Archive
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Claims speeded by new software
RESIDENTS in North Wiltshire can look forward to a faster response to benefit their inquiries. North Wiltshire District Council's housing benefit and council tax teams are about to switch to a new software package to process benefit claims and charge
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Film show
THERE will be another opportunity to enjoy a wildlife film show at Coombe Bissett village hall on Tuesday, February 15, at 2.30pm. Organisers have received several requests for a repeat performance of Coombe Bissett Nature Reserve and An African Adventure
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Warning on hoax charities
BOGUS charities could be using the tsunami disaster to target unsuspecting members of the public, Wiltshire trading standards officers warned this week. The county council's trading standards department urged people to be aware that the tsunami crisis
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John goes digital to spin up cash
John Sandford-Hart on the hand-cycle he covered 76.6 miles on for the tsunami fund. 27/1/5SUFFERING terrible leg injuries in a power boating accident didn't stop determined John Sandford-Hart from doing his bit for the tsunami fund - not once, but three
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Villagers learn ancient craft of hedge-laying
Volunteers from Porton and Wiltshire Wildlife Trust's Martin Gilchrist (third from left) and Nicky Warden (crouching, right) help restore the Jubilee Walk hedgerow. 27/1/5VILLAGERS in Porton had the chance to learn the craft of traditional hedge-laying
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Figheldean Fairies reach for the stars
TWO local teams of youngsters swept the board at the Young Eagles skydiving competition at Netheravon. And, the competitors had a celebrity skydiver to award them their medals - none other than Simon Thomas, of television's Blue Peter fame. Now in its
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School celebrates national ICT award
UPPER Avon School, at Durrington, has become the first secondary school in Wiltshire to receive the nationally recognised Naacemark award. It is one of 263 schools across 84 Local Education Authorities to achieve the award. The Naacemark is an award that
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Achtung! One of our councillors is missing
A SALISBURY district councillor has been condemned by his constituents after he moved to Germany but didn't give up his seat. Conservative Henry Bojdys was paid an allowance of £3,840 to represent Durrington last year, even though he was living in another
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Arts centre in final fundraising push
MORE than a year after renovation work started, Salisbury Arts Centre is gearing up for its final stage of fundraising, before a grand relaunch. A final £45,000 needs to be secured to enable the release of £172,800 from the Arts Council, before the centre
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Good-quality books wanted
SALISBURY SPCK is holding a book sale in aid of the tsunami appeal, on Friday and Saturday next week, 10am to 4pm, in the United Reformed Church. All money raised will go to Merlin - a British medical relief organisation already at work in stricken areas
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You just can get staff nowadays
A business that has a plan to become a £100 million company used a Swindon recruitment firm. The Consortium, which has a 100,000sq ft warehouse in Trowbridge, employed SJC Recruitment, in Commercial Road. Sara Child from SJC said: "The Consortium took
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Next stop London for photo exhibition
A PHOTOGRAPHIC exhibition that captures the human cost of the Asian earthquake was successfully launched in Salisbury, on Saturday. Several hundred people visited the medieval hall to view the pictures taken by Clare Allen Crook, who had a miraculous
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Tsunami funds keep rolling in
IT has been another bumper week for Salisbury's busy fundraisers, as the money keeps rolling in for the tsunami relief effort. People of all ages have been joining together to help the victims of the disaster, and more events are planned for the coming
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Building on experience
GEORGE Wimpey South West has created a new field sales team appointing Kerry Jordan as field sales manager and Linda McMahon as assistant field sales manager for the south west. The Swindon office of the house builder, which in the south west is based
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Super-scarf makes a heart-warming sight
Salisbury Cathedral was transformed into a spectacular sea of colour on Tuesday, when a 2,000ft-long scarf was draped up and down the central aisle. It was the result of an appeal launched by BBC Radio Wiltshire, encouraging listeners to knit squares
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Day centres face closure threat
TWO day centres in Salisbury that support and help people with mental health problems face closure, as the south Wiltshire primary care trust battles to save £1.5m. Saying it is modernising mental health services, the PCT is proposing to cut funding for
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Please help save my life
Sean Sadler, who desperately needs a life saving bone marrow transplant with his wife PatA CANCER sufferer has made a desperate appeal to Swindon residents to become bone marrow donors. Sean Sadler, 39, who worked as a builder in Swindon before he was
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Honda car sales are continuing to increase
JAPANESE car firm Honda has become the UK's second highest selling Japanese car producer, overtaking Nissan. Toyota still remains number one. The company, which has its main UK manufacturing plant at South Marston near Swindon, saw their 2004 UK passenger
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New health chief faces an exciting challenge
Dr Ruth HallAVON, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Strategic Health Authority has named its new director of public health. Dr Ruth Hall, is currently the chief Medical officer for Wales and will become the region's new director of public health from June
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Police pleased at cut in gun crime
Andy TatumSWINDON'S most senior police officer has welcomed new figures showing Wiltshire has bucked the national trend on gun crime. While gun crime rose by five per cent across the rest of the country, incidents in Wiltshire fell by 12 per cent. Swindon's
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Kick the yob families out!
