A 45-YEAR-old man from Swindon sustained serious chest injuries after coming off his motorcycle in Wharf Road yesterday afternoon. Ambulance teams responded shortly before 1.30pm to reports that a motorbike had crashed on the Wroughton Road.
CASH delivery drivers are to be exempt from parking tickets after a decision by the council last week. As it stands, even though they are carrying highly valuable loads, bullion drivers are not allowed to park on double-yellow lines. If they
HAVING enjoyed a blistering start in front of goal to his second Town stint, things for Jonathan Obika have not been as successful in that department of late. His last goal was an important one, the last-minute winner at Doncaster in mid-March,
MARK Cooper has changed his role at the County Ground from manager to physio as he oversees his squad’s fitness ahead of the play-offs. With hopes of a top-two finish now remote after Saturday’s defeat to Yeovil, the Town boss is intent on giving
A COMMUNITY radio station could go permanently off-air in as little as three months, unless further funding is found. Swindon 105.5FM, which has broadcast across town airwaves since 2008, needs to raise £40,000 each year to operate and is embarking
ED Byrne is poised to return to Swindon this autumn with a brand new show. The Irish comedian (no, not the bald one - the other one) will bring his latest tour Outside Looking In to the Wyvern Theatre on Thursday, November 19. As an observational
A SWINDON singer with a number-one single to his name will perform in a charity rock concert to raise awareness of Crohn’s disease. Pinehurst singer Josh Kumra, who topped the charts in 2011 with his Wretch32 collaboration, Don’t Go, will headline
A SWINDON firm has been given a royal seal of approval in the form of a Queen’s Award for Enterprise. BG Automotive (BGA), which is based on the Cheney Manor Industrial Estate, has been handed the award — which is regarded as the highest accolade
FORMER parish council offices in Stratton have been signed over to Swindon Youth For Christ, which has re-opened the building as a community centre. Earlier this month, the Swindon branch of the youth organisation signed a lease with Stratton St
PARKINSON’S Awareness Week kicked off when the Swindon roadshow visited British Home Stores yesterday. Parkinson’s is a progressive neurological condition which affects the nerve cells of the brain and it is estimated 127,000 people suffer from
LOVELY by name as well as by nature, Bunny Pumpkin Boutique and The Emporium Of Loveliness is the latest shop to open up in the tented market. On Saturday, April18, crowds flocked to the new store for the opening ceremony with Miss Wiltshire, Nicole
SWINDON-based building society Nationwide has received a five-star rating on the Corporate Responsibility Index. Published today, the study, overseen by organisation Business in the Community, helps firms manage and instigate responsible practices
A MOTORCYCLIST in his 40s has been flown to hospital with serious injuries after coming off his bike on Wharf Road, Wroughton. The road was closed from the Mill Road end to Blooms Garden Centre as police and ambulance dealt with the incident, which
SEVEN vehicles were clamped and two seized as part of a Operation Hornblower day of action. The North Swindon neighbourhood policing team were out in force working with Tri force, DVLA and traffic police on Friday. They used their equipment
THERE is still time for teams to take the boat by the horns and enter this year’s Swindon Dragon Boat Race. The annual event, now in its third year, will take place at Coate Water Country Park, on Sunday, June 28. So far, nine teams have registered
SOME patients at the Great Western Hospital will now be able to access the internet for free after new hotspots were launched. As well as offering access to patients and staff, the hospital is also offering 15 minutes of free wi-fi to visitors.
