Archive
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Our beautiful, bonny babes
WE were amazed by the response to our Baby of the Year competition. Today we bring you the winner, Lauren Henly, who again beat more than 600 entries to retain the title she won last year. We hope you have enjoyed the competition. But we also hope you
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Legal eagles
COLUMN: Problems with the neighbours? Arguments with your employer? Differences with your ex-wife or husband? Paula Hillman, of Metcalfes Solicitors, will answer all your legal queries. Whatever your legal headache or nightmare, send your questions to
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It's a student's life
Love 'em or loathe 'em, students are part of the rich tapestry that is Bath life. This week, local student Richard Diggle will examine the ugly truths surrounding Christmas and the mass exodus home after months of carefree campus life. Well it's that
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Aloha Allotment with Joanne Weston
COLUMN: CHRISTMAS is such a magical time of the year. The fun, parties, presents and parsnips. Yes, parsnips. After all, allotments aren't just for the summer. Cabbages, Brussel sprouts, carrots, parsnips, swede, onions and potatoes all mine, all free
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News tape is still a hit
A TALKING newspaper that serves blind and partially sighted people in the Keynsham area has just celebrated its 18th birthday. The Keynsham and District Talking Newspaper began operations in the autumn of 1983 and is now distributed to hundreds of people
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Everything you need
THEY can fill cars with all manner of hi-tech gadgetry sat nav, air con, adjustable mirrors, and push buttons for everything. But here's something that makes them all forgettable. And really it's quite inexpensive a bit like the simple little plastic
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Breakfast club nets charities £2,500
The Swindon Businesswomen's Breakfast Club has raised £2,500 for Breakthrough for Breast Cancer and the Well Woman Centre. This year there was no big event, just the efforts of the club members. Club members were set challenges which involved taking part
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Zurich's tally is a magnificent seven
Zurich Financial Services is celebrating after sweeping the boards at the annual Insurance Industry Awards, the financial services Oscars. They won seven awards, including the General Insurer of the Year award for the second year. Chief executive, Patrick
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The end?
MOTOROLA today announced 9,400 job losses worldwide, casting more doubt on the future of the company in Swindon. Workers at its sites in Groundwell and Blagrove were being informed about the cuts at special hearings. They were expected to be told that
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Cup on show
The people of Cirencester will have the chance to get their hands on the FA Cup this Friday. The world famous trophy will be on show at the Weatsheaf Pub, Cricklade Street, between 10.30am and 5.00pm. Members of the public are invited to pose with historic
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Another slip up for Ciren
Cirencester Town were plunged back into the relegation mire last night after slumping to a 2-1 home defeat against fellow strugglers Rocester. A fine run of recent results had seen Ray Baverstock's side pull away from the drop-zone, but losing to prime
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It's unfair but the answer's no
WHEN the long-awaited interview finally came, Estelle Morris did not mince her words. The Education Secretary stated flatly that no extra money would be coming to Swindon this year to offset what she freely admitted was an unfair allocation from central
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Pupils get down to business
YOUNG entrepreneurs from Swindon secondary schools were attempting to make their fortunes at a trade fair in the town. The event took place at the Nationwide Building Society, Pipers Way, and featured stands from six local secondary schools, competing
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Collection is a tribute to Mike
A COLLECTION in memory of popular Swindon butcher Mike McGuire has raised nearly £3,000 for the Prospect Hospice whose Macmillan nurses cared for him at home. Mr McGuire, who was 52, died in September after a three year fight against cancer. One of the
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Top of the tots
THE Evening Advertiser's Baby of the Year 2001 is . . . the Evening Advertiser Baby of the Year 2000. Lauren Henly, who was two in October, has retained her Crown, beating more than 600 entries to be voted the bonniest baby in the Swindon area for two
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A happy birthday to the M4
The M4 motorway between London and Bristol is 30 on Saturday. On a wet December morning in 1971, the last section, between Reading and Maidenhead, was officially opened by the then Environment Minister Michael Heseltine, allowing traffic to travel on
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Now deputy mayor Stan gets in on the panto scene!
