Archive

  • Royal oak crash

    MOREDON Royal Oak felt the full force of the Seagry attack in Division Three as big scores from Alex Fereday and Adam Lawrence earned a 70-run victory for the visitors. Fereday hit 116 accompanied by Lawrence's 60 as Seagry closed on 222-6. Ian Morton

  • Nine for Lewis

    SWINDON'S Jon Lewis added to his five-wicket first-innings haul with four second-innings Glamorgan victims as Gloucestershire claimed victory on the final day of their latest Frizzell County Championship Division Two match. The paceman took had earlier

  • Mind games

    A SWINDON man, whose football career was ravaged by injury and mental illness, is looking to bounce back by leading his unique new team into the Swindon Sunday League. Steve Holmes, 32, was a promising apprentice at Blackburn Rovers in the late 80s before

  • We've won!

    CAMPAIGNERS are celebrating after meadowland near Swindon has been saved from development. Wilcon Homes Western wanted to build 54 homes on former church land in Pentylands Lane, Highworth. But Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott's office has ruled the

  • Little help for mums who breastfeed

    BUSINESSES in Swindon are reluctant to support breastfeeding mothers, according to a survey by the National Childbirth Trust. And the little help they receive may result in mothers giving up breastfeeding when they return to work. During a recent survey

  • Hugs for our heroes

    MAY 13: SWINDON'S Gulf War heroes returned home to a tearful reunion with their loved ones. Wives, girlfriends, mothers and sons all gathered at the Swindon Territorial Army Centre in Church Place to welcome members of the Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry's A

  • A scary but exciting experience

    MAY 13: LANCE Corporal Andy Brown stepped straight off the coach and into the arms of his partner Rachael Carliss, 30. The couple share a house in Abbey Meads and have been together for 12 years. Both say it was fantastic to be reunited after 10 weeks

  • Kintbury Rangers wrap up double cup success

    Kintbury Rangers now have two trophies under their belt, as they beat Drayton 2-1 on Saturday evening to add the North Berks Cup to the Charity Shield they won last week. It was a cracking game of football with both sides creating chances throughout.

  • Ladies squander lead

    CHIPPENHAM Town Ladies Under 12s finished off their season in defeat, going down 5-3 against Keynsham Town. From the off it was end to end stuff, hosts Chippenham forcing a good save from the Keynsham goalkeeper before the visitors hit the post in response

  • Hazards of life on the street

    The problem of homelessness never seems to go away. JAMES WATSON spoke to three men whose lives have been affected by life on the streets, and looks at how efforts are being made to improve the situation IT IS a sad fact that anyone could end up homeless

  • Political rumbling over leader's official room

    KEVIN Small has caused a stir at the Civic Offices by declining to vacate the council leader's official room. But the outgoing council leader (Lab, Western) says it is all a storm in a tea cup. Tory group leader Mike Bawden (Old Town and Lawns) had approached

  • Joy as families and friends are reunited

    SWINDON SOLDIERS RETURN: CORPORAL Michael Fitzgerald's daughter Elaina is delighted to see her dad back home. The 12-yearold Hreod Parkway pupil said: "I have had my Sats exams at school this week and I think I have not done very well, it has been really

  • A scary but exciting experience

    SWINDON SOLDIERS RETURN: LANCE Corporal Andy Brown stepped straight off the coach and into the arms of his partner Rachael Carliss, 30. The couple share a house in Abbey Meads and have been together for 12 years. Both say it was fantastic to be reunited

  • Ciren honour retiring 'Taz'

    CIRENCESTER Rugby Club closed the curtain on their season with their end-of-season Vets' Dinner. The preceding vets versus club game ended even in a 20-20 draw, and some 110 current and former club members gathered at The Whiteway, with ex-Wasps and England

  • Wanborough go out on a high

    Mark Arnold gave Haydon Wick WMC a valuable 1-0 win over Mallard in Division 3. Wanborough finished the season strongly with a 9-4 win at home to Fox & Hounds Chris Rusling and Pete Myall both scoring four, with Danny Bridgeman scoring one. In Division

