Archive
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Music
Thursday, October 19:Ridgeway Harmony Chorus Men's Quartet and Chorus singing barbershop style is at the Walcot Dome from 7.30pm. Everyone welcome to either listen or join in. Ask about free singing lessons. 01793 345605 evenings. Swindon Brass Band rehearse
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Events
Friday, October 20:Wessex Children's Hospice Clive Brain Memorial Shield Quiz Night at Main Hall, Swindon College, Regent Circus 7.30pm. (01793) 498331 day 496048 evenings. Gatcombe Park Craft Fair, Minchinhampton, near Stroud, follow signposted route
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Visitors encouraged to get involved with show
A major Southern Arts touring exhibition of four internationally recognised photographers opens in Swindon's Jollife Studios next week. The photos are arranged in grids to show overall patterns as well as individual pictures. The exhibition opens with
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Gearing up for river ride
SOLICITOR Kevin Dobson will be trading his business suit for Lycra when he cycles 500km along the Nile to raise money for people with learning disabilities. Mr Dobson, 42, who works for Goughs in New Road, Chippenham, has started his training by cycling
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Disabled ride made better
DISABLED riders will be kitted out in new jodphurs thanks to a £420 grant to Chippenham Riding for the Disabled. A dozen pairs of jodphurs, each costing £35, should help mentally and physically disabled riders enjoy their ride with greater comfort and
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Waterway danger claim
CHILDREN could be at risk if they play on concrete culverts in Drake Crescent, Chippenham, residents claim. Parents living near Drake Crescent, on Cepen Park South, have complained to North Wiltshire District Council children could fall and hurt themselves
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Congratulations to the Robins
Congratulations go to the Swindon Soft Water Robins speedway team. Last night's Premier League Knockout Cup victory at Hull ended a 33-year wait for silverware. After narrowly missing out on the Premier League title this season it was just what the Robins
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Still among the best in the world
So once again Rover workers are facing uncertainty now that BMW has put the Swindon Pressings plant up for sale. While the company says it is in no rush to complete a sale and is in talks with a number of prospective buyers it only means more anxiety
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School's accolade
CONGRATULATIONS to the John Bentley School in Calne, which has now becomes the county's first language college. This accolade from the Department for Education and Employment will mean extra funding, but more importantly it will afford some recognition
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Youngsters are an inspiration
THE Gazette this week features the stories of three courageous youngsters whose stories should be an inspiration to us all. Lydia Harding, 16, of Chippenham, is involved in a painful fight against cancer. Her quiet courage and determination to stave off
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Plug pulled on rock concerts
THE organisers of live rock concerts at Devizes Corn Exchange have decided to call it a day after a disappointing turnout for their last two gigs. The board of Ceres Promotions, set up by former town mayor Ian Hopkins five years ago, made its decision
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GPs' anger as patients brought in from Bath
DOCTORS and health workers at Devizes Hospital are furious that patients have been transferred without warning from the Royal United Hospital in Bath because of a beds crisis. Fifteen beds at Devizes had to be closed all summer, and GPs say money for
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DJ nights
Thursday, October 19:DJ Shaun plays at Jacksons, Shaw Ridge, from 5-1am. Free. Results present club club classics, chart, dance and party tunes at Po Na Na, Theatre Square. Swindon, from 9.30pm to 2am. Tickets from £2. Party night with DJ Cheezie Dom
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Pete ends the barren spell
AFTER 33 years of hurt the Robins speedway side have finally given the people of Swindon something to cheer. The boys from Blunsdon roared to an emphatic victory over Hull Vikings last night to claim the Premier League Knockout Cup. The red and white
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Wasssuupp Mr Wally?
