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Swindon Bowl concerts in Old Town are back with a great line-up                                                                   Swindon Town Centre
           Saturday 25 May: Silent Disco. Headphone disco,                          classics, from his 70s hits such as Love Really Hurts
           headphone party… whatever you call them, it’s a                          and Red Light to the 80s mega hits of Caribbean
           pretty simple idea. Replacing the traditional speakers                   Queen and When The Going Gets Tough. Advance                                    www.swindontowncentre.co.uk                                     May 2013
           on either side of the stage, everyone gets wireless                      tickets £20 and £25 on the gate. Children: £5.
           headphones and two live DJs play to the crowd with                       Saturday 13 July: Ali Campbell’s UB40. The ex-UB40                                                                                     For Business
           individuals deciding which they listen to. Tickets are                   frontman has been touring Australia, Europe and   Gardening in Swindon
           £10 and £12 on the gate                                                                                                                                                                                         For Shopping
                                                                                    Africa, and will bring  to Swindon his recognisable
           Saturday 15 June: Billy Ocean. With 30 million record                    and infectious vocals on classics such as One in Ten,                                                                                  For Leisure
           sales to his name, Billy is Britain’s most successful                    Red Red Wine, Don’t Break My Heart, and Can’t Help   our top 5 tips this spring!
           black recording star.                                                    Falling In Love.  Advance tickets £20 and £25 on the
             He recently went into the studio with old collabo-                     gate. Children: £5.                                                                                                            Inside
           rator Barry Eastmond to record a new album and                           Retro Fever: Saturday 3 August. The Real Thing,   With the weather beginning to change it’s
           Swindon may hear some of the songs for the first time, as well as his timeless
                                                                  Alvin Stardust and Heatwave will get the joint jumping.         time to get out in the back garden and tidy                                       this edition...
             Let Jan help you get what you write right             The Real Thing, the UK’s No.1 soul band celebrates an incredible 40 years on   up after the bitterly cold winter. Here are
           With  over  20  years’  written  communications  experience  Jan  Webb  of   the road performing million selling hits, including You to Me Are Everything,   some tips to help you make the most of
                                                                                                                                  the longer days; where to purchase some
           Swindon-based Untangling the Web is just the person to help with writing   Can’t Get By Without You and Can You Feel The Force?
           promotional copy for your business, proof-reading your student thesis or   Alvin Stardust, described by Keith Richards as ‘The Godfather of British rock   accessories and look forward to a garden to
                                                                                                                                  be proud of for the coming year.
           helping put together a eulogy for a funeral and a formal speech.  and roll’ continues at the cutting edge of his profession. Remember My Coo
             Commenting on one of her biggest  one  they  can  call  on  as  and  when.   Ca Choo, Jealous Mind, You, You, You and Red Dress.  Clean up
                                                                   Heatwave’s hits like Mind Blowing Decisions, Boogie Nights and the all-time
           bug-bears Jan said: “Research shows  Written  communication  is  often   classics Always and Forever can’t be missed live. Advance tickets £15 and on   Whether  you’re  a  keen  gardener  or  a
           that people are put off making pur-  something people know they need to   the gate, £17.50. Children: £5.              complete novice, all gardens need a good
           chases when things are badly spelt in  do but just don’t get round to because                                          tidy up after the winter months. Tackle any
           a shop or online. I can help companies  there are so many other jobs to do in   Bowl concerts have an intimate feel. The crowd can’t fail to be infected by   young weeds that are starting to appear   p2
           make sure that all their website con-  the business. ”  the fun so close to the performers.  The concerts are unseated but people   as  the  weather  gets  warmer,  and  mulch
           tent, leaflets and signage is perfectly   As the end of the academic year   can bring folding chairs, blankets, rugs and cushions, as well as food and soft   with compost or manure - this preparation   Armed Forces Day
           presented  with  no  irritating  occur-  approaches, Jan is offering students   drinks in sealed bottles or cans. A reasonably priced bar will be available, but   will pay dividends in a couple of months
           rences of ‘greengrocers apostrophe’s!’ a 15 per cent discount on her proof-  no alcohol can be brought into the venue.    when you’re ready to sow seeds and start
             “Many  companies  can’t  afford  to  reading services to made sure theses   For tickets details call the Swindon Arts Centre box office on 01793 614837,   planting.  We  recommend  getting  a  good
           employ a full time copy writer so it  don’t lose marks. See the advert on   Monday to Friday, 12noon to 5pm; Saturday 10am to 1pm. Or buy online at   rake and shovel. Cargo and House of Fraser
           makes sense for them to have some-  page 28 for contact details.  www.wegottickets.com                                 in The Brunel have a great selection - or pop
                                                                                                                                  to Argos for a bargain set!