  • Managers plea

    Shaw FC urgently seek new managers for their under 10 and under 14 teams next season. The club also wish to start up an under seven team and would welcome any offer to assist with the start-up and running of the team. All teams will play in the North

  • Mind games

    A SWINDON man, whose football career was ravaged by injury and mental illness, is looking to bounce back by leading his unique new team into the Swindon Sunday League. Steve Holmes, 32, was a promising apprentice at Blackburn Rovers in the late 80s before

  • Ton-up Kit

    DURING her lifetime Kit Kilburn has lived through two world wars and the reign of five English monarchs. Today the great grandmother celebrates her 100th birthday and is eagerly anticipating her card from the Queen. Born and brought up in Surrey, Kit

  • Affordable housing campaigners pledge to fight on

    CAMPAIGNERS in Brinkworth have vowed to appeal against a decision to refuse plans to build affordable homes in the village. Around 15 residents have spent three years battling North Wiltshire District Council for the right to build the houses, which would

  • Otters swim back two by two, hurrah!

    OTTERS have returned to Swindon for the first time in 50 years. A new survey by the Environment Agency has revealed that there are at least two otters living on the rivers Ray and Cole which run through Swin-don. The National Otter Sur-vey, carried out

  • A journalist view

    SWINDON LITERARY FESTIVAL REVIEW: Women are the epitome of virtuous chastity, whilst men embody the opposite. Such were the stereotypes that gave rise to the fight for women to vote, as journalist Melanie Phillips fascinatingly explained at the Arts Centre

  • These little piggies didn't go to market

    Hundreds of people experienced a slice of organic life down on the farm at the weekend. Tours of Eastbrook Farm and walks through Eastbrook Valley, at Bishopstone near Swindon, provided an ideal opportunity to see the wild lifestyle of British Saddleback

  • 'A mean and very dishonest act' on OAP

    A WOMAN who tried to fleece a frail pensioner out of more than £16,000 has walked free from court. Sylvia Lee took advantage of the fact that 81-year-old Violet Hirst was almost blind to add a nought to the end of a cheque when she was asked to help write

  • 'People just think you are dirty'

    Michael 'Mikey' Knight, 19, has lived on the streets for three years. Life on the streets started for Michael Knight like it does for so many young people. He lost the roof over his head and now has a daughter he rarely sees. He said: "People look down

  • Sour grapes or not, something is wrong

    IN your article Call to Resign (Wed May 7), Father Leslie Pinfield is said to have received an apology, Coun Dickinson says he has not issued an apology and Coun Pajak, the Mayor says there have been no letters of apology. Who is not telling the truth

  • Time to thank John Prescott

    CAMPAIGNERS in Highworth are celebrating preventing developers from building 54 homes on a Greenfield site. While there is a need for housing for our expanding population, there is no need to use green land while there is so much as an acre of previously

  • Welcome back and well done

    THE Swindon-based TA soldiers who went to the Gulf War have returned to heroes' welcomes and rightly so. Their assigned role, which they were mercifully not called on to play, was a benign one. Had Saddam Hussein unleashed chemical weapons, the TA unit

  • Wiltshire suffer Middleton Cup misery

    WILTSHIRE were beaten in both of their Middleton Cup trial games last weekend. In the first held on Saturday at Bath they went down by nine shots losing 124-115 to Somerset. And 24 hours later they fared even worse when crashing at Banbury to a 136-105

  • Bosses' pensions look good

    Thirty-six senior executives in FTSE 100 companies have built up pension funds worth a total of £177 million, according to a new survey. The total pension pot for executive directors in each of Britain's 100 biggest companies could be worth as much as

  • Factory gate and oil prices fall

    The cost of manufactured goods fell during April as crude oil prices slid once supply worries eased with the end of major fighting in the Iraq war, official data shows. The Office for National Statistics' (ONS) producer prices index showed that output

  • Small manufacturers facing yet more problems

    Beleaguered small manufacturing firms faced further falls in orders, output and employment in the first quarter of 2003, in spite of staging a fight-back that slowed the rate of decline, research shows. According to the Confederation of British Industry's

  • It was an offer she couldn't refuse

    MAY13: THE RING on Jackie Howell's finger said it all. It had been placed there by fianc Neil Garfoot, 38, from West Swindon, who had just returned home from serving with the Territorial Army in the Gulf. Neil had asked Jackie to marry him with a message

