SWARMS of police officers, sniffer dogs and specialist policing units have closed off Manchester Road. A spokesman for Wiltshire Police was unable to tell the Adver what has happened, only that it was a 'serious incident'. The duty inspector
HE was just a teenager when he signed up, but after 47 years of service Michael Bridges will be clocking off for the last time next week. The 64-year-old, who turns 65 next week, is leaving Enterprise Works in Gipsy Lane on Friday after joining the company
SWINDON’S first lady Mayor for more than a decade was installed into office yesterday vowing to continue the tradition of supporting charities in the town. Coun Ray Ballman formally took office at a mayor-making ceremony yesterday at the Civic Offices
DALEKS and other science fiction characters will be invading the North Swindon Library to raise money for charity. The sci-fi event is being held on Saturday, June 4 and follows a similar hugely successful event at the Central Library last November.
WHAT a sorry bunch of has-beens are the Lib-Dems! Apparently, they now 'mean business' with the Tories! (After a deserved massacre at the elections). During the past year Nick Clegg, Cameron's faithful lap-dog, has carried (gripped between his teeth)
ON behalf of the Meningitis Trust, I would like to say a very big thank you to everyone who took part in The Big Dunkathon Coffee Break throughout March. This was the first time we held the Big Dunkathon and we had hundreds of people across the UK unashamedly
AS thousands of disabled people prepare to march against Government cuts on May 11, we are urging people to take action and support our campaign. The Government is proposing to remove vital benefits to disabled people living in state-funded residential
Pegasus Brass Band is launching a new school of brass to encourage youngsters to take up an instrument. Members of the band will provide free use of instruments and free tuition on a Saturday morning at their own music hall in Ermin Street, Stratton
BIRD LOVER Maureen Skinner has put her life on hold to nurture seven baby Great Tits abandoned by their mother at just several days old. Last week, Maureen, 63, of Watermead, Stratton St Margaret, noticed that the newborn birds’ parents had left the
SWINDON council has just over £800 per head to spend on each resident – compared to almost £10,000 in one London area. New figures released by Communities Secretary Eric Pickles shows the average amount spent per resident in each area is average
SWINDON Town interim chairman Jeremy Wray spoke today of the appointment of Paolo Di Canio to the position of manager at the County Ground. Wray said the Italian was by far the stand-out candidate during the application and interview process
Diabetic ex-footballer Gary Mabbutt will appear in Swindon as part of a football legends' charity event this weekend. The tough tackling centre half is set for a question and answer session at the event organised by the Swindon-Spurs Supporters
A NEW studio cafe bar welcomes local bands to entertain and on Sunday is staging an afternoon of live acoustic music. Mr Love and Justice will be creating that lazy Sunday afternoon feeling with their acoustic folk pop at the new Swindon Arts Centre
A SECURITY lifeline which helps more than 600 elderly people in the town has been saved. The Age UK HandyVan service, which helps older people in the area with safety, security, repairs and adaptations in their home will continue to run after Nationwide
A military parade kicks off celebrations to mark Armed Forces Day this year. Swindon enters in to the spirit of the day to recognise people who have served in the armed forces both past and present. The town will come to life on Saturday
Former X Factor contestants are now joining forces to enter this year’s Swindon Talent ‘11. Jack Stuckey from Melksham captured the nation’s attention two years ago when he publically split with his girlfriend on the TV show and Simon Cowell briefly
It will be a sizzling summer of hot entertainment as musicians, actors, comedians, dancers, circus acts and magicians compete in our annual talent competition to find new stars. Swindon Talent ‘11 was launched in Wharf Green as part of the St George
THIS year’s Race for Life will be launched in the town tomorrow. And this year, Swindon women of all ages will have the chance to become poster girls by starring in a unique charity advert to launch the event. The mums, daughters, grandmas, friends
PINK was the colour of the day as the Race for Life 2011 was launched in the town on Saturday. Tesco and Cancer Research UK were at the town hall to launch the event, which this year will include one 10k event and two 5k’s, one of which will take
ONLY half the number of women needed to sign up for the three Race for Life events in Swindon have so far done so. Cancer Research UK are hoping that 7,000 women in the town would sign up for the two 5ks and one 10k races, but to date only 3,200 participants
THE town’s biggest building has been completed six weeks ahead of schedule. B&Q’s £77m distribution site, off the A419 at Stratton, is the size of 20 football pitches and will service the company’s DIY and home stores across the south of
IT was standing room only as residents poured out their frustrations to police last night. Around 120 packed into a community hall to vent their grievances in the wake of a spate of break-ins, traffic problems and vandalism in the Western ward area.