75762-7DEMANDS are being made to kick the parents of yobs who have been vandalising Penhill community centre out of their homes. Thugs have begun breaking in regularly and running riot. Three windows have been smashed, storerooms forced open and sweets
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Blizzards fail to stop Peter retaining title
THE restaging of ISIS AC's Christmas match was fished in appalling conditions after overnight blizzards. The 10 anglers who braved the conditions found the river with a good clear colour. Peter Gilbert repeated last year's success by winning again. Fishing
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Relief for student as his stolen notes are found
Ref. 75775-23A STUDENT has said a big thank-you to the man who found his stolen A-level notes. Nicholas Sutton, 18, a sixthformer at St Joseph's School, was delighted when postman Andrew Allen contacted him to say he had found the bag of notes dumped
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His memory will live on with our love
MEMORIES of a loving husband and doting dad will live on through his baby daughter. Simon Jones died in a head-on car crash leaving behind his devoted wife Sally and their 19-month-old daughter Ellie. As she struggled to come to terms with the tragedy
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Chance to give blood
Three blood donation sessions are taking place in Swindon in February at the following times. On February 8 there will be a session at The Premier Club in Ermin Street, Stratton, from 1.15pm to 3.25pm and 4.30pm to 7.30pm. On February 9 there will be
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Award for a special print firm
A PRINTING service staffed by people with disabilities has been given the 2004 Supplier of the Year award by one of its commercial customers. The Enterprise Works printing department, which is part of Swindon Council, was given the award by Print Ginger
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Disabled get good service
SERVICES in Wiltshire for people with disabilities are among the best in England according to a survey. Wiltshire County Council took a sample of 300 service users as part of a national initiative, and the survey results nationally were compiled by the
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Honda car sales are continuing to increase
JAPANESE car firm Honda has become the UK's second highest selling Japanese car producer, overtaking Nissan. Toyota still remains number one. The company, which has its main UK manufacturing plant at South Marston near Swindon, saw their 2004 UK passenger
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Talk gives peace a chance
PEACE campaigner Bruce Kent will speak at a public meeting in Swindon next week. The meeting has been organised by Swindon Stop The War Coalition and will be chaired by Lord Stoddard of Swindon. The meeting is at 7.30pm on Tuesday, February 1, at the
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School shares greener ideas
75770-26A SWINDON school where nothing is thrown away is to hold an eco conference to show others how it's done. Covingham Infants School has a no-rubbish policy and recycles virtually every material used in the school. It has its own compost heap and
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Get online and keep in touch
75684-20A SWINDON company has set itself a big challenge to make sure every adult in Britain knows how to use the internet. The British Computer Society wants to banish technophobia with the launch of the new E-Citizen qualification designed for people
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College stages muscial mayhem
75778-32BUGSY Malone and his mob of pint-sized gangsters are to wreak havoc in Dorcan. Young actors will be transforming Dorcan Technology College into 1920s New York, where a turf war rages between rivals Fat Sam and Dandy Dan. More than 60 performers
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Danger fear over mopeds
A SENIOR police officer fears it is just a matter of time before another pedestrian is badly injured by a stolen moped. Inspector Willie Glasgow, of Swindon police, is concerned that a craze for stealing the bikes could lead to a repeat of an accident
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'Don't close our school'
75750-13PARENTS whose children attend a pre-school which is threatened with closure are devastated by the news. Westlea Pre-School could close by 2007, if a proposal to shut Westlea Primary School goes ahead. The pre-school is run independently as a charitable
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Tasty way to help funds for victims
75778-55TSUNAMI ACTION: OWNERS of Indian restaurants in Swindon joined forces to cook up funds for the tsunami disaster appeal. Last night 17 curry houses from the Swindon area donated their profits to the British Red Cross, which is working in the affected
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I feel like a real star in Mel's dress
75772-170TSUNAMI ACTION: A SWINDON woman was delighted to discover she fitted into Melinda Messenger's dress after a friend bid for it in the Evening Advertiser's tsunami auction, which ended on Friday. Sarah Townsend-Hunt, 32, of Lower Stratton, says
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Can I come to sing for you?
