Archive
-
Date
Better than the average
CANCER remains perhaps the most feared disease in the Western world. Such is its power to inspire terror and dread that there are people who feel superstitiously uncomfortable about even saying the word. But there are ways to slew the odds of recovery
-
Date
Treble triumph as Westlecot reach Wessex quarter-finals
WESTLECOT men have qualified for the quarter-finals in the Wessex League play-offs. Previous winners of the league play-offs title they beat Midglos 85-72 in their opening match a last 16 game. Westlecot took the honours on three of the four rinks against
-
Date
Injury trouble for Saunders
TOMMY SAUNDERS' selection problems have hit a new low ahead of Chippenham's Wiltshire Premier Shield trip to Salisbury. The Bluebirds already have a crippling injury list featuring Gareth Davies, Mark Harrington, Matt Rawlins, Steve Brown and James Bittner
-
Date
School's all-weather pitch to be used by all
A DEAL has been signed to allow the playing field at Wootton Bassett Secondary School to be used by the community. North Wiltshire District Council has secured an agreement with Group 4 Facility Management in which Group 4 will provide floodlights at
-
Date
Setback in struggle to get station reopened
WOOTTON Bassett railway station will not reopen for at least five years, Tory MP James Gray has been told. A delegation led by the North Wiltshire MP was informed that there was no question of reversing the decision to axe the Bristol to Oxford rail line
-
Date
Tom's double lift for Bar
Bar OC picked up two valuable points against their close rivals Devizes Snooker Club with a comfortable 4-1 win. Tom Evans put Bar in control with a brace of goals before half-time. Mark Hulland poked the ball in for a third, but the club pulled one back
-
Date
'It's all my children have known'
MICHAEL Wolf has been a single parent since he separated from his wife three years ago. The 31-year-old, of Raleigh Avenue, Walcot, gave up his job as a chef to look after his two sons, Lloyd, four, and Jordan, three. Michael says isolation can be a problem
-
Date
Number of single parents doubles
THE NUMBER of single parent households in Swindon has increased by nearly 100 per cent between 1991 and 2001. Figures released by the GMB trade union show that in 1991 the town had 2,204 lone parent households but by 2001 the figure had risen to 4,351
-
Date
Passing the tea bag test
In the second in a series of features in which she takes up temporary residence as a council tenant in one of Swindon's communities, VICTORIA TAGG puts the magnifying glass on Walcot - and finds a community spirit beyond compare. Come rain or shine, Walcot
-
Date
Clarke score seals triumph
DORSET & Wilts Under 20s opened their Tetley's National County Championship campaign with a deserved 34-11 over Berkshire at Bournemouth. They opened the scoring after just five minutes with a brilliant individual try from Bournemouth's Mike Marsh
-
Date
Chippenham still on course
Despite their worst performance of the season, Chippenham Under 18s progressed into the semi-final of the Dorset & Wilts Cup at the expense of Swanage and Wareham, keeping alive the dream of a league and cup double. A scrappy first half saw Merit
-
Date
Farnan touchdown secures Ciren's last eight passage
CIRENCESTER Under 15s were held to a 7-7 draw in the final match of the opening round of the County Cup at rivals Stroud. But the result was enough to confirm their passage to the quarter-finals. Stroud opened up with a powerful early attack, but each
-
Date
Grove tries put paid to under 15s
Chippenham's Under 15s put in a solid display against Oxfordshire county champions Grove at Allington Field but were edged out 26-17. The hosts, fielding a new-look side, opted to play into a strong wind for the first half and restricted the visitors
-
Date
Bates lifts visitors
IT was derby time again as Supermarine hosted a series of minis squads from local rivals Swindon. At under seven level, the hosts lent their opponents a player for two clashes. And Swindon won the opener 6-4, with two tries from George Bates plus touchdowns
-
Date
Mitel on the brink
MITEL have one hand firmly on the under 14 title after seeing off one of their main rivals at the weekend. The champions elect beat nearest challengers Stratton Youth to move themselves six points clear with a game in hand. The under 15 division remains
-
Date
Town's five-goal burst sinks high-flying Clevedon
