Archive
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Stolen goods find prompts police search for owners
POLICE are hoping to reunite stolen goods dumped in Chippenham with their owners. PC Mark Kent, of Chippenham police station, thinks many of the items may be of sentimental value. Among the collection of goods is a silver pocket watch, candle sticks,
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Keep the faith
THE future of Swindon Town could be plunged into doubt again if crowds continue to plummet. Chairman Terry Brady has warned that the club simply cannot survive on gates of 3,500 and could be dragged back into financial crisis if things don't improve.
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Small price to pay
THE Royal British Legion this week launched its annual Poppy Appeal in Wiltshire and once again we urge all our readers to support it fully. With each successive appeal there are fewer people around who remember the war or have first hand experiences
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County's flood is beyond a soak
IT does not need much to plunge Britain into a crisis an unexpected fall of snow or a fuel dispute for instance so the combined effects of a month's worth of rain in 48 hours and 90mph winds were a sure recipe for disaster this week. But the extent of
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Teacher gets new TV role
HIGHWORTH drama teacher John Williams appeared on television screens on Tuesday in the acclaimed BBC drama The Sins. Mr Williams, who teaches at Swindon's Churchfields School and runs drama workshops, was given the part of a vicar running behind a coffin
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Suits you
The Swindon Town club suits arrived this week with the players wearing them for the first time at the County Ground on Tuesday night. Alan Reeves looked as though he had got his mixed up with Juan Cobian as the sleeves came half-way up his arms and there
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Swede bashing
On first reflection I was really disappointed that England could appoint a foreigner as national coach. Now I am having second thoughts. The FA have set up a system here that gives us the best of both worlds. A renowned top coach who is being chased by
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Why we revisited Rikki
The Advertiser has come in for a certain amount of criticism for printing recent reports about former chairman Rikki Hunt. It seems many fans do not wish to read about the man and his views on the club. Well, I disagree. Rikki was a key part of this football
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Long live King
YOU will only need to spend five minutes with Andy King before coming away convinced that he is the man to lead Swindon Town. His enthusiasm and character for the job shine out like a beacon and his footballing knowledge is vast. He loves the game of
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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. Her father tells her story "Is she alive?" were
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Showdown to get to root of forest dispute
THE Earl of Cardigan is to face his tenants the Forestry Commission in court in a bid to settle a long standing feud over Savernake Forest. Lord Cardigan, the hereditary warden of Savernake, has been at loggerheads with the Forestry Commission for years
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Andes trekker raises money out of thin air
Fitness instructor braves ice and altitude for cancer research KAREN Holness joined a tough two-week trek across the icy mountains of Peru to raise vital funds for cancer research. The 28-year-old fitness instructor of Haydock Close, Chippenham, returned
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Report on council is mixed from schools
SECONARY schools in Wiltshire have given the county council's performance a mixed review. All schools have completed a survey during the last year and now the results are being published. A report to councillors will show that generally the secondaries
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'We'll make Government stick to BSE promises'
Grieving parents of CJD victim's vow as report into BSE bungle is published AS the Phillips Report into the BSE crisis is published, a couple who fought to get cash support for families, talk to LEWIS COWEN about the next stage. DAVE and Dot Churchill
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Olympic runner was over the speed limit
OLYMPIC athlete Alison Curbishley, who helped the British team to sixth place in the women's 4x400 relay in Sydney, has been fined £200 for her third speeding offence in less than a year. Curbishley, 25, of Grosvenor Place, Bath, should have appeared
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Public urged to remember fallen
THE Royal British Legion hopes every town in Wiltshire will come to a standstill as people show their respects at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. It has once again become the practice for many people to stop whatever they are doing to
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County braced for a fresh weekend of storms
WILTSHIRE is bracing itself for another weekend of storms after a warning from weather experts. Now emergency planners at Wiltshire County Council are drawing up plans to evacuate people. About two inches of rain, the average monthly total, fell on Wiltshire
