Archive
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Randor Street ceremony may still go ahead
A GLIMMER of hope has been provided for this year’s axed Remembrance Day ceremony at Radnor Street Cemetery. The annual service was scrapped after the organisers where told they had to take out public liability insurance. The graveyard in Old Town is
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Birth centre marks the day it was born
A £600,000 birth centre at the Great Western Hospital celebrated its first anniversary yesterday. The White Horse Birth Centre located at the end of Hazel Ward has delivered a total of 875 babies since opening a year ago, and yesterday, mothers who gave
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Scouts in plea for help with fencing
A scout group is appealing for help from the community in protecting their hut and grounds from trespassers. The 1st Stratton Scout Group, whose headquarters are in Taylor Crescent, were devastated recently when the fencing around their field was damaged
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For Britain, and for Prospect
FUNDRAISERS at Prospect Hospice have their own reason to celebrate in 2012. For as well as the Olympics and the Queen’s Jubilee, this year also sees the fifth anniversary of the Hospice’s biggest fundraising event of the year, the Starlight Walk, sponsored
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Tributes paid to jazz man John
A MUCH-loved veteran of the Swindon jazz scene has died. Trumpeter John Cole, who was 78, had been suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. For many years he was a member of the Southern Syncopators, a traditional jazz band who had fans as far afield as
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Awards await the heroes of our town
THE Pride of Swindon Awards 2012 take place today when the extra special people in our community will be given the recognition they deserve. The ceremony takes place at the Steam Museum and will see winners honoured and presented with a certificate.
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13th century building to get 21st century makeover
NEW chairs, underfloor heating and a digital organ are just some of the benefits that people could soon be enjoying at St Michael’s Church if proposed refurbishment work is given the go-ahead. Plans have been proposed to update the church in Highworth
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Musicians hitting the perfect notes
TALENTED musicians have been hitting all the right notes for audiences at the Swindon Music Festival this week. Singers, guitarists and pianists are just some of the performers who have taken part in the 103rd festival so far with adjudicators
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Lighting up countdown to the 2012 Games
OLYMPIC fever will light up Swindon when the torch passes through the town centre’s designated focal point for the London 2012 Games. Wharf Green, one of 22 Live Sites nationally which will show all the action from the capital, will be the setting for
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Town needs jobs not expensive consultants
I found the letter published on your website by Councillor Garry Perkins regarding consultants, absolutely disgraceful. In his letter he boasts that the council used consultants on the university technical college, new schools and for the Stronger Together
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Happy birthday to beloved Dame
A very special Happy Birthday to Dame Vera Lynn, who celebrated 95 years on March 20 – a dearly loved icon whose place in the history of our nation is legendary. Her unique service on the wireless during the Second World War gave immeasurable
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Car chase driver taken to hospital
A MAN who evaded police in a nine-mile car chase suffered a leg injury as officers tried to stop him fleeing on foot. The 30-year-old man, of Devizes, raced away from police while travelling along the A4361 near Winterbourne Bassett at around
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The magic of Baez
I didn’t expect to be moved so much by a knock-kneed granny in her 70s wearing a pair of old jeans who was cheered to the rafters by the sisters. But they don’t get any bigger or better than Joan Baez, so I wasn’t alone in letting the tears flow
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Flying through the skies for a thoroughly good cause
DAREDEVILS proved they had a heart as well as nerves of steel at the weekend. Fourteen people took part in the first of three Parachute for Prospect days at Redlands Airfield, in Wanborough. The event saw people being sponsored to take part in a tandem
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SWINDON MUSIC FESTIVAL
HERE are the results from the Swindon Music Festival for the classes held on Monday. l Woodwind Solo, Grades 1-2: Jacob Smith l Woodwind Solo, Grades 3-4: Amy Summers l Woodwind Solo, Grades 5-6: Josh Baldock l Piano Sonatina, 11 and
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Fastest aircraft to jet in for this year’s tattoo
TWO of the world’s most potent fast jets are among a stellar line-up of RAF aircraft joining celebrations marking the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee at this year’s Royal International Air Tattoo. As well as displays by the RAF’s frontline fighting force, the
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School holds spring concert
The Commonweal School Spring Concert is being held at Christ Church on Wednesday, March 28, from 7pm until 8.30pm. It will be an opportunity to see an array of talent from students, Lethbridge Drummers, The Big Sing Thing, the school’s community partners
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Staff get running for cancer charity
RWE npower employees have been limbering up this week as they prepare to pound the pavements for charity. More than 100 employees from the company’s offices in Swindon will be undertaking a 10km run to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Care on March
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New chairman for NHS groups
