Archive
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Betty recalls the Hammerman Poet
WHEN a musical telling the inspiring story of Alfred Williams hits the stage in Swindon this week, one lady in the audience will have a special claim to fame. Betty Reynolds, a widow who now lives at Highworth, met the South Marston writer when she was
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Chef puts a top lesson on the menu for students
THE heat was on for budding chefs when they took to the kitchens alongside a Michelin starred chef. Roger Jones, chef owner of The Harrow in Little Bedwyn, worked with level 3 advanced students to cater for 45 people in the college’s restaurant on Monday
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Meet the chefs of the future
Ravenous reporter Emma Dunn went down to Swindon College to check out the food available to members of the public TUCKING into a thick steak of gammon smothered in a creamy sauce, I would never have known my lunch had been prepared by students
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Let the music festival play
THE sweet sound of Swindon’s musicians will be entertaining audiences during the next week as the town’s music festival begins. Singers, violinists, guitarists and pianists will be among the performers at the 103rd annual Swindon Music Festival, which
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School budget changes are morally wrong, says head
THE headteacher of a Swindon academy faced with a budget cut of almost £300,000 has condemned the move as morally, ethically and socially wrong. Steve Flavin has written an open letter to councillors over plans to slash funds intended to help
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Fans in good voice on commemorative CD for Wembley final
SWINDON fans will be singing all the way to Wembley with a commemorative CD produced for the day. Many of the fans have been singing Que Sera, Sera since they beat Barnet to book their place in the Jonstone’s Paints trophy final and now a group
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Prognosis for hospital parking is good
IT WAS a talking point for weeks when it was first introduced last year. But the problems originally experienced by staff and patients when the new car parking system at the Great Western Hospital came into action seem to have almost disappeared three
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Am I bananas or is that fruit not local?
I want to respond to your article in Monday’s Advertiser about the new fruit and veg shop in Royal Wootton Bassett. In the picture was the owner plus his locally sourced fruit and veg, which contained, among other fruits, pineapples and what looked
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Consultants a waste of council’s money
On February 23, Swindon’s Councillors set a budget for the forthcoming financial year. The Conservative administration has proposed a budget based on their priorities last week. There is some common ground on this budget. Recognising the tough times
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Wyvern revamp will take far too long
I was delighted to read that the council has decided to improve the area around the Wyvern to create a new cultural centre. I was interested to note that the Princes Street car park is to become a green open space, as many of us will recall this was
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Highworth Rec debt costs residents dear
Reference has been made in your newspaper to the debts accrued at the Highworth Rec and that the management committee /trustees have been replaced by Swindon Borough Council. As a longstanding town and district councillor and also Highworth Town Mayor
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Council still throwing good money after bad
Bob Cartwright’s letter (Adver, February 29), regarding the council wasting our cash, was most appropriate. I have often wondered how councillors of other towns would view our currently elected members. I too cannot believe they are prepared
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The Winslow Boy
We are back on the beat tomorrow with Michael Winslow who starred in the feature film Police Academy. He is the man with 10,000 voices. Michael makes a welcome return to Swindon and is appearing at the MECA in Regent Circus from 6.30pm.
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Extra help to stub out smoking habit
THOUSANDS of smokers in Swindon are being encouraged to stubb out the habit for good on National No Smoking Day today. Nearly one in six adults smoke nationally, including 16 per cent in Swindon, but UK figures show two thirds want to quit.
