Archive
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The Green Dragon, Marlborough
IT was a balmy night as we walked around Marlborough looking for somewhere to eat. Marlborough is a delightful town and, as we did a circuit of the High Street, we noted that it has plenty of national restaurant chains, notably for pizza and pasta
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The Cross Guns, Avoncliff
Ken and Jenny Roberts have been celebrating as their 16th century pub, the Cross Guns, Avoncliff, has just won the award for the Country Pub of the Year. The prize was awarded by the Heart of Wessex Rail Partnership, who organise a Rail Ale Trail for
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Balloons go up for temps
THE Job Market in Chippenham is celebrating National Temporary Workers Week with a balloon race on Monday. The company will also be treating all its temps by visiting them on site with breakfast and other goodies. Clients will have the chance to
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Avon Rubber jobs are safe after division is sold to US
A HUGE sigh of relief was felt at the Chippenham factory of Avon Rubber last week as 300 workers were told their jobs are safe. The new owners of the company's automotive business have assured the car parts workers that they will not be losing their
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An executive motor with a difference
Do not buy this car if you currently own a BMW, Mercedes or Audi. No really, you wouldn't like it. Seriously though, Citroen's larger than life C6 is not going to appeal to everyone, a sentiment even the French firm is happy to endorse. The thing is
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Firm celebrates 15 years
DAVIES & Davies, the largest independent estate agent in west Wiltshire, is celebrating 15 years in the industry. Starting business in Trowbridge, Davies & Davies seized the opportunity to expand and now has offices in Bradford on Avon, Corsham, Westbury
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Time to stop rot
WHAT is happening to the buildings next to the old Townsend solicitors in Cricklade Street/High Street, Old Town. Are we losing yet more historical building or will it reappear in some county's field in 20 years time. Please, inhabitants and councillors
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NHS cuts could shorten lives
THE government tell us that we are all living longer and so will have to work until we are 68 in order to obtain a pension. But am I correct in thinking that the main reason why many (by no means all) of us are living longer than our parents is due to
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Why not wait to benefit from free travel?
NOT another full report from a pensioner (Mr Bird) about the free passes. Why do they wait at bus stops long before 9.30, knowing they can't use their bus passes until then? A few weeks ago I had an appointment at the GWH for 9.30, so I paid nearly
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Majority of users of the NHS are non-smokers
Nicholas Gough: Smoking is a pleasure. It's the anti-smoking lobby, who have vices making other peoples life a misery, a pain in the neck. Who pays for the NHS? Tax on tobacco of course. The people who most use the NHS are non-smokers 95 per cent of
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Regeneration should start with town centre
WILL Bath University really bring great wealth for the town centre? Is the future of Swindon really gleaming bright? N D Edwards seems to think so (SA, May 26). So many controversial developments have been shoved on to the residents of Swindon purely
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No tears lost over rejection of casino
SUPPORTERS of the Gambling Act 2006 say new super casinos will bring millions of pounds and thousands of jobs into deprived areas. Is this really the best that can be offered in Swindon? In reply to my letter of May 15 I think a casino would be one
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Seeking answers from the council
IT was reported on May 22 that former Swindon Social Services director Keith Skerman is in the middle of a financial row. It emerged that he is being flown to Aberdeen each week to fill the role of chief social work officer on the city council. Mr Skerman
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They’ve got murder in mind
MURDER and mayhem is on the minds of young people at Commonweal School, Swindon. Pupils will be treading the boards at the Salisbury Playhouse on Saturday as part of the city's Arts Festival. Commonweal pupils were selected from a drama workshop at
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Help us find our brave lifesavers
THERE is still time for Adver readers to nominate the top lifesavers in Swindon. The Adver has teamed up with Vodafone to look for inspiring stories of people who have saved the lives of others in difficult circumstances. Nominations can include members
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Choir is in good voice for taste of the big time
THE Italian opera arrived in town as a group of young singers took to the stage at the Wyvern Theatre in Swindon. They had the chance to sing in the Puccini opera La Boheme last night. Twelve members of the Kentwood Junior Choir appeared in the chorus
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I'm still not satisfied
A MUM whose four-year-old son was dropped off by a school bus a mile from his home says that she is still not satisfied after meeting with school heads and council officials. Colette Dunne will continue to drive Zachary to school because her confidence
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Butterfly ball tunes in to £14,600
REVELLERS who flocked to Barbury Castle Racecourse for a charity ball have helped raise thousands of pounds for charity. The Butterfly Ball, which attracted 400 people, raised £14,600. And the cash will be split between Macmillan Cancer Relief and children's
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Going for gold!
GREYHOUNDS: EMMA JOHNS talks to Swindon greyhound trainer PAUL FOSTER, who has a runner in the last race at the Wimbledon Derby meeting on Saturday night. The Foster kennels are an oasis of calm with just one dog barking and breaking the peace.
