Archive

  • Drug supply offences put two in jail

    THESE are the two Swindon men who have been sentenced to a total of nine years for class-A drug offences. Michael Hambidge, 25, from Ripon Way, Park South, and James Bradley, a 22-year-old carpet fitter from Barrington Close, Liden, were found guilty

  • NON-LEAGUE FOOTBALL: Collier crushed by latest loss

    THE usually pragmatic Mark Collier was virtually inconsolable after watching his Supermarine side slip to an undeserved derby defeat tonight. The 2-1 reverse at rivals Oxford City proved a bitter pill to swallow after Marine had dominated the Southern

  • Ailing Mike keeps aiming for records at another world record

    RECORD-BREAKER Mike Buss has set his sights on his next world record while still nursing injuries from his previous feat. The 35-year-old physical training instructor, from Highworth, has said he wants to break the 10km speed record for running with

  • Swindon residents set to benefit from free wireless internet

    SWINDON is to become the first town in the UK to offer free wireless internet to all residents. The new £1m Swindon Council scheme will debut in Highworth next month and roll out to the whole borough by April. After signing up, residents will receive

  • School is given a good report now

    A SECONDARY school which once failed to meet Government targets has turned itself around, according to Government inspectors. Nova Hreod was given a notice to improve during its last Ofsted inspection, but now inspectors say it is on the up. The education

  • A political tool or a real threat?

    TO say there have been some dark days at the County Ground over the past decade (and beyond) is something of an understatement. From Terry Brady to BEST Holdings, and Bill Power to Bob Holt, Swindon Town have never been too far away from off-the-pitch

  • Letter from Roger Foord

    HAVING been a long term Town supporter - I now live in Hertfordshire - I have been researching information from the Advertiser for my cousin, also ex Swindonian, Terry Lloyd for his birthday from 1939. With the Town’s reported problems today I thought

  • Letter from Julie Hughes

    HAS anyone found a Burma Star Association badge in the street in Purton? One of our members lost his while walking between The Cedars and the war memorial on Remembrance Sunday November 8. It means a lot to him and he is very keen to be reunited with

  • Letter from Ken Leon

    IN Emma Streatfield’s report on the burnt out bungalow at Barbury Castle, Saturday, Oct 31, Roger Hayes was right when he said Swindon Council cannot run a rural small holding. The Wilts County Council’s small holdings were started after the First World

  • Gravel company fined for dumping at Cotswold Water Park

    A gravel company which deposited waste soils illegally at the Cotswold Water Park site in Gloucestershire has today been fined £10,000. The company director was also given a 12 month conditional discharge. Moreton C Cullimore (Gravels) Limited, and its

  • Chat to your local police team

    TOWN centre residents will have four opportunities to meet with their policing team next month. The Swindon Town Centre Neighbourhood Policing Team will be holding the sessions throughout December to answer any questions or queries people living in the

  • Meeting Chris Higgins at Nova Hreod

    At Period 2 all the girls that were chosen to watch the amazing author had to go into the theatre. At first some of us didn’t know what we were going there for but when we saw her and she explained who she was we knew. She explained what some of her

  • Meeting Patrick Ness

    Last year during the Swindon Literature Festival, when I met Kate Cann, I left feeling optimistic and inspired. Today when I went to see Patrick Ness was no different. He was friendly, open and surprisingly normal which just goes to show that the names

  • Friday the 13th but a good time was had by all

    On Friday 13th of November, the students of Nova Hreod went to see the author Darren Shan at the Wyvern Theatre. Before we got on the bus, all the students coming on the trip met in the LRC. Ms Slaven-Holder spoke us about behaviour and expectations

  • Spreading the word in Swindon

    As part of the Swindon Ten Youth Festival of Literature several schools throughout Swindon gathered for book signings, workshops and other events all aimed at getting young people interested in reading and writing. One of these events, attended by

  • The ecstasy of meeting Darren

    We went to the Wyvern Theatre, to see Darren Shan, author of the Demonata series and Darren Shan saga. We all really like his books and, and were ecstatic to meet him. He read us an extract of ‘Lord Loss’ and then asked for volunteers. Gabby got

  • Darren Shan – Horror Hero

    On Friday the 13th November at 9.30a.m., students from a wide variety of secondary and primary schools witnessed Darren Shan in the Wyvern Theatre. He spoke about his Darren Shan Saga, and a bit about the movie. He also spoke about the Demonata

  • Sarah Singleton at Greendown

    Sarah Singleton, renowned Gothic author, visited Greendown Community School on Wednesday 11th November to inspire and inform Year 8 pupils about Gothic writing. When she came she helped us to write our own Gothic story openings and taught us about

  • Reviewing Darren Shan...