MARK WALTERS was always a little bit on the wacky side when he played at the County Ground. A great footballer and a very good friend to the media, Mark is seen as something of a football legend after playing for so many years. Unfortunately his sense
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Boxes to bring festive joy for needy children
FAMILIES and groups across the county are being called upon to show their generosity at Christmas by filling a shoebox with small presents for children in eastern Europe. Operation Christmas Child was officially launched in the area at a coffee morning
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Lost film of Avebury is found in biscuit tin
AN amateur cine film, which lay hidden in a biscuit tin for more than 60 years, has been found to contain unique footage of the excavation of the stone circles led by Alexander Keiller in the 1930s. For the first time since the outbreak of war in 1939
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Happy returns for centre
THE Mill Race Centre celebrated a decade of providing community and social care for the people of Calne on its tenth birthday this week. The centre, which adjoins Marden House, was purpose built in 1990 by Wiltshire County Council's Social Services Department
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Girls and boys go out to play
LOCAL schoolchildren have been invited to the grand opening of a new £45,000 play area for Calne on Tuesday October 24. The site for the play area at Duncan Street, within the Knightstone Housing Association development, was earmarked by North Wiltshire
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Teddies add to Lydia's appeal
KEY Day Nursery has raised nearly £250 for the Lydia Harding Oasis of Hope Appeal by having a teddy bear's picnic every day last week. Lydia, 15,of Barken Road, Chippenham, was due to fly out to the Oasis of Hope clinic in Mexico yesterday for alternative
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Exchange gets promising help
MALMESBURY Twinning Association is holding a promises auction on Saturday October 21to raise money to allow youngsters from the twin town of Niebull, in Germany, to visit Wiltshire. Publicity officer Jeff Miller said the twinning association was keen
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Sergeant champions lessons on life saving
A NATIONAL scheme which is helping save the lives of heart attack victims is being run at RAF Lyneham. It aims to train both military personnel and civilians at the base on how to give first aid to people suffering from heart conditions. All members of
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Pupil mentors help young with problems
PUPILS at Wootton Bassett School who are facing problems at home or school can now talk them over with trained senior students. The eight sixth formers have completed an 18-hour training course to be volunteer mentors. The scheme was co-ordinated by Wiltshire
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Walkers on top of the world
HELPERS at the Oxfam shop in Borough Fields, Wootton Bassett, have raised about £1,000 on a sponsored walk for the charity. Assistants Sharon Bish and Barbara Hicks completed their 90-mile trek along the Ridgeway from Overton Hill near Avebury to Ivinghoe
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Classics on tour
CLASSIC car owners from all over the country explored north Wiltshire's treasures at the weekend. The second North Wiltshire Discovery Tour was organised by the district council's economic development and tourism department to highlight some of the county's
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Ski round the clock for the air ambulance
AN ambitious skiing marathon at Blacklands, near Calne, is set to emulate a Swedish race, listed as the longest Nordic ski race in the Guinness Book of Records. Members of the Blacklands Leisure Health and Fitness Club will take to the club's cross trainers
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Arts group sues over unpaid bill
AN arts charity is taking North Wiltshire District Council to court to force it to pay up thousands of pounds in fees it claims it is owed. Calne-based Kandu Arts for Sustainable Development was taken on by the district council to run a huge arts programme
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Lottery bid for funds to improve village hall
SEAGRY residents are pinning their hopes on lottery funding to carry out extensive renovations to modernise their 130-year-old village hall. Building surveyor and planning consultant Ian Rea said he was applying for a lottery grant on behalf of the management
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Genie leaps out of lamp
SINISTER mummies, ghosts and a palace that flies to Egypt are all part of the entertainment promised by Sherston Drama Group in its upcoming autumn pantomime of Aladdin. The group's publicity officer, Irene Johnston, said: "We wanted to do a traditional
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Arson attack on playground
VANDALS who set fire to play equipment at a playground have caused more than £15,000 worth of damage. A slide in Barra Close, Highworth, was so badly burned it had to be pulled down, leaving the town council to pick up the bill. Town clerk David Lane
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Knitting up Christmas joy
HUNDREDS of needy children in eastern Europe will be receiving boxfuls of Christmas cheer thanks to the generosity of villagers in Sherston. John Smith, depot manager for the south west region of Operation Christmas Child, said eight villagers had knitted
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School wins new court battle over unpaid fees
ST Francis School at Pewsey has won a second court battle with parents over the non-payment of fees after they removed their daughter from the school without giving the required term's notice. Following the hearing at Swindon County Court last week, headteacher
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Teens to take a leap of faith
FIVE Netheravon teenagers are preparing to leap from an aircraft 3,500 feet over Salisbury Plain to help raise funds for repairs to the roof of the village church tower and to buy equipment for a village Millennium park. On Monday Alanna Harris, 17, Stacey
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Harry Potter rescues village's dying river
WIZARD hero Harry Potter could come to the rescue as Castle Combe villagers face the threat of a build-up of silt which threatens to choke the river. Fictional superstar Harry Potter could step in where North Wiltshire District Council has declined to
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Police probe death crash
A WOMAN from Compton Bassett has been questioned by police following a car crash on Monday in which 29-year-old builder Paul Ridout died. The woman and a man from Devizes were arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. They have been
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Pair ding dangle merrily on high
WORKMEN found themselves high and dry in Chippenham High Street when a hydraulic platform jammed as they were putting up the Christmas lights. Robert Liddington and Tom Geldart were perched on the lift by the Yelde Hall for 90 minutes while supervisor
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Parker proves he's got brains
PARKER has sprung to the aid of International Rescue once again but it is not the famous puppet chauffeur receiving the accolades. Highworth's Alex Parker is a Thunderbirds fan who thinks the cult 1960s television series, which is being rerun on BBC2,
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Funeral service for caring mum
MARKET LAVINGTON: The funeral of Gill Barter, the 27-year-old mum who was found dead at her home in The Muddle, will be at noon on Monday October 23at the West Wiltshire Crematorium, Semington. The family have requested family flowers only and donations
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Musical treats on fright night
A FUNDRAISING Hallowe'en party in Devizes will be a family affair. Two sets of fathers and sons will be among the bands performing at the town hall on October 27 to raise money for Options information cafe in Station Road, Devizes. Nurse Mike Doherty
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Miracle of tiny Rosa's struggle for survival
ROSA Flaherty weighed 1lb 8oz when she was born almost four months premature. Her parents, Gazette journalists Charlie and Sean Flaherty, lived with her in Hammersmith Hospital for two-and-a-half months. Here her father tells her story. "Is she alive?
