Archive
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Blockade will get nowhere
WE sympathise with Guy Dibble and his dairy farming colleagues who say they are having to sell milk at less than the cost of production. But they are wrong if they think that blockading milk depots and preventing supplies from reaching customers is going
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An amazing catalogue of mistakes
WE all recognise that Swindon social services department has monumental problems to overcome. But what on earth was it thinking about when it decided to accommodate a 16-year-old boy with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in a room 30 miles from
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Sky's the limit for business complex
A SPITFIRE flypast heralded the opening of a new office and warehouse complex at South Marston Business Park. The aircraft, piloted by Squadron Leader Paul Day AFC, who is in charge of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, performed victory loops over
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Royal visitor
Princess Anne will officially open Wootton Bassett's new CCTV control room. She will unveil a plaque and meet volunteers who monitor the system as well as present two long serving volunteers with certificates. The Princess Royal will arrive at the town
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Streets are safer thanks to increase in police officers
WILTSHIRE has 37 more serving police officers than were on duty in the county this time last year, the Government says. According to new figures revealed by Home Secretary David Blunkett, the increase brings the total Wiltshire Constabulary complement
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Women welcome
WILTSHIRE Fire Brigade plans to boost its female staff roll fivefold by 2005. Currently, only about two per cent of the 600-plus staff, whether firefighters or support workers, are women. But that has to increase to 10 per cent by the 2005-6 financial
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Youngsters get opportunity to be a detective for a day
WILTSHIRE police are offering people the chance to become a detective for the day. To promote Crimestoppers Week, which runs until Monday, the force is working with Wiltshire Crimestoppers to give people of all ages, but particularly those between seven
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Women welcome
WILTSHIRE Fire Brigade plans to boost its female staff roll fivefold by 2005. Currently, only about two per cent of the 600-plus staff, whether firefighters or support workers, are women. But that has to increase to 10 per cent by the 2005-6 financial
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Cemeteries to be tested for safety
A "TOPPLE tester" is to be used by Swindon Council to check the safety of cemetery memorials. In the last 10 years four people have died in the UK as a result of gravestones falling on them. Three were children most recently six-year-old Reuben Powell
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Rape case plea
A Home Office forensic scientist has been brought in as part of the investigation into the rape on Friday of a 14-year-old girl on parkland in the Hillary Close and Crossways Avenue area. House to house inquiries have led several potential witnesses to
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Royal visitor
Princess Anne will officially open Wootton Bassett's new CCTV control room. She will unveil a plaque and meet volunteers who monitor the system as well as present two long serving volunteers with certificates. The Princess Royal will arrive at the town
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Farmers unite
DAIRY farmer Guy Dibble is hoping to wreak havoc when he blockades a milk depot. Mr Dibble, of Eastrop Farm, Highworth, will join other farmers in a blockade at an unnamed local dairy tomorrow in a bitter dispute with milk processors he says are crippling
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Harris steals the show as Coleview land Rover crown
THERE was a marvellous result for the Coleview Rover squad, who fished the annual Rover Championships on a wild and blustery River Thames at Medley (Oxford) on Saturday. The squad of 14 not only won the team event on points but also had the individual
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Thieves rob toddlers of their favourite toys
TODDLERS at a Swindon playgroup have been robbed of their toys. Thieves bashed in the door of a metal shed in the grounds of the Westbourne Pre-School, on Westcott Road. They stole a number of toys including two large inflatable dinosaurs a woolly mammoth
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'He had nothing to do but watch TV'
A TEENAGER who was housed by social workers in a motorway service station hotel stole a police car and claimed he drove it at speeds of up to 140mph. The Swindon 16-year-old, who has attention deficit disorder, had been staying in an M4 motorway Travel
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Corsham Boss Quits!