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GWH supports National No Smoking Day
THE Great Western Hospital will be marking National No Smoking Day tomorrow. There will be a stand in the Atrium throughout the day giving advice on quitting the habit, while throughout the afternoon there will be free carbon monoxide checks available
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Fans in good voice on commemorative CD for Wembley final
SWINDON fans will be singing all the way to Wembley with a commemorative CD produced for the day. Many of the fans have been singing Que Sera, Sera since they beat Barnet to book their place in the Jonstone’s Paints trophy final and now a group
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Swindon Town risks losing match support
In sports writer Gary Roses’ Q&A article (Adver, March 3), Swindon Town chief executive Mr Nick Watkins tells us “he is hugely sensitive to every category of fan”. The new prices will see season tickets for next season rise to £350 for an adult
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Rat Pack swing in to town
Kenny Lynch is making a guest appearance when the Rat Pack comes to Swindon tonight. Along with being one of the best known swing and soul singers, Kenny has written songs for The Drifters, The Everly Brothers, Cilla Black and Dusty Springfield. Kenny
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CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL: Glory for Henderson on day one
NICKY Henderson's charge Sprinter Sacre won the Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase at Cheltenham, piloted by Barry Geraghty. Earlier the Lambourn trainer's horse Darlan finished second in the William Hill Supreme Novices' Hurdle, ridden
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Woman found dead in flat named
A WOMAN found dead in her flat after suffering a cardic arrest has been named as Rebecca Haynes. Miss Haynes, 22, of Twyford Close, Park North, was found at around 3.30pm last Friday at her home in George Selman Gardens. Paramedics arrived
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Pub landlord shocked at theft of charity bottle
TWO punters were caught on camera stealing charity collection boxes containing more than £400 from behind a pub’s bar. The men were captured on CCTV at the Rat Trap, in Highworth Road, Stratton, making off with a whisky jar full of notes
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Busker sees first album go on sale
FORMER Busker Matt Chipperfield has achieved a lifelong ambition by releasing a debut album of his own songs on iTunes. Matt, 37, busked in the town centre on and off for a year and a half to build his confidence and bring in extra income after having
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Students scrum down and get inspired with rugby star
A RUGBY star was teaching pupils how to kick obesity in to touch yesterday as he took part in a practice session at Dorcan Technology College. Thinus Delport, former rugby union wing and full back for the Worcester Warriors and South Africa, visited
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Crackdown on nuisance pupils
NUISANCE students congregating in an alleyway could be moved on by police after residents complained of a recent rise in anti-social behaviour. Homeowners have called on Churchfields Academy and local officers to curb a trend in young people hanging
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Sweet soul drifters in town
This year the sweet soul music of Motown goes for gold, notching up 50 years of the sounds of The Supremes, Martha Reeves, The Four Tops, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder and the close harmony magic of The Drifters. Roy G Hemmings, singer with
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Olympic Torch helps to bring schools and nations together
CHILDREN in Swindon are fanning the flames of excitement and getting into the Olympic spirit. Pupils from St Mary’s School, Purton, proudly received a cluster Olympic Torch – a representation of the Olympic flame – on Friday after it had been taken there
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Fairtrade fruit theme at nursery play day
CHILDREN at a Swindon nursery went bananas to mark Fairtrade Fortnight. In all, 58 youngsters joined in the day at The Co-operative Childcare at The Great Western Hospital by wearing yellow, painting pictures of the fruit, tasting bananas and using them
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New respite centre is opened in Gorse Hill
PEOPLE with learning disabilities in the town can now take a break in style following the opening of a new £1.68m centre in Gorse Hill. Swindon mayor Coun Ray Ballman yesterday officially opened the buildings in Firethorn Close, which replace Oak House
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Jimeon paints the town red
Jimeoin is an Irish comic who upped sticks and settled Down Under 10 years ago. He paints a comic picture on stage with his disarming and cheeky delivery that has more than a brush full of surrealism. Jimeoin has appeared on Michael McIntyre’s
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Fundraiser to be held in name of Will
FRIENDS of Will Gibney, who is suffering with an incurable kidney cancer, have organised a charity race night. Will, 28, who grew up in Old Town, was diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma last year. The event, which takes place on March 23 at 7pm, will
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Donation secures young people’s future on theatre course
A THEATRE course for young people can continue, thanks to a donation from Friends of Swindon Arts Centre. The Young People’s Backstage Theatre began in January at the Arts Centre with 15 people aged between 12 and 20 working towards their Bronze Arts
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Children help animal charity fund the bear necessities
PUPILS at Holy Rood Junior School have raised £150 to help save the moon bears. After a visit from Sarah Chilvers, of the Animals Asia Swindon Support group in November, the youngsters from the school in Upham Road decided to befriend two bears and hold
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All the fun of Fairtrade
BRIDLEWOOD Primary school has become the first in Swindon to be awarded Fairtrade status. The Fairtrade movement aims to improve conditions for food producers around the globe and, upon hearing of the issue, children of Bridlewood School felt compelled
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Tories set out vision in election manifesto
CREATING jobs, cutting crime and driving regeneration are among the promises in the newly-launched Conservative manifesto for the all-out local elections on May 3. Normally only one third of seats are available on Swindon Council at any one election,
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Pupils to cut the ribbon at new town centre supermarket
A NEW Co-op store will open in the town centre this week. The supermarket chain is investing £300,000 in the Regent Street branch, which was formerly Burger King, as part of its ongoing commitment to serving local communities. And pupils from nearby
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Wood you believe this delivery mess?
