Archive
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Date
Paperboy's bike mangled
Ref. 28179-37An Evening Advertiser paperboy was left distraught when a driver mangled his bicycle by reversing over it. Fourteen-year-old David Szynalski, of Mulcaster Avenue in Grange Park, left his BMX at the end of a driveway in Simnel Close while
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Final decision on hot meals rests with schools
Response to G Theodore Heath's letter (Tuesday, November 25): I am writing to clarify the current situation with regard to the provision of school meals following the letter by G Theodore Heath. In 2000 as part of the fair funding process, schools opted
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Time for a break for shopkeepers
Ref. 28181-71NO one can accuse David and Janice Vowles of not knowing the meaning of hard work. For more than 20 years, the couple have been getting up at the crack of dawn to ensure that the people of Highworth get their morning papers delivered in time
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Andrew leads Swindon charge
SWINDON Under 14s rattled up a half-century of points as they dismissed Oxford Harlequins 50-5. Andrew Rogers claimed five tries, with new boy Tom Rees crossing once. Jordan Sheppard added one in the second half, with Quins replying once. Squad: Dene
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Well done Dr M
WE would like to extend our sincere congratulations to Dr Andrew Murrison on his appointment as health spokesman for the Opposition. The promotion is richly deserved as Dr Murrison, although a comparatively new boy to politics, has shown that he has qualities
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Closing shop
NEWSAGENTS are unsung heroes. Who else gets up at an hour which for most people is still last night and is ready to sell newspapers and assorted other vital items when the lark is still yawning? Janice and David Vowles have been doing the job in High
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Truth Is Out!
TOWN'S financial woes over a three-year period were laid bare to shareholders this morning. Accounts from season 1998-99 to 2000-1 dropped through letter-boxes this morning ahead of the annual general meeting on December 28 at the County Ground. The losses
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Biggles wanted
MAY I request readers who may have any unwanted books by Capt W.E. Johns (Biggles,Worrals etc) to contact me as I am a keen collector of Johns' titles and other authors who wrote boys adventure stories related to aerial combat and marine warfare at the
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Time for a break for shopkeepers
NO one can accuse David and Janice Vowles of not knowing the meaning of hard work. For more than 20 years, the couple have been getting up at the crack of dawn to ensure that the people of Highworth get their morning papers delivered in time for breakfast
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Date
Inquiry called after incident at residential home
AN INVESTIGATION has been launched into an incident in which a resident at Lease Hill Residential Home in Moredon had to be removed after he became aggressive. Police were called to the home in Branksome Road but no further action was taken. Swindon Council
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How can pensioners afford these rises?
So council leader Mike Bawden is blaming a possible council tax increase of 10 per cent on we 'Swindonians", due to an insufficient financial settlement from the government of £124.9 million, to fund our services and amenities for 2004. However much more
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Shrivenham jump on top
There are new leaders in Division 2 after Grove Rangers were held 2-2 at home to Coleshill United and Shrivenham Reserves took over at the top after a 6-0 against Steventon 6-0. Ben Eltham and Dave Mulford scored for Rangers while Scott Griffin and Shane
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EASTVILLE RUN
Eastville Boys under 13s suffered their first league defeat in over two years in the North Wilts & District Youth League at the weekend. Highworth were the team that ended the unbeaten run with a 2-1 triumph over their title rivals at Warneford School
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Up for the cup!
CHIPPENHAM Under 14s are the Bristol Combination Cup champions again after an emphatic 27-7 victory over Cleve in the final at St Mary's Old Boys RFC. And they had to overcome the handicap of playing with only 14 players for all but 10 minutes to retain
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Nine Elms Dig Deep to turn over the Plough
PERFORMANCE of the day came in the Wilts Sunday Cup, where Division 7 leaders Nine Elms beat Division 2 side Plough Highworth 4-0. Scorers for the winners were Warren Fuller (2), Ross Peart and Paul Bullimore. Division 1 In the division's only fixture
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Give generously to children's charity
Ref. 28166-48CHRISTMAS is a time for families - and the Evening Advertiser Christmas Appeal hopes to support parents in Swindon. The West Swindon Family Centre, in Gainsborough Way, Freshbrook, will receive presents from our appeal, which aims to raise
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13.1%
Council leader Mike Bawden (Con, Old Town and Lawn)That's how much council tax could go up in Swindon next year as officials warn extra funds are needed to boost the borough's ailing social services COUNCIL taxes in Swindon will soar by 13.1 per cent
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Business as usual for Cricklade
THE County Cup decimated the Cirencester & District Youth League programme, but it was business as usual for Cricklade. The under 14 team moved into the next round of the League Cup with a 2-1 win over Highworth Juniors. Cricklade took the lead after
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Lib Dems make their position clear
BEN Biddulph is no longer a member of the Liberal Democrats. It might not be necessary, but I would like to make it quite plain to your readers that his views on questions of sexual orientation are not in accord with the principles of the Liberal Democrat
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Tuck in, but not to pizza, say landlords
