Jamie:
I'm Jamie from Winton Town Council.
Jamie:
As you know, we're consulting local people about possible improvements to the town, and I believe you've offered to talk to us.
Jamie:
We want to make sure we talk to a wide range of people, so could we start with some background information about you, please?
Jamie:
I think I can tell from your accent that you're South African.
Jamie:
So, do you speak any languages other than English?
Eve:
I can speak Afrikaans, and I've learned a little Xhosa.
Jamie:
Sorry, how's that spelt?
Eve:
It's another of the languages of South Africa.
Jamie:
When did you move to the UK?
Eve:
I came here to study.
Jamie:
And did you move to Winton when you finished?
Eve:
Not immediately, let me think.
Eve:
My husband and I moved here when we'd been married four years, and it'll soon be our 15th anniversary.
Jamie:
So you've lived in the town for 11 years?
Jamie:
And do you have any children?
Eve:
A daughter of 13, and twin sons, who are 12.
Jamie:
And what's your address?
Eve:
We've just moved to the centre, 54 High Street.
Jamie:
Do you have a job?
Eve:
Yes, I'm a dentist, and my husband's a chef, so we're both pretty busy most of the time.
Jamie:
And what are your main leisure activities?
Eve:
I don't get much free time, but I do belong to a gym, and try to go there at least once a week.
Jamie:
Now, let's go on to improvements to the town.
Jamie:
Is there anything in particular that you're concerned about?
Eve:
What worries me most is the danger of flooding.
Eve:
The level of the river was very high several times last winter, and I'm sure the defences aren't adequate.
Jamie:
That's something a number of people have mentioned.
Jamie:
We'll certainly act on that.
Eve:
Then it seems to me a lot of elderly people living alone don't have much social contact.
Eve:
I know there are day centres where they can get together, but I wonder if there could be activities for people of all ages to meet.
Jamie:
That's an interesting idea.
Eve:
Though I'm not sure how to do it, but if you take existing clubs, theoretically they're open to anyone, but in practice they tend to have nearly all middle-aged people, or nearly all young people.
Jamie:
So maybe something like a cookery course, where participants take turns to teach the others what they know, rather than an expert teaching everyone.
Eve:
Another thing I wondered about is that everyone in my family has got lots of books that we're unlikely to read again, so it seems a shame that they're just sitting on shelves.
Eve:
It would be good if there could be some form of library consisting of books donated by local people and run by volunteers.
Jamie:
I've heard about that sort of thing being set up in other places.
Eve:
I think that's all I've got to suggest.
Jamie:
Well, thank you very much, Eve.
Jamie:
The Council will be looking into everyone's suggestions and publicising what it decides to do.
