Archive

  • COMMONWEALTH GAMES: Jones is an inspiration for Halford

    LAURA Halford admitted it felt like all her Christmas’ had come at once after she used the inspiring figure of teammate Frankie Jones to win Commonwealth Games silver. Cricklade's Halford was part of a Welsh rhythmic gymnastics team bringing an

  • COMMONWEALTH GAMES: Halford's Wales take silver

    CRICKLADE’S Laura Halford got her Commonwealth Games off to an impressive start tonight with a silver medal as part of the Welsh team in the Rhythmic Gymnastics team all-around event. The Welsh team finished second behind Canada at the Hydro in

  • COMMONWEALTH GAMES: Tilly misses out on fly final

    SWINDON'S Tilly Gray missed out on a place in the final of the women's 100m butterfly at the Commonwealth Games this evening. After moving through the morning's heats, English swimmer Gray finished seventh in her semi tonight. Gray was a late

  • COMMONWEALTH GAMES: Jazz misses the medals

    JAZZ Carlin missed out on a medal spot in the 200m freestyle in Glasgow this evening. Swindon's Welsh swimmer clocked a time of 1:57.26 as she finished sixth behind winner Emma McKeon from Australia. Carlin will now focus on her more favoured

  • COMMONWEALTH GAMES: Gold for Miley

    SWINDON-born Hannah Miley has won the women’s 400m individual medal gold medal in the Commonwealth Games pool this evening. The Garioch swimmer, who left Swindon at an early age, reeled in England’s Aimee Willmott to win in front of her home crowd

  • Lottery winner’s first buy is a new car for his mum

    CARAVAN engineer Robin Marriott has landed a windfall of £100,000 after winning The Health Lottery’s Saturday jackpot last week. Twenty-seven-year-old Robin’s first thoughts were of his mum, whose car of 10 years was on its last legs – his first

  • COMMONWEALTH GAMES: Halford's Wales in good shape

    LAURA Halford's Welsh team are in a good position at the halfway stage of the Rhythmic Gymnastics team event at the Commonwealth Games. The Welsh team sit second going into tonight's second stage, with Halford second in the individual standings

  • ON THIS DAY: July 24

    SWINDON... 1947: A corsage competition, held in connection with the annual meeting of the Florists Telegraph Delivery Association, at the Kings Arms Hotel in Swindon, was judged by Mr Lewis, president of the Association and Mr D Klein. The competition

  • Call to free schools from red tape and bureacracy

    NORTH Wiltshire MP James Gray has called for schools to be freed from red tape and bureaucracy. Speaking during Questions to the Secretary of State for Education, Mr Gray said: “Governors across North Wiltshire who run some of the best schools

  • Bat walk by night

    WROUGHTON: An evening bat walk with Marlborough Downs Nature Improvement Area Project is being held at Wiltshire Wildlife Trust’s Clouts Wood Reserve, Clouts Wood near Wroughton. The event will be from 8-10pm on Friday, August 29. Booking is essential

  • Salute to heroes

    COUNTY: People are being invited to attend a special county-wide event to commemorate the sacrifice made by 10,000 Wiltshire soldiers during the First World War. The Wiltshire Council and Ministry of Defence-organised First World War Commemoration

  • Hospice fete date

    WROUGHTON: Prospect Hospice Garden Fete takes place in the grounds on September 6 from 12 noon. A free park and ride service will be provided by Thamesdown Transport from Nationwide in Pipers Way. For more information visit www.prospect-hospice.net

  • Yard sale returns

    OLD TOWN: This year the Old Town Yard Sale will take place on August 31 from noon to 4pm. This event first started in 2010 and has been a huge success. The streets invited to take part are Lansdown Road, Hythe Road, Folkestone Road, Maidstone Road

  • Foodbank’s haul thanks

    SWINDON: Swindon Foodbank had an impressive response to the National Trussell Trust Tesco Collection on July 5 and 6. They collected 2,165.3kgs of food and £303.70 in money donations. The charity thanked all those involved, plus shoppers for their

  • Help with memory

    ROYAL WOOTTON BASSETT: Older people who are experiencing memory problems have a chance to meet with others and carers to chat over a cuppa at the 3Ms Cafe. The next meeting will be on Friday in the Civic Centre in Station Road from 10am.