You can choose practically anything from the menu at the Victoria Inn, in Shrivenham, but you will not find pizza on the menu as long as Ian and June Clayton are behind the bar. For Ian has spent the last nine years running a fast food and pizza delivery
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Driver in plea to catch the kicker
A MOTORIST was left shaken when another driver karate kicked his car after a collision. Now Matthew Pearce, 38, of North-ampton Street, Swindon, has offered a £500 reward for information leading to the conviction of the man who attacked his car. The accident
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Ban on cards is an insult to the meaning of Christmas
I wonder how many of your readers realise that under a new law from now on it could be an offence to send Christmas cards showing a nativity scene to an office for fear of offending other faiths. This would seem to be another of those regulations passed
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Cirencester are seen off
CIRENCESTER could not dampen a buoyant Chippenham at Under 16s level, as the Wiltshire side won 27-5. Chippenham broke the deadlock as Matthew Clarke dived over to open the scoring. Jason Deamer playing at right-wing, scored the second and centre Max
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Boss's desk is office party favourite
MORE than 40 per cent of workers admit to sexual liaisons at the office Christmas party, a new survey reveals. With office parties now in full swing, a seasonal poll claims that 41 per cent of British workers have got together intimately with a colleague
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Day ruined says bride
Ref. 28174-04 INSET: Stained wedding dressA BRIDE says her wedding day was ruined when her white dress became stained with bright red dye just moments before she was due to walk up the aisle. Marie Wright, 27, of Simnel Close, Grange Park, West Swindon
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Biggles wanted
MAY I request readers who may have any unwanted books by Capt W.E. Johns (Biggles,Worrals etc) to contact me as I am a keen collector of Johns' titles and other authors who wrote boys adventure stories related to aerial combat and marine warfare at the
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Villager campaigns for high speed access
BROADBAND campaigner Maureen Albright is appealing for volunteers to help her bring high-speed internet access to Aldbourne and Baydon. BT says it will upgrade the area's telephone exchange if 250 people register an interest in the service. That is the
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Obey the signs
MAY I reply to RRR Whittern and his Star letter. Silver St/Market St is a semipedestrian area to be used by buses, taxis and cyclists only and not a through route in town, to get there one has to pass a No Entry sign at the junction on Duke St and Church
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Tuck in, but not to pizza, say landlords
You can choose practically anything from the menu at the Victoria Inn, in Shrivenham, but you will not find pizza on the menu as long as Ian and June Clayton are behind the bar. For Ian has spent the last nine years running a fast food and pizza delivery
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Appointment fuels regeneration
THE New Swindon Company Swindon's urban regeneration company has appointed Chris Hitchings as its new Development Manager to drive forward major physical regeneration projects. He is a chartered surveyor whose career in property has included the Cardiff
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Family gathering
I AM planning a gathering of Lovelock family historians to be held in Hungerford on June 12. There is a day of activities including an afternoon coach trip around the east Wiltshire villages associated with the name. Research to date using parish registers
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A towering commitment
MANY employees from Nationwide's head office in Swindon have been highly commended by the building society for their charity work. At the Employee Community Awards, held recently at Nationwide House, seven of the 20 awards went to Swindon-based employees
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Time for a break for shopkeepers
Ref. 28181-71NO one can accuse David and Janice Vowles of not knowing the meaning of hard work. For more than 20 years, the couple have been getting up at the crack of dawn to ensure that the people of Highworth get their morning papers delivered in time
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Prospects good for Christmas
RETAILERS reported a slow build-up to Christmas as sales growth in the first half of November fell below expectations. But stores are confident of an improvement during December, according to the CBI's quarterly Distributive Trades Survey. The survey
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Highworth bid to end below-par run of form
Highworth Town bid to shake off a patchy run of form when they travel to Carterton in the Hellenic Premier Division this evening. Three points from a possible 12 has prevented John Fisher's side from closing the gap on the top sides in the section. "It's
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That's the end of the entente cordiale
IT'S interesting that the demise of Concorde is being spun as the death of independent, British aerospace-engineering ("We were a proud nation, once", and so on). There is undoubtedly much truth in this, but, in reality, the end of Concorde is much more
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No delight in Devon
Swindon Primary Schools, missing five regular team players, were beaten 3-1 at Plymouth in their second Cotswold League fixture. Plymouth took the lead in the second minute with a freak own goal. Spear's close range effort at goal was blocked by Wilkinson
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Time for a break for shopkeepers
NO one can accuse David and Janice Vowles of not knowing the meaning of hard work. For more than 20 years, the couple have been getting up at the crack of dawn to ensure that the people of Highworth get their morning papers delivered in time for breakfast
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Let them know what you think
AS feared and predicted, Swindon council tax-payers are likely to see their bills soar by double figures. The early estimate of nine per cent has risen to 13.1 and it is no surprise that pressure on social services was the main cause of the dramatic increase