SWINDON Town Ladies recorded their best result of the season when they beat fourth-placed Clevedon Town 5-0 in a South West Combination League fixture played at Aldbourne. The visitors kicked off and Town keeper Wendy Davis was soon in action saving Alison
-
Date
Teachers get gunged and school gets cash
RIDGEWAY School raised enough funds to submit its bid to become a science college at the 11th hour. The Wroughton school had less than a week to raise the rest of £50,000 it needed to have in funding for the bid. But fortunately two Swindon firms stepped
-
Date
Library is given a permanent home
A SWINDON library that has been stuck in a temporary building for 30 years has finally been moved to a permanent home. But it is not the Central Library which is on the move it's a much smaller one in Even Swindon. In a situation that echoes the Central
-
Date
Celebrating 100 years of flight
THE Science Museum at Wroughton stages a celebration of 100 years of powered flight this weekend. This year marks the centenary of the Wright Brothers' historic flight at Kittyhawk. As part of this weekend's activities, visitors will be able to see the
-
Date
SMOKING FEATURE: Health scare is a good reason to kick the habit
Transport manager, Vince Payne, is hoping to kick the habit after being advised by his doctor following a minor stroke. Mr Payne, 62, explained that he had been a smoker from the age of 12. He said: "I remember that my mum always used to buy a packet
-
Date
SMOKING FEATURE: Stubbing them out for good
TOMORROW thousands of smokers across the country will stub out their cigarettes, vowing never to turn to the evil weed again. But after tomorrow's National No Smoking Day, only a relative handful will be able to turn their back on tobacco permanently.
-
Date
Nine charged after protest
NINE people have been charged following disturbances at RAF Fairford on Sunday. Some 19 peace protestors were arrested after an incident in which some demonstrators cut through the perimeter fence of the US airbase on Sunday afternoon. Police said those
-
Date
It's the other David Bailey
Photographer and naturalist David Bailey is coming to Swindon to discuss the compatibility of railways and wildlife. Mr Bailey who shares his name with the iconic fashion photographer has studied the flora and fauna along the embankment of the West Somerset
-
Date
Mayor to go ginger for a laugh and for charity
SWINDON mayor Stan Pajak is entering the spirit of Comic Relief by dyeing his hair red. Mr Pajak has volunteered for the image change as his contribution to Red Nose Day. He said: "There is a first time for everything and it is all for a good cause. I
-
Date
Winning waiting list battle
MORE than 99 per cent of suspected cancer patients in Swindon are now seen by a specialist within two weeks. The latest figures show that only five of the 579 people referred by their GP in the last quarter of 2002 failed to get an appointment within
-
Date
Family appeals for motorbike trailer's return
MUM Jayne Skinner is appealing for the return of a motorbike trailer which was stolen two days after she bought it. The £400 trailer was bought for Mrs Skinner's 11-year-old daughter Emma, a keen scrambler. It was stolen from a drive at the rear of the
-
Date
European Union's double whammy
YOUR extensive coverage of the 15 per cent increase in Swindon's council tax deserves a wider analysis, although I'm afraid it will provide little comfort, particularly to those on fixed/small incomes. The problem is caused by lack of central government
-
Date
Meeting like Brian Rix farce
THE recent meeting of the Swindon Borough Council which fixed community tax for the 2003/04 year turned out to be on the lines of a Brian Rix farce with one person abstaining and others failing to turn up to vote on this crucial issue. A farce it may
-
Date
Increases should be spread more fairly
Once again Swindon council have out-performed. Even after being given extra money from central Government council tax payers are paying 15 per cent more next year. My council tax has gone up by another £200 per year which is now some £600 more than five
-
Date
Museum can survive its flawed start
Today we wish Steam museum manager Andrew Lovett all the best for the future. Despite the obvious difficulties the museum has experienced in attracting enough visitors, he has done an excellent job in turning it into an award-winning attraction. And his
-
Date
Remember me?
