Archive
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Work in the park puts firm on awards shortlist
SWINDON company RWE npower has been shortlisted for an award for its work on Lydiard Park. The energy firm based at Windmill Hill has been a mainstay of the Lydiard Park project, which aims to return the grounds of the house to their former grandeur.
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Spacecraft to probe mysteries
THERE are just 10 days to go before scientists begin unravelling the mysteries of Saturn's moon, Titan. Next week, a miniature space-craft, called Huygens, will enter the atmosphere of Titan and land on its yet unknown surface as part of a massive project
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Lost dog spotted but still at large
AN ANIMAL-lover who lost her dog is appealing to readers of the Evening Advertiser for help. Georgina Higgs, 59, lost her four-year-old miniature pinscher, called Amber, while taking her for a walk last Tuesday. An appeal in the Advertiser on Friday has
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Bug patients are told to stay away
FOR most people today should have meant a return to work but many in Swindon are still bedridden by a mystery bug. And with GP surgeries across the town claiming to have been swamped by patients with flu-like symptoms the Great Western Hospital is asking
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'Legal kerb crawling zones should be debated'
A SWINDON councillor has called for action on prostitution. Coun David Glaholm (Lab, Penhill) says it is time for a sensible debate about how to tackle vice including possibly setting up zones where the women could work the street legally. He has also
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'It's only a matter of time
Ref. 19545-17FIRST it was hearing problems caused by working in noisy areas. Now lawyers have revealed for the first time that many former workers at Swindon Pressings were also exposed to asbestos and have developed lung conditions as a result. Solicitors
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Supermarineare back on the Mark!
SUPERMARINE bounced back from their 4-0 New Year's Day drubbing by Clevedon to grab a welcome 1-0 victory at Thame United in Division One West. Former Swindon Town striker Mark Draycott netted the winner on 74 minutes. The loss to Clevedon was a blip
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Constable's on the beat for White
JAMES Constable came off the bench and within a minute struck the winner at Chesham to give Chippenham Town a 3-2 victory . It maintained Chippenham's superb record on the road and was their ninth away Southern Premier Division League success of the season
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Here for a laugh
RADIO comedian Jeremy Hardy is to appear at the Arts Centre next month. Jeremy, who has been a stand up comic at the Montreal Comedy Festival and at the Edinburgh Fringe, is also a regular panellist on Radio 4 in programmes such as Just a Minute and I'm
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Help with the planting
THE NEXT tree planting in the Great Western Community Forest will take place in March. It will take place on Saturday March 5 at Purton Wood in Moulden Hill from 10am to 3pm. Community members are invited to help plant about 3,000 trees, adding to the
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Blessings bear fruit in orchard
THE festivities may be over but in Penhill there were celebrations of a different kind with the annual wassail ceremony. The ceremony held on Sunday was held to bless the Penhill orchard, which is off Leigh Road. It was planted in 2003 as part of a healthy
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Meet the police
POLICE will hold a surgery for Gorse Hill residents next month. WPC Vicky Floyd and community support officer Sarah Young will be at the community centre in Chapel Street from 10am to noon on the second of every month, unless the date falls on a weekend
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Old favourite goes trendy
SWINDON Young Actors are to perform a modern adaptation of a Shakespeare classic. The group will be performing the play Twelfth Night, with some slight differences. Their version will be set on the party island of Illyria, where familiar characters frequent
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Book launched to help carers
CHARITY Age Concern has launched a book to arm family carers with expert information and advice. Jo Osorio, director of Age Concern Swindon, said most people who care for someone in their own home are not specially trained for the role. But book Caring
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Cash boost for ideas
GRANTS are available to help give communities a boost. The Scarman Trust South West has funding packages of up to £2,000 available to help develop a range of new ventures. The trust wants to hear from anyone who has a desire to change their local community
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Vandals smash war memorial
Ref. 74406-14VILLAGERS in South Cerney are angry and disgusted after their war memorial was smashed. The 12-foot stone memorial, which has been in the village for more than 80 years, was destroyed on New Year's Eve. Kris Welsh, the supervisor at the Londis
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Comedian Cyril Fletcher dies aged 91
VETERAN comedian and broadcaster Cyril Fletcher has died aged 91. He passed away peacefully in his sleep at his home in Guernsey after a short illness, his friend Michael Pointon said. Fletcher had a career, which covered theatre, radio and television
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New Year trouble fuelled by booze
POLITICIANS have vowed to help cut crime figures next New Year's Eve after another year's celebrations ended in booze-fuelled trouble. This year 24 people were arrested, with binge drinking largely to blame. Seven were arrested for assault, seven for
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Talk on the horrors of Holocaust
PURTON Historical Society will be looking at life during the Holocaust. The group is holding a special talk called Reflections On Auschwitz, presented by Frank Strange, with an introduction by Paul Booy, to mark Holocaust Day. It takes place at St Mary's
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Palestine powwow by peace traveller
TEACHER and trainer Rosemary Read will give her personal observations about life in Palestine at a lecture this month. Rosemary will consider how the birthplace of three of the world's major faiths has become a place of violence and distrust and what
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Elderly prefer a cup of tea to snuggling up
THE cold weather is dampening the devotion of Swindon's elderly. A recent survey, carried out in Swindon by Powergen Staywarm, shows that the colder than average temperatures are forcing them to keep warm by making themselves a cup of tea or coffee rather
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Countryside ramblers walk off the festive excesses
MORE than 70 people enjoyed the fresh air on New Year's Day walk in Wiltshire. A total of 76 people turned up for the walk, organised by the local Ramblers' Association group. The five-mile walk on New Year's Day morning from Bishopstone took 48 people
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Disgusted!
