Archive
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Quick-starting Kate's got plenty of Spirit
trainer Darryl Porter's trap four starter, Spirithill Kate, should capitalise on her recent drop in grade in the second race at Blunsdon tonight, writes KENNEL MAN. Kate finished third in a higher grade race, and now in A8, an early break from the boxes
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Fry's not put off by venue change
Cricklade-based Jamie Fry headed one of the top classes on offer at the BSJA Area 42 (Wiltshire) show jumping competition, which took place despite a late loss of venue. The show had been scheduled to run at Larkhill but organisers were told the venue
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Big two set for a battle
There is a saloon and single seater extravaganza at the Castle Combe Circuit's Spring Bank Holiday Monday meeting on May 29. Reliving the days of Formula Libre', where almost any kind of car could compete in the same race, the circuit is holding two
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Levera stars as Castle's King churns out winners
ALAN King's Barbury Castle stable continues to churn out the winners. As well as Darn Good, the trainer saddled Triumph Hurdle winner Penzance to win over the bigger obstacles at Hereford. Switching racing codes, King was in the winner's enclosure at
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Revamped Ascot opens its doors again
All roads lead to Ascot next week as the Berkshire venue opens its doors for their "pre-opening day" to salute their spectacular redevelopment. Although the official opening of the racecourse by the Queen will take place on June 20 the first day of
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Jon's hoping for change of fortune with the weather
Jon Williams, manager of Bath Racecourse, will be hoping for a change of luck with the weather for their meeting at the Lansdown course on Monday. Williams told Turf Talk: "It was a great pity the rain and mist came down over the course on Wednesday
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Darn Good back with a victory
DARN GOOD came good once again for local owner-breeder John Garrett and his partner Patricia Conway following a couple of years' absence from the winner's enclosure. Trained by Alan King at Barbury Castle and ridden by stable jockey Robert Thornton,
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All change as rail tickets go up and down
SOME First Great Western passengers could face fare rises of up to 11 per cent from next month. The Swindon-based train company, which operates services from London via Swindon to South Wales and the south west, is about to change its system of fares
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£1,000 a week
THE director of the Brunel Centre says graffiti is costing it £1,000 a week. Nick Beaumont-Jones believes that the problem is dragging the town down and turning people off coming. "I'm absolutely horrified by it," he said. "It's almost a full-time
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32 month ban for drink driver
A CARPENTER has been disqualified from driving for 32 months and ordered to go on an 18-month community supervision order after drink driving. David McArthur, 36, of Haywain Close, Abbey Meads, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol and to driving
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Four are questioned about attack on motorist
SWINDON police have arrested four men in connection with an assault on a driver near the Asda Wal-Mart store in North Swindon. The motorist was travelling along Thamesdown Drive near the supermarket at about 3.30pm last Thursday. As he turned into
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Drivers criticised for not belting up
MOTORISTS in Wiltshire have been strongly criticised by the county's police force after more than 1,000 people were caught flaunting seat belt laws. And police say they are so shocked by the figures they may have to continue the clampdown which carries
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Tots and teddies tuck in to their picnic
EVEN the sandwiches were teddy bear-shaped at a nursery school's special picnic. Youngsters at Leapfrog Day Nursery in St Andrew's Ridge made their own lunch and got to choose their own fillings for the teddy bears picnic yesterday. The event was
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Man admits sex with girl
A COVINGHAM man has been warned he could face a jail term after admitting having sex with a 14-year-old girl. Christopher Harding pleaded guilty to a charge of having sexual activity with a child when he appeared before a judge at Swindon Crown Court
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New mayor sets out his priorities
COUNCIL leader Mike Bawden has been confirmed as Swindon's mayor for the second time. Coun Bawden (Con, Old Town and Lawn), who stood down as Conservative leader following his party's success in the May 4 local election, said he was looking forward
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Dennis Wise Profile
Dennis Wise began his career at Southampton, rising through the youth ranks before he was recruited as a key member of Wimbledon's Crazy Gang' in 1985. He helped lead the club to the old First Division during the late 80s and played a major part in the
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You make green issue a priority
MORE than half of Adver readers think the council should make the environment its priority this year. New council leader Roderick Bluh's plan for a green manifesto later this year was welcomed by 62 per cent of voters in our phone and internet poll
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Gus Poyet Profile
GUSTAVO Augusto Poyet Dominguez was a powerful and prolific goalscoring midfielder with a reputation of exceptional aerial prowess. After short spells in France and Argentina, Poyet burst onto the scene after a move to Spanish side Real Zaragoza in
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Reeves disappointed but wishes the new men well
ONE former member of the Crazy Gang hopes another will still be at the Swindon Town helm in five years time and that the club has finally learnt its lesson and covered all the bases', writes JON RITSON. Alan Reeves' eight years at the County Ground came
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Making his Mark as chief exec again
MARK Devlin is to reprise his role as the club's chief executive with immediate effect. The board have decided they want him to resume the day to day' running of the club, leaving Sandy Gray to concentrate purely on financial matters at the County Ground
