Archive
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An inspiration to everyone
Abigail Taylor-Silk is one of the bravest people you'll ever come across. She is battling cancer with a smile on her face and she's not even 13 yet. It is the courage of people like Abigail which makes our campaign to raise money for Macmillan so worthwhile
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New freedom for employees can mean a headache for employers
As of April 6, parents of young children will legally be entitled to request working hours that allow them to balance the daily demands of office and family life. Employment law specialist Paul Archer considers what effect this new legislation will have
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So, Just how good are you?
I am a company director, therefore I am Isn't that how it so often works? Barking decisions from behind an acreage-sized desk, yet never actually taking the time to wonder if you really are as good as your letterhead says you must be. If that's the case
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War protesters go on the march
MARCH 28: HUNDREDS of Wiltshire peace protesters have taken part in demonstrations against the war in Iraq. Members of anti war coalition groups and schoolchildren were just some of the people voicing their concerns about the conflict. Protesters have
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Fostering brings its own rewards
CARE FEATURE: Huguette Potten could not have children herself - but by becoming a foster parent she has been a mother to more than 47. The 63-year-old from Grange Park found out about fostering through an advert on TV. She expected it to involve two-
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Peace protest staged on bridge
ANTI-WAR protesters draped a banner over a major road into Swindon at the weekend. Members of the Swindon Stop The War Coalition posted the flag above the southbound carriageway of the A419 at a bridge near Cricklade. The banner read "Say No to Bush and
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Canoeists show off grant loot
A CANOE club is to show off new equipment it has bought with a £4,900 Lottery grant. Highworth Canoe Club will hold an exhibition on Saturday in the Market Square from 9am until noon. Club treasurer Roger Guy said: "The purpose of the display is to inform
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Happy birthday brunel rooms!
GLAMOUR model Jordan joined revellers at the Brunel Rooms to celebrate the club's 30th birthday. She appeared on stage during an evening in which clubbers enjoyed a mix of current dance tracks with hits from the 1980s. The retro music was played by BBC
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Chasers can't keep heat on
LEADERS Shrewton United were the real winners from the top clash in Premier Division between Stratton Crosslink and Wroughton, as the title-chasers played out a 1-1draw. It was a massive clash for both Stratton and Wroughton, sitting in second and third
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Rock-bottom Devizes Town face to face with the drop
DEVIZES are staring down the relegation barrel after another sorry showing against lowly rivals Barnstaple. The cash-strapped strugglers slumped to a 4-0 defeat in Devon leaving them rock bottom in the Premier Division. Manager Pete Tripp admitted that
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Not frightened for the future
SWINDON CANCER APPEAL: Last week, we launched the Swindon Cancer Appeal to raise £600,000 for Macmillan - enough money to fund two Macmillan nurses for the Great Western Hospital and a consultant in cancer care for three years. Today, 12-year-old Abigail
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Free drop-in workshops
Free drop-in workshops are available at the Pinehurst People's Centre in Olive Grove during term time. Classes are held from 1pm until 4pm and from 5.30pm until 8.30pm on Wednesdays and on Thursdays from 10am until 3pm. Call Tony Hillier on Swindon 512446
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Council in green deal on energy
Wiltshire County Council is save itself £150,000 per year by entering a green energy contract. The new agreement means the council will be able to buy a greater proportion of its energy from renewable sources, helping to reduce emissions and save the
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First Great Western to raise some fares in May
TRAIN operator First Great Western is increasing some of its fares by an average of nearly two per cent from May. The company, which runs services through Swindon on their way between London Paddington and the South West and Wales, says the fare increases
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Mamiko opens village's community store
BLUNSDON'S new village shop has been officially opened by a 10-year-old schoolgirl. Local people gathered in the village hall's car park to watch Mamika Mori unveil the shop sign and hear her give a short speech. Mamika had won a competition held at Blunsdon
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Constabulary history talk
THE history of Swindon's police force will be outlined at a talk organised by the Swindon Society. Perry Barrett will be giving the illustrated lecture, called the History of Swindon Constabulary, at the Broad Green Community Centre on April 9. The talk
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School to open its gardens
GARDENS which have remained unchanged since their establishment in the 19th century have been opened to the public for the first time. Westonbirt School, an independent boarding and day school for girls in Gloucestershire, will be opening its grounds.
