Archive
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Firefighter is double a hero
SWINDON firefighter Les Jefferies is heroic on two counts. Firstly, his working life involves walking into situations most would run away from. Secondly, he is a bone marrow donor. Emulating the first form of heroism requires extensive training. Les's
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Rail users need much better deal
FIRST Great Western denies accusations from the Liberal Democrats that the extra staff it is taking on are "pen-pushers" and insists they will improve services to customers. We hope this is true. If ever any group of consumers deserved such improvements
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Keeping up a fine tradition
MORE than 50 property firm staff recently gathered at Fabio's restaurant in Old Town to enjoy an event that is now regarded as something of an institution. Celebrating its 15th year, the Old Town Property Professionals lunch was first set up to 'beat
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More help for smaller firms
A service which aims to put people at the heart of Swindon's 5,000-strong small business community is to be launched by Business Link Berkshire and Wiltshire in June. The Workforce Development Advisory Service (WDAS) is a new initiative designed to help
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Extra rail workers 'not pen pushers'
TRAIN fares have gone up as figures show that services between Swindon and London are getting worse. First Great Western, which serves Swindon on its routes between London Paddington and the South West and South Wales, introduced new prices on Sunday.
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Les to the rescue in different way
SWINDON fire fighter Les Jefferies is used to rescuing people. But now he may have saved the life of a complete stranger without even meeting him. Les, 48, of Westlea, donated bone marrow to a man suffering from leukaemia in the United States. He is the
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Our disappearing heritage
Swindon may not boast places of great historic interest, but many of the town's landmark buildings have been allowed to crumble away . . . The Hermitage Built in the 1850s, the once splendid house was situated on the edge of the Lawns. Since it closed
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Devizes' double act
Devizes Town Youth hit double figures in their latest Mid-Wilts Youth League Under 16 Red Division outing, running out 10-2 winners over Amesbury Juniors. Amesbury took the lead through Maggs, with Ashley Rake levelling just before the break. Nathan Moffatt
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Stratton Juniors pick up seven-a-side crown
Stratton Juniors travelled to Butlins at Minehead and came away with a national seven-a-side winners' trophy. Up against teams from as far afield as Manchester, Birmingham and Essex, they picked up the under nines honours. Stratton scored a total of 18
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Top class Bradon
There were goals galore in the Swindon Schools football finals at the County Ground last Thursday. The tone was set in the under 14 final, as Bradon Forest beat Dorcan 5-4 to win the cup. Ryan Child put the eventual winners ahead only for Sean Payne to
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Relay race will help fight child abuse
BODY Shop workers in Swindon are taking part in a national relay race to help vulnerable children. The route of the race, in aid of the Protect the Child charity, covers the length and breadth of the UK. Teams of self-employed workers who run the Body
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Frank breezes in and learns a new routine
BOXING superstar Frank Bruno swapped boxing gloves for Bollywood as he came to Swindon to launch a scheme for people returning to education. The former world heavyweight champion took part in a Bollywood dance workshop at New College to publicise the
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A charity born from one man's suffering
MACMILLAN APPEAL: IN 1911 a young man named Douglas Macmillan watched his father die of cancer. His father's pain and suffering moved Douglas, then aged 26, to call for basic standards for all people with cancer. He wanted advice and information for all
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£1 is all it will take!
SWINDON CANCER APPEAL: IF you've been touched by cancer in some way, help us in our campaign to raise cash to fund two Macmillan nurses who will make a real difference to local people in Swindon. This is not one of those appeals where your money simply
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Controversy over instant fines
UNPAID magistrates' court fines in Swindon totalled almost £573,000 last year. However, court officials do not believe that the introduction of on-the-spot fines by the end of the year will make a difference to the figure. The new fines of £40 and £80
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College joins soccer club to find stars of the future
THE SEARCH is on for the next Wayne Rooney as Swindon College continues its link up with top non-league side Forest Green Rovers. This will be the third year of the partnership that gives budding footballers the chance to train with and play in Rovers
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Thames Water issues guidlines to beat the bogus callers
A WATER company has issued a guide to customers on how to spot bogus doorstep callers. Thames Water, which serves Swindon, has produced a pack which lists steps to take when visited by people claiming to be from a water, gas, electricity or telephone
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Extra rail workers 'not pen pushers'
TRAIN fares have gone up as figures show that services between Swindon and London are getting worse. First Great Western, which serves Swindon on its routes between London Paddington and the South West and South Wales, introduced new prices on Sunday.
