Archive

  • HELLENIC LEAGUE: Wootton Bassett hope to bounce back

    WOOTTON Bassett Town host Newbury Town in the Hellenic Premier Division this evening, hoping to get back to winning ways after elimination from the Supplementary Cup last time out. Bassett were dumped out of the competition at the semi-final stage

  • HOTSEAT: Youth MP Ellie James answers your questions

    Member of the Youth Parliament for Swindon, 16-year-old Ellie James from Grange Park, has been answering your questions this week. Here’s what the Lydiard Park Academy student had to say as she took to the hotseat: Q. Your 'education then procreation

  • Stars make a fist of it in comedy caper

    THE LOVE PUNCH (12A) Starring: Emma Thompson, Pierce Brosnan, Timothy Spall, Celia Imrie. Director: Joel Hopkins. Opening with a barman preparing a martini – shaken not stirred – The Love Punch is a ham-fisted caper that nods affectionately

  • Does whatever a spider can

    THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2 (12A) Starring: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Jamie Foxx, Dane DeHaan, Sally Field, Campbell Scott, Embeth Davidtz, Colm Feore, Paul Giamatti, Chris Cooper, Denis Leary, Martin Sheen. Director: Marc Webb. Two is company

  • BARRIE HUDSON: Here comes the summer

    AS spring is here it’s time to visit the garden centre or nursery of our choice and select the plants we’re going to kill this year. The great thing about gardening is that there’s no limit – apart from our imaginations – to the species we can

  • Giant St George

    SWINDON: St George’s Day will be marked in Swindon tomorrow with a giant statue of the patron saint leading procession of 100 school children along Regent Street toward Wharf Green. No Added Sugar will then be demonstrating and making dragons for

  • Cafe's new era

    PENHILL: The Monday Cafe at the John Moulton Hall has now been closed. From Monday, April 28, the cafe will reopen under new management as the Penhill Hub Cafe. It will be open on Mondays from 8am to 2pm at the John Moulton Hall. For more information

  • Songs of patriotism

    SWINDON: Swindon Recital Series’ 20th anniversary will be celebrated in conjunction with St George’s Day and Shakespeare’s birthday for a patriotic occasion at the Wyvern Theatre tomorrow. The programme presents a picture of English songwriting

  • Sign up for quiz in aid of charity

    ACCOUNTANTS are counting on the support of Swindon businesses to make their upcoming charity quiz a success. The event organised by Banks Chartered Accountants will be on May 14 at Swindon Town’s County Ground in aid of TWIGS. Entry is £5 per

  • The look for less

    TOWN CENTRE: Girls looking for a bargain can head along to Bar 71 at the Swindon Town Football Club on the first Monday of every month where hundreds of items from top high street brands are available for less than £10. The next evening is May

  • Take a pot shot

    FRESHBROOK: Freshbrook Community Centre will host a Pottery for Beginners workshop for seven weeks from tomorrow. The course costs £59 plus £4 for materials. People on means-tested benefits will be exempt from the fee. To book a place call Jill

  • Display on war

    ROYAL WOOTTON BASSETT: The museum in the Town Hall will launch an exhibition on the First World War on Saturday. It can be viewed during opening hours on Saturdays and Wednesdays from 10am to 12pm.

  • Follow Inca trail

    ROYAL WOOTTON BASSETT: The next meeting of the Probus Club of Royal Wootton Bassett is on May 1. There will be a talk from Lew Lawton on the Inca Trail. The group meets fortnightly at St Bartholomew’s Church Hall in Ropeyard and the meeting starts

  • Fresh chapter

    GWH: To celebrate World Book Night the Great Western Hospital will launch a new fiction collection for staff at its library. From 9am until 5pm tomorrow, staff will get a chance to browse the novels on offer, have a read and enjoy a cup of tea

  • Butler's waiting

    ROYAL WOOTTON BASSETT: The next viewing at the Royal Wootton Bassett Community Theatre will be The Butler on May 1. Doors will open at 7pm at the Sixth Form Centre of Royal Wootton Bassett Academy at Lime Kiln for a 7.30pm start. Tickets cost £5

  • Aimed at mums

    PARK SOUTH: A new course for mothers-to-be starts today at Oaktree Annexe Children’s Centre, Priory Road. To find out more call 01225 792500.

