Archive
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Good work serves medal
COUNTLESS people will be pleased by the announcement of an MBE for Jenni Manners who runs Swindon Women's Refuge. The award is richly deserved. But it is typical of her that she regards it as recognition of the people the refuge has helped and of the
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Why big tax rise?
I notice that the Government has awarded Swindon an increase of 4.2 per cent over last year's council tax settlement. This figure is almost twice the rate of inflation. With this in mind, why is it that any increase in council tax is necessary? Has the
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On with the hunt
Foxhunters from Wiltshire have been out in force over the festive period. On Boxing Day about 230 horses and riders turned out for a meet of the Vale of the White Horse hunt at Cirencester Park, accompanied by thousands of supporters on foot. The hunt
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The last chord
Ref. 28404-89The melody may linger on, but for Swindon Arts the final note has been struck, reports MICHAEL LITCHFIELD. THE news that the final curtain will come down on cash-strapped Swindon Arts next month has spoiled the plot. The decision to demobilise
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Old specs mean sight
BROADCASTER Richard Stilgoe, writer and broadcaster, popped into Dunscombes Opticians to boost the company's New Year appeal for unwanted specs for the Third World. Donating three pairs of his own specs, Richard is helping Dunscombes Opticians in Market
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Chance to air views on our boys in blue
HAVE your say on the policing in Swindon at a New Year public meeting. Wiltshire Police Author-ity has a campaign to find out what people think about community safety and the police. The nationwide consultation is a result of the government's Building
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Stewart reaches for the ski!
Ref. 28218-02Stewart Elliott is looking forward to going ski-ing for the first time since he was paralysed. Stewart, 25, from Stratton St Margaret, will fly to America in January and go skiing in the Black Hills, Dakota, thanks to a special charity called
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New Year Honours - Services to science
OPEN University graduate Vincent Osgood was recognised for his work at the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. Mr Osgood, who was awarded the MBE for his services to science, is not a scientist and admits his science background, "is a
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New Year Honours - Pleased for staff at Hastoe
HASTOE Housing Association managing director Andrew Williamson regarded his OBE as an award for the firm's employees. "I'm really pleased for the staff at Hastoe, who are fabulous," he said. "There are over 69,000 people in the country working in housing
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NEW YEAR MESSAGES - JAMES GRAY, North Wiltshire MP
Locally, we are challenged by the downturn in manufacturing, with Dyson going overseas, St Ivel in Wootton Bassett closing and Westinghouse moving out of Chippenham. Farming remains depressed and the threatened closure of RAF Lyneham would be a catastrophe
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NEW YEAR MESSAGES - MICHAEL WILLS, Swindon North MP
I hope 2004 will see us successfully meeting the challenges that made 2003 such a turbulent year. Globally, for all the progress that has been made, billions continue to live in conditions of unacceptable and avoidable deprivation and poverty. For moral
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NEW YEAR MESSAGES - 2004: A time of improvements.
Swindon leaders give their messages for the new year. MIKE BAWDEN: Swindon Council leader. I can't wait for 2004 - there is so much to look forward to. My aspiration is that when the Government inspectors come to assess our services next autumn, they'll
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A trek to adventure
A SWINDON man has raised more than £2,000 for charity after completing a 10-day trek across New Zealand. Graham Hilling, 25, from Spencer Close in Shaw, joined 50 other adventurers - including TV star Linda Robson - for the hike across rugged mountainous
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Alan swings at the Kings'
Saxophonist Alan Barnes is bringing his jazz quartet to Swindon. Alan, who appears on Michael Parkinson's chat show as part of the resident band, recently worked on the Hollywood film version of the musical Chicago. His career has spanned more than 20
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Funds raised as tribute to Nobby
Ref. 28451-22ROTARIANS from Old Town are planning to support Macmillan nurses in the New Year in memory of a former president who died of cancer this year. During 2003 the Rotary Club of Swindon Old Town raised a total of £8,000 and hope to hit the £10,000
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Don't get left at the bus stop
Thamesdown Transport will not run services on New Year's Day. Normal services were due to be running today although last buses travelling around Swindon were leaving at around 8pm. The usual timetable begins again on Friday January 2. Stagecoach will
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Awaiting delivery!
