TWO men were arrested in a human trafficking sting in the town, as police rescued eight potential victims of exploitation yesterday. The men, both from Lithuania, were arrested following three raids at separate locations in the town earlier today
On TV, their passion for simple flavoursome cooking shines through. EMMA DUNN catches up with them STANDING in the middle of Waitrose, television chef Antonio Carluccio looked over at the pizza counter in horror. Shoppers were choosing a whole
This week it’s the turn of DARREN BRAIN, chef at The Cross Keys, Burycroft, Wanborough. Call 01793 790302 When did you first take an interest in cooking, and when did you decide you wanted to become a chef? It was at school where my interest
WILTSHIRE: People can make their pledges now for the Wiltshire-wide Big Pledge. Individuals, groups or communities can sign up to make a difference to their health and wellbeing. To get pledge ideas and sign up, visit www.wiltshire.gov.uk/bigpledge
WILTSHIRE: People can sign up now for the May Bank Holiday weekend cycling event. The Cycle Wiltshire Sportive family event is on Saturday, May 3 with a choice of a 20-mile, 64-mile or 100-mile ride. On Sunday, May 4 100 elite riders will take
WALCOT: Drivers are warned of disruption as the whole length of Courtenay Road is resurfaced until next Tuesday, April 1. Queries should be addressed to Swindon Borough Council quoting reference SN013TD306/10.
WILTSHIRE: Residents are being reminded they must have their waste and recycling bins out by 7am on their collection day. Changes to the way waste crews operate mean that from April 7 the time crews come round may vary from previous collections.
A NEW partnership has been formed between Swindon Council and national charity 4Children which will see the charity take over the running of five children’s centres across the town. 4Children, which runs approximately 100 children’s centres throughout
WILTSHIRE Youth Life Project is encouraging people of all ages to share their stories about their younger days. Youth Stories aims to provide a channel through which people can communicate their thoughts, feelings and experiences in a book of prose
THE Wiltshire and Swindon Police and Crime Panel is looking to recruit a new independent co-opted member. Panel members play an integral role in holding the Police and Crime Commissioner to account for the delivery of his Police And Crime Plan
A SHORT sci-fi film and a play about Frankenstein and his monster are set to kick off this year’s Madam Renards Mini Fringe. The festival is organised by the Swindon-based arts production company to showcase original talent, and the first two performances
PINEHURST: Stop and go boards will be in operation as work to repair winter damage to Pinehurst Road from The Circle junction to past 53 Pinehurst Road until the end of next week.
MOREDON: Motorists could be in for delays for up to a month along Moredon Road as engineers work on the installation of a Toucan Crossing near the doctors’ surgery at the junction with Swindon Road. Temporary traffic lights will be in operation
LAWN: The Lawn Art Group’s second exhibition will run at Swindon Garden Centre on Hyde Road until Friday, March 28.The group was set up seven years ago by Debbie Tubb. For information and to find out how to become a member of the Lawn Art Group
TOWN CENTRE: A fire crew from Swindon was called to a property in Stanier Street shortly after 12.30pm on Sunday after reports of a chimney fire. There was a large amount of smoke and the occupant could not initially be contacted. However, it was
M4: The Highways Agency worked overnight last night between 10am and 6am to resurface the junction 15 exit slip road, including the lining, studding, and signs. The slip road was closed off to traffic. Queries should be addressed to Highways Agency
TOWN CENTRE: Work by Network Rail to reinstate vehicle access to Cocklebury Sidings on the westbound Great Western Way, which has seen lane closures on short lengths of the road is due to come to an end on Friday. Queries should be addressed to
LAWN: The recently set up Community Speed Watch is looking for new volunteers to join its ranks. To find out more contact John Roe on 01793 485082 or at john.roe1@tiscali.co.uk. Alternatively get in touch with Tracy Scott, Swindon Borough Council
SWINDON Walcot and Parks (SWAP) community group is looking for volunteers to help organise the annual fun day this summer. The group are also looking for stall holders who may want to sell their arts, crafts, bric a brac and other wares. Carolanne
LAST year Top Drawer helped more than 115 families on the council voucher and the emergency assistance schemes. The charity relies on generous donations from members of the public, and they regularly stock sofas, chairs, tables, wardrobes, coffee
Ricky Gervais, who plays Dominic Badguy in Muppets Most Wanted, admitted he is now best friends with his villainous amphibian co-star Constantine after they worked together on the latest Disney sequel.
