Archive

  • What a game!

    SWINDON and Wootton Bassett played out an under 15 thriller at Supermarine RFC, the match ending 17-17. In a see-saw encounter, Swindon were first off the mark as Nick Cozens cut through. Eddie Curtis followed him over to leave Bassett 10 points adrift

  • Stormer for the Cougars

    SWINDON COUGARS had to come from behind to complete the double over Milton Keynes Storm with a narrow 3-2 home win on Saturday. A week earlier Cougars had edged the honours 4-3 in the reverse Southern Under 19 League away fixture. A very sluggish

  • Comeback by Lions

    LIONS Under 12 side staged a fine comeback to beat Solent Destroyers 7-5 in a Southern Under 12 League One game. They produced a fine performance and recovery to come from 3-1 down in the first 10 minutes to score six times and take the honours.

  • Wiltshire lose at home

    NETBALL: Wiltshire's young senior side came off second best against English Counties League Division Three leaders Sussex at Dorcan. The home side, with an average age of 21, were never in the lead in the contest and eventually succumbed 66-42.

  • Top of the class

    NETBALL: TWO SWINDON schools have qualified for the national finals next month. New College and Greendown Community School will represent the South-West in the Under 19 and Under 16 National Finals respectively in Manchester on Saturday March 25. The

  • Pilot ejected out of WG Parr Trophy

    CHIPPENHAM SUNDAY LEAGUE: A thrilling game at the Beeches saw Second Division Steeple Ashton (Sunday) squeeze into the third round of the Westernsport-sponsored WG Parr Trophy at the expense of Fourth Division AFC Pilot who they defeated after 120 minutes

  • Cricklade run up double figures in Trowbridge rout

    WOMEN'S & GIRLS FOOTBALL: A combination of the freezing conditions on Saturday and the flu bug that is around at the moment resulted in a number of postponements in the Wiltshire Womens' and Girls' League. In the Under 10 Division, Cricklade Youth

  • Lydiard lose ground in the chase for Blue title

    MID-WILTS YOUTH LEAGUE: INACTIVE Lydiard lost ground in the race for the Under 14 Blue Division. While they had the weekend off, rivals FC Chippenham moved three points clear at the top after running out 5-0 winners at home to Team Bath Arsenal.

  • Bassett hit for six in battle for third

    WOMEN'S & GIRLS FOOTBALL: In the battle for third place in the Wiltshire County Women's and Girls' League, Swindon Spitfires under 14s saw off their nearest challengers Wootton Bassett 6-2. The home side edged ahead in the fifth minute. Georgia Leonard

  • Baker’s cooking on gas for Town Ladies

    WOMEN'S & GIRLS FOOTBALL: SWINDON Town Ladies twice came from behind to secure a 2-2 draw with Exmouth. Exmouth got an early break when their quick striker received the ball in Swindon's half with no-one to beat except Swindon keeper Fran Ronan.

  • Spits gun down Rovers

    WOMEN'S & GIRLS FOOTBALL: Swindon Spitfires earned a place in the semi-final of the Bristol Cup with a convincing 5-2 win at Bristol Rovers on Sunday. Both teams started at a furious pace with Rovers going in front within 10 minutes after a mix up

  • Teams face fixture crisis

    NORTH WILTS & DISTRICT YOUTH & MINOR LEAGUE: While the weather improved this weekend the league still suffered 36 postponements as teams were hit with illness. This heavy loss of fixtures on the back of a month of frozen pitches sees some teams now

  • Fine show by young Harriers

    CROSS COUNTRY: Young Swindon Harriers Emily Connolly, Richard Batsford and Chris Reade had to be content with second places in their events at the fifth Wessex cross country of the season at Avon Heath Country Park near Poole at the weekend. Connolly

  • Louise so close

    TENNIS: Louise Hunt of Wanborough will have to wait for another year before registering her maiden win in the Cruyff Foundation Junior Masters, one of the top international junior wheelchair tennis events in the world, in this year's tournament in Tarbes

  • Bassett delight

    NORTH WILTS YOUTH LEAGUE: Under 9 North - There was an excellent sporting game at Maunsell Way which saw Wootton Bassett Town go joint top of the table following a 5-0 win. Wroughton never gave up with both sides playing some excellent passing football

  • Roaring on!

