Archive
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Youngsters get set for youth ballet auditions
Auditions for young Swindon dancers to perform in a full production of The Nutcracker in the spring are being held next month. The English Youth Ballet is coming to Swindon's Wyvern Theatre on April 27 and 28, 2001, and the company needs 100 dancers aged
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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. The Exotic and Familiar, an exhibition of paintings by Deborah Battagilia from
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Cutting edge of art
Grid Visions and Artsite exhibition, Joliffe Studios, Wyvern Theatre, Swindon If you are in the mood for a highly non-chocolate box visual arts experience, be sure to make your way to the top of the Wyvern this week and get an eyeful of what is reckoned
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Radio One comedy writer at Chuckles
Stand-up comedian Steven Grant is the main comedy writer for Radio 1. He writes for the early and main breakfast shows, co-writes for Scott Mills, and contributes to Clive Warren, Emma B, Nemone Metaxas and Vicky Marsden. The fireball of energy is bringing
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Ballet goes like dream for its young dancers
THE magic and mystery of a Midsummer Night's Dream was brought to Chippenham's Neeld Hall on Friday October 20 and Saturday October 21 when hundreds of young ballet dancers took part in a spectacular public performance. All 250 pupils attending Chippenham's
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Award winner is on the move
PETE Palmer, manager of Hollands Newsagent, in Market Place, Chippenham, is leaving after ten years and hopes to set up his own business. Mr Palmer, 36, of Farm House Drive, Chippenham, said he is close to tying up a deal to buy his own newsagent's shop
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Mum's Disney treat appeal
MUM Margaret Mallett is appealing for people to support a fundraising event to help send young people with learning difficulties to EuroDisney. Her daughter Amy, 18, is a student on Chippenham College's Skills For Living course. This helps to teach youngsters
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When the rules could be broken
Rules are rules, and we understand the difficult position Swindon Borough Council finds itself in. But you have to feel sorry for special needs pupil Jade Lees. If she lived just 200 yards further away from her school, she would be eligible for free travel
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It just can't go on like this anymore
Whatever happened to the age of the train? It appears we now have a choice when travelling of either risking overcrowded, polluted roads or taking to the train, where tickets are overpriced, the service is hopelessly fragmented and there are almost guaranteed
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Brady fights Derby for Todd compensation
TERRY BRADY says he will not be pushed around by Premiership bully boys as he fights for compensation for the departed Colin Todd. The club chairman (pictured) said Wednesday night he was prepared to fight all the way for what was rightly Swindon Town's
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End of a battle for CJD families
DAVE and Dot Churchill's life was to change for ever when their son, Stephen, died in May 1995, the first known victim of a terrible disease, a new variant of CJD. Stephen was still in his teens and had the prospect of a brilliant career in front of him
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Tories in ticket rush
ANXIOUS Tory Party members were last week bombarding the Devizes constituency office when they had not received their tickets to Thursday October 26 grand fundraising dinner at Marlborough College being attended by Tory leader William Hague. The event
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People flock in to see lost film
MORE than 500 people went to see rare movie footage of Alexander Keiller carrying out excavation work on the Avebury stone circles during the late 1930s. The Gazette was the first to reveal the discovery of the amateur film, which lay forgotten in a biscuit
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Arts officer draws up a plan for the future
KENNET District Council's new arts development officer has pledged all the community will be involved when the arts strategy is set up. Jo Beal, 29, took up her post at the end of August and is finding the task of stimulating artistic activity in the
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Theatre (Swindon)
Arts Centre, Devizes Road, Old Town, Swindon: Thursday, October 26 Auto Boosh, comedy fresh from the Edinburgh Festival. Time: 8pm. Tickets: £7. Friday, October 27 Little Johnny England, electric slide guitar, fiddle playing folksters. Time: 8pm. Tickets
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Disco & karaoke
Thursday, October 26:OTT Karaoke is at The Havana Bar/ Cafe, Fleming Way, Swindon. Free. Karaoke and Italian pasta is at The Eagle Tavern, Little Coxwell, near Faringdon. Free. Karaoke with F1 Sounds is at Bar Havana, Bishop's walk, Cirencester. 7.30pm
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Sport and hobbies
Thursday, October 26:50+ 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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Clubs
Thursday, October 26:Pinehurst Neighbourhood Thrift Shop is open from 10am to 2pm (01793) 537230. Quiz night in aid of Respite Charity is at the Roaring Donkey, Albert Street, Old Town at 8.30pm. £1.50 per person. (01793) 529916 Royal Signals Association
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Spooky parties to net cash
THE Whizz-Kidz team are urging youngsters in Swindon to organise a Halloween Party in aid of charity. It is part of the sponsored three-mile Halloween Parade which is being held in London on Sunday, October 29, beginning at the Hays Galleria at noon.
