Archive
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Water shortage causing mayhem at sports clubs
SPORTS clubs in Swindon are praying for more rain as the hosepipe ban threatened to turn pitches to dust and lead to fixtures being postponed or cancelled. The restrictions, applying to private and council facilities, could render playing surfaces
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Teen slipped playing game
AN INQUEST into the death of a 15-year-old girl who drowned at the Cotswold Water Park has heard of the moment her body was found by fellow swimmers. Kajil Devi, who could not swim but was confident in the water, had been playing with her cousins using
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Museum pictures on display at GWH
A HOSPITAL is not the usual place you would expect to see exclusive pieces of art work, but the Great Western Hospital is bucking the trend. The next time you visit the GWH, take a look on the ground floor of the hospital and you will see the
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Grieving dad runs in memory of son
POLICE officer Graham Mansell is taking a break from walking the beat to run the London Marathon in memory of his son. The 31-year-old is getting ready to run in his first marathon on Sunday to raise money for the Stillbirth and Neonatal Death
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ELECTION COUNTDOWN: Ridgeway
Ridgeway ward has just one seat, due to its small population, but that one councillor will have to deal with some big issues. The ward retains the same name and boundaries as the existing ward, covering the villages of Wanborough, Liddington
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ELECTION COUNTDOWN: Priory Vale
HOUSING developments, a planned bus gate and a lack of school places are top of the list of election issues in the Priory Vale ward. The new ward, which will return three councillors, covers Oakhurst and Haydon End and part of the existing
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The hunt is on for more foster carers
KIND-HEARTED people across the town are being called on to help look after children in need. As part of Foster Care Fortnight, the family placement team at Swindon Council is looking for more people to become foster carers. It comes almost a year since
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Mings is determined to repay board's loyalty
ADIE Mings has vowed to repay the Chippenham board and supporters for the faith shown in him despite the club’s horrendous second half of the season. The Hardenhuish Park boss admits his side’s shocking form of one win in 18 matches - would have put
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Petition calling for justice on Farepak
FAMILIES who were affected when Farepak collapsed are being urged to sign a petition – just weeks before the directors appear in court. Around 120,000 customers lost out when the Christmas hamper company failed nearly six years ago. The online petition
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Warehouse offer for homeless bowls club
INDOOR bowls club members are being offered a temporary home after being told to prepare to leave the Oasis Leisure Centre. Swindon Oasis Indoor Bowls Club was informed its six-rink facility would be replaced with a gymnasium as part of the centre’s
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Strong first round for Howell in the Far East
DAVID Howell was today well-placed to make the cut at the China Open before his second round commences tomorrow. The Broome Manor pro carded a two-under-par round of 70 at Binhai Lake and is due to tee off at 12.55am GMT tomorrow (7.55am local time)
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Adver put me in gear, says cancer victim
CAR enthusiast Will Gibney, who compiled a wish list after being diagnosed with a rare incurable kidney cancer, has thanked the Adver for our support. Since appearing in the paper in February after finding out he had Renal Cell Carcinoma, the 28-year-old
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Lives put at risk by cuts, says fire union
A DOZEN firefighters from Swindon and Wiltshire travelled to Westminster to tell MPs that plans to slash £1.8m from the fire authority budget would render the county’s service ‘not fit for purpose’ and could cost lives. The reforms package has been put
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PRAYING FOR RAIN
SPORTS clubs in Swindon are praying for more rain as the hosepipe ban threatened to turn pitches to dust and lead to fixtures being postponed or cancelled. The restrictions, applying to private and council facilities, could render playing surfaces
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Bodyguard: I want to see Jacko’s son
MICHAEL Jackson’s former bodyguard is heading to Los Angeles to get visitation rights for the singer’s youngest son Blanket. Matt Fiddes, 32, who is from Swindon, claimed in 2010 he could be the biological father of the 10-year-old and in June he will
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Five Town players apologise for night out
FIVE Swindon Town players have apologised for their part in a drinking session on Saturday night, and have focused their attention on winning the League Two title. Following Tuesday night’s defeat to Aldershot, Town manager Paolo Di Canio accused
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Relax... it’s a cut price cruise
It’s not quite the Caribbean, but Jeremy GATES enjoys his (much cheaper) trip to Rouen in France The sailaway party, as our gallant ship edged away from Tilbury into the blackness of the Thames Estuary on an autumn evening, was a subdued affair: just
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Haboakus is giving us a pig in a poke
I was interested in your article about Gorse Hill and Pinehurst Ward and the matters that are of concern during this election period. I become more and more worried about the Haboakus development that is proposed in this ward, as I think we are being