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Staff up to date
CALNE Town Council has taken the initiative to ensure its staff are aware of the latest disability discrimination and human rights law. Town councillor John Watkins, a disability equality consultant, offered to run the sessions and his idea was welcomed
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Assemble for top ensemble
THE London Mozart Ensemble is coming to Calne next week as part of a nationwide tour which aims to bring music to audiences outside major cities. The ensemble, which will be touring America and Canada when it finishes its tour of the UK, will perform
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Pub landlords cross their fingers for a winner
ANTONY and Allyson Windle, who run the Three Crowns pub at Brinkworth, will be enjoying a luxury break in Monte Carlo this month while they wait to learn if they have won a top award. The couple, who won the regional heat in the Whitbread Pubs partnership's
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Shutters open up on new career for couple
WHEN theatre nurse Paula Phenna and her partner Andrew Baatz, a navigator in the RAF, decided they wanted a career change they pinned their fortunes on running a fledgling photographic business. And now their company, Sign of the Dog, which was launched
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Dance goes on for golden pair
FORMER mayor and mayoress of Wootton Bassett, Bernard and Phyllis Male, have celebrated their golden wedding anniversary. The couple, of New Road, are both natives of Somerset. "We met at a ballroom dancing class in the Blake Memorial Hall at South Petherton
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Elderly charity's plea over lifeline charges
THE county director of Age Concern has told pensioners to get in touch if they are concerned about new charges for the Lifeline Alarm Service. North Wiltshire District Council is introducing charges for the Lifeline, which has previously been provided
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It's children's playtime again
AFTER a three-year wait, children in Corston, near Malmesbury, are celebrating the completion of the village's new playground. North Wiltshire District Council originally promised the play area would be opened in Rodbourne Road in 1998. It had put aside
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Display goes with a bang
ALMOST 400 people gathered in a field along the A429 near Corston on Friday night (October 27) to watch a giant bonfire and fireworks display organised by Malmesbury's Young Farmers' Club to raise money for charity. Young Farmers' chairman, Margaret Panting
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Youth group's blanket plea
THE Housing Action for the Young Association is looking for household items such as towels and bedding to help homeless youngsters in Malmesbury. The association runs a house in Athelstan Road to provide needy youngsters between the ages of 16 and 25
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Elderly patient has to wait for eight hours
MALMESBURY and District Link has taken Bath's Royal United Hospital to task for making an 80-year-woman wait more than eight hours at the hospital to receive a surgical stocking. The Link is a community service run by volunteers who use private vehicles
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Police say town must combat yob culture
THE community must play its part in helping to combat the yob problem in Malmesbury town centre, senior police officers told a town meeting. At a consultative meeting at which people were invited to voice their views about crime in the town, they urged
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Library's magical moment
HARRY Potter fans have helped to celebrate the 25th birthday of Salisbury Library. A special Harry Potter evening for the over-eights on Thursday was one of a series of children's events held to mark the quarter of a century milestone of the library moving
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Village hosts dream show
A PLAY inspired by the life of civil rights crusader Martin Luther King is coming to Aldbourne. The Watermill Theatre's travelling production of Days and Nights of an American Dream will be presented in the Memorial Hall on November 18. The visit by the
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Restaurant conversion plan wins backing
TOWN councillors have agreed to raise no objection to the former top Marlborough restaurant Moran's being turned into living accommodation for its owners Steve and Della Moran. The couple closed the popular restaurant they live over in London Road when
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Intruder couldn't make clean getaway after bath
POLICE arrested a man who was found taking a bath after a woman in Little Bedwyn heard an intruder upstairs in her home. The woman raised the alarm as police investigated a spate of vandalism late on Tuesday October 31 in which a number of horses were
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Con thwarted by bank staff
TWO men attempted to con an 89-year-old Corsham woman into writing out a cheque for £3,000. The men sent the cheque to be cashed at a High Street bank outside the county but bank officials became suspicious at the large sum and contacted police. "The
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Ombudsman called in over handling of club
