Archive

  • Get on the Green! try lawn bowling at Highworth

    'Get on the Green' Highworth Bowls Club is inviting visitors to its Open Day on Saturday 10th May, from around 11:00am to 3:00pm. If you've ever thought about trying lawn bowling, here's your chance - the Club's qualified coaches will be on

  • Armed, dangerous and ready for action

    THE RAID 2 (18) Starring: Iko Uwais, Arifin Putra, Alex Abbad, Tio Pakusodewu, Julie Estelle, Very Tri Yulisman, Cok Simbara, Cecep Arif Rahman, Yayan Ruhian, Donny Alamsyah, Oka Antara. Director: Gareth Evans. In 2011, Welsh-born writer-director

  • A 15-year-old boy's great adventure

    At just 15 years old, teenagers these days would not even have finished their secondary education and would be more concerned with football or fashion than war. But when the First World War broke out in August 1914, Louis Walter Gough, born in

  • Ssssh! Mad scientists at work

    THE QUIET ONES (15) Starring: Jared Harris, Sam Claflin, Olivia Cooke, Erin Richards, Rory Fleck-Byrne, Laurie Calvert, Aldo Maland. Director: John Pogue. Inspired by a real-life incident – valuable currency for a horror film – The Quiet Ones

  • Another gold medal for Swindon's Carlin

    SWINDON swimming star Jazz Carlin has retained her British title in the 400m freestyle after a convincing performance in Glasgow. Carlin led from start to finish as she came home well ahead of Aimee Willmott but just outside the Welsh record.

  • Police hunt thief who stole £2,000 from lorry

    WILTSHIRE Police are appealing for witnesses after a large amount of cash was stolen from a lorry in Swindon. The incident took place whilst the lorry was parked on Moredon Road, opposite the row of shops on Blair Parade, at approximately 11.45am

  • Julie Walters honoured with Bafta fellowship

    The Educating Rita actress will be honoured with the fellowship at the Bafta TV Awards next month. She won a gong at the same awards in 2010, for her role as Mo Mowlam in Channel 4 drama Mo - but now she'll join the ranks of other small-screen icons

  • Ambulance response time targets to be set

    NEW response time targets will be set for South Western Ambulance Service in rural areas including Wiltshire. It comes as SWAS has struggled to achieve the eight minute target to send an ambulance to the most urgent calls - such as cardiac arrest

  • POLL: Was Nick Martin right to resign as Swindon's mayor?

    SWINDON Mayor Nick Martin has resigned from the post following remarks he made about disabled people. Coun Martin (Con, Shaw) came under pressure to resign after being asked to apologise for using derogatory language towards disabled people when

  • Quality award

    SWINDON: Volunteer Centre Swindon is one of only 25 organisations to be nominated as an advisor in the Volunteers Quality Standard Award process. The new role means it can work with local groups who want to achieve the Volunteers Quality Standard Award

  • Reining them in

    BRAYDON: Children can learn how to look after ponies at an event taking place at Rein and Shine riding school, Buryhill Farm, in Braydon between 9.30am and 3pm today. For more information call 01666 860068.

  • Folk night treat

    SWINDON: Folk singer Patsy Matheson is perfoming at Swindon Arts Centre at 8pm tonight. For ticket information call 01793 524481 or visit www.swindontheatres.co.uk.

  • Planning ahead

    SOUTH MARSTON: The next full parish council meeting will be held tonight from 7.30pm to 10pm at the Village Hall. Councillors will report on the local submission to the Swindon Council Local Plan 2026, a response to the Eastern Villages expansion planning

  • Focus put on local issues

    NORTH SWINDON: The North central locality meeting will be held tonight at 7.30pm at St Barnabas Church in Gorse Hill. It will give residents the opportunity to meet with their ward councillors to discuss issues relevant to them in the area, and

  • Appeal meets with a chocolate eggstravaganza

    REED Specialist Recruitment were so overwhelmed with Easter eggs when they put out a call for the chocolate treats that they have been able to help a number of local charities. Originally, the company asked their clients to donate eggs which they

  • Croquet Club are in the money

    CONGRATULATIONS to Swindon Croquet Club on its latest grant from Sport England’s Olympic Legacy Fund. Last year’s injection of £42,622 bought a new clubhouse; now a £49,478 boost will bring courts to competition standard. This will qualify the

