Archive
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There's still time to slim
POOR old Debbie Hobbs can't get into her wedding dress because she bought it three sizes too small believing she would slim down enough to fit into it before the big day. That hasn't happened, and now she wants to sell the stunning gown. But come on girl
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New Men Teed Up!
ANDY KING was hoping for a below-par morning before perking up to try and slot the first two pieces of his summer jigsaw into place. The Town boss put aside transfer issues for the morning as he teed off in the club's annual golf day but football was
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Strike may prove to be a parking bonanza for drivers
MOTORISTS across the UK are likely to enjoy a park-free bonanza on Wednesday as around 10,000 traffic wardens are set to join in a 24-hour council workers' strike. But the AA warned drivers that the absence of wardens in the strike could lead to "chaos
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Vicars may get new work rights
CLERGYMEN could gain new employment rights as a result of a review launched by Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt. Traditionally, the courts have regarded the relationship between church authorities and ministers of religion as having no contractual
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Simon in French cookery class
CELEBRITY TV chief Simon Rimmer from ITV's This Morning was the star of a Renault Gastronomique gourmet cooking event at local Renault dealer Fish Brothers. The dealership's Paddington Drive showroom was transformed into a studio kitchen as Simon demonstrated
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Rethink on £14 delivery charge
PILOT schemes to abolish the second post were being introduced in 14 areas around the UK today as Consignia began rethinking its controversial plan to charge many customers £14 a week for early delivery. Chairman Allan Leighton said the company would
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Shoppers' support
I AM writing on behalf of Swindon Samaritans to thank the shoppers at Sainsburys Bridgemead who donated £450 during the Samaritan Week collection. The Samaritans has existed for more than 35 years to listen to those in crisis and those having suicidal
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Post office help
I WAS concerned to learn that Highworth Post Office is finding it difficult to keep going (Evening Advertiser, July 4). I know what a lifeline local post offices can be, particularly in a town like Highworth where many people find it difficult to travel
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Run for cancer
I'M Steve Rider, sports presenter at the BBC, and I would like to appeal to any of your readers competing in this year's Great North Run, Newcastle, to join me in supporting Sargent Cancer Care for Children. For the third year running I'm backing the
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Day was ruined by rules
I RAN the dance stage at the Old Town Festival last Sunday and I am pleased you printed the complaints afterwards. I had some people ringing me up that night and all day the next day asking why the Celtic Academy dancers did not finish their exhibition
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Four escape prison after spree with forged cards
FOUR men, one a law student, escaped a prison sentence after a court was told they had set off on an organised and deliberate attempt to defraud supermarkets and banks, including some in Swindon. The four had all pleaded guilty to obtaining cash with
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Simple for Simon.
WOOTTON Bassett hotelier Simon Collins found some time from his cooking to take a cracking 67-2-0 of skimmers and bream on the pole to easily win the latest Tockenham Lakes Open last Wednesday. Swindon's Roy Booth, now living in Cornwall, made his long
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Violent customers face council ban
ROSEMARY Gamble has seen someone stabbed in her office, a woman threaten to injure herself and a bomb threat while working on the frontline for Swindon Council. And she has to deal with people who complain almost daily to her staff on the customer services
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Swindon's luck of the draw
SWINDON and Chippenham have both been handed a bye in the opening round of the Powergen Intermediate Cup. But while the luck of the draw has favoured the Greenbridge Road and Allington Field sides, Swindon College Old Boys have been given a tough-looking
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Copyright issue is explained
THE complexities of copyright will be unravelled at a meeting on Thursday. Copyright consultant Sandy Norman will be in charge of the gathering at the Bible Society's West Swindon headquarters. Copyright is an important issue for anybody whose work involves
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Boyfriend flushed drugs down toilet
ENDAD Rahman flushed heroin with a potential street value of £10,000 down the toilet to protect his drug addicted girlfriend, it was claimed in court. And after the act, which he said was to keep her free of drugs, he pleaded guilty to possessing a Class
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Daredevil high fliers join the Air Tattoo
SPECTATORS at the Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford this weekend will be able to enjoy the daredevil antics of the Utterly Butterly wing-walkers. The four female wing-walkers Sophie Sharpe, Marie Duguid, Helen Tempest and Rhiannon Nugent
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Major inspection
A FULL inspection of the way Swindon Council run its services was beginning today. Inspectors from the Audit Commission will be in Swindon for two weeks, assessing the quality and efficiency of all the council's services. The review, called the comprehensive
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Inverdale joins in Sports Relief fun
POOR old John Inverdale is used to presenting live BBC sport from the more palatial environs of Twickenham, Wimbledon and Henley. But the silver-tongued broadcaster donned his goalkeeping gloves for a football match with a difference at the County Ground
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Twenty mile tailbacks after coach crashes on M4
MOTORISTS travelling to Wiltshire experienced severe delays after a coach ferrying holidaymakers back to Bristol overturned on the M4 causing 20 miles of tailbacks. The coach was pulling out of Reading services, between junctions 11 and 12, on Saturday
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Belated jubilee party was worth the wait
THE streets of South Marston came alive with the colours of red, white and blue as belated jubilee celebrations went off with a bang. Villagers spent months raising more than £3,000 to stage the extravaganza on Saturday and it was well worth the wait.
