Archive
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Wanborough wrap up early title success
Although six weeks still remain in the Swindon Indoor Cricket League, Wanborough have already wrapped up the Division 2 title after hammering Nalgo 2nd by 57 runs to make it 10 wins out of 10. A brisk start enabled Wanborough to score 136-2 and Nalgo
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In running for award
RWE npower, based in Swindon, is tonight due to learn whether it has scooped an Arts and Business award for its work on the Lydiard Park Project. The energy company, which employs 900 people in Windmill Hill, has been shortlisted for the arts, business
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Finance is given boost
THE chances of Chancellor Gordon Brown meeting his fiscal rules have been given a £2.1 billion helping hand. The Office for National Statistics is changing the way it accounts for spending on road repairs. This will mean that public finances will now
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Growth is predicted
BARCLAYS has predicted that UK manufacturing will grow by up to two per cent this year. Andy Martin, national director of manufacturing for the bank, said: "I see a large number of well-managed companies which have both the desire and the ability to expand
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Cash raised fortsunami charity
Sam Dharmasiri, managing director of Watermark UK, Swindon, and his company raised £1,200 in a tsunami disaster fund-raising campaign. In February, a series of free training courses took place. Instead of paying participation fees, the attendees had to
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Antifreeze from airbase pollutes stream
CHEMICALS to stop a runway from freezing have leaked into a Lyneham stream causing a grey mould to form on its surface. Residents reported seeing mould on the Strings watercourse before smelling raw sewage. Further investigation found a series of problems
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Swindon celebrate with win
Swindon Ladies' Under 14 A team secured the Wiltshire Seven-a-Side League title as they ran out 2-1 winners over Trowbridge Town. Town have been undefeated in the league all season, winning 11, and they made a good start with Jade Reynolds scoring in
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Prince rule!
First honours of the season go to Prince of Wales, who became Division 4 champions after their 1-0 away win at Angel Inn. Elsewhere in the division Highworth Swindon Fencing and Campbell James remained in second and third places respectively after their
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Lee's glee
SIX boys' teams (Covingham, Colebrook, Grange, St Catherines, Nythe, Ruskin) took part in the Stratton Primary Schools annual five-a-side tournament. Defending champions Nythe found the going tough, and despite trying hard, bowed out of the qualifying
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Blewbury are blown away by Faringdon
Two minutes of madness from visitors Blewbury resulted in three players seeing red, as they were leading 2-1 just before the half-time interval at title contenders Faringdon Town. Blewbury's performance, which included a wonder strike from J-R Willis,
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Addict thief is given a chance
HEROIN addict Michael King has walked free from court after burgling a house while on bail for other break-ins. The 25-year-old, who has 60 previous convictions, has been told he is getting his last chance after a judge put him on a drug treatment and
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Overturned lorry blocks road
A LORRY that tipped over at Lyneham Banks caused the B4069 to be closed for most of the day. The 38-tonne articulated lorry overturned near Dauntsey Lock at around 11am yesterday. The driver managed to escape serious injury. Brian Newman, 66, a retired
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Chippenham sunk in Bath
CHIPPENHAM 3rd lost out to their Walcot counterparts 43-8 in Saturday's friendly encounter. The Wiltshire side started the game in confident fashion in Bath and spent the first 20 minutes in the Walcot half. But despite the pressure, no points were put
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Hospital joins in Think Clean Day
76270-32STAFF at Great Western Hospital have never been more committed to hygiene, insist bosses. Yesterday was Think Clean Day and GWH joined 938 other hospitals up and down the country to hammer home that message to concerned patients. It comes as fears
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Malmesbury out in pole position
Malmesbury took leadership of the Dorset and Wiltshire League 2 North with a 10-0 win over fellow high-flyers Colerne at Higgins Field. Malmesbury took the day by a converted try and a penalty goal to nil, but had to defend their line for most of the
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'I've lost my little smiley boy'
Devon Rhys McLellam-SmythA DEVASTATED couple have told the Advertiser of their grief following the death of their baby son. Bella Smyth, and her partner Sean McLellam, lost their baby, Devon Rhys McLellam-Smyth, last Thursday and have not been able to
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Fundraisers to camp in village
LITTLE Britain's Dafydd will not be "the only gay in the village" this week when his locality is inundated with lookalikes of the BBC character. The Welsh village of Llanddewi Brefi is home to the fictitious television character with a penchant for tight-fitting
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War remembered
CRICKLADE is celebrating the 60th anniversary of the end of World War Two. Celebrations, organised by the town council and Cricklade Royal British Legion, will be held between April and August. RBL chairman Les Osborn said: "The events will provide a
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It's walk or ride this week
ECO-FRIENDLY Covingham Park Infants School is encouraging all its pupils to walk or ride to school this week. On Thursday there will be a whole school breakfast from 8.30am to celebrate the annual event. Last month the school held a special eco-conference
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'I would go back on the steroids'
HOLLYWOOD hero-turned politician Arnold Schwarzenegger has defended his use of steroids and said he has no regrets about using performance-enhancing drugs. The Terminator star has long acknowledged using steroids as a professional body-builder but admits
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Improve the area
PINEHURST residents are invited to discuss neighbourhood renewal. The Pinehurst Initiative Forum oversees drives to improve the area. A meeting is being held tomorrow at 6.30pm at the Pinehurst People's Centre.