A LETTER sent by world famous singer Paul Simon appealing for work from a Swindon folk club has surfaced. The plea for a gig was sent to the Swindon Folk Singing Club in 1964 and has now been uncovered by the Wiltshire and Swindon Record Office. Paul
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Help them out
ONCE again you have reported about gangs of youths making life hell for traders and residents. Not all youths are thugs and troublemakers and I strongly object to them all being stereotyped. I have two teenagers myself and they are not out to cause trouble
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Anger voiced
MIKE Squires tells us how railways have changed but missed some of the worst examples (EA Letters, January 21). Can anything be more annoying than that awful automated waffle we are subjected to both at stations and on trains? One of the pleasures of
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Remnants of an ancient giant
SAVERNAKE Forest may seem huge to visitors lost in its maze of roads and rides, but it is only a fraction of its original size. The former royal hunting forest now has a circumference of some 16 miles but was once 15 times bigger and stretched from Hungerford
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Sacred heart of a green place
MOST towns have a sacred centre around which they grew up and in Marlborough that special place is called The Green. Sadly this lawned area with its avenue of pollarded lime trees is split in half by the main Swindon-Salisbury road. If ever the long-promised
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Cannon shot leaves its mark
HISTORIANS in Marlborough are proud of the fact that that town had its own Civil War battle, probably more accurately referred to as a skirmish. The town was largely Parliamentarian and was regarded as a strategic place because of its position aside the
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Out and about in a tourist's paradise
Avebury's stone circles lie within half an hour's drive of MarlboroughVISITORS basing themselves in Marlborough and Pewsey find themselves surrounded by so much history and so many places to visit that it's hard to know where to start. A good place is
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Ladies celebrate 21 years of holy dusting
ALL the best houses have ladies who come in and do the cleaning - and the house of the Lord is apparently no exception. Salisbury Cathedral has its own team of self-proclaimed holy dusters who, for the last 21 years, have turned up religiously every day
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King makes plea after LDV shocker
DEFIANT Andy King is calling for unity after a section of supporters turned on him during last night's depressing LDV Vans Trophy exit at Southend United. More than 300 fans made the trip to a bitterly cold Roots Hall and the nature of Town's 2-0 defeat
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Kind-hearted youngster sells his Christmas presents to aid appeal
A KIND-HEARTED eight-year-old showed that you are never too young to help others, when he sold his toys and books to raise money for the victims of the tsunami. Christian Judd ran a stall at St Michael's Church, Winterbourne Earls, last Sunday, and made
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Good-quality books wanted
SALISBURY SPCK is holding a book sale in aid of the tsunami appeal, on Friday and Saturday next week, 10am to 4pm, in the United Reformed Church. All money raised will go to Merlin - a British medical relief organisation already at work in stricken areas
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Asia quake: A test of faith?