DAREN Dykes accepts he may be seen as Swindon Town's 'forgotten man' but the youngster is hoping that the campaign run-in will allow him to show supporters the progress he has made out of the limelight. The 21-year-old summer capture from Buckingham Town
-
Date
Optician 'rushed' tests on elderly
AN OPTICIAN failed to carry out adequate sight tests on elderly people in Melksham and Swindon, a disciplinary inquiry heard. Philip Leeb du Toit, of Bryn-y-Gwenn, Abergavenny, is accused of rushing through eye tests on patients at Wemyss Lodge, Ermin
-
Date
Bank beefs up business operations in the town
BANK of Scotland Business Banking has expanded its operations in Swindon with the appointment of two senior business bankers to meet what it calls the growing demands of the small to medium-sized enterprise market in Wiltshire. Richard Sollis (right),
-
Date
Firms can learn how to stay safe
A NEW training company providing health and safety instruction for Swindon firms claims it can offer a one stop shop for local employers keen to improve safety awareness at work. Andy Ormston of AM Training Services, which is based at Eldene, said: "As
-
Date
Nine charged after protest
MARCH 11: NINE people have been charged following disturbances at RAF Fairford on Sunday. Some 19 peace protestors were arrested after an incident in which some demonstrators cut through the perimeter fence of the US airbase on Sunday afternoon. Police
-
Date
Optician 'rushed' tests on elderly
AN OPTICIAN failed to carry out adequate sight tests on elderly people in Melksham and Swindon, a disciplinary inquiry heard. Philip Leeb du Toit, of Bryn-y-Gwenn, Abergavenny, is accused of rushing through eye tests on patients at Wemyss Lodge, Ermin
-
Date
'Deprived, maybe, but I wouldn't swap it for the world'
Parks and Walcot is among the 10 most deprived areas of the country, according to the latest available figures. But it is an area undergoing regeneration, thanks to government funding, and the community is proud of what is being achieved. Andrea Magill
-
Date
Optician 'rushed' tests on elderly
AN OPTICIAN failed to carry out adequate sight tests on elderly people in Swindon and Melksham, a disciplinary inquiry heard. Philip Leeb du Toit, of Bryn-y-Gwenn, Abergavenny, is accused of rushing through eye tests on patients at Wemyss Lodge, Ermin
-
Date
Computer gang caught in the act
MASKED raiders tied up a security guard and stole thousands of pounds' worth of computer equipment from Motorola, a court heard. But they were immediately snared by police. Three were caught at Motorola, five were arrested nearby and two others involved
-
Date
Richards and Drewett are hat-trick heroes
MINETY 2nd defied the slippery conditions to put their Tetbury counterparts to the sword 67-0. The Wiltshire team ran in no fewer than 11 tries without reply, with hat-tricks for both No 8 Sean Richards and scrum-half Duncan Drewett. It was a good all-round
-
Date
STEAM manager resigns
THE FOUNDING manager of Swindon's loss-making Steam museum is to leave his post. Andrew Lovett today blamed a lack of promised investment for lower than expected visitor numbers at the attraction over the last three years. And he called for money to be
-
Date
Cannings' Final joy
DEVIZES-BASED All Cannings A became the first side to reach the final of the Chippenham & District Sunday League's Eric Hughes Memorial Knockout Cup after defeating Premier Division rivals Dog & Fox Ashley 2-1. Cannings, whose only other semi-final
-
Date
Craig's Cup Boost
Craig Sheppard scored a first-half hat- trick against AFC Corsham which saw his side, Warminster High-bury, into the final of this season's under 11 League Cup. The first half was close with Highbury taking a narrow 3-2 lead at the break. Highbury held
-
Date
Appleton hit United for six in cup upset
DIVISION FOUR Appleton (Abingdon) caused the shock of the day as they crushed Coleshill United of Division Two 6-0 in the War Memorial Cup. Greg Collins (2), Paul Haynes (2), Colin Haynes and Dave Cookson were the Appleton goal heroes. Kintbury Rangers
-
Date
The Boys Are Back in Town
EASTVILLE BOYS and AFC Mannigton will meet at Swindon Town's County Ground in the under 16 cup final. The two clubs booked their places in the end of season showpiece with wins over Brunel and Highworth respectively. UNDER 11 In-form Fairford were stopped
-
Date
Worthy Champions!
