Page 28 - link magazine

Swindon Wide
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Music and booze sessions for all
Music Alive based outside Purton runs weekly MESS sessions - Mon-
day Evening Session Society - at pubs in and around Swindon, which
are open to all musicians from beginners to experts, as well as visitors.
Music covers a wide spectrum, ity providing a safe, supportive,
Wishing all our clients from traditional folk to the blues and positive and accessible environ-

a very Merry Christmas beyond. The important thing is mak- ment where disabled and non-
ing music together. Mess meetings disabled people can make music
and develop skills.
in December take place on:
and a Happy New Year 7th Royal George, Purton (al- Workshops are organised at
ways fi rst Monday of the month) Bentham House, Purton. Drum
14th Rose and Crown, Highworth circles exploring and sharing the
(always second Monday) power of rhythm take place at
21st The Bell, Old Town (always Lower Shaw Farm and Isambard
third Monday) Community School.
28th Iron Horse, Wroughton (al- For details of community music
ways fourth Monday) around the town call 770699 or
Music Alive is a registered char- see: www.music-alive.org.uk

Join Santa’s elves at Studley Grange
Studley Grange Craft Village will become Christmas heaven during
December when it turns into Santa's Workshop.
It's the ideal place to pick up a the weather is. It's the ideal place
unique gift, handcrafted on site by to start a hobby with lots of expert
the many skilled craftsmen and advice on hand.
women. And you can go further • Santa’s grotto will be open at
and make your own special pres- Blooms garden centre next to
from Pam and the team ent in a workshop, and you might Studley Grange Craft Village in aid
of Prospect Hospice. He’ll be on
come across Santa's elves.
Studley Grange Butterfl y World hand on Saturday and Sunday 5/6
Abbey Meads Village Centre and Craft Village provides a day out and 12/13 December and daily from
for the whole family no matter what 19 to 23 December.
Tel: 01793 704800
Novel explores present crisis
Peatmoor resident Brian Barber has teamed up with an ex-special forces
expert to create a story with strong contemporary and local references
B B
ButterflyWorldutterflyWorldutterflyWorld which considers how the government can be held to account for involve-
ment in Iraq and Afghanistan.
A career spent about the presence of
S
Studley Grangetudley Grange mainly working weapons of mass de-
overseas has pro-
struction in Iraq, and
Garden & Leisure Park vided Brian with a failing to supply British
wealth of colourful troops in Afghanistan
tales - experiences and Iraq with the cor-
Small Animal Section which have provid- rect equipment.” said
ed the inspiration Brian. “The soldiers’
for Accountable, aim is to make the
an intense thriller politicians admit their
Bring Your Kids To See Our Kids written by former accountability.”
soldier JB Lowden. The book is partly set
Opening Times Brian said his in Wiltshire, in particu-
Open Daily link with the author lar Wootton Bassett,
Summer: 10.00am - 6.00pm goes back a long where the body of the
(Sunday 5.00pm) way. “I worked with lead character’s son is
Winter: 9.00am - Dusk The Venue For Kids Parties
Last admission: JB in the Middle East and in Africa repatriated from Afghanistan.
60 minutes before closing. in the 1990s and we’ve been friends Despite JB’s fi rst-hand experi-
ever since. When he relocated in ences, the book is unlike most ac-
Admission Rates 10 OR
MORE the UK, I visited him at his home tion novels in that nobody is killed
Adults £4.95 £4.45 in Frome and sharing our experi- or injured - although it provides a
Seniors/Students £4.55 £3.95 ences led to working together on wealth of fascinating insights into the
Children (under 3 free) £3.75 £3.25 Accountable which JB wrote based world of covert operations.
Family (2 adults 2 children) £15.00 on my storyline.”
1 supervisory staff free with every 10 students Brian said the book is borne out
Paint
Many units at Studley *** *** JB’s biography lists action with of frustration with the political scene.
Build
Grange Craft Village *** *** the US marines in Vietnam, attach- “We stayed in touch constantly add-
will be turned into Shop ments to South African commandos ing plot shifts and coming up with
Santa’s workshops and *** ***
Play
staffed by elves during *** *** and the French Foreign Legion, new scenes. It was a steep learning
December. Make your Draw rescuing kidnap victims in Baghdad process for us, but also an enjoyable
own personal items for *** ***
Join In The Fun
Christmas presents. and serving as a UN peace keeper. creative process, so much so that
Telephone 01793 852400 “The action centres on three the last chapter marks the beginning
e-mail: [email protected] | www.studleygrange.co.uk special forces soldiers who take of the book’s sequel.”
Studley Grange Garden and Leisure Park, direct action against the British gov- Accountable costs £9.40+p&p
Hay Lane, Swindon SN4 9QT ernment for misleading the public from www.authorhouse.co.uk
21-52 December 09.indd 28 19/11/2009 11:08