THE Asian Tsunami and the effect it has had on peoples' faith is to be the subject of two seminars at Sarum College, in Salisbury's Cathedral Close, on Wednesday, February 16. The seminars will be held under the title Faith - Shaken Or Stirred? Responding
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Next stop London for photo exhibition
A PHOTOGRAPHIC exhibition that captures the human cost of the Asian earthquake was successfully launched in Salisbury, on Saturday. Several hundred people visited the medieval hall to view the pictures taken by Clare Allen Crook, who had a miraculous
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Tsunami funds keep rolling in
IT has been another bumper week for Salisbury's busy fundraisers, as the money keeps rolling in for the tsunami relief effort. People of all ages have been joining together to help the victims of the disaster, and more events are planned for the coming
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Day centres face closure threat
TWO day centres in Salisbury that support and help people with mental health problems face closure, as the south Wiltshire primary care trust battles to save £1.5m. Saying it is modernising mental health services, the PCT is proposing to cut funding for
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TiC forced to close by yobs
YOBS hanging around Amesbury tourist information centre are intimidating staff and disrupting their work. The problem has proved so bad in recent weeks that the centre has twice been forced to close its doors early and turn away customers. Sheila Warrander
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School plans for uniform anger parent
PROPOSED changes to the uniform at the Stonehenge School have been labelled undemocratic and expensive by an Amesbury parent. Caroline Pollard, who lives in Beverley Hills, said the school should have sought the views of parents and pupils, as the new
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Revival gathers steam as Whites stun the leaders
SALISBURY City caused one of the upsets of the season when they humbled runaway Ryman Premier Division leaders Yeading on Saturday. Robbie Matthews and Craig Davis scored for Whites in a memorable 2-1 win over the hosts who earlier this month were the
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Pub's closure brings misery
AFTER experiencing one of the "most miserable and unhappiest Christmas and New Year periods for more than 200 years", villagers in Fovant are pressing for their one and only pub to reopen. The closure of the Pembroke Arms "punched a gaping hole" into
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School unveils extra facilities
The Bishop of Ramsbury with headteacher Amanda Macey and pupils at the official opening of Chilmark and Fonthill Bishop Primary School's new facilities. 27/1/5ONE of Chilmark's oldest residents revisited her childhood when she helped open a new building
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Former headteacher reaches 104
STAFF and residents at the Kimberley House nursing home in Salisbury celebrated a special event on Saturday - the 104th birthday of Jane Powell. Mrs Powell, a headteacher who retired 44 years ago, before some of the nursing home staff were even born,
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Traffic diversion causes safety fears for villagers
Heavy traffic in Whiteparish. 27/1/5CONCERNED villagers say it is only a matter of time before a pedestrian is knocked down in Whiteparish, as increased traffic thunders along the narrow roads. Commuters face weeks of traffic misery while the A36 remains
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'Homes for All' is welcomed
A BREAKTHROUGH for struggling first-time buyers was announced by government this week. Deputy prime minister John Prescott outlined Labour's five-year action plan on Monday - which focuses on boosting the amount of affordable housing and home ownership
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Film show
THERE will be another opportunity to enjoy a wildlife film show at Coombe Bissett village hall on Tuesday, February 15, at 2.30pm. Organisers have received several requests for a repeat performance of Coombe Bissett Nature Reserve and An African Adventure
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Kind-hearted youngster sells his Christmas presents to aid appeal
A KIND-HEARTED eight-year-old showed that you are never too young to help others, when he sold his toys and books to raise money for the victims of the tsunami. Christian Judd ran a stall at St Michael's Church, Winterbourne Earls, last Sunday, and made
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Starting a lawn firm
FORMER RAF airman and Honda worker Simon Roberts of Swindon is setting up a lawn care firm. Simon has bought the Swindon and West Oxon franchise for lawn care firm TruGreen. He said: "Not everyone has the time, equipment or expertise to maintain a lush
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Asia quake: A test of faith?