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Town set for urgent roadworks
URGENT work on roads in the centre of Devizes will begin on Monday, October 23, in a bid to stop the surface breaking up in the frosts. Contractors will move in to Brewery Corner, Estcourt Street and Southbroom Road after 6pm to repair damage caused by
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Partnership facing crisis
THE Devizes Development Partnership, formed to help regenerate the town, is threatened with collapse after most of the committee, including chairman, vice chairman and treasurer, stood down at Monday's annual meeting. Chairman Jenny Holt, vice chairman
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GPs' anger as patients brought in from Bath
DOCTORS and health workers at Devizes Hospital are furious that patients have been transferred without warning from the Royal United Hospital in Bath because of a beds crisis. Fifteen beds at Devizes had to be closed all summer, and GPs say money for
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Tributes paid to crash victim
MOURNERS will pack a funeral service on Saturday (October 21) to pay tribute to builder Paul Ridout, who died in a car crash at Bishops Cannings on the night of Monday October 16. Mr Ridout, 29, of Little Cheverell, was driving a Porsche Carrera on the
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Friends' effort for clean water
KIND-HEARTED Rebekah Ellerby is organising her own fundraising event to help build a well in northern Albania. Seven-year-old Rebekah, of Urchfont, last year raised £1,250 for Kosovar refugees with a sale and she is now organising a Christmas fair on
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Heart-breaking for youngsters
Vandals who broke into and flooded a pre-school caused £600 damage and ruined three children's birthdays. The thieves also ruined at least the next few weeks of school for the children, who will have to miss out on their pre-school morning sessions. The
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My Thunderbird blueprint is go!
Parker has sprung to the aid of International Rescue once again but it is not the famous puppet chauffeur receiving the accolades. Highworth's Alex Parker is a Thunderbirds fanatic who thinks the cult 1960s television series is F.A.B. Alex, 11, who recently
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Dead driver is named
A man killed when his silver Porsche collided with a Ford Mondeo on the A361 on Tuesday has been named as Paul Ridout. The 29-year-old from Little Cheverell, near Devizes, was pronounced dead at the scene. His two passengers, a 20-year-old woman from
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Winter of our discontent
Princess Margaret Hospital is planning to pay for 43 beds in nursing homes to cope with winter pressures. Six new beds are also opening in the hospital itself. It usually costs between £340 and £400 a week per resident in nursing homes. Based on what
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My 2 weeks of hell
When Christian Cousins suffered a leg injury while playing with a ball in his friend's garden, he could never have imagined how the next eight weeks of his life would pan out. The 28-year-old already suffered from varicose veins and the injury worsened
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Residents batting on new cricket pitch offer
PEOPLE living in Drews Park, Devizes, to the south of the former Roundway Hospital, are searching for a cricket club to take over pitches near their homes. The Drews Park Village Association last week agreed that the chairman John Stevens should make
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Job fair's a crowd-puller
MORE jobs fairs will be held in Devizes following the success of one held at the Corn Exchange this month. The event was organised by Devizes Jobcentre and featured 22 local employers who were offering temporary Christmas jobs as well as permanent positions
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Prize-winning duo get a crack at movie fame
MOVE over the Coen brothers the Davey brothers from Devizes are hot on your heels. The Daveys, Jesse, 26, and 24-year-old Robin have won a top award with their first film, Making an Omelette, a gangster-style film, which they produced on a budget of just
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Families beat the bounds
TWO families ensured the traditional Marlborough beating the bounds went ahead at the weekend even though the mayor Maurice Cooper had cancelled the official walk around the borough boundary. The 21 walkers who completed the 12-mile walk received a certificate
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Mystery is murder on the reader
BOOKS: SWEET Vengeance by Una-Mary Parker is out this month (Headline). What a pile of utter bilge this is. The plot follows the mysterious disappearance of Arabella, a fashion designer. Thus is spawned a yawnsomely dull tale which crawls along at about
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Waiting room with a view
PATIENTS in the Pewsey doctors' surgery can gaze at pastoral water meadows, crop circles and a village church in the Pewsey Vale without even having to leave the comfort of their seats, thanks to Bouverie Women's Institute. The surgery in High Street
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Aid mission is set to deliver supplies
The latest Swindon mercy trip to the Balkans will be setting off as planned on Monday. At the wheel of the truck loaded with aid will be landlord Andy Marcer from the Beehive pub in Old Town. It will be Andy's ninth trip to that troubled part of Europe
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New York is the next challenge
He may be 60 next month, but Wootton Bassett sporting personality Chris Kirkland has no plans to hang up his running shoes. Mr Kirkland, the town's sports development officer and former deputy head teacher of Wootton Bassett School, is running in the
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School improved across the board
A school has been praised by Ofsted inspectors for across-the-board improvements over the past year. Although inspectors said there was room for improvement in some areas, they found 84 per cent of teaching at Rodbourne Cheney Primary School was satisfactory
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A shining comeback for group
A playgroup which was under threat of closure earlier this year has turned its fortunes around and has just received a sparkling Ofsted report. Bright Stars Playgroup, which is based at Moredon Youth and Community Centre at Hreod Parkway School, was struggling
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Lydia is on her way to Mexico
Lydia Harding's 16th birthday has certainly been a sweet one. The young Swindon Town fan is jetting out to Mexico today for the cancer treatment she hopes will transform her life. More than £45,000 has flooded into the fundraising appeal which was set
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High time to help
MORE than 50 intrepid fund-raisers took their courage in both hands to make a rope descent from the 75ft-high roof of Salisbury College. They were taking part in a sponsored abseil challenge organised by the Wiltshire branch of the British Red Cross.