I AM glad Mrs S Ricks wrote to you on the use of toilets in stores, ie Littlewoods, which I noted wasn't mentioned. I tried to use the amenities and was appalled to find them locked. I approached one of the staff and was told I had to use the restaurant
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This was not the right word
I believe your newspaper owes Roger Reeves an apology for the apalling headline announcing his MBE (It's Thanks To My Jean Says Mr Humble, EA 31/12). You have grossly insulted a member of the community who has given up so much of his life in helping so
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Do it again
GRANT SMITH'S two-goal salvo against Bradford City has guaranteed him the opportunity to impress against Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday. But Andy King has challenged the Scotsman to prove he has all the necessary midfield tools in his locker to earn
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Turn that bright idea into reality
HELP is at hand for any budding young entrepreneurs who has made it their New Year resolution to get a company off the ground. Business Link Berkshire and Wiltshire (BLBW) says its research has shown more new businesses registered in Swindon last year
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City holidaymakers in 'killer wave' disaster
SALISBURY holidaymakers are among the thousands of tourists who were caught up in the Asian tsunami disaster. Many were enjoying a Christmas break at resorts in Thailand, Sri Lanka and the Maldives when an earthquake off the coast of Indonesia measuring
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Tenants asked for opinions
SWINDON Council tenants are being asked how they would like their tenancy agreements changed in 2005. A focus group of tenants, officers and councillors are working together to see how the existing tenancy agreement can be changed. It wants to know what
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Still no word from missing girl
Ref. 74400-07FEARS are growing for the safety of a Swindon teenager who has still not been in contact with her family since going missing on Christmas Eve. Sixteen-year-old Cherelle has not been seen since she disappeared at noon on Christmas Eve from
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Refuge enjoys silent nights
CHRISTMAS 2004 was one of the quietest on record for staff at Swindon Women's Refuge. Police and other lifeline services normally dread the festive period when tempers are more likely to fray due to booze binges. But according to Jenni Manners, manager
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Shock find in new trousers
Ref. 74415-67AN angry mum is warning parents to check children's clothing before buying it from a Swindon supermarket after discovering a craft knife in a pair of trousers she was about to give to her son. Christine McFarlane said that five-year-old Conor
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Calne take stock after big victory
HIGH-FLYING Calne Town thumped Almondsbury 5-1 to keep up the pressure on Screwfix Direct Division One leaders Radstock Town. The convincing victory took them to within three points of Radstock but with three games in hand. "We bounced back and played
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Bassett snatch a point in derby
BASEMENT club Wootton Bassett grabbed a vital point in a 1-1 draw with Fairford in their battle against relegation from the Hellenic Premier Division. Dave Tyler gave the home side the lead, scoring against his former team, inside the first quarter of
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Gordon finds the time for nursery
Gordon BrownA SWINDON nursery is preparing for the arrival of a VIP tomorrow. Gordon Brown will be dropping into Swindon Sure Start as part of a whistle-stop nationwide tour before jetting off to countries affected by the Asian tsunami. The Chancellor
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University offers a chance to brush up on your skills
THE University of Bath in Swindon has launched an array of evening classes and day schools for 2005. Courses such as creative sculpture, setting up a website, and Chinese philosophy, are being run by the university to provide residents with opportunities
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Get your feet muddy
THE Swindon Services wildlife rangers team is looking for more volunteers to help conserve the town's open spaces. The tasks involved include fencing and footpath repairs, wetland and woodland and hay meadow management. You can give as much time as you
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Caravan gutted
FIRE destroyed a caravan parked in Fareford Lane in Cricklade. Firefighters from Cricklade were called to the blaze at about 7pm on Sunday and put it out. Police are investigating the cause of the fire. Anyone with information can phone Swindon police
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Thieves grab charity cash
Ref. 74416-94Thieves who hurled a large boulder through the window of a Swindon estate agents made off with a charity collection bucket. Staff at Connells Estate Agents, on Orbital Retail Park, said the rock used to smash the glass panel in the door was