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Den Will Be No Fancy Dan
MARK Devlin believes Dennis Wise has accepted the biggest challenge of his distinguished career and insists Town's ambition does not outweigh its capacity to deliver. The club's new chief executive has looked into the eyes of his new management team
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Forward thinking
DENNIS Wise believes in Swindon Town and vice versa as the club plots a route back to the upper echelons of English football. Town's new management duo will be unveiled at a County Ground press conference on Monday morning having each agreed three-year
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Stork arrives at the double
CRADLING their five-week old sons Jack and Harry, Michaela and William Carpenter are a picture of contentment. But only five weeks ago the Swindon couple's serenity was shattered with the news that Michaela was going into labour 11 weeks ahead of
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Man hit with hammer
POLICE have appealed for the public to help them find a hammer used in a violent attack on a man. The 26-year-old, who suffered a severe head injury, has now been released from hospital following the assault on Thursday afternoon. The attack happened
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Club looks for a band
AN OLD Town club night needs a new band. Funkorama first came to The Studio last month and the night was a big success. But Captain Mandate has pulled out of the next gig and Feelgood Promotions are looking for a new funk or hip hop band to fill the
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Drought order ruled out for now
THAMES Water has decided not to apply for a drought order yet. Board members have decided 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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Hand of kindness
A MYSTERY man has donated £100 to an elderly distraction burglary victim. Thieves forced their way into Trevor Fry's Rodbourne home two weeks ago and ran off with a jar full of coins. When the man, who wants to remain anonymous, read the story he
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'Bullies made my life hell'
HAYDON Flanagan just wants to make friends at school. The 10-year-old Lainesmead Primary School pupil says he has been picked on for the last 18 months by a group of eight boys. His parents, of Dudmore Road, want something done to stop him suffering
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Joffe Bill must get another go
IN her article Joffe's Bill not a licence to kill' (SA, May 17) Shirley Mathias writes with intelligence, grasp of logic and caring thoughtfulness for her fellow human beings, unlike the many Lords and black and white clad clerics' who voted against the
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Mechanics building would suit a casino
I HAVE just solved a big problem. We in Swindon are wondering where to put a casino. I can't believe nobody has thought of the Mechanics Institute as a perfect venue for such a place. I can hear the 80 fruit machines clattering away in what was the
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Government fund passes
I AGREE with Mr Reynolds (SA, May 13) regarding Thamesdown Transport stopping the return bus fares. However, he assumes wrongly that our free bus pass scheme is paid for by the general public when it is in fact Government-funded. Mrs E Shipp.
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How nature can soothe
I WANDERED lonely as a cloud that floats on high over vales and hills. When all at once I saw a crowd a host of sparkling bluebells'. I feel sure Wordsworth would have been as enthralled over the Bluebell Wood at Manton, Marlborough as we were. We
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Blooming good effort!
I wish to congratulate Jill Blackwood and Swindon College for their Silver Medals at the RHS Spring Show, Malvern. Both produced superb show gardens that were featured on BBC2's Gardeners World. The College garden is to be reproduced for the Prospect
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Circus suited to councillor
I READ with interest Coun Justin Tomlinson's letter Panto Offers (SA, May 18). It seems as though he was pictured in the Swindon Advertiser wearing make-up and he had a lovely set of glossy lips. He assures us that it was a printing error, but he wondered
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Having a say
I MUST thank Mr B Best and Mr L Fox (SA, May 12) for saying that they would support me should I decide to stand in any future election. I am afraid, however, that I must disappoint these two gentlemen as I have no intention of doing so. I am far too
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Warnings over cannabis use
THE manager of a mental health charity has warned of the potential dangers of smoking cannabis. Her comments follows Keith Thompson's declaration that he will keep smoking pot despite his home being raided by police. As reported in yesterday's
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Centre of attention
LOCAL Learning Centres could be coming to every neighbourhood in the town. The Swindon Learning Ambassadors have outlined their plans to give more people a chance to learn new skills. And if the plans go ahead Swindon Learning Ambassadors co-ordinator
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Centre of attention
LOCAL Learning Centres could be coming to every neighbourhood in the town. The Swindon Learning Ambassadors have outlined their plans to give more people a chance to learn new skills. And if the plans go ahead Swindon Learning Ambassadors co-ordinator
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Looking good in wood
BRUNEL is larger than life. As part of the Dig It project for the Brunel 200 celebrations, Twigs, a charity that helps people with mental health problems, have made the 7ft model of the engineer out of willow. And he is now standing in their garden
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Where should Brunel’s new Kingdom be?
ADVER readers have suggested some new homes for Swindon's Brunel statue. The eight-foot tall statue, which has stood in Havelock Square since 1971, will be on the move if Swindon Council's plans for the Granville Street car park come to fruition.
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School youngsters get into their stride as part of national scheme
YOUNGSTERS at a Swindon primary school joined thousands of schools across the country to take part in the national initiative Walk to Live. Almost 400 pupils at Robert Le Kyng School in Even Swindon, marched around the school grounds yesterday to raise