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Fine folk head for Marlborough
Nu-folk duo Megson play at St Mary’s Church Hall in Marlborough at 8pm as part of the Marlborough folk roots concert series. Tickets £13
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Tickets still available for a Kentwood choir classic
Tickets are still available for the popular Kentwood Showcase 2012, featuring Paul Maguire and his Little Big Band. The performances are at 2.30pm and 7.30pm on May 19 at the Wyvern and tickets are £12.50. You can also see the choir singing at Asda Walmart
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Laughing all the way to the NYC
AM-DRAM group The Phoenix Players are busy rehearsing for their production of Neil Simon’s Come Blow Your Horn next week. The comedy, set in New York, centres on two brothers: Alan, sales rep for his father’s waxed fruit business, and a charming, girl-chasing
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The Chef's Table
This week, it’s the turn of Stuart Pollock, head chef at Menzies Hotel, Fleming Way. Tel: 01793 528282 1. When did you first take an interest in cooking, and when did you decide you wanted to become a chef? When I was about 14 I realised my real
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Sounds around town with Dave Franklin
It seems like this is the week to be out on the town if you are a fan of the heavier end of the music spectrum. So without even stopping to have a dig at a single cover band, (which I was again accused of belittling this week, in a rather bizarre confrontation
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Perfect for a school night
Katie Bond and her friend find a great place to put the world to rights EAT AT: The Churchill, Swindon Road, Royal Wootton Bassett, SN4 8ET. Tel: 01793 849848 FOR a number of years, The Churchill in Royal Wootton Bassett has been the pub of
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Master of the deadpan
THE man long hailed as the king of the deadpan one-liner appears at the Wyvern Theatre tomorrow at 7.30pm – and he’ll be back at the same venue on September 14. The Canadian is best known to British audiences for his appearances on Live at the Apollo
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Blame it all on the hormones
CULT film star and Coronation Street veteran Margi Clarke comes to Swindon next week. The Liverpool-born actress heads the cast of Hormonal Housewives, a show written by Julie Coombe and John McIsaac, whose tour stops at the Wyvern Theatre on Tuesday
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Memories from on high
ADVENTURER Simon Yates is coming to share a batch of reminiscences at the Wyvern. An Audience With Simon Yates is timed to coincide with the publication of his third book, The Wild Within, which includes accounts of a decade of mountaineering everywhere
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Inquest hears of moment teenager's body found in water
AN INQUEST into the death of a 15-year-old girl who drowned at the Cotswold Water Park has heard of the moment her body was found by fellow swimmers. Kajil Devi, who could not swim, had been playing a game with her cousins using an inflatable boat. The
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same venue, very different styles
COMEDY veteran Barry Cryer and deadpan German Henning Wehn are about to bring their distinctive – and completely different – styles to the Arts Centre. Barry, who plays the centre on Saturday at 7.30pm, is respected as a writer as well as a performer
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PREDICTIONS LEAGUE Gillingham v Swindon
Dear all, Well after all the 'Fun of the Fair' regarding supporters not being allowed into the ground then the disappointment at the behaviour of the team, we now hear that the issues are resolved and that the fans can now cheer on the team in
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Back doing what they love best
When the bottom fell out of Toploader’s musical world the pop band threw in the towel and concentrated on their solo projects. Now the boys are back together, promoting their new album, and heading for Swindon. Dancing In The Moonlight, a cover of
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PREDICTIONS LEAGUE Results for Aldershot v Swindon
Dear all, Well not the best of weeks for anyone involved with Swindon Town Football Club. I have added the detailed results and the up to date league tables from the Plymouth match on the previous results thread and I'll add these from after
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Give up your guilty pleasure
PEOPLE across Swindon are being urged to give up their guilty pleasure in exchange for a three-day pass to the Nuffield Health Fitness and Wellbeing centre. Steve Collins, the general manager of Nuffield Health Swindon at Greenbridge Retail Park, said
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Library regular Jean’s so happ-e with competition win
ONE lucky reader now has a library at her fingertips after winning a brand new e-reader. Jean McMullin, a regular visitor at North Swindon Library, in Haydon Wick, beat 700 others to the prize, which was put up as part of the launch of the new e-book
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Police left cut and bruised after chasing hare coursers near Marlborough
Police sergeant Vincent Logue was left with blackthorns in his hands and legs and PC Richard Barret covered in mud and wet through to his skin after they chased after illegal hare coursers on foot yesterday catching one and impounding one of their
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ATHLETICS: Harriers to host try athletics session
YESTERDAY marked 100 days to go until the start of the London Olympics and Swindon Harriers will celebrate that by holding a try athletics session this evening. The event is taking place as part of a nationwide drive by England Athletics - to which
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ELECTION COUNTDOWN: Lydiard & Freshbrook