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Yuppy flats on schedule at Atrium
BUILDING work to turn a disused town centre building into luxury apartments is on schedule, according to a developer. The redundant Atrium building at the junction of Princes Street and Beckhampton Street, which has now been stripped back to its frame
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Red tape holds up God's new man in Swindon
THE name of Swindon's next bishop won't be announced until early February because of administration delays. John Lloyd, the spokesman for the Diocese of Bristol which covers Swindon, said: "The name is absolutely confirmed and I gather that all the necessary
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Couple withhold council payment
Ref. 74412-11A SWINDON couple are prepared to be taken to court over a dispute about the communal hallway outside their flat. Matt and Elanor Keeble bought a former council flat on Staple-ford Way, Penhill, early last year and have refused to pay the
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Security at store is improved after raid
A SWINDON store has beefed up security after a knifepoint raid left them shaken. Defiant newsagent Tina Harfield, 55, sent the youth packing after whacking him with an axe handle. Now her and husband Trevor, who owns the store in Grange Drive, Stratton
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Another grand picture reunion
Ref. 74255-12 Peter Setchell with his lost holiday snapsPHOTOGRAPHS are usually kept safe to be shared with family and friends as memorable reminders of good times. But these snapshots came close to never seeing the light of day. They are among the many
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What do you think about council tax?
SWINDON residents are being urged to attend a public meeting about council tax tonight. The meeting comes as Swindon Council considers £10m of cuts to try to keep this year's council tax increase down. Residents at tonight's meeting, or another on January
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Holidaymakers pledge to their saviour
A SWINDON couple who survived the Asian tsunami have pledged to send £50 a month to a man who helped rescue them. Debbie Donkin, 44, and Pip Reeves, 47, of Old Town told the Adver how they thought they were going to die when the waves struck their hotel
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Pub-to-pub run to raise money
Ref. 24061-113SWINDON Iron Man Brian Hall has set himself a new challenge to raise money for victims of the tsunami. Brian, 22, will take to the streets of Swindon this week to raise money. So on Thursday the fitness fanatic will be running from pub to
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Global push to stem the tide
AIRCREWS and personnel from RAF Lyneham have been dispatched to the Sri Lankan capital Columbo to help with the international aid effort. Hercules transport planes from the Wilt-shire base have flown to the Indian Ocean island to carry aid and equipment
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A trophy treat for soccer fans
AS the title race hots up football fans now have the chance to see the real Premiership trophy in Swindon today. Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United are scrapping it out in a bid to be crowned champions in May. But Swindon shoppers can get in first
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Life behind iron curtain
A TALK on life in Moscow during the cold war is being held in Cricklade later this month. Pat Smith, a member of the town's Women's Insitute, will be telling the group about her experiences when she lived behind the iron curtain for several years. The
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No cheer here
MAY I pass on my thoughts about Christmas? A time of goodness and happiness (allegedly), so what does the BBC give us on Christmas morning? A story about a woman having her head chopped off, and the axeman had to have a second go because he failed, and
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No repeat for this TV serial
We were discussing the other evening about some of the good programmes that had not been repeated on television which should have been. My wife said that she believed Howard's Way was one of those. She informed me that it was, to the best of her knowledge
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Card comments are true today
much has been written about the New Labour's proposal to introduce Identity Cards, supported by the current Home Secretary and his immediate predecessor. Perhaps it is relevant to recall the words of a former Labour Home Secretary, who in 1974 declared
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We must look after the future
RW Selway is bang on with his comments in his recent letter. The virtual disarmament by European nations which followed World War One led directly to World War Two. That happened because no nation was left strong enough to stop newly rearmed Germany,