NORTH Wiltshire District Council has been accused of incompetence over the way it has handled the former Goldiggers building. A consortium of businessmen who want to buy the club has called in the Local Government Ombudsman and the District Auditor to
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Tickets are up for grabs for Mayor's free children's party
ONE thousand free tickets are up for grabs for Chippenham Mayor Sandie Webb's Kiddies Millennium Christmas Party, to be held on November 18. Primary age children from Chippenham are invited to attend the party in the Neeld Hall, with a disco afterwards
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Nightmare on Hallowe'en
EGGS, fireworks and paintballs were thrown when up to 70 youths gathered in the Pewsham area on Tuesday October 31 to take part in Hallowe'en stunts. Police sent two patrol cars to the scene at around 6.30pm and officers continued to monitor the situation
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Mum's quest for answers
BEREAVED mother Jane Langley believes many questions are still to be answered concerning the night her son Stuart disappeared. Stuart Johnson, then 22, vanished on December 18 last year and his body was found in the River Avon in Chippenham on January
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Fan banned after assault
SPECTATOR Michael Gamble has been banned from youth football games after a court heard how he invaded a junior match and threw a bottle of water at a boy, knocking him to the ground. Gamble, 41, of Blackthorn Mews, Chippenham, was given a 12-month conditional
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Council is facing a shake-up over waste
RUBBISH collections in North Wiltshire could be cut back as the district council takes drastic action to meet recycling targets. North Wiltshire District Council is facing a fine from the Government if it fails to meet its recycling target set by Whitehall
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Prison sentence for drug dealer
HEROIN dealer William Douglas was jailed for three years after a court heard how he was found armed with a machete to protect himself after receiving death threats. Douglas, 26, of Ridings Mead, Chippenham, had been taking drugs since he was six, Swindon
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Poppy wreaths
POPPY appeal co-ordinator for the RBL, David Wood, asks organisations that will be placing wreaths at the war memorial following the November 12 Remembrance service, to collect them from the Cullerne Room of St Michael's Church on the mornings from November
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Women's RBL
THE AGM of the Highworth Royal British Legion women's section will be held on November 17 at 7.30pm in the council community room. Meetings are held monthly on Fridays. The organisation aims to fundraise and to support those who have served in the forces
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Dental service
THE Dental Access Service, which provides both routine and urgent treatment, will be operating every week in Highworth from the beginning of November. Its times are: Monday, 9.30am-12.15pm and 1.15pm-4pm. The mobile unit will be in the Methodist Church
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Women's Institute
The Highworth Morning WI is organising a tabletop sale to be held in the council community room on Saturday from 9.30am to 11.30am. To book a table at £5, ring (01793) 861774 or call at Just the Job in Sheep Street for the necessary forms.
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Council surgeries
THE Mayor and chair of the Highworth Town Council, Coun Lynn Vardy, will be holding a surgery in the council offices on Saturday from 9.30am to 11.30am. Councillors Carolyn Arkell, Melanie Duff and Lisa Hawkes, who represent Highworth on Swindon Borough
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Bemerton boss takes time out
Bemerton Heath Harlequins manager Steve Slade took time out from the day-to-day running of the club this week to "consider his options". Slade, who has been in charge of Heath's first team for 12 years, threatened to quit the club last week after seeing
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Memorial for Scout leader
AN oak tree is to be planted at the County Scout headquarters at Potterne Wick, near Devizes, on Saturday in memory of Scout leader Christopher "Fred" Oliver who died last year. Mr Oliver, a 35-year-old lorry driver from Urchfont, fell to his death in
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Bus wiggles to success
THE pioneering Wigglybus service is to be extended after carrying 40,000 passengers in its first 18 months. The service, between Pewsey Vale and Devizes, will feature a new evening run into Pewsey on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from November 27,
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Mystery over dead rabbits
THE bodies of three rabbits were found in the fountain in Market Place on Thursday October 26. The discovery was made by town council staff who were called after shopper Lizzie Lewer, of Seagry, near Chippenham, reported seeing what she believed was a
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Protesters pledge to safeguard green lung
PROTESTERS have vowed to continue the fight to stop 300 houses being built on land beside Quakers Walk, dubbed the green lung of Devizes, after it was revealed that the homes are to be squeezed on to four-fifths of the original land. In the replacement
