Archive
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Art projects all set to get more space
THE next phase of a development to turn Theatre Square into an artistic hub is set to be ready by the end of spring. Work to transform the former Oxfam bookshop into art studios was completed at the end of last year. The next phase, which is to turn
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31 new flats to be built near nightclub
A DEVELOPMENT of 31 apartments and three commercial units can now be built in the heart of Old Town after the project was given the go-ahead by Swindon Council. John O’Flynn Developments has been given consent to demolish empty sheds and warehouses to
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Football match is tribute to parents
YOUNG footballers will be united in raising money for cancer charities in a tournament later this month. Old Town United wants to raise in excess of £5,000 by getting as many people as possible to attend a football evening at the County Ground
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Developer moves to squash 'false' rumours
Haboakus says a lot of false and malicious rumours have been spread about its plans to build nearly 250 homes on green space in Gorse Hill. It plans to build 241 homes, including 106 affordable houses, on the former allotment site, Pickards Small Field
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A mystery Samaritan makes a day special
GRATEFUL Linda Little wants to thank the Good Samaritan who returned her passport and driving licence, which she believes she lost in a town centre park. The 56-year-old, of Penhill, was shocked and worried when she could not find the identification
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Forum set to end bullying
THE Swindon Youth Forum has named zero tolerance towards bullying and cheaper public transport among its priorities this year. The new priorities have been voted for by more than 600 students from six local schools, including Lydiard Park Academy, Isambard
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'I'll shoot next time,' sheep farmer warns dog owners
A FARMER has warned dog walkers to keep their pets on a lead when around farm animals after a sheep was killed. Peter Robinson was on his brother-in-law Tim Handy’s farm in the Pry, Purton, when he heard sheep bleating and found a dog attacking the flock
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God bless our Queen Nellie
FOUND in the Adver archives during a recent search for something else was the story of a beauty competition nearly eight decades ago – and a charming queen called Nellie. Early in 1934 the Swindon Advertiser put out a call for nominations in its forthcoming
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We must take back control of our town
I agree with the letters from Steve Thompson, Anne Bennett and T Reynolds (Adver, March 6). Swindon must protect its green spaces for future generations. When I came to Swindon 45 years ago, you could walk almost across town on grass. Now, thanks
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Town’s young guns outgun the Gunners
Having hit 13 goals in three ties, Swindon reached the Fifth Round of the FA Youth Cup for the second time in three years, bringing Arsenal to the County Ground on 10 March 1964. The Londoners included defender Peter Storey and centre-forward John Radford
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Parisian period piece lacks spark
BEL AMI (15) Starring: robert Pattinson, Uma Thurman, Kristin Scott Thomas, Philip Glenister. Directors: Declan Donellan, Nick Ormerod. Robert Pattinson hones the mournful pout of his vampire from the Twilight saga in this tepid adaptation of the
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Here we go with Mr Poe
The Raven (15) Starring: John Cusack, Luke Evans, Alice Eve, Kevin McNally, Brendan Gleeson. Director: James McTeigue. The bloodthirsty writings of Edgar Allan Poe give birth to a deranged serial killer in James McTeigue’s hack-and-slash thriller
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A monster bore
JOHN CARTER (12a) Starring: Taylor Kitsch, Lynn Collins, Mark Strong, Dominic West, Willem Dafoe. Director: Andrew Stanton. Intended as the first instalment of an action-packed trilogy, John Carter is a fantastical and fantastically dull battle beyond
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Holmes completes Town switch
SWINDON Town have completed the loan signing of Southampton winger Lee Holmes until the end of the season. The 24-year-old, who had a spell with the Robins back in the 2004/05 season while on the books of Derby, had a medical at the club today
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Cost of being too tall at two
THE family of a two-year-old who is 14cm taller than an average child his age say he has been discriminated against by a soft play centre. Oliver Kennedy, who stands at 100cm in height, was deemed too tall to be classed as a toddler when he visited the
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Smoking can cost your life and home
STOPPING smoking could save your life in more ways than one, according to Wiltshire Fire and Rescue service. To mark National No Smoking Day, Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service issued a reminder on the danger of lit cigarettes in the home. Across Wiltshire
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Time to park these cash-wasting ideas
I was recently challenged by a local resident on why the Tory administration was taking down a perfectly good car park in order to spend £15m of tax payer’s money on another car park. I did my best to explain that it was part of their regeneration plan
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Eat like the Romans do