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Rain didn't stop parade
HEAVY rain marred the final weekend of Wootton Bassett Carnival, but that didn't stop crowds turning out to watch the Grand Procession. Spectators took cover under umbrellas and trees along Marlowe Way as costumes and floats became soaked. The sun did
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Royal letter on show
A LETTER signed by Queen Elizabeth I is the star attraction of a new exhibition in Wiltshire. The letter summoned Edward Seymour, a prominent Wiltshire and Devonshire aristocrat, to a meeting about Elizabeth's cousin, Mary Queen of Scots. The exhibition
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Talk gives a taste of volunteering
SUPPORTERS of the Council for Voluntary Service in North Wiltshire will explain their work in Wootton Bassett Library on Wednesday, June 4. The event coincides with National Volunteers' Week, which runs from June 1 to 7. They will talk about ways to volunteer
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Pledges not so personal
IN the days leading up to this month's election, I received a number of election addresses from our Tory candidate for St Margaret. I gather from friends in other wards, that they had received the same Tory "personal pledges" from their Tory candidates
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But Phil was never one to Tuff it out!
WELCOME to my first diary for the Evening Advertiser. And there's no shortage of material, what with Gloucestershire's start to the season and a certain cricketing celebrity being crowned King of the Jungle. I have to say I was glued to 'I'm A Celebrity
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Not cricket
IT just wasn't cricket in the Wiltshire League at the weekend as the weather tore through the scheduled programme with more than half of the matches cancelled or abandoned at tea. In Division One, Purton's poor start to the season continued as they were
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Priest to go?
THE future of Swindon Lynx Ice Hockey Club has been thrown into deeper doubt with player-coach Merv Priest looking set to leave the club. Only last month Priest, who scored 66 goals last season and was by far Swindon's most influential player, told the
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Now you can catch the bus to hospital
HIGHWORTH has been given an extra bus service to enable people to travel directly to the Great Western Hospital. Previously the town's residents had to change in central Swindon if they wanted to get to the hospital by bus. Brinkworth-based company Ad-Rains
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Lorry fire brings motorway misery
A LORRY fire brought traffic chaos to the M4 near Swindon, blocking two carriageways of the motorway for more than eight hours yesterday. Tailbacks on the London bound side of the motorway peaked at 13 miles, stretching back from junction 16. The lorry
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Wiltshire get Middleton lift
Wiltshire gave themselves a lift with victory in their final Middleton Cup trial match against Hampshire at Wootton Bassett on Sunday. Following defeats to Somerset and Oxfordshire in the first two trial matches, Wiltshire bounced back to record an impressive
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Business Forecast
James Emmett, HSBC branch manager for Swindon, casts his eye over the current economic climate. The fact that the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) opted to leave base rates on hold at its May meeting should not be taken to mean 'more of the same' as far
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Talk gives a taste of volunteering
SUPPORTERS of the Council for Voluntary Service in North Wiltshire will explain their work in Wootton Bassett Library on Wednesday, June 4. The event coincides with National Volunteers' Week, which runs from June 1 to 7. They will talk about ways to volunteer
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Rain didn't stop parade
HEAVY rain marred the final weekend of Wootton Bassett Carnival, but that didn't stop crowds turning out to watch the Grand Procession. Spectators took cover under umbrellas and trees along Marlowe Way as costumes and floats became soaked. The sun did
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a skate park is set for take off
A SCHEME to create Swindon's first skateboard park and a five-a- side football pitch in Haydon Wick has been unveiled. And the plan has been greeted enthusiastically by young skaters in the town. The £100,000 scheme, to transform land adjoining Haydonleigh
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Mother and hospital to meet on tissue samples
DIRECTORS of Swindon and Marlborough NHS Trust are to hold a meeting with Julie Pritchard after it is believed tissue samples of her dead baby son were disposed of during the hospital move. Mrs Pritchard, 42, lost her baby son Brendan 20 years ago only
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Farmers meet over wood burning plant
PLANS for a green power station in Swindon are to be unveiled before hundreds of farmers at a meeting today. More than 200 farmers have been invited to an open day at Roves Farm, in Seven-hampton, to hear about a scheme to build one of the first wood-fuelled
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Lorry fire brings motorway misery
A LORRY fire brought traffic chaos to the M4 near Swindon, blocking two carriageways of the motorway for more than eight hours yesterday. Tailbacks on the London bound side of the motorway peaked at 13 miles, stretching back from junction 16. The lorry
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Web eye on Mechanics'
THERE are fears that other historic buildings in Swindon are fire hazards after the blaze at the former Locarno and Town Hall buildings. Martha Parry, co-ordinator of the Mechanics' Institution Preservation Trust, said: "The Trust has been worried that
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It's safe
