Archive
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Weather spoils Wiltshire's good work
WILTSHIRE made a fine start on the first day of their Minor Counties Championship game against Shropshire at Corsham yesterday. They won the toss and elected to bat against the team who currently lie second in the Western Divisional table and are unbeaten
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Softly, softly tactics of the creeper thieves
71078-11A SPATE of thefts in West Swindon during the recent heatwave has prompted the police to tell people to shut their windows. In the past eight weeks, opportunist thieves have stolen property from 33 homes in Westlea, Toothill, Freshbrook and Shaw
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Homeless raid ducks the issue
A CHARITY for homeless people has attacked measures to drive vagrants out of Swindon town centre car parks. Chris Offord of The Filling Station, which operates from offices in Wroughton, has hit out at comments made by Coun Jemima Milton (Con, Chiseldon
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Hit-and-run victim suffers fractured skull
71699-20A MAN was recovering in hospital today after being dragged along a street by a hit-and-run car. The 25-year-old was struck early yesterday morning as he walked along Lady Lane in Blunsdon towards the A419, between Vicarage Motor Company and The
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Accused in rape attempt case to be bailed
AN asylum seeker who is accused of trying to rape a 17-year-old boy has been granted bail by magistrates. Soran Mohammed will be released from custody to live at a bail hostel if a bed can be found for him. The 34-year-old, who has been granted leave
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Paulton stun Bluebirds
Chippenham Town were beaten 4-3 at Southern League newcomers Paulton in what looks like being their final pre-season match. All three of the Bluebirds' recognised forwards were on target, with Sam Allison, James Constable and Martin Paul continuing their
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Get your skates on for £1 summer offer
Swimmers, ice skaters and train spotters have just over two weeks left to take advantage of Swindon Council's summer discounts. The council is offering SwindonCard holders the opportunity to swim, skate or visit the STEAM Museum for just £1 on Wednesdays
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Potty over plants for 40 years
71670-8A FLORIST whose blossoming career has included flower arranging for VIPs and tending plants on the QE2 has celebrated 40 years in the industry. To celebrate yesterday's anniversary, Kate Hurst, who owns George Lesley Flowers in Gorse Hill, received
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Desperate search for best friend
71682-3AN ELDERLY man who has lost his dog is hoping someone can help him find his canine companion. Tony Price, 62, of Willows Avenue, Pinehurst, lost his 16-year-old border collie cross four weeks ago and has spent the past month looking for him. When
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Exhibition highlights benefits of twinning
Twinning of towns could be used to boost tourism and forge new business links. An exhibition in October is to explore how Swindon's links with towns all over the world can return commercial benefits. Swindon is currently twinned with several international
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Guitarist walks towards his fear
71649-14SWINDON guitarist Kit Hawes scooped the number two spot in a national competition in Bath. Kit beat 29 other musicians in the Takamine Young Guitarist Of The Year Competition by playing three of his own songs. The 17-year-old from Shaw was one
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Learn the history of the UK church
A NEW Swindon College course is devoted to the history of then Christian Church and the influence it has had on Britain down the centuries. Called Challenge of UK Church History, the course will explore the ways in which Christianity and spirituality
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Take a peek behind Science Museum doors
71495-58 The Wroughton Science Museum has opened its doors to the public for the month of August. So for a bit of education as well as fun, taking the family there will keep them occupied for at least one day this summer holidays. And for more ideas of
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Tolstoy tires me out, says Rufus
Rufus KitchenerThe 10-year-old bookworm who vowed to read War and Peace to raise money for a charity that helped his sister is just over halfway through the Russian epic. Rufus Kitchener, pictured right, who began reading Tolstoy's 1,205-page novel on
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Benefits for older people explained
A guide to help older people navigate the complexities of the benefits system is available from Age Concern Swindon. The charity has published a handbook, Your Rights, written by one of the country's leading experts on the benefits system for older people
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Councillor is objecting to club's plan for expansion
The Lava Lounge club in Swindon's Fleet Street in the town centre is seeking to expand. It wants to merge with an empty shop next door to create a bigger seating area on the ground floor and bigger toilet facilities on the first floor. Councillors will
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Dandelion glistens in the sunshine
71077-8The beauty of Penhill shone last Friday when Adver photographer Siobhan Boyle captured this scene. The shot of sunlight hitting a dandelion was taken with a Nikon D1, using an f16 aperature, 1/1000 shutter speed, a 17-35mm lens on ISO 400. The
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Centre court here I come!