Worthington won the league's first title of the season when they were crowned champions of Division Three. They won the crown by beating their nearest challengers The Regent, 6-2 in an entertaining game. Worthington's hero was Derek Holmes, who hit a
-
Date
Vandals and rain disrupt league
RAIN-SOAKED pitches and the cancellation of matches at Moredon due to vandalism disrupted the league programme. There was no change at the top of Division 3 where top teams Penhill United and South Marston both won. Marston eased past Coleshill 4-0 with
-
Date
Relaxation zone now permanent
A CHANCE to briefly escape from the pressures of daily life is being offered to people in Swindon. The Baha'i religious group has set up its first permanent Tranquillity Zone in the town. Previously, members of the faith which believes that all of humanity
-
Date
Special thanks for donating blood
Members of Swindon Town Football Club are supporting the National Blood Service in its new campaign. The campaign, called "A Lot to Say Thank You For," aims to thank donors and blood service staff for all the good work they do. The launch will take place
-
Date
Look out Alan, Helen has the garden bug
AN AMATEUR gardener from Swindon could soon be rubbing shoulders with green-fingered stars Alan Titchmarsh and Monty Don at the BBC Gardeners' World Live Show 2003. Wiltshire Wildlife Trust volunteer, Helen Senior, 46, from Old Town has reached the final
-
Date
Neighbouring bars argue over damage
A ROW has erupted between two town centre bars over an unpaid bill to repair a damaged sign. Geoff Sherwood of Gangsters Pool and Snooker Club in Havelock Square claims builders working on the Apartment in November damaged the sign at the front of his
-
Date
Bride-to-be Lucy finds some flower power
EVENING Advertiser Bride of the Year Lucy Griffin has been spoiled for choice over the flowers for her wedding. For the seventh year, staff at George Lesley Flowers in Cricklade Road are offering their skill, advice and blooms to the winning bride. The
-
Date
Name change for school of Irish dancing
ONE of Swindon's best-known schools of Irish dancing has changed its name. The Maloney School of Irish Dancing is the new name of Park North's Celtic Academy of Irish Dancing. On Saturday at the Thistle Hotel in the town centre, the academy is to host
-
Date
The world is full of tyrannical leaders
I read with keen interest the comments of your young correspondent - Daniel Lake (EA 21 February 21) and would welcome the opportunity to comment on his letter. Daniel exercises a right to declare an opinion which is contrary to the one held by the people
-
Date
Protest now to save the ruddy duck
Many readers will have heard that thousands of ruddy ducks are to be shot under a government order because some are flying to Spain and allegedly mating with the endangered white headed duck, creating a genetically impure hybrid. Because of this the ruddy
-
Date
More organ donors needed to save lives
THROUGH your letters page, I should like to thank all the local residents of Swindon Borough Council who responded to the appeal for more organ donors received with their electoral roll return in the autumn. They have joined more than 10 million people
-
Date
Cyclists not using the paths
MAY I be allowed to comment on the article about cycle paths in your February 27 edition. The total expenditure on cycle paths funded by Central Government for the years 2000, 2001 and 2002 was £1,449,000. The schemes which you mention in your letter
-
Date
Time for them all to resign
MUCH has been made in your columns of the council tax increase for the next financial year and Swindon Borough Council's poor performance in recent years. Councillors responsible for both these situation have made all manner of excuses but as far as I