    Our review of the Darren Shan Show! Megan Ward from 7A says…. It was a fun experience I got to learn more about Darren Shan and his books than I knew before. I liked it when he read an extract from two of his books, ‘Cirque du Freak’ and ‘Lord

  • Darren Shan reads in a cool voice

    Today we went to the Wyvern Theatre to see Darren Shan, as part of the Swindon Ten Youth Festival of Literature. It was a really good experience and I enjoyed it very much. My favourite part was when he read out a part of Book One in the Demonata

  • The start of a story

    The girl stands observing the velvet green curtains this was where her mum last stood looking out into the rainbow garden. Now so dull and empty; no rainbow colours anymore. She rubbed her cold, hard white fingers over the orange rusty key, wondering

  • Gothic Story Writing, inspired by the Sarah Singleton visit

    Glaring wide-eyed, the old man stroked the glass dome, hypnotized by the light streaming off it. A cold shiver ran down his spine; goose bumps pushed to the surface of his skin; “Brian” The old man sharply turned behind him. Who said my name

  • Gothic tales...

    Chilling, the icy, winter air whips the pale child’s delicate skin. Alone in her cold, bare room. Her head a spinning whirlpool of lonely words, broken phrases; but she can’t put them together. As night creeps up on her, she cuddles up to the blood

  • A Gothic Story, inspired by Sarah Singleton

    The glowing moon spills through the cracks of the hunched trees. Sharp winds blow at her lifeless face. In her hand, the key. Rusty and old – but as new as the moon. Suddenly something brusher past her skinny legs – unsettling the air! What was that

  • School may open on temporary site

    A NEW school may open a year early to cope with a shortage of places in Old Town. The East Wichel Primary School, which was originally due to open in September 2011, could now open this September instead if a Swindon Council proposal goes ahead. But

  • The fastest story...

    Ever thought of writing a story in a day? Well, students from Swindon have done just that! Six schools:- Commonweal, Swindon Academy, Dorcan, Kingsdown, Warneford, and Greendown - have all taken part in an exciting event to write possibly the fastest

  • Spreading the word

    On the 10th of November, 3 schools from Swindon (Greendown Community, Isambard and Nova Hreod) took part in a reading day called “Spread the word” at the library in Greendown School. Groups of bookworms from each school were chosen to read 4 different

  • Anthony McGowan: Murder, Hell and a Brain Tumour

    Teen author, Anthony McGowan, visited Highworth Warneford School on Thursday 12th November to speak with year 9 students about his life and becoming an author. He told the audience about himself; where he grew up (Leeds) and what inspired him to

  • Quizzing Darren Shan at the Wyvern

    Filled with over four hundred students from eleven different schools, the Wyvern Theatre is packed full to see Darren Shan. The first speaker explained why the crowd was gathered there and talked a bit about Darren Shan. He also called up the two organisers

  • Spread the word at Greendown

    On Tuesday, a group of students from Isambard and Nova Hreod went to join fellow students at Greendown in a book debate called "Spread the Word". They had all read four pre-selected novels and got together to discuss their thoughts and to vote for their

  • Kate Cann gets honest at Isambard

    On Wednesday 11 November 2009, the amazing Kate Cann visited our school. For me it was a great change to scoot off in a girly group to the library for a sizzling workshop and to meet her! First of all, she told us how she started off as an Editor, checking

  • The Saturday Bunch

    The popular Saturday morning craft sessions at All Saints church hall have now been given a name. The Saturday Bunch will meet this Saturday 21st November from 11am until 12 noon at All Saints church hall in Southbrook Street. Parents are welcome to

  • Enter your pet into our Christmas competition

    It’s time to launch our Swindon Advertiser Christmas Pet Idol 2009 competition. We’re in search of the area’s cutest and most lovable Christmas pet. Petshed Ltd in Hay Lane, Wroughton are supplying us with the prize – £80 worth of vouchers for the

  • History: Keith hit the target nine times in two games

    Forty-four years ago this week, striker Keith East was certainly the talk of the Town. On successive Saturdays at the County Ground in mid-November 1965, he hit a total of nine goals. But before then he struggled to get into the side – and Town had