THE new councillors in the new Lydiard and Freshbrook ward will be expected to deal with the issues of dangerous parking, litter and looking after Lydiard Park. The new ward includes Freshbrook, Grange Park and Windmill Hill, and will return
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Counterfeit cigarettes and tobacco found in shop raids
COUNTERFEIT cigarettes and illegal tobacco have been seized in a major operation by Swindon Council and Wiltshire police. There were raids on four stores in Manchester Road yesterday morning and in one, which cannot be named for legal reasons, 340 suspected
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Judge gives cannabis supplier new chance
A 21-YEAR-OLD man who started selling cannabis to fund his own spiralling habit has walked free from court. Dale Hawkridge was still living at home when he was caught with the drug which he planned to sell on Monday, August 15, last year. But after
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HELP US WALK: MPs in pledge to help families get ‘proper answers’
SWINDON’S MPs have pledged to support the families in our Help Us Walk campaign until they are given proper answers from NHS Swindon. Swindon South MP Robert Buckland and North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson, both have families in their remit affected by
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Cuts force a transfer of care services
SWINDON Carers Centre has taken the decision to transfer its relief care service to Bluebird Care due to funding cuts. The relief care team provides a domiciliary care service to around 40 clients, as well as a sitting service for a further 26 clients
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Victim of bottling attack also had ear bitten
A BLOODY bar brawl ended in one man needing surgery on his ear after he was bottled and bitten in an unprovoked attack. The 22-year-old victim was attacked at Casbah nightclub, in John Street, in the early hours of Saturday morning. His attacker
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HELP US WALK: We know we made right decision
LITTLE Nicole Chorley is already enjoying the newfound freedom she has been given thanks to two life-changing operations she has undergone. Six-year-old Nicole, who lives in Westwood and goes to school in Trowbridge, had two operations at St
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HELP US WALK: ‘I knew there was something wrong’
KELLY and Richard Cummings are waiting to hear if their six-year-old son Corey will be able to have a life- changing operation in Bristol to help him walk. Corey has cerebral palsy and needs the same operation that Alycia Ellis, Jack Pike and Robbie
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Town boss to play again in charity match
PAOLO Di Canio will be putting his shooting boots back on as his handpicked team take on former Town legends in a charity match at the end of the season. The game, in aid of the club’s chosen charity Wiltshire Air Ambulance, will take place at the County
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Diabetes ward at GWH to shut
A MEDICAL ward at Great Western Hospital that caters for people with diabetes-related conditions is set to close. Next month Teal Ward, which has 18 beds, will be emptied so it can be used to cope with extra demand at peak times and to enable other wards
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Dead girl's cousin didn’t see any warning signs at water park
A MAN whose young cousin drowned at the Cotswold Water Park has told an inquest into her death he did not see any warning signs which might have prevented the tragedy. Akshay Kumar, 18, was giving evidence at the start of a five-day inquest
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EQUESTRIAN: Malmesbury pupils reach the Nationals
MALMESBURY School’s intermediate showjumping team have made it to the National Schools Championships for the second year in a row. The school will take part in the competition at Addington in October after coming through the considerable challenge
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Cobras see off Nalgo in KO Cup
COASTAL Cobras put in a dominant performance to win the Swindon Indoor Cricket League Knock Out Cup against Nalgo Extras on Sunday. In truth the final fell below expectations as Extras were unable to recover from losing their influential opener off the
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Howell is enjoying life on and off the course
DAVID Howell is a happy man right now, both on the course and off it. Fresh off the back his best performance of the year at the Malaysian Open - in his own words - the Broome Manor pro has also been enjoying the pleasures of fatherhood following the
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LADIES' FOOTBALL: Walters awarded US scholarship
A SWINDON Town Ladies footballer has ‘the opportunity of a lifetime’ after being awarded a sports scholarship to attend Cloud County Community College in Kansas. Centre midfielder Georgia Walters, 18, has been Town’s top scorer for three years
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Who's your top man at Town?
MATT Ritchie has already swept all before him to win the League Two player of the year award this season, but will he get your vote and retain the Swindon Advertiser Footballer of the Year trophy? The Advertiser has teamed up with Swindon Town Football
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Rosco happy to have a night off
ALUN Rossiter revealed he was ‘not bothered’ that last night’s Elite League trip to Poole was postponed due to a waterlogged track. Swindon had beaten King’s Lynn and Coventry in the lead-up and the meeting with the Pirates would have been their third
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Wray backs Di Canio to stamp it out
SWINDON manager Paolo Di Canio will receive 100 per cent backing from the club’s board as he stamps out the unprofessionalism which he claims has infected his squad. Following Tuesday night’s 2-1 defeat at Aldershot, Di Canio accused his players
