Archive

THE thrill of first-team football is flowing through Andy Nicholas' veins once again, breathing new life into a campaign that looked to be dying for the youngster. He is probably the only member of the County Ground squad with a smile on his face at this

THIS evening's Premier Shield final could be a battle of the second strings as Steve White returns to the County Ground with his Chippenham Town side. Swindon fielding a weakened side in the competition is par for the course, but with the Bluebirds closing

FOR years it has been the company car for those more concerned about their tax bill than their personal image. But now the taxman has set his sights on 'white van man'. And from tomorrow roads should be free of white vans in the evenings and on weekends

Picture: SIOBHAN BOYLE Ref 76771-46WOOTTON Bassett Light Operatic Society has attracted several newcomers for a sparkling spring production of popular musical, Guys & Dolls, directed by Barry Austin. The show will be staged from next Tuesday until

Jackie Webber of West Swindon Asda with the ring Ref: 76789-56CHARLES and Camilla fever has not exactly been evident in Swindon during the countdown to the royal wedding. But copies of Camilla's engagement ring have been selling out in a West Swindon

A ROTTWEILER Doberman cross that bit a woman on the bottom has escaped being destroyed. Swindon magistrates ordered the owner May-Britt Patterson to ensure that Rocky wears a lead and muzzle whenever it is out following the attack. But they decided not

ARTISTS will be coming to Stanton Park as part of an event organised by Swindon Council. The Stepping Out at Stanton Event will feature story telling and interactive art as well as a range of other activities. Ron Hoskins from the Swindon Bee Association

A charity for disabled people has organised a stamina challenge to raise funds to cope with the increased demand for their services. The test of mental and physical endurance will include activities such as trailer pulls, orienteering and problem solving

IF you are feeling fit then you can help one of the UK's leading cancer charities. Cancer Research UK's Race for Life will be returning to Swindon for the sixth time in June. The popular five kilometres, women-only fundraiser will take place on both June

THE message on the wreath gave a simple message To Daddy. Missing you from head to toe. Poppy. This came from the seven-year-old daughter of Flt Sgt Mark Gibson who died after the Hercules from Lyneham he was travelling in crashed in Iraq in January.

BT has revealed that 59,000 homes and businesses in Wiltshire have connected up to its broadband services. Broadband is now one of the fastest growing consumer products of all time with a higher take-up rate than TV, CD players, video-recorders and mobile

VOLUNTEERS are being sought for a walk that will pass through Swindon and Wootton Bassett in aid of charity Meningitis UK. On Saturday, April 30, Steve Dayman, the chief executive of the national charity will start a seven-day, 136-mile walk from the

BUDDING dancers are needed for a new Line and Country Western Dance class. The classes, which will be for all abilities, will be led by dancer Lewis Watson. They will take place on Tuesdays from 7pm to 10pm at the Even Swindon Community Centre, on Wednesdays

A CHARITY walk through Cricklade's famous fritillary meadow will be taking place on Sunday, April 17 between 10am and 4pm. The walk passes through the meadow, beside the Thames, to Hailstone Stables where light refreshments will be available. The total

TWO gardens in Penhill were targeted by thieves and vandals over the weekend. A candle lantern and three solar power lights were stolen from the rear garden of a house in Penhill Drive on Saturday night or in the early hours of Sunday morning. On Saturday

Paul Harris with his photograph Picture: CLARE HOMER Ref: 76780-24A PHOTOGRAPH called Day And Night, by Paul Harris was unveiled at the canteen of Rosewood psychiatric unit, in Sandlewood Court, as part of a bid to brighten up the building. The First

PARAMEDICS in Wiltshire are to carry clotbusting pills in response to bulging waistlines. Wiltshire Ambulance Trust bosses alarmed at soaring heart disease figures have trained 12 paramedics to administer the lifesaving pill. By the end of this month

SWINDON residents are asked to complete and return a housing needs survey they were sent by Swindon Council. The council sent out 12,000 of the postal questionnaires in February but say that many of them have not yet been returned. The survey asks residents

Fred Large Picture: STUART HARRISON Ref: 76815-04A DISABLED driver says the council is sending out mixed messages about car parking. Fred Large, 70, found out last week that disabled people were going to have to start paying to use its barrier-operated

RESIDENTS in Swindon's unofficial Polish twin town, Torun have been mourning the Pope. In 2003 Swindon entered into a friendship and cooperation agreement with the city in Poland. Karol Wojtyla visited Torun three times before he became Pope. He returned

Sian Jenkins, Nicola Vincent, Johnathan Saunders and Josh Higgins show off their work Picture: CLARE HOMER Ref: 76813-37BUDDING young artists from Parks and Walcot have kicked off a week of creative arts at the University of Bath in Swindon. The youngsters

IN response to the letter headlined "There's been a history of cuts" I do not appreciate history lessons when dealing with real time situations of today. What a complete diatribe; no solution was offered to deal with the issue I raised. I would like to

A WILTSHIRE firm has had success in Turkey thanks to a government scheme. Gro-Well Feeds, based in Melksham, with help from UK Trade & Investment Passport to Export has sent its first consignment of Tiger Oats to Turkey. Tiger Oats is a home-grown

A DEDICATION service has relaunched a funeral home in Highworth at the weekend. The new facility is at AE Baker and Sons, Cardinal House, Brewery Street, Highworth and is owned and run by Oxford, Swindon & Gloucester Co-op. Church ministers including

A 55-year-old Wootton Bassett man is to face trial by jury after being accused of dangerously shining a spotlight at the police helicopter. Robert Symons appeared before a judge at Swindon crown court to face a charge of endangering the safety of an aircraft

