Archive
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Lift the Burden
MARK DEVLIN has secured Football League support in Town's fight to lift a crippling transfer embargo but that will be meaningless unless the players' union can also be persuaded to cut the club some slack. The County Ground chief executive met with league
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Brothers hang up overalls for good
TWO garage-owning brothers were hanging up their overalls today after 25 years in business. Ron, 60 and Trevor Vockin, 74, owners of Ashton Auto Electrical Services, will leave their workshop in Faraday Road, Dorcan, for the last time tonight. The family
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A brush with royalty
Princess Anne on Monday opened Wootton Bassett's new school premises toured its CCTV control room. But she betrayed no concern about any impending court action concerning her royal terriers. BHAVANI VADDE reports. THE Princess Royal received a rapturous
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Fun day for children
Babies, toddlers and children aged under five are invited to a special fun day at Penhill Library on Friday, October 11. Running from 10am to 1.30pm, the party is being staged to mark National Bookstart Day.
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Wall damaged
Some £500 damage was caused to a garden wall at a house in Faringdon Road between 6pm on September 29 and 2am on Monday.
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Appeal for driver
Police today appealed for a black cab driver who helped a mugging victim and drove him home to come forward. The mugging happened at about 12.30am on August 31 when a 24-year-old man was approached in Henry Street by two men aged in their 20s to 30s.
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Naked man is seen in park
POLICE scrambled the force helicopter as well as patrol cars after a report of a man on the prowl in Swindon's Coate Water country park. A park ranger alerted officers at just gone 1pm yesterday, saying he had received a report that a naked man was seen
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Asylum seekers threat
SWINDON has been told it may have to increase its number of asylum seekers by nearly six times. But council leaders have written to the Government warning that a new influx would push up rents and add to the crisis in education and social services. There
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League leaders topple pewsey
Pewsey Vale's patchy introduction to the Hellenic Premier Division continued last night as Don Rogers' side tasted another defeat. Despite leading top-of-the-table North Leigh Pewsey slumped to a 3-1 defeat as the table toppers upped a gear. Barry Flippance
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Flooding warning in Front Garden dispute
THE FRONT Garden Action Group has renewed its bid to derail the southern expansion of Swindon. It claims the 4,500-home development will never be built because the area is too prone to flooding. But developer Bryant Homes says it has consulted with the
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Museum in the swing of things
A HEADY mix of jazz and steam trains is on the cards at Swindon's Steam railway museum. From 7pm tomorrow, curator Tim Bryan is hosting a talk on how the railroad influenced generations of American blues, jazz and swing musicians. He is illustrating the
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Church will host special service for bereaved
A FUNERAL director is giving people the chance to remember and celebrate the life of a lost loved one. Hillier Funeral Services in Old Town has been providing bereavement care for six years and is holding its annual thanksgiving and remembrance service
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Tickets selling fast for blockbusters
Swindon cinemas will be jam-packed next month when two heroes return to the big screen. Harry Potter fans are already snapping up tickets for the next blockbuster film in the series, Harry Potter And The Chamber of Secrets, weeks before it opens on general
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Coining it in to help this good cause
CHILDREN are collecting coins to help a worthy cause. Pupils at Holy Rood Catholic Junior School, in Old Walcot, have been busy gathering coins of all currencies to support the British Red Cross. Some 250 seven to 11-year-olds filled more than 100 envelopes
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Important day for little Charlie
Cancer sufferer Charlie Jarvis was today to have a bone marrow scan, which will show whether the disease has spread through her body. The scan was originally planned to take place yesterday but had to be postponed because of the unavailability of radioactive
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Well blow me down!
YOUNG trumpet maestro Lorna Bridge is the guest soloist for a performance of Handel's Messiah at St Augustine's Church in Rodbourne. Lorna, 18, comes from Old Town and is currently studying at Marlborough College on a music scholarship. She will be joining
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Busy community takes to the road
IN a typical 38-week touring season, this mobile community of around 80 people including the circus's own electrician, engineers, mechanics, plumber, carpenter and office staff travels some 2,500 miles. During the tour they will use 1,000 gallons of fuel
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Saloon car stolen
Between 12.30am and 6.45pm on September 30 a grey Fiat Tipo saloon worth £1,500 was stolen from the Henry Street car park.
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Avoid yuletide pressure
With three months until Christmas the shops are already starting to stock and promote the must have toys of 2002. Wide-eyed children gaze with fascination at the latest mechanical gadget while their parents and careers may not be so enthusiastic finding
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Please do not use derogatory term
I WAS delighted to read in last Friday's Advertiser that the number of beds at soon to be opened Great Western Hospital is due to be increased by a further 72 beds next year. I was however, dismayed to see the delayed discharge of patients referred to
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Another way to waste our tax
IT appears that the council has again decided to spend our money negligently. On Sunday we received a reminder for our Electoral Register form, despite the fact that the return is not due until after October 15. In fact, it is illegal to send it back
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A lesson from manchester
THE City of Manchester, once dubbed the most grimy city in Europe, has now been acclaimed to be the cleanest city in Europe. Could we send a deputation from Swindon to discover the secrets of their success? I believe that there are many areas that need
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Are these toys really worth it?
