Archive

  • Accolade for Pebley Beach apprentice

    AN APPRENTICE has received a top honour from Hyundai at the manufacturer’s sixth annual awards. Pebley Beach apprentice Bilal Uddin, 18, received the title of Second Year Most Improved Apprentice. Bilal has been an apprentice with Pebley Beach

  • Pub loos hit gold standard

    TWO Wetherspoon pubs in Swindon have won awards for the quality and standards of their toilets in the Loo Of The Year Awards 2012. The Dockle Farmhouse, in Bridge End Road, and The Sir Daniel Arms, in Fleet Street, have each been awarded a gold

  • MP joins the call for independent regulation of the press

    SWINDON South MP Robert Buckland is one of more than 40 Conservatives calling for an independent system of press regulation to be introduced. They say, in a joint letter to The Guardian, that the Leveson Inquiry into press ethics has exposed ‘fundamental

  • Firm’s collapse will cost taxpayer £21,000

    TAXPAYERS have been hit by the collapse of recycling firm Northwood Environmental after it emerged Swindon Council is owed more than £21,000. The company, which folded in acrimonious circumstances last month with the loss of 65 jobs and apprenticeships

  • Making Christmas extra special

    SEEING her living room brightened up with a fresh coat of paint was a Christmas Wish come true for Grace Sharman. The pensioner, who lives in Upper Wanborough, was nominated by carer Sue Daltrey last year after her husband of 69 years, John, passed

  • Town set to complete Hollands loan

    SWINDON Town have agreed the loan signing of Charlton’s Danny Hollands. The 27-year-old midfielder has all-but finalised a deal tonight that will see him remain at the County Ground until January 5. The formalities are expected to be completed

  • Repatriation appreciation letters go on display

    LETTERS of thanks sent to Royal Wootton Bassett for the respect it showed during repatriations are on display. A catalogue of correspondence sent to the town council is part of an exhibition in Wootton Bassett Library, which includes photographs

  • Adventurer is ready for unique Pole trip

    EXPLORER David Hempleman-Adams will set off on Saturday on an expedition including three wounded soldiers on a charity trek to the South Pole. Mr Hempleman-Adams, who was born in Swindon, will be leading Captain Adam Crookshank, of Devizes and

  • Happy Christmas comedy

    Share in the familiar family frivolity and fiasco of Christmas with the Western Players. Stuart Jackson produces the Swindon cast including Adrian Peace as Neville, Shirley Dodson, Belinda, Matthew Hemmings, Eddie and Tony Manders as Harvey. Season

  • Meet our latest Unsung Hero

    A WOMAN who has spent the whole of 2012 helping those with disabilities has been crowned the latest winner of the Adver’s Unsung Hero award. Alana Sargent, of Penhill, has devoted countless hours of her time to helping people with disabilities

  • Barrie’s friends on tap

    I follow Barrie Hudson’s articles with a great deal of interest and a lot of humour as he always tries to get the best story in town, but in the paper of 1st November he went above and beyond the call of duty for his bosses. When no one else would cover

  • Care worker had false documents

    AN ILLEGAL immigrant who had a false passport and counterfeit asylum registration card has been jailed for 15 months. Catherine Rubia used the forged documents, each in different names, to get jobs, open bank accounts and even secure a £17,000

  • Sign up to become carol stars

    AFTER the success of last year’s competition, Carol Factor is back. Kembrey Inn Brewers Fayre in Swindon is once again looking to name a local amateur choir or singing group as the official Brewers Fayre ‘Christmas Carol Star’. Choirs of all ages and

  • Water a fantastic idea

    Regarding the routes of canals through Swindon (SA November 2) I’m reminded that many years ago I came up with a scheme which envisaged canalising the rivers Ray and Cole. This would make a canal loop from the River Thames around Swindon, hence ‘the

  • Who is brave enough to take on the fitness challenge

    THE hunt is on to find Swindon’s fittest people, as a training studio launches a gruelling competition. BPM Active, based in Cheney Manor Industrial Estate, has launched the XTC (cross training challenge) programme this month following the growing

  • Swindon Choral Society perform Messiah

    Tickets are now on sale for a performance of Handel’s Messiah by Swindon Choral Society on December 15 at Holy Rood Church at 8pm in Swindon. Tickest are £12 from Swindon Choral website at www.swindonchoral.org.uk

  • Festival of Light will bring us traditions of Thailand

    IT IS not often that Swindon plays host to the ambience and traditions of Thailand. Yet, on November 23 The Moonrakers Pub will feature a line-up of ladyboys, Thai cuisine and local bands as Swindon’s Thai community come out in force to celebrate the

  • Arts for beginners at Swindon's Haydon Centre

    Don’t Stop Me Now is holding an arts and crafts activity for beginners on November 22 from 1pm to 3pm at the Haydon Centre, Thames Avenue in Haydon Wick, Swindon. Cost is £10. Call Jackie on 07920 427851 or Jeanette on 07527130796.