WE salute the magnificent courage Danielle and Amanda Brown have shown in working to help fellow survivors of sexual abuse. As we reveal today, the two are to take part in the Walkley Midnight Walk along the Ridgeway. Their chosen charity is
SWINDON Guide Dogs for the Blind held a collection at Sainsbury’s store in the Brunel Centre on Saturday. Through the generosity of the customers of the store we managed to raise £394. This will help to pay for six full working harnesses for our
I HAVE no problem with Ron Chadwick (“Man on a mission” – Advertiser, April 18) removing ivy from trees – it is a good idea – but now is not the time to do it. This is the peak time for many birds (and some of our mammals) to be building nests, and
I WAS upset when I saw your article about Ron Chadwick removing ivy from trees in Lawn Woods and I find it particularly distressing that he intends to form a group to remove it in large quantities. He is obviously well intentioned but what he intends
IN RESPONSE to Mr Jhavinda Kazim’s letter published in the Swindon Advertiser on 27 March, I have great sympathy with his desires. They are not new. Most minority groups want to govern themselves. Certainly this was a desire expressed by the Afro-Americans
FOLLOWING closely on the sex scandals involving the Metropolitan Police, we are now informed that a burglar alarm activated in a building known to be housing millions of pounds worth of valuables was not responded to by police. Why has the head
NEXT year is the 175th anniversary of the Swindon Railway Works and there are going to be a number of activities and celebrations. I have an idea which may be of interest. If the railway works hooter is recommissioned it could be sounded at what
THE one-year anniversary has just passed relating to the 219 mostly Christian Nigerian schoolgirls who were kidnapped by Boko Haram. Boko Haram is an Islamist group which is trying to set up an Islamic state in northern Nigeria. None of the
"NO-CARBON development, green development and sustainable development is the path we should take.” Who said that? A spokesperson for the Green Party? No – it was the vice-premier of China Zhang Gaoli speaking in Beijing on March 22 this year. At
I WAS heartened to see the inadequate bicycle racks outside Swindon Train Station forecourt had been replaced. The old ones were positioned far too close to the wall and were on such a slant that your bike toppled over as soon as you walked away from
THERE’S still time to join charity Meningitis Now on an exhilarating and scenic adventure to climb eight Lake District peaks and help conquer meningitis. As an incentive to sign up, we’ve reduced the minimum pledge from £600 to just £480. All proceeds
IS IT not about time that the nation’s heritage was transferred from the Queen’s palaces to our museums and art galleries where it really belongs and one wouldn’t have to pay extortionate entry fees to view them? A House of Commons public accounts
PC RONNIE Lungu has recently won a tribunal case that said he was discriminated against because of the colour of his skin. The tribunal has ruled that his achievements were downgraded by the Wiltshire Police Force in order to favour white applicants
IN RESPONSE to SATS resits of April 10, proposals to force children to resit failed Year 6 exams at secondary schools have been slammed by Swindon educators. Their judgement is sound and absolutely correct. Contrary to the pledge that the proposal
THE proposed pavilion at the park in Faringdon Road is just the type of project the place needs. There was a time some years ago when the park was a no-go area for countless local people who had every right to use it. People visiting during
ROGER Lack is right to say things are skewed over race. Where he is wrong is his racist interpretation of this. When Lee Rigby was brutally murdered, the police were on the scene straight away and arrested the murderers, who were tried, convicted and
THE World Wildlife Fund is calling on people of all ages to make a stand for nature, and Wear It Wild on Friday, June 5. We’re challenging the nation to dress as wild as they dare - whether sporting animal-print socks at work, leopard leotards
THANK you for printing the article regarding the Freegard’s battle with Parkinson’s Disease. This resonated strongly with me, as my mum has been a sufferer of Parkinson’s for over 10 years now. Mum’s diagnosis was only picked up when she was being
I MUST draw to the attention of readers the deplorable decision by the Crown Prosecution Service to intervene and drop the case of Aisling Hubert, a 21-year-old pro life campaigner who launched a private prosecution against two doctors who were filmed
AT LAST some common sense. About four years ago in Telford, Staffordshire, a group of 16 to 17 year olds decided to burgle a school. They climbed on to the roof, caused no end of damage and mayhem, when one of the youths crashed through a skylight
AND so it continues. When leisure facilities across this borough were hived off to the private sector like ballast being discarded from a troubled hot air balloon, certain assurances were given. Among them, as we recall, were several promises
TODAY is the last day which people can register to vote in next month’s local and general elections. A new system of registration was introduced last year meaning every person eligible to vote must register themselves. Previously it was the
