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Community News

Pride winners gather for plaque unveiling Royal British Legion launch national

Winners of this year’s Pride of campaign for Somme commemorations
Swindon awards gathered on
Wednesday 13 April for the
unveiling of a plaque in their honour
at Central Library.
The award winners were
announced at a ceremony in March
giving recognition to a host of the Swindon Mayor Andrew Bennett
town’s unsung heroes. As well as unveils the plaque The Royal British Legion has of friends, colleagues, neighbours
receiving a special commemorative launched an ambitious programme and sports teams signed up to fight
Brunel badge they are also representatives from across the calling on communities across together. Over the four and half
recognised on the permanent plaque town and they are sponsored by Britain to commemorate 100 years months of bloody fighting, more
at the library. Excalibur and Positive Media Group since the Battle of the Somme, from than 1,000,000 men were wounded
The annual awards are judged as well as Swindon Advertiser, Intel, 1 July to 18 November 2016. or killed.
by community and business Zurich, Nationwide and McDonalds. More than one hundred soldiers To help people hold
from Swindon are commemorated commemorative events the Legion
Janet’s RAF charity fundraiser on the towering Commonwealth has created a free toolkit in
War Graves memorial at Thiepval
hardcopy and digital download.
Puppy which records the names of men The kit features a range of items
who fell but were never found to
to support people to host public
Skool be buried. Ninety five per cent were events or take a personal moment
employees of the GWR Works. of reflection.
Have fun teaching your dog
good manners and behaviour People are being encouraged to Complementing the toolkit, the
at one of our friendly classes A fundraising coffee morning for organise commemorative events, Legion has partnered with Ballista
3 Playskool class for puppies The Wings Appeal will be held on such as a Ride to the Somme Media and historian Dan Snow to
3 Adult beginners/improvers Saturday 7 May at the RAFA Club, initiative, to remember those who create a free mobile and tablet
3 Senior Skool/advanced classes Belle Vue Road in Old Town from made the ultimate sacrifice, one app featuring over 250 pieces of
3 One to one advice & training 10.30am to 1.30pm. of the darkest chapters in British multimedia content which bring to
3 Fun agility workshops The Wings Appeal is the fund- military history, during the second life key moments from the battle.
www.janetspuppyskool.co.uk raising arm of the Royal Air Force
APDT Member (01066) Association and raises vital funds year of World War I. For more information, visit:
www.britishlegion.org.uk
Ride to the Somme is a three day
Janet Garrett DipCABT (QCF-Level 4) to support serving and ex-RAF cycle ride over 200 miles which will l A seven foot cross of
Tel: 01793 727158 personnel and their families, culminate with paying respects at remembrance is being created from
[email protected] whenever they are in need. The Memorial to the Missing of the battlefield finds in preparation for
Somme at Thiepval, which lists the the centenary of the Battle of the
72,195 missing British and African Somme. It has been commissioned
soldiers who have no known grave. by Mike Pringle of Swindon
Riders will also pay specific respects Heritage who designed and
to members of the Army Cycling provided the materials. It is being
Corps who are commemorated at built by Wootton Bassett’s Stainless
Pet Boarding, Dog Day Care and shop the nearby cemetery in Pozieres. Supplies. Mr Pringle said: “We are
supplying Quality Food, Toys and Equipment The impact of the Battle of the hoping to get the cross sited as part
Somme was felt heavily on a local of the Somme commemorations in a
level because of the introduction of high footfall area of Swindon.” Full
the ‘Pals battalions’, where groups story next month.
Hop, Skip and Jump celebrate five years of
We at Barkimber have a strong passion for the welfare and happiness of all our guests supporting children in need
and we believe that their holiday should be at least as much fun as yours!
Barkimber Pet Care, 7 Packhorse Lane, Purton, Swindon, Wiltshire SN5 4HU The Hop, Skip and Jump Foundation said: “Our close work with social
Tel: 01793 771285 • E:mail: [email protected] are celebrating their fifth year of services and the Swindon Cares
operation in 2016, and praised their group gives us a high profile in the
partnership with the Swindon Cares local community. Many services will
group at a launch event in April. recommend people to us if they feel
The foundation provides support to we can be of value to them.
children with any additional need, “We have the only immediate
from complex physical conditions mental care facilities outside of A&E
to special educational needs and in the county at our Upper Shaw
behavioural problems. They offer Ridge Farm centre.
targeted therapy sessions such as “We also work closely with
after school care, weekend respite, families of convicted criminals who
teens and twenties clubs and more are from Swindon, helping to deal
to families and young people in the with the unique challenges this
community. situation creates.”
Hop, Skip and Jump’s aim is to It was announced at the Swindon
avoid family breakdown, allowing Cares launch meeting that Hop,
parents and carers some time away Skip and Jump will again be the
from their full time responsibilities. nominated charity for the group,
The Rev. Celia Carter MBE, benefiting from over £18,000 raised
chairman of Hop, Skip and Jump, last year alone.
10 swindonlink.com n May 2016