Archive
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Police search for missing Swindon woman
Wiltshire Police are appealing for information to try and trace a missing Swindon woman, who hasn't been seen for more than a week. Julie Peters, 55, from Hamble Road, Swindon, was last seen at her home address on May 5, 2015. It's believed
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No trains... but Swindon Town supporters are planning to make that Wembley play-off final by hook or by crook
FANS travelling to Wembley for Swindon’s play-off final against Preston are being urged to make sure they plan their trip in advance. It follows the confirmation from First Great Western that no trains will be running from Swindon station on the
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BREAKING NEWS: Police investigate possible stabbing incident in Cavendish Square, Swindon
POLICE have this evening cordoned off a block of flast near the Co-Op store in Cavendish Square, Swindon, amid reports that a person, believed to be a woman, has been stabbed. The Co-op has been closed and five police cars are at the scene.
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Booze store's licence at risk after alcohol sold cheap and to drunks
A MANCHESTER Road off licence could have its licence revoked after being found selling alcohol to drunks and in breach of a number of conditions. Police will bring a licence review before councillors for Abby's Food & Wine Store with a view
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Work gets under way on shopping centre upgrade
WORK has begun on a multi-million pound upgrade of the Orbital Shopping Centre, in North Swindon. British Land, which owns the site, is aiming to make it more accessible by car, as well as improving the facilities already in the centre. During
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Inquiry to be held into blaze at recycling site
PEOPLE who were affected by the Marshgate fire which burnt for eight weeks last summer will get the opportunity to describe its impact. Last month it was announced the council was launching an inquiry into the fire at the site of Averies Recycling
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Pals pack a punch
FRIENDS and colleagues Carl King and Tom Barkham are hoping to take a swipe at cancer when they take part in a charity white collar boxing match next month. Carl, 37, and Tom, 28, will be proving they can both pack a punch when they take part in
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Election 2015 candidate profile: Justin Tomlinson
Barrie Hudson talks to Swindon North Conservative candidate Justin Tomlinson.“I GENUINELY enjoy the role,” says Justin Tomlinson of his work as a constituency MP.“There are too many politicians who feel they are doing a favour to their residents, or they
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No moss grows on a Rolling Stone and ageing stars are still rocking
ON Saturday I am off to the Royal Albert Hall to see an old chap I know who is playing in a concert. His name is Al Stewart (whom you’ve probably never heard of), and to me he’s up there with The Beatles (whom you definitely have). There aren
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Barrie Hudson column: Locking in on canal cash
KATH Hatton is vice chair and fundraising director of the Wilts and Berks Canal Trust, which aims to restore the historic canal. Her most recent projects include helping to secure £575,000 in grants to save a 1.25km stretch at Studley Grange. Retired
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SCHOOL FOCUS: Stimulating young minds
CHILDREN at Bishopstone Primary School are encouraged to become the best version of themselves in the gentle idyll of rural Wiltshire. Set in the heart of Bishopstone, dedication to community is a cornerstone of the school’s principles, which also
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REWIND: Still in fine voice the Kentwood Show Choir over the years
Look back at Swindon's enduring singing group the Kentwood Choir as the singers tune up for this year's annual showcase at the Wyvern Theatre on Saturday
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Couple with MS marry after meeting in therapeutic oxygen dive
FIVE years after meeting in an oxygen therapy dive, bride and groom Karl Gase and Tracy Ratcliff are living with multiple sclerosis – together. The couple tied the knot at St Paul’s Church in Covingham on Saturday after their firm friendship turned
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REWIND: Helping to chart the final frontier
COLOUR wall charts in newspapers and pioneering space missions were among the defining features of life in the early 1970s.Not a World Cup, Olympic Games or touring exhibition of ancient Egyptian artefacts went by without countless newspapers producing
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REWIND: Popular heroes hit the headlines
It was this week in 1977 that an Adver headline marked the end of a sporting era. Don Rogers, hero of Swindon Town’s 1969 League Cup Triumph and countless other victories, revealed that his playing career was at an end. “The 31-year-old winger
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PLAY-OFFS 2015: Madley to officiate final