DEPUTY mayor Stan Pajak has donned biker leathers and joined Swindon's answer to the Village People. Coun Pajak makes his debut on Saturday night for a performance of 1970s disco hit YMCA, joined by other members of the Queen's Park Community Council.
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Heart of a community
A COMMUNITY has been rallying to the aid of a young child left motherless by tragic house fire in Grange Park. Police have yet to confirm officially the identity of the woman who died in the Holbein Close blaze, but she is believed to be a single mother
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Please Miss
THESE children are striking a Dickensian pose, but the reality of the woeful funding of Swindon's schools is far from fictional. Ellen McGlashan, eight, and Louise Greenough, seven, are relying on the town's crumbling education system to provide them
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Ivy House Lakes frozen out by the winter weather
ICY cold conditions and frozen lakes hampered anglers last week with Ivy House lakes having to cancel their Saturday Open due to their frozen lakes. One of the best fish catching matches last weekend must have been the Highworth AC Xmas Cup match held
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Northview school is crowned king of choirs
Highworth's Northview Primary School choir sang live on the radio after winning a competition. It beat 19 other schools in three heats to be crowned the king of the choirs. The final was held at the McArthur Glen Designer Outlet Village and was recorded
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Pneumonia is baby's killer
MUM Michelle Trotter twice took her baby Alexander to Swindon's Princess Margaret Hospital and asked for help, an inquest heard. Mrs Trotter was told on both occasions that the infant had a cold or viral infection. The one-month-old child died after contracting
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Calling all sports fans to become presenters
SWINDON FM, the town's new radio station, is on the lookout for sports experts to join its commentary team. The radio station will start broadcasting on the internet from Saturday. Programme Controller, Carl Humphreys, says a passion for sport is the
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Walk on wild side
BIG Brother's Elizabeth Woodcock took to the skies to wingwalk her way to fulfilling her dream. Elizabeth soared over the Cotswold countryside at 150mph as she performed the daredevil stunt at the Royal Flying Corps Rend-comb Airfield near Ciren-cester
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Thugs should face up to their actions
YOUNG thugs who spoilt pensioners' attempts to raise money for charity should come face to face with the consequences of their actions, according to the manager of Prospect Hospice. Stan and Joan Williams, both 71, have been collecting money for Prospect
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Postal workers deny report of slack work
POSTAL workers have hit out at claims that Swindon's main sorting office is in chaos. A report in the Sunday Times painted a picture of how sorting staff using a "chronically slow and inefficient system" were delivering a "slow-motion post". And it even
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Staff get it all wrapped up for needy children
STAFF at WH Smith have been buying extra presents over the last few weeks to ensure needy children in the area have a happy Christmas. Members of staff at the warehouse in Greenbridge Industrial Estate have brought in gift-wrapped presents indicating
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Healthy news...
WILTSHIRE Health Authority has published its annual review. The eight page newspaper style review features news and pictures of the work of healthcare professionals from all over the county. Called Health Now, the review shows where the authority spends
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Town is top of the glass in the recycling stakes
PEOPLE in Swindon have a lot of bottle recycling more than eight kilogrammes of glass per person in 2000. Last year the town's 39 bottle banks collected 1,451.48 tonnes of bottles and jars. And townsfolk are being urged to keep up the good work by supporting
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It all added up for 12 students at a maths competition
TWELVE students from Commonweal School have received awards in a national maths competition. Pupils from the Old Town school took part in the UK Senior Maths Challenge, a national competition aimed at pupils in the 16 to 18 age range. Three students,
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Let there be light!
