A CHILDREN’S charity has been commended for its work in helping young people through tough times.Representatives from Swindon charity SMASH met with North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson at the 10th annual Kids Count Inspiration Awards in Parliament last
A 42-YEAR-old dad who has become a sex offender since suffering a brain injury in an accident about 20 years ago has avoided jail for flashing at young women and girls and committing a lewd act in front of them. Shane Rees, of Curtis Street, was
A £250k fund has been ringfenced from hospital reserves to pay junior doctors.Government changes to junior doctors’ contracts have led to a higher than expected wage bill, Great Western Hospital executives warned. Responding to the rise, they slammed
HOSPITAL finance bosses are in “daily” communication with NHS bankers over a perilous cash crunch.Great Western Hospital faces a likely cash deficit of £6.6million by the end of the financial year next March. The trust is speaking to national body NHS
A CANE throne at the centre of parties held by Swindon’s blonde bombshell Diana Dors is to be auctioned. The throne and a matching footstool had pride of place in the swimming pool room at Diana’s Sunningdale home. But it took on a new life at
A BEST-SELLING novelist with an old familial connection to Lydiard flew from California to Swindon for the UK launch of her latest book.Elizabeth St. John was the guest of honour at Lydiard House on Thursday as her new novel, By Love Divided, was officially
A SELFLESS little Swindon boy has marked his fifth birthday by asking his classmates to help those less fortunate instead of giving him a gift. Callum Heron invited friends who attended his party at the weekend to bring educational items and school
THREE people have been arrested for hurling prohibited items over the wall of Erlestoke Prison. Police received a call at about 8.30am on Thursday after reports came in of two men and a woman throwing things into the prison from outside. Two
VINTAGE toy enthusiasts are in for a treat in the new year as a special convention is set to roll into town.52-year-old Ronnie Davies is organising a mammoth vintage toy fair and is encouraging like-minded folk from all over town to help make it an event
A FEW months ago I nominated Swindon charity SMASH (Swindon Mentoring and Self-Help) for a Kids Count Inspiration Award, and earlier this week I was delighted to present them with Highly Commended in the ‘Best Contribution by a Community Group’ category
A SELFLESS woman moved by the plight of the homeless has launched a new campaign to help those living on the streets of Swindon. Rachel Tucker, 40, from Toothill, has vowed to do all she can to end homelessness once and for all. It follows
Come to the cabaret IF you fancy some fine food and festive glamour in the run-up to Christmas, why not book a seat at the Wyvern Theatre’s Christmas Cabaret on Saturday night? The cabaret offers a chance to sit down to a lavish three-course
A NIGHT worker has blamed a drop in Swindon’s night-time economy for his inability to pay fines imposed by the courts for a string of offences.Joel James Benjamin Lester, 24, of Church Road, Hinton Parva, was in front of magistrates in Swindon to explain
A YOUNG supermarket manager who drove his car at almost twice the speed limit on a Swindon road has been banned from driving for 30 days.Sebastian David Gillett, 20, of Lismore Road, Highworth, was spotted by police speeding in his Honda Civic on Thamesdown
A TRANSGENDER Swindonian has praised government proposals to make it easier for people to be recognised as their chosen gender.Jeremy ‘Jez’ Farmer, 51, who transitioned from female to male 11 years ago, says amendments to the Gender Recognition Act announced
THE company in charge of the Kimmerfields regeneration has parted ways with the council. Swindon Borough Council and Muse Developments Ltd have, by mutual agreement, ended their development arrangement for the scheme a few months earlier than initially
THE Swindon Spitfire Girls' FC Under 11s have received a new free kit, courtesy of local McDonald’s franchisee Carl Room and The FA Accredited Club Kit Scheme. The donation is just one of over 3,000 kits that have been donated to teams across Wiltshire.Now
A POLICE sergeant from Swindon who successfully disarmed a man threatening to cut himself was awarded a Chief Constable’s Certificate of Excellence at the Forces Awards in Devizes on Tuesday for her courageous efforts. Sgt Penny Sprawson was with
POLITICIANS from both parties have slammed the council’s decision to keep Forward Swindon in place. It follows a cabinet meeting earlier this week in which councillors committed to retaining the services of the company responsible for town centre
PLANS for a new Aldi in Highworth are one step closer to becoming reality after the town’s councillors recommended that the supermarket’s proposals should be accepted.Representatives from the retailer attended a Highworth Town Council planning meeting
DAVID Howell hauled himself up the Joburg Open leaderboard with a superb three-under second round of 69 this morning but still looks set to miss the cut in South Africa. The Swindon star was in a tie for 79th place on three-under overall – one