  • Pop tribute play

    WEST SWINDON: A One Direction tribute night will be held at the Village Urban Resort from 4pm to 7pm on Sunday. Tickets are £10 and include a children’s disco. Call 08712224620.

  • A musical treat

    STRATTON: Live music is on the bill on Saturday, July 26, as more than 20 artists, including Benji Clements Band, Faye Rogers Band and Aural Candy, perform across six venues at the Stratton Stroll. The festival is free. Visit www.strattonstmargaret.gov.uk

  • Coffee and cake

    WROUGHTON: The Friends of Wroughton Library will hold a coffee and cake morning from 10am to 1pm on August 30. This is in conjunction with the library book sale.

  • Summer fun for the young

    WROUGHTON: Wroughton Parish Church Holiday Club 2014 takes place from August 11 to 15 from 9am to noon. Children from five to 11 are invited to five mornings of fun, story, song, craft and games. Full Steam Ahead service takes place on Sunday,

  • Band does its bit

    PURTON: Barchester Healthcare’s band The Tin Shakers, who rehearse at The White Lodge Care Home, in Purton, have recorded a charity album of covers for Barchester’s Charitable Foundation. The album, Barch On The Run is available from White Lodge

  • Share skills with pupils

    WILTSHIRE: The employment and skills team at Wiltshire Council is looking for inspirational individuals with science, technology, engineering and maths skills to share their experiences with primary school pupils to motivate and inspire them as they

  • Footbridge plan

    TOWN CENTRE: A planning application has been put forward to replace the footbridge between Copse Avenue and Gypsy Lane. The bridge crosses the railway and is in need of repairs. The application is being considered by the planning department.

  • GCSEs go online

    COUNTY: Pupils across Wiltshire are being offered GCSE results online support. The results day support service is available through the WiltsNextGen Facebook page. Teenagers can talk about their options whether their exam results were better

  • Shakespeare in the open

    SWINDON: The Chapterhouse Theatre Company will be hosting an open air production of Much Ado About Nothing at Lydiard Park tomorrow. The doors will open at 6.30pm for a 7.30pm start to the show. Tickets are priced between £10 for a child and £42

  • COMMONWEALTH GAMES: Gray into semis

    TILLY Gray finished fifth in her first race of the Games the 100m butterfly heat in a time of 1:01.03, doing enough to reach the semi-finals which start at 8.40pm today. Former Marlborough College student and Kenyan swimmer Jason Dunford also came

  • Golfers swing into action for cancer charity

    GOLFERS teed off for Prostate Cancer UK at the seventh Annual Charity Golf Day by the Rotary Club of Royal Wootton Bassett Town earlier this month. Eighteen teams took part in the 18-hole Texas Scramble at Woodbridge Park Golf Club in Brinkworth

  • Guide Dogs gratitude

    THANK you to everyone young and old who visited our Guide Dogs stall at the Stratton Festival on Saturday, July 19. Through your support and generosity we managed to raise an amazing £464 which will help to pay for six full guide dog harnesses.

  • Polio still has an effect

    WHEN I was two years old I was struck down by Polio. I was fortunate: I survived the virus that has killed so many. There are around 120,000 Polio survivors living in Britain and I am proud to be counted as one of them. It really saddens me

  • Praise for bus driver

    HAVING just returned from a holiday in Dawlish Warren, may I pass comment on the old adage regarding women drivers? I decided the family and I would take the bus to Torquay. We went to the top deck as my Westie loves to look out the window on his

  • New housing too much to cope with

    WITH the possibility of 2,600 new homes to be built at Lotmead Farm I have to ask the question, how on Earth will a possible 5,200 cars get in and out of the proposed village? Where will all of these people work? Will it be Oxford, if they are supposed

  • Buckland best man for job

    WHILE I feel sorry for the mother and her son after the hammer attack on him while being a pupil at The Ridgeway School in Swindon, I cannot agree that Robert Buckland, MP for South Swindon, should be made to stand down from his new post as Solicitor

  • Thoroughly good sports

    EMMA DUNN checks out a sociable game WOMEN who fancy trying their hand at badminton are invited to an open day on August 30. The Whitehorse Badminton Club is offering free taster sessions at the Oasis Leisure Centre with England international

  • Not remotely bird-brained

    Is a peanut-stealing genius secretly visiting your garden? That is the unlikely question scientists are asking the public this summer as they try to find out just how intelligent some of our back-garden birds might be. The problem-solving skills