ENGINEERING lecturers from Swindon College visited Eldene Primary School as part of a STEM week initiative. Pupils got involved with a practical exercise using magnets, batteries, nails and wiring to create a motor. This was followed by a discussion
A PAIR of Bench Joinery students at Swindon College were set the challenge to restore six wooden window frames for the Swindon & Cricklade Railways carriages. In total, alongside their lesson work, it took the Level 2 students four months to
LIFE in Victorian workhouses will be the subject of a talk at the Central Library on Monday, March 31. The talk, which starts at 1pm, will focus on the day-to-day experiences of those living in Wiltshire’s Victorian workhouses. Margaret Moles
SWINDON: Smoke from a bonfire in a field drifted onto the M4 between junctions 16 and 17 over the weekend raising fears of a car on fire. A crew from Westlea rushed to the scene at 1.35pm on Saturday but returned realising there was no danger to
LIDEN: A small amount of rubbish was set on fire at 9pm on Sunday at Liden Park. A fire crew from Drove Road was called to extinguish it.
RUSHEY PLATT: A small fire in undergrowth close to Gold View just after 4pm on Saturday was attended by firefighters. The crew from Westlea used buckets of water to put out the fire but were unable to establish the cause of the incident.
LIDEN: Fire crews were called to attend a swing which had been set alight behind Grundys just before 9pm on Monday. It was initially thought to be a tyre which had been set alight. Firefighters used buckets of water to put out the flames and then
SWINDON: Stephen Derek Strange, 49, of Faringdon Road, yesterday denied an allegation at Swindon Magistrates Court that he phoned 999 with a bomb hoax on Tuesday, December 3 last year at Swindon’s Debenhams Department Store, in The Parade. He will
SWINDON: A teenager accused of robbing a woman in Swindon last year is to face trial by jury. Robbie Asaw is said to have stolen a mobile phone, purse and cash from Katherine Mobey on October 22. The 18-year-old, of Lee, south London, pleaded not
ROYAL WOOTTON BASSETT: The driver of a Ford transit van ran off when he was approached by a police dog handler in the early hours of Monday morning. He was swiftly caught by the dog and when breathalysed was more than three times over the legal limit
SWINDON: A 25-year-old who is accused of stabbing a man at a Toothill house has pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding. But Tefferson Page will still face trial by jury on the more serious charge of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm
NEXT up in the Hotseat, our regular column where prominent local people answer readers’ questions, will be InSwindon BID manager Rebecca Rowland. Rebecca replaced Simon Jackson, the former chief executive, in June last year after his almost five
TWO men have been arrested today on suspicion of human trafficking offences in Swindon. The men, both from Lithuania, were arrested following three raids at separate locations in the town earlier today. As a result of the operation, eight Lithuanian
SWINDON Council has done a good thing in coming to the rescue of furniture charity Top Drawer. Thanks to a chronic and disgraceful lack of funding, our local authority is going through its leanest times since it assumed control of the borough almost
A POLICEMAN and his wife killed themselves in a suicide pact after selling their cars and going on a last luxury holiday to Las Vegas, an inquest has heard. The body of the 41-year-old PC, who quit the Metropolitan Police before the death pact,
SCUNTHORPE'S Matt Williamson wioll guest for Swindon Robins in place of the unavailable Steve Worrall at Lakeside tomorrow night. The Robins' draft choice is riding for Premier League side against Glasgow, meaning Alun Rossiter has called on Williamson
Much has been made in this year of the centenary of the beginning of World War One of the various TV programmes and films that remind us of that war. Some seem to have public support as to their validity, others not so well embraced. One TV show
I am in the process of researching my family tree and would hope to contact my cousin. Her name is Joan Deacon and she previously lived in Villett Street, Swindon. Her parents were Reuben and Jenny May and they lived in Townhill in Swansea where
In the Adver of 24 March Councillor David Renard was saying Coate Water needs to be updated to bring it in line with our other parks and gardens in Swindon. The first job I would suggest needs to be done is to give the giant bird table a coat of
Coun Renard, Leader of the Council, answered each of the nine questions put to him but in doing so displayed the essential skills necessary for a politician at local or national level: the ability to answer without ‘giving too much away’. One particular
Even though I found the idea of a Q and A session with Supt Gavin Williams a good one by the Adver, after reading his answers I found it a pointless waste of time. He’s so out of touch with the way more and more people perceive the police. In my
THE man who will step into the shoes of Tim Prince, as Chief Executive of the RAF Charitable Trust Enterprises following RIAT 2014, says he feels privileged to be taking over such a unique organisation. Andy Armstrong, whose appointment was announced
WILTSHIRE Police are seeking the rightful owner of a number of coins found in the possession of a man arrested for burglary. The 50-year-old man from Bristol was arrested following a burglary at a house in Swindon on February 2 2014. When he