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Home price rise
HOUSE prices rose steadily in February, according to Nationwide figures published today. The Swindon-based finance giant said the price of a typical house increased by 0.5 per cent. This followed January's 0.4 per cent rise and extends the steady period
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Paddy's night
WITH St Patrick's Day around the corner the Moloney and McInerney Schools of Irish Dance have organised two top events. For Saturday, March 12 they have Ireland's Shawn Cuddy. Shawn and his band are touring the UK and will be playing at the Grange Drive
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Meeting over Birch leaving
LEAVING arrangements for Swindon's chief council officer have been discussed. Simon Birch, chief executive of Swindon Council, has resigned after two years. In spite of helping to make improvements, Mr Birch decided to jump ship, saying it was time for
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Tories see Swindon as model
SWINDON is a shining example of the Tory vision, according to the Shadow Secretary of State for Industry. MP Stephen O'Brien was given a whistle-stop tour of the town yesterday by Tory election candidate, Coun Justin Tomlinson. And Mr O'Brien told the
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Welfare is under the spotlight at meeting
WELFARE workers are busy working on an action plan to stop the system failing some of our most vulnerable youngsters. Last week the Swindon Area Child Protection Committee met at Oakfield University Campus to ensure local agencies learn from mistakes.
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Help for hounds
A SALE in Cricklade is to raise money for rehoming charity Greyhounds R Us. As well as bric-a-brac, nearly new, jumble and toys there will be a tombola and refreshments. The sale is in the parish hall in Bath Road on Saturday, April 23, 9am-1pm. Admission
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Fare enough!
A TAXI company owner who got parking tickets delivering patients to hospital has been given passes to make sure it does not happen again. Keith Radway, (pictured) of Swindon Black Cabs, has a contract with the Oxfordshire Ambulance NHS Trust to transport
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Join the clean-up across Swindon
YOUNG people will be taking part in a clearing up operation in Swindon. Last year, more than 50 youngsters took part in the Noise, sprucing up gardens, decorating buildings and litter picking across the borough of Swindon. Now, teenagers and adult helpers
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Meeting cancelled
A SAFE and Sound meeting for the elderly has been cancelled. The meeting at the Ellendune Centre in Wroughton on Wednesday, March 9, was to discuss ways of keeping older people safe. It has been called off due to the ill health of one of the organisers
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Paranormal pub watch
GHOSTHUNTERS will hunt for the paranormal in a Swindon pub. The town's Paranormal Site Investigators are to search for ghouls in the Clifton Hotel in Clifton Street. The investigators use digital video cameras and recording equipment to capture evidence
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Considering the cuts again
A MEETING to consider the cuts to charities in Swindon will be held at the Civic Offices in Euclid Street at 6pm tomorrow. Charities, including the Parks Advice Point, the Swindon Racial Equality Council and Swindon Child Carers face drastic cuts. Representatives
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Music from Asia's heart
ASPIRING musicians will soon be able to have lessons in Asian instruments such as the tabla, dilruba and sitar. Ustad Hasanpuri has more than 35 years' experience in the music field and wants people to get in touch so that he can set up a school in Swindon
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UK sent 2.5bn texts
Mobile phone users in the UK sent a record 2.5 billion text messages last month, according to industry figures. A total of 133 million messages were sent on New Year's Day alone, the Mobile Data Association said. The UK's main global system for mobile
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'Age gap too big,' says Chris
CHRIS Evans has admitted the 16-year age gap was to blame for the breakdown of his marriage to Swindon star Billie Piper. Piper, who attended Bradon Forest School, in Purton, was just 18 when she started seeing the TV and radio star. They married in Las
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Exploring runs in the family
INTREPID explorer David Hempleman-Adams said there would be no place for hair and beauty products when his eldest daughter embarks on a trek to the Arctic. As reported in later editions of the Adver, Alicia, 15, will become the youngest person to attempt
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Bangers and mash raise cash for conveniences
TOILETS, mashed potato, vandals and sausages seem to be completely unrelated, but in the first town on the Thames they come together and make perfect sense. Two Cricklade businessmen were so horrified that toilets in the town had been vandalised last
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Antifreeze from airbase pollutes stream
CHEMICALS to stop a runway from freezing have leaked into a Lyneham stream causing a grey mould to form on its surface. Residents reported seeing mould on the Strings watercourse before smelling raw sewage. Further investigation found a series of problems
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Experts meet to blitz the bullies
BULLYING can make the best days of your life the worst. And the effects of being traumatised in the playground can last a lifetime. Now, teachers from 75 Swindon schools are joining forces to blitz the bullies. A conference being held this week will give
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Stars will come out for aid gig
76222-104SWINDON musicians are hoping to score for the Prospect Hospice when they play a charity gig next month. Dance For Prospect will take place at The Winners' Lounge, Swindon Town Football Club at the County Ground. TV's Stars In Their Eyes performer