  • ADVER COMMENT: New NHS surgery long overdue

    THE decision to offer Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy as an NHS procedure has come far later than can possibly be justified by even the most spin-spouting official. Time and again in Swindon alone we have seen cases in which the parents of young children

  • Wiltshire TV chef splashes out for charity

    WILTSHIRE’S own TV chef, Peter Vaughan, has been announced as a patron for local charity Splash as it celebrates its 25th year supporting young people in the county. Peter has been involved with the charity for several years providing expert advice

  • Artistic request

    COUNTY: Wiltshire residents are being invited to create a work of art reflecting individual representations of breastfeeding for a special exhibition. The event is designed to raise the profile of breastfeeding locally. The closing date for entry

  • Crime panel member plea

    COUNTY: The Police and Crime Panel is looking for a co-opted member. Panel members are tasked with studying written evidence provided in advance of meetings in order to draw out pertinent questions to ask the Police Commissioner. Closing date for

  • Special prayers

    ROYAL WOOTTON BASSETT: As part of the commemorations to mark the 100 year anniversary of the start of the First World War, St Bartholomew’s Church will be open for prayer and reflection. From 10am to 4pm on August 4 the church will be open and

  • Barbecue treat

    TOWN CENTRE: A barbecue is being held for residents at the Queens Park Secret Garden on Friday, August 1 between 6pm and 9pm. Entry is free but those who come along are being asked to bring their own food. There will be a free glass of Pimms or

  • La Rue gear goes on show

    TOWN CENTRE: From Friday 25 to Monday 28 July, one of Danny La Rue’s most extravagant costumes will be on display at the Wyvern Theatre from 10am to 6pm. The exhibit piece will be displayed in the theatre’s accessible entrance, where a photograph

  • A beautiful spot for a relaxing trip away

    BARRY LEIGHTON checks out the sights of the New Forest On one side is a Georgian quay with a quaint, cobblestoned street, a small fleet of local fishing boats, a colourful marina, a clutch of seafaringly flavoured pubs and a winding coastal pathway

  • Supporting charity all adds up

    THE NSPCC’s Number Day is back and making it count for children on December 5, encouraging learning through maths while raising money to end cruelty to children. Number Day helps primary and secondary school teachers deliver inspiring maths lessons

  • Sounds around town with Dave Franklin

    I was fishing around in a box of vinyl albums I found in the attic that hailed from a time when people still thought that digital watches were a neat idea and I came across a load of those ghastly Now That’s What I Call Music compilation albums.

  • COMMONWEALTH GAMES: Carlin through to 200m free final

    SWINDON Tigershark Jazz Carlin qualified fourth fastest in the 200m freestyle in the opening swimming session of the Commonwealth Games, setting a personal best and Welsh record. Going in heat four Carlin swam 1:57.61, nearly a second behind heat

  • Vacancy at parish

    A CASUAL vacancy has arisen at Wroughton Parish Council following the death of one of the serving councillors. Any person willing to fill this vacancy should apply to the clerk for an application form to be returned before Friday, August 8.

  • Crash witness appeal

    COUNTY: Police are appealing for witnesses following a serious road traffic collision in Devizes. At 10.30pm on Tuesday, July 22, a black Vauxhall Corsa hit a pedestrian on the A361. The pedestrian – a 49 year-old male from Westbury – was taken

  • Rose to face jury over New Year GBH charge

    A MAN who is accused of carrying out a serious assault on New Years Day is to face trial by judge and jury. Christopher Rose pleaded not guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent when he appeared at Swindon Crown Court. Judge Douglas

  • Man, 20, bailed over assault on woman

    A MAN who is accused of assaulting a woman, causing actual bodily harm, has been released on bail by a judge. No charge was put to Kane Jones when he appeared at Swindon Crown Court and he did not enter a plea. The 20-year-old, of Calcutt Park

  • Some of this week's releases

    MORRISSEY World Peace is None of Your Business It seems that years in the musical wilderness benefit Morrissey. World Peace Is None Of Your Business, the first album from the former Smiths frontman in five years, is his best album since 2004’s

  • Scheme aims for education and fun in the sun

    A POPULAR scheme which is both educational and fun will run once again over the summer holidays. The Young Warden scheme is free of charge for council tenants’ children aged between seven and 11 and focuses on providing education, raising awareness

  • A midsummer dream...