    SWINDON SUNDAY LEAGUE: The Roaring Donkey gained their first Division 1 points of the season with a convincing 7-0 home win over Premier Watercoolers. Alex Green with a four-timer, Steve Thomas, Tom Fila and Christian Ayres gave them a surprisingly

  • Two through

    INTERMACH SUNDAY CONFERENCE: This year's Intermach Cup final will be between Keypoint and Great Bedwyn. Keypoint defeated Goatacre 3-2 with goals from Barrie Young, Alex Young and Eddie Cool. Great Bedwyn reached the final after beating Real Swindon

  • Sutton and Kintbury waltz into semis of counties’ junior cup

    NORTH BERKS: Sutton Courtenay are through to the quarter-finals of the Berks & Bucks Junior Cup after a superb performance in winning 4-1 at OLA Newbury. Dave Carter (2), Lee Jones and Nuno Fernandez got the goals for in-form Sutton and they will now

  • Zurich bid hit by brave Liden

    SWINDON & DISTRICT FOOTBALL LEAGUE: Zurich's Premier Division title bid faltered as they drew 1-1 with Liden. Jason Kearns scored for Liden and Mark Corocan replied for Zurich in a game which saw the Liden defence turn in a fine performance. Ridgeway

  • Cats collapse

    WILDCATS' march up the English Premier League table came to an abrupt halt in Romford last night. Hopes of the Swindon npower Wildcats recording only their third weekend of back-to-back victories this season came crashing off the rails in the last

  • Corsham making a fight of title race

    GOALS from John Eldred and Scott Lye increased Corsham's lead at the top of the Toolstation Premier Division to seven points after a 2-0 win at Barnstaple. With main rivals Bideford not in action, Colin Bush's side took full advantage as they bid to

  • Shrivenham close gap on league leaders

    DEAD ball specialist Steve Thomas helped Shrivenham to a 3-0 home win over Pegasus Juniors on Saturday to keep their faint Hellenic Premier League title hopes alive. Thomas rifled in two carbon-copy free-kicks as Shrivenham closed the gap on leaders

  • Hinson the hero as Purton shock AFC

    Purton Reserves, bottom of the Wilts Premier Division, turned the form book upside down when they defeated high flyers AFC Trowbridge 1-0 at the Red House, writes RAY BURROUGHS. Assistant boss Ray Wakely, who together with manager Clive Fuller took

  • Fears over school plan

    LOCAL authorities will still control school admissions so that they cannot favour the brightest pupils if radical education reforms are given the thumbs up by MPs. The admission from Education Secretary Ruth Kelly came after many people feared less

  • Former Robin set for Hunts Copse

    MARK Collier is set to add a former Swindon Town midfielder to his ranks after Japanese gem Ryo Matsunaga got Supermarine's promotion bid back on track on Saturday. The unnamed target made over 30 appearances for the Robins between 1999 and 2001 and

  • Alford’s unhappy despite cup win

    CHIPPENHAM went through to the Dorset & Wilts Cup final after a nail-biting 21-18 extra-time win over Salisbury but coach Rob Alford still found cause for complaint. James Gibson's late, late penalty sent the Wiltshire side to an April 2 showdown

  • Mannion-inspired Swindon seal third successive Vase showpiece

    Swindon marched through to their third successive Dorset & Wilts 1st XV Vase final with a superb 33-12 demolition of Devizes. Tom Mannion and Mathieu Seynaeve both bagged two tries as the runners-up of the last two years moved through emphatically.

  • Served up on a Plate!

