Page 26 - link magazine

Swindon Wide
26

Ambassador cements 20 year link with Central American country
The Mayor of Swindon Rex Barnett welcomed the Ambassador of Nicaragua to his parlour to mark the twinning arrangement with the town of Ocotal.
Ambassador Guisell Morales told the mayor and volunteer members SOL supports a committee in Ocotal with administrative costs and
of Swindon Ocotal Link (SOL), “we are very pleased that the link be- over the last few years has welcomed a number of visitors from Ocotal.
tween Swindon and Ocotal is so strong. There are warm hands and After a visit by Rotarian Dr Carlos Norori in 2007, Swindon’s three
warm hearts in Swindon who care for our people.” Rotary Clubs have combined to raise money to supply main electricity
Bruce Clarke, chairman of SOL, said the first contact was made 27 to a school for children with disabilities.
years ago when a Swindon South America study group was set up with To find out more about SOL, contact Bruce Clarke on 533338 or mail:
a view to finding a twin town and Ocotal was first approached twenty- [email protected]
four years ago. “It’s very much a two way process and it gives us enor- The Mayor and Mayoress, Rex and Sandra Barnett, welcome Ambassador
mous pride and pleasure to work with the people of Ocotal. They have a Morales with SOL committee members from left, Hannah Mayell, Anne Hamp-
tremendously positive view of the world and Swindon people who visit son, Bruce Clarke, Patrick Norris, Mary Creffield and Gill Wallis. Rear centre
return enormously enthused.” Rotarian Peter Wells and rear right Ambassador’s assistant Karen Cuerrero
SOL is committed to sending about £6,000 to Ocotal each year to
support a health clinic and an old people’s home and to provide bursa-
ries to primary and secondary school children to help buy uniforms and
books, and to assist students attend university.

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Book your
Corporate / Team From West Swindon to West Africa
building / special
event now for this Children in Gambia will receive a late Christmas present in February,
year and/or next thanks to a West Swindon couple and Kit Aid.
Last year John Maxwell
and his wife Christine
went to Gambia to coach
youngsters in football and
help in schools. They are
now preparing to travel
once more to the West
African country to work
with children again.
John, from Westlea, ex-
Travel should Take you places plained, “we will be based
on the coast for two weeks
Celebrate Valentine’s Day and thanks to Kit Aid we’ll
at The Hilton Swindon be able to give football
kits to six teams. When
Saturday 12 February 2011 the children receive them
th
there will be so much joy.
Arrive in style with your loved Local churches here have
one to a glass of bubbly & also supplied materials for
strawberries schools, which is great.
“Being on the coast will
A romantic 4-course dinner will be different from our trip The December Link included an obituary for
be served to you in The Larder last year. This time we’ll Gary Williams who founded and coached youth
Restaurant have proper sleeping ar- football team AFC Greendown in the 1980s. His
Spend the night and wake up rangements and running memory lives on with the donation of the team’s
old kit to Kit Aid. John is pictured with former
to a ‘Bucks Fizz’ breakfast water. In the village we team assistant manager Doug Jones
delivered to your room stayed in a hut without
electricity and the only water was restrictions, they are appealing
Relax in our Livingwell Health from the well. for football training tops for local
Club “However we hope to visit the coaches and any football coaching
And check out at leisure at 3pm villagers while we are there.” material. If you can help contact John
on Sunday Though the Maxwells are limited on: [email protected]
£122.00 per couple – residential in what they can take due to flight www.3valleys.co.uk/kitaid
package or Ethiopia trip success
£24.95 per person for the
4-course dinner Sparcells resident Simon Wicks returned in November from a week-long
trip to Ethiopia where he worked with children, orphans, the homeless
Visit www.hilton.co.uk/swindon and the sick. Read his account at www.swindonlink.com
or ring 01793 881 777 Link goes to Nepal
This offer is subject to availability & cannot be used in conjunction with any other offers Wiltshire Army cadets carried The Link to the foot of Everest. See the
picture on page 38.

21-48 January 2011.indd 26 17/12/2010 12:00