  • Cafe cares for carers

    ROYAL WOOTTON BASSETT: Residents with relatives, friends or neighbours who they are caring for because they suffer with an illness, disability or heart condition can head along to a new Carer’s Cafe. At Carer Support Wiltshire’s monthly cafe, visitors

  • Full steam ahead for a great day out

    SCORES of people steamed into Coate Water for a go on the miniature railway over the Easter weekend. Families with young children especially enjoyed the country park’s staple attraction, which was open to the public daily from 11am to 5pm Friday

  • Cameron sparks unholy row over 'Christian' UK

    A DEBATE on the place of Christianity in 21st century Britain has sparked conflicting opinions in Swindon following David Cameron’s description of the UK as a Christian nation. In an article published in Church Times earlier this month, the Prime

  • Guide dog funds

    DORCAN: Swindon Guide Dogs for the Blind raked in more than £500 at a collection at the Morrison’s store on Easter Saturday.

  • Seeking singers

    SWINDON: Are you a former member singer at the The Janice Thompson Performance Trust? Or would you like to sing in the Community Choir or Girls Concert Choir? The JPT Trust are performing a special 10th anniversary concert at the Wyvern Theatre

  • Get bridge details

    ROYAL WOOTTON BASSETT: Network Rail is holding a drop in session on Thursday for residents to view proposals for the Templars Farm bridge reconstruction. The work will be carried out as part of plans to electrify the Great Western main line. The

  • Take up stall at festival

    STRATTON: Stratton St Margaret Parish Council is looking for crafters and traders to book stalls at this year’s festival on July 19. Booking fees apply. For more information call Georgina Morgan-Denn on 01793 823761 or visit www.strattonstmargaret.gov.uk

  • Family near their target to help little Jayden-Vito walk

    AN APPEAL to help cerebral palsy sufferer Jayden-Vito Mazzotta-Drapper walk for the first time unaided and without pain is just a few pounds short of the £9,000 mark, thanks to a fun Easter extravaganza on Sunday. The festivities at Kembrey Park

  • Discovery of body not being treated as suspicious

    WILTSHIRE Police can confirm that the discovery of a body in the Kennet and Avon canal in Devizes last week is not being treated as suspicious. The body of a man was found in the canal close to the Wharf shortly before 6.45am on Friday, April 18

  • New-look green and yellow Wiltshire Air Ambulance revealed

    THE design for Wiltshire’s new Air Ambulance was unveiled yesterday with the life-saving craft to be bedecked in eye-catching green and yellow in a salute to the county it serves. After much deliberation and negotiation with manufacturers Bell

  • Band sweet talk fans with with new CD

    It doesn’t take the Enigma machine to see that indie rock band, Talk In Code, are making their mark on the music world. The five-piece led by Chris Stevens, are launching their self-titled debut album at Riffs Bar, Greatfield, near Hook, on Thursday

  • Road closure a bitter pill for commuters

    THERE are some pills that cannot be sugared, and the closure of the road leading to Cheney Manor Industrial Estate is one of them. For the next four weeks, assuming everything continues to happen on schedule, the disruption will be considerable

  • A better solution

    I am sure most supporters of Better Swindon would wish that there were no need for their existence! Sadly, the behaviour of some people in public office has demonstrated that there is a need for such an organisation. It would appear that, all too

  • It's utterly absurd

    So we are going for a solar Swindon? Well I suppose if we must be surrounded by swathes of these ugly black mirrors, a wall down the side of the M4 motorway is as good as anywhere. But the latest wheeze, turning good productive pasture into “PV

  • Spaces are needed

    I think that Mr Des Morgan needs to know a few facts about designated car parking spaces – does he not understand why they are there? For the people entitled to use them. My daughter is disabled, she has Spina Bifida and is totally confined to

  • Point was missed

    Many people are wondering why the ferry sank so quickly in South Korea. The ferry tilted so fast that the passengers could not get out. We know that ships made in South Korea are very cheap. But are they safe? Ships made in Britain may

  • Point was missed

    Your recent correspondent, Peter Smith, appears to have completely missed the point in my critique of the admirable Tony Benn. His wordy diatribe on the social history of mankind is irrelevant and has no bearing whatever on the subject I raised.

  • County Ground goes green to help children's charity

    THE COUNTY Ground was awash with green yesterday as thousands of fans joined in with fundraising appeal for a well-known children’s charity. Local fundraisers for the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children posted 8,000 flyers

  • Bid is under way to safeguard Lydiard Park

    A LOCAL action group is looking to safeguard the future of Lydiard Park by applying for it to become an asset of community value. The Lydiard Fields Action Group submitted an application earlier this month to the council and is looking for a response

  • ON THIS DAY: April 22

    SWINDON... 1957: An appeal for the postponement of H Bomb testing was sent to the Prime Minister and Soviet Embassy by the Penhill Section of the Swindon Constituency Labour Party. They also called upon the constituency’s executive to call a special

  • Paint appeal

    WROUGHTON: Wroughton Preschool are appealing for anyone with any spare paint they can use on the outside of their buildings to brighten up the playground wall. If you can help, call 07787 502245.