CHRISTINE Pollock is the first person to admit she is just a big kid at heart. Her own children may be grown-up, but that hasn't stopped her decorating her house in Osborne Street, Gorse Hill, from top to bottom with flashing fairy lights and icicle lights
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Make 'em wait
THE call to march in protest against the proposed increase in council tax (Letter, Mrs Fell, Dec 13), will probably fall upon deaf ears. There are too few of us directly affected to have much impact and, besides, it is not our way to take to the streets
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Roy's mind is made up
ROY EVANS is expected to meet the Town board this afternoon to finally thrash out his future. Town's director of football was unable to make a decision yesterday as no directors were present at the club. But the Town boss had a lunch date pencilled in
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Brave decision
WHEN I read the front page of the Evening Advertiser on Monday December 10, I thought: Well done to all councillors. No longer will people be able to say that Swindon Council is an out-of-date, out-of-touch council. With modern computer kit to hand, councillors
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UK must be strong
HOME Secretary David Blunkett, in a belated attempt to meet the first responsibility of Government which is "defence of the realm", is viciously attacked by a coterie of his fellow MPs for suggesting that perceived enemies within our midst should be placed
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Parents urged to fight for school bus service
I am writing in response to the article in the Evening Advertiser (December 14), regarding the plight of 115 Commonweal schoolchildren who have been told they will have no reliable bus service when they return to school in the New Year. I wish to highlight
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We must nurture culture not kill it
I AM writing in response to an article in the Evening Advertiser of December 13, which described anticipated cuts to the cultural services in Swindon. I am appalled to hear that the cultural fabric of the town may be severely undermined. Swindon has aspirations
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The fight goes on, Ms Morris
Education Secretary Estelle Morris today revealed her Christmas present for the people of Swindon absolutely nothing. The Evening Advertiser has lobbied for months through the Fair Deal for Schools campaign for more money for the borough's children. Today
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Roy's mind is made up
ROY EVANS is expected to meet the Town board this afternoon to finally thrash out his future. Town's director of football was unable to make a decision yesterday as no directors were present at the club. But the Town boss had a lunch date pencilled in
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Memories of a Christmas past
MARK SPARROW COLUMN: THIS Christmas lark is all a bit much. What with stuffing the presents, wrapping the turkey, baking the tree and dressing the mince pies Hang on! I think I got that the wrong way round. But that's the trouble when you're an adult
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Magical Mandy's mistletoe mischief
MAGICAL Mandy has been practising magic in Bath for more than 10 years. She is a member of the Magic Circle and President of the Bath Circle of Magicians. Her motto is 'Keep the magic alive' and every week in the run-up to Christmas she has been showing
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Sweetness and light
CHRISTMAS means pantomime and pantomime means Christmas. No festive celebrations are complete in Bath without a visit to the theatre, but the last thing you want to be stuck with, especially after a visit to the bar, is a leaky bladder. Luckily the Theatre
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Pensioners enjoy classic film
HUNDREDS of OAPs turned out at Bath's ABC cinema on Monday for a free showing of the Christmas classic Scrooge, co-sponsored by the Bath Star. The screening, an annual tradition for the cinema on Westgate Street, was attended by in excess of 300 pensioners
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It started with a birth
CHRISTMAS is almost here, can't you tell? Jonathan Skinner, minister at Bath's Widcombe Baptist Church, reminds us of just why it can still be special. He said: "Christmas evokes strange emotions it connects with memories and forgotten dreams buried deep
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Cracking spectacles
WITH the Big Day itself just waiting in the wings, it's time to put on make-up and light the lights as the panto season kicks festively off. Both Bath and Bristol are staging superb productions this year: the Theatre Royal Bath with Aladdin, the traditional
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No ho-ho-ho in Tokyo
As Bath boasts a distinctly oriental flavour with its contribution to the nationwide festival of Japan 2001, former Bath resident KATE HINDER ponders the real significance of Christmas over here and Kentucky Fried Chicken over there... THE shops have
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Sterilisation firms unite to reproduce
A STERILISATION firm based in Swindon is in the midst of a £34 million deal to take over another firm. If the deal goes ahead, it will create one of the biggest business forces of its kind in Europe. Isotron, headquartered at the Elgin Industrial Estate
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Northview school is crowned king of choirs
Highworth's Northview Primary School choir sang live on the radio after winning a competition. It beat 19 other schools in three heats to be crowned the king of the choirs. The final was held at the McArthur Glen Designer Outlet Village and was recorded
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Highworth face long haul to Middlesex
