Archive

  • Exhausted star battles judge's jibe

    SWINDON X Factor star Jahmene Douglas was contending with exhaustion and a dig from one of the judges yesterday as he prepared for his biggest performance to date. The shy 21-year-old had a hectic schedule of rehearsals and appearances, which included

  • GWH celebration to mark its first decade

    THE GREAT Western Hospital turns 10 next month – and a whole host of events are taking place to mark the milestone. On December 3, 2002, the hospital moved from its old site off Okus Road, formerly the Princess Margaret Hospital, to where it stands

  • We turned it around: community centre now thriving

    WITH a booming list of bookings and a dedicated committee, it is hard to believe that Buckhurst Park Community Centre was ever in trouble. The community centre, which was formerly known as the Walcot Dome, was taken over by Swindon Council in 2010

  • Advice bureau may move out

    SWINDON and District Citizens’ Advice Bureau will have to vacate its town centre base – in a drive to help needy families pay for school uniforms. Swindon Council made the decision to sell the CAB drop-in centre because it would cost too much to

  • Bid to replace pub with 11 new homes

    A DERELICT eyesore in the centre of Wroughton could soon be demolished and replaced with houses. A planning application has been submitted to Swindon Council for permission to knock down the Three Tuns, an Arkells Brewery-owned pub, which has been

  • Two taken to hospital after crash

    TWO people have been taken to Great Western Hospital after two vehicles collided in Wroughton but their injuries were not thought to be life-threatening. Police, fire and ambulance attended the scene in Wharf Road at about 4.10pm . The road

  • Send a shoebox of love to needy child

    KIND-HEARTED Swindonians are busy packing shoeboxes full of love for this year’s Operation Christmas Child. The appeal was only launched a few weeks ago, but people across the town are already rising to the challenge, from schools to businesses

  • Centre to provide support to pupils

    ANGER management sessions, therapeutic work and attendance sessions are just some of the ways pupils at Churchfields Academy will benefit from a facility that opened yesterday. The Grove Learning Centre was opened at the secondary school in Walcot

  • Accident on Wharf Road

    TWO people have been taken to Great Western Hospital after two vehicles collided in Wroughton. Police, fire and ambulance attended the scene in Wharf Road at about 4.10pm today. The road was blocked during rush hour while crews worked at the

  • School place consultation postponed

    A CONSULTATION on school places in north Swindon has been postponed after an error in a report. The consultation events were scheduled to take place on Monday at the Tawny Owl pub and Tuesday at Orchid Vale School. The July 2012 Cabinet report

  • Warning over suspected phone scam

    RETIRED civil servant Jim Hussey is warning the public about a suspected phone scam that appears to be targeting residents across Swindon. Mr Hussey, 70, of Eastleaze, listened to a recorded message offering money on Wednesday and believes unsuspecting

  • Exhausted star battles X Factor judge’s jibe

    SWINDON X Factor star Jahmene Douglas was contending with exhaustion and a dig from one of the judges today as he prepares for his biggest performance to date. The shy 21-year-old had a hectic schedule of rehearsals and appearances, which included stepping

  • In rhythm for Strictly School Dancing

    TOE-tapping teachers at Highworth Warneford School took to the dance floor this week to put their moves to the test. In their own version of Strictly Come Dancing, the six couples, made up of staff members at the school, will perform every Thursday

  • LOOK GOOD FEEL GOOD: Beauty news

    Buy it now Adorned with stars, bats and cats, SteamCream’s limited edition Midnight Party tin will set the scene for a fancy dress treat. The perfect base before applying ghostly make-up, £12.95 (www.steamcream.co.uk). Crimes against faces Call the

  • LOOK GOOD FEEL GOOD: Autumn colours

    Transform your hair colour for the new season. Lisa Haynes reveals how to get glossy autumnal tresses She began the current X Factor series as a brunette, picked her contestants as a platinum blonde – and then kicked off the live shows by returning

  • PREDICTIONS LEAGUE: Walsall v Swindon

    Dear all, . Apologies for the late post but I've got a major deadline with work and totally forgot - thanks to Andy for the reminder….NO waffle just questions! :-) . Questions for Walsall v Swindon: (Entries Close 2.00pm Saturday). ===.