I am writing to thank you and your readers for the support you’ve shown so far for the South West British Heart Foundation (BHF) shops’ Spring Clear Out campaign. To mark the official start of spring, BHF shops recreated Van Gogh’s iconic tulips
In a statement posted on Iron Man star Gwyneth Paltrow's Goop.com website under the headline "Conscious uncoupling", Paltrow, 41, and Martin, 37, said they made the decision "with hearts full of sadness". The couple, who married in December 2003, have
EMMA DUNN attends some buggy-friendly fitness classes PARENTS who want to get into shape, but can’t because they need to look after the children, will enjoy buggy-friendly classes with BPM Active. The fitness centre, based in Cheney Manor, offers
Not In Front of the Waiter... is performed by Swindon Community Opera in a short comic opera by Offenbach next week. This is followed by mezzo-soprano Polly Leech with of Schumann’s song cycle Frauenliebe und Leben. It is part of Madam Renard's
ELIZABETH MACKLEY ends up in Gary Barlow’s bed during an overnight visit to a romantic getaway There is nothing like a romantic getaway, and Coombe Abbey, in the heart of the Warwickshire countryside, promised so much. So when the opportunity
Royal Wootton Bassett will host two WW1 commemoration events this April. Visitors to the Memorial Hall on April 14 will be able to listen to a talk on the Great War by Steve Wilkins. The event starts at 7.30pm. The talk will cost £5 for adults
SWINDON... 1947: Arthur Carron, Swindon-born tenor who for 10 years was a principal at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, made one of his rare appearances in his home town since he returned from America. He was engaged to sing with Swindon Choral
I was presented with the perfect analogy the other day of why if you go to a gig you should support the whole evening. Obviously courtesy and support for grassroots music should be enough but whilst running the merchandise stand at a recent gig
SWINDON Robins' season-opening Elite Shield clash with Poole has been postponed due to the threat of rain later this afternoon. After rain fell on the Blunsdon track last night, the decision has been made by the club's management to call the meeting
THERE is no room for complacency when people talk of economic recovery and business growth. This is a slow and precarious process, as we have sadly been reminded of this week with the announcement that Honda is scaling back its production in Swindon
KYLIE MINOGUE Kiss Me Once Kylie Minogue took the brave – and risky – move of signing with a new record company for her 12th studio album after parting ways with long-time manager Terry Blamey. The result, Kiss Me Once, is her first album with
CELEBRITY agent Max Clifford had a string of affairs and went to steamy parties but never forced women or girls into sex, a jury has heard. The 70-year-old, who is accused of 11 counts of indecent assault on seven alleged victims, laid bare details
COMIC Billy Pearce plays the Wyvern Theatre on Wednesday, April 2. The 51 year old was one of the most familiar faces on British television during the late 1980s and early 1990s. His big break came in 1986 when he made it to the final of talent
Show covers everything from Twitter to washing machines CYBER friendship, washing machines and effective arguing techniques are just some of the topics Kerry Godliman will cover at Swindon Arts Centre next week. Kerry, who has appeared in Live
A PERFORMER billed as ‘The People’s Medium’ takes the Wyvern Stage on Sunday. Colin Fry, who says the dead communicate with him, was scheduled to appear at the Swindon theatre on February 28, but the date was postponed due to ill health. He
2:19pm Dave Webb is looking forward to the end of his @SupermarineFC side's mad March: http://t.co/TM32B2YPS5 — @Tbassam 27 March 2014 1:32pm
Jon Hamm has revealed how painful it will be to say goodbye to the Mad Men role that made him a household name. Mad Men returns to Sky Atlantic on Wednesday 16 April at 10pm.
ALMOST as soon as he was able to walk, Darryl Ritchings could be found charging around the Abbey Stadium terraces pretending to be his early hero Jimmy Nilsen, but this year the Purton teenager will be looking to emulate his idol on the other side
NICOLAI Klindt sees tomorrow night’s meeting at Lakeside as more important than this evening’s season-opening Elite Shield clash with Poole, but that doesn’t mean the Dane isn’t gunning for victory against the Pirates. In the absence of any challenge
SWINDON super heavyweight Luke Watkins is confident he can handle the step up in class when he competes in the Elite ABAE Championship for the first time this weekend. The Fitzpatrick’s Gym boxer was beaten in the final of the Novice ABAs at the
LAWRENCE Bennett believes that Thursday night’s Southern Area cruiserweight title clash with Jack Morris will be the defining moment of his career. The 31-year-old heads to London looking to make a statement and come out of the dark places which
ERRORS in attack and defence cost Swindon Ladies dearly as they lost their last home game of the season 4-3 to Newent Ladies. After starting strongly, Swindon failed to score from a number of opportunities. The paid for their wastefulness when
WOOTTON Bassett Ladies were defeated 3-2 by second-placed Jaspers in West Clubs Women’s League North last Saturday. Bassett started disastrously with the first Jaspers attack ending with a goal. Once the home side settled, they managed to create
SWINDON'S last away trip of the season ended in a heavy 10-1 defeat at Swansea University in the Davis Wood Championship. The Wiltshire side are already relegated for the second season in a row. Swansea dealt Swindon a lesson in how to play quick
