Swindon Reports
| Dragonfly Branch Report Winter 2008/9 (No.111) |
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HI Boy's and Girl's its time again to give you the feedback on all that has happened in the last three months or so. Lets start with the shop, as promised by the Swindon Council we now have all new windows in the shop and John Minns has made a new set of pictures for us. The two Keith's and I take this opportunity to clean and rethink the display material which includes the latest pictures from the completed spillway near Chaddington Lock at Wootton Bassett, What an achievement folks you must go and have a look at it. (any other branches that have new pictures of ongoing work that they would like to send us we would be grateful, remember this is your information shop as well as ours) A donation of a photo copier has also made life a lot easier for us (no need to worry Ann and Justine quite so much now) and Hilary from the Cricklade branch has been helping out in the shop as well (any more offers please) Swindon branch agreed to finance the shop for the day to day running including a £200 bill for legal fees.So we will have to push those D.V.Ds a bit harder ( now standing at nearly 500 sold.) Next Swindon 105.5 the local radio station, after my second appearance on the program Keith W and I met with Shirley at the station then with other groups at a pub, (my idea that one) we have now agreed with the station to a new schedule called Water and Wagons which will give us another way of getting our message across to the people of Swindon, I have already done the first program and by the time you read this we will be into our third one check out their web site on www.swindon1055.com for forthcoming programs on the canal. All of these programs will be sent in cassette form to the Library in Swindon so that in the years to come other generations will be able to listen to them. On the 27th of September we get a visit from a group of Councillors representing the Town of Slough ( see separate report in this edition ) To long to put in this report but a great day out for all concerned. Talks given include John at the Lydiard Twinning Association 11th September, Sue runs a display at Christ Church 13th September, Jan gives a talk to the Wiltshire Family History Society 25th September, Roy the Parkinson Disease Society 26th September Roy on a D.V.D and talk to the Haydon Wick Church Group on 9th October and Roy giving a walk through Swindon for the Devizes Walking group 17th October, also in two days from writing this Roy and Colin will be giving a talk on the 3rd December to the Lawn Ladies Group, and Colin is setting up a three Churches talk in the next month or two. Work parties and along with the usual work of keeping on top of the grass and the weeds at both Moredon and Westleaze we also now have the job of spending the £10,000 that we have been awarded by the B.B.C Breathing Spaces Grant, Ray will oversee this project and he has to get the job done and dusted before June 2009. The area Swindon side of Moredon behind the Hreod Burna School is where we will be concentrating and clearance has already begun with 150 metres of Tow Path already cleared, Ken say's we can sponsor a public event that will promote free access to the public on this nature project. The A.G.M next and a great day for Swindon, being such a large branch well over 350 members, any chance of us winning the pick of the branches ( most new members in one year ) was to say the least fanciful as it is worked out on a percentage basis but with the opening of the shop all that changed and even though we were signing up members for other branches in the shop they were predominately Swindon orientated. The pick is now proudly displayed on the shop wall for all to see. By the way did you all see the write up our new 16 page colour magazine got in the Butty, (K.& A. Canal) This is what we need more interacting with our fellow canal enthusiasts, Thanks Guy's know you will be reading this. Cricklade Branch, and Ken reported that all Cricklade members had been written to suggesting that they become part of the Swindon Branch and we all cordially agreed with that idea as long as they could reopen their branch any time they wished under the rules of the Trust. Ray offered to become their W.O.P for the Hayes Knoll Lock project and all their finances were ring fenced for Cricklade use only. With the Cricklade Country Way project joining up Swindon and Cricklade it makes sense to amalgamate the two branches as when completed you will not be able to tell which is which. Well as you can see its been a busy old quarter again for Swindon and I am sure I have left someone or something out of this report but if I have it was not intentional and I apologies in advance. It really is a problem trying to remember it all even with the excellent minutes that I have to remind me which John does with apparent ease Happy new year to you all and come and see us in the shop.
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