  • LOOK GOOD FEEL GOOD: Poise and control

    Pilates practitioner Sam Hobbs describes the principles behind the exercise What is Pilates? Pilates is a wonderful exercise technique, with so many benefits which help improve the quality of our lives in ways never thought possible without medication

  • UPDATED: Rooney makes Rotherham switch

    SWINDON winger Luke Rooney has joined Rotherham United on loan this afternoon. The deal takes Rooney to the New York Stadium for two months, after the winger returned from a similiar spell with Burton Albion. The former Gillingham man has struggled

  • Your chance to make a Christmas Wish come true

    IT’S that time of year again... when we wave our magic wand and help make some Christmas wishes come true. With the countdown to the big day now well underway, we are launching our Christmas Wish Appeal 2012 – and we want to hear from you about

  • How railway won the west and saw off the canals

    A FOURTH generation Swindon railway worker has written what may be the definitive history of the GWR’s rise. Ken Gibbs, 82, writes in his introduction to The Great Western Railway – How it Grew: “This book is the story of a small predator with a voracious

  • Three reasons why TA were marching

    I found the report on the march of the TA (Adver 22nd October) extremely disappointing. There were three reasons why the TA marched through Swindon. Firstly, to commemorate the 10th Anniversary of the award of the Freedom of Swindon to the Regiment.

  • Life on line is no life

    Last week a documentary by Prof Susan Greenfield and Prof Gary Cooper asked the questions, “Is technology taking over our lives? Destroying communication? Changing behaviour? Addicted to being permanently connected? Preferring to text rather than face

  • Police wrong on PACE

    The dignity displayed by the family and friends of Sian O’Callaghan does them great credit, as does the generosity of spirit evidenced by Karen Edwards, the mother of Becky Godden-Edwards. I am sure that every resident of the town will consider a 25-year

  • Who’ll be PCC winner?

    I attended the Police & Crime Commissioner’s ‘hustings’ meeting at the Central Community Centre in Swindon on 23 October 2012. It was extremely well organised and those responsible should be congratulated. I estimate there were around one hundred people

  • Strictly stars dance at opening of Field Of Remembrance

    STRICTLY Come Dancing stars were in town this morning as part of the official opening of the Field of Remembrance at Lydiard Park. Anton Du Beke and Kristina Rihanoff, who are professional dancers from the show, danced in front of Lydiard House

  • It Don’t Mean a Thing If It Ain’t Got That Swing.

    Ben Holder Prince of Wales, Shrivenham The smile on landlord Eddie’s face said it all. Last night the Ben Holder Trio lit up the packed bar of the Prince of Wales, the crowd joyously enthusiastic and enthralled. The group sparkled and swung mightily

  • Villages link up to form community plan

    RURAL communities in the Royal Wootton Bassett and Cricklade community area are working together to create a neighbourhood plan. A steering group has been set up and has agreed to push forward with the preparation of a neighbourhood plan focusing

  • Buses to pause in tribute to the fallen in Swindon

    THAMESDOWN Transport has announced that as a mark of respect its buses will stop for two minutes at 11am on Remembrance Sunday. Buses due to depart between 11am and 11.02am on Sunday will wait until 11.02am. Buses already en route will wait at

  • County set to hit recycling target ahead of schedule

    WILTSHIRE Council is currently recycling 48 per cent of the household waste in its area and is on track to achieve its target of 50 per cent well ahead of 2014. The council says contracts for treatment of non-recycled waste at the Lakeside energy from

  • Get set for the Christmas lights fantastic in Swindon

    The Old Town Christmas Lights Switch On takes place on November 29 in Wood Street from 6pm to 8pm, with entertainment from Tanwood Dancers, Wroughton Silver Band, Robbo the Clown, plus special appearances from TV vet Joe Ingles, Swindon Wildcats player

  • Find history of your home in Swindon

    An evening talk on researching roots and hidden history will take place next week. Local history expert Frances Bevan has been digging through the archives to uncover the history of Apsley House, the 19th Century building which houses Swindon Museum

  • Messages of remembrance to be planted in the park

    MESSAGES of remembrance for UK armed forces which were left by customers at Sainsbury’s in Royal Wootton Bassett have been sent to the Royal British Legion to be planted in the grounds of Lydiard Park. Sainsbury’s customers in the town had the chance

  • Ceramics revealed

    The latest in the Swindon Museum and Art Gallery’s lunchtime shorts will take place today. Mike Yates, a passionate collector of studio ceramics, will introduce some of the masterpieces of British Studio Pottery that can be found in Swindon Museum and

