Archive
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Man found guilty of trying to gas his kids
A MUM says she can finally get on with her life after her former partner was found guilty of trying to kill their two children. The 36-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, tried to gas his son and daughter in his car after his ex-lover
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Thai Barn, Bradford on Avon
BUDDHIST monks were some of the guests at the Thai Barn on Sunday to celebrate the restaurant's eighth birthday. Owner Saisunee Pettitt, 54, invited the three monks from Birmingham to bless the restaurant, in Bridge Street, Bradford on Avon, as part
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Airbus UK contract
INTELEK, whose HQ is in Swindon, has won a multi million pound contract. CML Group Ltd, part of Intelek, has been awarded a five-year contract with Airbus UK for the continuing manufacture of various wing components for the A320, A330, A340 and A380
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Green stampede
BRITAIN's gardens might have been slow in springing to life following the coldest March for 10 years and an unpredictable stop start April. However garden industry experts predict blooming sales figures as milder temperatures finally arrive. The delayed
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New consultant
CHRIS Nichols is joining Wilsons, the Salisbury-based law practice as a consultant. He will be assisting in the development of their rapidly expanding commercial property department. Chris, 57, has been practising law since 1975 in both Salisbury and
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Halcrow takes the high road
SWINDON's engineering consultancy Halcrow has been involved in the new £4.2m road linking Inverness airport with the A96. This will significantly improve surface access to the airport and open up the development potential of the 250 hectare airport business
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Building company is aiming for excellence
HOCHTIEF (UK) Construction has hosted the first Constructing Excellence Club for Swindon, inviting various members of the Wiltshire and Gloucestershire councils along with local construction companies. Constructing Excellence aims to deliver improved
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That’s a weight off our minds
CLAIRE Brown lost so much weight on her slimming programme she managed to persuade her husband to become a counsellor for the company which had helped her. The company is called Lighter Life and owner Roger Meaden has opened up new premises for his business
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Brilliant Robins sting ’em
ROBINS produced their best performance of the season to blast away the challenge of reigning Elite League champions Coventry Bees despite a depleted team . Already without the Russian Renat Gafurov, owing to a clash of fixtures in his homeland, the
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GWH thanked
MAY I send my grateful thanks to all the doctors and nurses working in GWH for the care and dedication given to me during my recent stay? I would particularly like to send my thanks to the staff of the following wards: The CCU and Mercury ward. I would
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Patios won’t boost taxes
T Reynolds once again mounts his anti-Labour high horse with Questions are raised, (SA May 3) and wrongly attributes to Mr Prescott the power to levy council tax. The system devised by Michael Heseltine is a much more "broad brush" way of determining
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A decision is needed now
AS a Swindonian born and bred I am well aware of the history of the Mechanics' Institute and the Railway Museum but I am sick to death of the on-going arguments about the use of these buildings. Every time a development for the use of these buildings
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Services will return to Square
I AM not entirely clear why B Williams chose me as the target over the loss of amenities in Cavendish Square but I am happy to address some concerns. The losses referred to took place before the Conservatives took full control of the council in 2004.
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It’s another vote for Selway
WHAT a joy reading the many recent letters challenging the main political parties. At last we British, indeed us English, are speaking our minds and not falling for the establishment line. I must confer with BF Best, of Gorse Hill (April 28). I too
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First-day losers go for opening win at Swindon
SWINDON and Goatacre will both have points to prove when the two sides meet at the County Ground in the West of England League Glos/Wilts Two tomorrow. Both sides are looking for their opening wins of the campaign after ending up on the wrong end of
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Wilts cautious after rain pain
A WASHOUT at Lord's last season broke Wiltshire hearts and new manager Neil Shardlow admits it is now a case of once bitten twice shy. Ahead of Wiltshire's Minor Counties knock-out cup tie against Buckinghamshire at Trowbridge on Sunday, Shardlow revealed
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In the thick of it
GOLF: David Howell may be playing down his hopes of winning the British Masters but, after an impressive first round 70 at the Belfry, don't be fooled. He is well in contention. Successive birdies late on transformed a steady round into a decent one
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Reid goes for a place in the final
BOXING: Walcot ABC's Marlon Reid travels to Liverpool hoping to continue the club's successful season by winning his Class B Novice Championship Quarter Final. The Walcot middleweight encounters J Seddon of Transport ABC at the EvertonPark Sports Centre
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County mourns the loss of Barney, 72
BOWLS: Bowls in Swindon and Wiltshire is mourning the sad loss of former national champion Barney Fernandes who died suddenly a couple of days ago in the Great Western Hospital. Wiltshire secretary and fellow Swindon Bowling Club member Alan Woodland
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A passport to surveillance
THE siting of a passport office in Swindon may appear to be a welcome development (Advertiser, May 4). However, it should be sounding the alarm bells. For it marks the first step in the Government's plans to introduce compulsory ID cards. The cosily
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Colbourne targets Marine switch
PROLIFIC marksman Toby Colbourne has admitted he would be interested in rekindling a move to Hunts Copse, if Supermarine still want him, writes ANDY CRYER. Colbourne turned down a move to Marine midway through the season but, having completed a cup
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Charlie is the boss!