PREDICTIONS LEAGUE : March Results and Updates Hi everyone. I am trying my best to get up to date with all the results, but I have had a major upturn in workload, something to do with the upcoming General Election. I have been told all my life
FORMER Swindon Robins rider Dakota North will make a temporary return to the side as a guest away at King's Lynn on Wednesday. The Poole Pirates rider will be joined by Chris Harris, of Coventry Bees, to replace Adrian Miedzinski, who is out with
A MAN who is to face trial by jury accused to trying to kidnap a woman has been remanded in custody by a judge. Ibrahim Gediklioglu is said to have tried to take the woman against her will on Saturday, March 21. The 24-year-old, of Woolaton
FIRE crews rushed to TE Connectivity on Cheney Manor Industrial Estate in Swindon this morning after reports of a blaze. As the premises is used to store chemicals, a hazardous materials attendance was mobilised from Salisbury, with three fire
CALLS have been made to make The Park in Faringdon Road secure to pave the way for a possible £100,000 pavilion project. The Mechanics Institute Trust have been working on initiatives in the park since 2002 when complaints about the lack of facilities
Here’s the big national news stories you’re waking up to this morning. Oasis to reform? Definitely maybe... Rumours continue to grow that Liam and Noel Gallagher have made peace and Oasis will soon be back together. It is thought the
ONE of Old Town’s oldest businesses and Swindon’s only remaining coal merchant is to close its doors after 114 years. Cousins Ken and John Wilmer, who co-own J Wilmer Coal Merchants in Signal Way, made the difficult decision to sell the family
METAL phenomenon Babymetal will grace the main stage at the Reading and Leeds Festivals. The trio - Su-Metal, Yuimetal and Moametal will perform at the events, which take place over the August bank holiday weekend. "The trio are gaining fans
IN KEEPING with the recent good weather Wiltshire can expect a sunny and bright Monday. Peak temperatures are expected to reach 16°C with a minimal chance of rain. There aren’t any major incidents on the region’s roads but commuters travelling
THE final acts for this year's Two Thousands Trees Festival have been revealed. Errors, Skinny Lister, Honeyblood, Kiran Leonard, ROAM, Tax the Heat, Boy Jumps Ship and Oh Boy! complete the line-up for the festival, which runs from July 9 to 11
Star Wars fans rejoice as this is the first look at Han Solo and Chewbacca's scenes in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. They appear in a teaser trailer for the movie, which will hit cinemas in December.
BRAVE sisters who faced years of sexual abuse at the hands of their stepfather before finally bringing him to justice will urge victims to speak out and seek emotional support when they take part in a charity walk this summer. Danielle and Amanda
KELVIN Young can now look forward to fulfilling a lifelong dream of boxing at the York Hall after claiming the first stoppage win of his professional career. The Penhill pugilist heads to the home of British boxing on June 13 to face Kevin Greenwood
BEING a Swindon Town is not good for the heart rate. Emotions swing from wild joy to bitter disappointment on a weekly basis at the moment. Up until 4.10pm on Saturday, Town’s week was on a sharp upward curve. A thumping 4-2 win at Spotland
UPON his return to the County Ground with new club Yeovil, former Town boss Paul Sturrock took no extra pleasure in having got one over his old team. Sturrock got Town promoted from League Two in 2007 and still speaks highly of the club he left
SKIPPER Troy Batchelor is set to be missing in action for the Swindon Robins again this week after aggravating his injuries in the farcical Grand Prix Series opener on Saturday. Batchelor failed to register a point at the event in Warsaw as he
FOR Town boss Mark Cooper, Saturday’s shock defeat to Yeovil means he can now switch all his focus on getting his team ready for the first leg of the play-offs. Other results in League One mean Town cannot finish lower than fourth, a sizeable achievement
A MOTOCROSS rider who is facing months out of the sport after breaking his back in a crash has been dealt another blow after the theft of his beloved motorbikes. Three bikes and a raft of spare parts, estimated to be worth between £30,000 and £40,000
BOTH Hop, Skip and Jump and DASH were offered a lifeline on Friday when fundraising body Swindon Cares announced they would both benefit from grants during the next two years. After it was established in 2003, Swindon Cares has managed to raise
CAR manufacturer Honda has roared to glory as the UK’s most reliable used car manufacturer for the ninth consecutive year. The Japanese firm, which has its UK plant based in South Marston, retained its crown in the poll conducted by What Car? Magazine
DESSERT parlour Kaspa’s is enjoying the sweet taste of success again after improving on a poor hygiene rating. In January the Clarence Street eatery scored a one out of five rating following an inspection by Swindon Borough Council. The findings
Mario Bretti, 64, is probably Swindon’s best known ice cream man, having founded his business in 1973. He lives in Upper Stratton and is married to Vicki. The couple have two daughters, a son and a granddaughter “SOME of my older customers
SHOWJUMPER Sarah Wardle has been selected to take part in a sponsorship scheme aimed at helping her pursue her dream in the sport. The 24-year-old rider has been selected for Leg Up For Talent and is now calling for supporters to help her secure
