Page 23 - link magazine

Swindon Wide 23

Miss Wiltshire follows in her mum’s footsteps
When Donna Nicholson, née Gordon, former Princess of Cricklade and Miss Swindon Cinema, was crowned Miss Thamesdown in 1978
at age 17, she could not have imagined that 33 years later her own daughter Josephine Logan would also win the title of Miss Wiltshire.
Juliet Platt met up with the mother and daughter team.
Josephine, 22, won the Miss dance academy. I also run an and raises her profi le that way. And if that doesn’t sound
Wiltshire competition last June, after-school performing arts club The girls who enter these days are enough like a fairy-tale character,
but has had rather a different ex- and am a member of Ovation jazz not just dumb blondes; they really Josephine loves dressing-up as a
perience than her mother had. dance group which won Swindon want to represent their area.” princess at nurseries and playing
Donna said: “In those days Talent 2011 and performed at the Although Donna and Jo live in games with the children.
beauty competitions were part of Christmas lights switch-on.” Woodhall Park, Donna grew up If you want her to add the magic
the mainstream society and Miss Donna’s year as Miss Thames- not far away in Blunsdon and was touch to your event, or are look-
Thamesdown was organised by down coincided with her job as a very involved in speedway. Her ing for some help in promoting
Highworth & Cricklade Round commercial trainee at Square D family have a long Swindon heri- your charity, get in touch with Jo-
Table members who then coordi- electrical components fi rm. She tage: her grandfather was known sephine: misswiltshire2011@hot-
nated most of my engagements said: “They were very generous as Danny the Cutter and used to mail.co.uk or on Facebook: Jose-
during my year. with letting me have time off; it was deliver wood around the town. phine Logan: Miss Wiltshire 2011
“I did a lot of fetes and events such a fantastic chance to contrib-
around the town, often accompa- ute to community life.”
nying the Mayor and
his wife.”
In contrast Jose-
phine has had to do all
of her own networking
and promoting. “When
my mum won beauty
pageants were very
popular, but they’ve
gone out of fashion,”
she said. “Nowadays I
have to contact event
organisers myself and
ask if they’d like me to
come along and help
them promote it.”
While Donna’s ex-
perience was a lot
more high profi le, in-
cluding meeting Ed-
die Kidd, performing
for the Queen with Swindon Ma- Donna now works at Central
jorettes at Badminton Horse Tri- Library where she meets many INSPIRE, CREATE
als, and dancing with disco group people who saw her on stage or SPARKLE & DREAM
Imagination and soul singer Edwin at events during her year of fame.
Starr, her exploits were never as Before entering the competi- Welcome to Sparkle Dreams Swindon’s premier paper crafting specialists.
extreme as those of her daughter. tion last year, Josephine was no Situated in the beautiful Studley Grange Craft Village, we offer a fantastic range of unique products for the card maker and scrapbooker; as well as teaching a
wide selection classes for all age groups. Our knowledgable staff are enthusiasts in paper crafting and are happy to help with any of your queries.
“I’ve just raised £741 for Pros- stranger to publicity. “When I was Top Name Brands Such as:
pect Hospice doing a sky-dive,” ten I went to Majorca to appear in • Scrapbooking • Magnolia We are the only local suppliers of Magnolia
said Josephine. “It was an amaz- a Danone advert for German TV. • Cardmaking • Sizzix products, Copic pens, Sugar Nellie Stamps
• Spellbinders
• Modern Papercrafting Specialists
and many other superb specialist products.
ing experience, and I’m going to And in the same year I had to bal- • Classes For Adults & Children • Ranger & Tim Holtz
• Classes Run At Weekends & Weekdays
do it again in the spring.” ance a guinea pig on my head for
Josephine’s reign as Miss Wilt- GMTV’s Pets on the Brain.” Tel: 01793 855472
shire lasts until the end of May, “But the regional heat for Miss
though she has to balance her du- England was my fi rst competition; Studley Grange Garden & Leisure Park, Hay Lane, Wroughton, Swindon, Wiltshire SN4 9QT
ties with three other jobs: teaching I really didn’t expect to win. I grew Junction 16 (1/2 mile towards Wroughton) Tel: 01793 852400 • www.studleygrange.co.uk.
ballet and tap at Swindon Dance, up knowing my mum had been
working in a day care nursery, Miss Thamesdown and had re-
and helping coordinate the youth ally enjoyed her role. She’s shown
me her photo album and we’ve
talked about what being a rep-
resentative of your town is like; Think of all the houses you’ve ever visited.
I thought I’d go for it.” Take that thought and imagine it as a scaled
Donna admires the role pag- down version that you can enjoy for years
eant winners have taken on. “In to come.
my day it was a lot more glam- them, with houses coming in easy to build kit form which you can assemble in our workshop. Take your time to find the wallpaper,
At Doll’s House Workshops you can bring your dream house to life, one twelfth scale! We don’t just sell the houses, we help create
orous without the need for the carpets, furniture, accessories, lighting and even front gardens that bring your house to life. Whether you prefer the classic lines
of a Regency House, a Victorian House by the sea or the timeless beauty of an English Country Cottage, Doll’s House Workshop
charity fundraising. But now it’s will help you build your dream home. And you won’t even have to worry about a mortgage!
a great ideal, and can be a re- The Dolls House Workshop are currently stock products from the following suppliers:
ally good promotion for town. • Sally Reader Minitures • Dolls House Workshop houses • Sid Cooke Houses
Miss Worcester for instance is • Bodo Henning Miniatures - new extended range • Heidi Ott quality Miniatures • Streets Ahead Houses and Furniture
• Little Trimmings Haberdashery
• Dolls House Emporium houses and furniture
• Wanham Furniture
involved with the race course • Dolls House Parade Miniature Flowers • Reutter Porcelain - new extended range
One of the biggest selections Tel: 01793 854606
Donna at her crowning in 1978 with in the South West
Cheryl Hughes, Miss Thamesdown Studley Grange Garden & Leisure Park, Hay Lane, Wroughton, Swindon, Wiltshire SN4 9QT
1977. Photo: Richard Wintle Junction 16 (1/2 mile towards Wroughton) Tel: 01793 852400 • www.studleygrange.co.uk.
www.calyxpix.com
21-48 January 12.indd 23 15/12/2011 15:54