Archive
-
Date
Residents’ group springs back to life
GORSE Hill in Bloom is to spring back this season – thanks to a group of green-fingered volunteers and Facebook. The last Gorse Hill in Bloom committee disbanded some years ago, but five residents have revived the effort by establishing a new one aimed
-
Date
Hoog hat-trick seals Wildcats' sixth straight home win
AARON Nell fired home a late winner and Jonas Hoog hit a hat-trick to secure Swindon Wildcats’ sixth straight home win against MK Lightning last night. But for most of the night it looked as if the Cats’ streak was going to come to an end,
-
Date
Slump in trade follows upgrade
TRADERS on a town centre street have claimed road changes have confused shoppers and called on Swindon Council to point them in the right direction. Business owners in Fleet Street and Faringdon Road have reported a drop in custom since work was completed
-
Date
Winning the battle over booze deaths
ALCOHOL related deaths in Swindon are among the lowest in the country. In 2010, figures from the Office of National Statistics showed that alcohol killed eight people in south Swindon and nine people in north Swindon. These figures, split into Parliamentary
-
Date
Pampering pulls in the cash
CUSTOMERS at a shoe shop were given special treatment on Thursday at a charity pamper evening. Brantano, at Greenbridge Retail Park, hosted the event to raise money for the British Heart Foundation. There were stalls offering a range of services from
-
Date
Council managers set to work harder
SENIOR managers at Swindon Council will have more duties in the future after an organisational shake-up. The project, called Stronger Together, aims to save £1.2m in management costs by April 2013 and create a more efficient structure. A special committee
-
Date
What a lorry mess
EXASPERATED Cricklade residents have banded together to stop constant lorry traffic that they say is wrecking their lives and homes. The say they are watching their homes crumble away from the vibrations caused by the hundreds of lorries that pass
-
Date
Don’t miss out on magic of music
As a cast member (a fairy!), I’d like to thank everyone who came to watch Swindon Gilbert and Sullivan Society’s show Iolanthe at Steam a few days ago. We had a tremendous amount of fun putting it on, and it was great to have such large and enthusiastic
-
Date
Cars can help keep our towns thriving
Why can Swindon Council not structure the retail/pub sector of the town centre better? The town centre is a no go area at night time unless you go to the bottom of the town or the top. It leaves a vast and soulless space in the middle that is an economic
-
Date
Iconic sites in limbo thanks to indecision
Suddenly councillors are saving Swindon’s heritage for future generations. I wonder how many of today’s generation know where or what the Mechanics Institute is? The three councillors say it was built as a place of education for rail workers to learn
-
Date
Get led astray for fun
Enjoy being led astray this weekend as Swindon offers a varied choice of culture, drama, music and St Patrick’s Day fun. Tonight sees the Ridgeway Theatre Company host Lead Astray which is an evening of poetry, comedy, music from Rumour Shed
-
Date
Man and machine reunited after 50 years
PROUD Dave Kilminster sits on his beloved Sunbeam motorbike – the same machine he used for romantic trips more than 50 years earlier. The 80-year-old was reunited with the long lost bike after it was tracked down by his doting son and presented to him
-
Date
Pubs gear up for a fun day
HUNDREDS of revellers are expected to descend on pubs and bars in the town centre to mark St Patrick’s Day tomorrow. The celebration of Ireland’s patron saint is set to be bigger this year as it falls on a Saturday and coincides with the Six Nations
-
Date
CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL: Synchronised wins Gold Cup
NICKY Henderson's Long Run missed out on winning a second successive Gold Cup as it finished third behind Synchronised ridden by AP McCoy. The race had been billed as a straight fight between Long Run and Kauto Star, but after Ruby Walsh pulled
-
Date
Head set to contact deputy PM over school funding
A HEADTEACHER fighting a proposed budget cut of almost £300,000 will take his campaign to Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg. Steve Flavin is rallying opposition against plans to slash funds meant to help some of the town's poorest children at Churchfields
-
Date
Catalytic converters stolen from car dealership
POLICE are hunting thieves who stole three catalytic converters from cars on display at a Swindon dealership. The theft happened between 6.30pm on Wednesday and 7.30am yesterday at Fish Brothers Peugeot /Kia dealership on Great Western Way. The