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Work on play area has to be delayed
Picture: David KjaerCHILDREN in Taw Hill are being made to wait for a play area because a protected species of newt is holding up building work. Builder Trench Farrow has been forced to stop progress on the site off Queen Elizabeth Drive due to a population
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Chance to cross street gets near
28333- 7More than a year ago people living near a busy Wroughton road were told they would be getting a crossing. But this week the villagers learnt the delay could finally be over. They have campaigned for 13 years for the crossing on Swindon Road, and
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Canberra call
THE first Canberra flight took place on May 13, 1949. Some 56 years later Newark Air Museum, which displays one of the world's largest collection of Canberra types, feels it is appropriate to host the third of our Canberra Reunions on Saturday May 21
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Damage done
I AM writing in response to the article stating that water bills will rise. I find this absolutely ridiculous and unfair. The public is being made to pay for the pollution Thames Water has recently done to our supply in the area. How much damage caused
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It's nonsense
IN REPLY to D Downs' letter (EA February 24) I would like to point out that I was contacted by Evening Advertiser to give my response to what appeared to be work of vandals at the top end of Thames Avenue. My response was that I had seen the damage and
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Funds should be increased
I AM an advice worker at Parks Advice Point and spent yesterday telling our clients Swindon Council has decided that they no longer need our service. All the work we do in appealing benefit decisions, helping people manage their finances, preventing homelessness
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Teams eye under 12 finals
Chippenham will be hosting the Wiltshire Under 12 finals at their Allington Field ground on Sunday (10am). Ten teams at this age level will be taking part in the finals which will be played in two pools of five teams. There will be 10 games in each pool
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Goal-den aim
SAM PARKIN is anxious not to lumber himself with 'a curse' yet admits the League One golden boot would fit nicely on his mantlepiece. The 23-year-old striker, pictured, has finished third in the race to be the division's top scorer for the last two seasons
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Listen to Dvorak
THE MUSIC of Dvorak, is coming to Highworth. His Stabat Mater work is being performed at St Michael's Church on Saturday, March 19, at 7.30pm. Entry is £8 or £5 for under-16s. Singers have been busy rehearsing since the start of the year. After the Easter
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Meet the graduates
THE Zurich Academy has held its first graduation ceremony, writes Claudia Brand. In a ceremony at the Zurich UK Life Centre in Swindon, five disabled people, who had joined the six-month work training scheme, were handed certificates for completing the
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Firms welcome French invasion
CONCORDE was piece of inspired Anglo-French engineering. And now Swindon businesses have a chance to do their bit for the entente cordiale. The University of Bath is running placements for French students from the Institut des Techniques d'Ingenieur in
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Police look for special people
POLICE in Wootton Bassett will be holding an open evening on Thursday to encourage more special constables to sign up. Information about joining the force will be available at the police station between 7pm and 8pm. Wiltshire Police is holding similar
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Hospital joins in Think Clean Day
76270-32STAFF at Great Western Hospital have never been more committed to hygiene, insist bosses. Yesterday was Think Clean Day and GWH joined 938 other hospitals up and down the country to hammer home that message to concerned patients. It comes as fears
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Too much hype put on new car registration plates
CAR retailers in Swindon are not expecting a stampede now the new 05-registration plate is available. The story is very different from four years ago when eager buyers would camp out in garages waiting for the clock to strike midnight so they could drive
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Hospital joins in Think Clean Day
76270-32STAFF at Great Western Hospital have never been more committed to hygiene, insist bosses. Yesterday was Think Clean Day and GWH joined 938 other hospitals up and down the country to hammer home that message to concerned patients. It comes as fears
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Jamie at the double
NEWLY-CROWNED under 14 champions Brunel Boys finished their campaign with a flourish, cementing a 3-2 win at Stratton. Jay Davis' brace was not enough for the home side as a Jamie Hamill double and John Davis strike sealed the win. Elsewhere, Lydiard
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Spitfires keep unbeaten run
SWINDON Spitfires clinched a hard-earned 4-0 victory over an ever improving Wootton Bassett side in Saturday's Wiltshire County League match. The result maintained Spitfires' unbeaten start to 2005 and their push for the final play-off spot a week after
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Town Ladies lose out toBrazilian star's hat-trick
SWINDON Town Ladies were beaten 3-1 by Keynsham Town in a South West Combination League fixture played at Aldbourne. Town kicked off on a crisp sunny afternoon and both sides settled quickly with some good end to end football. Gemma Langford had her drive
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It's getting tighter at the top!