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Group needs a mannequin
A Wroughton drama group is in need of a white mannequin for its Christmas production. WADDAMS (Wroughton Amateur Dramatic Society) is performing The Witch Who Stole Christmas from December 7 to 9 at the Ellendune Centre in Wroughton. Tina Burbidge, who
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Steer clear of Colins
THE first name to be linked with the job at Swindon was Colin Calderwood. I had a phone call from a colleague at Nottingham Forest who understood that the former Scottish international had been approached for a job. The Fridge would surely have been a
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Spooks do the fright thing
HALLOWE'EN inhabits a different dimension in places where the undead walk... Well-known for its enigmatic crop circles, Wiltshire is also a favourite haunt of ghosts. As Hallowe'en approaches Gazette reporters brave cobwebs and creaking floorboards to
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Hundreds pay tribute to popular builder
MORE than 200 people crowded into West Wiltshire Crematorium in Semington on Saturday October 21 to pay tribute to 29-year-old Great Cheverell builder Paul Ridout, who died in a car crash at Bishops Cannings last week. The Rev Terry Brighton, vicar of
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Spice girl pops up to help charity
SPICE Girl Mel C is to donate the royalties from her latest single to a Calne charity. Sporty Spice Melanie Chisholm was so impressed by homeless project No Place Home, organised by Derry Hill-based Kandu Arts for Sustainable Development, she has decided
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Marathon record attempt
THERE are still places up for grabs on a fitness challenge that aims to set a record and raise money for the Wiltshire Air Ambulance. The skiing marathon at Blacklands, near Calne, is set to emulate a Swedish race, listed as the longest Nordic ski race
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Play will deal with racism
CALNE Town Council is sponsoring a theatre production based on the life and work of Martin Luther King. The Dreamer explores his legacy through the eyes of a woman whose boyfriend dies in a racist attack. The production, by The Watermill West Berkshire
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Awareness raising event
ONE World Week organiser Derek Quinn hopes a week of events in Calne will help people see the bigger picture. "The idea is to raise awareness that we are part of a larger world and have responsibilities to the other people in it," he said. A week of events
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Parish leader calls it a day
A PARISH council chairman is to step down after two decades. Norman Barnes, who has been at the helm of St Paul Malmesbury Without Parish Council for 21 years, intends to step down next year. Coun Barnes, who will be 79 in two weeks' time, is thought
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Bid for safer playground
THE Somerford Play Areas Community Enterprise Scheme is appealing for help to bring the playground at Little Somerford in line with health and safety requirements. The scheme was set up by residents earlier this year to secure Lottery funding to improve
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Window on Wootton Bassett
Fashion Show Despite the van of garments being stuck in a traffic jam and delaying its start, the Zoom fashion show provided an enjoyable evening at Wootton Bassett School hall last Wednesday. Headteacher Hylton Thomas and his deputy Peter Sheppard kept
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Thieves trick elderly woman
POLICE have warned elderly people in Wootton Bassett to be on their guard after burglars posing as workmen stole £130 from a 92-year-old woman. Police said the incident took place in New Road, at about 2pm on October 18, when two men knocked on the victim's
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Crime figures please police
WILTSHIRE is one of the safest counties but there is no room for complacency, Wootton Bassett's new police inspector John Tapper told the town council on Thursday. "The Home Office has set quite stringent reduction targets in relation to crime, and here
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Lions reach silver jubilee
FIVE founder members were among 120 guests who celebrated the 25th anniversary of Wootton Bassett Lions Club at a dinner dance at the Marriott Hotel, Swindon, on Friday. Bob Astwood, Brian Fisher, Chris King, Bernard Workman and Lance Workman each received
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Elderly to pay up for Lifeline alarms
PENSIONERS in north Wiltshire face having to pay for an alarm service which has previously been provided free by the council. The Lifeline alarm service was introduced in 1986. Alerters worn around the neck give the elderly speedy access to an emergency
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MP signals chance of therapy centre
CHIPPENHAM could be the site for a new multiple sclerosis therapy centre. North Wiltshire MP James Gray raised the possibility at a meeting to launch the town's first MS Society branch. He said he was part of a fundraising committee for an MS therapy
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Popular festival to be staged in 2002
THE North Wiltshire Festival will be held again in two years. But there could be an end to the free concert nights with admission charges helping to pay for the festival. North Wiltshire District Council decided at a meeting on Tuesday to stage the event
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Homes protest gathers pace
PROTESTERS in Minety are to step up their campaign to thwart plans by a Hampshire-based developer to build 90 new homes, offices and shops in the village centre. Lesley Cowling, spokesman for the Friends of Minety Protest Group, said she had delivered
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Mini marvels aim for success at Italian Job
A FAMILY from Braydon, near Minety, will be helping to raise thousands of pounds for needy children next week, when they drive their Mini Cooper across Europe as part of the famous Italian Job rally. Julio and Bev Wildeboer and their son, Ben, ten, aim
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Protesters re-form to stop more quarrying
VILLAGERS in Sherston have re-formed the Knockdown Protection Group to fight plans to double the amount of stone extracted from Knockdown Quarry. Residents have set up a committee to stop quarrying company, R and J Bull, increasing the quantity of stone
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Secret product mystery
MYSTERY surrounds the launch of a new product at Dyson's Tetbury Hill headquarters in Malmesbury next week. A company spokesmen refused to reveal whether it is the washing machine Dyson developers are rumoured to have been working on. It is widely believed
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Town plunges in for indoor pool
COMMUNITY groups have welcomed North Wiltshire District Council's decision to formally accept a Lottery grant of £1.18 million to fund an indoor swimming pool in Malmesbury. It means the council will now have to commit itself to providing £1.010 million
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Pirates swagger into school
TO end the first half of the autumn term, five to seven-year-old pupils at Longleaze School staged a spectacular Pirates' Parting Parade to mark the end of a geography project. Teachers joined in the fun by dressing up and adopting nautical names. The
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New night bus for youth club
THE Wigglybus is coming to the aid of The Shak youth club in Pewsey with a new evening service starting after the half term holiday to take children from other villages into the centre . Currently the senior section of the club has about 400 members.
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Collection of etchings of town go to auction
A RARE original portfolio of etchings of Marlborough scenes by the 19th century artist EJ Burrow is coming up for auction at Hamptons next Wednesday together with several etchings by former mayor Christopher Hughes. The late Mr Hughes, who was Mayor of
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Launderette vandalised
REPEATED vandalism at Marlborough's only launderette in The Parade could force it out of business. Owner Simon Garner, of Burbage, said the lock-up launderette has suffered worse damage over the past two months than at any time in the 17 years he has
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Man fined £1,000 for attack on property
PUB licensee Stephen Austin will have to pay more than £1,000 for damaging doors at his ex-girlfriend's home and smashing her new boyfriend's car with a hammer. Austin, 44, who runs The Bell Inn at West Overton admitted causing criminal damage on October
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Call for electric fence to protect town barn
AN electric fence should be put round Derriads Lane Barn, near Chippenham, to protect it from vandals while money is raised to turn it into a community hall, says a councillor. The 18th century listed building has been vandalised over a number of years
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Views sought on Goldiggers
PEOPLE in the Chippenham area are to be canvassed on what they want to see happen to the former Goldiggers building. The nightclub in Timber Street has been closed since Easter after its owners, Gold Leisure, fell behind with rent. On Tuesday, North Wiltshire
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Wiltshire Constabulary band
On September 30, the Band of the Wiltshire Constabulary played in St Michael's Church, commenting on the hall's good acoustics. The concert raised a further £449 towards the fund for a stained-glass window.
