BEMUSED residents want answers over Swindon Council’s ‘wasteful’ decision to build a £500,000 temporary school which is being used by only a handful of children. The temporary East Wichel Primary School was built at the site of Croft Sports Centre to
STAFF and volunteers at Swindon Children’s Scrapstore returned to work yesterday, only three weeks after their former base was destroyed by fire. The environmental charity was forced to move out of its old premises on Cheney Manor Industrial Estate after
BROWNIES have done their best and finished a video which they made to mark a special birthday. The 3rd Stratton St Margaret Brownies have filmed their own version of The Brownie Story and uploaded it online to mark the centenary of Girl Guiding. About
SWINDON may be losing the battle to shed its reputation as “teenage pregnancy capital”. The latest full-year figures show the number of expectant teenagers, aged 15 to 17, fell to 126 in 2008. But the first nine months of 2009 appear to show the town
IT WILL be all about big hair, legwarmers and shoulder pads as some of the biggest names from the ‘80s take to the stage. Sonia, Limahl and Hazell Dean are all performing at the Old Town Bowl in the first of the annual Bowl Concert series.
TOWN have signed former Celtic centre-back Milan Misun on a two-and-half-year contract. The 20-year-old Czech, a free agent, finalised his move this evening after passing a medical earlier in the day. FOR more on this story, see tomorrow's
CAN YOU give Ash the border collie a good home? Swindon dog walker Linzi Matthews contacted the Adver to appeal for a home for Ash, whose owner lost his battle with terminal cancer last week. For the past six months, Linzi, of Cornwall Avenue, in
YOUNG people got an opportunity to see the inner-workings of the county’s police force. Teenagers from Swindon and Wiltshire visited Wiltshire Police Headquarters, in Devizes and saw behind the scenes of daily operations including the dog section
The strains of Glenn Miller and Benny Goodman will sweep through a 1940s night as students step back in time to entertain. The 1940s dance at Commonweal School, The Mall in Old Town is on February 8. Marisa Howse from Cadley School of Dance will be
A music festival hosted by Commonweal School is calling for all young pianists to showcase keyboard skills in all styles. The festival is at Swindon Arts Centre in Devizes Road, Old Town on May 17 from 7pm. Josie Williams, community
Gyles Brandreth played to a small, but very appreciative audience at the Wyvern this week. A former MP and Government Whip, actor, broadcaster, raconteur and now a reporter on BBC’s One Show (obviously the pinnacle of his success to date) Gyles
THE launch of a nationwide reading challenge was held for book lovers in the town last night. The Six Book Challenge 2011, a free event run by the Reading Agency, is designed to get more people reading and the launch party was held at the Central Library
THIS morning while in my car, and doing the 'daily school run', I happened to be listening to Swindon Advertiser's Editor Dave King on the Wiltshire radio channel, who was speaking about nominating businesses for the 'Wiltshire Business of the year awards
THE library is a central part of the community and residents can be assured it is not going anywhere. Shaun Smith, strategic manager for adult and community services for Swindon libraries said that Swindon Council is not planning on closing any libraries
RESIDENTS in Stratton can look forward to a reduction in their council tax precept. Members of Stratton Parish Council decided to reduce the rate, which pays for services like the provision of recreation and the upkeep of parks and cemeteries, by £107.48
When it comes to putting things off, I am the queen of procrastination. I am so bad that my father says I am the biggest one he knows! Why do people procrastinate? I do it because, I cannot be bothered doing it whenever it should be done. Now,
CHARLIE Austin has left Swindon Town and signed a three-and-a-half-year contract at Burnley. The striker had looked likely to move to Ipswich when he travelled for talks at Portman Road yesterday, but was not sufficiently impressed to sign.
POLICE are hoping to contact a woman who was attacked by a gang in the town centre. The victim was walking alone along Regent Street in the direction of Regent Circus around midnight on Thursday, January 20, when, after turning down an alleyway next
THE Great Western Hospital is getting behind the Be Loud Be Clear week – Beating Bowel Cancer’s annual campaign to fundraise and raise awareness of being loud and clear about the symptoms of bowel cancer. Bowel cancer is the second most common cause
A VITAL “lifeline” for people with mental health issues is toasting 10 years in business – but faces tough times ahead. Phoenix Enterprises heard at its annual general meeting that the company was “here to stay”. The company provides paid work for those
A FORMER top-ranking cabinet MP paid a visit to Swindon last night, to speak out against cuts to children’s services. Caroline Flint, shadow secretary of state for Communities and Local Government, joined Labour leader Derique Montaut on the
SWINDON Town players dropped by to meet fans and sign autographs as the Npower roadshow rolled into town. Club captain Jonathan Douglas and shot stopper David Lucas were in Wharf Green for the meet and greet with fans. Supporters lined up to have their
A PLAYGROUP that was on the brink of closure has been saved. The Holy Rood Playgroup, based in the junior school of the same name in Walcot, was told in July that the Diocese of Clifton, which owns the land where it is based, would be terminating
WHAT a sad sign of the times, the closing of the Retreat Spa in Stratton was very sad, they had a wonderful programme of therapies and great staff, their only problem was that they spent so much on top of the line equipment and creating a wonderful atmosphere
SWINDON Think Tank met at 10am on January 13 at Cavendish Square Library, Park South, to discuss the various ways available to generate electric power. Windmills are not efficient and only work if the wind is above 17 miles per hour. The idea is to reduce
FOUR people have been charged with offences related to targeting charities in a suspected countrywide fraud operation. Following a police operation in late last year warrants were executed at four locations throughout Wiltshire on Wednesday, November
TODAY sees the launch of this year’s Pride of Swindon Awards giving you the chance to nominate an unsung hero from your neighbourhood. Last year Dr Emma Court was one of the elite group of award winners after she hit the headlines for her brave
TWO friends are to take on the biggest challenge of their lives in a bid to raise money for young carers in the town. John Dawson, 28, and Rob Hale, 27, have been in training for the infamous Tough Guy event, which is taking place this weekend
I READ in the Swindon Advertiser that James Gray MP will be debating the outcome of RAF Lyneham in Parliament. It seems that Mr Gray will be putting forward a suggestion that the army take over the base. Having been a councillor for Lyneham
MY friend and I went to see a show at the Wyvern last Saturday. We parked on the third floor of the car park by the Wyvern so we could use the walkway to the theatre. When my friend went to pay at the machine there is still no light above the
THIS is the first time ever I have written a letter to anyone about my feelings; I am so outraged that I must vent my anger about the cost of parking at the GWH for staff members. I myself do not work there but when I read that as from March the staff
WHEN reading Down Your Way (SA, January 24) I read about Ruskin Junior School and there looking at me was my great granddaughter Amy. My other granddaughter is at the same school and I have other grandchildren who have attended and moved on.
