Archive
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Shops and restaurants angry at car park closure
BUSINESSES in part of central Swindon expect to lose trade following the closure of the popular college car park, at Regent Circus, yesterday. Swindon Council, which has leased the car park since developer Ashfield Land bought the site, shut
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Saving pennies has made business tick
A COUPLE who have spent years struggling to find work have opened their own shop after scraping together every penny they have. Dee and Bob Clements, from Cricklade, have welcomed the first customers into BDC Clocks and Collectibles. Bob has been unemployed
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Help at hand for depressed mums
FOR Lesley Hughes, getting married and starting a family was something she had dreamed of for many years. But at seven months pregnant, it was clear that something was not quite right. She began suffering with frustration, crying, overwhelming feelings
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All-new Civic offers finest value around
IT’S been with the dealers for less than two months, but the new Swindon-built Honda Civic has already been recognised as the best car for value in the UK. It was the number one in the Parkers Cost of Motoring New Car Awards 2012, coming out on top
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Big band ace happy to play smaller stage
ONE of the UK’s leading big band musicians is gearing up for his next date at the Las Vegas-themed Charity Ball in Swindon. Elliott Henshaw is fresh from a 25th anniversary memorial concert for world renowned drummer Buddy Rich, which took place at the
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SPEEDWAY RESULT: Swindon Robins 49, Birmingham Brummies 43
SKY SPORTS ELITE LEAGUE, ABBEY STADIUM SWINDON ROBINS: Troy Batchelor (1-FX-3-3-FX)7, Nick Morris (R-3-1-2*)6+1, Simon Stead (3-2-2*-2*)9+2, Jason Doyle (0-0-3-FX)3, Hans Andersen (3-3-2-1-3)12, Robin Aspegren (2*-1-0)3+1, Peter Kildemand
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Team keeps the election organised
ELECTIONS for most people are one-day events which involve simply making a choice, crossing a ballot paper and putting it a box or into the post. But for Swindon Council’s electoral services team, it is a huge administrative effort requiring
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Saving pennies has made business tick
A COUPLE who have spent years struggling to find work have opened their own shop after scraping together every penny they have. Dee and Bob Clements, from Cricklade, have welcomed the first customers into BDC Clocks and Collectibles. Bob has been unemployed
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Cher is aiming for a big singalong
SWAGGER jagger will be brimming from the Oasis when X Factor finalist Cher Lloyd takes to the stage. The pint-sized pop princess will be belting out her hits, including number one single Swagger Jagger and her current single Want U Back, when
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Get set for a bittersweet charity gig
Swindon bands are on their marks to perform in a charity gig tonight in aid of Goldenhar Family Support Group. The musicians will be playing in Dead by 27, a gig dedicated to artists who died before they hit 27-years-old. On the bill
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Trio sentenced for dog-chain and taser attack
THREE men who burst into a house and attacked a woman with a dog chain and a stun gun have been jailed today. Owen Roger Bygraves, 41, of Royal Wootton Bassett, Lewis Colin Hicks, 31, of Exmoor Close, Taw Hill and Samuel Kofi Ackah, 33,
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Nice food... shame about the portions
PAULINE COLE has a hit and miss meal when she ventures out after work EAT AT: The Vale Hotel Bar & Bistro, 32 High Street, Cricklade, SN6 6AY. Tel: 01793 750223 After a hard day at the office and excited at the prospect of not having to cook,
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The Chef's Table
This week, it’s the turn of Lloyd Nicholls, 52, head chef for the past 37 years at Blunsdon House Hotel. Tel: 01793 721701 1. When did you first take an interest in cooking, and when did you decide you wanted to become a chef? I started at Blunsdon
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A classic for Easter
THE Ugly Duckling comes to the Arts Centre next Tuesday, as the central character in a stage show based on the much-loved tale by Hans Anderson. Tickets cost £9.50 for adults and £7.50 for children, with family tickets available at £29. To book, contact
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Sounds around town with Dave Franklin
Music is full of potential; the potential to push boundaries, to boldly go and all that (pardon the split infinitive,) to move forward with and even ahead of current imagination, to challenge and make you think. It is indeed a wondrous thing.
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Screen star’s tale retold
Anna May Wong, who died aged 56 in 1961, began appearing on screen during the silent era, and her co-stars included such legends as Lon Chaney and Douglas Fairbanks. Her story is told in Anna May Wong Must Die!, which comes to the Arts Centre next Tuesday
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Remember the 80s?