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Twinning Association
THE Association is holding its annual quiz night on November 10 at 7.30pm in Warneford School. Tickets are £3 or £12 per team of four and are available from the Lighthouse Bookshop or Geoffrey Eastwood on (01793) 763436. The ticket price includes a light
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Rotary Club sale
THE Rotary Club of North Wiltshire will be organising a Christmas tabletop sale in the Highworth Recreation Centre on November 18. Local organisations have been invited to take a table-top space at the event on the understanding that proceeds can be used
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Methodist Church stalls
A CRAFT fair and bric-a-brac stall will be held in the Methodist Church Hall on Saturday from 9.30am to noon. Admission is 20p. Tea and coffee will be available. Half of the proceeds will go to The Oakes.
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Camera Club
THE Club held its AGM this month. Paul Lidbury stepped down as chairman. Member Derek Ashworth proposed a vote of thanks to Paul for his dedication during his term in office. The new chairman has yet to be confirmed. After the AGM, the slide of the year
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St Michael's Church choir
NINE members of St Michael's Church choir travelled to Gloucester Cathedral last week to take part in the Royal School of Church Music Diocesan Millennium Festival. The event combined both the Bristol and Gloucester Diocese. A total of 400 clergy and
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Whites capitulate as Burton hit five
Burton Albion 5 Salisbury City 0: Salisbury City suffered a pasting at the hands of Premier Division favourites Burton Albion. Although the scoreline somewhat flattered the Staffordshire side, there can be no denying the sheer class of Nigel Clough's
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Recycling centre is backed by Kennet
RESIDENTS in Wellington Drive and Ferozeshah Road, Devizes, claim Kennet councillors have steam rollered through a plan for a recycling centre in Horton Road, just yards from their homes. Councillors unanimously voted to raise no objections to the plan
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An off night
Video footage will be sent to the FA as Town bid to overhal Tuesday night's sending off of Andy Williams. The Welsh winger was given his marching orders by referee Keith Hill after picking up two yellow cards - the second for diving. However, footage
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£1m shortfall for canal
BRITISH Waterways says a million-pound overspend on restoration work on the Kennet and Avon Canal will not hold up the work. The partnership, which includes British Waterways, the Kennet and Avon Canal Trust and local authorities, won £25 million Lottery
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Banished to the stands
COLIN TODD's finale at the County Ground ended in controversyas he was banished from the dug-out. A night of high drama saw Todd given the red card and his side reduced to ten men as they slipped to another home defeat. With Town already a goal behind
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Police Hallowe'en alert
POLICE have asked parents to check out their children on Hallowe'en on Tuesday to stop elderly people being terrorised by trick or treat pranksters. WPC Amanda Warren of Wiltshire Police said the problem had got out of all proportion. "Every year, after
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Futuristic plan reshapes village
AN ambitious plan to bid for National Lottery money to move and rebuild a village school and hall and create a community centre with sports facilities in Rowde, will be debated by villagers on Thursday October 26. The scheme, drawn up by solicitor Edwin
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Mum's plea for MPs' help
THE mother and sister of a Corsham teenager suffering from a rare genetic disorder are travelling to the Houses of Parliament on Thursday October 26 to lobby MPs for better support. Nicholas Jones, 13, of Broadmeads, Corsham, has tuberous sclerosis which
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Future of Steam is discussed behind closed doors
THE future of Swindon's £10 million railway museum was discussed in private by members of Swindon Council. At Wednesday night's meeting of the local authority's cabinet, councillors were debating behind closed doors how much the flagship museum should
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Agony of the children who cannot smile
CHILDREN suffering from Myasthenia Gravis cannot smile and afflicted adults are often mistaken for alcoholics or drug abusers. This neuro-muscular disease effects up to one in every 1,000 people and there is no known cure. This week, help for the men
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Thieves steal five shotguns
SHOTGUNS have been stolen from a Swindon shooting club and police fear they may fall into the wrong hands. The theft of the five double-barrelled guns was discovered yesterday (Wednesday) and officers have no idea where they have gone. The club from where
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New rules mean Jade must walk
A SPECIAL needs pupil can no longer go to school because she lives less than 200 yards under the distance needed for a council taxi service. Jade Lees, 14, of Marlow Avenue in Walcot, has found herself stuck at home because she lives 2.9 miles away from
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94,000 complaints in just one year
RECORD complaints were received by train operator First Great Western in the last year, a damning report is expected to reveal next month. Almost 94,000 people wrote to the company up more than a third from 67,000 in the previous year and equivalent to
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Plenty of carp take the bait
Two big mirror carp have been caught from Salisbury Angling Club's lakes at Steeple Langford. They weighed 22lb 10z and 21lb 4oz and were taken on boilies as the temperature began to rise slightly. The past week has been another successful one for many
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Ready, steady dump it now
PEOPLE will only be able to dump rubbish in skips provided by Devizes Town Council for one hour on a weekday afternoon from 2pm to 3pm. The council said it had been forced to change the times of its skip service because of operational difficulties and
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Charity worker in brawl
A BIRTHDAY celebration ended with a drunken brawl in the back of a minibus, a court was told. North West Wiltshire Magistrates at Trowbridge heard Anne Whatman, 37, of Redhorn Gardens, Devizes, had been celebrating her daughter's birthday at Battlesbury
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Firefighters put out blaze and rescue boy
FIREFIGHTERS called to a minor blaze in the top floor of a property in Devizes Market Place on Friday, found themselves helping a young mum who had got into a jam. Emergency services were called to the property at 30 Market Place shortly before 1pm on
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Singers send a tingle up spine
THE opera-going public of Devizes turned up in droves to see how White Horse Opera would cope without their founder and musical director Keith Lawley in their production of Bellini's Norma at the Corn Exchange, Devizes. They need not have feared. In the
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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. November 15-29: Calne Artists' Group painting and sculpture BRISTOL Museum
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On stage
BATH THEATRE ROYAL (01225) 448844 Until October 28: Oliver! (musical) October 29: Cleo Laine, John Dankworth and Friends October 31-November 4: Conversations After a Burial comic play November 2-4: Splendour funny and powerful new work straight from the
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Frying tonight and all for free
IT was an early, fishy Halloween at an Eldene retirement home thanks to a chip shop owner and his singing friend. Cod, chicken and pies were accompanied by wine at the bash at Eric Long Court war veterans' retirement home. Kev Stevens, who owns Burley's
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Best of mates!