WITH regard to the letter penned by M Ratcliffe on the Royal Wedding, I must agree it was beautifully written by an obvious loving royalist. But! It could have been written better in the 16th or 17th century. What do they say after the parade? The rubbish
SWINDON Town have released a statement officially recognising Paolo Di Canio as the new Robins boss. The club's official website has run a story stating Di Canio has agreed terms and will fly into the UK on Monday to be formally unveiled. The
THE REPATRIATION of a Royal Marine who was killed in a bomb blast in Afghanistan brought Wootton Bassett to a standstill yesterday. Marine Nigel Dean Mead, 19, from 42 Commando Royal Marines, died during an operation to search a compound in
I would like to express my support for the courage Adrian Roberts has shown in speaking out about the incident in the Eldene Co-op. Far too many people accept things today. As for the member of staff, what can one say? The Co-op, prides, or is it boasts
THE economy of Greece is in a deep financial quagmire. Greece has already received a £97bn pound bailout from the European Union but Greece is now in need of even more money. Britain should not once again be forced to help bailout the troubled euro currency
THERE was chaos in the middle of the night at Great Western Hospital yesterday after a hot water main burst. Fire crews and a damage control unit from Swindon were called to the hospital at 2.50am to pump water from the hospital after the pipe burst
JUST a week after the Adver revealed a boundary shake-up, a village has found a unique way of making people aware they are entering its domain. The parish council in Blunsdon, which under the new boundary plans would become the biggest ward in the town
IT is with absolute sadness that we hear that our wonderful mayor, Rex Barnett has developed cancer. Rex is such an amazing person and one wonders why this has to happen to him and his family. I pay tribute to the work in the community he has done over
THIS summer preserve history by ‘camping’ with a difference at beautiful, historic cathedrals across the country. Your time, energy and enthusiasm is hugely important to help prevent landmark faith buildings from falling into despair. Young people across
Swindon Town have appointed Paolo Di Canio as their new manager, as first revealed by the Advertiser yesterday. The club will release a statement at 12pm today where they will confirm their decision to hand the Italian his first chance in management
THE economy of USA is in a deep financial quagmire. The USA trade deficit for March 2011 was £29 billion pounds. Most people think that Britain’s economy is in a serious mess, but the problems of the USA are much worse than ours here in Britain. STEVE
Paul Gerrard was lying yards outside of his area writhing in agony after rushing out in an attempt to cut out a West Ham attack. With seconds remaining, Trevor Sinclair picked up the loose ball and sent a cross into the area where the ever-dangerous
A DEAR CAT NAME OF GEORGE WITH A WHITE COAT AND A FRECKLED NOSE BETWEEN THE AGE OF 10 AND 12 HE WAS CHASED OUT OF THE GARDEN BY A DOG ON PENHILL DRIVE BY JOHN MORTON HALL ROUND ABOUT 10.30AM ON MAY 19TH 2011 ANY INFORMATION ABOUT GEORGE WHO IS SADLY MISSED
FORMER Swindon Robins speedway ace Steve Masters will resume his challenge in the QRA British Quad Dirt Track championships on Sunday when he takes to the track at Grangewood Farm in Dauntsey. Swindon-based Masters will be up against series leader Dan
WHEREVER Swindon have been in the WEPL Glos/Wilts Division so far this season wickets have been tumbling, but skipper Liam Tucker does not want his players to expect the landslide to continue when his side face Stroud at the County Ground tomorrow. So
SCOTT Nicholls fired a warning to long-time rival Chris Harris as he blasted to victory in the British semi-final at Sheffield last night. The Swindon ace, a five-time British champion, dropped just one point from his five rides as he finished
A LOCAL rivalry is set to be renewed tomorrow in the WEPL Wiltshire Division as Wootton Bassett host Nationwide House at Rylands Way. The two teams have enjoyed indifferent starts to the campaign, with Nationwide tying their opener against Marlborough
GLENN Hoddle yesterday ruled out a return to Swindon Town as director of football before warning the club’s board that the appointment of a rookie manager could be a gamble. The 53-year-old is a County Ground legend after leading the club to
A BLAZE which ripped through a disused school, causing it to collapse in on itself, is believed to have been started deliberately. Around 30 firefighters were needed to tackle the fire, which broke out at the old Windmill Hill Primary School
JAMIE Cox will dedicate victory over Marcus Portman on Saturday night to his late father Tony. The 24-year-old’s long-awaited return to the ring marks the end of a troubled time for Cox, who has now been inactive for 14 months. Troubles outside the
‘STOP Rob Palmer and you’re halfway there.’ A fairly simple equation presents itself to Lechlade as they entertain Great Bedwyn at the Manor Ground in the WEPL Wiltshire Division tomorrow. Powerful strokemaker Palmer is the Bedwyn linchpin, and has
WALCOT boxer Tommy McDonagh bids for glory this weekend in the national final of the Junior ABA Championship at Rochester in Kent. The hard-hitting 16-year-old faces tough northern champion Michael Connor from Leigh ABC in a Class 4 (66kgs)
PAOLO Di Canio will today be named the new manager of Swindon Town, the Advertiser understands. The Italian’s anticipated appointment will bring to an end a three-week-long search for Paul Hart’s successor. After spending all of last
