The Vault Bar Lounge – at LAST I’ve managed to pay a visit. It’s been on my ‘must try’ list for quite some time now. Indeed there’s been a couple (at least) of almost-but-not-quite visits when ill-health or other circs intruded. But last night, with a group of gals celebrating the birthday of one of our number, I made it. Yay!
The portal to cocktail cornucopia – AKA The Vault Bar Lounge
I won’t lie – in the main I’m more about the wine and Champagne than cocktails. I’m not at all keen on a fair number of cocktail ingredients. That said, it’s possible to persuade me to imbibe an alcoholic cocktail concoction once in a while. And my Mojito was rather delicious and did slide down rather fast …
No idea why I’m looking so grumpy. That’s better. I’m smiling now. Must be the Mojito magic! 😉
The bar at The Vault Bar LoungeDoor with spinning vault door handle The elephant in the roomNeon The Vault sign
Location, location, location
Returning to their website:
‘ … Now Swindon has its very own ‘hidden bar’, in this case housed in the vault of the old post office building in Victoria Road, and named, you guessed it, The Vault!’
The place isn’t big so I’d say booking is advisable – on the weekend in particular. However if a Thursday Tequila Slammer won’t wait, I imagine you could slide in the door and slide onto a stool at 6pm with no problem.
For another cool cocktail venue and also a hidden-in-the-style-of-the-speakeasy bar – check this out in the sadly neglected Swindon in 50 Drinks series.
RPA Celebrates Ofsted Compliance. With great delight RPA (Revolution Performing Arts) announces that its club at St. Bartholomew’s C of E School in Royal Wootton Bassett has succeeding in meeting all Ofsted compliance criteria.
In a shift away from the traditional grading system, Ofsted now acknowledges compliance with specific criteria. And to RPA’s great joy they’ve earned this recognition.Â
Fi Da Silva Adams, the visionary founder of RPA, said, ‘I’m so delighted that our club at St. Bartholomew’s School has got recognition for meeting all Ofsted’s compliance standards. This achievement reflects the heart and soul of RPA – my mission. It being to ensure every child, regardless of background or circumstance, has the chance to shine in a safe and nurturing environment.’
RPA Celebrates Ofsted Compliance – Fi Da Silva Adams founder of revolution performing arts
A well-established organisation
Founded in 2007, Revolution Performing Arts has become one of the South West’s most respected performing arts companies for young people. RPA is proud to focus on fostering creativity, self-expression, and confidence. All without without the pressure of auditions or exams.Â
At RPA, we treat every child with warmth, respect, and inclusion. It’s all about encouraging them to express themselves and build their confidence,’ added Fi.Â
Ofsted registration
Fi chose to become Ofsted-registered on the voluntary register. Her reason being to ensure parents could access the club using childcare vouchers and tax-free childcare. Despite the cost involved she felt it essential to make performing arts accessible to all young people. Thus ensuring the exclusion of NO child due to financial circumstances.Â
The update to Ofsted’s inspection process highlights a more holistic approach to extracurricular activities. It now focuses on safeguarding, quality, and compliance. There are no formal grades assigned. But RPA’s ability to meet all the compliance criteria reflects their commitment to creating a space where children can thrive.Â
Revolution Performing Arts has its base in Swindon. RPA offers a variety of dance, drama, and singing classes for children and young people in Swindon and across North Wiltshire.Â
Spaces are available at the St. Bartholomew’s club for those who attend the school. And that’s a fantastic opportunity for local children to explore their creativity in a fun and supportive environment.Â
Swindon Growers Announce Speakers. The forthcoming Swindon Growers event will provide information and inspiration for healthy soil and nutritious food.
The Swindon Grower’s Summit is back for its third year. This year moving to Christ Church community centre in Old Town. And featuring guest speakers, expert panels, soil testing and seed swaps.
Swindon Growers Announce Speakers – the 2024 summit
When is it happening?
Saturday 12th April 11.30 am to 5.00pm
This event is a chance for everyone interested in growing, gardening, healthy soil and great food to get together, have some fun, and learn about how we can all grow healthy.
The first two keynote speakers were announced today, with confirmation of more coming soon.
The speakers named so far are:
Chris Rumming, founder of Lydiard Turkeys and a fan of organic, sustainable growing. Chris will talk about working with nature to attract wildlife.
Co-founder of Inclusive Food, Dr Lucy McCarthy. Lucy will talk about how food gets from ‘farm to fork’. And how we can promote healthy, sustainable nutrition.
Stands and a seed-swap will run throughout the all-day event, which will also feature free soil and compost testing and an expert panel to answer all your questions. A range of homemade soups will be on offer for lunch.
Swindon Growers founder Josie Slade says that the summit is becoming a special event for growers around Swindon. ‘Spring is the perfect time to get together, share ideas and learn about how we can make the most of our gardens and allotments’ she said.
‘With so many people interested in healthy eating, going organic, and homegrown, the summit is a great chance for people to share and learn. From beginners to people who have been growing for years, we’re always learning’ she added.