  • Joy as families and friends are reunited

    MAY 13: CORPORAL Michael Fitzgerald's daughter Elaina is delighted to see her dad back home. The 12-yearold Hreod Parkway pupil said: "I have had my Sats exams at school this week and I think I have not done very well, it has been really hard without

  • Lights are drowning out the sky at night

    LOOK into the sky on a clear night and the chances are you will see only a tiny fraction of the thousands of stars which should be visible. This is because light from street lamps and other sources in urban areas like Swindon shines upwards obscuring

  • Ghost zones are homeless retreats

    PAUL Bendon has got his Ghost Zones carefully planned. As a homeless man, he is well aware of the dangers of sleeping rough on the streets. He tells the story of a friend who, a few months ago, committed the cardinal sin of zipping his sleeping bag up

  • There's still a chance to get on the ball for charity

    WITH less than a week to go until this year's Swindon Marriott Charity Ball, a handful of tickets still remain. The lavish annual event, backed by the Evening Advertiser, includes a three-course dinner, dancing and a raffle and auction. The ball has raised

  • We've won!

    CAMPAIGNERS are celebrating after meadowland near Swindon has been saved from development. Wilcon Homes Western wanted to build 54 homes on former church land in Pentylands Lane, Highworth. But Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott's office has ruled the

  • It was an offer she couldn't refuse

    SWINDON SOLDIERS RETURN: THE RING on Jackie Howell's finger said it all. It had been placed there by fianc Neil Garfoot, 38, from West Swindon, who had just returned home from serving with the Territorial Army in the Gulf. Neil had asked Jackie to marry

  • Hugs for our heroes

    SWINDON SOLDIERS RETURN: SWINDON'S Gulf War heroes returned home to a tearful reunion with their loved ones. Wives, girlfriends, mothers and sons all gathered at the Swindon Territorial Army Centre in Church Place to welcome members of the Royal Wiltshire

  • Chippenham celebrate

    Chippenham Rugby Club's juniors celebrated a successful season at their Allington Field clubhouse. Guest speaker was Frank Butler, the RFU Academy manager for Bath Rugby, and more than 150 players, coaches and other guests attended. The Under 16s, Wiltshire

  • Rotherham ready for top flight

    Jubilant Rotherham chief executive Jim Kilfoyle promised his newly-promoted side would be far more competitive in the Zurich Premiership next season than they were during their last visit to the top flight three years ago. On that occasion, Rotherham

  • Eldene look to gear up again

    Eldene Colts' Under 12s urgently require experienced players to join their decreasing squad for next season. The team will play in the Cirencester & District Youth League at under 13 level. The team also require a joint manager to work alongside their

  • Champions retain Cirencester title

    MALMESBURY Under 13s have been crowned champions in the Cirencester and District Youth League for the second successive year. A trio of fine strikes earned the Wiltshire side a 3-0 win other Cricklade and ensured the title would stay put. Cricklade had

  • Maximum points earns vics runners-up spot

    MALMESBURY Victoria clinched runners-up spot in the Chippenham and District League Premier Division with two wins at the weekend. As the curtain came down on the 37th season Malmesbury finished second behind champions Percy's FC after picking up maximum

  • Swindon Primary Schools' side in the hunt for National glory

    SWINDON Primary Schools' FA Representative side will represent the South West at the English Schools' FA Seven-a-Side National Finals on Saturday at the National Sports Centre, Lilleshall. The side qualified for the competition by winning the regional

  • Bodin and evans are just the trick

    IT was cup final weekend in the Mid Wilts Youth League and Swindon's Green Baize triumphed in the under 11 showpiece in resounding fashion. Tony Bedwell's side thrashed Warminster Highbury 10-0 in a one-sided final to keep their double hopes alive. Man-of-the-match

  • Shaw at the double

    SHAW FC under 15s were crowned Mid WIlts Youth and Minors League Cup winners after a 4-2 penalty shoot-out win over Trowbridge Town. It was the second trophy for Shaw this season having already bagged the Wilts FA County Cup last month. Goalkeeper Kyle