  • Get crafty for Christmas at Swindon's Lydiard Park workshop

    The first workshop in West Swindon's Lydiard Park’s Hand Crafted Christmas series is all about creating your own fabric tree decorations. It takes place on November 19 from noon and is £6 per person to include refreshments and all materials. Booking

  • Nathan Jones Band plays at Swindon ball in aid of Goldenhar

    The Nathan Jones Golden Ball takes place on November 17. The black-tie event takes place at St Joseph’s Catholic College in Ocotal Way, Swindon, at 7.30pm. There will be a charity raffle and auction raising runds for Goldenhar, and tickets are available

  • Go with the Flo

    Codebreaker played vital role during World War Two FLO Cole, who turned 90 a few days ago, has a photograph of herself taken when she was 20, at the height of the Second World War. It shows her sitting on a fence in a Lincolnshire field with a big

  • Congestion outside hospital car park

    I tried to visit my mother several times in the Getting Worse by the Hour – sorry – GWH hospital. I would like to know how they think you can park there? I had to queue on the dual carriage way for 10 minutes before eventually giving up.This has happened

  • Road closure eases pressure on rat run

    I hope I am speaking for many residents when I say what a pleasure it has been living in Thames Avenue over the past few days with the road closed at Dart Avenue. This road is a rat run for the houses around the North Orbital. That’s fine but the problem

  • Unemployment in Swindon drops

    UNEMPLOYMENT in Swindon and the south west was down 5.8 per cent between July and September to 155,000. The news comes as it was announced that unemployment for the whole country has fallen to its lowest total for over a year - down 49,000 in the

  • Royal Mail announces massive increase in profits

    ROYAL Mail has announced a massive increase in their half-yearly profits. Profits for the organisation between March and September were around £144m, a huge rise from the £12m profit during the same period last year. The huge increase is being

  • Take a tip from me and make better adverts

    I LIKE giving handy hints. I’m good at it because I’m calm and I’m non-judgmental. Everybody says I’m non-judgmental, although for some reason they tend to mumble the words and I can’t always make out the syllables ‘non’ and ‘judge’. This

  • Pupils find learning is sweet in cake-making lesson

    PUPILS from Bradon Forest School got into the Christmas spirit yesterday by taking part in a special cake workshop. Year 11 food technology students and the school’s Christmas cake club were treated to a visit from Sugar Celebrations in the afternoon

  • Win mince pies for you and your workmates!

    EVERY Friday is Mince Pie day with the Swindon Advertiser. Do you and your work colleagues deserve a treat? Every week the Swindon Advertiser will deliver delicious fresh mince pies direct to your workplace. Every week one lucky business will

  • Bishop to be patron of Christmas Care shelter

    REVEREND Dr Lee Rayfield, the Bishop of Swindon, is the patron this year for homelessness project the Christmas Care Shelter. The doors of Queens Drive Methodist Church will be open from noon on Christmas Eve until the morning of December 28 to

  • Swindon Recital Series welcomes vioinist Carmen Flores

    Pieces for viola and piano by Carmen Flores and Paul Turner will feature during the Swindon Recital Series’ lunchtime concert at The Wyvern Theatre today from 1.05pm to 2pm. Tickets are £5. visit www.swindonrecitalseries.org.

  • Join the tree planting fun in Swindon

    Residents will be celebrating their environment by planting trees on the Evelyn Street railway embankment on Saturday, November 17 from 10.30am. The 60 trees will mark the 60 years of The Queen’s Golden Jubilee year and will be planted down the

  • Cricklade fire cadet skydives to raise funds

    A TEENAGE fire service cadet has thanked the station that trained him up by jumping out of a plane at 15,000ft to raise funds that will help the programme survive. George Edwards, 18, took the plunge on behalf of Cricklade Fire Station, which has

  • Showcase for musicians in Swindon

    Swindon is to stage its own version of the last night of the proms at The Wyvern Theatre on Saturday, from 7.30pm. Local Rotary clubs are putting on a concert showcasing local musical talent to generate cash for the Prospect Hospice and Swindon

  • Cupcake fanatics can get sweet fix at new Old Town store

    SWEET treats are being served up in Old Town after a store specialising in cupcakes opened its doors yesterday. GlamoRose Cakes started serving customers at its new home in 18 High Street, between the Co-Op and Barclays, yesterday morning.