KEEN minds were put to the test as children from Junior Schools around Wiltshire spent two days pitting their wits against each other in an annual regional chess tournament at Headlands School. The youngsters, taking part in the Wiltshire Junior Schools
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No vote on Garden just yet
THE decision on whether to hold a referendum on the future of Swindon's Front Garden has been postponed. Councillors at Wednesday night's cabinet meeting were expected to decide whether every adult in the borough should have a say on the development of
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Six month trial of 30 new dog fouling bins
THIRTY dog bins are set to go up in Toothill and Lawns as part of a pilot scheme. Councillors decided at a policy commission meeting to make the scheme a reality. The £5,000 six-month trial will test whether pet owners would use the bins if they were
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That's the way to do it, says Ron
LEGENDARY football hard man Ron 'Chopper' Harris came to Salisbury - and demonstrated the art of a crunching tackle to thrilled schoolchildren. The former Chelsea soccer star was at Chafyn Grove School as part of a coaching day for girls and boys aged
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All set for musical centre of excellence
A MUSICAL centre of excellence looks set to go ahead at a former infants school. Swindon Council's cabinet has agreed to transform Park South Infants School in Priory Road into a state-of-the art centre with a music library, tuition courses, recording
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Star-studded acts bring town to life
CUTTING edge DJs and top pop acts are putting Swindon on the map with clubbers from across the South West. Celebrity spotters and serious musicians alike cannot fail to be impressed by the mix of stars deciding to add Swindon to their list of live dates
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Halloween 'trick or treat' fear
A FLOOD of complaints from elderly people about children 'trick or treating' on Halloween has prompted the police to seek help from headteachers. A letter has gone out to all schools in the area covered by Salisbury Police Division, calling on teachers
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Big rush for free varsity tickets
UNIVERSITY fever has gripped Swindon as the town prepares for the official opening of its own campus. The former Oakfield School will reopen in January as The University of Bath in Swindon. The first public university 'event' in Swindon has triggered
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Brady wants his payback
COLIN TODD'S move to Derby County has been put on ice until an adequate compensation package can be finalised between the two clubs. The out-going Town boss met with Derby supremo Jim Smith late Wednesday afternoon to sort out his personal arrangements
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Football match ends in violence
A NEAR brawl involving players, supporters and even the referee forced a Salisbury youth football match to be abandoned on Sunday. The game between Salisbury City Under-16s and Swindon Robins youth team, being played at Old Sarum, was just 20 minutes
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Give Quinn Town job
RIKKI HUNT insists Town should swallow their pride and re-install Jim Quinn as manager. The ex-chairman believes Quinn should be given the job for the next ten years to provide the club with some much-needed stability. And critically, Quinn has revealed
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Piglet tortured to death by teenagers
A PIGLET on a south Wiltshire farm was chased and beaten to death by a gang of youths. In a terrifying half-hour the female piglet was let out of her pen, chased around a field and repeatedly struck on the head by rocks, a metal bar and a pointed wooden
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Andy the new King in Town
ANDY KING has been told he could keep the Town manager's job on a permanent basis if results improve. Chairman Terry Brady met with King Wednesday night to discuss his role as caretaker boss following the departure of Colin Todd. And Brady revealed he
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Railway safety is first priority
Every travel operator should aspire to efficiency and good time keeping, and the law which allows passengers compensation for late arrival must surely contribute to the upholding of those standards. However, passenger safety must also play a large part
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Unhealthy state
IF the managers of Princess Margaret Hospital cannot provide patients with better accommodation for their stay in hospital than chairs, trolleys and mattresses on the floor then either the Health Service in 21st century Britain is underfunded or badly
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Pre-school views
HOW pleased we were to read your article regarding the survival of the Lavington Pre-School. However there are one or two inaccuracies in your report which we feel should be corrected. Imagine our distress, as those two members of staff, to discover that
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Invitation to all
ONE World Week 2000 is rapidly approaching we are celebrating it from October 29 to November 5 in Calne and we should like to extend a very warm welcome to all readers to the week's events. Details can be found elsewhere in the Gazette and also on posters
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Hello girls' reunion was a joyful return
A FEW weeks ago there was an article in the Gazette concerning the then forthcoming reunion of day, night and engineering staff of the Devizes Telephone Exchange which closed in 1985. That reunion has now taken place and a very happy event it was. Telephonists
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Town can play their way out of trouble
I WROTE earlier this season in support of Colin Todd and his young Swindon Town team, but after 12 games of the season I certainly didn't expect us to be fourth from bottom in Division Two. The old adage that the tables never lie is certainly correct,
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Brady may look at old favourites
THE guessing game has stepped into overdrive with everyone from Alan Ball to Terry Venables being touted for the vacant manager's position at the County Ground. While coach Andy King has been put in temporary charge, Terry Brady would dearly love to appoint
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Happiness for me is Wayne and our baby!