THE Appointments Commission has appointed Tony Barron as chairman of the boards for the PCT cluster of NHS Bath and North East Somerset and NHS Wiltshire. The boards will lead the PCT Cluster in its crucial role of supporting the development of the new
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County one of lowest for businesses going bust
WILTSHIRE had one of the lowest insolvency rates in the country last year, according to new research. Out of 27,631 businesses, only 193 in the county’s local authority area folded – a rate of 0.7 per cent. That percentage was slightly higher in the
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Teachers’ union speaks out about cuts
THE NASUWT teaching union has issued a stark warning about the impact of funding cuts to some schools in Swindon. Teaching staff face the axe amid financial cuts to three schools serving pupils in some of Swindon’s poorest areas, with Churchfields Academy
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Winners for Meca events
The following readers were lucky winners of a pair of tickets each to see the Bon Jovi Experience at MECA, Swindon: Mr Smith of Westlea; Mrs Clarke of Long Hanborough, Witney; Mr Ellis, of Stratton; Chris Pope, of Swindon. The winners of a pair of tickets
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Another vision for future of our town
A CONCERT hall, art gallery and land train are all part of the bold blueprint for the town centre which has sprung from the minds of opposition politicians. Swindon’s Labour Group revealed their ‘masterplan’ for regeneration in the town centre to rival
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Volunteer is there to help in people’s hour of need
A VOLUNTEER who helps people cope when their homes are wrecked by fire or flood is urging others to become part of the British Red Cross. Juliana Ali, 31, who runs The Jewel In The Crown, in Victoria Road, has seen her life transformed after joining
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Parents’ anger at shrink's 'false' diagnosis
A PSYCHIATRIST from Blunsdon faces claims he deliberately misdiagnosed parents with mental disorders decisions which meant their children were taken away from them. Dr George Hibbert faces being struck off over his conclusions that hundreds of parents
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Poem can spur on Robins win
THE widow of a Town fan who penned a poem about their famous Wembley cup win is hoping his words can inspire a Swindon victory this weekend. Andi Jones wanted to share her husband Gary’s poem, which was co-written with his pal Adrian Humphries the day
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RUGBY LEAGUE: St George back for tough pre-season
SWINDON St George rugby league team return to pre-season today in a bid to overcome the disappointment of last season. The Greenbridge Road club lost out in the West of England Grand Final to Gloucestershire Warriors in 2011, and will be looking to go
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Rape accused says woman led him on
A MAN accused of raping a woman after a night out in Swindon claims she led him on. Fareed Issa Tariq, 31, denies two charges of rape and two charges of attempted rape after an incident in the car park of the Weighbridge Brewhouse, in Penzance Drive,
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Owners devastated as tiny Miracle loses her fight for life
THE OWNERS of little Miracle the puppy, thought to be one of the smallest pups born, have been left devastated after she passed away. Miracle, a Jack Russell Chihuahua-cross born nearly two weeks ago, died at the weekend. She was one of five puppies
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BOWLS: World No 4 in Swindon for Open
WORLD number four Mark Royal heads the high class field assembled for the second Dexion Westlecot Open this weekend. Stowmarket-based Royal, 37, was a beaten semi-finalist in the 2011 world singles championships, and again lost in the semi-finals with
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800-name petition bid to stop school
CAMPAIGNERS against the Croft School development yesterday delivered a petition containing more than 800 signatures to the council. The petition, the latest step in residents’ fight against the bid, was accepted by Labour leader, Coun Jim Grant. Residents
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Mum attacked as daughter watched
A MAN has admitted trying to murder the mother of his children by stabbing her repeatedly in front of their four-year-old daughter. Michael Alexander Saunders, 48, of Leven, Freshbrook, pleaded guilty to attempted murder of his girlfriend Zoe Fotheringham
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Another vision for future of our town
A CONCERT hall, art gallery and land train are all part of the bold blueprint for the town centre which has sprung from the minds of opposition politicians. Swindon’s Labour Group revealed their ‘masterplan’ for regeneration in the town centre to rival
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Controversial Coate Water homes plan gets go ahead
A CONTROVERSIAL plan for 900 homes on land neighbouring Coate Water has been given the green light by a Government inspector. The proposal by Persimmon Homes and Redrow Homes to develop land at Commonhead, off Marlborough Road, was rejected by Swindon
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THE EVENT: Tapner grabs second spot
IT WAS Wiltshire riders all the way in the top sections at the Aldon BE (British Eventing) one day event in Somerset - the first big event in the 2012 south west eventing calendar. Australian Paul Tapner, based at Highworth, made his presence
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Swindon off to Wembley on a high after beating promotion rivals Torquay
SWINDON Town will head to Wembley on Sunday safe in the knowledge they will not be dislodged from the top of League Two after they produced one of their best performances of the season to defeat title rivals Torquay 2-0 last night. The Gulls
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Town poised to sign McEveley
SWINDON Town are set to sign Barnsley left back Jay McEveley on loan until the end of the season, the Advertiser understands. Paolo Di Canio confirmed at the weekend that he planned to delve back into the transfer market before the loan