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What it costs to place a child
CARE FEATURE: The Swindon Council housing and social services department budget for the last financial year was £31.2 million, but it has gone over that figure by £738,000 - almost entirely because of the increasing number of children in care. Part of
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Nice for some
IT was nice to see that Deirdre Vincent was happy with her service from the new state of the art Great Western Hospital. But would she be so proud if she had, like myself, had to spend 60 hours on a trolley waiting for a bed? I never did get to find out
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Unfair rent hike
SOME of the most vulnerable people are those with the Homeline. The cost of the homeline has increased by 5.2 per cent and this is understandable. The average rent has increased by 3.84 per cent. But the people receiving the Homeline their rent has increased
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Tell the truth
I read with interest the various letters about Swindon's road junctions, traffic lights etc. I often wonder why the people responsible for planning these things don't just admit that they have a deliberate policy of frustrating the traffic as much as
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Roll up for the new attraction
I AM writing in response to all the outraged letters concerning the large percentage increase in council tax for the Swindon area and in defence of the increase made by the council. One only has to walk down Shaftesbury Avenue, Park South to witness and
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The best support is an immediate withdrawal
SHAME on Des Morgan, anti-war views do not automatically become invalid and censorable the moment hostilities commence (Letters, 26/3/03). Sid Walker and Allan Thipthorne have made their points admirably, honestly, and with no pretence of speaking for
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I'm prepared to fight . . . and die
In reply to yet another reply to my original letter (dated February 21), A Thipthorpe (letter dated March 21) made a comment saying that I should go and fight the war myself and also said that I should switch my brain on before putting pen to paper. I
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We must do all we can to help
MOST people who have been brought up in a care home will tell you that, given the opportunity, they would have been much happier living with parents. But given that these homes are a necessary evil it is essential that they are run with all the love,
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Commit future or go!
BIRTHDAY boy Danny Invincible was among those facing a 'don't stay and you don't play' ultimatum from Andy King today. The Town striker, 24, has been the subject of intense speculation and the County Ground boss wants to know whether the player intends
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Canoeists show off grant loot
A CANOE club is to show off new equipment it has bought with a £4,900 Lottery grant. Highworth Canoe Club will hold an exhibition on Saturday in the Market Square from 9am until noon. Club treasurer Roger Guy said: "The purpose of the display is to inform
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Get to grips with these workplace dilemmas
So just how good a director are you? See for yourself. Each question has three possible answers or courses of action to choose from (these can be viewed by logging on to BLBW's website). So you're the Big Cheese what would you do? 1) Your business has
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Peace protest staged on bridge
MARCH 31: ANTI-WAR protesters draped a banner over a major road into Swindon at the weekend. Members of the Swindon Stop The War Coalition posted the flag above the southbound carriageway of the A419 at a bridge near Cricklade. The banner read "Say No
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Council in green deal on energy
Wiltshire County Council is save itself £150,000 per year by entering a green energy contract. The new agreement means the council will be able to buy a greater proportion of its energy from renewable sources, helping to reduce emissions and save the
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First Great Western to raise some fares in May
TRAIN operator First Great Western is increasing some of its fares by an average of nearly two per cent from May. The company, which runs services through Swindon on their way between London Paddington and the South West and Wales, says the fare increases
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Childcare improved a lot since 20 years ago
CARE FEATURE: Laura Patterson spent three years in children's homes when her mother died of cancer. She says her experience was not a happy one and that she witnessed bullying and sexual abuse. It was because of this that she became determined to give
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Childcare workers are rewarded at ceremony
MORE than 100 childcare workers and their families gathered at the Wyvern Theatre for an awards ceremony. Swindon Council's Early Years Partnership arranged the ceremony to celebrate the achievements of staff who secured childcare qualifications last
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Reality TV bites for young chef
A TEENAGE chef is set to appear on a new reality TV show. Shaun Dickens, 18, from Wanborough, is one of six young cooks who will be thrown in at the deep end at top London restaurant The Green. The show - Yes Chef - is being produced by Endemol, which
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Women is victimm of sex attack in alleyway
