FIRMS are urged to consider allowing their staff to work more flexibly, following new research. The results of a survey by Your Communications showed that employees were more productive if they started work at 6am rather than the more typical 9am to 5pm
I DO not object in principle to the establishment of a University at Swindon. A town of this size with its links in all directions, is a natural focus point for the concentration of higher education facilities, hopefully in disciplines of fundamental
I HAVE noted with interest some of the comments made by various parties. David Spencer (Partner at King Sturge) said: "The trouble is the minority always tends make more noise than the majority. I think it is about time the business community and the
Gentle giant Mick LoveA CLOSE friend of murdered Swindon dad Mick Love has spoken of his shock at the news that his killer is still on the loose. The man, who does not want to be named, had been a friend of Mick's since 1981 when they met as teenagers
GREAT Western Hospital has been ordered to tighten up its complaints procedure by the NHS watchdog. Swindon's hospital has been told to speed up its system for dealing with complaints by the Healthcare Commission. And leaked documents show that a number
Whitehouse Bridge in SwindonA SET of traffic lights at the junction where a motorbike rider was killed has not worked for months, according to police. As reported in yesterday's late edition of the Adver, a 51-year-old Swindon man died on Sunday night
Wayne O'BrienA BROTHER has admitted his role in stealing more than £40,000 worth of Rolex watches from a jewellery shop in Old Town. Wayne O'Brien pleaded guilty to burglary when he appeared before a judge at Swindon Crown Court on the first morning of
A SPONSORED cycle ride around some of the finest churches and chapels of Wiltshire is being organised by Wiltshire's Historic Churches Trust and will take place on September 10. Although mainly a cycle ride, there is also a sponsored walk to raise money
SWINDONIANS who want to study and work at the same time are encouraged to do Foundation Degrees. These are designed and delivered in partnership with employers in a range of professions. A range of Foundation Degrees are on offer in and around Swindon
THE engine of a lorry caught fire at the Iceland storage depot on the Bridgemead industrial estate. A crew from Swindon and one from Westlea fire station were called to the fire at 6.30pm yesterday . Security staff at the depot dialled 999 after the engine
Delighted with the news - Richard GowshallTHREE veterinary businesses in Swindon are celebrating after being given the Investors in People (IIP) Award. Eastcott Veterinary Hospital in Old Town, Archway Veterinary Surgery in Highworth and Improve International
Swindon railway stationA REGIONAL body says it is worried that trains stopping at Swindon will become overcrowded. At the moment the franchise for the Greater Western rail network which includes the services currently operated by First Great Western is
CAMPAIGNERS have welcomed calls by top health and safety advisers for the Government to press ahead with a total ban on smoking in public places. In a letter to Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt, Health and Safety Commission chair Bill Callaghan has called
SAVE Coate? Who are we fighting against? I have read many articles and letters about this and cannot understand why so many views in favour are from outsiders. People who aren't prepared to put their money where their mouth is and actually live in Swindon
I REPLY to the letter No change given on towns buses. It should have been done years ago. I travel often on the town's buses and I think the service is first class. D COOK Old Town Swindon
BRITAIN'S pensioners are the poorest in Europe because our state pension is only £82 per week. Link-Age are the only UK wide non party political pensions pressure group calling for British State pensions to be on-a-par with European levels which are three
"OUR aim has been to put the patient at the centre of everything we do," says the Primary Care Trust's chief executive Jan Stubbings, at the Priory Road Clinic, Park South (SA Wed July 27). The doctors, nurses, practice managers and admin staff etc, of
MISERY from crime is worsening in this country and will continue to do so as long as our judicial system remains a farce and we have minorities demanding exaggerated human rights. I agree whole-heartedly with BW Breakspear (SA, July 26) that individuals
I WISH to respond to the letter from Clare Emerton (July 29) which complains about her local councillors not responding to a letter she sent to them concerning a planning application in Raybrook Crescent. The letter that Mrs Emerton sent me was for information
PATRICK Collins joked that it was partly a case of 'if you can't beat them, join them' after agreeing a loan switch from Sheffield Wednesday to Swindon Town. The defender, pictured, twice suffered defeat at the hands of Andy King's men in the space of
A CABARET show in Highworth raised £1,400 to help an autistic boy go to America for two weeks special treatment. The Highworth Amateur Dramatic Society decided to give the entire proceeds of their performance on Saturday to the family of Thomas Hunter
THE bottom appears to be falling out of the thong market. Sales of thongs in the UK have dropped by 20 per cent and although they remain strong among women aged 25 and under their sales from older woman have begun to sag, new figures show. Yet they still
Top Dog employeesTOP-DOG employees from a national conference centre firm have enjoyed a sparkling awards ceremony in Swindon. The staff, employed by Hayley Conference Centres across the UK, converged on the group's newest centre at Alexandra House in
1. Yes to a university in Swindon. 2. Yes to the necessity of having it built near the hospital at Coate Water but 3. No to 1,800 houses, shopping centre and sundry extras on Coate Water. This is what will cause the real disaster. P HARDIE The Cullerns
I HAVE been reading your articles with interest this week. But so far all that has been highlighted is the fact that Swindon needs and would benefit from a university. But the whole debate is supposed to be on where it is located and the proposed location
WHO needs a university? Well Swindon does, the benefits would be a real boost to the town as well as industry and we might even get that new library that the town has been promised, for how long? What I cannot understand is why are we debating the overspill
WE don't consider ourselves to be 'small minded' in wanting answers to questions that affect our everyday lives other than those supplied by both lobbies, even if they are of prime importance to the welfare of Swindon. Is it narrow-minded of us to worry
