Archive
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Onuora makes Town exit
IFFY Onuora's eight-month spell as Swindon Town manager has been brought to an end with the club set to unveil Dennis Wise as the new supremo tomorrow. Relegation to League Two has cost the former Town frontman dear as the Robins' board opt for a high-profile
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Let’s be honest about services
ARE the Labour councillors in Parks really concerned about the cost of the Caretaker Service? If it has nothing to do with their re-election prospects, but they are reflecting tenants' concerns then I welcome their input into this issue. Let's get this
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Billie’s jumped a few hurdles
Billie Piper looks champion (SA Why do men love horsey women? p8, May 1) Whether she has an equestrian' mouth is open to debate. Stephanie Tye ascribes Billie's look to big gums which make her lips stick out. The answer could be that Billie's pout has
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It’s only 23 more years of PFI to go
RUMMAGING among old paper I found an item I'd written in 1991. This was when the idea of Trust status was being mooted. A few people who kept themselves informed attended most of the so-called consultation meetings. The NHS & Community Care Bill was
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Fare treatment
SO once again the vulnerable residents of Swindon are being penalised by doing away with the return fare on buses. If one has to travel frequently by bus, tough luck tinkerbell. You can buy a travel pass except that you now receive fewer journeys for
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Racist... us?
WE in UKIP just cannot win, no matter what we do. A few weeks ago we were a bunch of closet racists, now our party leader Roger Knapman is in trouble because some workmen repairing his house are from Poland. Now that's a strange form of racism, isn't
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Don’t interfere
THE EU court has ruled that the NHS should pay for hospital treatment abroad where there is undue delay in getting treatment in Britain. This will mean huge extra expense for our cash-strapped NHS and even more job losses for our nurses. The EU should
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Write on idea
WHAT a lot of graffiti we seem to have around now. But what I can't understand is why its all squiggles and gobbledygook. Why not use those wonderful white hoardings for political statements? Now we don't have free speech any more it would be a wonderful
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Panto offers?
IN the Swindon Advertiser (May 15, pg 8) the picture of myself appeared to show me with extremely bright lip gloss! I can assure readers this was a printing error and not lip gloss. Quite often politicians are accused of glossing over the facts, but
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Awards in store
SMILE Stores Ltd, the retail arm of the family-owned Symonds Holdings Group, which has a store in Old Town, has become one of the top three UK companies to win through to the final of the Grocer Gold Awards. The company hopes to win the accolade of best
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Co-op’s flying start
MIDCOUNTIES Co-operative's first end of year figures show an encouraging start for the recently merged society. The Midcounties Co-operative was formed in September 2005 bringing together Oxford, Swindon & Gloucester Co-op and West Midlands Co-operative
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Pricing salvo fired
BEAUTY and health retailer Superdrug has fired a summer pricing salvo on the high street. On products from allergy to baby and fragrance to family planning it positions itself as the UK's best value beauty and health retailer on the high street with
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“We’re delivering” says Royal Mail
ROYAL Mail has announced it is hitting record levels of service in its south west region, achieving an all-time high in First Class mail delivery. Independently produced figures show that over a 12-month period to April 2006, all 16 South West postcode
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“We’ve bin making a difference’
THAMES Water staff have been taking part in the company's Time to Give volunteering initiative and are undertaking a series of challenges in the local community over the coming months. Seven volunteers from the customer centre in Swindon set about building
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No regrets for Jarvis
Former England bowler Paul Jarvis talks with Andy Cryer about his past and his new role as coach at Swindon Cricket Club. MANY believe Paul Jarvis never reached the heights his talents promised but as far as the new Swindon coach is concerned he has
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Leigh ‘sick’ of bad luck
SWINDON skipper Leigh Adams admits his Grand Prix struggles are leaving him "sick.'' Adams has been racking up the points for his sides in their respective domestic leagues, but success on the world scene continues to elude him. He failed to reach
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Adrian’s out
ROBINS' reserve flyer Adrian Miedzinski has been ruled out of tonight's Sky Sport Elite League clash with Wolverhampton Wolves. The 21-year-old Polish rider has taken to his sickbed, robbing him of the chance to add another spectacular display to his
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BT engineers prepare for major service upgrade
Openreach, the BT business which manages phone and internet connections, has recruited more than 100 new engineers, including 17 from Swindon, in the south west in preparation for a major upgrade of the local BT network. More than £90 million is planned
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It is third time lucky for Sandell
IT is third time lucky for Andy Sandell after being given the chance to live the dream with a two-year professional contract at Bristol Rovers, writes ANDY CRYER. The Swindon-born winger sealed a £5000 move from Southern League Premier Bath City earlier
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Firms gear up for car share
A NEW car share scheme has been launched on a business park with more than 4,000 staff. And management at the Windmill Hill site said half of those who responded to a survey were interested in getting involved. "We decided the business park should go
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Swindon reves up motorbike theft table
