CARAVAN owners in Swindon and Wiltshire are being targeted by thieves, prompting police to urge vigilance. Two caravans were stolen from a storage yard in Marlborough Road in Swindon between November 3 and 4 after the thieves cut through padlocks
SANTA has set up his grotto at Swindon Children's Scrapstore ahead of a family-friendly festive fundraiser on Saturday (Dec 16).The event is open to all to attend with something on offer for every age.From meeting the main man himself for £5, which
THE people of Swindon are determined to see their town retain the title of 'flasher capital of the UK' as yet another man exposes himself to innocent bystanders. At around 3.30pm on Thursday, December 7, five girls were walking through the graveyard
A WARNING of ice on Wiltshire roads and pavements has been issued by the Met Office. The yellow 'be aware' warning is in force until 11am on Friday for places including Wiltshire, South Gloucestershire, Bristol and Bath and North East Somerset.
TOP scorer Luke Norris has been ruled out of Swindon Town’s League Two clash at home to Colchester United tomorrow due to injury. The 24-year-old, who has scored nine goals in 19 appearances in all competitions this season, limped off in the second
BRINKWORTH Dairy is no stranger to the pages of The Adver, thanks to their multiple-award winning cheeses. And though I have read much about Ceri Cryer and husband Chad as the secret of their wonderful homemade cheeses has spread, there really is nothing
A POPULAR former headteacher who devoted almost 30 years of his life to helping children at one of Swindon’s special schools has been remembered by old colleagues.Laurie Griffin, who passed away on November 27 after a long illness, was the headteacher
IT’S not every day you see Santa’s sleigh being pulled through Swindon. Staff from family-owned construction firm Beard Swindon dressed up in festive costumes earlier today to travel from Greenbridge retail park to the designer outlet with the
OTTERS, flamingos and penguins were among the animals that enjoyed the snow at Costwold Wildlife Park, but most remained stuck inside as the attraction was shut due to bad weather.Keepers snapped this photo of a red panda curling up to keep warm, but
A GROUP of long-standing Prospect Hospice supporters are celebrating 30 years of fundraising for the local charity and the achievement of raising just shy of £14,000 since the year 2000.Founder member Theresa Collis, 92, and known to her friends as Resa
SARAH SINGLETON looks ahead to an exciting season A NEW season of dance dawns in January with a programme encompassing chalk and friendship, a night at the Echo Point Lighthouse and a journey with a Virago. Swindon Dance has assembled an exciting
The integrity of the EU single market and the preservation of freedom of movement will be non-negotiable in forthcoming talks on Britain’s post-Brexit relationship with its former partners, Michel Barnier has said.The EU’s chief Brexit negotiator told
IT is the night before Christmas and Santa Claus is flying high above the clouds – when his Sat Nav goes haywire and leaves him stranded and lost. Find out how he copes with this potential Christmas catastrophe in seasonal family entertainer, Santa
Singer/songwriter Ross Wilson has won a huge fan base for his band, Blue Rose Code, including Hollywood A-lister Ewan McGregor. The actor was given a copy of their album, The Ballads of Peckham Rye, by his uncle Denis Lawson, star of Local Hero
PADDINGTON Bear is everywhere you turn at the moment. If he’s not joining Hugh Grant in some truly hilarious escapades in his new movie, he’s busy promoting M&S’ Christmas fayre on the telly. And I couldn’t help but think of the little ursine
Lazy Sunday Afternoon is a chilled afternoon of live original folk/roots music with Mr Love & Justice. Each month the Swindon band, led by Steve Cox, invite special guest performers to join them in celebrating all things acoustic. This month's
Last week I ended my column with my hope that there would be further early Christmas presents for Swindon in the shape of more good news. Fortunately for the Borough, I do have another positive announcement.This week I was delighted that Forward Swindon
THE one and only Chesney Hawkes is to headline Minety Music Festival in 2018 and tickets are on sale now. The festival is to raise funds for the Wiltshire Air Ambulance, Combat Stress and Naomi House and Jacksplace Hospice. Following on from
