Latest news with #Swindon
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Businesses take matters into their own hands over disruptive road closure
A new series of summer events will be held in Swindon while a main road is closed for gas works. Wales and West Utilities has started a major £120,000 project to replace the gas pipes under Devizes Road and, following a closure from the Royal Oak roundabout, will shut the entire route in both directions from July 21 until the end of September to carry out the work in phases. Read more: Popular cultural festival returns to Swindon next month Festival featuring tribute bands returning this weekend Another road closure hits busy town road Along with the free pavement licences that will allow businesses to serve customers outdoors while the closure is in place, there will also be three large-scale events across Devizes Road and Wood Street to bring, music, food and footfall back to the area. Friends of Old Town, the public face of the Old Town Business Association, has organised the Old Town Gasworks Sunday Socials to support businesses affected by the loss of through traffic to the area. A different themed event will take place on August 3, 17, and 31, on the closed stretch of road and Wood Street. Be the first to know with the Swindon Advertiser! 📱 💡 Our flash sale brings the latest local happenings directly to you. Save over 50% on an annual subscription now. 🔗 #SpecialOffer — Swindon Advertiser (@swindonadver) July 4, 2025 The first weekend is a Family Festival with funfair rides, children's arts and crafts, chalk art installations and live acoustic music. The second will be a Beer & Country Music Festival with craft beer bars, outdoor games and a line-up of Americana and folk bands. The last event will expand Old Town's Street Foods Festival onto Devizes Road for the first time, featuring global cuisine, live music, artisan traders and a carnival atmosphere. The events have been made possible thanks to sponsorship from the works company Wales & West Utilities. Old Town Business Association chair Kris Talikowski said: 'When we learned Devizes Road would close for the whole of August, we knew we had to do more than just complain. 'These Sunday Socials are about turning disruption into something worth coming out for. 'They're designed to keep the area alive and thriving, not only for traders, but for the whole town. 'We're grateful to Wales & West for recognising the impact of their works and stepping in with meaningful support.' Ross Gregory, external affairs manager for Wales & West Utilities, said: 'We understand the pressure roadworks can place on local high streets. "That's why we're pleased to support this community-led programme of events, a positive and creative way of keeping Old Town vibrant while we deliver vital gas infrastructure upgrades.' For more information about the events and the road closure, visit
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Swindon powerlifters achieve national success at championships
Swindon powerlifters have achieved national success at recent championships after facing off against competitors from across the country. Swindon Barbell head coach Charlie Marillier competed at the British Masters Classic Powerlifting championships last month in the -84kg ladies M1 (40 to 49-year-olds) category, facing fierce competition from long-term rival and good friend Hira Tierney. Advertisement Following a surprising call from the judges to overturn her second and third squats to a fail, Charlie went into the bench press section knocked by the decision but then broke the British M1 bench record of 100kg. In the deadlifts, Charlie managed 190kg while Hira went on to deadlift 218kg, securing herself a new deadlift and total record, while Charlie went home happily with a silver medal. Recommended reading A week later, Swindon Barbell travelled to Chelmsford in Essex to support Steph Roderick at the English Classic Powerlifting championships. Steph, competing as a Junior (18 to 23-year-olds) is only 21 years old and felt quietly confident and determined to hit her personal targets, including the Swindon Barbell ladies' all-time squat record of 170kg. Advertisement After achieving a personal best of 160kg, Steph passed the club's record with ease and then managed 175kg. A tricky bench press section saw a mix of success and failure before Steph completed the final section on deadlifts. She only needed her opener to win the gold, but she also wanted to hit her kilogram target of 175kg – and did so with a smooth and certain pull. After jumping off the platform with joy and giving coach Charlie a big hug, she was awarded a gold medal and the English title. She said: ''I cannot believe how much I've improved in the past six months, it's all been down to the amazing training from Charlie I've loved every second of this journey.' Advertisement Charlie said: 'Steph has been completely dedicated to her own development, listening and taking on board everything that has been said to her, she has turned up even when she hasn't wanted to, she has followed her training and listened to guidance on nutrition and recovery. 'Steph is a beacon of maturity and consistency in her training and the end result is Gold medal and achieving everything she set out to. Everyone has the potential, but Steph is able to actualise that potential. We are so proud of her.' The club will focus on joining forces with another Wiltshire-based powerlifting gym, Crazy Strength in Amesbury, for an inter-team competition at the gym on October 4.
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Swindon sign Villa defender Munroe on loan
Finley Munroe has come on as a late substitute twice for Aston Villa [Getty Images] Swindon have signed defender Finley Munroe on a season-long loan from Aston Villa. The 20-year-old has represented Villa's Under-21 squad in the EFL Trophy and made two first-team appearances, coming on as a late substitute in the Europa Conference League and Premier League. Advertisement He becomes Swindon's eighth summer signing, having spent last season on loan at Spanish fourth tier side Real Union, where he played 27 games. "I'm ready to give everything I've got. I want to learn, improve, and help the team push towards the top end of the table," Munroe said.
BBC News
21 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Swindon sign Villa defender Munroe on loan
Swindon have signed defender Finley Munroe on a season-long loan from Aston 20-year-old has represented Villa's Under-21 squad in the EFL Trophy and made two first-team appearances, coming on as a late substitute in the Europa Conference League and Premier becomes Swindon's eighth summer signing, having spent last season on loan at Spanish fourth tier side Real Union, where he played 27 games."I'm ready to give everything I've got. I want to learn, improve, and help the team push towards the top end of the table," Munroe said.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Billie Piper ‘quite overwhelmed' to work with Tim Burton on Netflix's Wednesday
Swindon-born Billie Piper has said she was "quite overwhelmed" to work with Tim Burton on the new Netflix series of Wednesday. Piper plays Isadora Capri, the new head of music at Nevermore Academy, in the second series of the hit show, which is set to air next month. The drama, which centres around Wednesday Addams of The Addams Family, stars Jenna Ortega in the lead role, and also features several British actresses including Catherine Zeta-Jones, Dame Joanna Lumley and Piper. Speaking to Radio Times, Piper described the character of Capri as a 'really accomplished musician' with 'an interesting past of her own'. The actress told the magazine she was 'quite overwhelmed' to be working with Burton after admiring him for so long, and loved watching his films such as The Nightmare Before Christmas and Frankenweenie with her children. She added: 'I watched Beetlejuice so many times as a kid that I actually feel like it inspired the interiors in my house and the clothes I wear. I was fanatical.' Doctor Who star Piper, who attended Bradon Forest School in Purton until the age of 12, said she was 'grateful' to work with Burton. 'I realised I was dealing with someone who's really childlike energetically – open and engaging and fun,' she added. 'I love his energy. And that's what it feels like: like you're being painted into Tim Burton's piece of art, because it's a very specific composition a lot of the time, and it's striking.' Netflix announced earlier this year that Wednesday season 2 will be released in two parts in summer 2025. Recommended reading: Billie Piper stars in Netflix's Wednesday with Jenna Ortega Billie Piper confirmed as next Doctor in Doctor Who finale Billie Piper's pop star years and Chris Evans marriage Part 1 will be released on August 6, 2025, and Part 2 will follow on September 3, 2025. In the trailer for Wednesday Season 2, Part 1, Wednesday Addams (Jenna Ortega) is back at Nevermore Academy and "facing fresh threats". Joanna Lumley joins the cast of Wednesday season 2 as Hester Frump, Wednesday's grandmother. The character is described as a "formidable and complex" matriarch within the Addams Family.