SWINDON has been ranked 89th in a UK-wide list of motorbike theft hotspots. But despite the town's position as one of the safer places to keep a bike, it has risen 23 places higher than when the same survey was carried out last year, when the town was
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Collier pens two-year deal to stay at Marine
MARK Collier has finally ruled himself out of the running for the Cirencester Town manager's job after signing a two-year contract at Supermarine, writes ANDY CRYER. The Marine boss had been keeping quiet on rumours linking him with the vacancy at
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A cuddly way to ease the trauma
FIRES and road accidents are a traumatic experience for everyone involved, particularly children. But thanks to the generosity of the Highworth Lions, all the fire engines in Swindon will be carrying trauma teds. Trauma teds are cuddly bears that are
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Author holds youngsters spellbound
TERENCE Blacker, creator of the Ms Wiz series of stories, had Swindon youngsters spellbound. The children's author, who also writes a column for The Independent, dropped in on two libraries to meet fans from four local schools. In the morning he talked
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Icebergs to beat water shortage ruled out
A NEW reservoir north east of Swindon is more likely than icebergs being towed up the Thames to supply fresh water. Thames Water has scuttled the iceberg plan publicised in the national media, saying it has never been tried successfully. "There is no
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Fans plea for speedy solution
TOWN'S managerial situation needs to be resolved speedily with nothing to be gained from dragging out the issue. Swindon Town Supporters Club spokesman Nigel Bennett also feels debate is largely irrelevant until matters are signed, sealed and delivered
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Pension changes too slow says Age Concern
SWINDON'S Age Concern director Jo Osorio is disappointed by the Government's latest news on pensions. Last week's announcement said the Basic State Pension could be increased by 2012 and the age of retirement would rise to 66. Mr Osorio, said: "Rumours
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Cemetery to be restored
WOOTTON Bassett Town Council has applied for planning permission to carry out restoration work on the town's cemetery walls and gates. The council has been forced to seek permission from North Wiltshire District Council because the walls and gates of
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Rhys recalls Blues’ Wise guys
RHYS Evans is more qualified than most to give an insight into Dennis Wise and Gus Poyet as he awaits managerial developments at the County Ground. As it stands, Iffy Onuora remains the 24-year-old's gaffer' but should all the talk' become reality
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Bands log on to find fame
SWINDON bands are already signing up for a chance at stardom in the Swindon Advertiser's Local Heroes competition. The internet-based competition aims to root out undiscovered local talent and propel the best new acts onto the national stage. Already
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Nude protest is no bull...
ANIMAL welfare protesters asked Swindon shoppers to take the bull by the horns by encouraging them to take part in a special run in Pamplona, Spain on July 5. The fifth annual Running of Nudes has been organised by People for the Ethical Treatment of
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Nearly a Den deal
DENNIS Wise could be unveiled as Town's boss as early as Friday with an agreement tantalisingly close. Deputy chairman Mark Devlin has confirmed discussions have now taken place with the former Millwall player-manager. The Swindon Advertiser understands
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It’s all there in black & white
SCENES from Swindon, along with insights into towns and cities across the globe, have been brought together in a new exhibition. It is amateur photographer Syd Pycroft's first photographic show. His interest in camera film started as a child and his
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Hospital waiting times have been cut
NO patient is waiting more than six months for an operation in Swindon, Parliament has been told. Answering a question from North Swindon MP Michael Wills, health minister Andy Burnham said no patients were waiting more than the six month target set
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Kids at work!
CHILDREN at a Bishopstone nursery will soon be leafing through their books in a new classroom after an ambitious project to enhance their learning experience moved a step closer. Hillsborough Day Nursery is planning to unearth a forest school within
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Get a buzz at Dragonfly Ball
THE Old Town Garden Bowl will be transformed in to a nature and music wonderland for the annual Dragonfly Ball. The ball, on Saturday June 3, is an outdoor dance event to celebrate the Swindon Ranger Service's Nature for All scheme. The outdoor dance
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Expert to give views on masts
A WORLD authority on the health implications of mobile phone masts will be sharing his expertise with Swindon parents next week. Roger Coghill will be giving a talk on the dangers of phone masts at the Pilgrim Centre in Regent Circus next Friday after
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Games to boost tourism
ORGANISERS of the UK Corporate Games will be promoting Swindon as a tourist destination when they host international delegates from a number of different countries over the sporting weekend. The games which are often referred to as the business Olympics
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Police plea for help after attack on buses
POLICE are still hoping to hear from witnesses to two incidents at the bus depot in Eastcott Road in April. Officers say that they have not ruled out the possibility the break-ins are linked. The first happened on April 14 when two Chubb fire extinguishers
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A new school of thought
DO money and happiness go hand in hand? That is just one of the questions a group of students at Greendown Community School have been asking each other. It's all part of the school's weekly Philosophy for Children session which encourages them to question
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Man is to face trial