  • Children's charity targeted for fifth time

    A CHILDREN’S charity was targeted again by yobs for the fifth consecutive weekend. Staff from the Wroughton Youth Adventure charity chased off yobs who threatened to cause more vandalism at the Legge House Conference Centre on Saturday night. One man

  • Youngsters given a voice through film

    TEENAGERS from Swindon have starred in a documentary style film that offers a snapshot of today’s education system. The five pupils, who all attended schools in Swindon, appear in the feature-length film entitled We Are the People We’ve Been

  • New bid to stop the wife beaters

    A NUMBER of controversial proposals have been made by Wiltshire’s Chief Constable Brian Moore to track serial wife-beaters to protect their victims. Men who repeatedly abuse women could have their movements and activities followed under plans to combat

  • Album Of The Week Slade Live At The BBC

    Album Of The Week Slade Live At The BBC Feel The Noise remastered This is a 2CD set covering the years 1969 to 1972 when Slade were at their height. The guys are so much more than Merry Christmas Everybody, not that there is anything wrong with

  • Letter from John Hughes

    THIS morning I parked in the multi storey park adjoining House of Fraser. I checked the menu of prices before leaving the car park. It advised the charge was £1.20 for the first hour. On my return 20 minutes later I inserted my parking ticket and was

  • Letter from Fred Sheppard

    PLEASE don’t get me wrong but there is never any mention about the Cyprus trouble in the 1950s, where 371 service personnel were killed by the guerrilla organization EOKA. I was out there while the trouble was on in the Wiltshire Regiment we also had

  • Letter from Allan Thipthorpe

    ONE of your readers recently wrote about the factories and record players made by the Garrard Engineering Group factories worldwide. Shame on you sir, you failed to mention the famous Garrard chiming clocks that were tested in a small workshop at 28 Marlborough

  • MP Ann is new bullying helpline patron

    MP ANN Widdecombe has become patron of the Swindon-based National Bullying Helpline charity. Miss Widdecombe, pictured, said in a letter to the charity: “I very much hope your project is successful because I think that where genuine bullying is taking

  • Letter from Mrs L Townsend

    I HOPE when they have finished in the town centre, that all the disruption will be worth it (I very much doubt it). I feel sorry for anyone who works in the shops, along Canal Walk, and have to listen to drills going all day, especially at this time

  • The inter-schools book quiz

    On the 9th of November 12 schools took place a book quiz held at Dorcan technology school. It was the start of a week’s festival of books in Swindon. Twelve schools took part in it. The questions ranged from story openings to werewolves and monsters

  • Letter from Paul J Warburton

    AS a regular frequenter of Old Town’s public houses and restaurants, I feel aggrieved to write to you concerning the decline to one of Swindon’s oldest areas. It is astonishing how such an historic and popular part of Swindon has deteriorated. Many

  • An Interview with Joe Craig

    On Wednesday 11th November Joe Craig the author of the Jimmy Coates books visited Churchfields School. He talked to all of Year 7 about how he writes his books and how he comes up with ideas for his stories. He asked the audience for ideas that he could

  • Sophie McKenzie at St Joseph’s Catholic College

    On Wednesday the 11th of November Sophie McKenzie, the award-winning author, made a visit to our college. It was a fantastic experience, as we all love her novels very much. Earlier this year we wrote the beginning of our own book, about two young girls

  • Darren Shan at the Wyvern Theatre

    Students from the schools involved in the Swindon 10 Youth Festival of Literature were invited along to the Wyvern Theatre to meet gothic children's author Darren Shan. Shan, who moved from London to Ireland as a child, has written two large book series

  • Bali Rai’s visit to Kingsdown School

    It’s not every day you get to meet successful world-known authors and I’m sure the 12th of November was a day that current year 9 pupils won’t be forgetting about in a hurry. Bali Rai , author of several successful books including ‘(un)arranged marriage

  • Hammer Case: Detective could find no evidence of racism

    The hammer attack on schoolboy Henry Webster was not racially motivated, a Swindon police detective said. Inspector Mark Wilkinson – who headed the Operation Dakota investigation into the January 2007 attack at the Ridgeway Foundation School

  • Be fair with fares, train bosses told

    TRAIN bosses have been accused of “spinning” price increases after claiming fares will remain largely the same – while also admitting one Swindon fare is rising by 15 per cent. The Association of Train Operators yesterday released a statement claiming

  • Open Doors

    You are invited to join us at Stratton Green Baptist Church on Thurs mornings 10.00am-12.00pm for coffee, tea or hot chocolate with cake, biscuits and chat. Come in to 'chill out' and 'warm up'