With the two under 17 Stratton sides inactive, Shaw took the opportunity to go second in the table, 12 points behind leaders Stratton Juniors B but with three games in hand. The two sides meet on March 20 in what could be a title deciding game. Were Shaw
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Leaders slip up
Premier Division leaders Ridgeway slipped up in their game against third-placed Queensfield, crashing to a 5-1 defeat. Victor Cremmin was Queensfield's star, scoring a hat trick. Michael Chivers scored the other two and Dave Stead netted for Ridgeway.
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Hope for Ben
76265-04THE parents of Ben Morris have an anxious wait before they know whether he can take a drug that could help his condition. The four-year-old has a debilitating genetic disease called Spinal Muscular Atrophy which means his brain cannot communicate
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Police make fresh appeal for help
POLICE are repeating their appeal for witnesses after a burglar broke into the home of two women and assaulted one of them. The man entered the house in the Beatrice Street area and threatened the two residents. He then punched one of them in the face
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Girl was armed to harm herself
A SELF harmer who kept glass in her pockets to cut herself and was spotted wandering down the street with a steak knife has been jailed. Amanda Ponting carried tools around so she could injure herself, a court heard. The 33-year-old threw glass from her
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How we are hitting back
76268-72THE country's top yob-buster recoiled in horror after hearing about the antics of Swindon teenagers. Louise Casey looked visibly disgusted when she was told how louts had been hurling bagged-up dog mess at an old folks home. "I'm astonished,"
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Don't take the mike, Michael
76272- 28OLD soldier Dan Gurney was furious when he spotted a picture of superstar Michael Jackson wearing a badge from his former regiment. Mr Gurney, 64, from West Swindon, was reading a story the Advertiser about Jackson's court appearance in California
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Colerne can't grab vital win
FC Colerne failed to make ground on Division One leaders Corsham Centre against Semington Rovers, only drawing 2-2. With Corsham not playing, FC Colerne could have gone top with victory but unfortunately they could not hang on for three points. Jake Jefferies
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Swindon lads set up lofty encounter
Swindon Soccer Skills' Alex Baker is left trailing as Joe Grant of Ferndale Rodbourne sizes up a shot in their North Wilts & District Youth & Minors League Under 9 match. The boot was on the other foot overall, however. The Swindon Soccer Skills
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Neutering service is offered free of charge
CAT owners in receipt of benefits can have their pets neutered for free this month under a new scheme. The Swindon branch of Cats Protection is offering the service for any cat over the age of six months during March. To qualify the owner needs to be
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Mobs run schools
A fifth of secondary schools believe gang culture is widespread among pupils, Ofsted said today. About 40 per cent of schools in England reported pupils bringing weapons into the playground or classroom at least once a term, according to Ofsted. Inspectors
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Yanks are coming
PIPES and drums will ring out to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. Bands from across Europe will join up and organisers of the event have just confirmed US soldiers are taking part. The 76th United States Army Band have
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Lions celebrate
SWINDON Lions Club will plant a tree next month to mark its 40 anniversary. The ceremony, which will be attended by Swindon Mayor Peter Stoddart, will take place on March 11 at the Swindon Polo Ground. Anyone wanting further information should call John
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Do tree planting
VOLUNTEERS are needed to plant trees along a scenic cycle path on Saturday. Green transport charity, Sustrans, is organising the event along the Chiseldon to Marlborough route. Anyone interested in taking part should call Chris Penny on 01793 634074.