Ref. 28443-21MOST people look forward to receiving cards before Christmas - but Lynda Murray is eagerly awaiting them come January. Lynda's home at 16 Templars Firs, Wootton Bassett, is an official Christmas card recycling point. Last year, the 40-year-old
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Chance for all to join with the jazz band
This year's jazz festival at the Designer Outlet Village in Rodbourne was a larger window of opportunity than ever for local talent. Teacher Gary Bamford played some of his original music, giving him a once-in-a-lifetime chance. There was also practical
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Ban will put other routes under threat
I read with some disappointment and concern the article regarding the motorised vehicle ban on Smeathe's Ridge (Advertiser 19/12/03). I am disappointed because I am a motorcyclist who enjoys riding the unsurfaced roads of Wiltshire and can sense the determination
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£140,000 cut makes us a real cultural desert
FOR more years than many people care to remember Swindon was called a cultural ghost town. Nothing, according to its critics, ever happened here. Then Swindon Arts came along and began to put an admirable gloss on the town's dreary old image. But now
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New Resolution
MALCOLM Crosby has challenged Town's players to turn over a new disciplinary leaf in 2004 or face potentially disastrous play-off consequences. Only Oldham and Luton have worse crime sheets than Town so far this season and Andy King's No 2 admits that
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Awaiting delivery!
Ref. 28443-21MOST people look forward to receiving cards before Christmas - but Lynda Murray is eagerly awaiting them come January. Lynda's home at 16 Templars Firs, Wootton Bassett, is an official Christmas card recycling point. Last year, the 40-year-old
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Save your stamps
CAN I make an appeal to readers to save me their stamps for the welfare of cats and dogs. A warm bed, food and health costs are very important to our four legged furry friends. (Miss) A CONROY 34 Fairfield Road Ashington, West Sussex RH20 2JZ
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Feeling grateful
COULD I please put in a word of thanks, to a young lady who came to my assistance when I went flying, after catching my foot in the rubber covering the electricity supply to the children's roundabout outside Debenhams on December 15, also to the gentleman
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Homeless help
I WOULD like to give a wonderful word of credit to all those dedicated people who give their time and love to the homeless at Christmas. It is called Christmas Care and is organised by the Methodists each year. It was on for four days and all those people
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A bright 2004 in store for Bethany
Ref. 28445-09CANCER battler Bethany Robinson says she is having too much fun to think about her illness. Bethany, who will celebrate her fifth birthday on January 23, has shouldered more responsibility than many adults ever do. But you wouldn't guess
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Lean Christmas for the conmen
ROGUES and conmen appear to have bypassed Swindon when it comes to peddling dangerous and counterfeit goods. So far trading standards has not received any complaints about dodgy items, underage alcohol and cigarette sales or fake merchandise in the town
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Gary's 91lb Christmas cracker . . .