From The Communards to communion, the Reverend Richard Coles flaunts his own unique vicar style. He talks to Joe Nerssessian about The Walking Dead, Strictly Come Dancing and how he is praying for the return of punk. The Reverend Richard Coles
I ALWAYS look forward to music coming from Phil Wilson and The Raft and the fact that their work rate is so vibrant means that you never have too long to wait for such musical treats. And why do I look forward to them so much? Well, it is that
STRICTLY dancer Kristina Rihanoff is taking to the stage in her own show, alongside her long-term dance partner and another favourite from the TV series, Robin Windsor. Dance To The Music, a whirlwind tour through the decades from the roaring 20s
FLICKY HARRISON reports on the legendary music star, who is all set to bring his songs and stories to the Wyvern Theatre ROCK ‘n’ roll star Joe Brown has the world of circus running in his veins, as his grandfather performed with the legendary
WE’VE had the first snow, a lot of people have their decorations up and there is even a bottle of Amaretto on the drinks shelf but of course it isn’t really Christmas until you have watched Alan Rickman plummet from the top of the Nakatomi Plaza!
Swindon 1951: The story of Christmas was told at the annual Overseas Missionary Meeting at Manchester Road Methodist Church, Swindon. The story was told in a series of tableaux and Carols. Forty people attended and a prayer was then read by Rev
NO Wiltshire Christmas would be complete without a generous helping of Christmas markets, festive shows, carols and concerts, parties, shopping, light festivals and more. Plus eat, drink and be merry with Christmas lunches, mince pies, mulled wine,
STEPHEN DAVY-OSBORNE escapes the rat race in a beautifully unspoilt corner of France THE Val de Loire is famed for its fantastic wines, unrivalled chateaux heralding an era of regal France, and bountiful orchards that line the banks of the river
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Sarah Singleton looks at this week's stage shows in Swindon EastEnders star leaves the Square for the highseas of panto WICKED pirate captain James T Hook – otherwise known as Adam Woodyatt or Eastenders’ Ian Beale – continues his on-stage
A DEDICATED St John Ambulance volunteer has been given an early Christmas present to mark 20 years of helping others. This week, Ray Hinson, who is a science technician at Kingsdown School, was bestowed as a Member of the Order of St John after
A FAKE cabbie who sexually assaulted a woman he picked up in the town centre after pretending to be her taxi has been jailed for four years. Ibrahim Gediklioglu was cruising round at night looking for drunk female revellers to pick up so he could
AN opportunist thief stole a bank card after a distracted mother accidentally left it in a self-service till at Tesco in Freshbrook.The victim was shopping at the store between 6.20 and 6.30pm on November 1 and was paying for her shopping when her child
The Bristol Hippodrome has opened its doors to a star-studded pantomime, Aladdin, produced by QDOS Entertainment. The fairy tale world of old lamps, wishes, genies and magic rings is brought stunningly to life by squeaky voiced comedy veteran Joe Pasquale
“Don’t worry, you won’t even notice the puppeteers after a while,” one of my friends told me when I voiced my apprehension at seeing Michael Morpurgo’s beloved novel on stage without so much as a strand of real horsehair in sight. I don’t think
SWINDON should back a “once-in-a-generation” bid for a new cancer fighting unit, a hospital boss has said. Catherine Newman, head of fundraising at the Great Western Hospital, has urged people to get behind the radiotherapy appeal. The hospital
MOST families will wake up on Christmas Day looking forward to opening presents and enjoying a leisurely dinner. But one Walcot family face a chilly morning dip in the sea – before the fun of Christmas can begin. The Hazells are taking to the seas around
A KNITTING group has created some colourful Christmas decorations out of yarn to brighten up a stretch of a Swindon main road.Swindon Stitch and Bitch’s Christmas Stitches yarn bomb can be seen along part of Mead Way outside the front of the Excalibur