TELEVISION presenter Melinda Messenger has seen her whole world turn upside down since the arrival of her baby son Morgan yet she couldn't be happier about the situation. The Swindon-born former model, who now lives in Aldbourne, is back on screen with
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Woman's sadness at dog's death sentence
AN 82-year-old woman spoke this week of her heartbreak after magistrates ordered her to destroy her sole companion, a ten-year-old Doberman cross. Kathleen Smith, of Glyndebourne Close, Bemerton Heath, is bewildered and upset at the ruling ordering her
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Bodin throws his hat in the ring
PAUL BODIN would love to be handed the managerial reins at Swindon Town. The former County Ground favourite is now into his third season in charge of non-league Bath City. But the Welshman still lives in Swindon and would crave the chance to work at the
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Season's first league defeat
Redingensians 15 Salisbury 12: Salisbury's loyal band of travelling supporters witnessed the most spectacular game of rugby this season - even though Salisbury ran out narrow losers. The opening minute was a shocker with the Reds' centre running through
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Brady fights Derby for Todd compensation
TERRY BRADY says he will not be pushed around by Premiership bully boys as he fights for compensation for the departed Colin Todd. The club chairman said Wednesday night he was prepared to fight all the way for what was rightly Swindon Town's. He has
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Bird mystery
I can't understand why I never see a swallow now. When I was a child they used to build their nests under the eaves of houses, then at a certain time of the year they would all depart, mostly to Capistrano in USA. I have visited there and the people of
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It's not feasible
I am writing to you in relation to the articles on the bed crisis. I did not realise until I read this that the hospital was only to treat emergency patients and surgical patients. They say people will be treated at home. How can this be when Social Services
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Hospital dates must be kept
How I agree with the comments made by your reader about people not cancelling hospital appointments (Scanner Department). I luckily had a cancellation appointment which I was extremely grateful for. Many thanks to all in the Rheumatology Department. While
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Too many chiefs at council
I REFER to the letter October 10 from Ian Thompson "Taxes are not high after all." There are however, certain key facts that Mr Thompson neglects to include. When Swindon Borough Council was created from Thamesdown Borough Council and part of Wilt-shire
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Fairs are unfair
DO the people of Marlborough want two mop fairs every year? Now we are in the 21st century, isn't it now time for a change? For tradition's sake we could have one mop fair a year. Having been shopkeepers in the High Street for 14 years,we know how badly
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Join gas battle
WE often read about newspapers taking on campaigns to fight for the side, and for the rights, of the little man when facing the giant. Over the past months there have been articles on the individual efforts, and now village community efforts, to obtain
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Plea for site visit
THE planning meeting of Kennet District Council on September 28 where councillors discussed profoundly important local matters with no apparent knowledge of the places under discussion was a sorry sight. To stop this sad spectacle happening again and
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The Gaumont building deserves a fresh start
HOW reassuring to read (letters October 19) that Councillor Allnatt has recognised a public preference to see the ex-Gaumont building retained. In his previous letter to this page (October 5) he seemed to give the impression that he would prefer to see
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Sports excellence starts in coaching
I WAS very interested to read Nigel Kerton's article in the Gazette on October 19, covering the interview with David Hemery the president of UK Athletics. I, too, share David's delight in the performance of the UK team in the recent Olympic Games and
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Professional dancers give classes and tips
Dancers from one of the UK's top contemporary dance companies will be in residence at Swindon Dance next week. Dancers from the Siobhan Davies Dance Company, including Siobhan, will take daily classes for professional dancers, teachers, talks and lectures
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Child prodigy turns into maestro
Top Irish fiddler David Duffy is bringing his band to Swindon next month. David is a former child prodigy and an excellent singer and dancer. He plays nine musical instruments including the sax, piano and mandolin and his high octane energy spills into
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In the groove
Radio 1's Dj Spoony, pictured, plays at Bring the Noise, a garage night in the main room, with MJ Cole, V2 Crew on Friday night (October 27). There is soul, hip hop, ragga and R 'n' B in the Amphi at the Brunel Rooms, Havelock Square from 10pm to 4am
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DJ nights
Thursday, October 26:Snake Hips with Huggy and Pheonix is at the Matrick, London Street, Reading from 10pm to 2am. Tickets from £5. 0118 9590687. DJ Shaun plays at Jacksons, Shaw Ridge, from 5-1am. Free. Results present club club classics, chart, dance
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Eric serves his last customer
Eric Pearce will serve his last customer on Tuesday October 31 after working for 48 years at Boots in Chippenham. Dispenser Mr Pearce, 64, of King Alfred's Street, Chippenham, has worked at the shop longer than anyone else and retires after a lifetime
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Jazz society founder dies
ALFRED Jenkins, founder of the Chippenham Jazz Society, has died at the Royal United Hospital in Bath, aged 91. Mr Jenkins, known to his friends as Jenks, of Parklands, Chippenham, founded the society in 1986, helping to attract a number of well-known
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Medieval banquet
THE community room at the Recreation Centre was transformed into a medieval banqueting hall recently. Around 70 attended, dressed in colourful period costume. They enjoyed an evening of feast, followed by music and drama. Authentic shields decorated the
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Community Church
THE Highworth Community Church is hosting a star party. This lively alternative to Hallowe'en, designed for four to 11 year-olds, takes place on Tuesday in the community rooms from 6pm to 8pm. Guests are invited to dress as their favourite pop star. There
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Silver Threads
HIGHWORTH Silver Threads has vacancies for anyone over the age of 55 wishing to join. The group meets every Wednesday afternoon at 2.30pm in the Silver Threads Hall opposite the Highworth Recreation Centre. The aim of the group is to provide as wide a
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Amateur Dramatic Society
THE next production from the Highworth Amateur Dramatic Society will be held tomorrow and Saturday in the Warneford School at 7.30pm. The production highlights key events during the last Millennium in a mixture of comedy, music and drama. The events being
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Cats Protection League
DURING November, the Swindon branch of Cats' Protection is offering free neutering for female cats over the age of six months or £15 towards the cost of neutering male cats over the age of six months. To be eligible for this offer, you must be either
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Furniture plan expands
KENNET Furniture Exchange, which takes in donated household items and distributes them to those in need, is to expand as it attempts to keep up with the demand for its services. The charity announced this week it is to advertise for two paid members of
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Race pulls ahead again after rethink on safety
PLANS are going ahead to hold the Devizes to Westminster canoe race next year, despite fears that the unprecedented suspension of this year's race had damaged the event's future. Uppermost in the minds of the organisers has been the preparation of contingency
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Dance
Thursday, October 26:Boyd School of Dancing Advanced 6pm to 8pm. 91a Morris Street, Rodbourne. (017930 487500 Ballroom and popular sequence dancing is every Thursday to live music and occasionally CDs at the Gorse Hill Workingmen's Club from 8pm to 11pm
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Toddler groups
Thursday, October 26:Kiddiwinks, Blunsdon's parent and toddler group, meets termtime at Blunsdon Village Hall, 1.30pm to 3pm. Admission £1 per family. (01793) 705040 Little Scamps Toddler Group meets at Moravian Church Hall in Dixon Street, from 10am
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Music
Thursday, October 26:Swindon Brass Band rehearse at 8.00pm in the Purton Working Mens club. New members welcome (01793) 534113. Ridgeway Harmony Chorus Men's Quartet and Chorus singing barbershop style is at St Margaret's Church Hall, Kenwind Close, off
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Things got a little messy
IT was obvious that something was going on on Wednesday night. I have been covering Swindon for three seasons and seen three manager's leave and you get to know the signs. As always this one was a little messy. Todd took hours to come out for the post-match
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The road ahead
Terry Brady met with Andy King Wednesday night to discuss his caretaker role as Swindon boss. However, Terry got stuck in traffic as they arranged to meet half-way around the M25. Instead King had to drive all the way to Mr Brady's house in Surrey.