Jamie Carr
Leading the panel
Leading the expert panel that concludes the day, Blacklands Organics founder Jamie Carr says that events like this are a great way to bring people together. And to increase understanding of:
Organic growing
The health benefits and …
… how we can work together for a healthier and more sustainable food supply.Â
Community events like the Swindon Summit are so important in getting people together and helping people become involved and learn more’ says Carr.
Helping to connect Swindon’s many gardening, growing and allotment projects is a key aim of Swindon Growers. The summit will end with a community showcase where three local projects will talk about what they’ve achieved and how we can all get involved.
It’s always agreeable to see a drama on stage – I don’t get to do it often enough. And Peter James’ Picture You Dead at the Wyvern Theatre didn’t disappoint. For fans of noir – there’s some noir. Though not too much. A previous Peter James play I saw at the Wyvern was excellent. But there was one scene in particular that was def post-watershed stuff. And, had I been watching it on TV, I’d likely have changed the channel. Speaking of watersheds …
…You may be familiar with the character of DI Roy Grace from the hit ITV drama starring John Simm. I settled down to watch the first episode of that. And, to my utter horror found myself greeted with a scene that should have been way past the watershed. But yet somehow was way before it. And judging by the reaction on social media I wasn’t the only ‘Stunned of Swindon’ out there.
Anyway!
I mention Grace because this play is a DI Grace story. You can tell he’s the policeman thanks to the trench coat action.
What’s it all about?
Well obvs I can’t give much away about the plot as that would be spoilers. But what I can say is that, in a not dissimilar way to an artist building up a picture with layers of paint, so the tension builds on stage, drawing you in to its story centred around the dark underbelly of the art world. Fake or Fortune is child’s play compared to this.
Seemingly innocent and insignificant details that you’ll see and hear at the start of the play become consequential – even dangerous – as the play progresses.*
So, aside from DI Grace and his trusty trench-coat clad sergeant, we have a skilled art forger who’s already had a brush with the law. And a married couple who buy a painting at a car boot sale – for the frame – and end up getting much more than they bargained for. There are of course other characters but to say more about them would give too much away. And that would be un-palette-able.
On that note, I think I’ll draw the curtain on this production and say: Picture you Dead – it’s dead good. So do go!
Louise Hunt Skelley PLY, retired Paralympic wheelchair tennis player, has hosted the inaugural Inclusive Circle event at Kindred in London.
The event was a collaboration between Bullock Inclusion and EnableRise Disability Consultants. Between them they’ve launched a series of events aimed at supporting and empowering individuals with disabilities.
Louise said: ‘The Inclusive Circle is about creating opportunities for people to share knowledge and build confidence. This first event focused on travel, but the topics we’ll be covering this year are wide-ranging and vital. I’m excited for what’s to come. And to continue working with Samanta Bullock and our team to make these discussions as effective as possible,’ said Louise.
Paralympian Hosts Inclusivity Event – the inaugural Inclusive Circle event, hosted by Louise Hunt Skelley PLY (front row, second from left).
Post-retirement
After retiring from competitive sports in 2021, Louise has continued to make a significant impact in wheelchair tennis and beyond. All through her roles as an inclusivity expert and:
The Inclusive Circle provides a platform for disabled individuals to:
Share experiences
Gain expert insights
and develop practical strategies to navigate life’s challenges.
The first event focused on ‘Accessible Travel’. It addressed the challenges disabled individuals may face when travelling. The evening included a panel discussion featuring industry experts and innovators, including:
1. Jenny McLaughlin from Heathrow Airport, who showcased advancements in accessible travel.
2. Suzanne Edward from Airbnb, who shared insights on adaptive accommodations.
3. Stephanie Sheehy, who highlighted Costa Rica’s inclusive tourism initiatives.
4. Sarah Gresty from Central Saint Martins, who brought a creative perspective to the discussion.
Reflections
Reflecting on the success of the event, Louise said: ‘Accessible travel is an area where there’s still so much progress to make. The aim of this event was to provide attendees with the tools and confidence to explore the world. It was inspiring to hear the stories and advice shared on the night. And I’m delighted that so many found it helpful and engaging.’
Attendees left the event with actionable tips and strategies. And connections to others in the community.
Future events in the series will address these topics:
1. 12 March: Health and Wellbeing
2. 14 May: Sexuality and Relationships
3. 16 July: Diabetes
4.  1 October: Technology
5.     Date to confirm: Mobility Solutions
Samanta Bullock, CEO of Bullock Inclusion and co-founder of EnableRise said: ‘The Inclusive Circle gathering was a testament to the power of collaboration and shared vision. Together with our incredible panellists, we explored ideas in accessible travel. Further we celebrated the progress being made to create a more inclusive world.’
‘Events like these remind us that when we listen, learn and work together, we can break barriers and build a future where everyone belongs.’
The design of the Inclusive Circle series provides practical guidance and expert-led discussions on a range of issues affecting the disabled community. It offers insights and opportunities to connect with others. In that way the series aims to help attendees feel supported in addressing challenges and finding solutions.
EnableRise is set to make significant strides in disability advocacy, fostering a society where inclusivity and equity are at the forefront.