A CARER who fleeced a man out of thousands of pounds has been warned she could be facing a jail term.Grandma Jill Lewis pleaded guilty to three counts of fraud when she appeared before a judge at Swindon Crown Court.The 50-year-old, of Willows Avenue,
A 51-year-old man from Swindon has been given an 18-week suspended sentence after breaking a restraining order for the 11th time. Jan Jevdet, of Roseberry Street, admitted the charge after he was found at an address that he was prohibited from
A 52-year-old man must pay £20 to victim services after pleading guilty to threatening harm to himself and others. Michael Cryan, of Somerville Road, in Swindon, has been given a six-month conditional discharge after admitting that on December
A CHARITY which offers refuge to women victims of domestic abuse was delighted to receive toys from Wilson Tool International. Helen Armitage and Faith Werritt presented bags full to the brim with toys to Karen Jacklyn, of Swindon Women’s Aid,
WILTSHIRE Police Force has been rated ‘Good’ for the way it treats the public following the publication of a report. The Police Legitimacy report highlights the force’s commitment to treating both the public and its employees with fairness and
SINGING, dancing and Santa Claus himself got revellers into the Christmas spirit at a festival in St John’s Church on Friday. Families flocked to the church with their little ones to sing carols, browse the stalls, have waffles and coffee and visit
A 10-year-old girl from Purton has raised more than £1,000 for a charity that makes wigs for young cancer patients. Abi Sherratt had 30cm of her hair cut off and donated to the Little Princess Trust on Saturday, along with £1,413 from sponsorship
MACMILLAN Cancer Support gave out £36,000 worth of grants last year to help people in Swindon struggling with the financial hardship that cancer can bring. With hundreds of cancer patients in Swindon relying on charity handouts to stay above the
HOSPITAL chiefs have welcomed news that trouble-hit Carillion will quit GWH. The company, which has in the past been accused of failing to meet hygiene standards and bullying staff, managed GWH’s facilities - including cleaning and catering contracts
THE three finalists for the Coach/Manager of the Year award, sponsored by Swindon’s Bus Company, have all seen their charges secure glory on the national stage. For Swindon Robins speedway boss ALUN ROSSITER, the glorious charge of his side in
A CHEEKY cat who made himself comfortable in a stranger’s home and ended up getting stuck in the ceiling has been reunited with his owner. Stelio was recognised after the tale of his rescue by firefighters was highlighted in the Advertiser.
THE state of Swindon’s secondary schools got another bashing from Ofsted’s regional director yesterday despite the town’s primary school results being some of the most improved in the country.The comments were made after the education regulator published
The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has announced the results of its November 2017 survey this week. After a flatline of momentum in the housing market, both in price and activity, they have reported a new found stability. Although the near
A MAN whose girlfriend got into a row with a group of men in the car park of the Swindon pub she had come to collect him from stupidly decided to drive her home himself, the town’s magistrates heard on Wednesday.Ross Kenneth David Pontin, 27, pleaded
THE chance to find true love often only happens once in a lifetime but Joan Grant has managed to find romance for a second time with her Mr Wright. Joan, 81, and 90-year-old Ted Wright first locked eyes 15 years ago when they were on holiday as
RUNAWAY Division One leaders Pinehurst A lost their first match of the season in the Swindon & District Association’s Winter League. Lowly Corsham sprung a big surprise by ending Pinehurst’s run of 10 straight wins by beating them 28-24.
SWINDON Wildcats player-coach Aaron Nell is proud of his side’s superb winning record over the first half of the season, although he admits they are playing catch-up in regard to their league form. The Cats have headed into the two-week winter
SWINDON Robins owner Terry Russell admits he does not yet know if the club will be racing in their proposed new stadium in 2018. Plans for a new venue next door to the club’s existing Abbey Stadium home were first unveiled in 2015 but the project