-
Date
Rushing through the skies for charity
HEADS turned skywards earlier this week as BBC presenter Andrew Plant took part in a tandem skydive with the Red Devils in aid of Sport Relief. The Red Devils, the official display team of the parachute regiment and the British Army, along with the BBC
-
Date
Chance to meet top rugby stars
IF YOU are mad about sports, there will be a fantastic opportunity to spend the evening with some of England’s top rugby players in May. An evening with ex-England captain Lewis Moody, Mike Tindall, Rory Lawson and Peter ‘Bucko’ Buxton will be held at
-
Date
Teens have chance to join starry panto cast
THE Wyvern Theatre will be hosting open auditions for young people to be part of the juvenile dance chorus in their 2012-2013 pantomime, Aladdin, on Sunday, May 20. Girls and boys, aged between 13 and 19, must have strong dance ability and stage presence
-
Date
Pouting pooch picked for top photo prize
THE winner of a dog portrait competition organised by the owner of Capture Photography in aid of Swindon Guide Dogs has been announced. A Schnauzer called Jack, who lives with his owner in Blunsdon, won the competition, which was judged by Shirley Fletcher
-
Date
An opportunity to tell train operator what you want
THE franchise to run all passenger trains in and out of Swindon is up for grabs, and a public meeting has been arranged to find out what the public wants to see from the successful bidder. Swindon Council’s scrutiny committee, which has called the meeting
-
Date
Dress like a dapper flapper and have a roaringly good night
PEOPLE across the town are being invited to take a step back in time and support a local event. The Old Town Festival committee has lined up a Roaring Twenties night for their next event, and it promises to be a fun-filled night with plenty of entertainment
-
Date
Store teaches youngsters pet care
PETS At Home Swindon is offering Beaver and Cub groups free workshops to help youngsters gain their animal care badge. Children who attend the workshops at the Swindon store will receive advice from in-store advisors on how to care for pets responsibly
-
Date
Town’s jobless figures show a slight fall
THE latest figures show 5,283 people claimed out-of-work benefits in Swindon last month – a slight drop on January’s figures. The total was down by 137, despite a string of businesses going to the wall, including Westmode Ltd, based in Stratton St Margaret
-
Date
Timetable set out for new Penhill and Coleview bus service
A START date and final timetable has been set down for a special bus service to be laid on for vulnerable people isolated by the axing of routes in two communities. Residents and ward councillors started campaigns when Thamesdown Transport cut service
-
Date
Where’s our pub?
AN MP has hit out at developers who have failed to keep their promise that a pub would be built for residents in Redhouse. The residents were promised a pub would be built back in 2004 by Crest Nicholson, which owns the earmarked land opposite the village
-
Date
Speedway safe but work must be done
SWINDON Cycle Speedway is looking to the future after receiving assurances that its home will not be demolished under the Oasis Leisure Centre revamp. The club had feared it would have to move elsewhere after failing to land guarantees that it would
-
Date
Help me find my Finley’s pictures
LITTLE fighter Finley Harding has overcome a rare neurological disorder that affects just one in 10 million people every year. But at the age of four, the Covingham School pupil knows little about what he has been through, which is why mum Rebecca Harding
-
Date
Fire at garage on Drove Road
THREE fire crews were called to a garage fire on Drove Road shortly before 8am this morning. One side of the road was cordoned off causing some traffic delays coming into Old Town. Fire crews are still in attendance.
-
Date
Youngest brewer takes up his role
WHILE most 26-year-olds drink beer, Alex Arkell is spending all his time developing it. Alex has been appointed head brewer at Arkells Brewery – making him the youngest person to undertake such a role in the country. This is a proud
-
Date
Crowds flock to say farewell to Charlie
FAMILY, friends and customers packed out Kingsdown Crematorium to pay their respects to the oldest paperboy in the country. More than 100 people attended Charlie Reynolds’ funeral yesterday afternoon with many standing outside. Tributes
-
Date
Popular trunk road to be shut for months
DISRUPTIVE works lasting for nearly four months are set to start on a main road in Ashton Keynes this week. Residents have been critical of Thames Water for not consulting with the village before the decision was made to close off part of the B4696.