SWINDON AND PROUD: THREE big-hearted Swindon adventurers who have volunteered to be marooned on a deserted island for charity have met their fellow castaways. Stella Hopkins, Rob Harding and Clare Telling will be taking part in the Anthony Nolan Trust's
The campus at Priory ValeTHIS is the first glimpse of a state of the art new learning campus in Swindon. The campus at Priory Vale will feature a new primary school and secondary school. Two special schools Brimble Hill and Uplands will also be moved
SHOPKEEPERS in Swindon have been asked to remove curry powder from their shelves, which contains a cancerous dye. Environmental health officers from Swindon Council will visit shopkeepers across the town asking them not to sell Rajah Premium hot and mild
Alan Knowles who will be teaching medieval sword fighting techniques Picture Ref: 78692-23LORD of the Rings fans can learn to do battle like their hero Aragorn. The course at New College, Swindon, is the first in the country to teach medieval sword fighting
Gentle giant Mick LoveA CLOSE friend of murdered Swindon dad Mick Love has spoken of his shock at the news that his killer is still on the loose. The man, who does not want to be named, had been a friend of Mick's since 1981 when they met as teenagers
RAF Fairford was put on high alert for the launch of the Space Shuttle Discovery. Dozens of personnel were made ready in case the shuttle launch went wrong and had to make an aborted landing on this side of the Atlantic. The base is one of several airfields
TWO courses are being run at Swindon Dance to teach people the ancient art of Egyptian dancing and culture. The course will be taught by the belly dancer Wendy Marlett, a member of the dance troupe Fat Chance Belly Dance of San Francisco. She will teach
A COMMUNITY garden is being created at the Radnor Street Cemetery with the aim of gaining a Living Churchyard award. In June Nature for All named the cemetery as Swindon's fifth local nature reserve. Following this designation, biodiversity ranger Karl
LEAD member for education in Swindon, Garry Perkins, has congratulated the Swindon Children's University on celebrating its sixth anniversary. The university is run by Swindon Council at New College and this year's session ended on Friday. Courses available
TWO conmen stole cash from a 62-year-old man after talking their way into his home. The pair stole £165 in the distraction burglary in Marston Meysey on Saturday. The burglary happened at around 12.30pm when the two men called at the victim's house claiming
SWINDON singer Pavinda Sandhu hopes to start recording her debut solo album this month. The former Dorcan Technology School pupil, who played at Glastonbury festival in June with her group Atomic Hooligan, has written and recorded five tracks. Pavinda
CHILDREN are invited to the Ridgeway Leisure Centre in Wroughton to take part in National Play Day. Swindon Council has arranged for up to 250 children from local out-of- school clubs and holiday play schemes to take part in activities tomorrow. Activities
THE Swindon Swan Sanctuary is appealing for people to donate tins of cat food or any dried food. Sue Hulbert, who runs the sanctuary in Shrivenham Road, said they were overwhelmed by the generosity of Adver readers when they made a plea for towels in
ALTHOUGH it is still summer, the elderly in Swindon are being urged to think about keeping warm this winter. Age Concern is combating heat loss by offering free cavity wall insulation to people in Swindon whose energy is supplied by its Energy Services
Triple success - Hannah, Georgina and ClareA TRIO of Swindon dancers has come second place in a national dancing competition. The three 15-year-olds, Hannah Farrow, Georgina Marsh and Clare O'Donogue performed a Romanian dance in traditional costume for
THE CHIEF executive of the Connexions careers advice service in Wiltshire and Swindon has praised youngsters for producing a leaflet on anti social behaviour. Rabindra Shah said the youngsters have produced a worthwhile and responsible guide for their
Chloe Zacarro who was born 11 days earlyCHLOE Zacarro is doing well after her mum's ordeal, which was reported in the Adver on Friday. She was born with the help of her sister, two-year-old Hollie Stanbury, who came to the rescue when her mum Carlie went
Picture Ref: 78680-03/36POOCH pampering is no longer something just for prissy poodles. Swindon dog groomers say they are permanently busy as more and more dogs are given makeovers. Smartpets Grooming, in Pets at Home, on St Margaret's retail park, has
Pupils from King William Street SchoolTHE GREAT DEBATE: NOBODY is too young to enter into the Swindon Advertiser's debate about the future of Coate. Children at an Old Town primary school have waded in to the controversy, and they are probably better
BEFORE boarding a Thamesdown bus passengers must now have the correct change ready. It's all part of the new fastFare initiative, a coin-operated ticket system, which bypasses the driver to speed up journey times. On its first day, yesterday, there was
FIRE crews in Swindon and Wiltshire are to be given extra medical training. As reported in later editions of yesterday's Advertiser, retained firefighters in the county will be trained by Wiltshire Ambulance Trust to provide a wider range of first aid
PROSPECT Hospice has been given a giant fundraising boost by catalogue firm Argos. Helping Hospices, Helping Families is the theme for a nationwide fundraising drive. Stores in the Brunel Centre and Greenbridge will raise funds and awareness for Prospect
Picture Ref: 78689-40A VAN driver ploughed into a bus shelter when he could not see where he was going. The Rentokil Initial van destroyed the bus stop on Victoria Road, outside the Regent Hotel at around 2.45pm yesterday. Police say a passer-by who was
I AM wholly opposed to any development in the Coate Water area. This is a part of Swindon recognised as being an area of great benefit and one of the few parts of Swindon left undeveloped. When the new hospital was built we were assured that there would
FURTHER to Elizabeth and Eric Elstone's letter (Adver July 28) I couldn't understand how two people and one cat can make so much rubbish. We have recently moved from a wheelie bin area, Brackley, Northamptonshire. We had our two adult sons living with
I RECENTLY visited the Hester's Way neighbourhood in Cheltenham with the Parks and East Walcot Neighbourhood Renewal Company. Hester's Way is in many ways similar to Parks and East Walcot but with one major difference. The council takes great care to
