer ^ ^^ ^^ tion open day on 19 May when Evening. Raffle tickets can also be
raffle tickets will be on sale. Prizes obtained by calling 07796 192329.
aided design I
service 1
Special rates
on supply only
For details, tel. or fax: 01793 855492