Wiltshire | Archive | 2003 | December

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Stories for 31 December 2003

Sport Angling

Gary's 91lb Christmas cracker . . .

WEIGHTS in general have been good over the Christmas period at Ivy House Lakes, where Gary Laidler took 91lb of carp on Christmas Eve to win the match from peg 33.   more...

Sport Rugby

Howse double seals revenge for Cricklade in local derby

CRICKLADE overcame Fairford 28-8 in a local derby, avenging a 7-5 defeat at Fairford earlier in the season.   more...

College have the edge over Swindon in friendly clash

SWINDON College Old Boys beat Swindon 37-26 in a friendly in which both sides fielded mixed club players.   more...

Swindon News

Truancy is harmful to all pupils

AT least three of the parents interviewed in the article about parents being fined for taking their children out of school for term-time holidays, have missed the point of the proposed new law.   more...

Thanks from swan sanctuary

COULD we please take this opportunity to send our thanks, and wish everyone that has supported us throughout the year, a very happy Christmas, and a healthy New Year for 2004.   more...

The mathematics just don't add up

I HAVE read in the Evening Advertiser (November 26) that Swindon Council leader Mike Bawden has stated that if there is a double-digit rise in council tax next April that ­ because council tax increased by 15.4 per cent last year and by 15.9 per cent the year before ­ it will mean that tax payers "will have forked out 41.4 per cent increase over the past three years".   more...

Sick and tired of the parking restrictions

An extract from a day in the life of a central Swindon resident:   more...

Ban will put other routes under threat

I read with some disappointment and concern the article regarding the motorised vehicle ban on Smeathe's Ridge (Advertiser 19/12/03).   more...

Get priorities right

SO the senior officials and councillors of Swindon are at the old game of emotional blackmail.   more...

Free and splendid service

HAVING for some time observed a notice in Lloyd's pharmacy window begging the question ­ are you one of the one million sufferers who unknowingly has diabetes? Why not come inside for a free test?   more...

A big thank you

RE: the article about the home carers. I am writing this for my husband, Mr Tom Flaherty, who is blind and had a stroke about three years ago.   more...

Word of praise

I WAS surprised to read of abuse, by carers for housebound pensioners. My late mother received first class care from all the carers who looked after her for a number of years, they were kindness itself. Primrose Care, now Goldsborough, will always have my respect and lasting thanks.   more...

Chance for all to join with the jazz band

This year's jazz festival at the Designer Outlet Village in Rodbourne was a larger window of opportunity than ever for local talent.   more...

Club keeps drug dealers at bay

Ref. 28450-13A SWINDON nightclub believes it is winning the battle to keep drug dealing at bay.   more...

Save energy by becoming an action volunteer

Wiltshire Wildlife Trust is looking for competitive volunteers who want to make their neighbourhood the most energy efficient in Swindon.   more...

Awaiting delivery!

Ref. 28443-21MOST people look forward to receiving cards before Christmas - but Lynda Murray is eagerly awaiting them come January.   more...

Don't get left at the bus stop

Thamesdown Transport will not run services on New Year's Day.   more...

Get an award

The Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme has units running in schools, youth centres, Swindon Town Football Club, The Rowdy Bunch, and Boys Brigade.   more...

Funds raised as tribute to Nobby

Ref. 28451-22ROTARIANS from Old Town are planning to support Macmillan nurses in the New Year in memory of a former president who died of cancer this year.   more...

Painting pictures of a time gone by

AN exhibition of photographs featuring scenes from Swindon of yesteryear is being shown across the county.   more...

Alan swings at the Kings'

Saxophonist Alan Barnes is bringing his jazz quartet to Swindon.   more...

A trek to adventure

A SWINDON man has raised more than £2,000 for charity after completing a 10-day trek across New Zealand.   more...

NEW YEAR MESSAGES - 2004: A time of improvements.

Swindon leaders give their messages for the new year.   more...

NEW YEAR MESSAGES - MICHAEL WILLS, Swindon North MP

I hope 2004 will see us successfully meeting the challenges that made 2003 such a turbulent year.   more...

NEW YEAR MESSAGES - MARK DEVLIN, Swindon Town Football Club MD

I think our aspirations are to get promotion to Division One, to continue to bring the finances under control and to represent the community. We hope we are something to be proud of in Swindon.   more...