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Take the silk route
A SALE is being held in the parish hall in Cricklade, with some of the profits going to the tsunami appeal. The sale of silk clothes and crafts from India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Morocco and Mexico takes place on Saturday, March 12, 10am-noon.
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Less Passion
A NEW version of Mel Gibson's The Passion of The Christ is to be released in UK cinemas at Easter. It will be out on March 25, entitled The Passion Recut, and will be approximately six minutes shorter than the original. The new version has been given
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TV star hits out
GMTV presenter Eamonn Holmes is quitting the show because it is formulaic and no longer covers real news, he has said. Days after announcing his departure, Holmes hit out at the programme he has worked on for the past 12 years.
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Be a friend to kids
THE Swindon Independent Visitors needs volunteers to help foster children. Mentors take youngsters on leisure activities, and are encouraged to form strong friendships with the children. Adults are paired up with youngsters who share the same interests
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Get in the running
TWO fun runs and a duathlon are to be held at the Science Museum at Wroughton on April 3. The five-kilometre fun run and 1.5-kilometres children's fun run are in aid of Cancer Research. The fun runs start at 10am and the duathlon, a run-bike-run event
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Join the ramblers
RAMBLERS will enjoy a six-mile stroll across the Marlborough Downs on Saturday The walkers will take a route through Hinton Downs and along the Ridgeway. Meet at the layby by the Pipers Way roundabout by Marlborough Road at 1.30pm. For details call on
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School all set for ceremony
ST FRANCIS C of E Primary School will be officially opened at a ceremony on March 10. The school in Aiken Road, Taw Hill, was opened in September last year and its new building has been in use since the beginning of January. But the Duchess of Gloucester
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Try spending time castaway
PEOPLE in Swindon with a taste for adventure are being sought to live on an uninhabited island. Sharon Wells, the area manager for The Anthony Nolan Trust, is looking for people to take part in a five-day survival challenge from September 25-30. Twenty
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Ferret's reunited
A ferret found in Park South on Friday has been reunited with his owners. On Saturday we reported the ferret appeared in Barbara Collins' garden. It was tame, walking up to Mrs Collins in her Stanway Close garden. The owners, from Park North, read the
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History will go on show
A FREE display of Wroughton's history will be on show at the Wroughton Elledune Centre at the end of April. The event will be held from 10am to 5pm on Saturday, April 30, and from 10am to 4pm on Sunday, May 1. Everyone is welcome and refreshments will
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Crackdown on benefit cheats
BENEFIT cheats are warned that Swindon Council is onto them. A specialist squad of investigators working in partnership with other Government departments and employment agencies has announced a crackdown on the cheats. Coun Nick Martin, cabinet member
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Town's best mum will get pampered
A LUCKY Swindon mum will win a free pass to eat, watch films and get fit. As a treat for Mother's Day, the Greenbridge leisure park is offering an alterative to chocolates and flowers. Managers are offering a month's free cinema pass and gym membership
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Too much hype put on new car registration plates
CAR retailers in Swindon are not expecting a stampede now the new 05-registration plate is available. The story is very different from four years ago when eager buyers would camp out in garages waiting for the clock to strike midnight so they could drive
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Ending tsunami appeal is disaster say survivors
SURVIVORS of the Asian tsunami have criticised the Disasters Emergency Committee for bringing an end to its appeal. The UK organisation, an umbrella group of 12 aid agencies, raised £300 million for the countries hit. The appeal closed at midnight on
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On deaf ears
I refer to Mr I Field's letter in the Advertiser about council tax. Attending a meeting and voicing one's opinion would only fall on deaf ears, for councillors had already made up their minds. Council tax did increase. I will put pen to paper once again
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A sticky problem for us all
AS a youngster travelling round the country I was always amazed as to how many towns' Bill Stickers were threatened with prosecution. It seems Bill is alive and working hard in Swindon. How does Andy Newman, Socialist Alliance and Stop The War Coalition
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It's time to woo the older voters
WHAT will it take for politicians to start listening to the over 55s in Swindon? Our age group are not only twice as likely to vote as the under 55s but millions of us are still undecided about which party to vote for. Yet our demands and concerns are
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Bassett steal march on Saints
Wootton Bassett under 13s scored a resounding 29-7 victory over strong Bristol opponents St Mary's Old Boys on Sunday. Hosts Bassett opened the scoring with a converted try by James Dent only to see St Mary's equalise minutes later with their own try.
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Chippenham shake off rust
CHIPPENHAM Under 12s ran out 19-12 winners over Avon in their first match for three weeks. In a game split into three 20-minute sessions, Avon spoilt a lot of the visitors' early work and they drew first blood with a converted try. Chippenham picked up