  • Come on, girls

    SWINDON: Swindon Spitfires Football Club are recruiting girls in school years 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 in readiness to play in summer tournaments, with a view to entering leagues for season 2014/15. Anyone interested should contact Bev Maull on 07519952598

  • Road will reopen

    PENHILL: Work by Thames Water to install a new tank sewer in inglesham Road should come to an end this Wednesday, which will see the road reopen after nearly three months.

  • Works will shut bridge

    ROYAL WOOTTON BASSETT: Chaddington Lane bridge will be closed from 9.30am to 3.30pm on Wednesday and Thursday to allow Network Rail to carry out ground examination work. The work is part of initial work to determine the future reconstruction of

  • Teachers set to strike again

    TEACHERS have voted to stage further strikes, starting with a summer walkout, in a long-running dispute over pay, pensions and conditions, leaving schools facing the prospect of widespread disruption. Amid calls for Education Secretary Michael

  • Add voice to top choir

    FRESH from wowing Irish audiences on their recent tour, the Wessex Male Voice Choir, based in Swindon, has announced it is looking for new members. The internationally-renowned choir is now led by musical director Katrine Reimers, who studied music

  • Church hosts history show

    ST AUGUSTINE'S Church, Rodbourne, will host an exhibition by Rodbourne Community History Group on Saturday, May 10, from 10am. The exhibition at the Summers Street church is open to all and is free, but donations will be welcome. Refreshments will

  • Club takes chess crown

    SWINDON: Swindon Chess Club have won the Wiltshire League Championship 2014 Minor League in the last game of the season against Chippenham. Swindon won 3-1 to take the Championship and leave Chippenham in second place. Swindon have three teams

  • Road work to end

    TOWN CENTRE: The installation of gas pipework by Wales and West Utilities in Faringdon Road is due to come to an end this Wednesday. Queries about the work should be addressed to Wales & West Utilities Ltd quoting reference XY003003000685133

  • Help desert dads

    ROYAL WOOTTON BASSETT: A Race Night in aid of four dads who are trekking through the Sahara for Prospect Hospice in October will take place on May 2. From 7.30pm in the Royal Wootton Bassett RFC club house in Ballards Ash visitors can enjoy a hearty

  • Trunki man offers advice

    SWINDON: Rob Law MBE has been announced as the keynote speaker at this year’s Swindon Business Show. The entrepreneur is the founder and director of Magmatic ltd, the firm behind award-winning children’s brand Trunki. He will share his successes

  • Can you stop stroke group from closing?

    SWINDON Stroke Support Group is urgently calling for volunteers to join its committee. The organisation was set up 33 years ago to improve stroke sufferers’ quality of life, as well as their carers’, and meets once a week. With several of its

  • Search stepped up as concern grows for missing man

    CONCERN is mounting for missing Swindon man David Birley, who has not been seen for more than a week. David Geoffrey Birley, pictured, of Redhouse, was last seen in the early hours of April 12 at the Premier Inn at Kembrey Park in Stratton, and

  • PREDICTIONS LEAGUE: Coventry results update

    PREDICTIONS LEAGUE: Coventry Results and Updates How good was that? It was the Late Late Show yet again. I said when I set the questions “Just don’t leave it so late this time, I don’t think my heart can take any more”. And what do they

  • LIVE NEWS: 22/4/14

    5:36pm 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

  • Ben wins Ogbourne Downs' Junior Open

    BEN Wakeley was the star of Ogbourne Downs’ Junior Open as he collected the main title, the Liddiards Plate. The 28-handicapper from Broome Manor managed superb nett score of 64 which saw him crowned champion and he was presented with his award

  • SOUTHERN LEAGUE: Draw disappoints Supermarine boss Webb

    SWINDON Supermarine manager Dave Webb believes his side should have done better against struggling Guildford City as they moved back into the play-off places in Southern League Division One South & West. The Webbs Wood Stadium side secured

  • Stranded by spring tide

    A SWINDON family were left stranded when their car was caught up in the high tide after parking on a beach in Somerset. Iain Mazonowicz and his family were visiting the beach near Brean Down in Burnham-On-Sea to celebrate his wife Elizabeth’s 30th