A CAMPAIGN to improve the safety of a road close to where Caitlin Hunt was killed after being hit by a bus last week is gathering momentum. The nine-year-old was struck near to a raised section of Moredon Road and her parents want the road system
NURSERY management at Sure Start Pinehurst and Penhill was exposed as inadequate by Ofsted after inspectors were called in to investigate an unreported injury to a child. In a report published yesterday by the education watchdog, Bright Start Day
THREE diabetes patients have avoided amputations in Swindon in the past three weeks alone, as major strides are made in the treatment of the condition. The town has historically performed abysmally in diabetics’ treatment with poor information
A CHARITY which provides work and training opportunities for people recovering from a mental illness unveiled a special plaque yesterday. LEAVES won a Big Society Award from Prime Minister David Cameron in February. And yesterday they unveiled
APPLAUSE filled Swindon’s Arts Centre last night as some of the most talented musicians in the area came together to compete for the Instrumental Challenge Cup. The venue warmed to the harmonious sounds as a dozen of Swindon’s gifted musicans took
WITH Easter just around the corner, newsagents across Swindon have come up with a chocolicious way to support the Adver’s 160 Appeal for Prospect Hospice. Shop owners across Swindon and Wroughton have got behind the campaign to collect £160,000
THIRTY per cent of the 1,800 workers at risk of losing their jobs at Honda are not being offered voluntary redundancy packages, according to Unite’s Jim D’Avila. The union fired the first shots as battle lines were drawn at Honda’s plant in South
ADAM Rooney and Swindon Town have come to an amicable resolution ahead of a scheduled tribunal, the Advertiser understands. Rooney and his representatives have been involved in negotiations with Town since the summer, after former chairman Jed
MILES Storey appears to have quite literally discovered his shooting boots. The young forward had been kept waiting for his latest Nike footwear to arrive for quite a while ahead of the trip to Tranmere Rovers on Tuesday night but they were delivered
UNLIKE 12 months ago, Swindon Town will not be holding trial matches for rafts of potential new signings over the coming weeks, with a target list for the summer already identified. Last year, former manager Kevin MacDonald watched over several
LEE Smart feels as if he was “near enough born” at the Abbey Stadium and the Poole rider admitted it seems natural for him to make his competitive Pirates debut at his old stomping ground. The 25-year-old Broad Town resident was selected by the
SUPERMARINE boss Dave Webb is looking forward to finishing March and getting into April’s lighter fixture list. Marine’s games tonight and Saturday will be their ninth and 10th of the month. The fixture backlog is compunded by the Southern league
ROBINS boss Alun Rossiter believes he will know an awful lot more about his new-look side by the end of heat 15 of tonight’s Elite Shield clash with Poole. The latest Swindon septet take to the track together for the first time this evening against
SAM Bullas is in no doubt that Swindon Wildcats can win their play-off quarter-final clash with Milton Keynes Lightning this weekend. The Link Centre forward, who struck twice and assisted Sam Smith in the 8-2 victory over Slough Jets on Sunday
THE Adver has teamed up with Wiltshire Police to publish CCTV images of suspects they want to speak to about unsolved crimes around Swindon. This man and woman entered Aldi, in Drove Road, on January 28 at approximately 9.38am and selected various
VICTIMS of domestic abuse in Wiltshire and Swindon are not getting enough support from the police, according to a report published today. The report by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary highlighted improvements needed in staffing issues
FOOD lovers in Old Town can now enjoy a whole new dining experience with the opening of Asiana. The owners are looking to bring a unique restaurant to Swindon which will offer both Indian and Italian cuisine. Run by brothers Faz and Shah Zaman
FURNITURE charity Top Drawer can stay in Sussex Square rent free until their shop is demolished as part of plans to rejuvenate the centre. Earlier this year, Stonham Housing Association stopped funding the Walcot based upcycle furniture store because
MORE than 50 officers from Wiltshire Police and its partners targeted the M4 yesterday to crack down on smuggling, trafficking and road safety. Foreign licenced lorries and vans were pulled over during the day-long operation to conduct thorough
POLICE are appealing for two witnesses to come forward to a collision which has left a 40-year-old man from Swindon in intensive care. On March 18, near Winterbourne Bassett, a Ford KA Cabriolet overturned several times after striking a grass verge
TEACHERS from schools across the town walked out yesterday as part of a national day of strike action by the National Union of Teachers. The strike affected many secondary and primary schools, with some having to shut entirely while others were
SWINDON will have a lovely Surprise Surprise on Sunday when the much loved station manager at Swindon 105.5 appears on the popular ITV show. Shirley Ludford, who has run the community radio station in Stratton Road for the past six years, had the
PARK SOUTH residents lost a vital lifeline yesterdaywhen the Advice Point in Cavendish Square shut up shop for the last time. The centre, which offered tailored advice and support to some of the most deprived families in the country, has been a