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Town stars celebrate football as a force for helping children learn
Representatives from Swindon Town Football Club joined sports stars in London yesterday to celebrate the success of a Government learning initiative. The club has helped hundreds of local schoolchildren develop literacy, numeracy and IT skills through
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Where the national park lines are drawn
THE villages of Redlynch, Lover and Landford fall inside the draft New Forest National Park boundary published this week - but Ringwood and Fordingbridge are excluded. The Wiltshire and Test Valley border of the proposed park falls only five miles short
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It's a far cry from Zimbabwe
Working as a nurse in Swindon is a far cry from Gayle Bourne's native Zimbabwe. Gayle, 40, moved from Africa 18 months ago to start a new life in Swindon with her two children and a suitcase full of clothes. And thanks to the return to practice course
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School plans £1.3m classes
EIGHT mobile classrooms that have been used by a Salisbury school for the past 40 years may soon be replaced by a £1.3m building. Bishop Wordsworth's School's plan for the two-storey block will be submitted to the district council by the end of the year
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Will someone buy this site?
BMW is likely to sell its Swindon Pressings site some time over the next few months. Talks are being held with a number of international automotive firms over the sale of the BMW component factory in Swindon. The German car maker is also holding talks
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Landlord and pub face axe
MERE will lose a popular pub and a landlord his livelihood if plans to knock down the Walnut Tree Inn go ahead. Brewers Hall and Woodhouse want to demolish the pub in Shaftesbury Road and build six houses in its place. The outline application to Salisbury
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Designs for Steam life
Student Jonathan Peacock has scooped a prize for his excellent design work. Jonathan's task was to create a new logo for the Friends of Swindon Rail Museum group. The group approached Swindon School of Art and Design to come up with a new logo for use
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Give us more beat bobbies
Residents concerned at the lack of community beat officers in the North Swindon area will question senior police officers at a meeting tomorrow. Rodbourne Cheney Residents' Association has complained for months that the police presence on their streets
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You're a bit late, ducks
The changing seasons and unpredictable weather have been known to catch mother nature out from time to time, but things have gone completely quackers at Roves Farm in Sevenhampton. Much to the surprise of farmer Rupert Burr, Doris the duck has produced
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'Soulmate' dog to be put down
AN 82-year-old woman has been ordered to destroy her cross-breed Doberman dog after it twice savaged a neighbour's cat which subsequently died. Kathleen Smith, of Glyndebourne Close, Bemerton Heath, Salisbury, admitted two allegations of not being in
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Salisbury take a while to shine
Salisbury 23 Ivel Barbarians 7: Against a team yet to record a victory this season, Salisbury made heavy weather of beating Ivel whose spoiling tactics proved so effective. It took Salisbury 15 minutes to open the scoring with a penalty from Cameron.
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Safety fear of Fair vehicles
A NUMBER of showmen attending this year's Salisbury Pleasure Fair will not be allowed to drive their vehicles away until they can prove they have had mechanical faults put right. Police, who checked a sample of 20 vehicles on Sunday, discovered 17 had
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It is only a game
I fully agree with your reader that the police did a very good job last Sunday after the football match, but should we not be ashamed that in a civilised country we need the police to control people who after all have only been to a game? On leaving Swindon
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No room for complacency
The recently released survey figures showing a fall in crime are of course welcome news, but they have to be treated with some caution. The latest police figures which cover a more recent period showed a rise, not a fall in crime. There is no room for
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Chance to donate
TWO years ago my daughter Lucy was struck down by meningitis and I was brought face to face with the terrifying nature of this disease. Thankfully after six agonising weeks, Lucy began to recover and is now in very good health. But we were lucky, one
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Shops add sparkle
As chairman of Corsham Town Council I would like to publicly thank the 20 plus businesses and retailers in the town who responded to my appeal for funds to allow the Christmas lights to continue. More then £1,200 has been raised from them and added to
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Boundless fun
WE would like to thank all those who participated in the unofficial Beating of the Bounds on Sunday around Marlborough. Special thanks go to PC Sid Vincent for helping at the road crossings, Sarah and Seb Frysol for refreshments, the 2nd Marlborough Scout
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Car complaint
AT the time of writing an abandoned car is parked half on the pavement outside my house and has been there for two weeks now. Several of my neighbours have complained to the police and council many times. Each not only passes the buck from one to the
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Volunteers appear
I AM writing to thank you for publishing the article last week highlighting our need for volunteers. We are very pleased with the response we have had. DENNIS STARNES Publicity Officer Calne Community Credit Union Ltd Valley View, Calne
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Book reprinted
WITH reference to the proposals for the future services at Savernake Hospital readers may be interested to know that the Short History of Savernake Hospital which I wrote in 1966 to mark the hospital's centenary has been reprinted and copies can be obtained
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The party's over
THROUGH your letters page, may we address those of your readers who are interested in live music. During the last five years Ceres Promotions has provided superb live music in Devizes Corn Exchange, with a series of gigs that have included The Hoax, Dr
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Yah-boo politics
