Page 13 - link magazine

swindonlink.com • March 2012 13
Telling the Toothill story in verse Cafe closure and opening
After nearly 9 years the volunteer
A group of children from Toothill took time out of school during February to share ideas and contribute run community cafe at Freshbrook
lines to a long poem describing their community as part of the Toothill million pound project. Community Centre has had to close
Led by poet Hilda Sheehan of that the first shop was in a hut and The Long Poem will be part of for lack of trade.
Swindon Artswords, the young- Spring is Sprung used to flower in the Swindon Festival of Literature However, because the cafe at
sters have been learning different daffodils on Great Western Way.” and performed by the young poets Toothill Community Centre is prov-
ways of describing their feelings Toothill Primary School head- at Toothill Community Centre on ing so successful, it will open on
and observations using rhyme, teacher Martyn Cowell was in- Saturday 12 May, 3pm. Wednesdays 9.30am to 1.30pm in
rhythm, word play and sounds. volved in the 1998 West Swindon • The Long Poem and the Sports addition to Mondays from 7 March.
Week, below, were funded by the Coordinator Tina Mackie said:
residents’ steering committee ad- “I’m sorry to say the number of
ministering the early stages of the users in Freshbrook dropped off
Big Lottery Big Local grant which greatly and we could not meet the
will see £1 million spent in Toothill costs of staying open.
over the next ten years. “We hope people will come up to
www.mytoothill.org.uk Toothill to enjoy tea, coffee and light
www.facebook.com/toothillmillion snacks at a good price.”

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Alicia Stacey and Jake Mills finding out about the area from Jean Carey
The children from Toothill, Oli- Long Poem. He said: “It’s been
ver Tomkins and Westlea primary wonderful to see the children from
schools and Lydiard Park Academy different schools working together. Emma Triplett
also made of walking tours of the When I have been fortunate enough Clinical Hypnotherapist
area to stimulate their ideas. to drop into workshops there has
At Toothill Lunch Club they always been a buzz in the room DHP HPD AfSFH LAPHP GHR Reg
talked to members about the history and the children have talked Old Town Hypnotherapy
of Toothill, including Jean Carey, 96, enthusiastically about the places
possibly the oldest resident, who which impact on their daily lives; For info & costs visit www.oldtownhypnotherapy.co.uk
arrived in 1977. the poem will present a unique
Jean said: “It’s over thirty years micro-history of the area which
since some of us arrived and there everybody will enjoy.“
have been so many changes in Poet leader Hilda Sheehan added: Foresight Wills
Toothill. It’s nice to know that “This project has been about much
children want to find out what it more than writing a poem. The Protect the ones you love
was like in the early days.” experiences for everyone involved
Annabel Tilling said meeting have had surprising outcomes. The
older folk gave the group ideas people and places we have met
for the poem. “It was interesting along the way has brought about
to talk with people who have been fresh insights and knowledge of
here a long time. One person had Toothill’s environment and its
cows grazing in the field next to her people, both young and old, getting
house until the bulldozers moved in together and sharing a dialogue of

to build more houses. They told us ideas, aspirations and dreams.”

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FORESIGHT WILLS
Children at Toothill Primary School enjoyed a half term week of sports First Floor, 32 – 33 Commercial Road,
and fitness games with the SuperSportsStars team of qualified coaches Swindon, Wiltshire, SN1 5NS
Tel: 01793 433705
in February. There were also arts and crafts activities and discussions www.foresightwills.com
about the Big Lottery Toothill million.

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