NEW YEAR MESSAGES - JAMES GRAY, North Wiltshire MP

Locally, we are challenged by the downturn in manufacturing, with Dyson going overseas, St Ivel in Wootton Bassett closing and Westinghouse moving out of Chippenham. Farming remains depressed and the threatened closure of RAF Lyneham would be a catastrophe unless we work to put high quality employment in its place.   more...

On with the hunt

Foxhunters from Wiltshire have been out in force over the festive period. On Boxing Day about 230 horses and riders turned out for a meet of the Vale of the White Horse hunt at Cirencester Park, accompanied by thousands of supporters on foot.   more...

Better service pledge

FIRST Great Western's parent company says the package of improvements it plans for the new Thames Trains Franchise will have knock-on benefits for South West customers.   more...

Sign at Greenbridge says it all

IT DOES just what it says on the side of the building ­ rots.   more...

It's a gong for jenni

Ref. 28453-19Woman who runs a haven for victims of domestic violence receives an MBE in the Queen's New Year's honour list.   more...

New Year Honours - Pleased for staff at Hastoe

HASTOE Housing Association managing director Andrew Williamson regarded his OBE as an award for the firm's employees.   more...

New Year Honours - Services to science

OPEN University graduate Vincent Osgood was recognised for his work at the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council.   more...

Stewart reaches for the ski!

Ref. 28218-02Stewart Elliott is looking forward to going ski-ing for the first time since he was paralysed.   more...

Lean Christmas for the conmen

ROGUES and conmen appear to have bypassed Swindon when it comes to peddling dangerous and counterfeit goods.   more...

A bright 2004 in store for Bethany

Ref. 28445-09CANCER battler Bethany Robinson says she is having too much fun to think about her illness.   more...

Chance to air views on our boys in blue

HAVE your say on the policing in Swindon at a New Year public meeting.   more...

Old specs mean sight

BROADCASTER Richard Stilgoe, writer and broadcaster, popped into Dunscombes Opticians to boost the company's New Year appeal for unwanted specs for the Third World.   more...

The last chord

Ref. 28404-89The melody may linger on, but for Swindon Arts the final note has been struck, reports MICHAEL LITCHFIELD.   more...

Homeless help

I WOULD like to give a wonderful word of credit to all those dedicated people who give their time and love to the homeless at Christmas. It is called Christmas Care and is organised by the Methodists each year. It was on for four days and all those people gave up their own time to help. So please thank them.   more...

Why big tax rise?

I notice that the Government has awarded Swindon an increase of 4.2 per cent over last year's council tax settlement. This figure is almost twice the rate of inflation. With this in mind, why is it that any increase in council tax is necessary? Has the council taken on more commitments this year or is it just incapable of ever getting it right?   more...

Feeling grateful

COULD I please put in a word of thanks, to a young lady who came to my assistance when I went flying, after catching my foot in the rubber covering the electricity supply to the children's roundabout outside Debenhams on December 15, also to the gentleman who helped me up.   more...

Save your stamps

CAN I make an appeal to readers to save me their stamps for the welfare of cats and dogs. A warm bed, food and health costs are very important to our four legged furry friends.   more...

£140,000 cut makes us a real cultural desert

FOR more years than many people care to remember Swindon was called a cultural ghost town. Nothing, according to its critics, ever happened here.   more...

Good work serves medal

COUNTLESS people will be pleased by the announcement of an MBE for Jenni Manners who runs Swindon Women's Refuge.   more...

Wiltshire News

On with the hunt

Foxhunters from Wiltshire have been out in force over the festive period. On Boxing Day about 230 horses and riders turned out for a meet of the Vale of the White Horse hunt at Cirencester Park, accompanied by thousands of supporters on foot.   more...

Wiltshire Sport

New Resolution

MALCOLM Crosby has challenged Town's players to turn over a new disciplinary leaf in 2004 or face potentially disastrous play-off consequences.   more...

Wootton Bassett News

Awaiting delivery!

Ref. 28443-21MOST people look forward to receiving cards before Christmas - but Lynda Murray is eagerly awaiting them come January.   more...

  
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