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Hardie breaks Corsham
CORSHAM'S second string gave a good account of themselves before slipping to a narrow 8-5 defeat at their neighbours' Allington Field ground. The home side had Alan Jones sin-binned, with Sid Hayden also being shown the yellow card for the visitors, both
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Time for a break for shopkeepers
Ref. 28181-71NO one can accuse David and Janice Vowles of not knowing the meaning of hard work. For more than 20 years, the couple have been getting up at the crack of dawn to ensure that the people of Highworth get their morning papers delivered in time
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Obey the signs
MAY I reply to RRR Whittern and his Star letter. Silver St/Market St is a semipedestrian area to be used by buses, taxis and cyclists only and not a through route in town, to get there one has to pass a No Entry sign at the junction on Duke St and Church
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Nine Elms Dig Deep to turn over the Plough
PERFORMANCE of the day came in the Wilts Sunday Cup, where Division 7 leaders Nine Elms beat Division 2 side Plough Highworth 4-0. Scorers for the winners were Warren Fuller (2), Ross Peart and Paul Bullimore. Division 1 In the division's only fixture
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Club wins MPs' praise for aiding young people
SWINDON Town FC has won Parliamentary praise for improving disadvantaged young people's lives. The club was applauded for its work with the Prince's Trust Football Initiative. Under the scheme, the club provides venues, work placements and motivational
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MUIR TREBLE LEAVES RIVALS FEELING BLUE
JAMES Muir hit a hat-trick as Devizes Blues ran out 4-0 winners over Trowbridge Wanderers in their Mid-Wilts Under 14 Green Division game. Devizes led 3-0 at the break, with George Dyke also netting. In the Red Division, goals from James Mullery, Lee
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Spitfires' victory over high-flyers is Taylor-made
SWINDON Spitfires produced possibly their best performance so far against previously unbeaten table-toppers Gloucester City. The first 20 minutes produced four goals. A superb cross by Natalie Ferris was knocked home on 10 minutes by Vicky Taylor, who
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I owe my life to hospital staff
Ref. 28178-05John Archer, 66, is one of seven people to have joined the Swindon and Marlborough NHS Trust Forum so far. There are spaces for up to 20 members. Mr Archer, formerly a Labour member of Swindon Council and Wiltshire County Council, said: "
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Carnival cash helps hospital
THE carnival committee would like to express their sincere thanks to all the firms, shops, businesses and individuals (too numerous to mention here) who by their generous donations of prizes, sponsorship and time allowed this year's carnival to be such
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More pleas to back county town's Vision
MY vision for our town is a new hospital but the council says that we can't have one because of the Bath RUH deficit which is about £25m. So why don't the people of Trowbridge raise the money through the Wiltshire Times, who could run a competition for
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Congratulations
I'M writing to say thank you to Wessex Water which fixed the drain on the road from Trowbridge to Westwood on Monday. There was a great big puddle until it fixed it. My mum said it would be nice to write to the newspaper saying thank you instead of complaining
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Thanks to CHC
TODAY (December 1) the curtain finally comes down on community health councils. I would like to thank Nick Westbrook and his team at the Bath and District CHC for all their hard work and say how very much they will be missed. Community health councils
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Kill speed not a child
WHAT a wonderful idea to resurface Wyke Road and The Down in Trowbridge. It is now a racetrack. The misery of motorists at 70mph and in particular two motorcyclists at probably 80mph every day is unbelievable. Does someone actually have to be killed for
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Cllr Biddulph's views
THE Wiltshire Times claims to be fair, balanced and free from vested political interests. Yet this is hardly an accurate description of last week's article on myself. To describe an elected local representative speaking on a controversial local issue
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I owe my life to hospital staff
Ref. 28178-05John Archer, 66, is one of seven people to have joined the Swindon and Marlborough NHS Trust Forum so far. There are spaces for up to 20 members. Mr Archer, formerly a Labour member of Swindon Council and Wiltshire County Council, said: "
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Town's toilets to reopen after 18 month fight
RESIDENTS in Wootton Bassett are finally set to get their public toilet block reopened, 18 months after it was shut due to vandalism. At a North Wiltshire District Council meeting it was decided the toilets in Station Road should open and the town was
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Karen blazes a trail in the navy
Ref. 28158-118FORMER Hreod Parkway pupil Karen Jacques has become the first female flag lieutenant to the highest ranking officer in the navy. Coincidentally, the 29-year-old's boss, First Sea Lord Admiral Alan West, is the man who, in 1991, gave the
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Crockett treble lifts the Ladies
CHIPPENHAM Ladies are top of South West Three after a 17-12 victory over Witney at Allington Field Good early pressure saw Harriet Crockett go through for the first of her hat-trick of tries. Throughout the rest of the first half though, Witney turned
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Time for a break for shopkeepers
Ref. 28181-71NO one can accuse David and Janice Vowles of not knowing the meaning of hard work. For more than 20 years, the couple have been getting up at the crack of dawn to ensure that the people of Highworth get their morning papers delivered in time
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Nias ends Calne's brave resistance