CHARLIE-Comyn-Platt says a managerial career does appeal to him and he boasts a 100 per cent record when it comes to guiding a side to success. Two teams of Town fans took to the County Ground turf this week, each having bid for a spot in the home'
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Let us play the best
STEVE Jenkins hopes Town officials can deliver a Premiership pre-season friendly after admitting last season's warm-up games were simply not up to scratch. The 33-year-old believes the team suffered as a result, although he's adamant it is not a case
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Digging up a few mysteries
SWINDON'S own dowsing expert has died at the age of 78. Dennis Wheatley, of Blunsdon, passed away at his home on Monday. He leaves behind his widow Mary and their four children, Denise, Gillian, Maria and Ned. Mr Wheatley, who was a retired company
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Belfry ‘gamble’ pays off for David
GOLF: David Howell admits he is gambling' on his fitness after a late birdie blitz shot him into British Masters contention after the first round at the Belfry yesterday. The Swindon golfer had not played since he injured his back at the US Masters
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Stalwart
ANDY Nicholas has decided to inherit the mantle of Town's longest serving player at the grand old age of 22. The defender is hoping to put pen to paper in the next 24 hours and extend his County Ground stay by a further year. The Scouser has mulled
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N-ice break from all the hard work
TEENAGERS from four schools in the town got the chance to let their hair down and take a break from study. For the last year, students have been taking part in an e-mentoring project with students from the University of Bath. And, as the Aim Higher
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Water customers kept up to date
LETTERS have been sent to all Thames Water customers updating them on the drought. They have started arriving on 3.5 million doormats across London and the Thames Valley, including Swindon. Thames Water's chief executive Jeremy Pelczer said: "I know
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Shop to be demolished
UPHAM Road residents can finally bid farewell to a long-standing eyesore. Upham Road Stores, which has been in a derelict state for months, is being bulldozed. But, while some residents are glad to see the back of it, others are concerned that the area
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Hornby faces footie demon
IT HAS taken him 37-years but last night author Nick Hornby finally faced up to his fears and came to Swindon. The 48-year-old writer of books including Fever Pitch and Hi-Fidelity was at the Arts Centre as part of the Swindon Literature Festival. But
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Will Self lets us glimpse inside his strange mind
PEOPLE should never ask Will Self how his new book is going while he is writing it. Not unless they want to end up as one of a number of dead bodies littering his study that is. The author was giving this little titbit of advice as he spoke to a full
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The first step to fame
THE owner of one of Swindon's top live music venues has welcomed our Local Heroes competition. We are on the look-out for undiscovered talent to take part in a nationwide internet competition. The competition will see two bands winning a summer tour
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A lesson in playing live for students
MOST coursework involves writing essays, but for one group it has meant organising a gig. Four Swindon College students Andrea Lockwood, Charlie Bath, Angel Walling and Owen Phillips have come together to form their band WithoutWord for their Btec
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A splash of colour
ONE of Swindon's fastest growing artists' groups is holding an exhibition throughout May at Inkspot Arts and Crafts in Edgeware Road. The exhibition features paintings from both of the club's two groups, which have artists ranging in age from 11 right
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Smashing the record
THE UK Corporate Games may be three weeks away but the event has already smashed a number of longstanding records. The games are being held in Swindon on the weekend of June 2-4 and organisers expect the number of competitors to top the 6,000 mark.