Highworth Town face a long trip to Middlesex tonight to face lowly Southall Town. Chris Seagraves men were shell-shocked after a 5-0 defeat to league leaders North Leigh at the weekend. The trouncing was particularly surprising as Highworth had just embarked
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Teenage boy is found unharmed
A TEENAGER who went missing from his Purton foster care home is safe and well. Leon Symonds, 15, who had last been seen leaving for school on the morning of Monday, December 3, returned on Monday evening. PC Alan Sharpe, who had been investigating, said
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College awards
Cirencester College marks it's 10th annual awards evening on Friday celebrating the outstanding student successes in the past academic year. Guest of honour will be chief economic advisor of Pricewaterhouse Coopers, Rosemary Radcliffe. Many awards have
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Man died after drink session
LORRY driver Tony Houghton died when he was unable to stop himself suffocating after a party, an inquest heard. Wiltshire Coroner David Masters heard how 42 year-old Mr Houghton, of Whitehead Street, Swindon, died in June after a night out with friends
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Wills calls on Brown to do more to aid poverty
MICHAEL Wills, the MP for North Swindon, has called on the Chancellor to do more to tackle child poverty. The Government has published its consultation document: Tackling Child Pov-erty: Giving Every Child the Best Start in Life. Mr Wills says the Govern-ment's
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Fire brigade warning over the hazards of festive decorations
CANDLES, fairy lights and decorations can all present a fire risk and Wiltshire Fire Brigade have urged people to be extra careful over the holiday period. Fire safety officer, Mark Altree, said Swindon has had a good record in recent years for seasonal
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Don't chuck out your Christmas cards recycle them
PEOPLE are being urged to recycle their Christmas cards following the festive season, as part of the 2002 Christmas Card Recycling Scheme. Organised by the Great Western Community Forest, with support from the 21st Century Swindon Forum, Sainsbury's,
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It could be you this Christmas
YOU could become a Lottery millionaire for Christmas when you go and buy your copy of the Evening Advertiser. A special Christmas Eve lottery draw, Christmas Million- aire Maker is being run by National Lottery operators, Camelot. The Christmas Millionaire
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Contest winners take a peek behind the scenes
A GROUP of youngsters from Swindon were given the chance to look behind the scenes of TV soaps Brookside and Hollyoaks after winning a health competition. The six winners of the Swindon Borough Council contest to create a credit card sized design promoting
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Man may be jailed for buying gun parts over the internet
A WOOTTON Bassett man could face jail after illegally buying parts over the internet for a 9mm pistol. Yein Chew Yee, 21, of High Street, Wootton Bassett, pleaded guilty before magistrates in Chippenham to possession of a prohibited firearm between April
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Something in the way he moves
FRED and Nancy Wade, of Green Park, Wootton Bassett, are celebrating their diamond wedding anniversary. The couple, who grew up a few streets apart in London, first met at a dance in their teens. "I liked the way he danced, and that was it!" said Mrs
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Death crash down to driver's inexperience
A YOUNG driver's inexperience has been blamed for a car crash in which one of his friends died. Simon Dyminski, 18, pleaded guilty to a charge of careless driving, arising from the crash on the unclassified road near Ogbourne St George, Marlborough, on
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Secure job for women
SWINDON'S booming pub and club scene needs more door supervisors, especially women. Pay can be up to £9 to £11 an hour and to qualify applicants need to compete two days training. They also have to complete a form to enable the police to check their records
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St Nick-ed!
THIEVES have ruined Christmas for little Jake Neighbour. For they have stolen his pride and joy an eight foot Santa. The illuminated inflatable Santa was the crowning glory of the Neighbour family's festive display and was bought as an early Christmas
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Illegal immigrants arrested after raid
EIGHT illegal immigrants working for a Swindon based employment agency have been arrested. But Workbase Resources, which has offices on Commercial Road and Stratton Road, has been cleared of any blame in the affair. And managing director Ken Kennedy today
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Care home help
HAS a relative or friend, become frail and had to go into a care home? The Relatives and Residents Association (R&RA) offers practical advice, a listening ear, the chance to join a local group of relatives in the same situation, and has the ability
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We gave £100
I REALLY must protest about the article in the Evening Advertiser this week regarding the Disability Resource Centre. Their posters caught the eye of members of Moose International, who raise much money for charitable purposes every year. In response
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Tears come too late
Worried, like most of Swindon's residents, about what local Tories have in store for next year's budget, I sat in on a Swindon Council cabinet meeting last Wednesday. We all know that it's the panto season, but I do think that local Tories might credit