SHERBORNE'S ex-Harlequins ace Richard Nias did to Calne what he had done to Minety as his four-try burst clinched a 38-11 victory in Dorset & WIlts One. The home team fiercely contested their own opening kick but knocked on and No 8 Nias picked up
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Inquiry called after incident at residential home
AN INVESTIGATION has been launched into an incident in which a resident at Lease Hill Residential Home in Moredon had to be removed after he became aggressive. Police were called to the home in Branksome Road but no further action was taken. Swindon Council
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Swindon defeat
SWINDON slipped to their second Bucks, Berks & Oxon One defeat of the season in disappointing fashion as Bletchley beat them 26-25. The Greenbridge Road visitors started well, with a couple of excellent steals from the lightweight second row Paul
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U-turn on school's nativity video ban
Ref. 28180-38PARENT power persuaded one of Swindon's newest schools to lift a ban on filming their children's first nativity play. The ban was imposed at Bridlewood Primary School, after two parents apparently objected to video cameras being used at tomorrow's
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Cutting through red tape is one of the benefits
The Patient Advice and Liaison Service, or PALS, operates as part of the Government's 10-year plan to improve the services offered by the NHS. It is run in conjunction with the Swindon and Marlborough NHS Trust, Wiltshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust and
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13.1%
Council leader Mike Bawden (Con, Old Town and Lawn)That's how much council tax could go up in Swindon next year as officials warn extra funds are needed to boost the borough's ailing social services COUNCIL taxes in Swindon will soar by 13.1 per cent
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Cirencester are seen off
CIRENCESTER could not dampen a buoyant Chippenham at Under 16s level, as the Wiltshire side won 27-5. Chippenham broke the deadlock as Matthew Clarke dived over to open the scoring. Jason Deamer playing at right-wing, scored the second and centre Max
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Pickering try is boost for Chippenham
Wootton Bassett Under 12s fielded two sides against Chippenham on Sunday the first time this has happened. The first team, despite missing five key players, lost to a well drilled Chippenham side 14-0, hooker Jay Pickering and centre Alistair Rodgers
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Trader fined for a cigarette sale
A SHOPKEEPER is facing a bill of more than £1,300 after pleading guilty to selling cigarettes to a minor. Swindon Magistrates fined Daksesh Patel, the co-owner of Fred's supermarket in Penhill, £600 for the offence and awarded costs of £731.50 under the
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Town's toilets to reopen after 18 month fight
RESIDENTS in Wootton Bassett are finally set to get their public toilet block reopened, 18 months after it was shut due to vandalism. At a North Wiltshire District Council meeting it was decided the toilets in Station Road should open and the town was
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Date
Jake's Net Gaines
Terry's continued their impressive run in the Premier Division of the Vanitec Computers-sponsored Chippenham & District Sunday League, dispatching Hullavington 4-0. Jake Gaines opened the scoring and scored again, as Andy Colebrook and Matthew Arnold
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Highworth bid to end below-par run of form
Highworth Town bid to shake off a patchy run of form when they travel to Carterton in the Hellenic Premier Division this evening. Three points from a possible 12 has prevented John Fisher's side from closing the gap on the top sides in the section. "It's
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Date
More pleas to back county town's Vision
MY vision for our town is a new hospital but the council says that we can't have one because of the Bath RUH deficit which is about £25m. So why don't the people of Trowbridge raise the money through the Wiltshire Times, who could run a competition for
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Date
Villager campaigns for high speed access
BROADBAND campaigner Maureen Albright is appealing for volunteers to help her bring high-speed internet access to Aldbourne and Baydon. BT says it will upgrade the area's telephone exchange if 250 people register an interest in the service. That is the
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Date
Driver in plea to catch the kicker
A MOTORIST was left shaken when another driver karate kicked his car after a collision. Now Matthew Pearce, 38, of North-ampton Street, Swindon, has offered a £500 reward for information leading to the conviction of the man who attacked his car. The accident
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Date
Club wins MPs' praise for aiding young people
SWINDON Town FC has won Parliamentary praise for improving disadvantaged young people's lives. The club was applauded for its work with the Prince's Trust Football Initiative. Under the scheme, the club provides venues, work placements and motivational
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Date
Free tour of records office
A FREE tour of the National Monuments Record Centre in Kemble Drive will be given on Saturday, December 13, beginning at 2.15pm. The centre houses millions of items of historical archive material. Booking is advised. The centre can be contacted on 01793
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Join in fun and games
FANS of The Lord of the Rings were heading for a free fantasy gaming gathering this afternoon. Set to run at North Swindon Library from 4pm to 6pm, the gathering is billed as giving fantasy fans the chance to play a game, find out what gaming involves
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Date
Give generously to children's charity
Ref. 28166-48CHRISTMAS is a time for families - and the Evening Advertiser Christmas Appeal hopes to support parents in Swindon. The West Swindon Family Centre, in Gainsborough Way, Freshbrook, will receive presents from our appeal, which aims to raise
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Date
How can pensioners afford these rises?