THE FOOTBALL League have announced that Andy Madley will referee Swindon Town's play-off final against Preston North End. Madley will be assisted by Dan Cook and Wade Norcott, with Mark Haywood as fourth official and Shaun Hudson as reserve assistant
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Ofsted gives Barn Owl Pre-school a ‘good’ rating
OFSTED inspectors particularly praised how a pre-school encouraged children to develop friendships when they carried out an inspection last month. The education watchdog released a report of their visit to Barn Owl Pre-School in The Brow, Haydon
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PLAY-OFFS 2015: Captain Thompson a doubt for final
TOWN skipper Nathan Thompson is a doubt for the play-off final against Preston North End a week on Sunday. The defender limped off with a hamstring injury after a challenge in the second half against Sheffield United on Monday night and was seen
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Comedienne turned author tells of slimming struggles
HELEN Lederer has one of those funny faces. Not her features per se — those icy-blue eyes and long blonde hair make her distincitive but certainly not ridiculous. But looking at her face, combined with her quirky mannersims, makes you automatically
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Marshgate fire appeal ahead of full inquiry
Local residents and businesses affected by the Marshgate fire last summer are invited to share their experiences of the incident so lessons can be learned for the future. The feedback gathering event will be held in the Council Chamber, at the
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Postal firm stays deliveries after expansion blow
PRIVATE postal business Whistl, formerly known as TNT, has suspended its door-to-door delivery service in London, Liverpool and Manchester and is consulting 2,000 workers on redundancy.The move follows a decision last month by potential investment partner
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Mugged fighter to represent Britain in World Championships
MUGGED martial arts fighter Ben Bullock has been given a golden pass to represent his country in the Muay Thai World Championships this year. Despite being injuredbattered and bruised while trying to defend himself from two assailants late on Wednesday
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Writer over the moon after winning top prize for debut picture novel
A SWINDON author saw his career soar when he was presented with an award by X-Files star Gillian Anderson. Steve Antony, of Old Town, won the second Evening Standard Oscar’s First Book Prize for his critically-acclaimed debut picture novel, The
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Swindon dealership is now under new owners
Family-run firm hands over reins after three decades SWINDON-BASED car dealership TH White is selling up Land Rover after three decades of selling the brand. After 31 years the Royal Wootton Bassett-based firm has handed over its successful
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Technicolour trees welcome in loved musical show
TECHNICOLOUR ribbons adorned the trees at Coate Water on Wednesday, may7 as staff at the Wyvern Theatre celebrated the impending arrival of one of the world’s most popular musicals . Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is set to grace
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Scrape with death inspires debut EP
SINGER-songwriter Rob Richings is taking the next step in his musical career after securing a record deal with Crescent records. The 34-year-old from Old Town, whose musical ambition was revitalised after overcoming a serious bowel condition, will
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Party for stalwart who has provided 40 years of treats for elderly
A ROYAL Wootton Bassett grandmother has celebrated 40 years running an afternoon tea club which enriches the lives of the elderly. Ann Godfrey first joined the club, run by charity organisation Contact The Elderly, in 1975, when her two children
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Excellence award for pub grub that hit high targets
POPULAR pub Brookhouse Farm is celebrating after the kitchen’s gastronomic delights won them a special award by Greene King. The West Swindon haunt in Middleleaze Drive, which is operated by restaurant chain Hungry Horse, won the internal Kitchen
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May Day event helps school raise cash
PRIMARY school pupils enjoyed all the fun of the fair at their annual May Day event, with proceeds going towards new playground equipment for the children. The annual May Day fair, held at the Friends of Wroughton Infant School in Wharf Road on
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Barrie Hudson says: Have a glow at gardening
Be brave and face up to the horrors of horticulture SWINDON’S own Melinda Messenger has teamed up with a firm called Travis Perkins to celebrate the best commercial landscaping in the town. This is a great idea, as the decent landscapers far
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Call for keen snappers as camera club exhibits photos
A RANGE of photographs will be on show at the Link Centre for the next two weeks as budding photographers from Highworth show off the last three years of their work. Members of Highworth Camera Club set up their exhibition at the Link Centre Library
