Archive
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The Prestbury Sports Bar, Warminster
If you don't want to miss a thing during England's World Cup matches, then Prestbury Sports Bar in Warminster has the perfect solution plasma screen TVs in the loos. The sports bar, tucked away in The Close, opened on Friday, just in time for the
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The Kingsdown, Swindon
IF YOU'RE looking for a traditional Swindon pub, they don't come better qualified than The Kingsdown in Stratton. For it's the brewery tap for Arkell's, an outlet for it's beers right on the doorstep. In fact the original Kingsdown granted a full
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Man hit with hammer in town centre
A 26-year-old man suffered severe head injuries in a violent hammer attack in the town centre. Police said he was assaulted in Canal Walk, near the front of House of Fraser, at about 4pm yesterday (THUR). It is believed he knew the three men and
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No drought order for Swindon - yet
THAMES Water has decided not to apply for a drought order yet. Board members decided on Friday that, while the drought is serious the situation does not yet warrant applying for further restrictions. They say local river flows are being maintained
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Richardson calls time on guest commitments
Robins star Lee Richardson claims he will not be taking any more guest bookings this season, writes PAUL BURBIDGE. The Team Great Britain international stepped in for Poole Pirates' injured Bjarne Pedersen, when the Dorset side tackled Peterborough
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Forshee seals three more Cats signings
KEN FORSHEE has added three further signings to his squad for the 2006/07 English Premier Ice Hockey League campaign, writes DAVE EATON. Returning to the Swindon npower Wildcats roster are forward Gareth Endicott and two defenders Wayne Fiddes and
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Captain Marvel secures win
LEIGH ADAMS stormed to victory in the last-heat decider to ensure the Pebley Beach Swindon Robins stayed in the hunt for a top three play-off placing. The Swindon skipper's race success in heat 15 completed yet another maximum for him and made sure
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Swindon looking to build after victory
Swindon enter the third week of the league season looking to build on last weekend's victory over local rivals Goatacre. One win and one defeat sees them sat in midtable with 27 points, an average of 13.5. With other sides already having gained
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Hayward in for county crunch tie
SOUTH Wilts teenager James Hayward returns to the Wiltshire squad for Sunday's crunch Minor Counties Knock-Out cup tie at Cambridgeshire. The talented youngster missed the win against Buckinghamshire last weekend due to university commitments but replaces
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Rolling back the years?
REVENGE will be on Goatacre's mind tomorrow as they look to roll back the years in the village knock-out cup second round. Visitors Lechlade knocked them out in the third round last year but for many of Goatacre's players there are better memories
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Wise and Poyet ‘an exciting adventure’
SWINDON Town vice-chairman Mark Devlin believes appointing Dennis Wise and Gus Poyet would spell an exciting new adventure in the club's history, writes ANDY CRYER. Devlin last night confirmed negotiations with the former Chelsea duo had moved on and
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‘It was King that cocked it up,’ says Charlie
CHARLIE Comyn-Platt has hit out at Swindon Town's treatment of Iffy Onuora, claiming staving off relegation was mission impossible almost from day one. The tough-tackling midfielder admits he was expecting Onuora to still be his boss come the start
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‘You’re playing a name game’
IFFY Onuora has accused Swindon Town of sacrificing stability for the razzmatazz' factor after having his eight-month stint in the hotseat brought to an abrupt halt. With former Chelsea duo Dennis Wise and Gus Poyet set to be unveiled as Town's new
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Iffy’s axed
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 on Monday. Relegation to League Two has cost the former Town frontman dear as the Town board opt for a high-profile
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Pilot takes off from the pub to fly again
Trade has really taken off at The White Hart in Lyneham, near Chippenham, Wiltshire, since ex-pilot Nigel Brown took over four years ago. But he has now sold the pub in order to return to the skies! This substantial detached character inn has been sold
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Food firm’s results
Compass Group, the leading food service organisation, which has a powerful presence in the south west has announced its interim results. Highlights during the period include group revenue £5.7bn, up eight per cent; operating profit £259m, up 0.4 per
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Happy with Honda
More women are buying cars from Honda dealers than ever before, according to the National Car Buyers Survey. The percentage of female car buyers has increased from 30 per cent in 2000 to 37 per cent in 2005. The key to Honda's success seems to be in
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Answering the call
The Virtual Business Centre at Brinkworth House is offering a phone service for firms which have holiday commitments. They have experienced, trained operators to take all business calls in a company's absence. Claire Brewerton, MD at the centre said