EAT AT: La Dolce Vita, Empire Court, Clarence St, Swindon SN1 2JF Tel: 01793 485333 Matt Edwards finds a little slice of Roma on a street corner in Swindon FROM the moment you step through the door, La Dolce Vita really does offer you a slice
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The Chef's Table
This week, it’s the turn of Ian Jefferies, 43, part owner and chef at The Harrow in Wanborough. Tel: 01793 791792 1. When did you first take an interest in cooking, and when did you decide you wanted to become a chef? I first took an interest in cooking
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Adventures on the Amazon
Squawking macaws, caimen crocodiles and mile after mile of lush rainforest... it’s all part of an exotic river cruise in South America. BARRY LEIGHTON writes I almost feel like Indiana Jones as our 10-seater motorised canoe slides through a sun-dappled
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Sweet talkin’ tribute to ELO
Mr Blue Sky is dropping in to Swindon tonight to pay tribute to the Electric Light Orchestra. The band had 26 top 40 hits in the UK and played Wembley arena on eight sold out gigs. Tonight the ELO Experience
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Immoral funds move not based on needs
Can the council spokesman who you quoted saying “all funding will be redistributed to all schools according to the number of pupils and their needs” really justify this statement? Personally, I think not. To remove £281,000 from Churchfields Academy,
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CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL: Henderson makes history
NICKY Henderson has today become the all-time leading Cheltenham trainer. Henderson's charge Simonsig, ridden by Barry Geraghty, triumphed in the NIM Novices' Hurdle this afternoon, meaning Henderson progressed to 41 Cheltenham winners, moving
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Trophies galore for students
STUDENTS from the Kirsty Farrow Dance Academy landed a haul of trophies in two competitions. They took part in two dance festivals between February 13 and 18. One was the Kingswood Dance Eisteddfod in Bristol, which included sections of more than 25
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Get walking, get healthy, get friends
WILTSHIRE Council aims to Get Wiltshire Walking by setting up three more walking groups in Marlborough, Malmesbury and Durrington. There are already 10 hugely successful health walks across the county and the number will increase over the next couple
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Guide dog visit inspired fundraising campaign
SWINDON Academy presented a cheque for nearly £150 in donations from pupils to Swindon Guide Dogs at the school, in Beech Avenue, Pinehurst. The School Council wanted to raise the cash after Alan Fletcher, the branch chairman, visited the school
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On your bikes to help Prospect
LAST year’s Big Bike Ride for Prospect Hospice saw 82 people taking part in two routes from F1 Karting in Wroughton. This year, with new routes and a new venue – plus the support of Mountain Bike Swindon – organisers are hoping it’s going to be bigger
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Saddle up for a healthy ride around Lydiard Park
A WOMEN only cycling event is taking place in Lydiard Park in the summer. The Cycletta event, which takes place on June 24, is open to about 800 female cyclists with the aim of inspiring more women to take to the saddle. Last year around 1,600 women
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Jubilee street parties get the go-ahead
FOUR street parties so far for the Queen’s diamond jubilee celebrations in June have been approved. Swindon Council will be waiving all charges on street parties to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Queen’s accession to the throne. Last year, there
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Pupils eager to see the fruits of their recycling work
YOUNGSTERS at Lethbridge Primary School in Old Town have been keeping an eye on their teachers and their recycling habits this week. It is all part of National Waste Week and the school hopes to achieve its Eco-Schools Bronze Award by Friday. The pupils
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Panto changes to Aladdin - but Chegwin's still star of the show
MAGIC beans have been swapped for a flying carpet after the curtains were closed on this year’s panto. The Wyvern Theatre has changed its Christmas pantomime from Jack and the Beanstalk to Aladdin for 2012. And although the show itself may have changed
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Pups come out to guide more people into helping the blind
FOUR guide dog puppies met shoppers in the Brunel Centre on Saturday to help drum up volunteers and donations for Swindon Guide Dogs. The pups went for a walk around the town centre with their walkers, before taking up a post alongside some fully-trained
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Pupils eager to see the fruits of their recycling work
YOUNGSTERS at Lethbridge Primary School in Old Town have been keeping an eye on their teachers and their recycling habits this week. It is all part of National Waste Week and the school hopes to achieve its Eco-Schools Bronze Award by Friday. The pupils
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Proud moment as little dog walks off with big prize at Crufts
A PINT-sized pooch scooped a top prize at the prestigious Crufts event. Alvin, a 21-month-old miniature smooth-haired dachshund, proved every dog does have its day after walking away with a top prize at the event in Birmingham. Alvin was one of more
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Woman found dead in flat is named
A WOMAN found dead in her flat after suffering a cardiac arrest has been named as 22-year-old Rebecca Haynes. She was discovered at 3.30pm last Friday at her home in George Selman Gardens, in Twyford Close, Park North. Paramedics arrived moments later