THE names Roland Gift, Wang Chung and Jimmy Somerville might not mean much to anyone outside the 35-45 age bracket, but for those of us who were teenagers in the 1980s their names were legendary and their faces graced our bedroom walls. These three icons
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Fiddlers on the loose
“They look like geography teachers; they play like angels!” So said one critic of the flamboyant Feast of Fiddles, while another described them as simply “the best fiddle players of a generation”. The fiddling sextet are in Marlborough tonight, fielding
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First lady of folk music heads for Swindon
FORMER Steeleye Span singer Maddy Prior is heading for Swindon this week with clogs on – literally! She is bringing a new starlet to the town in the shape of Hannah James, who among her other skills is a clog dancer. Maddy likes to collaborate with
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Bringing some swagger to Swindon
POP princess Cher Lloyd will Swagger Jagger her way on stage at Swindon’s Oasis Leisure Centre next Saturday (April 14). The X Factor 2010 finalist will perform songs from her debut album, including latest single Want U Back featuring rapper
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Curtain up on a popular festival
THE curtain is getting ready to rise on this year’s Harold Jolliffe One Act Play Festival. And actors from across the town are hoping to top last year’s fairytale win by a Swindon company at the All England Final, by winning the British final
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Swindon soldier edges closer to Everest goal
THE Walking With The Wounded expedition climbed to an altitude of more than 4,000m today on their way to Mount Everest Base Camp. Six days into their 10-day hike, the five injured soldiers reached the milestone as the landscape became more barren and
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Jail for man who held son hostage during M4 siege
DAD Paul Muller who caused havoc on the M4 in Swindon after taking his two-year-old son hostage in 2001 has been jailed for 10 years. Muller, now 55, took his son hostage at knife-point following a row about custody with his partner and went
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Teaming up to celebrate big events
SWINDON Walcot and Parks Community Group and the management committee of the Buckhurst Park Community Centre are planning celebration events for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the Olympic Games. The committee hope to have activities for all ages and
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Demolition job begins on former college car park
THE former Swindon College car park will be closed tonight as demolition of the building starts. The work is due to start later this month and once cleared, the Regent Circus site will be used for a six-screen cinema, a supermarket and eight restaurants
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Rocking out for charity in church
The Graham Mack Rock Band will perform a charity gig at St Augustine’s Church, in Summers Street, on Friday, July 20, at 7.30pm. Tickets are £5 and there will be refreshments. Proceeds from the evening will be split between Swindon Foodbank
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Getting a tasty time cracked
EASTER came to the Adver this week with an egg-decorating event courtesy of Thorntons. The chocolate-makers, who have branches at the Outlet Centre and the town centre, brought a van-full of treats, including 200-300 eggs and boxes of chocolate buttons
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Kentwood Choir at town concert
The Kentwood Show Choir is to perform a St George’s Day charity concert at the Civic Offices, in Euclid Street, on Monday, April 23. Doors open at 7.15pm and the show starts at 8.15pm. Tickets costing £10 are available from the mayor’s office on 01793
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Young actors in hunt for 1970s Chopper bike
A SWINDON theatre company is desperately seeking an old style Chopper bike to use in their disco-style musical Boogie Nights – The 70s. Empire Theatre Company actors will be pulling on their flares and platforms next week to stage the show at the Wyvern
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Fears that town's parks will fill up with litter
A WEST Swindon councillor has expressed concern about changes to park services in the town. Coun Nick Martin (Con, Shaw and Nine Elms) is worried there are only four rangers for the whole borough after two recent departures, one of whom was head ranger
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Author shares skills with pupils
AWARD-winning children’s author Elen Caldecott visited Ridgeway School to conclude a term’s celebration of books, reading and storytelling. During her visit Elen told the students about her books including her her latest novel, Operation Eiffel Tower
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Young actors in hunt for 1970s Chopper bike
A SWINDON theatre company is desperately seeking an old style Chopper bike to use in their disco-style musical Boogie Nights – The 70s. Empire Theatre Company actors will be pulling on their flares and platforms next week to stage the show at the Wyvern
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McDonalds gathers support for 24-hour plans
BURGER giant McDonald’s has submitted plans to increase the hours of service at one of its Swindon restaurants. The restaurant chain has put forward an application to Swindon Council’s planning committee to allow its restaurant in Great Western Way to
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Queen’s message of support
THE Queen has sent a message of support to a group of injured servicemen attempting to climb Mount Everest. Captain Francis Atkinson, 31, of Swindon, suffered a gunshot wound to his right upper arm while serving as a doctor in Afghanistan last year.
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Children get a sporting start thanks to £1m grant
CHILDREN on their Easter holidays have been enjoying a slice of the £1m awarded to Toothill. The area was one of the first 50 to benefit from the Big Local Lottery programme, which designated £200m for 150 urban and rural neighbourhoods across England
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Hosepipe ban must not be ignored
A HOSEPIPE ban comes into force across the Swindon area today. Thames Water, which serves the town, was one of seven water firms to announce the move as the Environment Agency warned of severe drought in the coming months. It said groundwater levels
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Made in Chelsea stars come to Swindon
TWO reality television stars are swapping central London for Swindon this weekend as they head to a town centre nightspot. Heart-throbs of the E4 show Made in Chelsea, Spencer Matthews and Jamie Laing, will be making an appearance at Bushwackers in the
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Fewer delays for train passengers
MAJOR rail signal improvements, which will slash delays to services travelling to and from Swindon, have been started by Network Rail. The four-year, £400m project is the largest scheme to modernise the 1960s signalling infrastructure on the Great Western
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The countdown to elections begins...