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Workers in the cart for charity
Hundreds of npower staff are flexing their foot power this weekend with some charity fundraising. Teams will be taking part in two challenging events, Walk Wonders followed by a demanding 24 hour Le Mans-style carting race, all in aid of Macmillan
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Award help build the reputation of apprentices
TV tycoon Sir Alan Sugar isn't the only person on the hunt for an apprentice. The Federation of Master Builders is looking for the best young talent in Swindon as it launches its search for the Apprentice of the Year 2006. The federation wants construction
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Firm banks a record profit
NATIONWIDE Building Society which is based in Swindon and is the biggest building society in the UK has posted record pre-tax profits after eating further into areas once dominated by the banks. The UK's fourth largest mortgage lender notched up a nine
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Wind and sun powered mast is well received
MAYOR of Swindon Ray Fisher has been given a tour of Motorola's Cellular Networks headquarters in Groundwell. Coun Fisher was invited to view the company's renewable energy-powered mobile phone base-station that was set up a year ago as a research project
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‘Sky high’ rail fares under fire’
THE cost of flexible rail fares should be capped by ministers to prevent train companies charging "absurdly high" ticket prices, MPs said today. Britain's main train companies have been lambasted by the powerful Commons transport select committee for
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Pals stride out
A GROUP of former colleagues are pulling on their walking boots to help raise money for charity. The four friends, Mike Hosking, Chris Giles, Mike Smith and Dave Williams, are taking part in the annual Trailwalker event. The challenge is a gruelling
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John’s the wheel deal
A FORMER motorcyclist, who regularly competed in the Isle of Man TT, is set to swap two wheels for four when he takes part in the karting in the forthcoming UK Corporate Games. John Hammond, 66, of Quarry Road, Old Town, is set to represent Swindon Council
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School plugged into the future
KINGSDOWN School has unveiled a new multi-purpose building. Downstairs is Swindon's only secondary school autism centre and upstairs is a state of the art virtual learning centre. And headteacher David Williams is thrilled pupils are finally in the
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Man misses court date after mix-up
A CROWN court judge had to put off sentencing Swindon burglar David Evans after he was not brought to court from prison. The 24-year-old is on remand at Horfield Prison in Bristol after admitting five burglaries and a theft when he appeared before magistrates
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Vets ride out for charity
CYCLISTS often wear fluorescent colours to make sure passing drivers see them. But there will be no mistaking this group of bikers dressed in their bright yellow T-shirts and cow-like trousers. The vets from Swindon's Drove Veterinary Hospital aim to
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Vets ride out for charity
CYCLISTS often wear fluorescent colours to make sure passing drivers see them. But there will be no mistaking this group of bikers dressed in their bright yellow T-shirts and cow-like trousers. The vets from Swindon's Drove Veterinary Hospital aim to
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One step further
PLANS that will turn a Second World War airfield into Swindon's biggest tourist attraction have been submitted. Planning officers are urging councillors to give the green light to the £80m project to turn the old airfield into the National Collections
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Give college a new name
SWINDON College has a new state-of-the-art building, which will open in September but no name. So the public are being invited to come up with an idea. But they don't just want one name the existing Tower Block building that is earmarked for a re-vamp
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Go on... say what you think
PEOPLE living in the town are being urged to tell the council what matters to them. Over the past year a range of topics have been investigated by councillors sitting on overview and scrutiny committees. Subjects have included new school improvements
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When our town went on holiday
IT is a well-reported myth that if you fired a gun in Regent Street in July during the late 19th and early 20th centuries you would not have hit anyone. That is because the whole town was by the seaside. The annual mass summer trip to the seaside was
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Thanks for giving my mum that party
A WOMAN has thanked the nursing home that helped her mum celebrate her 100th birthday. May Isted, who lives at Churchview nursing home in Stratone Village, reached the milestone on Wednesday. Her daughter Jane Blackwell, of Liden, said her mum would
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Shell shock!
YOUNGSTERS at a Swindon school have been developing their caring side. The four to six-year-olds at Beechcroft Infants School have spent two weeks looking after three quail's eggs which have now hatched. Under the guidance of headteacher Lynne Harper
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Have we all had enough of Big Brother?
