It was great to be back to visit the team at Swindon Scrapstore last week. Based at Elgin Industrial Estate, Swindon Children’s Scrapstore is a registered charity and low-cost community resource centre, which has been carrying out some great work here in Swindon over the years. The Scrapstore is an Aladdin’s cave full of materials ready to stimulate your imagination. From crafts and play to office furniture and computing, there is something for everyone, so if you are looking for a rainy-day craft activity to keep your children amused over the summer, why not pay them a visit?
As we approach A Level Results Day this coming Thursday, I would like to wish good luck to all those receiving their A Level, T Level, BTEC, and AS Level results here in Swindon. If your results are better than you expected on Thursday, or as you expected, that’s great. If, however, your results are not as good as you expected, please remember that there are many other options open to you, including apprenticeships. The charity Place2Be understand the pressure that pupils may feel around exams and results and have put together a series of guides aimed at helping young people to navigate the exam season and manage their emotions during this period. These guides contain useful advice and practical tips for students, school staff, and parents/carers and can be found on the website here https://www.place2be.org.uk/exams
I was pleased to be back at Radnor Street Cemetery in Old Town on Sunday for the unveiling of a war time relic, which was in danger of being lost to the history of Swindon. Following the closure of the RAFA Club on Belle Vue Road, the propeller mounted on the front of the building faced an uncertain future. However, thanks to a group of concerned local residents who stepped in, the propellor, which has been identified as belonging to an Airspeed Oxford - a trainer for RAF bomber aircrews - has now been installed in the Cemetery Chapel and was unveiled on Sunday by Air Commodore Tony Keeling OBE, Commandant Royal Air Force Air Cadets.
The propellor is the latest in a collection of rescued and recovered war memorials to be placed in the Radnor Street Cemetery Chapel. Ten years ago, the late Mark Sutton was instrumental in seeing the Sanford Steet School War Memorial removed to the Radnor Street Cemetery Chapel from the then-empty school building where it was considered to be vulnerable. Then in 2015, a memorial to 19 Gorse Hill men who died in the First World War was rescued and placed at the chapel by Mark. In subsequent years more plaques and memorials have been taken to the Cemetery Chapel. Mark was an inspiration and a friend and will always be remembered at Radnor Street Cemetery. It is wonderful to see other local residents ensuring that his work continues.
I would like to congratulate the brilliant team at the National Self Build and Renovation Centre here in Swindon after they were shortlisted for two categories in the 2023 National Sustainability Awards, which recognises the pioneers of sustainability. The National Self Build and Renovation Centre is the UK’s only permanent venue for independent homebuilding advice and support, and I am delighted that, here in Swindon, we are again leading the way to meet the needs of individual self-builders, renovators, and home improvers in a sustainable way.
Finally, after highlighting the excellent work of the team at Swindon Children’s Scrapstore at the beginning of my column, it seems more than appropriate to make them my local charity of the week. There are many ways in which you can get involved with Swindon Children’s Scrapstore, including donating resources, volunteering, donating furniture and shopping at their town centre shop. More information can be found here https://www.scrapstore.co.uk/