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Bodybuilder jailed for attack on man
A BODYBUILDER who hit a man so hard that another thought he was dead, has been jailed for two and a half years. Robert Metcalfe had just been spurned by the victim’s fiancée when he tried to chat her up in an Old Town bar before he launched the attack
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Swindon expected to seal Holmes deal
TOWN are today poised to announce the loan signing of wide man Lee Holmes, the Swindon Advertiser understands. If the deal goes through it will be the second time that Southampton player Holmes has arrived at the County Ground for a temporary
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Lights to go on again this week
THE town will be lit up this weekend as street lights, turned off to save money, are switched back on. Swindon Council announced the U-turn in February and this weekend will see all the 433 lights that were switched off last July turned back on. Plans
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Appeal after man hurt near restaurant
A MAN suffered a broken ankle and a broken leg following an altercation in the early hours of the morning. The 33-year-old man had been denied entry into the Oriental Aroma Chinese restaurant, in Royal Wootton Bassett, at 12.30am on Saturday after he
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Band hits the top note with judges
A BRASS band will be hoping to make plenty of noise after winning a major tournament and making it through to a national final. Brunel Brass fought off 13 other bands to scoop the top prize in the West of England Championships, winning the first section
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Talks continue over parking
PARKING and traffic problems are showing no signs of slowing down for the residents of Redhouse. Swindon Council had planned to introduce ‘no waiting at any time’ restrictions in Redhouse Way along the north side of the road, and part of the south.
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Extra day agreed for vital bus link
NEW plans for a vital community bus service have been welcomed by elderly residents. Last month Swindon Council backed plans to lay on a special service to help residents left isolated after Thamesdown Transport cut service 21 for Penhill and Pinehurst
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Gambler stole cash from his employer
A GAMBLING addict who stole thousands from his place of work work has walked free from court after a judge heard his bipolar condition led him to crime. Gavin Miller plundered more than £15,000 from car company Fish Brothers and staked it all at the
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CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL: Hutchinson ready to reveal his Secret Edge
SWINDON jockey Wayne Hutchinson believes he is riding some great each-way claims at the Festival this week. One confirmed ride, Ardlui in the Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle today, is a horse Hutchinson rates highly while his main hope is Secret
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CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL: Henderson off to flying start with his 'aeroplane'
Nicky Henderson christened Sprinter Sacre his “long dark aeroplane” earlier this season and the red-hot Racing Post Arkle favourite had no trouble living up to his nickname. To see a Grade One race won with such ease and authority is a rare thing and
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More to come from award-winner Ritchie
MIDFIELDER Matt Ritchie is determined to finish the season in style and show to everyone why he was named the League Two Player of the Year. The 22-year-old was given the prize at the Football League Awards at The Brewery in London on Sunday night, but
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Godsell: We want to go up in style
JOHN Godsell wants his Supermarine side to secure promotion in style by winning their last three games of the season. Following a 31-17 success over Avonvale on Saturday, Marine can win promotion in their next game against if they secure a
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Lloyd upbeat after Old Boys' run ends
SWINDON College Old Boys director of rugby Martin Lloyd was keen to take the positives despite seeing his side’s five-game unbeaten run end in a 21-17 defeat at home to Thatcham. The Berkshire side currently sit second in the table and are chasing down
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Ciren plunged further into trouble but Gambling gives Fairford hope
CIRENCESTER Town slid closer to the Southern Premier Division trap door with a 3-1 defeat at Weymouth last night. Mark Ford scored a hat-trick for the hosts on his full debut before Jamie Reid hit a late consolation for the rock-bottom Centurions. In
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HOCKEY: Hambling the hat-trick hero
SWINDON are just six points off the top of Premier Division 2 after crushing strugglers Team Bath Buccs B 7-1. The hosts took the lead when Jake Biddle found Adam Farag, who neatly slotted home his first league goal for the club. The
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Town handed Caddis Wembley boost
CAPTAIN Paul Caddis is confident he will recover from his ankle injury in time to lead Swindon Town out at Wembley for the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy final. The 23-year-old was taken off in the 4-0 home victory over Dagenham & Redbridge last
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Arrests made in metal thefts operation
FIXED penalty notices, prohibition notices and three arrests all resulted from a further operation to tackle metal theft this week. Following the success of Operation Herald’s day of action on January 31 and as part of the week of national activity