  • Academy trust appoints new head of governors

    A NEW chairman of the governors has been appointed at Royal Wootton Bassett Academy Trust. David Gardner, who is currently chairman of the Academy Trust, has been a governor for 12 years and last year managed the school’s conversion to Academy status

  • It’s Jacques and Jill, now

    A new venture that sees nursery rhymes translated into French for pre-school children will take place at the central library later this month. Bilingual Nursery Rhyme Time will take place at 2pm to 2.30pm on Wednesday, November 28 and Wednesday, December

  • Finalist from The Voice heads for Swindon

    A finalist on BBC’s The Voice talent show is set to perform at the Village Inn next week. Vince Freeman, who was chosen by Script frontman Danny O’Donoghue after performing the blind audtion barefoot, will be at the pub on Friday, November 16 at 9pm

  • Plans for solar energy plant to go on show in Cricklade

    PLANS for a proposed renewable energy plant at Chelworth, near Cricklade, will go on public display next week. The proposals for a solar farm have been put forward by the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust and Bath and West Community Energy for land next to Braydon

  • Boldly go to show hosted by Swindon-based UK Space Agency

    THE Swindon-based UK Space Agency is hosting the biggest EU space event this year. European Space Solutions is a major three-day conference, exhibition and business support event that will bring together business and the public-sector with users and

  • Excited kids all set for Santa

    YOUNGSTERS are celebrating after scoring funding to see Father Christmas next month. Eldene Children’s Centre has been awarded £792 from The Children’s Society’s Pot of Gold funding scheme to pay for a trip to Longleat, where children and their

  • Remember fallen at parade in Royal Wootton Bassett

    A REMEMBRANCE Sunday event will be held by the war memorial, in Royal Wootton Bassett at 11am on Sunday. The parade in the afternoon will start at 2.15pm, marching from Boroughfields to the War Memorial, led by the Pegusas Brass Band. It will be followed

  • Call to help out Swindon cancer patients

    THE Great Western Hospital’s cancer services team are inviting people to get involved in a hands-on production of a DVD for people affected by cancer. The open meeting at GWH is an opportunity to have your say, to discuss and consider what information

  • Truckers head into playground for fun with a serious side

    YOUNGSTERS got a good lesson in heavy vehicle safety when lorry drivers from DHL Homebase dropped in. Around 360 pupils aged between seven and 11 at Ruskin Junior School were treated to a vist from two drivers who brought their HGV to the school

  • Burglar in third breach of jail sentence given last chance

    A BURGLAR who breached a suspended sentence for a third time has been given a week to complete his unpaid work – or risk jail . Luke Chapman was told “If I see you again you’ll be going straight downstairs,” when Judge Euan Ambrose gave him a chance

  • Recorded music scratched from club

    RECORDED music has been banned at Dream Lounge by one of the country’s top judges. The proprietors of the Swindon nightspot faced the legal music at London’s High Court yesterday and were left with a legal bill of more than £1,600. Mr Justice Warren

  • Everything must go as Comet faces shutdown

    SHOPPERS shot to Comet to take advantage of the liquidation sale announced by administrators yesterday. The electrical retailer was placed into administration on Friday and administrators Deloitte have been searching for a buyer for Comet’s 236

  • Lawn Primary turns double decker into play area

    IT was all aboard for youngsters at Lawn Primary School after they unveiled a new double decker bus for play time. Pupils can now enjoy lunchtimes and break times in the former Thamesdown Transport bus, which was bought by the school for £1,000

  • JUSTIN TOMLINSON COLUMN: Britain's future lies in technology

    WITH the news this week from the Centre for Economics and Business Research that UK growth is forecast to be faster than our European competitors in 2013 and 2014, there are encouraging signs that our economy is on the right track. Yet, whatever

  • Granddad who loved dancing dies at 102

    HE may have been 102 years old when he died last week, but Samuel Harris was still dancing with his wife until last year. The great grandfather-of-six, who passed away on November 1, was a keen balloroom dancer and waltzed across the dancefloor

  • No jail for driver who performed slides and spins at Coate

    A MOTORIST who knocked over a park ranger while pulling stunts in the Coate Water car park has been spared jail. David Foulds, 26, was performing power slides and spins in a BMW 3 Series when he crashed into Stuart Searl, who was knocked onto the

  • Details revealed in £65m Oasis plans

    MORE details have been revealed on the £65m Oasis Leisure Centre revamp ahead of public exhibitions today and tomorrow. Moirai Capital Investments, which took over the centre in June, signed a deal with Swindon Council earlier this year to refurbish

