LOTS OF "GIRLS ABOUT TOWN"!

Talk about playing the game of “Sardines” - and if you don’t know how to play it, let me know!  At the beginning of the programme there were 6 “girls” in the studio and then another came, then two left and another one came - so perhaps you can work out how many were there - and that doesn’t include Shirley, the Radio Station Manager, who popped her head round the door a few times!

It was an interesting programme with the first guest, Carole Bent, seen in the right of my collage, talking about her husband and partner, David’s artwork.  David is a leading modern aviation artist, now living in Swindon, where I understand they have a rocket in their garden (better try and Blip that sometime) and he was first invited to collaborate with the Red Arrows in 2006 - and who doesn’t enjoy watching the wonderful Red Arrows perform? If you want to see more of David’s diverse work you can find it on his website here.

It was very interesting listening to Carole, who was very enthusiastic about an initiative called "STEM TO STEAM" - the belief that while STEM subjects - science, technology, engineering and mathematics - are valuable, there should also be place among them for the arts - hence STEM TO STEAM.  Carole spoke about creativity not only in the arts, but also in business, which I could relate to, as I always felt during my working life that producing a report, not only containing essential information, but that looked visually pleasing, was very important.

There will be an exhibition of a number of David’s paintings from his wider work at our local Museum and Art Gallery from 21st March until 1st June with a talk entitled “Out of the Box” by David on the 23rd May - so I must make a note in my diary to attend that and actually meet the artist and hopefully meet Carole again.

For the second hour, the special guest was Michelle Leighton, bottom left in the collage, who is a Manager involved in the Brighter Futures Campaign in Swindon.  This is the registered charity of Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and supports services at that hospital in Swindon and various other sites across Wiltshire, aiming to raise funds to provide excellent care to hospital patients.

Just a couple of weeks ago, we learned that the target of £2.9 million had been raised by thousands of fundraisers in Swindon and surrounding areas - a wonderful achievement - for the provision of a radiotherapy facility to be based in Swindon.  This will mean that cancer patients won’t have to travel to Oxford, Bath or Cheltenham for treatment.  I remember Mr. HCB taking his mother to Oxford for radiotherapy almost twenty five years ago, after she had had a mastectomy and the distress it caused her at the time, so not having to travel long distances will be a major step forward for patients requiring radiotherapy.  Michelle told listeners that it is hoped that construction of the new unit will begin later in 2019. 

Michelle also told us about several other fun events that will be happening during 2019, so there is lots going on in Swindon.

Another good morning with lots of chat between the “girls” while the songs were being played.  Some of you will be wondering where the Percy Pig gummy sweets fit into our morning - they were brought in as a gift for us by Carole - and it seemed that just as someone popped one into her mouth, Jo asked a question that needed to be answered!  Although Angela was caught out, I managed to swallow mine quickly but we eventually persuaded Vikki to take the remaining gummy pigs home for her son, Morgan, who also works at the Radio Station - so it was only fair to share them with him.

I couldn't choose between these two quotes!

“You can’t use up creativity - 
     the more you use,
          the more you have.”
Maya Angelou

“Creativity is as important
     as literacy.”
Sir Ken Robinson