    Swindon College cruised into the final of the Dorset & Wilts Plate with a 39-15 win over East Dorset. It will be the first time the Old Boys have had a chance of putting some silver in the cupboard since they took on Bournemouth in the Dorset & Wilts

  • Smith heads qualifiers

    BOWLS: WESTLECOT will have representatives in three of the four area finals in the main national indoor championship events. Neil Smith is through to the Area 16 final in the singles while Ian Jefferies has qualified for the Area 16 triples and fours

  • Swindon are still in front

    INDOOR CRICKET: Swindon remain clear at the top of Division One of the Swindon Indoor Cricket League after a four-wicket defeat of Asians. Ray Patel made 44 as Asians were dismissed for just 97 and Swindon were never seriously threatened as they coasted

  • Welcome from the East

    VISITORS to a Swindon community centre welcomed in the Chinese New Year with a special event. Dozens of residents attended the event at the Freshbrook Community Centre in Swindon organised by the Swindon Chinese Women's Society. Guests tried a range

  • Westlecot through to play-offs

    BOWLS: WESTLECOT are certain of a place in the Wessex League end-of-season play-offs following their win at Newbury over West Berks. Whether they finish as East Region champions depends on their final group match to be played on February 19 against

  • Rhys happy to drop the cameras

    RHYS Evans believes the decision to shelve Town's television project means the club is now free of a distraction which had the potential to come back and bite it. The 24-year-old says nothing should be allowed to interfere with the job at hand and

  • Taylor’s on the way out

    CHRIS Taylor admits his future lies away from the County Ground after the club told him he was free to look for a new club. The Swindon Town youngster is playing for League Two side Torquay United in a friendly against Forest Green Rovers today, bidding

  • Collier bid to bring in Swindon Town man

    SUPERMARINE boss Mark Collier has moved closer to bringing a former Swindon Town midfielder to Hunts Copse on a short-term loan. Collier revealed he is very hopeful' of landing his target but is still playing his cards close to his chest regarding

  • Smith has that calming effect

    PAUL Smith may have been labelled one of the Mitchell brothers by his teammates yet his philosophy couldn't be further removed from that of a soap opera hard man hot-head. Indeed, cool' is the midfielder's preferred persona and he feels such an attitude

  • Lucky break!

    CHARLIE Comyn-Platt has not received the shattering' news he feared but still faces at least a fortnight on the sidelines. The youngster's joy at blasting what proved to be the winner against Doncaster Rovers on Saturday was tempered somewhat by sustaining

  • Breathing new life into Quarry Garden

    VOLUNTEERS are turning an Old Town quarry into a haven for wildlife. Quarry Wildlife Garden once mined for its stone is surrounded by houses yet managed to attract a vast array of wildlife from the dragonflies and frogs that enjoy the small pond,

  • Honda revs up to offer bike finance

    HONDA has become one of the first motorcycle manufacturers to offer its own finance packages to UK motorcycle customers. Honda Finance which is a 100 per cent owned subsidiary of Honda Motor Europe has been providing Honda car owners with finance

  • Shopworkers reject extension of Sunday trading

    More than 90 per cent of shopworkers have rejected any extension to Sunday trading hours as the Department of Trade and Industry launches a consultation on this issue. The survey of more than 500 shopworkers by retail union Usdaw found that 92 per

  • £30,000 spent on refit for funeral directors

    The finishing touches to the total refurbishment of the interior of Swindon's oldest established family owned funeral directors have now been completed. The premises of AE Smith & Son in Queens Drive, Swindon have been completely redesigned to provide

  • New law to ban ageism at work

    Age Concern has just published a new information sheet about age discrimination which will explain how the new law will affect employers. On October 1 new legislation (The Employment Equality Act (Age) Regulations 2006) will come into force in the

  • Purse thanks

    MY wife lost her purse at Asda in West Swindon on Tuesday, January 31. I would like to thank the gentleman who kindly handed the purse to the security. Also I would like to thank the security at Asda for their help in the matter. L JEFFERIES

  • Forced to flee

    G SCOTT should reflect on the fact that if certain so-called civilised governments had not funded right-wing dictators we would not have people seeking asylum here. Most folk prefer their own country. Those seeking asylum have been forced to flee.

