Archive

  • Drug-driving legal clampdown cheered

    NEW regulations to clamp down on drug-driving – known as Lillian’s Law – following the death of a teenager in 2010 have been welcomed. Drivers now face prosecution if they exceed limits set for the presence of eight illegal drugs, including cannabis

  • Harman in the pink as Labour's bus rolls into town

    LABOUR’S famous pink battle bus rolled into town today, carrying the party’s deputy leader, Harriet Harman. She was in Swindon to speak to students and staff at New College to try to find out why so many young people and women do not vote.

  • Dilemma of ban on a school’s ‘rowdies’

    NEW figures show Swindon has one of the highest rates of pupil exclusion in the country. In the 2014 autumn term, 696 children were given fixed term exclusions across the town, which is an increase of 126 on the same term in the previous year.

  • Orchestral manoeuvres in aid of Swindon charities

    MARION SAUVEBOIS meets musicians with broad horizons FOR decades, Swindon Symphony Orchestra’s passionate players have broadened the town’s musical horizons with an eclectic catalogue of popular classics and lesser known melodies. Re-established

  • PARK LIFE: Avian oddities nest sky high

    With Swindon Ranger David Boase They may appear to be like scrawny ‘dinosaurs’ but herons are thriving Imagine for a moment that you’ve gone for a well-deserved and leisurely stroll around Coate Water. You’ve taken the opportunity for some

  • Ace front man Paul Carrack counts his blessings in Swindon

    THE secret to Paul Carrack’s prolific musical career and undisturbed creative flow is simple: he realised a long time ago that ‘beating himself up’ was counter-productive. This he learned the hard way when his breakout song with Ace, How Long?,

  • Gordon Buchanan talks about filming wolves in the Arctic

    MARION SAUVEBOIS talks to a fearless wildlife filmmaker DISTURBING a bear from his cave unintentionally, or finding himself in the path of an elephant are just occupational hazards for wildlife filmmaker Gordon Buchanan. Thankfully, these incidents

  • VIDEO: Harriet Harman's pink battle bus rolls in to Swindon

    DEPUTY Labour leader Harriet Harman was in town today to back a call by South Swindon prospective Parliamentary candidate Anne Snelgrove for children's centres to be granted a stay of execution until after the election. Mrs Snelgrove says that

  • Thompson backs strikers to rediscover the goal trail

    NATHAN Thompson believes his striking teammates just have to find a bit of fortune to get back scoring ways. Town’s goals-per-game average has been on the slide as their results have dipped. The previously prolific Andy Williams, Michael Smith

  • Cooper's rallying cry to the County Ground fans

    MARK Cooper has issued a rallying cry to the Swindon Town fans ahead of Notts County’s visit to Wiltshire on Saturday. The Robins’ poor recent run has seen a mood of discontent set in with the supporters across stands, social media and message

  • Do you know girls caught on CCTV after Boswells purse theft?

    POLICE are appealing for information after a purse was stolen from the Boswells cafe in the Brunel Centre. A man and a woman were having a drink in the cafe on Thursday, February 12, when they noticed two girls acting suspiciously directly behind

  • Howell continues strong form in South Africa

    DAVID Howell has continued his good form in South Africa, finishing the first day of the Africa Open just one shot off the club-house leader. With more than half of the field yet to tee-off that position could well change through the course of

  • Friends reunited having blast in Nottingham

    MICHELLE TOMPKINS marks the 20th anniversary of a special friendship while experiencing the delights of Nottinghamshire THE 20th anniversary of a special friendship deserves a special celebration, but what to do to mark such a momentous occasion

  • All about ... Joy of Waiting - Sara Lowes

    THE best music connects with you at a subconscious level. You can analyses, deconstruct and debate the merits of it till the cows come home but real genius is already talking to you on an altogether more subtle level. In fact not just talking,

  • Sounds Around Town with Dave Franklin

    LET’S just title this week ‘Victim of Success Week’ – as the gig diary seems to have gone into overdrive – and get straight on with the show. Something well wicked this way comes, as the yoof of today might say, tonight at The Victoria with a snarling

  • Album of the week: KRILL - Distant Fist Unclenching

    KRILL - Distant Fist Unclenching KRILL are a part of the burgeoning Boston DIY music scene along with bands such as Speedy Ortiz, but the grunge trio owe much to the city's rock forebears, Pixies, in their quiet-loud dynamic and singer Jonah Furman

  • Step back to glory days of rock'n'roll in Swindon tomorrow

    IT will be party time again as legendary the rock ‘n’ roll variety show That’ll Be The Day returns to the Wyvern Theatre tomorrow. Buddy Holly wrote the theme song that sums up the show back in the 1950s. In its 29th year, the musical extravaganza

  • Well! well! well! Paul's a sellout in Swindon

    PAUL Weller will take to the Oasis stage for an already sold-out show tomorrow night as part of a 14-date UK tour. The tour includes venues that, according to his website, are ‘often missed by touring bands’. It will be the fourth time that

  • Pearl of a singer, Elkie Brooks, in Swindon tonight

    MANY performers call it a day after five decades on stage – but Elkie Brooks never liked to conform. Far from taking things easy, the singer chose to celebrate her 70th birthday with a UK tour and will roll into the Wyvern Theatre tonight.