A TOTAL of 170 candidates have put their names forward to stand at the all-out local council elections on May 3. Normally only one third of seats are available in Swindon at any one election, but this time every seat will be up for grabs because of new
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Commemorating forgotten soldier
THE family of a fallen First World War soldier from Shrivenham are being sought so his grave can finally be commemorated. George William Hick, a gunner in the Royal Garrison Artillery, is on the War Memorial in Shrivenham Churchyard but a grave has not
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Dan the Fan: Paolo Di Canio will build on his success at Swindon
After a disappointing result and performance at home to Bristol Rovers, Town returned to winning ways on Tuesday night beating Barnet 2-0 at Underhill. Out of form Ronan Murray managed to keep his place in the side and rewarded manager Paolo Di Canio
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GREYHOUND RACING: Attention on Blunsdon for Easter Bunny finals
THE eyes of the gambling world will be on Blunsdon tomorrow afternoon for the first running of the BAGS/SIS Easter Bunny Grand Finals. The event is the culmination of months of racing at 17 tracks up and down the country, with the winners all making
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THE EVENT: Tapner and Inonothing continue fine form
HIGHWORTH’S Paul Tapner and top ride Inonothing continued their return to form with second place at the first three-star international in Britain this year at Belton Park in Lincolnshire. Inonothing, who won the Badminton three-day event title in 2010
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Brummies 'will be stronger' without Ulamek
SWINDON boss Alun Rossiter was rather hoping out-of-form Seb Ulamek would return to his former stomping ground in Birmingham colours tonight. But the experienced Pole is riding in a Grand Prix qualifier in his homeland so the Brummies will operate rider
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HORSE RACING: All systems go for Shakalakaboomboom
NICKY Henderson is looking forward to Shakalakaboomboom flying the flag for his Seven Barrows base in the John Smith's Grand National at Aintree on Saturday week. The Lambourn trainer has been trying to win the world's greatest steeplechase
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Di Canio contract talks on hold
PAOLO Di Canio plans to put talks on his long-term future on hold until promotion to League One is assured. Interim chairman Jeremy Wray sat down with Di Canio’s representative towards the end of February to discuss the possibility of a new contract.
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Aspegren just happy to have a club
ROBIN Aspegren doesn’t have too many aims for the upcoming Elite League season, with the young Swede just pleased to have a club at all. Aspegren was due to ride for both Swindon and Newport in 2012, only for the Premier League side to pull out of the
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The right move to follow Rosco
CANBERRA charger Nick Morris has revealed that Robins boss Alun Rossiter played a vital role in his own switch to Swindon during the winter. Rossiter left Coventry in November after two seasons at Brandon and shortly afterwards the 2011 Premier
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Alden happy to be back on a bike again
SEB Alden is looking forward to getting back on the bike after a long hard winter and is determined to build on his last spell at Blunsdon. Since ending the 2011 season at Berwick, the Swede has been back in his homeland working in the construction industry
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Pressure is on for Peter
PETER Kildemand believes the pressure is on him to produce as he prepares for his second season of Elite League racing. The Danish reserve impressed under Robins boss Alun Rossiter at Coventry last season, before his season was ended in July by a nerve
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I'm fully fit - Doyle
JASON Doyle says he is ‘100 per cent fit’ for the upcoming Elite League season and has put his injury problems behind him. The 26-year-old has been plagued by shoulder problems in recent times and although he played a pivotal role in Poole winning a
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Can this Aussie rule?
IF TROY Batchelor can even come close to emulating what mentor Leigh Adams achieved in a Swindon Robins race suit, he will be a happy man. The young Aussie faces the daunting task of wearing the iconic number one jacket at Blunsdon this season
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Confident boss targets success at Swindon
ALUN Rossiter begins the season a more confident and respected team manager than the one that departed the Robins for Coventry at the end of 2009. That is the view of the man himself, who returned to Blunsdon in November an Elite League winner, and with
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THE PAOLO DI CANIO COLUMN: There's no one way to become a top boss
Paolo on... commanding respect from players. MANAGERS who have had a good playing career at the top level have a bit more of an advantage at the beginning. But after that you have to prove that you have knowledge and that you can deliver
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Play-offs for Robins... but the Bees will be champions
HAVING analysed the various line-ups and mulled over multiple permutations, I’ve come up with the verdict my gut had been telling me all along. Swindon have every chance of making the Elite League play-offs. I don’t think this is misguided optimism.
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Simon wants a Steady season
THE 2011 Elite League season just didn’t work out for Simon Stead. Handed the captaincy in his third year in Robins kevlars, the Yorkshireman was to endure a nightmare campaign in which an early-season rib injury kept him out for months. Seeing that
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Andersen's soft spot for Robins
HANS Andersen admits he owes a debt of gratitude to former Robins number one Leigh Adams as he believes the Aussie helped improve his own racing. The Dane, who is expected to vie with Troy Batchelor for the number one slot this campaign, relished his
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Patchett hopes for more luck than in 2011
CO-OWNER Gary Patchett admits he is desperate to evade the ill-fortune that blighted Swindon’s Elite League campaign in 2011. The Blunsdon side struggled with injuries and unavailability last term and endured a dreadful campaign as they finished