  • Rejection of beliefs

    Tacit approval by senior clerics in the Church of England of gay marriage, in contravention of Holy writ and the laws of nature will result in the following: Large numbers will sever their allegiance to the C of E; many will convert to the Roman Catholic

  • Today's lost souls

    In the great order of things, life may seem a very long time, but in reality we are all here on this mortal coil a very short time. Nigella Lawson cries over her sad drug problem and same sex couples get permission to marry (with the blessing of

  • Salute to the mayor

    It was with sadness that I read the Adver of 11 April, where on page 4 was an article regarding apologies from the Mayor. No one has really thought this through, especially Labour Coun Jim Grant, who claims that sorry is not enough. Has he forgotten

  • The best in the west

    Congratulations to WBLOS for a thoroughly entertaining Oklahoma. A great team effort and once again imaginative use of the Memorial Hall. Special praise too for MD Richard Abrams and his 15 talented young musicians who are clearly already experienced

  • Drivers all shook up

    There is a lovely bit of new road in Marlow Avenue, Park North but the speed bumps are too big. There are six large speed bumps in a row at the end of Marlowe Avenue and the beginning of Shaftesbury Avenue. Even at 20 miles an hour they give

  • What more to damage?

    I am sure a touch of irony was intended in your report on the recent fire at the Locarno site in Swindon’s Old Town (SA 12 April p5). How else to explain the comment “A sharp eyed passer by managed to prevent any serious damage to the Locarno by alerting

  • Park totally at home

    Re your front page of April 9, ‘The big dig begins’, concerning Coate Water, may I please make the following points? Like most Swindonians I adore Coate and go around it at least once a week but we have to acknowledge that the next generation have

  • BARRIE HUDSON: Give them the cold shoulder

    ROGUE trading cold callers are in the crosshairs of council Trading Standards officers and the police. They marked National Rogue Trader Week by handing out information and urging people to use only traders involved in the excellent Buy With Confidence

  • South Marston delays

    SOUTH MARSTON: Delays are possible in Thornhill Road from today as Thames Water begins roadworks near the Thornhill Industrial Estate. Two-way traffic signals will be in place until Thursday.

  • Traffic control in Wroughton

    WROUGHTON: Give and take traffic controls will be in place in Wharf Road from today. Wales & West Utilities is carrying out roadworks near the Perry’s Lane junction until next Tuesday. Delays are possible in the interim.

  • Tewksebury Way delays

    WEST SWINDON: Delays are likely in Tewkesbury Way for the next three days as roadworks commence between the Whitehill Way and Ramleaze Drive roundabouts. BT will have two-way, manually controlled lights from today in place. Work will be going on between

  • Queens Drive lane closed

    PARK NORTH: One lane will be closed in Queens Drive from today. Thames Water is working in the northbound carriageway and needs the lane to be shut as a result. Delays are likely until Thursday, when the work ends.

  • BT roadworks

    STRATTON: Roadworks in Highworth Road will commence tomorrow and are likely to cause serious delays for motorists. BT is leading the operation and requires two-way traffic signals as a result. The signals will be in place between Ermin Street and Delamere

  • Traffic signal delays

    LIDEN: The two-way traffic signals causing delays in Dorcan Way will end tomorrow. Vodafone is working on the grass verge of the westbound carriageway by the Coate Roundabout. The procedure started yesterday.

  • Boxers and firefighters in the ring for charity bout

    THE gloves will be on for a charity boxing event in aid of Helen and Douglas House and Faringdon Fire Fighters this weekend. This is the second year the event has been held to raise money for local causes. Helen and Douglas House is a local

  • ON THIS DAY: April 15

    SWINDON... 1947: There were two good reasons why the Swindon Central Hall should have been crowded – the entertainment provided by Morris Motors Band together with guest artists and the fact that the concert was in aid of the Royal Artillery Association

  • Dad fails in court appeal to see his daughters

    A DAD who has not been allowed to see his children for five years has lost a Court of Appeal bid to find out why they do not want to be with him. The father-of-two last saw his two daughters in 2009 after an acrimonious parting from their mother

  • Staff hold sustainability events to back charity

    IN A bid to raise money for children’s charity Barnardo’s and support NHS Sustainability Day 2014, Carillion staff at the Great Western Hospital held a day of action undertaking a series of events and initiatives to promote sustainability to both healthcare

  • Explore and join Easter egg hunt at park

    CHILDREN will have the chance to explore Lydiard Park as part of a special trail this Easter Sunday. The Great Lydiard Park Easter Egg trail takes place between 11am and 5pm and will see those taking part search for clues hidden around the park