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Union calls for improved rail safety
RAIL safety came under the spotlight at a Swindon trade union meeting in the wake of the latest crash at Hatfield. Creating an independent train safety watchdog, re-nationalising the railways, and making rail bosses accountable for accidents are the measures
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Parents are relieved as daughter is back home
THE parents of Nicola Cole have spoken of their relief at the safe return of their daughter. Irene and Steven Cole were reunited with Nicola in the early hours of Wednesday morning. "We are delighted to have her home. She is tired but seems OK," said
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Swamped again by a sea of sewage
DRAINS near the home of Pam Rozier have overflowed, filling her bungalow with sewage. Her home in Arlington Close, Nythe, has been swamped by a sea of used toilet paper, old sanitary towels, and effluent. She says she has continuously phoned Thames Water
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Mum angry at air gun attack
A Mother and her young daughter were shot at by youths with an air gun as they got into their car outside a Rodbourne newsagents. The pellet bounced off Helen Morgan's windscreen just seconds after her eight-year-old daughter Sarah Jane closed the car
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A special gift
A FAMILY from Swindon has a new addition a bonny 11-month old baby all the way from China. Mark and Carol Ratcliffe have wanted to adopt a Chinese baby girl for the last four years, after watching a television documentary which highlighted China's harsh
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Young cellist hits right note
YOUNG cellist Lydia Lee has been chosen to play in the prestigious National Youth Orchestra. The 17-year-old from Rowde, who is a pupil at Dauntsey's School, West Lavington, under went two tough auditions before she learned last Friday that she had been
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Shop campaign wins backing
CAMPAIGNERS for a community shop in Urchfont were pledged support by 150 villagers on Saturday. The ten-strong campaigning committee has developed a business plan for the scheme which was on display. With a turnover of £2,000 a week, it reckons to return
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Winning rollerskaters are the wheel deal
ONE group of youngsters in the Marlborough and Pewsey area do not need to be told to get their skates on. They are members of the Moonrakers Roller Skating Club who have returned from competitions with a number of awards this year. The club, formed three
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Pair took on danger climb as summit to do
TWO Pewsey businessmen found themselves in a 100mph gale in freezing temperatures after deciding to climb Africa's tallest mountain for a laugh. With one of their party of four unable to go on because of a lung infection, they were left wondering whether
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Shop teas up big hand-out
SINCE the volunteer-run Pewsey Vale Crafts and Tea Room opened seven years ago, it has raised almost £9,000 for charity. On Monday chairman and founder member Mary Ward presented cheques for more than £4,000 to a dozen organisations including the two
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Display hit as costs rocket
FAMILIES in Marlborough are being urged to stop being damp squibs when it comes to contributing towards the cost of staging the annual fireworks display and bonfire on The Common. The Round Table, which has run the traditional Guy Fawkes bonfire and firework
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Family is suffering phone call misery
A WROUGHTON man has hit out at companies which use cold calling tactics to try to sell their services. Jim McGann's mother Elizabeth thought she was getting nuisance calls at her home which left her feeling worried and afraid. Every time the pensioner
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They came to bury Swindon Town, not to praise them!
AT LAST Swindon Town fans can celebrate after their team beat Cambridge 3-1. After a departed manager and a run of home games in which they had won one, drawn two and lost three, things were beginning to take on a bleak air down at the County Ground.
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Police issue warning on scams made on telephone
POLICE are warning people to be on their guard against scams made over the telephone. Office staff have reported receiving calls at work claiming to be from the post office, asking them to confirm their company postcode. When this is given they are told
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Laptop computer bought for £30 was stolen 2 decks.
DRUG-USER Endad Rahman told police he bought a £1,000 laptop computer for just £30 from a man who called at his door. The 21-year-old restaurant worker of Hunsdon Close, Walcot, told officers he thought there was something wrong with the machine which
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Elderly residents evacuated as fire breaks out in flats
MORE than 50 residents had to evacuate a block of retirement and elderly people's flats in Salis-bury after fire broke out. The residents of Homesarum House in Wilton Road were already clearing the building as firefighters and ambulance crews arrived.
