Page 8 - link magazine

8 swindonlink.com • June 2008

Service personnel to be honoured

The contribution made by veterans of the Armed Forces will be recognised nationally on 27 June, but in Swindon
events funded with help from a £7,000 grant from the Ministry of Defence will take place over a week.
It will be launched with a family The entrance price to Steam will be that veterans have much to offer at a ceremony and concert on
fun day at Steam on Saturday 21 reduced to £1 on the day. to society today. There will also 27 June at Bath Road Methodist
June, which will also have a serious All Armed Services personnel be a drive to ensure that they and Church. Swindon Council staff and
side. A World War I trench will be are classified as veterans, no matter their dependents know about the members will receive their badges
created in the museum and a group where and how they served and the welfare support and advice avail- at a ceremony on 26 June at the
of re-enactors will demonstrate week’s events are being organised able to them. Civic Offices.
the grim conditions soldiers had to remember their contribution to Swindon’s mayor Steve Wake- A march arranged in partnership
to endure on the Western Front. the nation’s history and to recognise field will present veterans’ badges with the Royal British Legion and a
church service will close the week’s
events on Sunday 29 June. Marchers
no hold up for speedway stadium will set out from the Royal Navy
Club at 2.30pm arriving at St Mark’s
Because Swindon Council Planning Committee was proposing to accept a major change in land use from Church for a 3pm service.
the local plan at St Andrew’s Ridge, the scheme put forward by developers had to be submitted to the Youngsters will learn about
Government Office of the South West. Veterans’ Week and the relevance
However the council has heard tor engineering and maintenance, Tomlinson said, “it’s fantastic of honouring service personnel
planning permission can be given animal husbandry and care. news for Swindon Speedway fans during a series of workshops in
for a new stadium, 450 dwell- Abbey Meads councillor Justin and also residents who were in fa- schools across the town.
ings, a care home and vour of a residential rather Veteran Billy Baxter, who lost his
16,745 square metres than commercial develop- sight on active service in Bosnia
of employment. ment on the land.” in 1997 and has since become an
The existing sta- North Swindon MP inspiration to people by break-
dium is to be demol- Michael Wills is delighted ing the world blind motorcycling
ished but only after that the project can pro- speed record, learning to ski and
a new one is built, to ceed. “I have backed this run marathons will visit schools
the south east of its scheme from the begin- with the mayor, to run workshops
present location, next ning as it was the only on conflicts in the 20th and 21st
to the new Blunsdon way to save speedway for Centuries.
by-pass. It will also the town and bring new If you are a service man or woman
provide a home for facilities for young people who has not been contacted about
greyhound racing, in the area.” receiving a veterans’ badge, call the
the indoor market and The new stadium could mayor’s office on 463002.
a training centre for be ready for the 2009 www.veterans-uk.info/veterans-
young people in mo- season. day08

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