71674-13FOUR-YEAR-OLD tennis ace Zoe Mansfield already has something in common with Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova and that can't be a bad start to anyone's tennis career. For both Zoe and Maria started playing the game at the tender age of four.
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Independence Day author to visit his fans
Matt HollandBOOKWORMS won't have to wait too long for another literary fix, says the organiser of Swindon's annual Literature Festival. Matt Holland, pictured, has secured a visit from American author Richard Ford, whose book Independence Day inspired
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No compensation after OAP's injury
71651-41PENSIONER Helmut Hermann has been waiting a year for justice after an Embassy official who he says attacked him claimed diplomatic immunity. Mr Hermann's solicitor says if the perpetrator had been a security guard for anyone other than an embassy
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Get the message?
AS a West Swindon councillor I was dismayed to read there had been £750,000 spent on the football ground development on Shaw tip. There is a saying that a fool and his money are soon parted. There is another saying, who is the fool? The fool or those
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Say sorry to OAPs
In answer to the letter on August 2, headlined "elderly drivers should be taken off the road." As I learned to drive in an army lorry in May 1944 I suppose I should be concerned by Miss Blake's rant. She obviously wants me to suffer, as well as a lot
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Traffic jams made me miss the Mela
IT'S a cultural delight, so said a headline in the Evening Advertiser of July 27, referring to the forthcoming Swindon Mela on July 31. Was it the successful occasion the organisers had expected with programme of all things Asian? How I would have liked
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Tories have made good start on housekeeping
FULL marks to Coun Tomlinson for his comment that "maintaining the council's reserves was good housekeeping." A similar compliment applies to Coun Bawden for his strictures in respect of social services' overspend of £1.9m, which contrasts with the profligate
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Home-Start families say thank you for a day out
I WOULD like to thank Karen Huckin's team at Zurich Financial Services. They gave Home-Start families a fabulous day out and I would like readers to know how hard they worked and how generous they all were. On July 24, two coach loads of families went
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Handy Andy!
ANDY KING has board approval to add to his squad ahead of Wednesday night's visit of Luton Town but he admits a young man already on the books is giving him plenty of food for thought. Sixteen-year-old Andy Caton marked his League One debut with a goal
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Staff can make the NHS better
HEALTH bosses need to work more closely with staff and patients to make improvementsin the NHS, according to a new report by a Government research group. The Institute of Public Policy Research says Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) must ensure planning is closer
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Is Swindon on course to become a new London?
FOR years Swindon has been the butt of jokes most recently in BBC's The Office, when the South-West branch of Wernham Hogg paper suppliers was moved to Slough. "How much damage would an atomic bomb do to Swindon?" "About £15 worth" was just one of the
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Softly, softly tactics of the creeper thieves
71078-11A SPATE of thefts in West Swindon during the recent heatwave has prompted the police to tell people to shut their windows. In the past eight weeks, opportunist thieves have stolen property from 33 homes in Westlea, Toothill, Freshbrook and Shaw
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Employers more concerned about drugs at work
A drug testing company that is boosting staff numbers by 30 per cent says firms are becoming increasingly concerned about substance misuse in the workplace. Old Town-based Drug Test, the only independent sample testing company in the country, has been
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Eight saved in sea drama
A SWINDON couple had a lucky escape from their sinking motor cruiser in Dorset's Poole Harbour. A Mayday call was sent from the 45ft boat Freedom at 9.48am on Saturday, saying that the boat was sinking off Brownsea Island. The owners, Robin Maggs and
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Filipino group tours hospital
71673-13FILIPINO consulate staff have been taking a look around Swindon's Great Western Hospital. Francesca Thompson, director of nursing, showed them around the hospital, giving them a glimpse of the hard work of staff. The hospital has several Filipino
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'Cafe owner yelled abuse'
71681-03WHEN Kathryn Akerman went to the Town Gardens with her children and some friends to enjoy the sunshine the last thing she expected was to be shouted at and told to leave the park. But that is what she claims a caf proprietor did. Mrs Akerman and