Mark Godley has quit as manager of Screwfix Direct Division One side Corsham Town after admitting that the pressures of juggling family life, work and football had become too much. Godley handed in his resignation after the 3-2 home defeat to Weston St
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Authors spread their magic
SEPTEMBER 28-OCTOBER 5: Forget Bath and Cheltenham Wiltshire's very own literature festival, Word Magic, promises the chance to celebrate the joys of reading with a glittering array of authors. Dawn Gorman gives an exclusive preview of the event. WILTSHIRE
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Firefighter won't forget his friends
STEVE Benson is looking forward to spending more time at his Spanish holiday home having served as a fireman in Swindon for 25 years. The 54-year-old, from Stratton, wants to spend more time at the venue near Malaga, but must wait until his wife, Julie
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Youngsters get opportunity to be a detective for a day
WILTSHIRE police are offering people the chance to become a detective for the day. To promote Crimestoppers Week, which runs until Monday, the force is working with Wiltshire Crimestoppers to give people of all ages, but particularly those between seven
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'Pay farmers to help them stop water pollution'
Wiltshire's leading environmental organisation wants the Government to pay farmers to help them prevent local rivers and streams from being polluted. The Wiltshire Wildlife Trust argues that this would be both a common sense and cost effective measure
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It's on with the show for Bob and Enid . . .
A WROUGHTON couple will celebrate half a century of married life together at a special family get-together. Enid, 76, and Bob Whitfield, 78, of Halifax Close, Wroughton, will mark the milestone on Friday. They first met when they worked together at the
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Christmas is coming early, very early . . .
CHRISTMAS seems to come earlier every year in Wiltshire at least. The Army Benevolent Fund has announced that it will shortly be holding what is surely the first Christmas Fair of the year. It will be taking place on Wednesday, September 25 at Tedworth
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Monstrous goings-on in the children's ward
A 6FT blue hairy monster called Sully and his shorter one-eyed friend Mike are the latest patients to take up residence in the children's ward at Princess Margaret Hospital. The giant versions of the monsters, used to promote the video release of Disney's
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Disabled should be consulted too
YOUR paper often carries articles regarding the concessionary bus scheme run by Swindon Borough Council and the many consultations held with groups regarding it. In these articles you mention the young and elderly but never seem to include people like
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Coppell load of that!
STEVE COPPELL was rumoured to be spending this morning brushing the dust off his magic wand. The club's new assistant boss kept his thoughts to himself following Town's embarrassing 2-0 defeat at Cheltenham last night, but if it is a challenge he wants
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Hotel work starts
Work on a multi-million pound hotel and leisure complex has started and the Swindon's mayor, Coun Peter Roberts, is laying a plaque on Saturday to mark the occasion. The Wiltshire Golf and Country Club is being revamped to include 50 bedrooms, a bar,
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Come to the festival, it's magic
BROCHURES and tickets are now available for the Word Magic Literature Festival, a celebration of reading and writing in Wiltshire between September 28 and October 5. The festival will be launched on September 28 at Wootton Bassett library where popular
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Women welcome
WILTSHIRE Fire Brigade plans to boost its female staff roll fivefold by 2005. Currently, only about two per cent of the 600-plus staff, whether firefighters or support workers, are women. But that has to increase to 10 per cent by the 2005-6 financial
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Streets are safer thanks to increase in police officers
WILTSHIRE has 37 more serving police officers than were on duty in the county this time last year, the Government says. According to new figures revealed by Home Secretary David Blunkett, the increase brings the total Wiltshire Constabulary complement
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Date
Women welcome
WILTSHIRE Fire Brigade plans to boost its female staff roll fivefold by 2005. Currently, only about two per cent of the 600-plus staff, whether firefighters or support workers, are women. But that has to increase to 10 per cent by the 2005-6 financial
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Date
Hotel work starts
Work on a multi-million pound hotel and leisure complex has started and the town's mayor, Coun Peter Roberts, is laying a plaque on Saturday to mark the occasion. The Wiltshire Golf and Country Club is being revamped to include 50 bedrooms, a bar, a restaurant
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Airgun misuse under the spotlight
A SWINDON MP is helping to put the issue of air gun misuse under the national spotlight following a number of incidents resulting in injury to people and pets in Swindon. At a meeting in Westminster today, South Swindon MP Julia Drown was set to join
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Residents rally to help bail out community association
HAYDON WICK residents came out to support their community association after the charity's trustees sent out a plea for help. The Haydon Community Association helps subsidise activities at the Haydon Wick Community and Leisure Centre via fundraising. As
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Vagina envy, anyone?