  • Time to act

    AT last the local council can get something right by bringing the remains of the Tabernacle home (a building that should never have been pulled down). In a town full of disgusting buildings the remains of a few lovely old buildings falling down and

  • It’s not clear

    IN response to the Labour Covingham parish councillor B Osborn's letter, on Saturday January 28, it shows that yet again Labour do not know what the left hand is doing from the right hand. He talks about Coun Dilley's website that has news of the Covingham

  • Ban would damage democracy

    I read with interest the article about the smoking ban and Anne Snelgrove wanting to hear local views. While I was correctly quoted what the article failed to say is that I am a lifelong never smoker and would welcome a complete ban on all tobacco products

  • Tribute to special Swindonians

    THE good works and achievements of ordinary people are often less conspicuous. For instance, take a look at page three of a recent All About You supplement of the Advertiser. Firstly, Peter Burton, who worked for Post Office Supplies but had great

  • Parents have it easy nowadays

    I AM getting very fed up with the wingeing of mothers (and fathers) nowadays. The Government bends over backwards to help parents and they never seem to be satisfied. Take a recent article in the Advertiser where the mother was complaining about Clarks

  • Let’s become a sporting town

    SWINDON wants to compete with Britain's top sports towns. But to push forward that vision it wants to form a Sports Council an organisation that will work with local, regional and national sports organisations to establish Swindon as a centre of sporting

  • A belly good day!

    THE Town Hall studios were full of gyrating bellies as part of Swindon Dance's Egyptian Promise event. A day of traditional Egyptian activities was held on Sunday and was hailed as an overwhelming success by organisers. Activities on offer included

  • We’re battling the MRSA superbug

    SWINDON and Marlborough NHS Trust says it is on target to reduce the number of MRSA superbug cases in Swindon's flagship hospital after half-yearly figures were released by the Department of Health. As reported in yesterday's late edition of the Adver

  • Summer of water cuts in pipeline

    LOW rainfall could mean Thames Water customers face water restrictions later this year. Figures released by the water company show that January only saw 20 millimetres of rain, a third less than was expected. It continues a 15-month drought across

  • Learning centre opens

    A NEW regional learning centre has opened at New College. The Trade Union Studies learndirect centre will help workers in the southwest improve skills they can use in the workplace and in everyday life including English, maths and IT. Frances O'Grady

  • ‘Housing access needs widening’

    residents have demanded highways officers redesign the access to a controversial housing development, describing it as too dangerous. Swindon Council's planning committee gave the thumbs up for plans to build more than 250 homes on the St Joseph's

  • Join in the Race for Life

    CANCER Research UK's Race for Life is calling for people to enter. This year will be the 7th time the town will hold the event and Cancer Research UK has been delighted by the support and commitment in the past, with Swindon's women raising a massive

  • Step out and raise money at a canter!

    A CHARITY is looking for teams to take on seven of Wiltshire's White Horses. Wiltshire Air Ambulance wants people to take part in a 60-mile walk around seven of the white horses in June. The White Horse Challenge starts and finishes in Devizes and

  • Tribute is paid to muscleman

    former world champion bodybuilder Johnny Fuller, who was banned from a Swindon gym for hogging the equipment, has died aged 61. Johnny competed all over the world in the 1970s and 1980s, and triumphed in both the European and World Amateur Bodybuilding

  • Time is right for big tidy up on housing estates

    WORKERS are springing into action to spruce up the Parks and Walcot areas. A team of street wardens from Swindon Council is removing graffiti from the Cavendish Square area and hedges are being cut in Walcot East to improve access on footpaths.

  • School nets charity cash

    YOUNGSTERS have netted almost £2,000 for the Swindon Cancer Appeal. More than 250 Year Eight pupils from Kingsdown School took part in a series of sponsored events, raising £1,911, with more sponsorship still coming in. To raise the money pupils

  • Plea for help to trace bus man

    POLICE say nobody has contacted them about an incident on a bus in which a man allegedly touched a child and took her photo with his mobile phone. It took place on a number 21 bus travelling through Old Walcot at 2pm on Wednesday. PC Kevin Payne

  • Thanks from the food bank

    ORGANISERS of the Swindon Food Bank have praised the public for their support over the weekend. Half a tonne of food was donated to the cause at a collection centre on Saturday. Project manager Richard Belsham thanked those who gave goods and the

  • ‘These cuts are just not fare...’