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12 years for child rapist
A MAN has been jailed for 12 years for a string of sex attacks on a young girl. Martyn Ricketts, 29, raped and indecently assaulted the youngster, starting when she was just six years old. And he continued to carry out the sex attacks on the child until
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Enjoy a first class fair
Everyone knows the thrill of looking for that cash in the attic, the Penny Black behind the ugly print of some obscure concrete block or a risque postcard that you wouldn't send to mum which turns into a fortune. On Saturday September 4 the Swindon Stamp
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Volunteers are wanted
Swindon-based Cruse Bereavement Care is looking for volunteers to give up some time to help others cope with the death of their loved ones. The group is willing to provide those who are interested in becoming counsellors with full training. An information
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Get off the sofa and get active
COUCH potato Swindonians are being urged to back an annual fitness drive. Swindon Council's Get Active Day will be held on September 15. And it could be just the ticket to kick-start a new lifestyle, say organisers. People are being encouraged to do at
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OAP told girls about sex life
A PENSIONER who talked about his sex life and offered cannabis to young girls as he gave them lifts has been jailed for three months. Grahame Adams, 65, was sentenced after a judge told him he was concerned that he did not understand what he had done
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People's church celebrates its centenary
71698-14A CHURCH celebrated 100 years of history this weekend with a visit from the Bishop of Bristol. The Right Rev Michael Hill told the packed congregation of St Philip's Church in Beechcroft Road, Stratton, that they should be proud of the church,
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Political party condemns the spraying of racist graffiti
71634-10THE BNP has distanced itself from racist graffiti which has appeared in Swindon. As reported in the Evening Advertiser, the letters "BNP" were spray-painted on the wall of 66-year-old Iqbal Baines' home in Union Street on Tuesday night. And later
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Plan to let punters enjoy sun in Swindon
The Messenger pub in Covingham is seeking planning permission to build a beer garden. It would feature a raised wooden decking area, heaters, lighting, umbrellas and speakers. The pub in Covingham Square, formerly the Coving-ham Hen, currently has no
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Memories of village are collected
MEMORIES of how Purton used to be are being collected by the village history group. The Purton Historical Society has been compiling an oral historical record of life in the village. The main themes of the project are education, shops and agriculture.
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Trouble for rescuers to catch duck entangled in drinks tab
A DUCK in distress is continuing to evade capture from would-be rescuers at a Swindon beauty spot. Mavis Price, 58, of Barrington Close, Liden contacted the Evening Advertiser after spotting the bird in a flutter on the banks of Liden Lagoon. The duck
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Staff can make the NHS better
HEALTH bosses need to work more closely with staff and patients to make improvementsin the NHS, according to a new report by a Government research group. The Institute of Public Policy Research says Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) must ensure planning is closer
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30 years on, still going strong
71687-38A COMMUNITY came together at the weekend to celebrate 30 years of a popular toddlers group. Organisers of the Liden Parent and Toddler Group now 50-strong say it's been hard work but the smiles make it all worthwhile. Gill Benwell has been on
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No to stadium here
EXCUSE me Mr Hall of Liden, who do you think you are saying "no Mr Holt stick your stadium at the bottom of your garden or at the Blunsdon stadium speedway. I live in Blunsdon and we have speedway, dog racing and travellers every summer and that's enough
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Congratulations to talented youngsters
AFTER attending a couple of the Wyvern Theatre Youth Project performances, I just wanted to congratulate everyone in this year's spectacular production. This is the second time I have known Pollyann Tanner to direct and choreograph The Sound of Music,
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Residents can be sure they live in safe area
I was somewhat disappointed to read the article on crime in Swindon, with the headline "The Good, The Bad, The Ugly." It certainly grabs the readers' attention but, unfortunately, does little to reassure any of us whose fear of crime is greater than the