A 26-year-old woman suffered a serious indecent assault after being dragged into an alleyway in Swindon town centre. The victim was walking home and her route took her along Regent Street, Havelock Street, Commercial Road and Dowling Street. She became
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New home, new hope
The number of children looked after by Swindon Council has risen dramatically in the last two years, and the authority aims to replace an obsolete home with two new ones. CARE homes have acquired a bad reputation. Today they are seen as a last resort
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Swindon cling on for victory
A HAT-TRICK of tries from Swindon's powerful inside centre Paul Wakefield set up a deserved victory against Buckingham. The game started at a frantic pace which suited Buckingham's style of play as they used their quick wings and full-backs to good effect
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Fulham win epic clash
FULHAM lifted the FA Women's League Cup yesterday as more than 2,000 fans at the County Ground illustrated why football is now the most popular sport in the land among females. The Sky Sports cameras were in Wiltshire as viewers at home and the 2,220-
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Eight Shrewton stars in Wilts squad
Eight Shrewton United players have been selected for the Skurrays Wiltshire League representative team to face Dorset Premier Division representative side tomorrow. The game is at Shaftesbury Football Club, kick-off 7.45pm. Wiltshire squad: Mike Ball
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Vale contain title hunters
Pewsey Vale turned in one of their best performances of the season to hold second-placed Carterton Town. Manager Steve Wootten was delighted with his side, saying: "We had the better of the chances in the first-half and could well have gone in at the
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Ciren beaten in insipid fashion
CIRENCESTER were beaten 1-0 by visiting Solihull Borough in a meaningless end-of-season clash. Matt Lewis' 11th-minute volley was enough to seal Ciren's fate in a deeply uninspiring contest. Dave Haywood skipped beyond the Centurions' defence and fired
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Gee gives Marine fresh hope
SWINDON SUPERMARINE are on course to pull off another great escape after a 1-0 victory at chief relegation rivals Rocester. Dave Gee scored the all important goal after just three minutes leaving Ray Baverstock's side 87 minutes to hang on. But it was
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Charlie shows his worth as Town return to winning ways
TRANSFER-LISTED Charlie Griffin gave potential buyers something to think about as Chippenham Town finally stopped the rot. The up-for-sale striker hit the decisive second as the Bluebirds ended their three-match losing streak with a 2-0 home victory over
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Roundabout opens early
A NEW roundabout on one of the major routes into and out of Swindon has been completed ahead of schedule. The roundabout has been built at the Stanford Road junction of the A420 Oxford road near Faringdon, to improve road safety and reduce congestion
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Working men's club to hold open day to unveil its new image
ONE of Swindon's oldest working men's clubs is set to launch three new business ventures including an internet cafe a bid to put itself on a better financial footing. The Milton Club in Milton Road near the town centre was on the brink of closure in 1999
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This council tax firm is no improvement
A PENSIONER who says he was wrongly taken to court by former council contractor WS Atkins claims the new firm collecting council tax in Swindon is no better. WS Atkins agreed to sever its £2m-a-year contract to manage council tax benefits and collection
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Man in court for indecency at checkouts
SHOPPER Patrick Bennett traumatised female checkout operators by committing indecent acts at Swindon supermarkets, a court heard. The 61-year-old, of Kent Road, Old Town, exposed himself at a checkout at Sainsbury's in Bridge-mead on Christmas Eve, as
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Officers here would not back the idea of being armed
ONCE the guns have been handed in by the people, should Swindon police be authorised to carry them? Phil Davenport, of Wiltshire Police Federation says the issue is open for debate. He hopes he doesn't see the day when all officers are armed, rather than
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Police amnesty to gather illegal guns
OWNERS of illegal guns in Swindon are getting the chance to turn the weapons over to police. A national firearms amnesty beginning today and running until April 30 enables people to hand in guns and ammunition without being prosecuted for illegal possession
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Warming advice
I MISSED seeing Mr Obourne's letter concerning his frustration at people who leave their engines running during cold spells but I would like to answer Stephen Pill's long letter in the Evening Advertiser. Some years ago my national company instructed
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The road is calm . . . but we're not!
St Paul's Drive has recently been vandalised in the name of traffic calming. It has worked well, up to a point, depending on how one sees it. The road is very calm, it just sort of lays there. Unfortunately it appears to have had the reverse effect on
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No prayers for Bush
WE are informed President Bush is sane; and that Iraqi oil is for the benefit of the Iraqi people, and not for American consumption. Fair enough. We are told missiles are guided (unlike the flying bombs of WW2), and that bombs used are clever, ie they