    BUS firm Stagecoach and trade union Unison have attacked Swindon Council's budget proposals on the eve of this week's cabinet meetings. The meeting of the Cabinet tomorrow night will make the final decision on cuts to services, including libraries,

  • Future of force in the spotlight

    MPS could have the final say on whether Wiltshire Constabulary survives as a stand-alone force. The House of Commons will be given the final vote on how to re-organise south west police forces if the region's police chiefs block plans to create strategic

  • Pupils raise cash – after a fashion

    PUPILS at Hreod Parkway School took part in a fashion show to raise money for new equipment. Tracey Hobbs, from the Parents and Teachers Association said the event had been a huge success, raising £500. Local companies helped out with everything the

  • Court hears of attack in bar

    YOUNG thug Jonathan Kerrigan punched and kicked a Kurdish man following a bar-room row. But a judge put off passing sentence on the 24-year-old after hearing that he had been barred from the pub by the courts following another fight. David Chidgey

  • Can you help trace man who stole handbag?

    Police want to trace a man in connection with the theft of a handbag from behind the counter at Deans Garage in London Road, Marlborough. He was spotted on CCTV reaching over to snatch a black leather handbag containing credit cards and more than £100

  • Mixed feelings over number plate scanning bid

    MOST Advertiser readers believe that scanning number plates is an effective use of police resources. Last week, the Adver reported how Wiltshire Police had started using Automated Number Plate Recognition technology on a regular basis to check the

  • ‘I’ve been given death sentence’

    A MOTHER of three from Swindon who is suffering from an aggressive form of breast cancer said she is living "on death row'' unless the local NHS trust funds her treatment with the drug Herceptin. Ann Marie Rogers, 54, is fighting a landmark High Court

  • Protestor’s assets may get seized

    A PURTON anti-war campaigner who withheld 10 per cent of his income tax in protest at the Iraq campaign could have his assets seized by the Inland Revenue. Douglas Barker, says the Iraq war was illegal and he should not be forced to fund it. But

  • College staff’s year adds up for Prospect

    NEW College has presented Prospect Hospice with a cheque for £1,500, thanks to the efforts of staff. Fundraising activities included staff quiz nights, raffles and sweets in the jar competitions, along with regular trips to West End shows. Staff also

  • Police station’s served its time

    AS the diggers rolled in people across the town said farewell to a building that has dominated the town centre skyline for years. Demolition work has begun on the old Central Police Station in Fleming Way. The force closed the doors on the old station

  • Police plea after burglary attempt

    POLICE are appealing for witnesses following an attempted burglary on Shrivenham Road. Burglars tried to gain entry into Great Western Referrals veterinary service in the County Park Business Park and caused damage at around 7pm on Saturday, February

  • Accused tells trial of his ‘sheer panic’

    A MAN accused of murdering his parents described the "sheer panic" he felt when he discovered their stabbed bodies at the family's Melksham home when he gave evidence in his trial yesterday. Michael Clarke said that he had never been in such a state

  • Friends’ tributes to tragic Paul, 21

    Friends of Paul Campbell, the 21-year-old who died after an 18th birthday party, have created a shrine to him. Flowers, balloons and messages have been left at a spot off Canal Walk, outside McDonald's and House of Fraser. Dozens of messages have

  • Disabled man threatened

    SWINDON police are appealing for witnesses following an attack on a man in Fleming Way. At about 1.30pm on Friday, February 3, a 42-year-old man was walking along Fleming Way, into the pedestrian access leading to the undercover car park in John Street

  • Brother welcomes coroners’ shake-up

    THE brother of a woman killed by her husband today welcomed a radical shake-up to the coroner inquest system. Frank Mullane, pictured, said new legislation planned by the government would provide better support for grieving families. Mr Mullane's sister

  • ‘Death’ posters inflame feelings in Cricklade

    OFFENSIVE posters claiming to be from a company that wanted to store chemicals in Cricklade have been appearing throughout the town. The posters say they are from the directors of Lansdowne Chemicals suggest a nasty death for residents in Cricklade

  • Indecent assault on teen is denied

    A WANNABE teenage pop singer has told a jury how her manager indecently touched her as he took promotional pictures. Hilary Budgen, who operates in the music business under the name Rob Gem and claims to have worked with Madonna and Reg Presley from

  • Blowing in the wind

    WIND power could soon play a major part in the future of Honda in Swindon which could mean 70-metre windmills at the South Marston site. Planning permission will be sought in the next couple of weeks from Swindon Council for a test mast on eastern