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Where has it gone wrong?
IT was the dream partnership designed to haul Swindon Town out of the footballing backstreets and into the big time. But the Brady, Todd bandwagon has come off the rails after only six months leaving the club in familiar crisis-like surroundings. Todd's
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High rent protest in trust village
FAMILIES who have lived in the historic village of Lacock for generations could be forced to seek cheaper accommodation elsewhere because of rising National Trust rents. This is one of several concerns that Leo Stevens, co-ordinator of Lacock Tenants'
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Third of school staff report verbal abuse
A THIRD of staff at county secondary schools and nearly a quarter of those at primaries have been on the receiving end of verbal abuse from pupils. Wiltshire County Council's education department undertook a health and safety survey of 256 school staff
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Tears for young mum at funeral
FRIENDS and family members filled West Wiltshire Crematorium on the morning of Monday October 23 to say their farewells to Gill Barter, the young mother who was found dead at her Market Lavington home on October 3. The Rev Harry Chapman, who took the
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Soccer kit is a real winner
THE winner of a penalty shoot-out staged to raise funds for the Gazette's meningitis scanner appeal was delighted to receive his prize. Mark Dolman, 12, from Calne, who plays in number nine position for Westinghouse Youth was the victor in the Mid Wilts
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Rubbish day clear success
CALNE'S second clearout day was such a success there are now plans to hold the event at least four times a year. Bargain hunters took their pick of other people's unwanted goods at three collection points in the town on Sunday, October 22. Town centre
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College the talk of town
JOHN Bentley School took on a European feel on Thursday (October 19) as it was officially launched as Wiltshire's first specialist language college. Among the invited guests were Rod Pottow, vice president of Cooper Avon Tyres, the main business sponsor
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Pupils are almost booked
BOOKWORMS from St Margaret's School have been chosen to act as judges in the country's biggest childrens' book prize. The annual Nestle Smarties Book Prize will be judged in London on November 29, and a class of six to eight-year-olds from the Calne preparatory
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Nazi documents find stuns record buyer
A BARGAIN hunter snapped up some old time dance records and discovered Nazi war crime documents hidden beneath them. Now Pat Goodship's discovery, dating from 1946, is to be auctioned. Mrs Goodship, 52, of Briar Leaze, Compton Bassett, spent £2 on two
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Police hunt mugger bashed by pensioner
POLICE have applauded a Calne pensioner who fought off a mugger by hitting him on the head with a torch. Police are now asking Calne residents to be on the look-out for a man with lumps, cuts and bruises on his head, and to tell detectives at Chippenham
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Young sleuth foils thieves
WOOTTON Bassett Primary School pupil Matt Riddick was treated to a VIP tour of Wiltshire Police headquarters last week, after he helped to collar a pair of suspected shoplifters. Proud mother Belinda said Matt, eight, had been waiting for her to finish
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Green-fingered boss bows out
GLYN Gough retired on Thursday after 18 years as grounds maintenance foreman for Wootton Bassett Town Council. He has won a reputation for the town's superb floral displays and former councillor Eric Hodges praised the splendid way in which he has carried
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Family's history put in the picture again
WILLIAM and Selina Greenaway's 1906 golden wedding anniversary photograph inspired a family gathering in Wootton Bassett on Sunday. A hundred of their descendants from as far afield as Cornwall and the Channel Islands converged on Nore Marsh Farmhouse
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Cornucopia of gifts for OAPs
ALMOST 200 boxes of harvest produce were delivered to older residents of Wootton Bassett by Wootton Bassett School pupils after a festival assembly. Head teacher Hylton Thomas and his deputy Peter Sheppard praised participants for their hard work in organising
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Secret product mystery
MYSTERY surrounds the launch of a new product at Dyson's Tetbury Hill headquarters in Malmesbury next week. A company spokesmen refused to reveal whether it is the washing machine Dyson developers are rumoured to have been working on. It is widely believed
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Marathon record attempt
THERE are still places up for grabs on a fitness challenge that aims to set a record and raise money for the Wiltshire Air Ambulance. The skiing marathon at Blacklands, near Calne, is set to emulate a Swedish race, listed as the longest Nordic ski race
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Help needed for bonfire
MALMESBURY Round Table is urgently looking for volunteers to help at the town's bonfire night at St Aldhelm's Mead next Saturday. Chairman Clive Whitehouse said: "Our Round Table numbers are very limited and we desperately need volunteers to help with
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Karters follow Schumacher
CORSTON teenagers, Simon and Matthew Stringer, could prove Wiltshire's answer to motor racing's famous Schumacher brothers in the coming years. Simon, 14, and Matthew, 12, are both skilled kart racing drivers, and have already notched up more than 50
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Thieves trick elderly woman
POLICE have warned elderly people in Wootton Bassett to be on their guard after burglars posing as workmen stole £130 from a 92-year-old woman. Police said the incident took place in New Road, at about 2pm on October 18, when two men knocked on the victim's
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Popular festival to be staged in 2002
THE North Wiltshire Festival will be held again in two years. But there could be an end to the free concert nights as the admission charges could help to pay for the festival. At a meeting on Tuesday North Wiltshire District Council decided to stage the
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Cabbies unite to drive up standards