  • Bid to reunite nurses with their medals

    A MANAGER at the Great Western Hospital is trying to reunite around 70 prestigious nursing badges with their owners. Claire Barker, training and development manager in the Academy at GWH, who qualified as a nurse herself back in 1990, discovered

  • Beaten Young vows to bounce back

    SWINDON boxer Kelvin Young has vowed to come back with a bang when he returns to the ring later this month. Young was stopped inside three rounds last month when he lost his English Middleweight Title eliminator fight against Tony Hill. The

  • Di Canio won't give his squad a break

    BE AFRAID, Town players, Paolo Di Canio is planning a second stint of pre-season training - at the end of November. The Robins will have two weeks without a game between the clash with Notts County on November 24 and the visit of Doncaster on December

  • Foderingham: 'We miss Macca

    SWINDON Town are “not the same” defensively without the injured Alan McCormack, according to goalkeeper Wes Foderingham. McCormack, who is currently recovering from a hamstring problem, has been a revelation for the Robins since switching central

  • Di Canio wary of Walsall

    WALSALL may statistically be one of the most out-of-form teams in League One but Swindon Town are not much better, and manager Paolo Di Canio has told his players to underestimate the Saddlers at their peril this weekend. The Bescot Stadium side

  • "I'll do my job...you do yours"

    PAOLO Di Canio has taken an unprompted swipe at Sir William Patey after the Swindon Town chairman upset his manager by suggesting more diligence needs to be taken in the signing of new players. On Tuesday, Patey revealed that the transfer embargo

  • Swindon's Howell two under in Singapore

    SWINDON golfer David Howell got off to a good start at the Singapore Open in the early hours of yesterday morning. Howell carded a two-under-par first round of 69 to sit three strokes behind the overnight clubhouse leader, Thomas Bjorn. The

  • Smith looking for another pro deal

    ON-LOAN Swindon Town defender Chris Smith is enjoying his temporary return to non-league football with Supermarine, but still hopes to make it in the professional game. The Samsung Win a Pro Contract winner made his Town debut on the final day

  • Nell's home hope

    SKIPPER Aaron Nell knows his side need to start performing at the Link Centre if they are to force their way up the English Premier League table. Wildcats are without a home win since October 6 and have only registered two successes on their own

  • Moore set to return

    SHANE Moore says he has a 50/50 chance of returning to the ice to help the Swindon Wildcats’ cause this weekend as he continues his recovery from injury. The D-man has been missing since the middle of October after suffering an ankle problem, leaving

  • Swindon's make or break weekend

    WILDCATS coach Ryan Aldridge has urged his players to put in two big displays this weekend to avoid the need to push the panic button. The Link Centre side currently sit second bottom of the English Premier League having lost their last two matches

  • HELLENIC LEAGUE: Fisher delighted with Robertson return

    HIGHWORTH boss John Fisher believes his side can boast one of the best natural goalscorers in the Hellenic Premier now Steve Robertson is over his injury problems. The forward spent the last two seasons with Fisher at Shrivenham, but after recovering

  • Top of the table clash is trivial, says Bassett boss

    THE top two in Division One West go head to head at Rylands Way tomorrow afternoon, but Wootton Bassett boss Dave Turner has insisted the result of his side’s clash with Brimscombe & Thrupp will not decide anything just yet. Bassett currently

  • Stead: "I want to stay with Robins"

    SIMON Stead is already trying to shift his focus away from an up-and-down 2012 and towards next season – which he is desperate to begin in Robins kevlars. In a year which ended on the ultimate high of Elite League glory, the popular Yorkshireman

  • Cats land BIG Czech star Fojtik

    SWINDON Wildcats have moved to strengthen their defensive options with the signing of Czech man-mountain Tomas Fojtik. The Link Centre side have suffered a string of injuries at the back in recent weeks, but the arrival of the 6ft 5 inch D-man

  • DAN THE FAN: Blades blunt the entertainment factor

    FOOTBALL is an entertaining game, it mesmerizes people, it can have you experiencing every emotion possible over 90 minutes, but sometimes the ugly side of the game can make an unwanted appearance. And most recently it was spotted at the County

  • Head to head: Walsall v Swindon Town

    SWINDON Town have enjoyed and endured varied fortunes at Walsall down the years. The first clash between the Robins and Walsall in the West Midlands came in the Rushden Charity Cup in 1896, when the Saddlers emerged 6-2 winners. Thirty-one