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Sunshine to follow ‘corker’ of a storm
WE may have been basking in glorious sunshine by day, but at night a dramatic lightning storm dominated the horizon. Huge claps of thunder and massive forks of lightning filled the sky on Wednesday. Adver reader and amateur photographer Garry Tracey
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Now it’s time for an advert
SHOPPERS may be more used to hearing the Jubilee Clock chime, but it could soon be revealing where to get the hottest bargains. The timepiece, also known as the Millennium Clock, is at the junction of Canal Walk and Regent Street. Visitors to the town
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Bikers’ farewell to Tonner Gunner
MOTORBIKE riders turned out to bid farewell to one of their own, joining popular racer Roy Gunning's funeral cortege. More than 20 bikers, including Mr Gunning's two surviving sons Richard and Vincent, joined the procession to Kingsdown Crematorium yesterday
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Tots give a gold medal performance for Sally
ATHLETIC tots had a lesson from an expert when Olympic gold medallist Sally Gunnell popped in to meet them. Parents and around 20 toddlers at the West Swindon branch of Tumble Tots showed Sally herself a mum of three boys the climbing, running and
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Price rise is not fare
BUS passengers have hit out against a rise in fares. Thamesdown Transport will be increasing prices for children and students from Monday on all urban routes. The company says the increases are unavoidable because of the rising costs it has been forced
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Big Roman burial site uncovered
ARCHAEOLOGISTS have discovered a large Roman burial ground on the site of a gravel quarry. Experts had hoped to find a small farmstead at the site near Fairford, but instead discovered more than 100 graves. Dr Alex Smith, of Oxford Archaeology, who
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Reaching for the sky
THE future of Granville Street car park has been revealed in one picture but Swindon Council is keeping other plans and models under wraps. The artist's impression shows the view of the £80m redevelopment from the top of the Brunel Centre. Details
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Plea for witnesses
SWINDON police are appealing for witnesses following a burglary in Gorse Hill. On Thursday, April 13 the Sikh Temple at Kembrey Street was burgled. It happened between 10pm and 4.30am. It is not known whether anything was stolen. Anyone with information
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Museum to be in TV spotlight
WROUGHTON'S Science Museum will soon be hitting our screens as part of Museums and Galleries month. The museum will be featuring in an episode of the BBC2 series The Peoples Museum. Each episode in this unique television experiment features hidden treasures
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Great-great occasion for great-great gran Gwen
SHE may be able to remember the birth of the Queen, but Gwendoline Green has been enjoying getting to know her great-great grandson Kiel McGailey-McGhee. And it was definitely a cause for celebration when the five generations of the family all got together
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Police get tough in a bid to banish gangs
A GROUP of youths who have been hanging around outside old people's bungalows has sparked tough action from police in Highworth. Gangs of up to 30 people have been intimidating people in the town outside homes, shops and the youth centre in Newburgh
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Weather caused microlight crash
AN investigation has confirmed that a microlight crash in which a Wiltshire GP died was caused by bad weather. Pilot Chris Townsend, a Malmesbury doctor, and passenger Ian Jones, a chief inspector with Gloucestershire Police, died when their light aircraft
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Majority in favour of right-to-die bill
THREE quarters of people are in favour of a controversial right-to-die bill to be debated in the House of Lords today, according to a new poll. A YouGov survey for the Dignity in Dying group found that most people were in favour of the terminally
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Jury set to decide on fate of father
A JURY will today decide the fate of a man accused of trying to kill his two children. James Patrick, prosecuting, claims the man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, tried to kill his two children by gassing them in his car after his ex-partner refused
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More success in drugs war
POLICE have uncovered up to £10,000 worth of class A drugs in an abandoned car. Two teenagers and a 36-year-old have been arrested as a result of the find. As well as yesterday's discovery, officers carried out two separate raids. Following the raids
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Man dragged from his car and beaten
A DRIVER was dragged from his car and viciously attacked by three men near the Asda Walmart store in North Swindon. The victim was driving down Thamesdown Drive close to Asda Walmart at around 3.30pm yesterday. As he turned into nearby Pennine Way
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Crash van is hunted
A WHITE Ford Transit van is being hunted by police after it was involved in a hit and run crash with a car on Whitworth Road at the junction with Thames Avenue. The accident happened at about 8.45pm on Wednesday when the van collided with a green Fiat