REVIEW - The Vagina Monologues, Theatre Royal, Bath: UNDOUBTEDLY Eve Ensler's infamous collection of Vagina Monologues has opened up eyes, broken down barriers and challenged taboos, but at what price? Smacking distinctly of the therapist's couch, the
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A futuristic world
SEPT 17 - 21: NORTHERN Stage Ensemble bring George Orwell's classic work 1984 back to its terrifying glory in an exciting new adaptation appearing in Bath. Spiked with adrenaline and adapted to satisfy our surveillance-hungry 24/7 dot com generation,
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Streets are safer thanks to increase in police officers
WILTSHIRE has 37 more serving police officers than were on duty in the county this time last year, the Government says. According to new figures revealed by Home Secretary David Blunkett, the increase brings the total Wiltshire Constabulary complement
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A tough lesson to learn for Amy
PENSIONER Amy Boatwright is just one of a growing number of people who have fallen victim to doorstep con artists. Mrs Boatwright, 82, had nearly £300 stolen from her house in Walcot when she opened the door to a bogus caller. And despite the efforts
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Beautiful blooms await bride
The Bride of the Year 2003 could be walking down the aisle clutching a bouquet of daisies or a cluster of African Violets courtesy of George Lesley Flowers. Staff at the florists in Cricklade Road are once again offering their skill, advice and beautiful
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Thames Water offers workers more flexibility
THAMES Water has launched a new initiative offering greater flexibility to workers who have trouble balancing work and home lives. The company, which employs 1,000 workers at its Swindon call centre, has launched a booklet detailing the options open for
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Have a chat and a coffee with Vanessa at the Outlet Centre
TV presenter Vanessa Feltz will be at the town's Designer Outlet Village to help raise money for MacMillan Cancer Relief. The centre is set to host part of the charity's World's Largest Coffee Morning for the sixth year running. Vanessa, former presenter
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'We must come up with right answer'
Parents met with MP Julia Drown last night in an attempt to resolve the crisis over school bus cuts. And it seems the problem for pupils at Bradon Forest School has been solved for this academic year. But parents fear the difficulties could resurface
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Women welcome
WILTSHIRE Fire Brigade plans to boost its female staff roll fivefold by 2005. Currently, only about two per cent of the 600-plus staff, whether firefighters or support workers, are women. But that has to increase to 10 per cent by the 2005-6 financial
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The dream team
The people who play a vital part in making sure our parks are mown, our refuse is collected and our streets are cleaned are the tops and that's official. The Fleet Management and Transport Services arm of the department at Barnfield Road depot has just
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Did you know Bob?
Former Pressed Steel worker Bob Lewis is trying to track down ex-colleagues for a work reunion at the company's old social club on Bridge End Road. The reunion is planned for October 13 and Bob is keen to hear from anyone who worked with him in the laboratory
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2002, the year of silliness
WHAT a year full of silliness we have had and it's only September! We have found out that crows have higher IQs than some people. A brain mapper has declared that a large number of people use only half their brain. Which half he left us to decide. The
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Who killed cock robin?
Far from being a hunter's charter, the Countryside March is for all those who love the country and who want to protect it Phil Beaven (Letters, September 13) says of next week's Countryside March to London that it is 'purely in support of fox hunting
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Grewcock's handed a five-week suspension
BATH'S England and Lions star Danny Grewcock was last night hit by a five-week ban that will sideline him until October 24. Grewcock was sent off during the Zurich Premiership defeat against Saracens nine days ago. Referee Steve Leyshon brandished the