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A spooky gathering of ghouls!
A HELLISH band of vampires, witches and ghouls has been spotted in the Railway Village. Youngsters at Central Playgroup dressed up to celebrate Halloween and raise funds. The children enjoyed a variety of traditional Hallo-ween activities, such as apple
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Billboard battles in inter-city trade row
A ROW has broken out over billboards in Salisbury promoting Southampton to shoppers. Adverts for the West Quay shopping centre are on boards around Salisbury city centre. They have been attacked for sending out a negative message about shopping in Salisbury
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Actor pulls out of play after injury
SIMON Ward has pulled out of a play at Salisbury Playhouse after one performance when he did what actors are traditionally told to do for luck - break a leg. He slipped and fell outside his home after the preview performance. The actor, whose career includes
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Firm's shock closure leaves wages unpaid
TIDWORTH workers have been left in dire financial straits, owed up to £2,000 in wages, after the office they worked in closed down without warning. Telecommunications company Euro Digital closed its doors on October 12. Shocked administrative and customer
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Post Office raider must stay in jail
A PINEHURST man who carried out a violent raid on a post office has failed to overturn his conviction at London's Criminal Appeal Court. Brendon Nangle, 41, sparked an international manhunt when he fled the country after he stole goods worth thousands
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Bus passenger's shock as driver storms off
A WILTON woman has described her shock at being left in charge of a Wilts and Dorset bus after its driver stormed off. The 50-year-old woman, who does not want to be named, said she found herself put on the spot after "politely asking the driver" why
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I'm your man
FROM the San Siro to the County Ground, Andy King knows just where he would rather be. After years of travelling around Europe's footballing hotspots, Town's caretaker boss is enjoying his return to the hectic life of management. He has said goodbye to
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Keep the faith
THE future of Swindon Town could be plunged into doubt again if crowds continue to plummet. Chairman Terry Brady has warned that the club simply cannot survive on gates of 3,500 and could be dragged back into financial crisis if things don't improve.
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Police stymied
I attended the police consultative meeting in Malmesbury and endured a most depressing afternoon. After one resident complained of the noise, under-age drinking and vandalism, a senior officer said police action was only a "sticking plaster" and tackling
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Letter to councillors
Open letter to the Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat Groups on Swindon Borough Council RECENTLY Wroughton Parish Council wrote to the leaders of your political groups offering what we hoped would become a focus for consensus on the issue of greenfield
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Labour blamed for rail faults ...
AMID all the cries for re-nationalisation are the claims of Russian roulette being played with rail users safety, together with Mr Blair stressing the need for "maximum openness.'' The reason the new rail which is so dismally failing to meet the safety
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Pooling the noise
WITH reference to your story in last week's Gazette a new indoor swimming pool for Malmesbury is great news. But for Mr Slade to suggest that the old site to be used for a skate park is out of the question. I live opposite the swimming pool and most nights
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Tories' legacy
THE Gazette says in your editorial on October 26 that the gravest injustice of the BSE scandal was the failure of ministers under the last Government to order a public inquiry. For years the plight of the victims of variant CJD and their families was
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Simple solution
I HAVE been following with interest the debate in West Wiltshire over council employees being abused while standing guard over skips. I see we are heading toward the same silly situation in Kennet with skips, when provided, only available an hour a day
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Oh no, here we go again
IT doesn't take much to make the great British public start panic-buying. Just a few choice words from the prime Minister and the Home Secretary it seems. A colleague saw a driver in Swindon fill her tank and the four cans she had in her boot. Selfish
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Fitting end to family's long fight
MARK and Carol Ratcliffe are a remarkable couple. Who could not fail to be moved by The Dying Rooms, a heart-rending programme about the Chinese baby girls who are abandoned by their parents and left to die? But the majority of us would mutter about the