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Police appeal over Grange Park sexual assault
Wiltshire Police have released an e-fit of a man they would like to speak to in connection with a serious sexual assault. The incident is believed to have taken place in the Grange Park area of Swindon on 11th January 2015. An 18-year-old woman
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Chuka chooses Swindon to make leadership announcement
SWINDON once again was thrust into the limelight this morning as Chuka Umunna came to the town centre to formally announce his bid to lead Labour Party. Following the Conservative victory in last week’s election Ed Miliband stood down as leader
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First Great Western creating Wembley contingency plan while police say post-match arrests are possible
FIRST Great Western has said it is having meetings today with Network Rail to discuss arrangements for fans looking to get to Wembley for the play-off final. The match is taking place on May 24 but due to engineering works that weekend there are
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Ayckbourn's sumptuous play is a guilty pleasure to be enjoyed
MEET Diana, a housewife at flashpoint flanked by a motley crew of deluded, dysfunctional or downright fractious guests. From the outset Alan Ayckbourn’s Absent Friends spells out calamity and impending domestic bloodshed. And it is only too true
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Attacker 'didn't know' beating wife is a crime
A dad who launched a drunken attack on his wife has been spared jail but banned from contacting her for five years. Yusuf Kariuki's victim said her attacker doesn't understand that domestic violence, which she says is ignored in Africa, is not
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Howarth included in Rosco's GB World Cup squad
SWINDON Robins rider Kyle Howarth has been named in the Great Britain squad for next month's FIM Speedway World Cup. National boss - and Robins' team chief - Alun Rossiter has included the top two riders from the recent British Under 21 Final,
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Fast work at the count
EVERYONE that stayed up to watch the General Election results will have noticed that North Swindon got their results out with speed. North Swindon was the fourth fastest in the country. This achievement is a great credit to the town and of course
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Respect will of people
IN REPLY to J Adams' letter of May 8 regarding his literal attack on my principles and love of my country, naming one individual, Frank Avenell. I mention that old pensioners’ stalwart as a local hero who speaks his mind in no uncertain terms. As I
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We need voting reform
LAST week we celebrated the 70th anniversary of VE Day. This enabled us to reflect on those people who fought and those who gave their lives so that we could enjoy our freedoms and our democratic way of life. It was therefore fitting that last
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Don't ignore the sign
ON behalf of Dores Road residents, I would like to say a big thank you to the idiots who have ignored the road closed signs in the past week. Several of us have had our cars bashed – ours had scratches and the hubcaps taken off. We’ve just
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Helping cancer victims
TODAY is International Nurses Day and 2015 marks 40 years since the very first Macmillan nurse was appointed. Macmillan nurses help people affected by cancer. They assist their families and carers to make informed decisions about treatment and
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PM must keep his word
AFTER what seemed like an interminable campaign the people of Swindon returned two Conservative members to represent them in Parliament, and in so doing contributed towards the unlikely outcome of a majority Conservative Government. Hardly had
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Cameron Antal
WE invite anybody who regards bicycle theft as a trivial crime to read the story of what happened to Cameron Antal. If they then still think of such offences as unimportant, then they are a foolish, callous person. Cameron and his late father
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Morris and Batchelor named in Australian World Cup squad
THE fine form of Swindon Robins' Australian rider Nick Morris has earned him a place in his country's 10-man squad for next month's Speedway World Cup. Morris, who has been in scintillating form in the Elite League, has been named by Australian
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£100k cannabis factory pair to repay just £1
A man and woman who were running a £100,000 drugs den around the corner from a primary school have each been ordered to hand over just £1. Toby Boswell and Nicola Measor, who are both 44, were each found to have benefitted from crime to the tune
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THE FULL REPORT: Wembley beckons as Town ride the rollercoaster
FOOTBALL is a stupid game and, at the end of it, Town go to Wembley. Swindon needed to keep it level so they could start making plans for the League One play-off final. Stuff that, why not put on the most entertaining game of the 2014/15 season