I REFER to Margaret Taylor's letter in the Gazette on October 12. No doubt the electorate in general, regardless of their political allegiance or colour, are fed up with such comments penned by the Devizes Labour councillor Margaret Taylor in last week's
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Wanted, a team of women footballers
A ladies football club has recently been formed in Chippenham, part of Chippenham Town Football Club, based at Hardenhuish Park. The club fields two teams in a new Wiltshire Ladies League, and after five games has made an impressive start to the season
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Children's right to safe play areas
I AM prompted to write by an article which appeared on the Gazette's front page of the Marlborough/Pewsey edition on September 28 headlined "Play area neighbours say slide rules lives." To my mind this highlights the woeful lack of planning, consultation
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Sport and hobbies
Thursday, October 19:50+ Young At Heart gentle exercise to music is at the Hydro, Milton road, 10am to 11am, 11am to noon. (01793) 465630. 50+ Young At Heart Women's Floor Exercises 9.30am to 10.30am. Heath Hydro. (01793) 465630. Climbing Wall new activity
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Robins roar
SWINDON ROBINS are the 2000 Premier League Knockout Cup Champions. They clinched the trophy with a solid workmanlike performance in the second leg of the final at Craven Park, Hull, last night (Wedenesday). Although they went down by six points on the
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Leisure centre cash bid up for discussion
URGENT discussions are being held between officials from Kennet District Council and Wiltshire County Council in an attempt to get the £3m refurbishment of Devizes Leisure Centre back on track. A National Lottery application for £1.5m will be returned
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Exhibitions
Contemporary Artists of Swindon, is holding an exhibition of various artists, at the Beehive, Prospect Hill, Old Town until November 4. Free entry during pub opening hours. Swindon Artists Forum is holding an exhibition of original paintings and prints
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Sorry Colin but we are not fit yet
COLIN TODD had his fair share of injury problems before Tuesday's match against Swansea however there were two names on the list that gave me a chuckle. Everybody knew about Matt Hewlett and Adam Willis struggling to shrug off knocks. However, a couple
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Sleepless nights on the way back from Wales
SWANSEA was certainly not one of the nicest places to watch football. The fans were rather boisterous and the press facilities were hardly salubrious as we sat among the rowdy rabble. However, it was not the crowd that I had the most trouble with, it
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Tories pledge to help farmers beat red tape
SHADOW agriculture minister Tim Yeo came face to face with farmers in crisis when he went to market in Chippenham. Mr Yeo started the day in Chippenham Livestock Market, where he took part in a question and answer session. He then visited farms and abbatoirs
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Cuts could leave the elderly in hospital
WILTSHIRE'S social services is having to cut costs to reduce its overspend from more than £2m to £1.5m. An increase in the number of elderly people and a lack of Government funding means the expected £1.5m deficit this year could creep up to £2.2m if
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Cinema owner's closure warning
OWNER John Angel has warned that the Palace Cinema in Devizes could close if more people don't use it. Mr Angel took over when previous owner, Robins Cinema, went into receivership, and opened it in August after a Gazette campaign. However, after a successful
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School's Euro link-up
JOHN Bentley School hopes to bring the spirit of internationalism to Calne as it officially launches as Wiltshire's first specialist language college today. The Calne comprehensive has been awarded the special status by the Government's Department for
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Police join new drive to combat car crime
A CAMPAIGN launched by the Government to crack down on car crime is being backed by Wiltshire Police. The force is due to launch its own campaign in November to co-incide with the Government's initiative. Car crime accounts for about a fifth of recorded
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Lydia jets off in search of miracle cancer cure
TEENAGE cancer sufferer Lydia Harding set off for Mexico yesterday, flying halfway around the world in search of a miracle cure. Lydia flew out with her parents Sue and Howard Harding, and with the hopes and prayers of the thousands of well wishers who
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Ofsted praise for nursery
ANGELINE'S Nursery in Calne is celebrating a glowing Ofsted report which notes a great improvement since the last inspection three years ago. Key strengths highlighted in the report included the relationship with parents, social and multicultural understanding
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Allotment holders hit out at site proposals
ALLOTMENT holders who have raised produce on their plots in Calne for decades are protesting proposed new sites have poor soil and could even be dangerous. The Calne Allotment Society, representing members who garden at the four- acre Newcroft site, claim
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Prison for man who beat boy with slat
MARK Cook was found guilty of common assault and sent to prison for four months after hitting a seven-year-old boy with a wooden bed slat. Cook, 36, of Bremhill, appeared before North Wiltshire Magistrates sitting in Chippenham last Wednesday for sentencing
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Sailing trio's cancer appeal
GREAT Somerford sailor Christopher Blount is preparing to undertake a 3,000 mile sponsored voyage across the Atlantic to raise money for Malmesbury Community Hospital and the local branch of Macmillan Cancer Relief. Mr Blount, who runs an estate agency
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Town salutes archery history
A PLAQUE saluting the skills of England's feared longbowmen has been unveiled in Wootton Bassett. The Civic Trust provided the plaque at The Buthay to outline the areas's past. The Buthay, now known as Church Street, was used for compulsory archery practice
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Otters make a splash in town
Daphne Neville and two of her otters enthralled a large audience at the Memorial Hall, Wootton Bassett, on Saturday October 14. At the meeting organised by the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust Mrs Neville's enthusiasm for otter conservation was communicated in