So council leader Mike Bawden is blaming a possible council tax increase of 10 per cent on we 'Swindonians", due to an insufficient financial settlement from the government of £124.9 million, to fund our services and amenities for 2004. However much more
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Date
Town needs help
THE comments by Gary Skidmore the Biddestone Town manager that the facilities at Woodmarsh are shocking are upsetting but sadly true. Unless the Town make radical changes, ie a new ground with proper changing rooms, showers etc, we shall lose the exciting
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Date
Tuck in, but not to pizza, say landlords
You can choose practically anything from the menu at the Victoria Inn, in Shrivenham, but you will not find pizza on the menu as long as Ian and June Clayton are behind the bar. For Ian has spent the last nine years running a fast food and pizza delivery
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Date
Six for Zurich
ZURICH maintained their unbaten record in the Premier Division, beating Ridgeway 6-1. Ridgeway's scorer was Chris Smith. In Division 1 Barron Heating beat Blyskawica 6-1, Blysckawica's goal coming from Dave Hex. Westlecott battled hard when they came
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Ashley are out-foxed in the cup
A STEVE RODDY hat-trick could not prevent Dog & Fox Ashley from a 5-3 extra-time defeat to Prince of Wales in the Wiltshire Sunday Cup. Goals from Phil Radwell and Jason Harford looked enough to send FC Bradford into the final 16, with only 10 minutes
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Date
Spitfires' victory over high-flyers is Taylor-made
SWINDON Spitfires produced possibly their best performance so far against previously unbeaten table-toppers Gloucester City. The first 20 minutes produced four goals. A superb cross by Natalie Ferris was knocked home on 10 minutes by Vicky Taylor, who
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Date
Closing shop
NEWSAGENTS are unsung heroes. Who else gets up at an hour which for most people is still last night and is ready to sell newspapers and assorted other vital items when the lark is still yawning? Janice and David Vowles have been doing the job in High
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Date
Let them know what you think
AS feared and predicted, Swindon council tax-payers are likely to see their bills soar by double figures. The early estimate of nine per cent has risen to 13.1 and it is no surprise that pressure on social services was the main cause of the dramatic increase
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Date
Join in fun and games
FANS of The Lord of the Rings were heading for a free fantasy gaming gathering this afternoon. Set to run at North Swindon Library from 4pm to 6pm, the gathering is billed as giving fantasy fans the chance to play a game, find out what gaming involves
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Date
A towering commitment
MANY employees from Nationwide's head office in Swindon have been highly commended by the building society for their charity work. At the Employee Community Awards, held recently at Nationwide House, seven of the 20 awards went to Swindon-based employees
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Date
Kill speed not a child
WHAT a wonderful idea to resurface Wyke Road and The Down in Trowbridge. It is now a racetrack. The misery of motorists at 70mph and in particular two motorcyclists at probably 80mph every day is unbelievable. Does someone actually have to be killed for
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Date
Crockett treble lifts the Ladies
CHIPPENHAM Ladies are top of South West Three after a 17-12 victory over Witney at Allington Field Good early pressure saw Harriet Crockett go through for the first of her hat-trick of tries. Throughout the rest of the first half though, Witney turned
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Date
CIN sets record
MAY I thank all of those generous people who helped us raise a record £2,237.94 for Children in Need on November 21. I would also like to thank my colleagues who volunteered their time to achieve this magnificent total. C ROSEWARN Sub Officer Trowbridge
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Wildlife team work before they can party
Ref. 28155-27Swindon Wildlife Project has held a celebration to thank its volunteers for their work throughout the year. But organisers of Sunday's event, at Thames Water's street flood storage area in Gorse Hill, made sure it was more than simply a chance
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Fingers on the pulse
New forums are being heralded as a revolution in health, reports Alex Emery Scores of health watchdogs in Swindon are embarking on a new scheme to ensure residents are receiving the best possible care. Health forums are being hailed as a new voice for
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Alicia fires Town girls
Swindon Town Ladies' under 14 side saw off their Portsmouth counterparts 4-0 in their Surrey 11-a-side League encounter. The Town side totally dominated the game with the south coast team never troubling keeper Thompson. The first half was virtually played
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Swindon defeat
SWINDON slipped to their second Bucks, Berks & Oxon One defeat of the season in disappointing fashion as Bletchley beat them 26-25. The Greenbridge Road visitors started well, with a couple of excellent steals from the lightweight second row Paul
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Date
Family gathering
I AM planning a gathering of Lovelock family historians to be held in Hungerford on June 12. There is a day of activities including an afternoon coach trip around the east Wiltshire villages associated with the name. Research to date using parish registers
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Date
500 see the lights go on
Ref. 28152-16THE Prospect Hospice Christmas lights switch-on was watched by about 500 people. Supporters have sponsored nearly 700 of the 1,000 lights on the 17-foot tree as part of a record-breaking Light a Life appeal, with each light representing the
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Getting good value from our schools
Another round of school league tables and Wiltshire's primary schools have fared well. If the government insists on pitching our children's schools against each other then at least the new 'value added' measures in this week's tables show they at last
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Date
Karen blazes a trail in the navy
Ref. 28158-118FORMER Hreod Parkway pupil Karen Jacques has become the first female flag lieutenant to the highest ranking officer in the navy. Coincidentally, the 29-year-old's boss, First Sea Lord Admiral Alan West, is the man who, in 1991, gave the
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Date
MUIR TREBLE LEAVES RIVALS FEELING BLUE
JAMES Muir hit a hat-trick as Devizes Blues ran out 4-0 winners over Trowbridge Wanderers in their Mid-Wilts Under 14 Green Division game. Devizes led 3-0 at the break, with George Dyke also netting. In the Red Division, goals from James Mullery, Lee
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Date
Congratulations
I'M writing to say thank you to Wessex Water which fixed the drain on the road from Trowbridge to Westwood on Monday. There was a great big puddle until it fixed it. My mum said it would be nice to write to the newspaper saying thank you instead of complaining
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Date
Free tour of records office
A FREE tour of the National Monuments Record Centre in Kemble Drive will be given on Saturday, December 13, beginning at 2.15pm. The centre houses millions of items of historical archive material. Booking is advised. The centre can be contacted on 01793
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Date
Truth Is Out!