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Solution to this prickly problem
READING about the hedgehog problem in the Hebridean Island off the west coast of Scotland reminds me of the bird problem facing Prince Albert after the building of the Crystal Palace had been completed. "Poor Albert", as Queen Victoria said, had tried
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Veterans' badges
THE branch has received two commemorative badges from the 50th anniversary of the Korean War Commemoration Committee, Defense Department, United States of America. The commanding officer of the 424 A B S United States Air Force, Fairford, will hopefully
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The UK is not their first stop
I READ with interest letters from Chris Thackray and David Rowlands (EA, July 9), but I still have one question. If a person is in such fear of persecution that he or she has to flee their homeland, why do they not seek refuge in the first friendly country
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Stand up and take the blame
ISN't it good to know there are still some people in this world that have courage and integrity? Compare the actions of the Royal Naval Commander Richard Farrington, Captain of HMS Nottingham, which ran aground off the coast of Australia this week, with
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This is no hoax
I HAVE just read your article about the recent crop circle appearing near Silbury Hill. Weetabix must be feeling 10ft tall, over this latest advertising campaign, but of course it is purely coincidental that this crop circle resembles its logo. These
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Parents are just doing their best
IT IS a sad indictment of our times that more and more parents in Swindon have lost confidence in our education system and have chosen to go private. All parents want the best for their children, but here in Swindon we are not able to give anything like
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Trailing the men by £138
WOMEN still get paid significantly less than men, with 40 per cent on less than £100 a week, a survey has revealed. The weekly average wage for women during 2000-01 was £133, compared with £271 for men. The survey, released by the Women and Equality Unit
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Chance to see work by local artists
ARTISTIC spirits are flying high in Highworth as the town prepares for an annual exhibition. Highworth Artists Society is hosting the exhibition, which starts on Thursday. The venue is the town's Community Rooms. Renowned local artists, including society
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Just a suggestion
PETER Heaton-Jones asked if anyone could suggest a suitable flag to fly on St George's Day (July 9). How about one with a white background and a red cross on it? I REEVE Shakespeare Road Wootton Bassett
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Bring back van
WOULDN'T it be a good idea to bring the animal dispensary van back to Swindon? People wouldn't mind putting £10 or so in the box. It costs £15 just to go to the door at the vets. You hold your breath waiting for the bill hoping it won't break the bank
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Don't forget those who were not in the works
I WOULD like to take this opportunity to comment on the campaign for a memorial to the victims of mesothelioma. I fully endorse this move. So many people have suffered and will go on suffering that something should be done to record this fact and for
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Get teaching, and leave the dietary decisions to parents
HAVE teachers the right to say what a child should eat at lunch break? They should leave this decision to the parent. They are there to teach not interfere some children may not have breakfast if they are not up in time, or their mothers have to dash
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Twenty mile tailbacks
MOTORISTS travelling to Wiltshire experienced severe delays after a coach ferrying holidaymakers back to Bristol overturned on the M4 causing 20 miles of tailbacks. The coach was pulling out of Reading services, between junctions 11 and 12, on Saturday
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Pupils create panels of modern art
CRITICS of modern art often scoff that a small child could do better. At Penhill Primary School, they have been putting this to the test. With the help of professional artist Gordon Dickinson, children have been recreating works in the style of abstract
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No rain on the parade
THOUSANDS of revellers basked in glorious sunshine as Wroughton came alive to the colourful sights and sounds of its annual carnival. The village came to a standstill on Saturday as the procession, consisting of marching bands, village groups and decorative
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'Our school will be great once more'
GOVERNORS of Churchfields School have appointed a new head teacher. Steve Flavin, 40, is already acting headteacher. His official appointment to the role is seen by staff, pupils and parents as a vote of confidence in his achievements. Mr Flavin said:
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A laid-back look on life at Afro Caribbean Carnival
A TOUCH of laid-back West Indian flavour came to Walcot during the annual Afro Caribbean Carnival. Saturday's event, which was opened by mayor Stan Pajak, brought together Swindon's diverse community at Buckhurst Park, Walcot. Organiser Cecil Williams
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Help! My wedding dress is too small
DEBBIE Hobbs has nothing to wear for her wedding day because she bought a dress three sizes too small but has failed to lose three stone to squeeze into it. Debbie, 32, from West Swindon, is now desperate to sell her stunning size 12 outfit, worth £700
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Picking up the pieces
PRIVATE tuition agencies are enjoying a boom time. And one firm that is currently enjoying the fruits of that upturn today pointed the blame squarely at Swindon Council's Local Education Authority for failing to provide the town's schools with the resources
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Bluebirds hit by Eaton blow
A deal to bring ex-Conference star Jason Eaton to Chippenham Town has been sabotaged by the Bluebirds' chief rivals Bath City. Eaton, who boasts Bristol City, Bristol Rovers, Cheltenham, Yeovil and Forest Green among his former employers, had effectively
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Giles returns to take new Bassett role
Hellenic League Wootton Bassett have confirmed that former manager Barry Giles has returned to the club. Current first team boss Pete Yeardley can rest easy though Giles will take on a new general manager role at Rylands Way. Chairman Paul Harrison was
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£1,180 netted at pub's Jubilee party
MORE than £1,000 has been raised for the Great Western Hospital's Evolution Appeal during celebrations of the Queen's Golden Jubilee at a pub in Lyneham. More than 500 people descended on The Mallard at Lyneham on Sunday, June 2 to celebrate 50 years
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Get rich quick con slammed
A NEW postal get rich quick scheme has been condemned by Swindon Trading Standards officers. A letter being sent unsolicited to homes claims an £87 outlay will reap a £40,000 return in a matter of months. But Geoff Snowball, who heads Swindon Council's
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Swindon one of top places to find yourself a mate
SWINDON has been ranked in a new survey as the third best place in the south west for Bridget Joneses and their male counterparts to find a mate. The Pulling Power Index, published by British Gas, ranks areas according to a scoring system based on the
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Strawberry fair cream of the crop
SUNNY weather, strawberries and a taste of jazz were served up at the annual Crudwell Strawberry Fayre and Craft Market. Scores of villagers and passers-by came to buy strawberries on Crudwell's village green. The money raised over the weekend will go
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Allotment charges could rise
ALLOTMENT charges may be on the increase for Swindon residents. The Transport, environment and neighbourhood services commission will discuss whether to bring the current allotment pricing structure into line with the council's new charging policy framework
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Rail museum to open its storehouse
AN Aladdin's Cave of railway objects will be on display to the public for the first time when Steam opens its storehouse next weekend. The new feature opens on Saturday, in time for the start of the summer holidays and it is hoped the new attraction will
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Mums go on the pull for charity
ATHLETIC mums from Ashton Keynes undertook a Herculean task in the baking sun all in the name of charity. On Saturday afternoon onlookers had to do a double take as 20 mothers from the village playgroup pulled a coach full of children half a mile along
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On a par with Steptoe
SWINDON Town FC have really sunk with the cry for second hand goods. Are we also to see a horse and cart decked in the club's colours in our streets? Or will stables be built in the car park to accommodate Hercules? What is going to happen to all the
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Not 50 years
TWICE recently in the Evening Advertiser, reference has been made to Swindon Age Concern's 50th Anniversary AGM. In point of fact, the predecessor Swindon Old Peoples Welfare Council was in existence until 1974 under the auspice of the borough council
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Is it justified?
SO the council staff are going on strike for a £1,750 pay rise, are they? Well, I would like to know how they can justify such a rise when the OAPs they serve receive far less than they do, and have just the same living costs. I've been to the council
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Feline thanks
I WRITE on behalf of the Swindon branch of Cats Protection to say a heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported us at this year's festival. As we made our way through town in our cat outfits, the people of Swindon filled our collection buckets to the tune