This is all that's left of Old Town's Locarno. But this charred shell can be saved. DESPITE a devastating fire, the landmark Locarno and town hall buildings were today declared safe. And the multi-million pound plan to redevelop the buildings still looks
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Cirencester's roll of honour
Cirencester's Youth Section held their annual meeting and presentation of club awards at the club's Whiteway ground. In a season which saw Cirencester's under nines, 11s and 12s win their County Festival age groups, more than 250 boys represented the
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Grange boys in Rotary success
GRANGE Junior School (pictured right) triumphed at the annual Rotary Club of Swindon six-a-side tournament. The event organised by Old Town Under 11s and sponsored by the M4 Van Centre and Nationwide Building Society was held at Goddard Park School and
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Green Baize snookered
LAVA LOUNGE dethroned the grand old men of Green Baize at the Swindon Town six-a-side tournament on Sunday. The final of the Peter Godwin Memorial Trophy pitted the Lounge's current crop of semi-professional stars against Green Baize's greats of yesteryear
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Trophy time
The big winners in the Cirencester & District Youth League picked up their trophies at the annual presentation on Sunday and then allowed some of their rivals a taste of glory in the end of season six-a-side tournament. The champions of each division
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Five-star performance from Selectabook
Selectabook retained the John Strickland Memorial Cup for the second consecutive season with a 5-1 win over Bar OC. In a rather stale first half it took the Bookmen 44 minutes to break down the Bar defence when David Lloyd drew out the keeper Jason Edwards
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Now you can catch the bus to hospital
HIGHWORTH has been given an extra bus service to enable people to travel directly to the Great Western Hospital. Previously the town's residents had to change in central Swindon if they wanted to get to the hospital by bus. Brinkworth-based company Ad-Rains
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Roundabout should stay
CAMPAIGNERS who fought to see an Old Town roundabout reinstated are confident it will pass a six-month traffic review. The roundabout was put back in March following a long battle by people living and working near the junction. They were unhappy after
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Changes approved as school term dates are announced
THE term dates for the 2004 to 2005 academic year in Wiltshire's schools have now been set. Wiltshire County Council introduced changes after the Local Government Association recommended that a standard school year be introduced throughout England and
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Charity ball raises £40k for causes
THIS year's Marriott Charity Ball raised around £40,000 for good causes. The hotel played host to about 200 revellers for the ball, which is in its 14th year. They paid £70 a head to attend the dance at the Piper's Way hotel, and boosted the total raised
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A better deal for disabled visitors
DISABLED aviation fans have helped Royal International Air Tattoo organisers improve facilities at this year's event on July 19 and 20. Organisers of the show at RAF Fairford have met disabled groups to outline planned improvements. These include more
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The heat's on in the great curry contest
THE fight to be named Swindon's best curry house has begun. For the third year running Swindon Borough Council is encouraging Indian restaurants in the town to enter the National Curry Chef Competition. The contest offers entrants the chance to show off
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Would justice be served if court workers dressed more informally?
PROPOSALS to scrap the formal dress worn in courts have met with a cool response from lawyers and court workers in Swindon. The Lord Chancellor is currently carrying out a consultation on whether to scrap the wigs and gowns worn by judges and barristers
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Zac captures the rescue of trapped fox on video
SCHOOLBOY Zac Baker had never seen a live fox before he helped rescue one caught in barbed wire. Nine-year-old Zac and his father, Peter, went into action after a horse rider spotted the cub tangled in a fence. And while Peter carefully removed the wire
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Council to pay up after mast blunder
SWINDON Council will have to pay about £120,000 after admitting an administrative blunder that saw a mobile phone mast controversially erected on a telephone exchange in Stratton St Margaret. And among the seven families in line for compensation payments
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Cars a target
YOU report that the police, with their usual discriminatory zeal, have yet again targeted motorists, this time for speeding. It is apparent that they take it upon themselves to decide which elements of Acts of Parliament they will enforce. Graffiti criminals
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So where was my CD?
I wish to complain about the trickery of the Daily Express on Saturday May 10. It had on the front page 'Free CD Inside' but to my amazement there was no CD in any of their papers. I asked the store keeper if he knew about this and he said no so I think
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Your pension will be worthless
In response to MJ Warner's pensions explanations, can I make the following observations: I am not as he says a pensioner, but I am in receipt of a full military pension, which goes up every year on April 1, so how does the September ruling come into it
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A truly superb show
CONGRATULATIONS to everyone involved with Stagestruck (Wyvern Theatre last night) once again producing a superb night of entertainment. It's unfair to single any one person out as all were brilliant. Lovely voices, great humour, super costumes and scenery