WOOTTON Bassett Light Operatic Society has attracted several newcomers for a sparkling spring production of popular musical, Guys & Dolls, directed by Barry Austin. The show will be staged from next Tuesday until the following Saturday at 7.30pm,

Sgt Andy Fortune believes underage children in Wootton Bassett are buying alcoholPOLICE in Wootton Bassett are warning parents of the dangers of underage drinking after finding two teenagers four times over the drink-drive limit on two different occasions

SWINDON Town Ladies travelled down the M5 to face Plymouth Argyle in a South West Combination League fixture and lost 4-2. In the 17th minute the home side took the lead through Katie Middleton, who then doubled it in the 42nd minute. Town hit back and

Kingsdown United's Ben Graham during the game against Arval Cricklade Ref: 76808-11Division 1 - A Kenny Hawkins double helped Greyhound to a 2-0 home victory over Haydon Wick WMC as they maintained their chase for the top spot. Moonrakers won 4-2 at AFC

Swindon Town Ladies under 14 A team beat rivals Keynsham Town 6-1 in their Wiltshire seven-a-side championship play-off. Swindon dominated the first half, limiting Keynsham to a few half chances, and went ahead after 12 minutes when Polly New headed the

76806-55HIGHWORTH Juniors B took another step towards the under 14 title after grinding out a 3-1 win at fellow high-fliers Westlea Wanderers. Highworth edged an even contest after showing greater composure in front of goal in the first half. Wright and

POSTMAN Dave Clark loves his local football team so much he officially changed his name to Swindon Town Dave. Most fans are content with donning a replica shirt and attending the odd game. But not Dave or Swindon as he now insists on being called. The

Picture: MATTHEW SWINGLER Ref: 76811-25MANY schools in Swindon will be knocked down and re-built as part of a multi-million pound 'apology' for years of failure. Yesterday education bosses admitted letting Swindon's children down and vowed to pull their

A CONTROVERSIAL bid by a Swindon peer to introduce assisted suicide for the terminally ill took a big step forward after a parliamentary committee said his blueprint should be looked at more closely. Campaigners said the findings of a cross party committee

BUNGLING burglar Paul Hillier has been told by a judge to give up thieving because he's no good at it. The 36-year-old was appearing in court to be sentenced for the seventh separate occasion on charges of house breaking when Recorder Ian Lawrie offered

SWINDON Spitfires reached the semi-final of the Chairman's Cup after beating Chippenham 5-2 in the second leg and 7-3 on aggregate. Chippenham raced into a two-goal lead before Mel Bristow pulled one back. There were no further goals in normal time, but

DUNCAN Culley was the star in the handful of Swindon & District League games played. He scored eight of Queenstown's goals in their 14-0 trouncing of Gangsters in Division One. Also on target were Tom Green (2), Trevor Baker, Brian Murdoch, Lee Polton

76797-52LIDEN FC and Zurich will contest this season's Advertiser Cup final. Liden beat Merlin 3-1 with goals from Jason Kearns, Richard Brizell, and Gary Hogg. Richie Baker scored for The Merlin. Zurich, down to 10 men in the first 10 minutes of their

Ardington & Lockinge stayed on track for three trophies this season, after reaching the final of the North Berks Cup with a 4-2 win over Sutton Courtenay. Their scorers were Danny Hogan (2), Alan Haines and Tom Weeks (pen). Lambourn Sports will meet

Second Division Spencer Sports became the first recipients of the new-look Westernsport Trophies-sponsored WG Parr Trophy, after they defeated Premier Division opposition Trowbridge Harriers in a penalty shoot out. Played in front of a healthy crowd of

PEOPLE can learn the ancient craft of cane and rush platting as a country crafts day on Saturday. Other crafts on offer at Swindon Museum and Art Gallery in Bath Road include paper and easel making, lace making and woodturning. The event starts at 11am

Steven Hudson with senior sister Janie Bond Picture: MATTHEW SWINGLER Ref: 76812-34GREAT Western Hospital's £32 million treatment centre has opened to patients with the promise that no operation will have to be cancelled. Builders moved on to the site

Anish Harrison and Nicky Brewer Picture: CLARE HOMER Ref: 76791-14THE plight of racehorses caused less controversy than might have been expected at a town centre demonstration. While protestors from Swindon Animal Concern stood outside a bookmakers to

Carol Durn, Jeanette Nock, Sherie Haynes and Julie Cox Picture: CLARE HOMER Ref: 76785-17A GROUP of Swindon friends will be running the London Marathon after reading about a children's charity on the internet. Sherie Haynes, 41, Jeanette Nock, 43, and

HOUSE burglar Lee Capel has been freed on bail by a crown court judge even though he has fallen foul of the three strikes rule for a second time. The 29-year-old heroin addict may escape a mandatory three year jail sentence after he was released to go

GRANDPARENTS are a valuable source of care, culture and family history for children. Yet research and calls to our helplines show schools and services for families often neglect grandparents who are caring for children. We invite readers to access a copy

REFERENCE Real Issue (EA letters, Monday, March 28). As with many other pensioners I believe we could have a better deal, but to compare either Labour or Tory with the violence of today beggars belief. Only a fool would compare Brown or Letwin with the

MY son bought me a set of 10 solar lights for Easter as I love these lights in my garden but while I was away for two nights someone came into my garden, which was trespassing anyway, and stole seven of them. They also took some I had put under a tree

THE World Society for the Protection of Animals has for many years worked to end forms of cruelty to animals overseas, such as bear baiting, bullfighting and captive dolphinarias. So to read that Canada is allowing the biggest seal cull for more than

I WAS astonished to read the Conservative parliamentary hopeful for South Swindon announcing he is against development at Coate, east of the A419 and south of the M4. If he really does join the STOP march he will be criticising his Conservative colleagues