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Council is slated for fees for smart offices
A COUNCILLOR has this week hit out at North Wiltshire District Council for spending £675,000 on professional advice for its new headquarters, rather than upgrade local playgrounds. John Thomson, district councillor for Sherston, claimed playgrounds in
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Deadline for new schools
WILTSHIRE County Council has given a consortium until the end of the month to finalise a £140m deal to build new secondary schools in north Wiltshire. If the deal is not finalised in time it could delay the construction of new schools in Malmesbury and
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Trenches are left open
MOTORISTS had to thread their way past unguarded open trenches in the road between Malmesbury and Brinkworth last Tuesday. Workmen from an Exeter-based company, Flexer Construction, downed tools and left trenches more than 150 metres long and half a metre
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Green light for lottery pool bid
THE Sports Lottery Board has agreed in principle to give a grant of £1.18 million to fund an indoor swimming pool in Malmesbury. The lottery panel has decided to support the project subject to North Wiltshire District Council meeting a number of conditions
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Survey to investigate crossing on roundabout
PEOPLE may be able to cross the road at Malmesbury's busy Gloucester Road roundabout more safely in future. Wiltshire County Council had claimed it was not be a suitable place for a pelican or zebra crossing because there were not enough people crossing
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Council sees festive funding in new light
THE town council will give an annual donation of £1,000 towards the Christmas lights as long as they are extended into The Parade and the lower part of Kingsbury Street. On Monday members of the town council finance and general purposes committee supported
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Police in bid to sniff out thieves
POLICE cannot help but be on the scent of a £20,000 tractor stolen from a field at Upavon at the weekend because it was covered in pig manure. The theft, from Widdington Farm, occurred between 4pm on Sunday when the tractor was left in a field and 7am
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Hospital plans up for scrutiny
PROPOSALS aimed at securing the future of Savernake Hospital will come under scrutiny at what is expected to be a packed meeting in Marlborough Town Hall on Tuesday. Both floors of the town hall have been booked for the 7.30pm meeting which has been called
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Force is disturbed by Star Wars theft
POLICE in Marlborough are probing an inter-galactic mystery after four Star Wars characters were stolen from Harpers gift shop in the High Street. Three feet high pewter models of Darth Vader, Boba Fett, R2D2 and C3PO were stolen in the early hours of
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Police warning after drug raid
POLICE seized a fist-sized lump of what they believe was cannabis resin in a raid on a house in London Road as part of their crack down on crime and lawlessness in the town. This week Sgt Paul Oatway warned the operation was the start of police moves
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Struggling club seeks saviour in cup hero
SWINDON Town football legend Don Rogers is predicting Pewsey Football Club can win the league next year after taking the helm at the struggling outfit. Mr Rogers has been appointed as the club looks to climb from the bottom of the Screwfix League. A special
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Centre hits visitor target
THE Heritage Centre in Chippenham has met its first year target of visitors in just 30 weeks. The new museum and heritage centre in Market Place notched up its 12,000th visitor on Friday, when Matthew Cruse, ten, from Redland School, called in to find
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Drug addict gets chance to show she can quit
FORMER heroin addict Gillian Green, who told a court she had managed to detox herself and had not taken drugs for three months, was given a rare chance by magistrates to prove herself and escape a prison sentence for drug possession. Ms Green, of Little
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Magic world for Brownies
MICKEY Mouse has been coming up in conversation a lot this week as more than 60 Chippenham Brownies prepare for their first trip abroad to Disneyland Paris. Two coachloads of Brownies from the second, third and ninth Chippenham and first Yatton Keynell
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Stabbed guard given HIV all-clear
SECURITY guard Nigel Wright has been given the all-clear after an agonising three month wait to find out if he was HIV positive. Mr Wright was stabbed in the face five times with a hypodermic needle when he tackled a man in Avenue La Fleche, Chippenham
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Teenage attackers leave boy with internal injuries
TEENAGER Drew Long was left was internal injuries after he was beaten up by a gang of youngsters. Drew, 14, was left with a bruised liver and ribs, dislocated knee, damaged leg muscles, broken nose and cuts and bruises to his head and back. The group
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Parents tell of young road victim's bravery
BRAVE Ben Sheppard's biggest wish for his seventh birthday this month is to leave the hospital where he has been recovering from the car crash which killed his younger sister. Ben, whose birthday is on October 31, suffered spinal injuries in the car accident
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Arson attack on playground
VANDALS who set fire to play equipment at a playground have caused more than £15,000 worth of damage. A slide in Barra Close, Highworth, was so badly burned it had to be pulled down, leaving the town council to pick up the bill. Town clerk David Lane
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Magpies steal Whites' glory
Dorchester Town 4 Salisbury City 3: Joy turned to heartbreak in the space of just two minutes for the many travelling Salisbury City supporters who watched in disbelief as their side threw away what looked a comfortable lead in a thrilling FA Cup tie
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Parents tell of young road victim's bravery
BRAVE Ben Sheppard's biggest wish for his seventh birthday this month is to leave the hospital where he has been recovering from the car crash which killed his younger sister. Ben, whose birthday is on October 31, suffered spinal injuries in the car accident
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Struggling club seeks saviour in cup hero
SWINDON Town football legend Don Rogers is predicting Pewsey Football Club can win the league next year after taking the helm at the struggling outfit. Mr Rogers has been appointed as the club looks to climb from the bottom of the Screwfix League. A special