A COUPLE who ordered a table and chairs during the Christmas sales have been left outraged after the wrong chairs were delivered seven times. Julie-Anne and Anthony Morrissey, of Penhill, ordered a set of six chairs along with a table in Homebase, at
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Shock over sudden death of new tenant
NEIGHBOURS have spoken of their shock after a young woman was found dead in her flat in the middle of the afternoon. The 22-year-old woman, named locally as Rebecca, was found at her home in George Selman Gardens, Twyford Close, Park North, at approximately
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ET in a tree? You must be barking
PENSIONER Ken Dobson got an extra-tree-restrial shock when he was cutting wood at the weekend. Ken, who is in his 70s and lives with wife Janet in Chiseldon, couldn’t quite believe his eyes when he blew off sawdust and saw the face of 80s movie
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SUNDAY LEAGUE: Wroughton stun league leaders
THERE was a shock in the Swindon Sunday League Knockout Cup as Division Seven side Wroughton Athletic beat Division One leaders CK Scaffolds 5-4 after extra time to reach the final. They will play Greyhound at Supermarine in May after the Division One
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SWINDON & DISTRICT: Fratellos to face Queensfield in Adver Cup final
FRATELLOS and Queensfield will contest the Adver Cup final after coming through their respective semis at the weekend. Following a goalless first half against Pembroke, Fratellos converted a penalty at the start of the second. However, Shane Dobson
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Police hunt man who exposed himself in park
POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a young man indecently exposed himself in Lydiard Park yesterday afternoon. The incident happened in the west Swindon park at 4.45pm. The man, described as white, 16-25 years old, 5ft 10, with
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LADIES' FOOTBALL: Title in sight for Highworth
HIGHWORTH Town are closing in on the Wiltshire County Women’s & Girl’s League title after a 6-0 home win over Larkhill Athletic. In their previous game, Highworth had to claw their way back from 3-1 down to beat Melksham 4-3 and keep their 100
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Shaw thing as Edwards fires his side to the County Ground
SHAW secured their place in the Under 14 League Cup final at the County Ground with a 6-1 win against Greenmeadow at Lydiard Park. A brace from Stefan Edwards and a goal from Nouman Farroq-Bhatti gave them a 3-0 lead at half time, before Ben Paines made
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Old buffet cars will ease overcrowding on trains
AN engineering workshop in the Scottish town of Kilmarnock may seem an unlikely place to find the answer to Wiltshire commuters’ prayers. But work being carried out there will soon ease the squeeze on busy rush-hour Trains serving Swindon.
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More to come from Tehoue - Di Canio
PAOLO Di Canio is confident there is more to come from new signing Jonathan Tehoue after the striker made his Swindon debut on Saturday. The 27-year-old Frenchman, on loan from Leyton Orient until the end of the season, played almost the entirety of
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CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL: De Giles tips Burton Port to challenge 'big two' in Gold Cup
WHILE Long Run and Kauto Star have been making all the headlines ahead of the Cheltenham Festival Gold Cup, Stanton Fitzwarren jockey Felix De Giles believes it is not just a two-horse race. Nicky Henderson’s Burton Port has caught De Giles
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Watkins update on County Ground redevelopment status
TOWN chief executive Nick Watkins has provided an update on the latest situation with the County Ground redevelopment, stating that club are waiting on a response from the local council regarding their proposal. The redevelopment process
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Jordan jabs her way to third win
MANAGER and promoter Keith Mayo says his work is only half complete ahead of his next show at the Oasis on Friday, March 23, writes PETER FOLEY. This will be the first time the Horseshoe Gym supremo has had a quartet of his own fighters on a Swindon
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HELLENIC LEAGUE: Fisher's men are hit for six
JOHN Fisher’s aversion to Monday night football was fully justified as his Shrivenham side were beaten 6-1 at Binfield in the Hellenic Premier Division. The two sides were level at 1-1 as half time approached, with Aaron Maximen netting for
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Mayo has grand plans for show
MANAGER and promoter Keith Mayo says his work is only half complete ahead of his next show at the Oasis on Friday, March 23, writes PETER FOLEY. This will be the first time the Horseshoe Gym supremo has had a quartet of his own fighters on a Swindon
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Unlucky Connolly is beaten again after 'close call'
KAYDEN Connolly is still looking for his first victory in boxing after losing his third bout in as many outings. The 11-year-old fought Craig Mansell in Tewkesbury on Saturday and it was hard to split the pair throughout the contest. However, it was
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WILTS LEAGUE: Brad heads winner as Sanford beat Bradford
SANFORD exacted revenge for their cup defeat by edging out AFC Bradford 1-0 in the Wiltshire Premier on Saturday. Les Gill’s men were beaten 3-2 in the Corsham Print Senior KO Cup quarter-finals last month but the tables were turned this time out, with
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Benson loving life at Town
PAUL Benson could not be happier with how his Swindon career has gone to date, but was keen to highlight the input of his teammates for helping him achieve his impressive goal return. The 32-year-old has scored seven goals in his previous nine
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16th Swindon Brownies
We a small brownie unit and currently have vacancies for girls aged 7-10. We meet on Monday evenings at Immanuel United Reform Church Hall, Upham Road 6.00 - 7.30pm. For more information please contact 16thswindonbrownies@gmail.com or call 07736 308125
