SWINDON Robins put a nightmare week off the track behind them to secure all three points with a 51-39 win over Leicester Lions. Grzegorz Zengota scored an impressive 13+1 as he helped Swindon to a solid victory to leave them needing just one more
NEW technology is piling pressure on police digital forensic services and creating backlogs of up to two years in getting evidence for prosecutions. Earlier this month, four police forces in the south west combined their digital forensic units for
BUS users are being reminded of a number of changes to services in and around Swindon which come into force next week.From Tuesday, September 1, changes to Thamesdown services in the town will see additional buses running to and from New College and the
Simon Cowell was sporting some impressive new facial hair at the official launch of the The X Factor 2015 which he said was a symbol of his "sense of freedom". The music mogul joined Cheryl Fernandez-Versini and new judge Nick Grimshaw on the red carpet
A MAN who flailed his belt around as a weapon in a drunken brawl outside a lap-dancing club has been jailed after failing to keep to his probation appointments. Aaron Gleed was handed a four-month suspended jail term in January after a judge heard
OLD Town will take a trip to the sunnier climes of the Far East this week with the launch of a new bar and restaurant.Asian-inspired and themed nightspot Kavali, based in Hooper’s Place, will open its doors this Friday (AUG 28) replacing Italian-Asian
NELL Gifford ran away with the circus. Just 18 years old and poised to read English at Oxford University, she deferred, declared an official gap year and hopped on the caravan trail with Circus Flora in America. From painting lorries to riding
TREE surgeons inspecting the fallen remains of a mighty oak that pre-dates the estate built around it have revealed they are none the wiser as to what caused it to split in half. Residents described the walls of their homes shaking when the tree
THE world’s most iconic painting swapped the Louvre for the Brunel Shopping Centre this week, thanks to a world-renowned 3D artist. At first glance, shoppers could be forgiven for thinking an underground vault had opened up to host the visit of
A THREE-day rail strike this bank holiday weekend will go ahead after talks between union RMT and train operator First Great Western failed to bring about a resolution to a long-running dispute. The union has said that key points in the dispute
"I would join the army again in a heartbeat,” declares Simon Weston, without a moment's hesitation. Had he reconsidered and turned back that fateful day he enlisted at just 16, he may have escaped unscathed. But, as history bore witness, four
PEOPLE are being warned to be on their guard against bogus calls from people claiming to be from Wiltshire Council. Wiltshire Police has received reports from members of the public of nuisance calls recently, in which the caller claims to be from
A SWINDON man has been charged with six counts of sexual assault in connection with a string of sexual exploitation offences in Yeovil between 2009 and 2011. Ahmet Kurtmyemez, 27, is also jointly charged with another man with one count of false
THE migrant crisis in Europe has received a lot of media attention in the last couple of weeks, and as usual there has been a concerning amount of misreporting, writes South Swindon MP Robert Buckland. There is no doubt that the turmoil in parts
FINAL preparations are being made for the second North Swindon Community Fun Day, with organisers promising something for everyone. Last year’s inaugural event saw more than 4,000 people turn out, with organisers hoping this time will be even bigger
Last week’s GCSE results and the varied performances of our local schools started a debate amongst my Cabinet colleagues. One of the downsides of the comparison tables that we publish in the UK is that we tend only to look at what is happening
MEMBERS of the Swindon Down’s Syndrome Group are this week getting to grips with lifesaving firefighting skills as part of a popular week-long course, described by organisers as their “single most rewarding experience”. The group of 16 young people
The Russian State Ballet and Opera House presents Verdi’s opera La Traviata at the Wyvern Theatre on September 16. The opera, which will be sung in Italian with English surtitles, is a haunting tragedy with beautiful arias, which will transport
OVER the past century croquet has been given a bad rap. Snobbish and restricted to the upper classes, who play mallet in one hand, champagne flute in the other - this is unfortunately the widely accepted stereotype.But the Swindon Croquet Club is determined
SOCIAL media-savvy shoopers could be in with the chance of winning £100 to spend in Swindon’s top shopping destinations thanks to the inSwindon BID Company.Shoppers making use of the special summer holiday shuttle service between Swindon Designer Outlet
Over the last year we have had four enthusiastic and highly motivated people interested in a career in wildlife conservation training with us on the Wildlife Skills programme, funded by the Heritage lottery. The four positions are: • Two in
“WE all live in a yellow submarine, a yellow submarine, a yellow submarine...” As I gurgle the Beatles’ classic through a snorkel, I wonder what the Fab Four would make of their lyrics being used to attract the attention of beluga whales. Face
MOST people in Britain are unsure how to help victims of domestic abuse, new figures reveal.A survey conducted by charity Citizens Advice found only one in six people, 16 per cent of the 2,063 respondents would feel comfortable sharing their concerns
A SWINDON-based research council has handed over more than £5 million to help scientists discover new materials which could be used in healthcare.The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), based in North Star Avenue, has awarded a
IBRAHIM Gediklioglu has been cleared of a charge of attempted kidnap following a four-day trial as a jury returned a not guilty verdict after three hours of deliberation. The 24-year-old had stood accused of jumping out of his car in Victoria Road