TOWN'S financial woes over a three-year period were laid bare to shareholders this morning. Accounts from season 1998-99 to 2000-1 dropped through letter-boxes this morning ahead of the annual general meeting on December 28 at the County Ground. The losses
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Date
CIN sets record
MAY I thank all of those generous people who helped us raise a record £2,237.94 for Children in Need on November 21. I would also like to thank my colleagues who volunteered their time to achieve this magnificent total. C ROSEWARN Sub Officer Trowbridge
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Date
Bah humbug
SCROOGE is alive and well and living in Trowbridge. In my search for the charity Christmas card shop (bottom of Castle Street) which, not surprisingly, was empty when I called, I wondered why none of our wealthy property agents had not, apparently, offered
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Date
Boss's desk is office party favourite
MORE than 40 per cent of workers admit to sexual liaisons at the office Christmas party, a new survey reveals. With office parties now in full swing, a seasonal poll claims that 41 per cent of British workers have got together intimately with a colleague
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Date
Town needs help
THE comments by Gary Skidmore the Biddestone Town manager that the facilities at Woodmarsh are shocking are upsetting but sadly true. Unless the Town make radical changes, ie a new ground with proper changing rooms, showers etc, we shall lose the exciting
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Date
Jake's Net Gaines
Terry's continued their impressive run in the Premier Division of the Vanitec Computers-sponsored Chippenham & District Sunday League, dispatching Hullavington 4-0. Jake Gaines opened the scoring and scored again, as Andy Colebrook and Matthew Arnold
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Date
Pickering try is boost for Chippenham
Wootton Bassett Under 12s fielded two sides against Chippenham on Sunday the first time this has happened. The first team, despite missing five key players, lost to a well drilled Chippenham side 14-0, hooker Jay Pickering and centre Alistair Rodgers
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Date
Thanks to CHC
TODAY (December 1) the curtain finally comes down on community health councils. I would like to thank Nick Westbrook and his team at the Bath and District CHC for all their hard work and say how very much they will be missed. Community health councils
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Date
Great month sees NSC race to top
NSC FC raced to the top of the Intermach Sunday Conference with two wins and a draw in November. First they defeated last year's champions BP 6-0 with goals from G Andrews, A Andrews, Mangell and James Agharbi. This was followed by a 3-3 draw with Brookes
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School's staff in exams success
THE headteacher of a Swindon primary school has praised 17 members of his team who passed NVQ exams. Hard work paid off for teaching assistants, catering staff and secretaries at Goddard Park Primary, who all received NVQ level 2 certificates. They were
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Prospects good for Christmas
RETAILERS reported a slow build-up to Christmas as sales growth in the first half of November fell below expectations. But stores are confident of an improvement during December, according to the CBI's quarterly Distributive Trades Survey. The survey
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Great month sees NSC race to top
NSC FC raced to the top of the Intermach Sunday Conference with two wins and a draw in November. First they defeated last year's champions BP 6-0 with goals from G Andrews, A Andrews, Mangell and James Agharbi. This was followed by a 3-3 draw with Brookes
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Alicia fires Town girls
Swindon Town Ladies' under 14 side saw off their Portsmouth counterparts 4-0 in their Surrey 11-a-side League encounter. The Town side totally dominated the game with the south coast team never troubling keeper Thompson. The first half was virtually played
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Leaders are toppled by Bassett
WOOTTON Bassett Ladies brought Chippenham Town Ladies' winning run to an end with a 3-2 victory in their Wiltshire County League encounter at Christian Malford. Leaders Chippenham started brightly and put second-placed Bassett under some early pressure
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No delight in Devon
Swindon Primary Schools, missing five regular team players, were beaten 3-1 at Plymouth in their second Cotswold League fixture. Plymouth took the lead in the second minute with a freak own goal. Spear's close range effort at goal was blocked by Wilkinson
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EASTVILLE RUN
Eastville Boys under 13s suffered their first league defeat in over two years in the North Wilts & District Youth League at the weekend. Highworth were the team that ended the unbeaten run with a 2-1 triumph over their title rivals at Warneford School
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U-turn on school's nativity video ban
Ref. 28180-38PARENT power persuaded one of Swindon's newest schools to lift a ban on filming their children's first nativity play. The ban was imposed at Bridlewood Primary School, after two parents apparently objected to video cameras being used at tomorrow's
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Culley hits a cracker
John Culley hit a 70th minute cracker as Ardington & Lockinge fought back from two goals down to win 3-2 at Marcham. The win put them straight back into the Division 1 title race. Experienced striker Martin Parsons put Marcham ahead after only two