WEIGHTS in general have been good over the Christmas period at Ivy House Lakes, where Gary Laidler took 91lb of carp on Christmas Eve to win the match from peg 33. Kevin Smith followed with 40-14-0 (peg 5) ahead of Harold Mayers 30-8-0 from peg 47 and
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It's a gong for jenni
Ref. 28453-19Woman who runs a haven for victims of domestic violence receives an MBE in the Queen's New Year's honour list. A WOMAN who has spent more than half her life helping victims of domestic violence has been honoured by the Queen. Jenni Manners
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College have the edge over Swindon in friendly clash
SWINDON College Old Boys beat Swindon 37-26 in a friendly in which both sides fielded mixed club players. Swindon started strongly, opening the scoring with a well-worked try. College came back and applied the pressure, crossing the line through scrum
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Howse double seals revenge for Cricklade in local derby
CRICKLADE overcame Fairford 28-8 in a local derby, avenging a 7-5 defeat at Fairford earlier in the season. Cricklade started by showing some of the moves and determination that has put them at the top of Dorset & Wilts Two North. From an early ruck
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Sign at Greenbridge says it all
IT DOES just what it says on the side of the building rots. Evening Advertiser picture editor Dave Evans noticed how dilapidation and vandals had created a fitting sign for the derelict former Brown Brothers site at Greenbridge. The 1960s designed block
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Better service pledge
FIRST Great Western's parent company says the package of improvements it plans for the new Thames Trains Franchise will have knock-on benefits for South West customers. FirstGroup has been selected as preferred bidder for the franchise, which covers the
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On with the hunt
Foxhunters from Wiltshire have been out in force over the festive period. On Boxing Day about 230 horses and riders turned out for a meet of the Vale of the White Horse hunt at Cirencester Park, accompanied by thousands of supporters on foot. The hunt
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NEW YEAR MESSAGES - MARK DEVLIN, Swindon Town Football Club MD
I think our aspirations are to get promotion to Division One, to continue to bring the finances under control and to represent the community. We hope we are something to be proud of in Swindon. We are fairly happy with where we are but we could always
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Painting pictures of a time gone by
AN exhibition of photographs featuring scenes from Swindon of yesteryear is being shown across the county. Life Through A Wiltshire Eye features 76 images from Wiltshire County Council's Historic Photograph and Print Collection. Many of the photographs
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Get an award
The Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme has units running in schools, youth centres, Swindon Town Football Club, The Rowdy Bunch, and Boys Brigade. It is open to all young people between the ages of 14 and 25 and gives opportunities for personal achievements
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Save energy by becoming an action volunteer
Wiltshire Wildlife Trust is looking for competitive volunteers who want to make their neighbourhood the most energy efficient in Swindon. The Trust is hoping to secure at least one Energy Action Volunteer in each council ward in the borough. Those volunteers
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Club keeps drug dealers at bay
Ref. 28450-13A SWINDON nightclub believes it is winning the battle to keep drug dealing at bay. Four months ago, Vision bar and caf, in Cricklade Road, Gorse Hill, looked like a building site as it underwent a £60,000 revamp. Dark corners in the club
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Word of praise
I WAS surprised to read of abuse, by carers for housebound pensioners. My late mother received first class care from all the carers who looked after her for a number of years, they were kindness itself. Primrose Care, now Goldsborough, will always have
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A big thank you
RE: the article about the home carers. I am writing this for my husband, Mr Tom Flaherty, who is blind and had a stroke about three years ago. We have a wonderful band of girls who come in twice a day to attend to his needs. They are just a lot of hard
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Free and splendid service
HAVING for some time observed a notice in Lloyd's pharmacy window begging the question are you one of the one million sufferers who unknowingly has diabetes? Why not come inside for a free test? So I took them up on such a generous offer and entered their
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Get priorities right
SO the senior officials and councillors of Swindon are at the old game of emotional blackmail. As per usual they come out with "we must have cuts here or closures there. But if you, the Swindon residents, agree to a double figure council tax rise, that
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Sick and tired of the parking restrictions
An extract from a day in the life of a central Swindon resident: Friday December 5, 2003: Feeling poorly, must be going down with a cold or the flu. Arrived home at 7.15pm, no parking spaces on the left hand side of Dryden Street, no spaces in Deacon
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The mathematics just don't add up
I HAVE read in the Evening Advertiser (November 26) that Swindon Council leader Mike Bawden has stated that if there is a double-digit rise in council tax next April that because council tax increased by 15.4 per cent last year and by 15.9 per cent the
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Thanks from swan sanctuary
COULD we please take this opportunity to send our thanks, and wish everyone that has supported us throughout the year, a very happy Christmas, and a healthy New Year for 2004. We are so thankful to everyone who has donated towels, sheets and blankets.
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Truancy is harmful to all pupils
AT least three of the parents interviewed in the article about parents being fined for taking their children out of school for term-time holidays, have missed the point of the proposed new law. The word sequential seems to have dropped out of modern educational