A TEENAGER has been arrested on suspicion of child abduction after police launched a missing persons inquiry for a 12-year-old girl on Monday.The young girl had been reported missing that afternoon, and was found unharmed by officers in the North Swindon
BENJI Clements is performing at this year’s White Horse Festival. Benji, from Calne, has won support from BBC Introducing and sang at the Royal Albert Hall, as well as singing his own song, called Different, in the BBC Garden for a TV documentary
HALF a century of married life has been kind to Celeste and Pasquale Marcarella after the couple chose Swindon as their adopted home.Celebrating 50 years together in their Golden Wedding anniversary today, the Italian-born couple said love and support
LISTENERS to the talking newspaper will be able to hear the thoughts of the Minister for Disabled People Justin Tomlinson in this week’s edition. The charity provides a weekly recording of the news and other messages for local people with sight
SWINDON groups are celebrating after securing more than £155,000 in funding from The Health Lottery. Grants to the value just over £159,000 have been awarded to Swindon projects by the People’s Health Trust, through the Active Communities scheme
ASHLEY Edenborough has returned to Swindon Supermarine after leaving Evesham United this week. The hot shot striker, who left the Webb’s Wood Stadium side to join the Worcestershire club last summer, has been brought back to bolster the front-line
OVER the past century croquet has been given a bad rap. Snobbish and restricted to the upper classes with mallet in one hand, champagne flute in the other – this is unfortunately the widely accepted stereotype. But the Swindon Croquet Club is determined
With the Bank Holiday Weekend ahead of us there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy some family events around town, events that go way beyond just being about the music. At the time of writing though I am looking out of the window at torrents of rain
TIM ARNOLD - THE SOHO HOBOTim Arnold appeared on the last season of BBC's The Voice, performing a cover of Kate Bush's Running Up That Hill and winning a place on Ricky Wilson's team, but anyone expecting a mainstream album from the singer-songwriter
LIAM Willford, guitarist with indie rock band Coasts, says working on the set of Made In Chelsea was a really surreal experience, but playing at Reading Rock Festival is a dream come true. Coasts are joining a star studded line-up including Metallica
Betfair and Paddy Power are set to merge in a deal that would create one of the world's biggest online betting and gaming companies.Final details are still being worked out, but the companies said the deal had "compelling strategic logic" and
THE new boss of McDonald’s UK has defended zero-hours contracts, saying they help staff stay flexible. Paul Pomroy, UK chief executive of McDonalds, that has a branch in Swindon, said that all his employees were notified of shifts two weeks in
FANTASY is set to meet reality next year as the first Swindon Comic-Con event descends on the town. Next June thousands of fans will flock to the Steam Museum for a two-day event celebrating the best of entertainment and pop culture. Cosplayers
A TASTE of home is set to come to Old Town next month with the launch of a new cafe. Dotty’s Old Town Cafe, run by business partners and couple Graham Rowcliffe and Elizabeth Baylis, will open its doors on September 7. The Devizes Road eaterie
CHISELDON'S Jonny May has been included in England's World Cup squad. Former Royal Wootton Bassett RFC winger May, was included in Stuart Lancaster's 31-man squad for the tournament, which starts next month, with Bath's rugby league convert Sam
BOSSES at the Great Western Hospital have introduced a programme of savings to combat a £18.6m deficit. With demand for services constantly rising, the amount of money coming into the hospital is vastly outstripped by the amount leaving. At
SUNNY spells could return today, although forecasters are still warning of scattered showers and breezes. The Met Office says the torrential storms we've seen in recent days could be at an end. A forecaster said: "It will be a bright and breezy
SWINDON Robins’ Nick Morris has said he got a chill when he heard the extent of Darcy Ward’s injuries. Fellow Aussie and good friend off the track, Morris heard the news of Ward’s accident when he was returning from a meeting with Premier League
A BRACE for player/manager Alan Griffin helped to maintain Malmesbury Vics’ 100 per cent record in the Wiltshire League. Having put 10 past Vale of Pewsey without reply on Saturday, Tuesday night’s affair with Wilts Calne Town was a much closer
LOUISE Hunt has returned from the latest batch of tournaments in mainland Europe celebrating another doubles title, while also reaching back-to-back finals. Wanborough’s Hunt and German partner Katharina Kruger kicked things off by triumphing at
ALUN Rossiter has given a rallying call to Swindon Robins fans to pack the Abbey and show their support for injured Darcy Ward. With the postponement of last night’s trip to King’s Lynn, Swindon face the prospect of a first meeting without their
BEHIND the scenes we are having various meetings and discussing how we can further improve attendances by encouraging more families to the County Ground. Working with the club we are looking at a new discount card that will be rolled out within
SWINDON Town’s Liverpool loanee Jordan Williams has been selected for Wales’ upcoming European Championship qualifiers against Cyprus and Israel. The utility player, who been employed in midfield and defence by Town this season, has been called
TOWN fans have long loved goalkeepers. Look how many have won the player of the season award. Some are still legends, some were mediocre, even back then. Mildenhall, Talia, Evans, Downsborough, Digby, Digby, Digby... You get the idea. So it isn
ON the eve of the biggest challenge of his career Nathan Montague will be spending time in the kitchen of his self-catering apartment in the French Alps. While the Swindon Harrier might prefer to put his feet up to save his legs ahead of the legendary