THE cost of running a Salisbury taxi has risen again - but for once drivers and operators appear to be in agreement with the council. Most are in favour of the 15 per cent average increase in the price of vehicle and driver licences for private hire vehicles
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Obituary
Dorothy Cretchley THE funeral of Dorothy Cretchley, 79, at Kingsdown Crematorium, was followed by a well attended thanksgiving service at St Bartholomew's and All Saints' Church, Wootton Bassett. The vicar, Fr Bernard Garratt, who recalled Dorothy's excellent
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Pair save two vessels as fire destroys boat
TWO passers-by leapt on to a blazing narrow boat to cut free two other vessels at risk from the flames. Police praised the actions of the public-spirited pair at Wootton Rivers on Friday afternoon. Despite the efforts of a dozen Pewsey and Marlborough
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School says its good pies
LUNCH times are going to be quiet affairs in future for Marlborough grandmother Mavis Breakspeare who has retired after 26 years in the St John's School kitchens. In that time she has helped prepare hundreds of thousands of school dinners. During her
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Hospital plan to cost £4 million
PLANS to secure Savernake Hospital's future by expanding its services will cost between £3 and £4 million, a public meeting heard on Tuesday. About 200 people attended the meeting called by the Savernake Hospital Inquiry Fund Trust which was set up ten
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Woman dies after A4 crash
SWINDON woman Nicola Smith has died in hospital after a crash on the A4 between Hungerford and Great Bedwyn on Friday. The 25-year-old, who was driving a blue Renault Megane, was attempting to turn on to the A4 towards Marlborough at Great Bedwyn, when
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Meat maestro first pasta post
AWARD-winning Ludgershall butcher Allan Gardner brought home the bacon from Freshfood 2000, the world's biggest international fresh food exhibition, with 14 new awards three of them for salad. Space is running out on the honours board outside the High
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The Dome is top in town
THE Dome has bucked the national trend in Chippenham. The town's tourist information centre has sold more National Express coach trips to the Dome than anywhere else in Britain. Since the Dome opened on January 1, more than 200 people have booked the
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Villagers furious as developer tries again
RESIDENTS in Slaughterford, near Chippenham, are gearing up to fight another application by Countryside Residential to build houses in the village. The developers want to transform the derelict Dowding Paper Mill on the banks of the By Brook into 17 luxury
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Chase as owner sees her stolen car driven past
NEWLY qualified driver Laura Fields was amazed when she saw her stolen car being driven past her by thieves. The 17-year-old of Northwood, Chippenham, who had passed her driving test a fortnight ago, was driving through town with her mother on Saturday
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Mum's plea for MPs' help
THE mother and sister of a Corsham teenager suffering from a rare genetic disorder are travelling to the Houses of Parliament today to lobby MPs for better support. Nicholas Jones, 13, of Broadmeads, Corsham, has tuberous sclerosis which has left him
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Secret talks for playing fields
SECRET negotiations are going on behind closed doors to buy a 50-acre site to offset Chippenham's serious shortage of playing fields. The announcement that lawyers are discussing buying the site at an unnamed location, came at a meeting called by the
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Cross-country alert for Jethro
A SIX-YEAR-OLD Labrador dog, Jethro, has been reunited with his owners in Chippenham, following a police chase across two counties. Jethro was in the back of owner Gary Brenton's van when it was stolen from New Road, Chippenham. Mr Brenton, 54, who runs
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Council surgery
COUN Carolyn Arkell, Melanie Duff and Lisa Hawkes, who represent Highworth on Swindon Borough Council, will be holding a surgery in the Highworth Town Council office on November 4 from noon to 2pm.
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BBC Wiltshire Sound talk
BBC Wiltshire Sound presenter Sandy Martin will perform the switching on of the Christmas tree, the Market Square and the High Street lights this year. The event will be held on December 1.
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Eastrop Infants School PTA
THE PTA will be holding a craft fair on November 4 from 10am-1pm in the school hall. It will provide an ideal opportunity to buy Christmas presents. Refreshments will be available and stalls can be booked for £5. Please ring Sally on (01793) 766674 or
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Spice girl pops up to help charity
SPICE Girl Mel C is to donate the royalties from her latest single to a Calne charity. Sporty Spice Melanie Chisholm was so impressed by homeless project No Place Home, organised by Derry Hill-based Kandu Arts for Sustainable Development, she has decided
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School given new minibus
ROWDEFORD School at Rowde, near Devizes, has taken delivery of a new £25,000 minibus, thanks to the Allied Dunbar Foundation. Head teacher Glen Darnell said the new bus will help him and his staff deliver the planned curriculum to 85 pupils with learning
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Prize comes in mint condition
WHEN Devizes art student Francis Carlow finished his last TicTac mint he found a note in the box saying he was the lucky winner of a new £18,000 VW Beetle. Francis, 24, of Long Street, who took delivery of the car on Monday, said: "It was a real Willy
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Town aim to go one better
DEVIZES Town footballers will be bidding for a place in the club's history books on Saturday October 28. The team of 2000 has the chance to become the first in the club's 111-year history to reach the first round of the FA Cup, sponsored by Axa. Up to
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Engineer wins royal accolade for design
AN engineering company founded by Robert Hunt-Grubbe of Potterne has won a prestigious award for designing a hi-tech device used in oil and gas wells. Mr Hunt-Grubbe and colleagues at Sondex Limited received the Queen's Award for Enterprise last Friday
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Pilchards keep Pippa purring . . .