IN the early 70s I met a girl called Susan Bush who came from Swindon in the UK. We met in Cape Town, South Africa. I returned home to Melbourne, Australia. Susan subsequently came to Australia for a holiday and we had a real adventure, two
DAVID Howell might wish he could eliminate the rather large aberration that was the first 11 holes of his round at The Royal Golf Club in Bahrain yesterday. Beginning his second round at level par, the Swindon star dropped five shots in the opening 11
A FORMER soldier who was nearly paralysed in an accident has been chosen to create a sculpture of the father of the Paralympics. Mark Jackson has been commissioned to create a life-size bronze statue of the father of the Paralympics, Sir Ludwig Guttmann
TWO men have been found guilty of trafficking a woman and forcing her to work as a prostitute in an ordeal lasting 11 days. The victim called police in a distressed state on the morning of Saturday, June 13, 2009 claiming she was being held against her
A REMOVALS man abused his position by stealing a £5,000 carriage clock from a dead woman’s home. Wayne Carter, 39, of Windrush, Highworth, put the clock up for sale on the eBay auction website after stealing it from a house in Somerford Road, Cirencester
SWINDON’S Dennis Smith won the CIU (Club and Institute Union) national singles title for a second time. Smith, who last took the crown in 2002, demolished Durham’s Paddy Lenagh 4-0 in the final to take the £1,000 top prize. He had earlier
HIGHWORTH Town boss Dave Webb admits he is concerned that fatigue could affect his players’ performances in the latter half of the season. Following the enforced winter break due to the weather at the end of last year, the Worthians’ fixtures have
SHRIVENHAM boss John Fisher fears Luke Alford could be out for the rest of the season after the goalkeeper picked up a potentially serious knee injury. The stopper was forced off after 15 minutes in the 5-0 defeat to Oxford City Nomads on Wednesday
DISCIPLINE, discipline, discipline. For all their improvement over the last few months, that is one area Neil Loader would dearly love his Swindon team to brush up. Loader’s men host Grove at Greenbridge Road in Southern Counties North tomorrow
MANAGER Mark Collier is content that his rebuilding exercise at Swindon Supermarine is progressing as hoped following the departure of key players. First-choice centre-midfielders Chris Taylor and Chris Allen left for pastures new recently while talismanic
DANNY Wilson does not want to offload defender Lecsinel Jean-Francois in the January transfer window. The Advertiser understands Championship outfit Swansea City and Scottish Premier League side Hibernian have both registered their interest in the 24
DAVID Howell spluttered, choked and occasionally revved into life at the Volvo Golf Champions event in Bahrain yesterday. His first round at The Royal Golf Club was littered with all manner of scores that left the Swindon pro at level-par, in a tie for
A COMPANY has opened its doors to school pupils to give them an insight into the workings of a laboratory. Isotron hosted a student educational day and invited pupils from Swindon Academy to take a tour of its site. The two-day event
SWINDON Town must treat Exeter City with respect this weekend, in the opinion of Michael Timlin. The Grecians are unbeaten in four outings going into tomorrow’s League One clash at the County Ground and boast in Ryan Harley one of the more precocious
After another disappointing week at the County Ground there seems to be only one question on everyone’s mind, How can we go from a playoff final at Wembley in May to sitting in 20th place in the League One table in January? I’m sure we all have are
SWINDON Town could bring Celtic centre-back Milan Misun to the County Ground today to bolster their defensive options, the Swindon Advertiser understands. Misun, who has not featured for the Scottish Premier League leaders this season, is expected
SEAN Millwaters says the lowly league position of Wootton Bassett 2nds is not a factor that fills his Supermarine side with confidence, insisting a tough test will be in the offing from the Dorset & Wilts 1 North second-stringers. On paper Supermarine
PAUL Tisdale is not going to jump into a judgement of Swindon’s sudden decline in League One. The Exeter City manager, who will bring his team to the County Ground tomorrow to defend a four-match unbeaten streak, still believes the Robins have the capacity
WALKERS are preparing to step out for charity as the Prospect Hospice kickstarts its biggest fundraiser of the year. The Starlight Walk, supported by Nationwide Building Society, is Swindon’s biggest local charity mass participation event.