A COMMUNITY centre that had fallen into disrepair has been given a new lease of life thanks to the generosity of fundraisers and local businesses. Trefoil House in Wroughton has been used for Girl Guide meetings and other community events for several
A SECTION of the M4 will be closed again this weekend so bridge maintenance work will be can be carried out. The motorway will be closed in both directions between junction 12 (for Theale) and junction 13 (for Chieveley), from 10pm on tonight -
A FORMER serviceman from Swindon who lost both his legs after an explosion in Afghanistan finished in first place at the para-bobsleigh World Cup in New York.Corie Mapp, who is supported by Help for Heroes’ Sports Recovery programme, took to the ice in
SWINDON 1951: Two fire engines turned out in answer to a call from the Ordinance Survey Depot in Kembrey Street, Swindon. It was only a test call, however, given when the depot’s fire fighting system was tested during an inspection by Brigadier
DESIGNS for 45 homes in Eastcott are “incompatible” with the historic area, residents say.SN Developments want to build the flats on the former Stagecoach bus depot site on Eastcott Hill.But residents say the plans are not in keeping with the conservation
A Christmas Artisan Market is being held in Wharf Green and Canal Walk on Saturday from 10am to 5pm. The town centre will be full of artisan treats, Christmas present ideas, quality produce, original art, mulled wine and sizzling street food.Top-notch
MORE than a third of Swindon’s elderly care home residents live in homes ranked as ‘inadequate’ or ‘needing improvement’, a report has found. Councillors say that those paying for care should expect “good service”. Yet in Swindon, 35 per cent
From the early days of motoring manufacturers have always used attractive female models to promote their wares, which I always thought was a pointless exercise. Surely people wanted to study the car rather than the model. Perhaps the only exception
FLOCKS of sheep have been knitted for a special service at All Saints Church.Worshippers made 700 in total, with 500 being given to pupils from Ferndale School and Poppy’s Nursery to encourage them to attend the crib service on Sunday December 17.The
A YOUNG boy, who showed true bravery when he flagged down motorists and called 999 after his mother blacked out at the wheel of her car, has been awarded a Chief Constable’s Certificate of Recognition for his composure, initiative and brave actions
HERE we showcase some of the amazing images being sent in by the members of Swindon Camera Club. We particularly looking forward to seeing your pictures with a Christmas theme. If you’d like to join the club – and be in with a chance of winning
SWINDON Shock chief David Colclough hopes his troops have turned a corner after snatching a second win of the season at home to Cardiff City. After a series of enforced breaks and defeats to their debut season in the National League Division Three
SWINDON College Old Boys are looking to score their third win in a row in Southern Counties South when they host Yeovil on Saturday afternoon. So far this term, Martin Lloyd’s troops have only registered back-to-back wins twice and the Old Boys
A YEAR after joining Swindon Wildcats from Telford Tigers, Phil Hill says he has seen a change in mentality at the Link Centre. The Welshman signed for the club as a reaction to news that player-coach Aaron Nell would be ruled out of the second
MATT Taylor admits there is an element of frustration around the Swindon Town squad at present but has urged anyone attempting to assess their promotion credentials in League Two to hold off until the new year. David Flitcroft’s side are currently
SWINDON Supermarine boss Dave Webb senses there is light at the end of the tunnel as the club’s injury list begins to diminish. Joe Shepherd returns to the squad to make the trip to Southern League West play-off rivals Evesham Town at the weekend
SHRIVENHAM boss Gareth Davies is expecting a reaction from his side to their previous 5-0 mauling by Woodstock Town - even though he has had to wait two weeks for it. The piecemeal nature of the Hellenic League Division One West fixture list means
SWINDON Town manager David Flitcroft will not shy away from freshening up his squad if he feels a shot in the arm is needed at the Energy Check County Ground in the new year. Town’s form has suffered a dip of late on the back of four consecutive
Adver Sport take a look at Swindon Town's next opponents, Accrington Stanley. MANAGER: John Coleman TOP SCORER: Billy Kee (11) FORM GUIDE: DDWLL LAST MATCH: 3-2 loss v Lincoln (A) - Dec 5 LAST TOWN MATCH: 2-0 Town WIN - Feb
DAVID Flitcroft will give real thought to sticking with a revamped 3-4-3 formation for his Swindon Town side after deeming it a success against Forest Green Rovers on Tuesday night. Town have primarily fielded either a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 line-up
TWELVE girls represented Swindon School of Gymnastics in the final round of the West Country League held in Melksham. The Over 13’s senior squad went up against clubs from Bristol, Wales, Frome and Chippenham and the eldest member of the team Samantha