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Green light for lottery pool bid
THE Sports Lottery Board has agreed in principle to give a grant of £1.18 million to fund an indoor swimming pool in Malmesbury. The lottery panel has decided to support the project subject to North Wiltshire District Council meeting a number of conditions
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Country must build on golden Olympics
BRITAIN'S golden performance in the Olympic Games in Sydney must be built on with the creation of new and better sports facilities, says Marlborough-based motivator David Hemery. The former gold medallist recently returned from Australia where he stayed
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Leisure centre cash bid up for discussion
URGENT discussions are being held between officials from Kennet District Council and Wiltshire County Council in an attempt to get the £3m refurbishment of Devizes Leisure Centre back on track. A National Lottery application for £1.5m will be returned
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Recycling centre plan backed
DEVIZES town councillors have backed plans for a household recycling centre on the county council's depot in Horton Road. Residents of Ferozeshah Road and Hamilton Drive are against the plans by Marlborough-based Hills Waste because they fear increased
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Man treated after being punched
A man needed hospital treatment after being punched in the face in Swindon's town centre. The victim approached a group in Havelock Square at 2.45am on Sunday and claimed they were shouting abuse at his friend. One of the group punched him. Investig-ating
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Police target speeders on A419
Speeding drivers on the notorious A419 are being targeted by police officers with radar guns. From today until Christmas police officers are cracking down on those who break the speed limit on the road which has claimed three lives in the last three months
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Kosovars await the verdict of the court
Kosovars involved in a Boxing Day clash with youths in Swindon were today awaiting a court verdict on charges against them. Swindon Magistrates Court has seen CCTV footage of punches being exchanged and belts being used as weapons. Five Kosovars, who
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Crash delays safety exercise
Rail firm First Great Western has postponed safety tests due to take place on carriages involved in the Paddington train crash after the latest tragedy in Hertfordshire. Four people died in the accident on Tuesday and more than 30 were injured when two
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Picking up the pace
With autumn fishing beginning to pick up pace now on both rivers and lakes, some good bags of roach have come from Waldens Farm Fishery and from the Avon near Fordingbridge, which on Friday produced two roach at 2lb 6oz and a third at 2lb 2oz. The Avon
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Drink driver is facing jail
DRIVER Brian Frost-Foster could be facing a jail sentence after admitting driving with almost four times the legal limit of alcohol. Frost-Foster, 40, of Stirling Road, Market Lavington, appeared before Kennet magistrates in Devizes on Monday October
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Publican quits after 25 years
THE landlord of the Greyhound Inn in Bromham has retired a few weeks short of his 25th anniversary at the pub. George Todd, 71, left the pub on Friday, ending a quarter of a century's association with the village. Having run the pub as a free house for
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Pre-school rides a crisis
A VILLAGE pre-school which faced closure a few months ago, is now thriving. When two members of staff left, and numbers of children fell, the West Lavington Little Villagers pre-school was plunged into crisis. But parents and the local community moved
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Classics on tour
CLASSIC car owners from all over the country explored north Wiltshire's treasures this month. The second North Wiltshire Discovery Tour was organised by the district council's economic development and tourism department to highlight some of the county's
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Artist gets to roots of the landscape
THE paintings, prints and mosaics created by artist Jane Muir reflect the landscape fragmentations around the area. The artist considers the formation of tree stumps, trunks and roots to be important sources for her charcoal drawings and oils and the
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Gig guide
Thursday, October 19:Local bands Duffy and Lazyboy: The Victoria, Victoria Road, Swindon. The Action Time: The Moles Club, Bath. Squid Inc: The Porter Cellar Bar, George Street, Bath Friday, October 20:Manzarek Doors, tribute to the Doors, £4.50 on the
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Musical treat is a real gem
The Emerald Ensemble is offering a rare treat a concert with free admission for children. Many members of the ensemble, a dozen of Britain's most talented young musicians are noted soloists on international platforms including the USA, Europe, South America
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Eight miles to help hall fund
FAMILIES in Aldbourne are being urged by the village Millennium festival committee to join in a walk to raise money for improvements to the Memorial Hall. Walkers will leave The Green at 10am on October 28 and follow an eight-mile route up the Four Barrows
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On Stage
BATH THEATRE ROYAL (01225) 448844 Until October 21: Light Until October 21: Shelf Life October 24-28: Oliver! (musical) October 29: Cleo Laine, John Dankworth and Friends October 31-November 4: Conversations After a Burial November 2-4: Splendour November
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Thief escapes with £500 cash
A WOMAN living in Kingsbury Street in Marlborough had £500 in cash stolen by a man who escaped through an upstairs window. The 69-year-old, who is not being named by the police, was alone in the house watching Coronation Street at about 8pm when she heard
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Exhibitions
BATH Hotbath Gallery Tel: (01225) 328673 Until November 8: 50 years of painting and sculpture in Pakistan Until November 8: An exploration of identity through Northern Landscape. BRISTOL Museum and Art Gallery Tel: (0117) 9223571 Until November 12: Yours
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Half-term training
PEWSEY: The Rushton Soccer School run by Matthew Rushton will be holding half term training sessions at St Francis School from Monday to Friday next week with morning and afternoon sessions. Further details from Mr Rushton on (01672) 564445.