THE Asian Tsunami and the effect it has had on peoples' faith is to be the subject of two seminars at Sarum College, in Salisbury's Cathedral Close, on Wednesday, February 16. The seminars will be held under the title Faith - Shaken Or Stirred? Responding
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Youthful outlook
CONNEXIONS Wiltshire and Swindon's new chief executive has pledged to work closely with businesses to help the local economy. Rabindra Shah, will work in Chippenham. He takes over the youth advice and support service for 13 to 19-year-olds from Doreen
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Warning on hoax charities
BOGUS charities could be using the tsunami disaster to target unsuspecting members of the public, Wiltshire trading standards officers warned this week. The county council's trading standards department urged people to be aware that the tsunami crisis
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John goes digital to spin up cash
John Sandford-Hart on the hand-cycle he covered 76.6 miles on for the tsunami fund. 27/1/5SUFFERING terrible leg injuries in a power boating accident didn't stop determined John Sandford-Hart from doing his bit for the tsunami fund - not once, but three
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Tax-free charity lift
CHILDREN'S charity Barnado's South West has called on business to take advantage a new incentive for payroll giving. From this week small and medium-sized firms will be eligible for a one-off Government payment between £300 and £500, to match employee
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Real Affinity at marketing firm
Marketing communications firm Holly Benson has been sold for £2.36 million. Holly Benson has two sites in Wootton Bassett, one on the Dorcan industrial estate and also offices in Oxford and Milton Keynes. The company has 50 staff, with 18 in Swindon and
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Baby death trial doctor denies misconduct
A HOME Office pathologist, accused of providing misleading evidence that wrongly convicted a mother of murdering her two babies, appeared before the General Medical Council, this week. Dr Alan Williams wrongly claimed that solicitor Sally Clark - the
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Achtung! One of our councillors is missing
A SALISBURY district councillor has been condemned by his constituents after he moved to Germany but didn't give up his seat. Conservative Henry Bojdys was paid an allowance of £3,840 to represent Durrington last year, even though he was living in another
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New health chief faces an exciting challenge
Dr Ruth HallAVON, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Strategic Health Authority has named its new director of public health. Dr Ruth Hall, is currently the chief Medical officer for Wales and will become the region's new director of public health from June
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Fresh funding needs to be found for forest
THINGS are changing down in the forest that is the Great Western Community Forest which is springing up around Swindon. From the end of March one of the project's principal sponsors the Countryside Agency is pulling out. But Alison Bruce said they were
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No comment
Ref. 25597-38SWINDON'S failing social services has been dealt yet another blow, with its director on leave while Kent County Council is brought in to review the department's operation. When Keith Skerman was parachuted in 18 months ago, hopes were high
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Wills backs loan to bail out Town
Ref. sir Seton WillsSIR Seton Wills has ridden to Swindon Town's rescue once again with the funds now in place to pay a VAT bill which had threatened to plunge the club into the abyss. The club's major shareholder and benefactor has acted as personal
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GWH doctor is suspended by General Medical Council
A JUNIOR doctor, who is believed to have worked at the Great Western Hospital, has been suspended following an undisclosed allegation against him. The General Medical Council has suspended ear, nose and throat doctor Emmanouil Marinakis for 18 months.
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Six months jail for porn images
A MAN who claimed he downloaded child porn to help him understand why his own father allegedly sexually abused him has been jailed. Joseph Szabo, 46, of Marney Road, Grange Park, was sentenced to six months in prison followed by a two-and-a-half year
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School attracts the rich and famous
MARLBOROUGH is famous for its seat of learning, the red-brick public school at the west end of the High Street. Few people realise, however, that the roots of St John's School and Community College, the town's state school, go much deeper than those of
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Take a stroll along to all that jazz
MARLBOROUGH's annual International Jazz Festival has won the reputation of being one of the best in the country. Co-ordinator Nick Fogg, who founded the festival in 1986, says it is the biggest event of its kind in the country. Stroller tickets, that
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Family team for car rally
A WILTSHIRE father and son team has entered the South West's best-known rally. John Stratton, 59, and son Chris, 30, are competing in a Rover Metro GTI at the event at Brean, in Somerset. Driver Chris, who is an environment officer, has been rallying
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Noise is on the agenda
NORTH Swindon MP Michael Wills is holding a follow up meeting to discuss noise from the A419. The meeting will start at 6pm on Friday, at St Paul's Church, St Paul's Drive, Covingham. Mr Wills said: "I held a meeting with residents of Covingham and Stratton
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'We should have a red light zone'
ANTI-VICE campaigners say Swindon should follow Liverpool's lead and look at creating an official red light zone. Councillors in Liverpool are voting today on whether to seek approval for the country's first tolerance zone for prostitutes. Street girls
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Pensioners encouraged to claim all their benefits
75774-81PENSIONERS in Swindon are missing out on benefits worth thousands of pounds a year. In an average month, the town's Age Concern office helps unlock annual benefits worth a total of £200,000. But many pensioners still miss out. Now a £13 million
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Have Lib Dems reached crisis?