  • I fear for future

    At last the vile cowardly psychopathic maniac has been exposed, by the Americans apparently. I would not even give this creature the distinction of a human being’s name. I refer to the monster whose hobby is decapitating innocent civilians on video

  • Agree on homes

    There is a desperate shortage of houses to rent and buy in Britain today. House prices keep rising. This is not fair to the younger generation. These very high prices are putting the chance of ever buying a home beyond the reach of young people

  • Calculated walks

    Reading the Adver recently I took note of the letter from Bill Williams, who mentioned that the daily walking of his little dog and the years passed, meant that by his ‘love of mathematics’ he calculated he and his little dog have walked the equivalent

  • Call Dave and Ed

    I am amazed at the energy levels of PM David Cameron. In the past fortnight, as well as being our PM, I have seen him on TV working as a brickie, then he was laying pipes on the side of a road. I even saw him filling sandwiches on a food production

  • Visit, don't pray

    I read your news item about the 24-hour prayer marathon and think that the time spent would be better used visiting the elderly. Do you not think an hour spent with an old person is more of a commitment to the God that you were praying to?

  • Poverty still here

    FOR July 7, 2006 my diary has an article on the Poverty Campaign. For all the progress made by Labour since it was elected – and it was impressive – the challenge of creating a fairer society remains daunting. A report, A More Equal Society, from

  • Angry over stamps

    I am gobsmacked that as a GP surgery I am being given the third degree when I try to buy first and second class stamps from the head office on tel 08457 640640. It started last month. Did I know the price was going up and that I could only have

  • We're all for Ella

    We have both read the exchange of letters between Ella March and Bill Williams and give our support to Ella. Bill Williams wrote a letter in which Ella considered was sexist and to which she had the right of reply. Bill found her reply to be insulting

  • Yobs rule not OK

    May I address an open letter to Mr David Renard, leader of Swindon Borough Council? The subject: Bloomsbury children’s park. Mondays. Locals witness the usual beer cans and broken vodka bottles strewn across the play area, littering the pathway

  • Low turnout for elections

    THE Green Party fielding candidates for every contested ward in the forthcoming council elections is good news. We say this not because of any party political affiliation; like any local newspaper worth its salt, we shun any such affiliation and

  • Another successful year for schools in Swindon

    Two issues come to mind this week illustrating the sheer breadth of activities with which the Council has to deal. The first is how we allocate secondary school places and the second covers the renewal of subscriptions for the green waste recycling

  • IN DEPTH WITH...WAYNE HUTCHINSON

    WHEN Wayne Hutchinson walked into his career advice meeting at Dorcan Technology College he was laughed at when he suggested that he wanted to make a living out of being a jockey. Despite it being known as the sport of kings it has never been seen

  • LIVE NEW: Thursday, March 5

    6:19pm 6:19pm RT @HealthSwindon: If Peter can quit smoking after 45 years, he reckons anyone can. Find out how in today's @swindonadver http://t.co/F2FHj… —

  • Police plea after girl, 15, assaulted in Stratton

    Wiltshire Police are appealing for information over the assault of a 15-year-old girl along an alleyway off Ermin Street in the Stratton area. The incident took place on Monday, February 23, between 5.30-6pm. She suffered minor injuries.

  • Hughes will step away from saddle

    RICHARD Hughes will retire from riding at the end of the Flat campaign before embarking upon a training career in 2016. The 42-year-old, who is based in Marlborough has won the jockeys' championship for the last three seasons, has enjoyed great

  • Tribute to music of Hollywood star Doris Day

    TO celebrate the 90th birthday of Hollywood icon Doris Day, jazz singer and West End actress Claudia Morris returns with this critically acclaimed show dedicated to her idol. Secret Love is on Sunday, March 29, at 7.30pm in the Wyvern Theatre in

  • Students get taste of different cultures

    YOUNGSTERS at New College are celebrating their differences this week. The college is hosting events as part of Equality and Diversity Week, with students from all demographics, cultures and nationalities who attend the Walcot college taking part

  • Outlet on awards shortlist

    THE £35m extension to Swindon’s Designer Outlet shopping centre has been named among the region’s best new buildings. The project has been shortlisted in the Building Conservation category of RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) South