CAT lover Cecilia Watkins from Nythe may have Swindon's most senior moggy. Her Pippa is 22-years old and she believes there must be something in the cat's genes as Pippa's kitten Mandy has also reached a ripe old age of 18. Pippa was taken in by her 63
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Council gets a new look
A CHANGE in image for two council services will cost the local authority £30,000. Swindon Contractors and Recreation Services merged a year ago and the council's cabinet committee last night approved the new name of Swindon Services. The council says
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A special person to the end
SYLVIA and Clive Carter said a final farewell to their brave son Tony Stone at a service held to celebrate his short life. Tony died aged 39 after scans failed to show a giant tumour developing inside his brain. After being given the all clear at the
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Fears for safety of missing schoolgirl
A SCHOOLgirl has gone missing from West Swindon and police are concerned for her safety. Nicola Cole was last seen on Saturday afternoon (October 21) when she said she was going to meet friends. Swindon Police spokeswoman Alvina Kumar said: "She said
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Man over limit
MOTORIST Shaun Evers, 32, of Thurnham Court, Devizes, was disqualified from driving for 30 months and ordered to do 60 hours' community service after he admitted driving with excess alcohol in London Road, Devizes, on September 23. Evers was more than
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Charabanc trip back to the past
THERE seems no end to the interest in local history, old photographs and veteran vehicles so when a publisher puts together a volume involving all three he must be on to a winner. If they were all as good as Wheels Around Wessex, compiled by Peter Daniels
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Gig guide
Thursday, October 26:Local bands Mr Love and Justice and Mary Stares: The Victoria, Victoria Road, Swindon. Bedouin, hardcore metal: The Moles Club, Bath. GM3, acoustic Indie: The Porter Cellar Bar, George Street, Bath Friday, October 27:Soul Destroyers
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Drunken man has no friends
A LACK of friends in Marlborough was the reason why Alan Ross was guilty of drunk and disorderly behaviour, he told magistrates. Ross, 33, admitted the offence when he appeared before Kennet Magistrates Court in Devizes on Monday. Ross, of London Road
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Just a few quid buys steak and fried squid
TRYING somewhere new to eat out is often a nerve-wracking experience. Will the food be up to scratch and the service be good? As we ate out at The Bolingbroke Arms, Hook, near Wootton Bassett, though, there was no need to worry. The food was generally
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Relics go under the hammer
RELICS of Fascist dictator Benito Mussolini are awaiting sale in a Swindon auction house for up to £4,000. They are two illustrated manuscripts taken from his office wall during the World War Two battle for Monte Cassino. A British soldier used a bayonet
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Traffic chaos to be solved by business
BUSINESS leaders in Swindon could hold the key to ending traffic chaos in the town. One of Swindon's company bosses has reiterated his warning that choked roads and unending traffic jams could force companies to abandon the town for pastures new. Six
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Tough stance on sexual harassment
WOLF-whistling will not be tolerated in Swindon by the borough council. This follows a well publicised case in Gloucester where council bosses sent letters to staff warning about lecherous behaviour in public. There had been complaints by members of the
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Dying man called for aid from ditch
THE family of Robert Lawson, who died after being knocked off his motorbike, have paid tribute to the young man who always put his family first. A two-day inquest into the death of the 25-year-old came to a conclusion Wednesday with Wiltshire deputy coroner
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Golden moment for a sporting stalwart
A MAN of 79, who set up a Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme in Downton five years ago is to be honoured with an award himself. Wiltshire County Council is to present Conrad Saunders with an Exceptional Service Award to mark his work with young people.
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142 days in the life of Colin Todd at Swindon
Departing Colin Todd managed Town for 142 days and leaves the club third from bottom of Division Two. May 4: Todd is appointed manager. He said: "I think Swindon can become a club that is going to be recognised in the football world." May 9: Chairman
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'I'm gutted' says Brady
NOTHING could hide the bitter tone in Terry Brady's voice. The Town chairman was not in a forgiving mood at 5pm Wednesday night as he sat with his lawyers to discuss Colin Todd's departure. It had been the most traumatic 24 hours of his Swindon reign
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Power to the people
AMBIENT Energy has not yet appealed against the decision to throw out its plans for a green power plant near Cricklade, a month after the firm insisted the scheme would still go ahead. Project manager Alison Turnbull originally said the Corsham-based
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Walkers have their city taped
A CASSETTE tape, describing a walk round Salisbury for blind and partially sighted people, will not only improve their quality of life, but their health as well. That was the view of people who gathered in the Guildhall Square for the launch by Mayor
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Timing of departure was wrong
CLIFF PUFFETT described Colin Todd's departure as a radical setback. The Town director was bitterly disappointed by the exit of a man he had built a great friendship with over the past six months. Mr Puffett had played a key role in bringing Todd to the
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Cash payment for the wheel clampers' victim
A 'SUBSTANTIAL' amount of compensation has been awarded to a consultant whose car was wrongly clamped at Salisbury train station car park. It has taken more than three months for South West Trains to apologise to Dr Lack, who has worked as an anaesthetist
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Clubs celebrating Lottery jackpots
MORE than 150 new childcare places are to be created in Swindon, thanks to the efforts of local parents. More than £60,000 of Government money has been awarded to three schemes in Cricklade, Highworth and Wroughton which will offer a before and after
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A landmark decision
THE long haul to find a suitable development for the site of Downton's most famous landmark is finally over. Revised plans to convert the existing Tannery building into 12 flats with a further 16 retirement homes to its rear has won the unanimous backing