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Villager campaigns for high speed access
BROADBAND campaigner Maureen Albright is appealing for volunteers to help her bring high-speed internet access to Aldbourne and Baydon. BT says it will upgrade the area's telephone exchange if 250 people register an interest in the service. That is the
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Well done Dr M
WE would like to extend our sincere congratulations to Dr Andrew Murrison on his appointment as health spokesman for the Opposition. The promotion is richly deserved as Dr Murrison, although a comparatively new boy to politics, has shown that he has qualities
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Carnival cash helps hospital
THE carnival committee would like to express their sincere thanks to all the firms, shops, businesses and individuals (too numerous to mention here) who by their generous donations of prizes, sponsorship and time allowed this year's carnival to be such
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Lib Dems make their position clear
BEN Biddulph is no longer a member of the Liberal Democrats. It might not be necessary, but I would like to make it quite plain to your readers that his views on questions of sexual orientation are not in accord with the principles of the Liberal Democrat
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Ban on cards is an insult to the meaning of Christmas
I wonder how many of your readers realise that under a new law from now on it could be an offence to send Christmas cards showing a nativity scene to an office for fear of offending other faiths. This would seem to be another of those regulations passed
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Nias ends Calne's brave resistance
SHERBORNE'S ex-Harlequins ace Richard Nias did to Calne what he had done to Minety as his four-try burst clinched a 38-11 victory in Dorset & WIlts One. The home team fiercely contested their own opening kick but knocked on and No 8 Nias picked up
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Fingers on the pulse
New forums are being heralded as a revolution in health, reports Alex Emery Scores of health watchdogs in Swindon are embarking on a new scheme to ensure residents are receiving the best possible care. Health forums are being hailed as a new voice for
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Hardie breaks Corsham
CORSHAM'S second string gave a good account of themselves before slipping to a narrow 8-5 defeat at their neighbours' Allington Field ground. The home side had Alan Jones sin-binned, with Sid Hayden also being shown the yellow card for the visitors, both
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Paperboy's bike mangled
Ref. 28179-37An Evening Advertiser paperboy was left distraught when a driver mangled his bicycle by reversing over it. Fourteen-year-old David Szynalski, of Mulcaster Avenue in Grange Park, left his BMX at the end of a driveway in Simnel Close while
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Andrew leads Swindon charge
SWINDON Under 14s rattled up a half-century of points as they dismissed Oxford Harlequins 50-5. Andrew Rogers claimed five tries, with new boy Tom Rees crossing once. Jordan Sheppard added one in the second half, with Quins replying once. Squad: Dene
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Up for the cup!
CHIPPENHAM Under 14s are the Bristol Combination Cup champions again after an emphatic 27-7 victory over Cleve in the final at St Mary's Old Boys RFC. And they had to overcome the handicap of playing with only 14 players for all but 10 minutes to retain
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Bah humbug
SCROOGE is alive and well and living in Trowbridge. In my search for the charity Christmas card shop (bottom of Castle Street) which, not surprisingly, was empty when I called, I wondered why none of our wealthy property agents had not, apparently, offered
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Villager campaigns for high speed access
BROADBAND campaigner Maureen Albright is appealing for volunteers to help her bring high-speed internet access to Aldbourne and Baydon. BT says it will upgrade the area's telephone exchange if 250 people register an interest in the service. That is the
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Ashley are out-foxed in the cup
A STEVE RODDY hat-trick could not prevent Dog & Fox Ashley from a 5-3 extra-time defeat to Prince of Wales in the Wiltshire Sunday Cup. Goals from Phil Radwell and Jason Harford looked enough to send FC Bradford into the final 16, with only 10 minutes
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Shrivenham jump on top
There are new leaders in Division 2 after Grove Rangers were held 2-2 at home to Coleshill United and Shrivenham Reserves took over at the top after a 6-0 against Steventon 6-0. Ben Eltham and Dave Mulford scored for Rangers while Scott Griffin and Shane
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Culley hits a cracker
John Culley hit a 70th minute cracker as Ardington & Lockinge fought back from two goals down to win 3-2 at Marcham. The win put them straight back into the Division 1 title race. Experienced striker Martin Parsons put Marcham ahead after only two
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Business as usual for Cricklade
THE County Cup decimated the Cirencester & District Youth League programme, but it was business as usual for Cricklade. The under 14 team moved into the next round of the League Cup with a 2-1 win over Highworth Juniors. Cricklade took the lead after
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Highworth lead the cup charge
HIGHWORTH led the way in the glut of County Youth Cup ties at the weekend. The Cirencester & District Youth under 15 team were 4-1 winners at Wroughton. Highworth got off to a flyer with Alex Parker netting for the visitors after only two minutes.
