Page 26 - link magazine

Swindon Wide
Swindon Wide
26
26
the bigger picture

In early 1998 the West Swindon
Long Poem called Westwords was
assembled by some 30 children
attending Brook Field, Freshbrook,
Oliver Tomkins Infants, Salt Way,
Shaw Ridge, Toothill and Westlea
primary schools, and Year 7 pupils
from Greendown School.
At workshops with performance
poet Marcus Moore and Green-
down teacher Christina Bennett the
youngsters explored their lives and
their neighbourhoods to write 671
lyrical lines recognisable to anybody
who lives in Swindon.
Westwords was written in time
for the fifth Swindon Festival of Lit-
erature. It was featured in the May
1998 Link and was performed once
at the festival and then disappeared.
Some Westwords:
From Barbury Castle’s Hill West Westword poets together in 1998 at Lower Shaw Farm. If you were one, please mail: [email protected]
Swindon sits sparkling ......
.....Children jump and skip their way Like the entrance to a secret garden; Large hulks, suspended scarily,
.... People walking dogs in the to school: Greendown, like a huge grey bird, Bodies or skeletons in a
early morning fog; To Freshbrook, with its the colour of the USS Enterprise hospital for cars
The whistling milkman massive, towering gates, A shadowed bulk at the end of The Renault Building
Delivering clinking bottles of Westlea, red and black, shaped like the road. A massive, Meccano marquee
fresh milk; a letter H, With huge, straight, stiff sides
The busy, jolly postman And Oliver Tomkins, with its familiar ...And coats like giant Mr Blobbie of golden yellow
Struggling under parcels sign next to swaying trees; Stand the Toothill Lollipop Ladies. As big as a football stadium
Clutching a handful of letters To Brook Field and its Always with a cheery smile or As quiet as a dressing-room
Dressed in neat red and blue coat Teletubbie hills, comforting word
and tilted navy cap; Salt Way, Shaw Ridge, an ants nest Padded against the bitter cold The Chinese Experience
And the clattering dustbin men alive with scurrying youngsters, of winter Two great loyal marzipan-white
Hurling rubbish into the truck’s And Toothill, its gates draped with Glowing in their fluorescent bubbles lion-dragons
crunching teeth; Peaked caps sticking out Guard the entrance, mouths opened
foliage
from beneath hoods wide in silent roar
They stand Claws dug deep into their
Youngsters set out on a lengthy poetry journey Like strange, exotic, yellow birds private platforms
Defending their young. Furious eyes watching and listening.
A group of children living in Toothill are assembling another long poem
about their area with funding from the Toothill million Big Local lottery ....But stop! What’s this? Read the poem in full with
fund. It will be ready in time for May’s Swindon Festival of Literature. Flying cars too? pictures of the young poets at
Hanging from the ceiling like
lanterns http://bit.ly/westlongpoem
250

BIKES ON SHOW Writing competition to feature
All shapes, sizes and in March magazine
prices at: Sixty children entered The Link’s handwriting competition launched in
SWINDON CYCLES the December edition with support from uni-ball.
said: “The standard has
The aim was to encour-
SUPER STORE age neatness, clear forma- been admirably high; the
tion of letters and a nice
children obviously enjoyed
where the layout on the page. the challenge and put in a
Uni-ball have sponsored
See the lightweight
SALE • Choice is great road models and the the main prizes in three lot of effort.”
Some entries are copied
NOW • Prices are right modern electric bikes categories and thanks out texts, some are original
ON Parts, accessories & to West Swindon office short stories or poems and
• Parking is free repairs by trained staff products supply company a few were illustrated.
Accord, every child will Jill added: “With the
Tel: (01793) 700105 receive a small prize for taking the range of ages and standard
time to enter the competition. involved, it was tough to make
60a Beechcroft Rd, SN2 6QD The entries have been judged by choices.”
Between Stratton Crossroads & Kingsdown fountain pen user Christine Pratt Christine and Jill’s judgements
www.swindoncycles.co.uk from Abbey Meads and calligrapher will be announced in the March
Open: Mon to Sat, 9am to 5.30pm Jill Ryan-Brown from Old Town. edition when we will picture the
They were impressed by the winners. Prizes will be sent out at
quality of the entries. Christine the end of February.

21-48 February 12.indd 26 20/01/2012 14:58