  • Scarecrows rock

    FROM the Spice Girls to Elvis, Highworth was transformed into a quirky music hall of fame for its annual scarecrow trail. No fewer than 40 pop legends, classical composers and rock stars fashioned out of straw and sporting glittering costumes were

  • CLUB OF THE WEEK: Swindon Youth's success story

    THE Football League serves to provide different standards of professional football and generally speaking the right players end up at the right level. In youth football there is a void. In the middle ground between the elite professional academies

  • SWINDON SUNDAY LEAGUE: AFC Gas close in on the title

    AFC Gas can wrap up the Swindon Sunday League title tomorrow night after their 3-0 win at Castrol moved them four points clear at the top of Division One with two games remaining. A brace from James Blake and a Ryan Thomas strike has put one hand

  • NORTH BERKS LEAGUE: Faringdon lose to title-chasing Kintbury

    KINTBURY Rangers need just one more win to claim their first North Berks League Division One title in 10 years following a 4-0 win at Faringdon Town. Charlie Allsop and Shaun Thorp bagged a brace apiece in the win. In Division Two, Jason Evans

  • SOUTHERN LEAGUE: Champagne is on ice for Cirencester

    CIRENCESTER Town put one hand on the Southern League Division One South & West title following their 2-1 win over Shortwood United. Brian Hughes’ side went into this Gloucestershire derby clash knowing that a win, coupled with a defeat for

  • HELLENIC LEAGUE: Davies delighted with Malmesbury's reaction

    MALMESBURY Victoria banished the memories of Saturday’s 7-0 thrashing at Lydney Town with a 4-0 dismantling of Carterton at the Flying Monk Ground. Vics boss Gareth Davies said that he didn’t need to pick his side up for the Easter Monday clash

  • Don't sit on the fence

    NYTHE Allotment Society is appealing to local businesses to help fence land for new allotments after Swindon Council approved a three-year lease. The council agreed that the new Nythe Allotment Society could use a 64m by 156m plot of land near

  • Putting Easter fun first on the fairway

    BUDDING golfers were on the hunt for Easter eggs rather than missing golf balls during a family weekend at Broome Manor Golf Complex. The Swindon Council-run golf course hosted an Easter Open Weekend from Good Friday to Easter Sunday as a way of

  • SKATER HOCKEY: Three victories for Swindon Flames

    SWINDON Flames recorded victories at three different age groups on their most recent visit to Farnborough Leisure Centre, including a thumping win over Chippy Trixters B for the Youth section. Flames beat the Trixters 34-0, with captain Liam Coleman

  • JUDO: England call for Swindon's Walker

    SWINDON judoka Steph Walker has been selected in the England judo squad to travel to the Czech Republic next month. The 16-year-old, who is a student at Kingsdown School, has been picked in a 17-strong team to fight in the 52kg category on May

  • Pinehurst are still pining for netball

    THERE cannot be too many clubs in their 70th year who have two founder members active, let alone still actively involved in the club. However Pinehurst is a club with a long and proud history. Club president and founder Doreen Willcocks MBE is

  • WOMEN'S FOOTBALL: Swindon Spitfires finish on a positive note

    SWINDON Spitfires drew their top-of-the-table clash with Cheltenham Town 2-2 in the South West Women’s Footall League Premier Division on Thursday. The game lived up to the pre-match expectations - a very combative encounter ending in controversial

  • Bloomin’ early for bluebells

    WALKERS made the most of the Easter bank holiday sunshine by admiring the carpet of bluebells at Badbury Clump over the weekend. This year the fragrant bell-shaped flowers, which only bloom for a couple of weeks in late spring, have sprouted much

  • Knife-wielding trio make off with £200

    DETECTIVES want the public’s help in tracing a trio of men who robbed a working man of £200 in cash while brandishing knives. The man had been taking a shortcut home through the play park just off Savernake Road when he was approached by three

  • Road closed in final stage of flood work

    THE final stage of the £7m project to alleviate flooding problems around Cheney Manor will begin today with a four-week closure of the road leading into Cheney Manor Industrial Estate. The section of the road between Bailey’s Corner roundabout,

  • Funds drummed up to help beat cancer

    JUST 24 hours after a family sent out an urgent appeal for funds towards alternative cancer treatment for its patriarch Gerry Hunt, they have been inundated with offers of donations, supportive messages and advice on an array of new therapies.

  • Zambian diplomat has a ball with Swindon Town

    SWINDON Town Football in the Community Trust welcomed a special visit from the High Commissioner for Zambia yesterday to forge stronger links with the town. Five visitors from the charity’s partnership with the Zambia Livingstone FA Coaching Association