Archive
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Legalise prostitution
DEFENCE solicitor Rob Ross is asking for prostitution to be legalised and says that the council is wasting money hounding the girls from the streets. He goes as far as to say that it is disgraceful and that legalising brothels would get rid of the pimp
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Council tax unrest is rising again
MANY of us can remember the poll tax riots of the early 1990s when a grassroots rebellion saw thousands take to the streets to the slogan: Can't Pay Won't Pay. The uprising is believed to have helped force prime minister Margaret Thatcher from Downing
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Giant strides off to new home
CHRISTOPHER, the replica of Salisbury's famous giant, moves out from his home in the Arts Centre as workmen begin refurbishment of the centre. Christopher has been offered a home in Fordingbridge by funeral director Ian Newman, but the long-term future
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Giant strides off to new home
CHRISTOPHER, the replica of Salisbury's famous giant, moves out from his home in the Arts Centre as workmen begin refurbishment of the centre. Christopher has been offered a home in Fordingbridge by funeral director Ian Newman, but the long-term future
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Vending machines for digital photos are on the way
Amateur photographers will soon be able to process digital snaps at vending machines. Photo-Me International said that each picture would cost around 15p and the pioneering machines would be available alongside many of its 26,000 photo booths worldwide
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The boys from Swindon meet the PM in Basra
FOUR engineers employed by Halcrow to help rebuild Iraq met Prime Minister Tony Blair during his recent visit to the country. The engineers, who cannot be named for security reasons, form part of the Swindon-based firm's 14-strong team. It includes three
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Nationwide commits to UK call centres
NATIONWIDE'S main call centre in Swindon was officially re-opened yesterday by local MP Julia Drown after the company announced it was committed to keeping its call centres in the UK. This clearly contrasts with the industry trend which has already seen
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Brit Awards are music to his ears
Ref. 28404-48JAZZ sensation Jamie Cullum will slog it out with some of the biggest names in music at next month's Brit Awards. The 24-year-old Swindon jazz pianist and singer has been nominated in the British Breakthrough Artist category at the British
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Faringdon surge to top
Faringdon Town are the new leaders of Division One as they continued their remarkable 100 per cent away record with a 3-1 win over Marcham. Young guns Chris Benson, Robert Lovegrove and Robert Owen scored for Town, with Will Westall netting for Marcham
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Windmill sail into next round of cup
WINDMILL were the giantkillers in the latest round of the Knockout Cup. Chris Henly got both goals for the Division 4 side as they overcame Division 1 Wroughton WMC 2-1. Glenn Armstrong replied for Wroughton. The top two sides in Division 1 met, and Greyhound
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Seventh Heaven
FC Chippenham won a seven-goal thriller in the under 14 Blue Division beating Shaw & Whitley 4-3. Will Fisher's penalty gave Chippenham the lead but Shaw equalised before moving 2-1 ahead. Shaw extended their advantage but Chippenham roared back with
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Final farewell for soccer chairman
Ref. 21014-06FRIENDS and family have paid tribute to Eric Lane, a popular pork butcher and former Swindon Town chairman, whose funeral took place at Christ Church yesterday. The Rev Simon Stevenette, also chaplain of Swindon Town Football Club, took the
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Private finance is often the only way to build
PRIVATE Finance Initiatives are becoming increasingly common ways to fund large developments. Swindon's Great Western Hospital, which cost £150m and opened in December 2002 was funded in this way. However, they are not without controversy. Some schemes
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Police make their move
The battle against crime is focussing on the community. GILES SHELDRICK finds out how this is being planned by moving the main police station outside the town centre. POLICE in Swindon are hoping a move away from the town centre will bring them closer
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Council tax revamp set to cut bills
SOARING council tax bills may soon be a thing of the past after a broad-based revolt against the unpopular tax has finally shaken the Government into action. Swindon Council leader Mike Bawden (Con, Old Town and Lawns) has been at the forefront of lobbying
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Third string improve despite defeat
WOOTTON Bassett 3rd improved on their previous display against Hungerford, but still slipped to a 28-8 Dorset & Wilts Two North defeat. Bassett were thrashed 75-0 earlier this season, but grabbed the lead this time through a finely-struck penalty
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Kingsdown pupils told to stay at home after gas leak
Pupils at Kingsdown School have been told to stay at home today after a gas leak forced authorities to switch off the heating. A smell of gas was detected yesterday morning in a cupboard near the school entrance. Gas supplier Transco was called and engineers
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Aiming to keep its house in order
Ref. 28599-03A COUNCILLOR is to be made a "champion" of good housekeeping for Swindon Council. It follows the recent revelations in the Advertiser that Swindon Council spends £100m a year of taxpayers' money on new equipment, yet there is no central purchasing
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Legalise vice girls
A LEADING Swindon solicitor says prostitution should be legalised in the town. Rob Ross, who has previously asked for a debate on the legalisation of Class A Drugs, says it is "absolutely disgraceful" that Swindon Council is wasting public money hounding
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CALNE CLUB'S BIG KICK-OFF
