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swindonlink.com • August 2012 7
Police call Choir gives voice to Toothill
for vigilance
A pop-up choir gave song to
The West Swindon Neighbour- Toothill Festival on 30 June.
hood Police Team continue to see Formed by twelve residents
a drop in crime year on year, except who had never sung in public, the
non-dwelling burglaries and car songsters surprised themselves by
crime, according to team manager how tuneful they were after only
PC Tom Turner. two rehearsals.
Speaking at the West Swindon Sue Millward from Toothill saw
Forum he said that residents still the publicity for the Swindon Coun-
leave their sheds and vehicles cil adult learning funded singing
unlocked and are vulnerable to workshops and signed up with
opportunist thieves. her daughter Jess. She said: “I’ve
He reported that since the May always fancied joining a choir, but
meeting the police had carried out we were not sure what the group
three successful drug warrants, would sound like after the first
a dangerous dog warrant on an get together. A few members of
animal believed to be a pit bull the Scratch Choir joined in for the
and charged a male in possession second one and they really gave us
of two pit bulls. confidence to have a go in public.”
He said ten young people had Jess , who sang the day after the The second Toothill Festival organ-
received letters about their anti- Bradon Forest prom, added: “We ised by the Toothill Big Local lottery
social behaviour and two others just had to learn the words and the group in conjunction with Toothill
had voluntarily accepted anti-social tunes; I loved singing together.” Primary School provided fun for
behaviour contracts. Choir tutor Vicky Sweeney said: hundreds of people who watched
He announced that walking “We go on the basis that if you can dance groups, martial arts and
buses should start from the West speak you can sing, you don’t need demonstrations, with live music from
Swindon Centre to Westlea and to read music or have experience. Stevie G and Pegasus Brass, and
Oliver Tomkins Primary Schools The residents were unsure about another performance of the Toothill
in September to reduce car parking the idea, but they were brilliant and Long Poem.
problems outside the schools. made a fantastic sound.” Residents were also asked to take
For the summer months the • Swindon Scratch Choir meets on part in another survey of how the
forum agreed police priorities of Mondays in the Railway Village and £1 million allocated by the lottery to
patrolling open spaces for extra Tuesdays at Lower Shaw Farm. the area should be spent.
safety, taking on car crime and the For details call Linda Lee on 01793 See festival pictures at www.
continued battle against drug deal- 875184. Toothill’s twin princesses for the day, mytoothill.org.uk or facebook.com/
ing across West Swindon. www.swindonscratchchoir.co.uk Ashleigh and Shannon Beach toothillmillion

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