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What's on
Thursday, October 19:Brinkworth: Brinkworth WI welcomes visitors for talk by Veronica Hammond, of House of Hats, Village Hall, 7.30pm. Bromham: Bromham Pre-School coffee morning and harvest auction, Bromham Social Centre, 10.45 am, contact Mrs C Read
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Charity cash on the cards
THE 13th successive Christmas card shop to be run at St Peter's Church was officially opened on Saturday October 14 by Marlborough Mayor Maurice Cooper. The card sale in St Peter's is one of 266 nationwide organised by Cards for Good Causes which brings
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Owl pub is something special to hoot about
EATING OUT: The Owl, which was built in the 1800s, is a traditional olde worlde inn tucked away in the village of Little Cheverell on the B3095 West Lavington to Westbury road. We had heard that they served very good meals, so decided to find out for
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Help for stroke victims
Members of the Stroke Association Dysphasia Support Group held an open day to educate sufferers and their families. The event at Ellendune Community Centre in Wroughton coincided with National Stroke Week. A steady stream of visitors met support workers
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Award is no flash in pan!
Noffs fish bar in Grange Drive has clinched the prestigious Sea Fish Quality Friers' Award for the second time. The chippy retained the award, presented by the Sea Fish Industry Authority, having maintained high standards in more than 200 inspected areas
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Health care is taken to heart by RAF
A national scheme which is helping save the lives of heart attack victims is now being run at RAF Lyneham. The aim is to train both military and civilian people at the base on how to give first-aid to people suffering from heart conditions. All members
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Big breakfast for a breast cancer cure
A big breakfast at Swindon's Brook Field School aims to raise money for the fight against breast cancer. Breakfast for Breakthrough is a national event and a big breakfast is being staged as part of the fundraising effort. Guests, including South Swindon
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Path through wood opens to walkers of all abilities
Hard work over the last five years has come to a fruitful end with the opening of Nightingale Wood. The wood, on the edge of South Marston, is open to the public and people are being encouraged to use and enjoy the area. The Great Western Community Forest
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Dorcan boys behaving brilliantly!
Dorcan Boys' Brigade were honoured by civic leaders at their annual awards presentation on Sunday. The event at St Paul's Church in Covingham was attended by Deputy Mayor Coun David Cox, Deputy Leader Derek Benfield and South Swindon MP Julia Drown. The
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Sun rises on a new city landmark
A SUNDIAL has been presented to Salisbury as a millennium gift from the city's Universities of the Third Age. It will hang on the upper storey wall of Sampsons Solicitors in St Thomas's Square so that it is also visible from High Street. A 50-strong crowd
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Village mourns after popular girl dies
A TINY village community has been left in a state of shock this week by the death of an 11-year-old schoolgirl. Emma Hayward died in hospital last Thursday just hours after suffering a brain haemorrhage and being found in a coma by her mother Fiona, who
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Flak flies over air base plans
EARLY opposition is threatening to disrupt plans to base the military tanker fleet at Boscombe Down. Concern over the increase in noise resulting from additional air traffic has led many parish councils in the surrounding area to come out against the
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Flying a flag is not racist
The Runnymeade Trust's report about Britishness having racial overtones, and anyone proud of flying the Union Jack being racist is not just politically correct rubbish which should be treated with contempt, it also highlights the hypocrisy of New Labour
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Looking over a garden of roofs
The issue of the proposed development of Swindon's 'Front Garden' continues to be debated and the time when a final decision is to be taken draws ever closer. Many points have been raised both for and against the development but there is another aspect
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Drugs debate
IT is argued that cannabis is less deleterious to health than alcohol and tobacco. It can also be argued that, whereas alcohol leads to domestic violence and hooliganism, cannabis does not. Then what is wrong with cannabis? The official line is that it
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Thanks for views
Following my letter last week regarding the old Gaumont Cinema I have received a lot of constructive comments for and against. So far the majority would prefer to keep the building. I would like to thank all those concerned for their courtesy and balanced
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Car rally looks set to become classic event
Congratulations North Wiltshire District Council. Last weekend my son James and I, together with 79 other classic car owners from all over the country, took part in the North Wiltshire Discovery Tour. The council organised this as a showcase for north
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GM industry should learn lesson from BSE
WHY, in the light of the BSE affair, is the Government not exercising caution with regard to GM foods? Dr Richard Lacey was one of the first scientists to warn about the BSE crisis and describes genetic engineering as "an inherently risky method for producing