FOR some people the last nine months waiting for the new series of Big Brother has dragged on. For others the return of the Channel 4 reality show has come around again all too quickly. But whether you love it or hate it, there is no getting away from
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Appliance of science
SWINDON'S future science boffins have shown off their knowledge. Eight teams from seven West Swindon schools mixed it up in a battle of knowledge at Greendown School last night with questions ranging from types of dinosaurs, to the sounds of whales and
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Theatre group makes connection
THEATREWORKS is bringing together 40 different organisations to take part in Connect 4 a Wiltshire-wide celebration of the value of theatre. Swindon is at the heart of this initiative with 17 of the partner organisations based in the town. Connect
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A toast to 100 years for Edith
EDITH Thompson may be able to remember the birth of the Queen, but she was delighted when she received a telegram from the monarch marking her 100th birthday. And the great-grandmother wasn't short of people to celebrate with as family from across the
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Charity thefts
A FOLLOW-UP to my recent letter nominating the Dorothy House shop thief as villain of the week. The haul in this case was worth about £35, a comparatively large one. Sadly, petty pilfering goes on all the time, the odd empty hanger when the helpers know
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Not so green
I CAN understand why Coun Bluh is embarrassed by his council's poor performance on recycling (A big dust-up over rubbish). It lets down the people of Swindon and undermines his party leader's claims that the Tories are going green. But his embarrassment
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Paid more than Prime Minister
THE Tories like to remind us that there was a 42 per cent rise in council tax in Labour's last three years, true, but no cuts in services. The Tories in 2004-5 had council tax at three per cent but cuts of £10.2m. In 2005-6 tax at 4.8 per cent but cuts
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Trees are a fine addition to the park
IN response to Anthony Osborne's article May 9 introducing oak trees to the avenue in The Lawns. To me, and to all who care passionately about the preservation and conservation of our diminishing countryside, it was very reassuring and uplifting to read
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Revaluation will look at improvements
IN response to Mr Reeves' comments, the figure I quoted for the council tax rise wasn't some figure that I thought up, but one that was printed in an article in a national newspaper (one which actually supports Mr Blair). The article didn't just mention
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Patients wait as hospitals close
ON Wednesday you devoted a two page spread to our local hospital entitled Hospital beds may go private and pointed out that the Great Western Hospital is to cut 99 jobs and leave another 99 vacancies unfilled in a bid to save £2.2m. The cutback in NHS
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Husband charged with killing wife to face trial
RICHARD Butcher will stand trial in July accused of murdering his wife at their Chiseldon home. A judge ruled yesterday that Butcher will remain in custody until the start of the trial on July 5. He is accused of murdering 25-year-old Julie Butcher
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Pensioners targeted by con men
PENSIONERS have been told to be on their guard after a 90-year-old woman was targeted by a distraction burglar. The incident took place in Thornbridge Avenue, Park South, at around 2.15pm on Wednesday when a man called at the house stating that he needed
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Iron Age remains uncovered by archaeologists
ARCHAEOLOGISTS in Malmesbury have uncovered evidence of a former ancient settlement. Last November, North Wiltshire District Council commissioned Nimbus Conservation to undertake a programme of repair and reconstruction of the historic town wall adjoining
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Man stabbed his sister with knife
ELDENE man Darryl Pearce stabbed his sister with a Stanley knife following an argument over housework. The shaven-headed 39-year-old launched the attack on his older sibling after moving back in with her following his divorce. But he had denied any
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Gill’s silver success with her Bonnie Burn
A SWINDON gardener has been celebrating her success after winning a silver medal at the prestigious Malvern show. Gill Blackman, of Drove Road, said she was delighted to have won a coveted Royal Horticultural Society medal at the show. "I am really
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‘I can’t sleep now’
AN 80-year-old who woke up to find thieves trying to break into her home says she is now too terrified to go out. The former shop worker, who lives in Park South, is having trouble sleeping and she is scared the thugs will return. But she has thanked
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‘It’s tough when the chips are down’
"WHEN I was at my lowest. I was living in Davis House, with no job and was signing on the social. I smoked all the time and was constantly picking up cigarette butts off the street. I was fortunate in that I was not thinking about trying drink or drugs
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It’s a deal as Noel signs up to show off his eco car
TV presenter Noel Edmonds will be at Kemble Airfield next month. The Deal or No Deal host will be showing off one of his eco-friendly QPOD cars as part of the Mobility Roadshow being held there Thursday, June 8. Noel returned to television after a five-year
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Fairytale star will shine in our panto
BOND girl Britt Ekland is to star in this year's Swindon pantomime of Cinderella. In recent years the Wyvern Theatre has attracted stars mostly from TV soaps for its annual pantos, so to scoop a film star of such a high calibre is a real coup. Britt
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‘I won’t stop smoking pot’
A MAN who was questioned by police after a drugs raid on his home says there is no way he will stop smoking pot. Keith Thompson, 53, was taken to Wootton Bassett police station on Tuesday after officers found eight cannabis plants in a bedroom at his
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Teachers go into battle
PEOPLE say that the classroom can sometimes seem like a war zone. But two trainee teachers at The Ridgeway School have more than enough experience to deal with whatever a classroom full of teenagers can throw at them. They were both soldiers in the
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Churchill model goes for £20k
A life-size wax model of statesman Sir Winston Churchill was snapped up at auction yesterday for just short of £20,000. The five-feet eight-inch model of Churchill, who successfully led Britain through the Second World War, was sold to a mystery buyer
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Water firm warns 50 hosepipe town rebels
THAMES Water has given almost 50 Swindon households a warning after flouting the current hosepipe ban. The water company has sent out 932 letters to customers 47 of which were in the Swindon area following reported breaches of the restrictions, which
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Man stole CD player
A PINEHURST man who stole electrical goods has been given an 18-month community order. Mark Congerton, 19, of Wavell Road was sentenced at Swindon Magistrates' Court for two charges of shoplifting. The first offence was on April 12 when he took a CD