CALNE got their new junior section up and running with a successful launch at the town's John Bentley School at the weekend. Former Bath, Wellington and Sale prop Kevin Yates once wore the colours of Calne and John Bentley School, and it is now hoped
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NSC break from pack
NSC opened up a seven-point lead in the Intermach Sunday Conference as they beat Nationwide Casuals 5-2. Goals came from Kevin Mangell (3), James Arthur and an own goal. Castrol went third with a 2-1 victory against BSB Utd, as goals from John Cave-Ayland
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Cannings crash out
Eric Hughes Memorial Cup holders All Cannings were sent crashing at this season's quarter-final stage by Second Division North Star A, who coasted through to the final four of the PPL Presto Print-sponsored competition 5-1. The Chippenham & District
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Stratton juniors take first title of the year
Stratton Juniors are the first crowned champions in the inaugural season of the North Wilts & District Youth & Minors League after claiming the under 15 title with two games to spare. They made sure of the championship on Sunday with a comfortable
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Schools side loses out to Saints
Swindon Primary Schools were knocked out of the Southern Counties Cup when they lost 3-0 at Southampton. The visitors started brightly and Thompson shot just wide through a crowded area but Southampton weathered the storm and went ahead midway through
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Rain break aids Town
SWINDON Town Ladies drew 1-1 at Reading in a South West Combination League fixture. Reading took the lead in their first attack in the ninth minute, when Leila Dickinson crossed from the right to find Lisa Bryett who scored from close range. Town fought
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Overseas jobs on offer for keen youngsters
YOUNG people in Swindon are being given the chance to boost their CVs and gain valuable overseas work experience, thanks to an innovative job placement scheme. Swindon Council is looking to send youngsters on a three-month work placement in Europe in
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No car parking room at the inn
Ref. 28555-09AN OLD Town pub landlord claims he's losing £10,000 a year because customers can't find a place to park. Pete Durnford of The Wheatsheaf, says he is losing trade because Swindon Council has sold off land previously used for car parking. "
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Fears for the 'little guys'
LOUISE Beard has witnessed the plight of endangered orangutans first hand and now she is echoing wildlife campaigners' fears about the threat of extinction. The 30-year-old veterinary nurse of Kimbolton Close, Freshbrook, spent three months in Borneo
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Public invited to Front Garden meeting
SWINDON Council planners will meet on Saturday, January 24, to consider formallythe Southern Develop-ment Area the Front Garden planning application. Proposals include 4,500 new homes, four new schools, offices and a further extension of the Old Town
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Sample a host of farm treats
THE first Wanborough Farmers' Market of the year will take place on Saturday. The market, in the village hall, in the High Street, features locally produced food. Meat, vegetables, cheese, eggs and preserves are some of the products on sale. A newcomer
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In defence of the Ridgeway motorcyclists
AFTER reading your article (December 13) about the ruts on The Ridgeway, I measured the width of the rear tyre of my motor cycle. It is 51/2 inches and I fail to see how motor cycles can be blamed for the 12 inch ruts that Mr Ritchie was complaining about
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Happy Days!
SAMMY IGOE has never been happier in 10 years as a professional footballer and has indicated that an extended stay at the County Ground is an extremely appealing prospect. The 28-year-old signed a two-year contract in the summer, but admits that he would
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Down on their luck in opener
THAMESDOWN crashed to a 99-59 defeat at the hands of East Region group leaders Carterton in their opening Wessex League game of 2004. They lost on all four rinks and went down 16 points to nil. At Carterton Ray Ford's rink lost 24-13 and Chris Cheesley
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Westlecot set off at the double
WESTLECOT bounced back after their shock Denny Cup exit to start the new year with two vital wins in national competitions. On Saturday the men's side beat Clarrie Dunbar in their Group J decider in the Famous Grouse Top 10 competition and are now into
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'Trolley mayhem' on city streets
THE streets of Salisbury had more abandoned supermarket shopping trolleys on them over the festive season than were inside the stores, according to one district councillor. Councillor Jeremy Nettle claimed Christmas and the New Year in Salisbury created
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New premises and new MD for company
AN award-winning Wiltshire packaging firm is celebrating the New Year in a new purpose-built factory which marks the latest state in its expansion plans. The Great Western Packaging Company has moved to new 42,000 sq ft premises at Chelworth Park, Cricklade
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Artists want penny to drop with the public
Ref. 28562-50TWO unconventional artists are taking their work to the public with a unique vending machine selling pocket-sized pieces of art. The former chocolate vending machine, installed at Swindon's Arts Centre, is the third such device created by
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Marine fall
TRIES for second row men Andy Uzzell and Richard Dodd were little consolation for Supermarine 2nd as they were soundly beaten 42-12 by Salisbury 3rd in Dorset & Wilts Two North. Gareth Case converted Uzzell's effort. Tetbury RFC train every Thursday
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Brit Awards are music to his ears
Ref. 28404-48JAZZ sensation Jamie Cullum will slog it out with some of the biggest names in music at next month's Brit Awards. The 24-year-old Swindon jazz pianist and singer has been nominated in the British Breakthrough Artist category at the British
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Seconds are stung!
