Page 21 - link magazine

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the ultimate matchmakers
p NEW TO SWINDON
j- The Old Bank, Old Town
Speed dating
for 35 to 45 year olds
"l 6th February
7.30pm - 11pm
Speed dating
for 45s Plus
THE LINK MAGAZINE'S GUIDE TO WHAT'S HH IN AND MOUND SWINDON 19th February,
7.30pm to 11pm
Tickets £25 for either event
Swindon is rubbish!

It's ugly, dirty, boring, there's no community spirit, nothing ever happens, there's no culture, all it has is a
roundabout, and that's rubbish too. Do you agree? asks Mike Pringle, Director of the Swindon Cultural Part-
nership, the independent body that brings together business, arts organisations and local government
Line Dance
We've all heard things like this reading Shakespeare.
with
said about our town. But is any of Whatever your view of culture,
it accurate? the Swindon Cultural Partnership Midnight Cowboys
Okay, maybe the town centre would like to know about it. If we Tuesday: Even Swindon, 7.00
isn"t exactly an architectural gem, know what you want, then we can Community Centre Jennings
and maybe the Magic Roundabout fight for it. United, we can change Street (off Rodbourne Road)
is our most famous landmark. But the world's perception of us and Wednesday: Highworth, 7.00
actually, many of the things people our town.
think and say about Swindon are Swindon is, above all, the people Thursday: Coleview 7.00
simply not true; we have become who live and work here. We're not Community Centre, Nythe Road
victims of a national joke. rubbish; we're great, and it's about Step by step instruction for
Thankfully, there finally seems ti me the world gets the message. absolute beginners. Weekend
to be some real movement to im- and leisure. Perhaps more impor- To contribute to the debate about socials in Highworth and Swindon
prove things. Huge amounts of tantly, the partnership needs to be Swindon and its culture, mail: Dr For more details
money are being spent on regen- able to stand up and shout about Mike Pringle at mike.pringle@ Ring Lewis Watson on 764732
erating the town centre, you can the things that are already hap- creativeswindon.org.uk Ten years of teaching!
see the cranes and building sites pening, because, when you peek www.creativeswindon.org
everywhere you look. And recently beneath the surface, there really is
the Swindon Cultural Partnership so much already going on. As our
has joined the battle, developing low unemployment figures demon-
itself to become one of the major strate the people of Swindon are Swindon's widest choice
champions for positive change, not idle.
particularly when it comes to the The borough is home to some of discounted
town's cultural activity. 180.000 people and within that
But to be of any real value, the population just about every as-
partnership needs to understand pect of life is represented. Take Art & Craft Products
what people really want when it the music scene. Everyone knows
comes to things like arts, heritage that the town produced XTC and can be found at
Gilbert O'Sullivan, but it has also
Keeping a finger turned out dozens of other con- h
temporary musicians, some of F
on the poetry pulse which are, right now, poised for work A & Craft
Pulsar magazine, published by greatness.
Ligden Poetry Society based in Swindon also has far more w LOCATED AT
Grange Park is looking for entries than its fair share of brass bands, Unit 35 BSS House
to its annual poetry competition to country & western singers, military
be judged in May 2008. band activity, youth orchestras, Cheney Manor Ind. Estate, Swindon
Poems of up to 40 lines on any rock schools, bowl concerts, and
subject can be entered for a fee of a multitude of choral groups. In - .Tel/Fax 01793 513069
£2.50 for the first poem and £1.50 fact. Swindon Choral Society will
for subsequent works.The closing soon be celebrating its eightieth
date is 30 April with results an- birthday.
nounced in May. There are prizes And just look at Radio 2: Mark CLEARANCE SALE
of £125, £75 and £50. Lamar is from Swindon, as is
The judges are interested in Tim Smith, co-presenter of Steve
hard-hitting, thoughtfully written Wright's afternoon show. And of Up to 50% off r.s.p
work. They are not so keen on course Billie Piper is becoming a to make way for new lines
deeply religious poetry, poems highly respected actress.
about cute kittens or monotonous But is music your idea of cul-
rhyming couplets. ture? Or art, literature or heritage? Ends Saturday 12th January
For poets who like to perform Perhaps you're into martial arts,
their work, Ligden Poetry Society chess, woodturning or ballroom Phone for opening times
organises live microphone poetry dancing. Maybe you would rather
evenings around Swindon. take a photograph than stare at a
www.pulsarpoetry.com Lowry painting, or search for rare Entrance through Reception
editions of comic books instead of