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Highworth lead the cup charge
HIGHWORTH led the way in the glut of County Youth Cup ties at the weekend. The Cirencester & District Youth under 15 team were 4-1 winners at Wroughton. Highworth got off to a flyer with Alex Parker netting for the visitors after only two minutes.
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Six for Zurich
ZURICH maintained their unbaten record in the Premier Division, beating Ridgeway 6-1. Ridgeway's scorer was Chris Smith. In Division 1 Barron Heating beat Blyskawica 6-1, Blysckawica's goal coming from Dave Hex. Westlecott battled hard when they came
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Cllr Biddulph's views
THE Wiltshire Times claims to be fair, balanced and free from vested political interests. Yet this is hardly an accurate description of last week's article on myself. To describe an elected local representative speaking on a controversial local issue
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Getting good value from our schools
Another round of school league tables and Wiltshire's primary schools have fared well. If the government insists on pitching our children's schools against each other then at least the new 'value added' measures in this week's tables show they at last
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Saluting two brave men
Heroes Chris Fardell and Peter Rogers jumped in where other people would not dare dragging a man from a burning car. Their life-saving actions are likely to get the response that 'anybody in that position would do the same', but how many people actually
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Leaders are toppled by Bassett
WOOTTON Bassett Ladies brought Chippenham Town Ladies' winning run to an end with a 3-2 victory in their Wiltshire County League encounter at Christian Malford. Leaders Chippenham started brightly and put second-placed Bassett under some early pressure
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Tuck in, but not to pizza, say landlords
You can choose practically anything from the menu at the Victoria Inn, in Shrivenham, but you will not find pizza on the menu as long as Ian and June Clayton are behind the bar. For Ian has spent the last nine years running a fast food and pizza delivery
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Day ruined says bride
Ref. 28174-04 INSET: Stained wedding dressA BRIDE says her wedding day was ruined when her white dress became stained with bright red dye just moments before she was due to walk up the aisle. Marie Wright, 27, of Simnel Close, Grange Park, West Swindon
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Wildlife team work before they can party
Ref. 28155-27Swindon Wildlife Project has held a celebration to thank its volunteers for their work throughout the year. But organisers of Sunday's event, at Thames Water's street flood storage area in Gorse Hill, made sure it was more than simply a chance
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Trader fined for a cigarette sale
A SHOPKEEPER is facing a bill of more than £1,300 after pleading guilty to selling cigarettes to a minor. Swindon Magistrates fined Daksesh Patel, the co-owner of Fred's supermarket in Penhill, £600 for the offence and awarded costs of £731.50 under the
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500 see the lights go on
Ref. 28152-16THE Prospect Hospice Christmas lights switch-on was watched by about 500 people. Supporters have sponsored nearly 700 of the 1,000 lights on the 17-foot tree as part of a record-breaking Light a Life appeal, with each light representing the
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Passengers in turmoil
SCORES of Swindon commuters trying to get to work were thwarted by train cancellations. Cable damage led to drastically reduced services between Reading and London Paddington throughout yesterday, just as it had on Sunday. Swindon-based train operator
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School's staff in exams success
THE headteacher of a Swindon primary school has praised 17 members of his team who passed NVQ exams. Hard work paid off for teaching assistants, catering staff and secretaries at Goddard Park Primary, who all received NVQ level 2 certificates. They were
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Cutting through red tape is one of the benefits
The Patient Advice and Liaison Service, or PALS, operates as part of the Government's 10-year plan to improve the services offered by the NHS. It is run in conjunction with the Swindon and Marlborough NHS Trust, Wiltshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust and
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Final decision on hot meals rests with schools
Response to G Theodore Heath's letter (Tuesday, November 25): I am writing to clarify the current situation with regard to the provision of school meals following the letter by G Theodore Heath. In 2000 as part of the fair funding process, schools opted
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That's the end of the entente cordiale
IT'S interesting that the demise of Concorde is being spun as the death of independent, British aerospace-engineering ("We were a proud nation, once", and so on). There is undoubtedly much truth in this, but, in reality, the end of Concorde is much more
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Passengers in turmoil
SCORES of Swindon commuters trying to get to work were thwarted by train cancellations. Cable damage led to drastically reduced services between Reading and London Paddington throughout yesterday, just as it had on Sunday. Swindon-based train operator
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Saluting two brave men
Heroes Chris Fardell and Peter Rogers jumped in where other people would not dare dragging a man from a burning car. Their life-saving actions are likely to get the response that 'anybody in that position would do the same', but how many people actually
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Appointment fuels regeneration
THE New Swindon Company Swindon's urban regeneration company has appointed Chris Hitchings as its new Development Manager to drive forward major physical regeneration projects. He is a chartered surveyor whose career in property has included the Cardiff