  • A cunning plan

    BLUNSDON: Swindon Civic Voice, in partnership with Blunsdon Neighbourhood Plan Group, are preparing a Neighbourhood Plan on Thursday at 1 Milton Road, starting at 7pm. Blunsdon is one of the first communities in the Borough to write a neighbourhood

  • Sign up for festive stall

    TOWN CENTRE: inSwindon are calling for all stall holders to get involved in their 2014 Festive Market which runs from December 4 to 21. Chalets are now available to hire. “We are encouraging all market stall holders, independent businesses and

  • Dad fails in court appeal to see his daughters

    A DAD who has not been allowed to see his children for five years has lost a Court of Appeal bid to find out why they do not want to be with him. The father-of-two last saw his two daughters in 2009 after an acrimonious parting from their mother

  • Mapping out the county

    COUNTY: A consultation was launched yesterday on proposed modifications to a plan which sets out how Wiltshire will grow and develop over the coming years. Last summer the Wiltshire Core Strategy, which has been developed with communities over

  • Teresa takes over

    COUNTY: Wiltshire based welfare rights charity Swan Advocacy has appointed Teresa Wells as its new Chief Executive Officer. Teresa replaces Nick Alward who stepped down after two years with the organisation. Teresa, who took up the post on April

  • The Full English

    COUNTY: Celebrate The Full English and discover the history behind The Full English digital archive and the collections within at a free open day at archives in Chippenham next month. The Full English archives open day at the Wiltshire and Swindon

  • Charity walk set

    TOWN CENTRE: Staff from Swindon’s BHS shop will be raising money for the NSPCC by walking 35 miles from the chain’s branch in Cheltenham to their store in Bridge Street this morning. Customers are welcome to leave donations in store to support them

  • Trailers are taken

    NORTH SWINDON: A number of reports of trailers being taken from driveways in Highworth and the northern villages as well as the theft of golf clubs and power tools have been made to police in the area over the last few days. Items are being left

  • Drugs youth is given bail

    SWINDON: A teenager has been released on bail after pleading guilty to possessing cannabis with intent to supply. Sabin Thapa, of Milton Road, admitted having the class B drugs on Tuesday October 29 last year. Judge Douglas Field adjourned the case

  • HOTSEAT: Send us your questions for the Youth MP

    IN THE Hotseat next week will be teenager Ellie James, who recently became Member of the Youth Parliament for Swindon. The 16-year-old from Grange Park, went head to head with three other candidates in February for the chance to make a difference

  • Passport cheat claims she was smuggled into UK

    A MUM who claims to have been smuggled into the country by human traffickers used a fake passport to try and get two jobs. Onayinka Ajorin produced the bogus documents in a bid to get work at two care homes in Swindon and Wroughton. The 28-

  • Giant St George up for celebrations

    A TWENTY-foot high figure of England’s patron saint will parade through the town centre to celebrate St George’s Day next week. On Wednesday, April 23, the saint’s feast day, the giant statue will lead a procession made up of 100 school children

  • From busking to stadiums in two years

    Cinderella’ is the famous rags to riches fairytale, and the story of CoCo and the Butterfields is the musical equivalent. The band moved from busking on street corners to playing sell-out shows in auditoriums seating thousands, in just two years.

  • Strictly Come Dancing stars wow the crowds in Swindon

    SINCE Katya Virshilas and Pasha Kovalev teamed up as a professional dance couple on the hit BBC television show Strictly Come Dancing in 2011, they have wowed audiences with their Ballroom routines and Latin dances. After two years of sell-out

  • UPDATE: Nick Martin resigns as Mayor

    Swindon Mayor Nick Martin has officially resigned from the post this morning in the wake of a scandal over remarks he made about disabled people. The Shaw ward councillor said he was considering his position last week after an inquiry by the standards

  • Police appeal after naked man browses in charity shop

    WILTSHIRE Police are appealing for witnesses following an incident of indecent exposure at a shop in Malmesbury. The incident took place between 4.50pm and 5.30pm on April 3rd 2014 inside the Cancer Research UK charity shop on the High Street.