-
Date
Town’s jobless figures show a slight fall
THE latest figures show 5,283 people claimed out-of-work benefits in Swindon last month – a slight drop on January’s figures. The total was down by 137, despite a string of businesses going to the wall, including Westmode Ltd, based in Stratton St Margaret
-
Date
Pub gets set to match Wembley
SWINDON fans who have not got a ticket to Wembley need not despair, as pubs across the town will ensure fans have the best seat in the house. Pubs are gearing up for the big day and hope those who can’t make it to Wembley will create a good atmosphere
-
Date
No thoughts of Wembley just yet - Risser
PLAYING at Wembley is not yet the talk of the dressing room according to Oliver Risser, who insists the whole Swindon Town squad are focused only on the next immediate game. The Robins travel north to take on Crewe tomorrow, where a win will edge them
-
Date
Faulty lights making area a crime haven
PENSIONERS are fed-up with faulty street lights which they say encourage youths to target their homes in Park South. People living in sheltered accommodation say lights which illuminate the back of their bungalows, in Studland Close, plus some flats
-
Date
HELLENIC LEAGUE: The league comes first for Webb
DAVE Webb has urged his Highworth troops to ignore the elephant in the room and instead concentrate on getting a result at Binfield on Saturday. Highworth take on Western League outfit Calne in the semi-finals of the Wilts Senior Cup on Tuesday, but
-
Date
SOUTHERN LEAGUE: Marine’s survival is in safe hands
GARY Horgan admits Supermarine’s goalkeeping difficulties could be the difference between survival and relegation in the Southern Premier. The South Marston side began the season with a regular number one in Kent Kauppinen, only for a niggling knee injury
-
Date
Di Canio backs Holmes to help Swindon seal promotion
PAOLO Di Canio has backed new loan signing Lee Holmes to give Swindon that extra bit of quality in the end-of-season run-in and help the club pick up the wins they need to seal promotion back to League One. The Southampton winger joined Town on loan
-
Date
CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL: Theatre of dreams for red-hot Nicky
RIVERSIDE Theatre got up in the final strides to give Lambourn trainer Nicky Henderson a sixth winner of the meeting with a dramatic victory in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham. Barry Geraghty galvanised the eight-year-old, part-owned by actor Jimmy
-
Date
Davis - Benson the main threat
STEVE Davis has highlighted Paul Benson as the player Crewe must keep quiet when they take on Swindon tomorrow. The Railwaymen head into the game determined to keep their unbeaten run going after six games without defeat moved them to within
-
Date
Dan the Fan: Is Lee Holmes just Matt Ritchie's replacement?
This week at the County Ground it was great to see former Town young player of the year Lee Holmes return to Swindon to help the club win promotion back to League One. When I first saw the news on Wednesday I was pleased to see a very talented player
-
Date
PDC's defensive Ade
PAOLO Di Canio has decided against bringing in a defender on loan to Swindon before the transfer window shuts next week after being boosted by the return of Aden Flint to full fitness. The former Alfreton skipper has not played for Town
-
Date
A weekend on the ale for Old Boys
THEY may not have a fixture this weekend, but there is still a competitive atmosphere brewing within the Swindon College Old Boys camp. Like the majority of the region’s clubs, Old Boys have a blank weekend, but they are putting their time away from
-
Date
NETBALL: Nationwide outclass Bassett
NATIONWIDE C showed just why they are fighting it out at the top of the Swindon District Netball League Division Five with a 48-36 victory over Wootton Bassett. But while the scoreline suggests a comprehensive victory, Bassett proved they have come
-
Date
Three is the magic number
FORWARD Nicky Watt is targeting wins in all three of Swindon Wildcats’ remaining home games to secure their place in the end of season play-offs, starting with tonight’s clash with MK Lightning (face-off 7.45pm). Cats have won their last five games at
-
Date
Holmes keen on Swindon stay
LEE Holmes would love to make his temporary switch to Swindon a permanent one in the summer, but is focused solely on doing what he can to help the Robins seal promotion back to League One. The 24-year-old winger joined on loan until the end of the
-
Date
Robins unveiled at press and practice day
FANS got their first glimpse of Swindon’s 2012 Elite League side yesterday as the Robins held their annual press and practice at Blunsdon. The afternoon began with club announcer Clive Fisher introducing the entire squad - except for Jason