A MAN who broke his bail seven times in less than a month has been re-released by magistrates on exactly the same conditions. Christopher Bonner, 36, appeared at Swindon Magistrates' Court after being arrested for the breaches. The court heard Bonner
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Snelgrove comes to Prescott’s defence
SWINDON MP Anne Snelgrove attempted to ride to John Prescott's rescue as he suffered mockery and humiliation at the dispatch box. During rowdy scenes in the Commons, Mrs Snelgrove insisted the country feels a "great deal of pride" for the Deputy Prime
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Police go after criminal gangs
ALMOST half a million pounds in ill-gotten gains were seized from criminals in Wiltshire in just nine months, the Government has revealed. Wiltshire police took £418,691 from offenders between April 1 and December 31 last year. Sgt Scott Hargreave,
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YOU vote for County Ground casino venue
THE County Ground has emerged as Adver readers' favoured spot for a £10m casino in Swindon. As revealed in the Adver on Tuesday, council planners are considering six locations for a gambling complex which they claim would create 800 jobs and transform
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New home for Brunel
PLANS to move the Swindon statue of engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel has sparked questions as to where it might go. The eight-foot monument to the great man was unveiled to the town in 1971 and currently stands in Havelock Square, alongside the Brunel
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‘Why pick on us?’ demands cabbie
A CABBIE who was taken to court for using an unofficial taxi rank says his prosecution was a waste of time and money. Carl King was found guilty of parking in a dangerous position after stopping in John Street near the junction with Fleet Street. King
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Club members bowl along for air ambulance
A BOWLS club has managed to raise £800 for the Wiltshire Air Ambulance. Stratton Churchway Bowls Club, which plays on Vicarage Green in Grange Drive, Stratton, held their charity gala match last Sunday. The charity match has been held for 14 years and
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Police carry out drug raid
POLICE have uncovered a mini cannabis factory at the home of a middle-aged married couple. Officers raided the house in The Rosary, Wootton Bassett, on Tuesday. They found eight cannabis plants, a quantity of resin and equipment used for growing drugs
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Cats are top dogs in pets’ league
OUR pets are more pampered then our partners, according to a recent survey by Swindon pet-sitters Paw Pals. The study, designed to explore the bond between pets and their owners, found that more than 80 per cent of pet-owners in the town admit to giving
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Nightmare as teenager relives horror of attack
RETRACING the steps she took on the night she became the victim of an alleged rape proved too much for a 14-year-old schoolgirl. She was able to point out the places she remembered along the route to police officers but could hardly bare to look herself
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Woman loses life savings
THREE men are being questioned by police after a pensioner had her life-savings stolen by bogus callers. The incident happened in Bellver, Toothill, at about 2.20pm on Tuesday. Three men were allowed into the elderly woman's house after saying they
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Work set to start on walkway
A SCAFFOLDING tunnel will be put up to protect pedestrians in an Old Town walkway. Work is to start soon on the walkway connecting Wood Street and Joiner Lane. While the basement structural work is carried out on 19-21 Wood Street, a scaffolding tunnel
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Arts group gets dramatic boost
STUDENTS from the Dorcan Performing Arts group have been given a £15,000 boost thanks to a Swindon-based company. The funding has come from pharmaceutical firm Patheon in Covingham. The grant is part of Swindon's Public Art Scheme. The group, which
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Licensed to thrill
SWINDON is the place to be for Bond fans next month. The town's Infinitely Better store is marking the launch of the latest Bond film, Casino Royale, with a visit from Bond girls Maud Adams, Tania Mallett, and Britt Ekland, pictured, as well as bad guy
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Mike takes the mayor’s chain for second time
IT will be a case of second time around for the first time in Swindon Council's civic chamber when Mike Bawden is named mayor. Coun Bawden is expected to become mayor in a ceremony at 2.30pm tomorrow the first time in the Swindon council's history
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Mega boost for the mela
IT has been a tense few months for the organisers and supporters of the Swindon Mela. But with the announcement that Old Town-based company Intel is to help sponsor the event, organisers have said this year's festival is set to be the biggest and best
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Mega boost for the mela
IT has been a tense few months for the organisers and supporters of the Swindon Mela. But with the announcement that Old Town-based company Intel is to help sponsor the event, organisers have said this year's festival is set to be the biggest and best
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Man accused of bigamy
A GARAGE owner charged with bigamy has had the case against him adjourned. Mohammad Zubair Dean, 57, of Wroughton, is accused of taking a second wife in a ceremony in Pakistan, in June 2004. Dean, who runs a garage in London Road, Marlborough, allegedly
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Make-up stolen by ex-soldier
A SWINDON man who used to be in the French Foreign Legion has appeared in court after stealing make-up. Paul Bendon, 41, of Reading Street, Railway Village, pleaded guilty to the theft and to handling stolen goods and the possession of heroin. Swindon
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School bus left boy, 4, mile from home
FOUR-YEAR-OLD Zachary Benn was dropped off a mile from home by a bus driver who didn't know the route. And his mum says her confidence in school buses has been shattered because of what has happened. When her son was not dropped off at the bus stop