  • A Magnificent chance to get back to your roots

    sow the seeds of a greener future. The Wiltshire Wildlife Trust is hosting an event at Blakehill Farm, in Cricklade, from 10am until 2pm on Sunday. Volunteers will plant a hedgerow, create an outdoor education zone and sow wildflower seeds – all

  • Rosco expects visa resolution

    SWINDON Robins boss Alun Rossiter says he expects to see skipper Troy Batchelor on the startline come the first fixture of the new season next month. The build-up to the 2015 campaign has seen all Elite League clubs affected by visa issues, with

  • Smith ready to get going at UK Open

    DENNIS Smith is hoping to avoid the big boys for as long as possible as he prepares to get his UK Open campaign underway tomorrow in Minehead. The 45-year-old, known as the gentleman of darts, is one of an elite group of 10 players who have made

  • Holy Cross pupils' football kit is a Tesco winner

    A SCHOOL football team is stepping onto the pitch in a new kit thanks to the sponsorship of a Swindon supermarket. Tesco, in Ocotal Way, has agreed to sponsor the new Holy Cross Primary School’s female football team. Deputy headteacher, Robin Christian

  • Lyle hunting the elite

    THE recruitment drive for next season is already well under way at the Link Centre as Stevie Lyle looks to take Swindon Wildcats to the next level. With his 15 years’ experience of playing in the Elite League, as well as an international career

  • David happy to have the Masters back on the calendar

    DAVID Howell has welcomed the reintroduction of the British Masters to the European Tour calendar. The Masters, which was last played seven years ago, makes its return in October at Woburn. And the Swindon star, who finished second in the British

  • ATHLETICS: Donald looks to build on Bath half

    JAMES Donald is hoping that the Bath half marathon will be the springboard for a big year ahead, writes Kevin Fahey. The 31-year-old, who works at the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council in North Star Avenue, smashed his personal

  • Greens blitz town’s poll in bid for seats

    THE Green Party will be fielding candidates in every ward at May’s local elections for the first time. Swindon Borough Council seats are up for grabs on May 7, and the Swindon Area Green Party has named 19 candidates. Last night the party launched

  • Harry Potter super-fan on TV after visit from star of hit films

    A HARRY Potter super-fan is to appear on a national documentary – after her favourite character from the films turned up at her Swindon home to interview her. Tina Davies, 56, of Hanson Close, Shaw, will feature in BBC3’s Tom Felton: Meet the Fanatics

  • Artwork bought for 99p sold at auction for £4,200

    WHEN Jo Heaven splashed out on a 99p print in a donation centre, little did she know it would later fetch more than £4,000 at auction. The founder of Empower, which supports various projects in The Gambia, discovered the fabric creation while browsing

  • TRUST MATTERS: When Harry met Sammy

    AS you probably know, at the Trust we're always looking to promote Swindon Town Football Club within the local community, and our main focus is to help bring young families back into the County Ground. Last week, we had a special afternoon in the

  • THE WASHBLOG: Plan B? Might as well ask for unicorn risotto

    ANYONE who has, or has met, a four-year-old child will know the problem: an insatiable desire to ask big questions but little ability to listen to the answers. 'Why is the sky blue? Why is the Earth round? Why were you in a foul mood in bed yesterday

  • Six of the best for Swindon

    SWINDON ladies secured a convincing 6-2 victory over Chippenham in Premier Division 2A of the West Clubs Women’s Hockey League. Their first goal came when Hannah Lewis played in Vicky Stokes to net from close range. Top-scorer Lewis didn’t

  • Varey victorious in Wales

    LEWIS Varey made a successful debut for the newly-formed Cirencester Amateur Boxing Club. The 11-year-old, competing in a 44kg contest, was up against Torfean Warriors’ Leo Jenkins, who had previously won one bout. However, Varey started to

  • Wish come true for cellist in Swindon

    ELGAR’S cello concerto, the familiar melody made famous by Jacqueline Du Pre, has a special meaning for young cellist Tom McMahon. His grandfather gave him a copy before he died, and Tom has always wanted to perform the concerto in his memory,

  • Kaleidoscope of classes in 106th Swindon Music Festival

    IF music is the food of love, as Shakespeare believed, then Swindon fans have a banquet to enjoy, as the 106th town music festival gets underway this month. This year the annual Swindon Music Festival takes place in the Arts Centre, Devizes Road

  • 'Lorry restriction should include our village too'

    A RESTRICTION on lorries trundling through Covingham should be extended to include Wanborough, says the chairman of the parish council there. After campaigning for more than a decade to introduce a weight restriction along Merlin Way, to prevent