CHIPPENHAM 2nd went down to a disappointing 18-10 defeat at Weston Hornets. Desperate defence kept the Hornets at bay however and, after 10 minutes, a mistake by the hosts' backs allowed Chippenham scrum-half Ryan Surry to pick up and go 60 metres unopposed
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Corsham cut short
Corsham's second string avenged an earlier defeat at the hands of their neighbours as they defeated Chippenham 3rd 12-7 in a friendly encounter abandoned in the final seven minutes. This was always going to be a close encounter at Lacock Road, and so
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Barstow masters Salisbury
THE tactical nous of fly-half Russell Barstow helped Wootton Bassett Under 15s to an excellent 26-0 Wiltshire Cup win against a Salisbury side with six county players. Bassett played against the strong wind in the first half and pressurised Salisbury
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Super Swindon down Saracens
SWINDON Under 17s fought back from a half-time deficit to claim a famous 26-13 triumph over their counterparts from Zurich Premiership giants Saracens. A strong wind favoured Saracens in the first half but a clever kick, and the speed of Swindon's Ryan
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AMEY SETS ZURICH ALIGHT
MIDFIELDER Dave Amey was the star as Zurich maintained their unbeaten run in the Premier Division. Amey fired in a hat-trick as the leaders overcame a battling Queenstown 3-1. County Ground beat Wheatsheaf 4-1 with goals from Simon Lowe, Danny Bourne
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Highworth's Second Wind
A dazzling second-half display saw Highworth ease through to the next round of the Cirencester and District League Cup with a 6-1 win over Stratton Youth at the Rec. Although drawn at home, Stratton switched the game to Highworth because of the condition
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£17,000 donation sees pavilion dream move a step nearer
Youngsters at Highworth Junior Football Club can look forward to luxurious new surroundings before the end of the season after a five-figure donation covered the final costs of their new pavilion. The facility at the Elms Rec is on course for completion
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Rose gets Malmesbury job as Supermarine seek No 2 for Saunders
PAUL ROSE has been appointed assistant manager at Hellenic League Malmesbury Victoria. Rose enjoyed a long career in the non-League game, winning 55 Wiltshire caps while playing for Trowbridge and Chippenham. His career highlights included an FA Vase
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Russian ballet company keeps dancers on their toes
Ref. 28585-06ABOUT 16 Swindon dancers have been chosen to perform in a Russian ballet. The youngsters, aged from ten to 12, are from the Tanwood School of Dance and Performing Arts, based in Dowling Street, which is run by Mollie Tanner and her daughter
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Wedding party ends in a brawl
POLICE were called to a Swindon pub after a bar room brawl broke out between feuding families at a wedding. The fight, at the Moonrak-ers' pub, in Cricklade Road, resulted in an abrupt end to the celebrations on Sunday night. A witness, who did not want
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Cross is all set to arrive
A FOUR-metre high cross sent on a world tour by the Pope is to come to Swindon. The cross has travelled almost 50,000 miles since it was presented in Rome at the 1983 World Youth Day. Father Kevin Hennessey, the assistant priest at St Mary's Church, in
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A second chance to learn skill
YOUNG people who missed out on going to college in September are being given a second chance to gain a qualification this year. Swindon College has created a new, free course called Springboard, which is being supported by Connexions and the Wiltshire
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Town mourns former education chief
George Labram, the man who saw Swindon through the birth of comprehensive education, has died aged 88. He was borough education officer between 1962 and 1974, a momentous time in education. In 1965 comprehensive schools were introduced in place of the
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Wheelchair access is not as good as it should be
I DON'T think that the Wiltshire area is doing enough for disabled customers who want to eat or drink locally. The website www.yourlevelbest.com which lists several thousand accessible establishments, shows how patchy the local provision is. You have
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Why weren't these needles seen by the cleaning staff?
John Short frequently and valiantly seeks to defend Swindon Services against any criticism. But may I suggest he reads the front page of the EA (January 2) and then explains why his directorate failed to ensure a public car park was cleansed of drug related
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I feel that I am being discriminated against
I am writing in response to Stella Gaston-Cohen's letter re: her experience of pushchairs and buses. I experience similar problems almost every day of the week. I have a young baby and I have to travel to work in town on the No 8 bus with a pushchair
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Perry's set for Bath return
BRITISH Lions full-back Matt Perry could return to Bath's line-up for the second leg of the Parker Pen Challenge Cup second round tie against French side Colomiers on saturday (2.15pm). Bath lead 32-25 from Sunday's first leg in France, and Perry's inclusion