  • LIVE NEWS: 15/4/14

    5:30pm That's the end of today's LIVE NEWS feed. We'll return in the morning. If you've joined us late use the scroll bar to see how the day unfolded. The website will be updated with any major news as it happens throughout

  • Swindon's magnificent seven called up

    SEVEN Swindon Hockey juniors have been selected to represent the West of England at various age levels. Daisy Mussard has been called up for the girls under 15s, Chloe Lewis for the under 16s, Gael Little for the under 18s and Shona O’Dwyer and

  • Swindon Rugby Club bag a £50K facilities upgrade

    SWINDON Rugby Club have been awarded £50k by Sport England to improve their facilities at Greenbridge Road. Swindon are one of 1,300 local sports projects to receive the funding through its Inspired Facilities project, part of the Olympic and Paralympic

  • AMERICAN FOOTBALL: Storm warning

    SWINDON Storm head coach Steve Bennett says that his side can learn a lot from this opening day defeat to former National League champions Farnham Knights. The Supermarine side were on the wrong end of a 55-6 reverse on Sunday in their first game

  • AIR RIFLES: Elliott claims Mick Ash Cup

    CHRIS Elliott of VWH Cricklade has retained the Mick Ash 300S Cup. He scored the only Possible (60-point maximum) of the competition in his winning total of 119 points. John Steven of Gas Club was runner-up on 115 points. The event was held at

  • CLUB OF THE WEEK: Fitzpatrick's Gym

    BRUTAL, bloody and bruising, the sport of boxing often courts bad press. Whether the negative publicity for the noble art is justified or not, the truth of the matter is that, yes, boxing is a dangerous sport. However, many of the sport’s critics

  • NORTH BERKS LEAGUE: Faringdon shocked in final

    FOURTH Division Faringdon Town A were stunned by a comeback from lower-league opponents Wallingford Town reserves in the North Berks League Cup final. Faringdon took the lead early in the piece. Their strike duo Christian and Dominic Wills had

  • WILTSHIRE LEAGUE: One more point needed for Melksham

    MELKSHAM Town reserves are on the cusp on clinching the Wiltshire League Division One title after a comfortable 2-0 win over Sarum Youth Seniors. Steve Burns’s side now only need a point from their last six games in order to take the league crown

  • Alker picks up top prize at Wiltshire Open

    THE WILTSHIRE County Darts Open at the Ferndale Club Swindon was a huge success, as 92 entrants from as far afield as Wales took to the floor to try to win the £500 first prize. The winner was Steve Alker from Pontyberem in Wales, who beat Stuart

  • Compton drafted in for absent Worrall

    SWINDON Robins have drafted in Benji Compton to replace the unavailable Steve Worrall for Good Friday’s Elite League double-header with Poole Pirates. The 27-year-old has been riding for the Kent Kings in the National League and Robins team boss

  • HELLENIC LEAGUE: Fish won’t do favours for a friend

    HIGHWORTH Town manager John Fisher says he will not do any favours for his friend and Wantage Town boss Gary Ackling when they clash at the Elms tonight. With Wantage currently leading the way in Hellenic League Premier Division, Fisher knows that

  • Comeback Jack

    JACK Stephens says that he would relish the opportunity to return to Swindon Town. The 20-year-old centre-back is on-loan at the County Ground until the end of the season from Premier League side Southampton. The youngster has strung together

  • BRITISH SWIMMING CHAMPS: Jazz is a leading lady

    SWINDON Tigersharks’ star Jazz Carlin caused big ripples in swimming as she set the fastest time of any woman in the world this year on her way to winning the British 800m freestyle title in Glasgow last night. The 23-year-old finished in 8:18.36

  • CROQUET: Bill suffers final defeat

    SWINDON Croquet Club opened its new season in style with a charity one-ball competition in conjunction with Kington Langley Croquet Club, in aid of Prostate Cancer Research. After several close games, Bill Marner from Swindon and Gill Wheeler from

  • Thornley is off to a flying start for new side Lechlade

    LECHLADE began their pre-season preparations on Saturday with a three-wicket victory at WEPL Premier Two side Cheltenham. Half-centuries from Ollie Thornley (54), on debut, and captain Joe Breet (70) set the riverside club up for an opening day

  • FENCING: Lara impresses to claim silver

    YOUNG fencers from Pinewood School made an impression at the Wiltshire County Fencing Championships. Five children took part in the event, with each securing a place in the top 10 of their respective age groups. Toby Bird competed in the under

  • Enrolment rates are on the up for college

    WORK on the new University Technical College is progressing well with more than 200 youngsters now having either signed up or expressed an interest in joining. The UTC is set to open in September offering students aged between 14 and 19 the chance