    PACK up a picnic and enjoy a live performance of Much Ado About Nothing at Lydiard Park tomorrow. Enjoy an evening of Shakespearian merriment with Chapterhouse Theatre Company’s version of the play at 7.30pm. As the incomparable Beatrice and

  • World class music

    BARRY LEIGHTON looks ahead to some special treats at this year’s WOMAD festival AROUND The World in 80 days? It could be done, reasoned Phileas Fogg, squabbling with his toff chums at The Reform Club one afternoon in 1872. How about Around

  • Drama at the Front told with guts, gusto and greasepaint

    A PERFORMANCE of Troupers in Lechlade on Tuesday will bring to life an unsung war effort full of guts, gusto and greasepaint. New for 2014, Mikron Theatre Company has commissioned Troupers during the centenary year of the First World War. The

  • Curiouser and curiouser

    Escape with Alice at Lydiard Park... EMMA DUNN hears all about it THE madcap adventures of Alice through the Looking Glass will be brought to life in the beautiful surroundings of Lydiard Park next month. Quantum Theatre will be performing

  • Check out this mousical!

    Pre-schoolers everywhere love the cartoon mouse Angelina Ballerina, star of her own series of books and a TV show. Miranda Larson, writer and director of Angelina Ballerina The Mousical, tells us about the stage show which is sure to delight her

  • LIVE NEWS: 24/07/14

    5:10pm That's all from the LIVE NEWS feed today. The site will be updated with any major breaking news throughought the evening. 4:55pm If your recycling was not

  • ‘Nightmare’ as A420 bypass closes

    THE first day of major roadworks along the A420 were described as a ‘nightmare’ by locals in Shrivenham yesterday. Oxfordshire Council have closed the Shrivenham bypass for seven weeks meaning up to 20,000 extra vehicles will now pass through the

  • Drug dealer walks free

    INVESTIGATORS are disappointed that a drug dealer has been spared jail after using instant messaging service WhatsApp to ply his trade in former legal high NRG. Simon Huckvale was using the smartphone app to contact users while selling the class

  • Wildcats retain netminder Crisp

    MICHAEL Crisp is hoping that he will be able to gain more ice time this term after agreeing to return to Swindon Wildcats. The Welsh netminder provided invaluable back-up to Stevie Lyle during the last term making six appearances and recorded a

  • Loughrey begins Marbella event

    JOSH Loughrey begins his campaign at the Alps Tour event in Marbella today. The Wrag Barn player is in action in the Alps De Andulacia event and tees off at 9.30am. Loughrey will be playing alongside home player Carlos Balmaseda and Belgium

  • Courses give access to career dreams

    STUDENTS who were given a second chance to pursue the career of their dreams have celebrated successfully completing their access courses at Swindon College. Around 125 students with an average age of 28 held a special event at the Old Bank to

  • Dominatrix rules punishment business with a very firm hand

    In the second part of her series on the risqué side of Swindon, LIZ MACKLEY meets lifestyle dominatrix Aemilia Hawk...  THE UK is the kinkiest country in the world, according to lifestyle dominatrix Aemilia Hawk, and Swindon is no exception.

  • Life-changing surgery could now be done on NHS

    A LIFE-changing operation allowing children with cerebral palsy to walk and which had up until now cost parents across Swindon nearly £25,000 will finally be available on the NHS – for the next three years. Over the past decade the Adver has supported

  • Human tow truck plans to get heavy

    SOUTH African born business owner Don Bryden will be looking to perform a feat of super human strength next month to raise money for charity. Don, 44, who owns Aligra Personnel, is aiming to pull an 8.5 tonne truck next month in a bid to raise

  • Medal hope is a bonus for Halford

    CRICKLADE’S Laura Halford is hopeful of finishing amongst the medals as she prepares to get her Commonwealth Games underway this morning. The teenage rhythmic gymnast is representing Wales in Glasgow, and begins today with the team event followed

  • Aldridge sees a big future for returning stopper

    SWINDON Wildcats head coach Ryan Aldridge believes that Michael Crisp has a big future in ice hockey after the Welshman agreed to return for another. The 23-year-old netminder provided the back-up to veteran stopper Stevie Lyle last term and Crisp