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Jail for man with a history of crime
A MAN with a history of burglary has been jailed after he was caught driving a stolen car only half an hour after it was taken in a break-in. Lee Fitchett was still on licence from a previous prison term when he was spotted behind the wheel of a Peugeot
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Shrivenham steamroller to 10-wicket win
SHRIVENHAM strolled to a 10-wicket victory over Goatacre in the under 13 blue section of the Wiltshire Youth Cricket League. Shrivenham won the toss and asked Goatacre to bat. Elliott Winskill put in his best ever bowling performance, finishing with
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Addict took computer console to fund habit
A DRUG addict who conned a 14-year-old girl into handing over her games console has escaped prison. Shaun Ainscow, 25, of Gerard Walk, Gorse Hill, had admitted telling a girl he had permission from her mother to borrow her PlayStation console and games
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Double six success for super Spitfires
Swindon Spitfires under 14 football team have celebrated success in two six-a-side tournaments. The first came at the Oakley tournament in Hampshire. An opening victory over Winchester Flyers by a single goal from Emily Willson was followed by a goal-less
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Get set for the four wheeled ride of your life
A SPECTACULAR show, costing £300,000, is coming to the town this weekend. Stuntman Andy Hobbs and his Over The Top motorcycle team are preparing for the debut performance of their new routine on home turf. The team, which has been going strong for nearly
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Kench double
CYCLING: Peter Kench of the Swindon-based Great Western racing team continued his run of good form by taking two victories in four days. Fresh from an excellent 19th placing in the national 10-mile time trial championship, Kench scored a convincing
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Hughes grinds his opponents down at the Mill
KARTING: Richard Hughes secured the first UK win for his new Arrow AX9 kart. Racing at the Whilton Mill circuit in Northamptonshire, Hughes beat the other 21 Rotax Max drivers with a dominant drive from third position on the grid. The day could
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Cheetahs speed to win
THE Pebley Beach Robins lost ground in the race for the Sky Sports Elite League play-offs , going down to a last heat decider at Oxford Stadium last night. Too many of the team were off the boil, especially Lee Richardson who looked a pale image of
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Defender Smith swots up to impress his new tutor
SCHOOL' may be out at the County Ground but studious Jack Smith has been busy with a spot of homework ahead of a new campaign, writes JON RITSON. The project in question is one Dennis Wise and the young defender likes what he has uncovered with regard
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8,000 mile Beetle bid
A TEAM of adventurers hope to have simplicity on their side as they take their Volkswagen Beetles half way across the world. Trainee teacher Kay Godfrey, 25, from Swindon and her boyfriend Daniel Bamford, 26, from Anglesey, are taking part in the Mongol
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Shakes still on standby despite Spann injury
RICKY Shakes remains on World Cup standby despite Trinidad and Tobago losing a midfielder member of their Germany-bound squad through injury. Soca Warriors coach Leo Beenhakker has called German-based player Evans Wise into his squad after Silvio Spann
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Fans must wait for Wise’s prey!
DENNIS Wise has had conversations' with four or five targets as he looks to strengthen his squad but it looks unlikely that a pride of Lions will be roaring into Wiltshire. Goalkeeper Andy Marshall and Kevin Braniff have both been linked with moves
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Tenants give their council landlord a pat on the back
GROWING numbers of council tenants are happy with their homes. A survey commissioned by Swindon Council has found that more council tenants rate themselves as "satisfied" (88 per cent) with their accommodation, up from 80 per cent the last time the survey
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You’ve done well
SWINDON Council chief executive Sir Mike Pitt was on hand to present certificates to 11 disabled people who successfully completed numeracy and literacy courses at Enterprise Works. A total of 27 certificates were handed out earlier this week at the
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Stars to shine at fun day
X FACTOR stars Chico and Journey South will be among the acts at this year's Wiltshire Crimestoppers family fun day. Honeyz, Divine Inspiration, Dancing DJs and tribute band Scissor Sisterz, will be at the bash at Bowood House, near Calne, on September
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Knee’s up time for O’Hanlon
SEAN O'Hanlon will go under the knife in the next few days but is basking in the knowledge that Dennis Wise has no desire to cut him out of his Town plans. The County Ground skipper has had a scan on a nagging knee problem and although it has shown
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Call to install safety foam on fleet of Hercs
A RELATIVE of one of the men killed in the Iraq Hercules crash last year has started an online petition to get a safety device installed on the planes. Sarah Chapman has begun the petition to urge the newly-appointed Secretary of State for Defence, Des
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Digging deep to help a good cause
A CHARITY that helps people with mental health problems has been given a set of gardening tools. Twigs, which helps people through therapeutic horticulture and related arts, were given the trowels and spades by the Greenbridge Retail Park. The tools
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Store recalls thousands of unsafe chairs
THOUSANDS of garden seats are being recalled because they are in danger of keeling over when used. Asda has removed the folding wooden chairs from sale after receiving complaints from customers. Tests carried out for the chain showed the seat's metal
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Horses injured in M4 accident
TWO horses were treated by vets after the box they were being transported in toppled over on the M4 near Swindon. Two lanes of the motorway had to be closed and tailbacks quickly built up as police had to create an area for the animals to be treated.
