Page 2 - link magazine

2 swindonlink.com • August 2009
Variety has been the spice of Link life

Leaving The Link after four years, journalist Barbara Prothero wonders if there is another job in town to match it for variety
During my time at the Link, I’ve covered every imaginable type of local story; no two days have ever been the same.
I might be learning about person- Much of my work has children in a drama class,
ality profi ling for online dating in been promoting local people respond to what
the morning, interviewing a fund- businesses. As an ac- they see in The Link.
raiser, sometimes dressed as a fairy countant turned writer, I When stocks were run-
in a pink tutu, about his plans to take love hearing about people ning low at Swindon
part in a boxing bout, and rounding who have also changed Foodbank Link readers
off the day talking to a remarkable their career path. Among responded with gener-
teenager, who has overcome cancer, my favourites have been ous donations. Appeals
about her sailing trip of a lifetime Janet Garrett, bi-lingual for mittens for bears and
with Dame Ellen MacArthur - and personal assistant who used tea bags for South
that’s for just one edition. gave up the corporate African artisans produced
There’s always something to talk world to develop her overwhelming responses
about when my family ask what dog training business but perhaps the greatest
I’ve done at work. Highlights have and Bev Ody, who used reaction was to an appeal
included hearing a talk at Isambard to be a credit controller, Barbara reporting from the banks of the Nile for families to host chil-
at Abbey Meads Primary School in 2006
from blind veteran and motorcycle but found her niche as an dren from Belarus. Gin
speed champion Billy Baxter; visit- undertaker. My all time favourite costumes (see page 27). McGiffi n asked for help in the July
ing Abbey Meads Primary School example of a CV that no careers Twenty years after leaving educa- 2006 Link as she set up the Swindon
when youngsters had become teacher could envisage came recent- tion, I fi nally discovered my perfect branch of Chernobyl Children’s Life
Egyptians for the day to re-enact the ly from Rosa Hirsch-Holland who job when I joined the team at The Line. Since then, people have taken
discovery of King Tutankhamun; started out making bespoke fairy Link. When I arrived in Peatmoor the charity to their hearts; families
and helping a young woman in her wings before launching her Rosa fourteen years ago, and scanned regularly welcome youngsters into
search for her estranged mum. Bloom business selling burlesque my fi rst copy of the magazine for their homes for respite holidays and
mother and baby groups, I could local businesses have been generous
never have imagined that I would with offers of entertainment, health
be writing for its pages. care and money.
Abbey Meads It’s enormously satisfying to For a town that is often the butt
Village Centre hear that people look out for the of the nation’s jokes, it’s amazing
magazine dropping through their how many positive, life-affi rming
door and that they act on what they tales there are to tell about Swindon.
Beauty room available for rent read. Whether they are joining a Thank you to everyone who has
Ideal opportunity for a therapist wanting to start their own business campaign for a primary school at allowed me to tell their story.
For details please call Pam on 01793 704800 Oakhurst, volunteering to maintain • Barbara has returned to full time
local woodlands or enrolling their work with her old company.

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