  • Lorraine Chase will switch Christmas lights on

    CHRISTMAS will be up and running in the town centre with the switch on of festive lights this week. The Christmas Illuminations at Wharf Green will be on Thursday November 19. From 6.30pm BBC Wiltshire’s Sandy Martin will be under the Big Screen to get

  • Time for dads and their children

    Dads, would you like to spend some quality time with your children and give 'mum' a break on Saturdays? Are you a single dad short of cash and ideas? Come to Stratton Green Baptist Church Hall, Swindon Road on Sat 21 Nov and Sat 19 Dec 11.00am-2.00pm

  • Free wireless internet for all Swindon residents

    PEOPLE in Swindon will soon be getting their hands on free internet access thanks to a new council-run scheme. Swindon Council is planning to make the town the first in the UK to provide free internet access for all its residents. The council has

  • Prior Park pupils prepare to be Barbarians

    Three talented boys from Prior Park Prep School in Cricklade have fought off fierce competition to be chosen to represent the South West in the Independent Prep Schools Barbarians Rugby championships. Joe Beckett, Alex Hall and Kieran Kelly were selected

  • NORTH WILTS YOUTH LEAGUE: Six of the best

    CROFT Juniors B led the way in the North Wilts League at the weekend - scoring 17 times in their victory over Northern Lights S. Josh West’s double hat-trick spearheaded the win with Brad Ford notching five and Liam Flanagan four. Ben Pinchon also got

  • Bid to get help for young sex victims

    CHILD sex trafficking is becoming a big problem for the south west and councils in the region have been criticised by children’s charity Barnardo’s for not doing enough for victims. More than 80 per cent of local authorities across the UK are not providing

  • Spitfires' unbeaten run comes to an end

    SWINDON Spitfires suffered their first defeat in six matches as they lost 3-2 to Cleeve Town in South West Regional Eastern Division One. A much-improved side since Spitfires last met them, Cleeve took the lead after two minutes. Spitfires in turn pushed

  • "We are leaving north Swindon" – Motorola

    MOTOROLA’s future in Swindon hangs in the balance after the company admitted it is pulling out of its North Swindon base. The firm has committed to retaining a presence in the town but refused to comment on whether its full compliment about

  • ROWING: Steve Ned-grave!

    ACCORDING to one of this country’s most famous literary characters, “There is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats”. Far be it from me to disagree with Ratty, the loveable water vole from “The Wind

  • SWINDON & DISTRICT LEAGUE: Queensfield survive rain to progress

    TORRENTIAL rain and high winds wiped out many of the District League and cup fixtures at the weekend, with all but two games being postponed. In the Advertiser Cup, Queensfield entertained Showroom Finish with the home team mastering the conditions better

  • RUNNING: Fisher wins the Avebury 8

    TOM Fisher emerged triumphant at the Avebury 8 multi-terrain race on Sunday. He finished 17 seconds ahead of Swindon Harrier Heath Bampton, while Simon Green of Wootton Bassett Hounds completed the podium places. Freya Bloor won the women

  • SWINDON SUNDAY LEAGUE: Penhill are lords of The Manor

    AFTER a significant amount of weekend rainfall, waterlogged pitches reduced the league programme to a handful of games. In Division One, a Blaine Fitzgerald hat-trick put Penhill into top spot with a 3-0 win over The Manor. A brace from Steve Avenall

  • Loan scrap goes under spotlight

    A ROW between Swindon Town and a developer over an alleged £2.5m debt has spilled out into public. The long-running dispute between Town and property development firm St Modwen has led to accusations in a national newspaper yesterday that the club could

  • Children on school bus escaped death by inches

    SCHOOLCHILDREN survived by ‘the grace of God’ last night after a tractor almost tore off the roof of a double-decker bus. One teenage girl had to be airlifted to Great Western Hospital (GWH) after she was cut from the upper deck by emergency

  • Tozer linked with Town return

    TOWN are considering making an approach to bring Ben Tozer back to the County Ground, the Swindon Advertiser can exclusively reveal. Chairman Andrew Fitton is believed to be keen on recruiting the teenage centre-back from Newcastle United either

  • A political tool or a real threat?

    TO say there have been some dark days at the County Ground over the past decade (and beyond) is something of an understatement. From Terry Brady to BEST Holdings, and Bill Power to Bob Holt, Swindon Town have never been too far away from off-the-pitch