  • Drop in crime over Halloween

    HALLOWEEN-related police incidents were down by more than 300 compared to the same period last year. There was also a reduction of three per cent – 160 incidents – during the bonfire events compared to 2011. Wiltshire Police say the number

  • Money lender admits 14 years of crime

    AN illegal money lender has been released on bail by a judge after admitting the illicit trade. When Harjinder Sandhu, 57, appeared at Swindon Crown Court he admitted carrying out the activity for more than 14 years. He conducted the lending

  • Cop snapped using a disabled parking bay

    A POLICE officer has been caught parking in a disabled space at a supermarket. The bobby, who was responding to an incident after a call from the store, parked in the yellow bay at Asda Walmart in North Swindon on Saturday afternoon. The Adver

  • Son gets giant pink ribbon tattoed on his back in mum's honour

    AFTER seeing his mother battle breast cancer for the past three years, Richard Miles knows only too well about the effects of the disease. His mother, Gina Mussel-white, who was the face of the Adver’s radiotherapy campaign last year, was diagnosed

  • Technical college to select preferred site

    TWO sites in the town centre have been shortlisted for Swindon’s new University Technical College (UTC) – and a preferred location is expected to be announced before Christmas. The UTC, which will specialise in engineering with business and enterprise

  • Cast your vote

    Cath Smith (Lib Dem) Cath Smith believes that the role of localism needs to return to local government. Working with the parish councils of Blunsdon and Highworth is vital to be a councillor who will represent Highworth and Blunsdon effectively

  • Caravans set up in former Motorola car park

    A GROUP of travellers set up camp yesterday on a derelict car park behind the former Mototora building at Ground-well. Thirty-five caravans, trailers and horse boxes were on the site yesterday morning. The land is through metal gates at the

  • Police appeal following burglaries in Old Town and Lawns

    POLICE are appealing for information about several recent burglaries in the Old Town and Lawns area, in which the offenders used high-powered saloon cars. There were two burglaries in Sandringham Road, on October 26 and 31, and two in Marlborough

  • Bodin hails his players' professional reaction

    YOUTH team boss Paul Bodin praised his players’ professionalism after they put a sluggish start behind them to earn a 6-1 victory over Cirencester Town last night. The visitors enjoyed the better of the first 15 minutes at the County Ground and

  • Better standard inspires Devera

    TOWN defender Joe Devera believes the challenge of making the step up to League One football has made him a better player. Having spent the majority of his career with Barnet before his move to the County Ground in 2011, the 25-year-old finally

  • Riley turns down Town but Ward keen to stay

    AS Bolton defender Joe Riley’s proposed move to Swindon falls through, a current Town loanee is keen to make his temporary switch to the County Ground a permanent one. The Advertiser understands right-back Riley had a change of heart after travelling

  • Grabe try a bonus for Old Boys

    SWINDON College Old Boys manager Martin Peaple was delighted to come away with a bonus point from the visit to Harwell. The Wiltshire side triumphed 29-7 at the strugglers on Saturday in a rearranged fixture, allowing them to tighten their grip

  • Chisora is star guest at whitecollar show

    DERRICK Chisora will be the star guest at Swindon Fightclub’s latest whitecollar show on Saturday, December 1. The former British title holder, who took Vitali Klitschko the distance in February, will look on as multiple fights take place at MECA

  • Mixed fortunes for Horseshoe ABC

    THERE were mixed fortunes for Horseshoe Amateur Boxing Club fighters recently. George Richardson stopped Ben Stuart of King’s ABC (Devon) in the second round of the pair’s clash. Richardson came out behind his jab which repeatedly caught the

  • Come on you Reds as Town youngsters progress

    CONNOR Waldon grabbed a hat-trick as Swindon Town’s youngsters booked an FA Youth Cup meeting with Liverpool by brushing aside Cirencester 6-1 at the County Ground last night. The striker’s treble, as well as a brace from captain Alex Ferguson

  • Marine's joy of six

    SWINDON Supermarine made it six wins out of six last night but manager Dave Webb insists the question mark hanging over the club’s promotion credentials will be answered in the lead up to Christmas. Marine came from behind to win 2-1 at Didcot

  • YOU WATT?: The ref got it wrong

    THERE was massive controversy in our game at Peterborough on Sunday, when the Phantoms equalised with a second left of the regulation 60 minutes. I don’t have a problem with the game being decided late on, but we felt that the buzzer went before

  • 'It's make or break'

    JOE Baird believes it’s ‘make or break’ time for Wildcats as they look to ignite their stop-start EPL season. Swindon suffered a devastating loss to Peterborough on Sunday when they conceded with a second to play and then were sunk 4-3 in overtime

  • I'm no veteran - Bennett

    LAWRENCE Bennett is determined to shake off his ‘veteran’ tag. The 30-year-old is unbeaten in three fights since turning professional back in March and says he will prove the doubters wrong. “People knock me for my age calling me a veteran,

  • A knockout night

    WALCOT ABC’s first event of the season produced an exciting 14-fight bill in front of a packed house at the Supermarine Sports and Social Club, writes DAVE VEYSEY. Twelve of the bouts featured boxers from the host club, with the stylish Kieran