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Brunel should go here
THE new principal of Swindon College is putting a claim on the town's Brunel statue. Jonquil Brooks would like to see the statue put up outside the college's new North Star building. She believes that it will firmly establish a link between the college
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Get snapping in our photo competition
Swindon Council and the Adver have joined forces to organise a competition to find the best snaps of the town. The council wants readers to send pictures of their favourite Swindon places to put on the front page of its new-look website. The winning
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Ben to perform for crowd
SOLO artist Ben Hill will be entertaining the throngs of people at this weekend's UK Corporate Games when he launches his new album Short Confessions. Ben will be showcasing selected tracks in a live performance on the stage outside Lydiard House on
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Young golfer to tee off for glory in the games
HE holds both the amateur and professional course records at Broome Manor. But tomorrow, Paul Sandry will tee off in the Corporate Games golf competition representing Swindon Council. The Broome Manor golfer, pictured, who smashed David Howell's professional
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It's the final countdown
MORE than 6,000 spectators are set to visit Lydiard Park this weekend as the much-heralded UK Corporate Games finally gets underway tomorrow. And that will see tens of thousands of pints of beers and a similar number of burgers and hot dogs being consumed
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Take a tour of Brunel’s architectural gems
PEOPLE across the town are being given the chance to discover some of Swindon's hidden Brunel gems. A set of tours looking at Swindon's secrets is being run as part of the Swindon Brunel 200 celebrations. The tours start outside the main entrance of
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Sacre bleu!
A GIANT scale model of the Eiffel Tower is being auctioned on eBay to raise money for charity. Trevor Cook, from Rushey Platt, Swindon, built the tower with two work colleagues to take part in the Red Bull Soap Box Race. Despite coming last in every
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Strike ballot for Asda over pay
A NATIONAL strike ballot among distribution workers at supermarket giant Asda in a row over pay and bargaining rights will start next week. The GMB said its members in 20 of Asda's depots will vote over the next few weeks on whether to take industrial
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Camilla will be patron of trust
CAMILLA, Duchess of Cornwall is to become the patron of the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust. Trust chief executive Ken Oliver, of Old Town, said: "The trustees are thrilled that Her Royal Highness has agreed to accept our invitation to become patron. "We
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Celebrations as hospital hits its waiting targets
THE Great Western Hospital hit several of its performance targets for April. Swindon and Marlborough NHS Trust, which runs the hospital, has reported that there were no inpatients waiting more than six months for surgery at the end of April, while there
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Watch out for fake world cup merchandise this summer
THE south west branch of Consumer Direct has warned Swindon residents to watch out for fake FIFA World Cup merchandise this summer. Counterfeiters are cashing in on cheap FIFA World Cup and FA England team imitations to sell to unsuspecting fans. Research
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Families hard hit by administrative blunders
THOUSANDS of hard-pressed Swindon families have been overpaid hundreds of pounds in tax credits following a second year of administrative blunders. New Treasury figures reveal that 6,400 families in the town were overpaid a total of £5.5m in 2004/05.
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Defiant Councillor Lister says "I really don't give a damn"
CONTROVERSIAL councillor Owen Lister doesn't give a "damn" about the one-month suspension handed to him for saying disabled children should be guillotined. Coun Lister remains defiant despite being found guilty, by the council's standards committee,
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Armed robber snatches cash
STAFF at a Shrivenham shop were badly shaken when an armed robber stole cash. It happened at the One Stop Community Store, in High Street, at around 1.55pm on Tuesday when a man with a gun walked into the shop and demanded money. He snatched the cash
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Date is set for murder review
A DATE has been set for the judicial review into the murder of a Swindon man's sister and nephew. Frank Mullane, from Old Town, was granted permission to seek the review of the terms of reference of a probe into the murders of his sister Julia Pemberton
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Professor gives Laurie pat on back
TEENAGE campaigner Laurie Pycroft of Swindon has been praised for standing up to animal activists by Professor Robert Winston. BBC television presenter Prof Winston, whose programmes include Child of Our Time, says that Laurie, a founder member of the
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Sandra is a lifesaver
SANDRA Cartwright has always panicked in a medical emergency. So when the Swindon worker had a chance to learn first-aid at work she grabbed it with both hands. The mum-of-three thought paper cuts would be the most she had to deal with. But she was
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Town centre raid nets drug-dealing suspect
POLICE have arrested a suspected dealer after carrying out drug raids in the town centre. Officers searched two properties in town yesterday after reports of dealing in Corporation Street. Heroin and cash was recovered at one of the homes. A 40-year-old
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We're lucky to be alive
THREE drivers had a lucky escape when their cars collided on a country road. The crash happened after another motorist overtook a car on the Wanborough Road, heading towards Covingham last night. The overtaking vehicle, a blue hatchback, failed to
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The height of stupidity
GANGS of children are risking their lives by leaping over a 40ft drop between abandoned buildings. The children have been seen clambering over the roofs of a derelict pub and doctors' surgery in Park South and jumping between buildings. Police have