  • It's Drown vs Cram over debt

    AN MP is lining up against an Olympic medallist to highlight the continuing crisis of Third World debt. Julia Drown, MP for South Swindon, is taking part in the Race Against Debt with runner Steve Cram on College Green next to the Houses of Parliament

  • Young stars look set to shine in summer holiday lessons

    DYSLEXIC children will be able to enjoy a space-themed summer holiday course near Swindon. Based at Pinewood School, Bourton, the course will offer seven to 13-year-old dyslexic children a fun way to boost their literacy, numeracy, creative and thinking

  • Mayor says thanks to unsung heroes

    WOOTTON Bassett's new mayor knows all about the important help carers can provide. That is why Marion Sweet decided Carers Support North Wiltshire would become her adopted charity after seeing carers help her mother, who suffered from Alzheimer's. Carers

  • Flying high for Macmillan

    THE SKY was the limit for kite-flying fundraisers at Lydiard Park. Members of Moose International fundraising group collected almost £70 for the Swindon Cancer Appeal at the town's 13th annual kite festival. To date the Appeal, to raise £600,000 over

  • A model way to get ahead

    SWINDON CANCER APPEAL: THREE potential models met with stylists at West One hairdressing salon ahead of a charity fashion show. The Old Town salon, which also has an outlet in Westcott Place, will stage the show in aid of the Swindon Cancer Appeal. The

  • War reporter is big draw

    SWINDON LITERARY FESTIVAL REVIEW: VETERAN war reporter Kate Adie was back by popular demand at the Swindon Festival of Literature. The world-renowned journalist had appeared at a packed Arts Centre three years ago but her audience had doubled for her

  • A wet weekend for mistaken workmen

    WATER was cut off to around ten homes in Wroughton after workmen sliced through a water main. A jet of water shot 20 feet into the air after the incident at Station Road in the village centre. The workmen were installing services for a nearby new housing

  • Organic cheese on market menu

    CHEESE is the latest attraction at the Wanborough Farmers' market. The cheese is made from organic milk at Eastbrook Farm, Bishopstone, near Swindon. Market organiser Alison Mills is thrilled to welcome Bishopstone Cheese to the market. The next market

  • Photography exhibition puts arty talent into the frame

    SOME of the best photography in the South West is currently on display at West Swindon Library. The Western Counties Photographic Federation annual exhibition includes 146 prints and 113 slides. It opened on Saturday when prizes were handed out for the

  • Concerns are raised over advice charity

    CONCERNS raised about the way a Swindon advice charity is being run led to more than 100 people crowding its annual meeting. The Millen Advice Point was formed in 1987 to help Swindon's various immigrant communities. Last month Swindon Council voted to

  • Lights are drowning out the sky at night

    LOOK into the sky on a clear night and the chances are you will see only a tiny fraction of the thousands of stars which should be visible. This is because light from street lamps and other sources in urban areas like Swindon shines upwards obscuring

  • 'This was where the train stopped'

    Jason Evans, 27, spent six months living on the streets of Swindon as a heroin addict. Now, partly thanks to the charity Druglink, he is beating the habit and has a home, although he declined to say where. He is in the process of completing a course with

  • Trolley wait shenanigans

    FIRSTLY may I thank all the staff on Mercury Ward, special thanks to Claire and Amanda, for all the care given to me. But may I now ask if the chief executive and her staff are cooking the books on trolley waits in the A&E. I ask this as when I was

  • Swindon is a great place

    SO Swindon's been nominated worst place to live. I was horrified. What an outrage! I moved to Calne three years ago after 30 years in Bromsgrove/ Redditch and 25 years from birth in Birmingham. Swindon is brilliant. The shopping centre is great, everything

  • Another way to use Steam

    I READ with interest the comments on the problems of marketing the Steam Museum. At last there are proposals to put the marketing of this museum on a viable basis. The conclusions that this may not make money could be correct as this area is a growth

  • Let's get bobbies back on the beat

    IN the Drive insert in Friday's Evening Advertiser were the headlines 'They'll catch you' followed by the statement 'Mobile speed cameras have been deployed in Swindon and so far, in just nine hours, 248 Swindon motorists have been caught, 744 points