OUR children, not to mention mums, dads and grannies, are swallowing yet again the marketing tactics of the Christmas toy promoters. It is ridiculous that in the first week of October shops are already selling out of MicroPets and Beyblades, this year's
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We cannot cope with this as well
THIS town has a justifiable reputation for being generous. People who are in need have nearly always found help and a welcome here. But our civic open-handedness is in danger of being stretched beyond its capacity by proposals to house a total of up to
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MP urges a new role for Lyneham
RAF LYNEHAM could be saved if it was turned into a new base for a rapid reaction force. This is the suggestion of North Wiltshire MP James Gray, who continues to campaign for the future of the base which provides employment for 3,200. The Government's
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Atkins cuts 400 jobs
TROUBLED services group WS Atkins is cutting 400 jobs and parting company with its chief executive after being hit by internal problems and the economic downturn. Shares in the group, which formerly ran Swindon Council's revenues and benefits service,
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Meet Duncan, the designer's friend
An Aldbourne man is celebrating six months of success after setting up a specialist business to help people understand Apple Macintosh computers and products. "For those who know these machines, they are definitely the designer's friend," says 45-year-old
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Broadband use lagging behind
Lack of access to Broadband technology could have serious consequences for businesses which are being urged to learn more about this method of internet communication. To this end Britain's place in developing it is being championed by the University of
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Traffic chaos
A MULTIPLE accident on the fog-bound M4 near Swindon caused rush hour havoc for drivers this morning. Up to 10 vehicles were involved in the smash, which happened on the eastbound carriageway towards London just after junction 15. Police, fire and ambulance
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Window smashed
Damage of £1,000 was caused when a plate glass shop window was smashed at Duck Son and Pinker, Bridge Street, around 10.45pm on September 29.
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Warning to elderly
Police are asking people to be aware for con-artists after an elderly man was robbed of several thousand pounds in Jennings Street. At 3.15pm yesterday the pensioner was approached by a man who asked to view his drains. Alvina Kumar, of Swindon police
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Joy is crazy about salsa
JOY Maddison is so in love with salsa moves that she has transformed her living room into a dance floor. Joy, 40, from Grange Park, first started salsa dancing as a hobby five years ago. Now a professional teacher, she decided to make her home salsa-friendly
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Blue man Brown leads the way in North Wessex League opener
A TOTAL of 23 teams fished the first North Wessex Winter League match at Sutton Benger. Swindon angler Alan Brown, fishing for Devizes AC Blue, won with 33lb 4oz, which included roach, perch and bream. Pegged below was Darren Reynolds, fishing for Team
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'Time to bring back stocks'
TOWN centre shopkeepers are being driven out of business because of repeated break-ins by burglars, it has been claimed. Vince Ayris, owner of a shoe repair and key cutting shop in Havelock Street, says he is sick of the continuous string of attacks on
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Fred cries well done
TOWN crier Fred Ferris went to Preston to congratulate his opposite number on the town's new city status. Preston and Swindon were rivals in the competition for the accolade, but Mr Ferris showed that Swindonians are not poor losers. Mr Ferris, a familiar
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Public inquiry into housing scheme
A SET of 49 new houses in South Marston would be against planning policy and threaten the character of the village, according to Swindon Council. A public inquiry is in progress after the council refused Crown Timber Group plc's application to build homes
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Wiltshire's planners given a good mark
PLANNING services provided by Wiltshire County Council are deemed to be 'fair,' according to a report by the Audit Commission. The commission say the prospects for improvement are promising and the council says an improvement plan is already in place
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MP urges a new role for Lyneham
RAF LYNEHAM could be saved if it was turned into a new base for a rapid reaction force. This is the suggestion of North Wiltshire MP James Gray, who continues to campaign for the future of the base which provides employment for 3,200. The Government's
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A degree of uncertainty
ONE of the few success stories to emerge from Swindon's troubled education department is facing an uncertain future. Hundreds of youngsters are graduating from the Children's University on Saturday but they could be the last if it fails to find new funding
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Tiny device could save lives in war
A HAND-held monitor developed by a laboratory in Wiltshire could save lives of British servicemen and women in the event of a war against Iraq. A revolutionary health monitoring kit was developed by scientists at Porton Down following the Gulf War and
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Blue jean boy
WITH his beaming smile and wide eyes, 22-month-old Ben Morris lights up the room. His doting parents Doug and Sandra Morris would not change him for the world, but they know they face a lifetime of uncertainty, doubt and pain as they watch their son grow
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Keeping it in the family
THE world famous Moscow State Circus now features a brand new show, with a 35-strong cast, many of whom are performing on our shores for the first time. The new production includes the Roubstov troupe an 11-strong group who delight in thrusting themselves
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He's on top of the world
FORTY years after his dad ran away to become a circus lion tamer, Swindon schoolboy Andrew Austen has been learning a few big top skills for himself. The Moscow State Circus rolled into town this week, and seven-year-old Andrew was one of 30 children
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Early Christmas rush for the must-have toy
THIS year's must-have Christmas toys are fast disappearing from Swindon's shopping shelves and it is only just October. Stores in town are also stocking up on food, decorations and gifts in preparation for the seasonal rush. The MicroPet, a mongrel descendant
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Pay to drive
PARK and Ride is a waste of £2m a year says RN Derbyshire (Sep 27). Not for much longer. Once the London traffic charging scheme is proved just watch councils nationwide follow suit. They already have the powers necessary to restrict access to town centres
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Throwing our money away
Green garden waste bin bags cost £1 each. Could someone please explain what the £1 charge is for, as the green bags are thrown into the refuse lorry along with all of the ordinary domestic black bags? Are the bags sorted for separate treatment on arrival
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Time to put egos aside
At last the people of Swindon have been proved right this council has been under-performing and not doing the job for which they were elected. Perhaps now faced with the prospect of government intervention they will put aside their egos and their party
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council had been warned
At the time when the new hospital was on the drawing board, a large number of people in Swindon (the council tax payers), including doctors and nurses, suggested there should be a greater number of beds and wards and larger car parking facilities than
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He has no idea about country life
I AM writing in response to the columnist Peter Heaton-Jones, Tue, September 24. What an ignorant man he is. He earns his living broadcasting to people in and around Swindon, many of whom are country people. If you needed an excuse to switch to GWR, I