                                                                           From Swindon to Hollywood!
                                         Swindon                  Among the many established and international authors at this year’s Swin-  Clear paths of moss, lichen and weeds
                                                                                                                                  It’s a back-breaking job that no-one wants
                                                                  don Festival of Literature, there will be one newly-published from Old Town.
                                         Bowl Concerts             On Friday 10 May, 7.30pm, at                                   to do, particularly when it’s cold and wet                                       p3
                                         Town Gardens, Quarry Road,   The Platform in Faringdon Road,                             outside;  as  the  weather  warms  up,  get                                     The Royal Ballet
                                         Swindon SN1 4EN          writer  Hilda  Sheehan  will  be                                outside and get scrubbing! You’ll need: a
                                                                  celebrating  publication  of  her                               good stiff brush and a bucket of salted boiling
                                                                  own book of poetry, The Night                                   water. Tip: Salted water is an environmentally
               Saturday 25 May, 7.30pm                            My Sister Went to Hollywood.                                    and  pet  friendly  alternative  to  weed
                                                                   Hilda’s  lively,  entertaining,                                killer.  BHS  down  at  The  Parade
                                                                  and  accessible  poems  cover                                   and Debenhams have gardening
                                                                  themes of love, classic movies,                                 tools, and we suggest a visit to
               Two DJs, two music vibes, one set of wireless      supermarket  shopping,  and                                     Wikinson’s to pick-up a bucket
               headphones and a whole bunch of madness.           seals in bathtub next door.                                     and gloves.
               Headphones at the ready – its battle of the DJs.    Festival director Matt Holland                                                                                                                   p4
                                                                  said: “Hilda  Sheehan’s  poems                                  Plant trees and shrubs
               Tickets available from the Arts Centre Box Office, 01793 614837   bristle with the stuff of life, es-              If you didn’t get round to planting                                              May Bank Holiday
               or online at www.swindon.gov.uk/bowlconcerts       pecially a woman’s life. She says                               the  shrubs  and  trees  you  wanted  to
               Tickets: Advance £10, On the day £12               things that help us lament, see,   Hilda with her self-made poetry mannequin  during autumn, the ground should be free
                                                                  and celebrate what’s both tricky
               Age: 16+  Please bring ID                          and best in life.”         artist Jill Carter.                  from all the ground frosts (and therefore
                                                                   On 10 May Hilda will be joined by   Tickets for the evening are avail-  soft enough) for you to do so now. Spring   what make and model you should purchase   and there’s little chance of frost damage.
                                                                                                                                  is  a  great  time  to  get  plants,  trees  and
                                                                                                                                                                       as different lawns will need different blades.
                                                                                                                                                                                                            Top tip: When planting bulbs, always wrap
                                                                  poet  Robert  Vas  Dias,  international  able  from  Swindon  Central  Library   shrubs fully established before winter comes   Plus you’ll have to decide whether you want   each one in a thin layer of steel wool to keep
                                                                  pianist  Dorothea  Van  De  Veld  and  on 01793 566454.
                                                                                                                                  around again.                        an electric lawnmower, petrol-powered or a   them safe from animals that like to dig!
                                                                           Thriving writers’ scene in Swindon                                                          simple hand-pushed model.
                                                                  In 2006 Hilda teamed up with Matt Holland to start the monthly Writers’   Cut the grass                                                   BBQ time!
                                                                  Café at Lower Shaw Farm which has spawned a Writers’ Kitchen, a thriving   It’s time to dust off the mower in mid spring   Sow summer plants  If we are really lucky, we may just get a
                                                                  poetry society, BlueGate Poets, a Young Writers Groups, Mum’s the Word and   and give the grass a regular mow, weed and   Sow summer bedding plants like marigolds   spot of sun to get a BBQ on the go! Visit
                   @swindonbowl   Swindon Bowl Concerts           regular open mic nights.                                        feed. Dads, this is the perfect excuse to buy   and  busy  lizzies  indoors  in  early  spring.   Mike Mcguire’s Butchers based on Havelock
                                                                   Last year, together with writer Michael Scott, they launched the first Swindon   yourself a new lawn mower - head to Argos   These can be moved outdoors in late spring/  Street for a great selection of meats to get
                                                                  Festival of Poetry, to be repeated in October.                  for a selection. Our top tip is to ask advice on   early summer once the weather warms up   your taste buds going!
                                                                   Find out more about local writing and reading activities at www.swindona-  For all the latest news and events visit www.swindontowncentre.co.uk 1
                                                                  rtswords.blogspot.co.uk or mail Hilda: [email protected]
           22 swindonlink.com • May 2013



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