  • New College are making summer strides

    NEW College coach Matt Cosnett says that he has been pleased with how his new look squad is developing this summer. The South Martson-based side have been back in for pre-season training for a week now and the Hellenic League squad have already

  • Worrall's future is looking Ace

    SWINDON’S flying reserve Steve Worrall sees a bright future for himself with parent club Belle Vue. The St Helens-born youngster has been tearing up British speedway this season, dominating the National League with Cradley, making huge strides

  • Supporting charity all adds up

    The NSPCC’s Number Day is back and making it count for children on December 5, encouraging learning through maths while raising money to end cruelty to children. Number Day helps primary and secondary school teachers deliver inspiring maths lessons

  • In the running to help a good cause

    YOUNG victims of abuse or teenagers in harrowing circumstances will tackle a 10-mile race for charity and are urging the public to join them at Barbury Castle. The group have already embarked on an strenuous training regime for the SMASH Dash for

  • Woman’s death was a tragic accident

    Helen Jones drowned in a Cotswold river after a tiff with her partner over whether their hotel bedroom window should be open or shut, an inquest heard today. Helen, 49, of Bullfinch Close, Swindon, had attended a wedding reception at the Swan Hotel

  • Fire crews still at smoke-filled site

    THE blaze at Averies Recycling has entered its third day as firefighters keep the 1,000 tonne pile of waste under control. The giant pile of general waste at the centre caught fire on Monday evening, and fire crews have been on site ever since

  • Everyone wants to have fun

    NORTH Swindon’s first ever Fun Day is looking for members of the community to help make the event a great success. The organising committee is now recruiting for around 25 volunteers to help with stewarding at the event on September 6 at Brook

  • Adver’s first Bride of the Year is 80 today

    FIRST ever Adver Bride of the Year Shirley French is celebrating another milestone this morning as she reaches her 80th birthday. The mother of two, grandmother of four and great-grandmother of four was crowned the Swindon Advertiser’s first Bride

  • Lethal pet is the subject of students’ film project

    STUDENTS who have difficulties attending mainstream education premiered their first film yesterday. The youngsters, aged 12 to 16, from Wizard Education saw the film, entitled Killer Tortoise, also submitted for a national award through Into Film

  • Martin is hoping to end injury nightmare

    RYAN Martin will hope to finally get to the bottom of his hand injury which has put his fledgling professional boxing career on hold. The Swindon light-welterweight has only made one appearance in the paid ranks, a points success over journeyman

  • MMA: Evans fights against the odds

    SWINDON fighter Adam Evans has faced plenty of battles during his life, but the biggest could be yet to come after signing a contract with one of the country’s leading Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) companies. The 42-year-old has been deaf since he was

  • Robins’ Ladies re-shuffled in women’s football shake-up

    SWINDON Town Ladies will be playing next season in the newly formed Division One (South West). The Women’s Super League has been extended into two divisions thus reducing the number of clubs in the Women’s Premier League. This move necessitated

  • Kasim calls for Town to find their identity

    YASER Kasim has stressed the need for Swindon Town to quickly adopt a collective identity to compensate for their lack of numbers and experience, ahead of the start of the new League One term next month. The midfielder, who with just a single full

  • The Script want Adele collaboration

    The Script have revealed they would like to work with Adele. The Irish rockers say they have some ideas in mind if the Rolling In The Deep singer agrees to a music collaboration.

  • Delivery driver says he didn’t know girl was 15

    A 15-year-old girl slept with a pizza delivery driver so he would buy her alcohol to take to a party, a jury was told. One of Tahir Mehmood’s former colleagues made the claim at Swindon Crown Court as she gave evidence at the rape trial of the

  • Housing plans are criticised

    PLANS to bring in more housing around the Abbey Stadium have been criticised amid claims it will leave a shortage of job opportunities in North Swindon. Permission has been given to build houses and commercial space in the development around the

  • New initiatives to cut kerb crawling

    POLICE have welcomed new initiatives to offer the carrot over the stick to sex workers and kerb crawlers in the Manchester Road area. Broadgreen has a historic problem with sex workers, and clients will come from far outside the town to take advantage

  • A sad farewell to a true inspiration

    AS the first notes of Gerry Hunt’s drumming solo rose from the speakers, mourners struggled to contain their tears at having lost the gifted musician to cancer. More than 200 friends and relatives gathered at Kindgsdown Crematorium yesterday to