  • SQUASH: Wessex claim Wiltshire title

    WESSEX Firsts clinched the Wiltshire title in the final match of the post-Christmas season, overhauling a 10-point deficit on league leaders Cricklade with a 3-2 win over Defence Academy. Young talent Todd Bennett got Wessex off to a strong start

  • Wrag Barn claim win over Ciren

    CIRENCESTER Seniors would have expected to win their match against Wrag Barn, having shown superiority over the Highworth team both at home and away last season, but this time the visitors claimed a 5-3 win. Seniors captain Clive Bennett and Graham

  • Marine ladies finish fifth with Wimbledon win

    SUPERMARINE ended their season with a superb 24-12 victory at Wimbledon. The win was a fitting end to the campaign, as Marine secured a fifth place finish in the league. The hosts kicked off, giving Supermarine the first touch of the ball,

  • Swindon Croquet club’s joy at £50,000 windfall

    SWINDON Croquet Club is hoping to host national tournaments after securing £49,478 from Sport England’s Olympic legacy fund. The group, which has lawns at Moredon Playing Fields, will be using the money to relay their courts to competition standard

  • Swindon boxers preparing for charity bouts

    SWINDON boxers Team KO are training for a charity boxing match organised by Ben Gristwood of Platinum Promotions, in aid of Helen & Douglas House and Faringdon Fire Fighters. Boxers training to take part in this event include Team KO and the

  • ANGLING: Good week for Ogbourne

    JUSTIN Ogbourne enjoyed a good week on the Ridgway Lakes, landing top spot in the Wednesday Club event on April 9 and the New Century competition on Sunday, April 13. Ogbourne’s 139-pound haul on Wednesday saw off the challenge of Gary Davis, while

  • Football fans make it round 92 grounds in just 84 hours

    IN a little under 84 hours, Swindon Town fan Marc Harris and three comrades successfully visited all 92 Football League grounds, raising nearly £3,000 in the process. Marc, 43, of Calstock Road, travelled with three friends he made as a travelling

  • Regent Circus on schedule for autumn

    A LEISURE complex in the heart of Swindon is now taking shape ahead of a grand opening later this year. Work started on Regent Circus in summer last year and has progressed at a steady rate, with the full shape and scale of the construction fully

  • Woman caught up in scam on pensioner

    A WOMAN who tried to cash a cheque for some rogue traders after they fleeced a 91-year-old woman has walked free from court. Kayleigh Hemmings acted as banker for the men who charged the frail old lady £650 for cutting down a bush, then altered

  • Bus firm forced to increase its fares

    INCREASING costs have resulted in a rise in bus fares for Thamesdown Transport. The company will introduce the price rises on Sunday, April 27. The increase will bring them in line with rival company Stagecoach’s prices. Single fares will

  • Abuse victims can avoid benefits cap

    SWINDON Women’s Aid has welcomed a change in the law meaning the refuge will now be exempt from the benefits cap. The recently introduced cap has limited the amount of benefits people can receive to reduce the overall welfare benefit. However,

  • Driver's tears after collision with bike

    THE distraught driver of a van which left a 69-year-old cyclist fighting for his life yesterday was seen crying into the grass verge after the collision. Chris Thomas, a 46-year-old railway worker from Aberdare in Wales, was attempting to reach

  • Children's centre hits back at Ofsted report

    SUPERVISOR Sonia Osbourn has defended children’s respite centre Hop Skip and Jump following a damning report by education watchdog Ofsted. An inspection carried out on February 13 found the centre in Ridge Green, Shaw, was inadequate in the quality

  • Mayor castigated for disabled views

    LEADING disability charity Scope has said that Swindon mayor Nick Martin needs to apologise for more than his offensive language. Last week Councillor Martin (Con, Shaw) was ordered to issue an unreserved apology within seven days and attend a

  • Americans to put Mr Woodz trickster on trial

    VICTIMS of conman Christopher Baines will have to wait to see him return to the UK to face justice as he is set to stand trial in the USA. The former manager of the Mr Woodz furniture shop in the Brunel Centre was sentenced to five years in prison

  • Appeal to keep tabs on graffiti vandals

    POLICE are hunting for further instances of graffiti following a spate of scrawls around the town centre at the end of last month. On March 29 a number of the distinctive tags were found around Cambria Place, and following investigations more have