I QUIT: Geraldine Robertson pictured promoting a community clean upSWINDON'S Liberal Democrats are in meltdown, according to the Tories, after a second resignation in less than two months. Coun Geraldine Frost (formerly Robertson) has left the party and
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Strike threat looms again
A STRIKE among Swindon Council workers could be on the cards if a pensions row is not resolved. Staff are said to be very angry about changes to their pension schemes, being proposed by Government. It could cause a nationwide walkout among Unison members
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New health chief faces an exciting challenge
Dr Ruth HallAVON, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Strategic Health Authority has named its new director of public health. Dr Ruth Hall, is currently the chief Medical officer for Wales and will become the region's new director of public health from June
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It's time to think clean
GREAT Western Hospital has welcomed a new 10-point code asking all NHS patients to provide their own soap and toiletries as it will help fight infection. The Patients' Associ-ation has produced the code in efforts to create cleaner hospitals and reduce
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Dangerous?
A QUARTER of all seven to ten year olds now own a mobile phone (Evening Advertiser Too much too young, January 20). There are fears that radiation from handsets may damage the brain and increase the risk of tumours. It took decades for people to become
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Hard working
IT appears that many elderly people do not claim for help with their council tax. I have today asked whether I am entitled to any help with that. It seems that if you are a hard working person you cannot get any assistance. I have worked from the age
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Thanks to great man of Britain
Sir Winston Churchill 1874-1965 VOTED Our Greatest Briton Sir Winston Churchill died on January 24, 1965. We owe this great man so much, for his unique wisdom, strength of conviction and remarkable leadership during our nation's darkest hour. His reassurance
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We must band together to stop the rot
I have moved from one hill in the town to another, to look for green pastures new! To my uttermost disgust there is none to be found. Swindon Council has buried our once beautiful landscape under concrete, which is very upsetting, as I remember how it
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Council needs to take advice
I READ with dismay the story of the ransacking of the Penhill emergency shelter. Vandalism of an empty building? Well, there's a surprise. To leave a house unoccupied for over two months while waiting for refurbishment is to invite this kind of anti-social
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Churches stand sentinel
MARLBOROUGH has two parish churches at either end of its broad High Street. St Peter's in the west and St Mary's behind the town hall, arose from Saxon communities which grew together to form the town. A third parish church, St George's at Preshute in
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Dining out is a real pleasure
The Red Lion at AveburyWHEN it comes to looking after the inner man or woman in the Marlborough and Pewsey area by finding somewhere to eat out, you are spoiled for choice. There are restaurants like the Harrow in Little Bedwyn that are rated among the
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Marking history by blue plaques
IT is amazing how many famous people have lived in Marlborough and whose various quests in life helped change history. A total of nine places where some of these famous people lived have been marked with blue plaques, which also record the sites of famous
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Take tea for King Alfred
THE odds are that if anyone asks for directions in Pewsey the statue of Alfred The Great will feature in the response. It stands in the centre of the Market Place at the junction of the village's High Street, north Street and River Street. The stone statue
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Above the usual high street bustle
Marlborough High Street, looking towards St Mary's church and the Town HallMarlborough town centre, with its wide High Street, is one of the most recognised in the country. More than a million vehicles a year pass through the town on either its north-south