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St Michael's Church
SUNDAY will be All Saints praise at St Michael's Church, starting at 6pm. As the display of flowers in the church during the Highworth 2000 Festival was themed In Celebration of Saints, a number of the flower-arrangers will talk about their saint and
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Mothers' Union
St Michael's Church Mothers' Union will meet on Wednesday at 10.30am in the church room following holy communion, which will be held in the Warneford Chapel. A talk will be given by Gwen Breakspear on the subject of Iona and Lindisfarne, exploring early
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Council sits on loo plan until next year
PLANS by Kennet District Council to replace its public toilets with modern loos will be discussed by councillors in January. A comprehensive review of the council's 13 public toilets has almost been completed. The proposals include changing many of the
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New Local Plan raises chorus of disapproval
MORE than 1,000 objections have been sent in by residents unhappy about proposals in the replacement Kennet District Local Plan. The Local Plan covers the period up to 2011. It sets out where housing should be built and also allocates sites for employment
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Library to stay put as museum quest goes on
THE Devizes-based Wiltshire Archeological Society says it will continue to co-operate on the planned new Records Office at The Wharf, despite saying it will not be moving its library there. The society, which owns and runs the Wiltshire Heritage Museum
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Take that, Beckham we all prefer Jamie!
I went up to Manchester the other day to see Robbie Williams perform (I know, but it was a wife thing). As we were waiting for the show to begin they were advertising Sky TV on two huge screens either side of the stage. When it came to promoting the Sky
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Choir aims for top note in national contest
ST Mary's School's Schola Cantorum is one step away from national glory as a semi-finalist in the Sainsbury's Youth Choir of the Year 2000 competition. The all-girl Calne youth choir will take to the stage of the Buxton Opera House in Derbyshire on November
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Musicians in the house for season of concerts
MARDEN House Concerts is launching its annual recital series on Sunday with the first performance of a new season. As part of the series a top line-up of musicians will be coming to town over the next eight months. The recital season will see a mix of
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New hall product of five years' hard work
VILLAGERS in Derry Hill are preparing to celebrate the opening of their new community hall after raising £300,000 over the past five years. Chris McCormack, 42, of the village hall committee, hopes the new, purpose-built hall will encourage residents
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Boyfriend butted girl after she jilted him
BOYFRIEND David Bradfield headbutted his girlfriend after she told him their relationship was over, a court was told. Bradfield, 20, of The Lymers, Yatesbury, near Calne, admitted a breach of the peace at Munnelly's Bar, in Southbroom Road, Devizes, on
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Hard work will end in playtime
COLEMAN'S Farm Residents' Association has overcome the odds to get a much needed playground on its estate. Work started on the £45,000 facility the week of October 30 and Calne town councillor Mercy Baggs said it wouldn't have been possible without the
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Window on Wootton Bassett
Poppy Appeal Poppy appeal collector Hugh Sayce, of Callow Hill, was honoured at the LifeGuards Band concert in Wootton Bassett, where he received a Royal British Legion certificate of appreciation from the High Sheriff of Wiltshire, Robert Lawton. A fanfare
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Ex-councillor recovers well in hospital
FORMER Wootton Bassett councillor and veteran campaigner Eric Hodges, 70, is recovering well after suffering a slight stroke. Mr Hodges was taken ill at his home in Wootton Bassett early last week three days after receiving an award for clocking up 100
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Florida trip fulfils a dream for tragic Della
DELLA Oakes's smile says it all she has just had the best two weeks of her life. The 28-year-old, from Wootton Bassett, who is suffering from an extremely rare terminal condition, has returned from her first ever holiday. It was made possible by the generosity
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Protesters pledge to keep up homes fight
PASSIONS ran high when protesters confronted North Wiltshire District Council in the battle to protect Corsham from a 600-home development. But district councillors voted in support of the plans at a meeting in Chippenham's Neeld Hall. The outline application
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Plaques to mark town history
NINE bronze plaques celebrating more than 2,000 years of history in Malmesbury are to be mounted in the landings of the newly restored Abbey Steps. The project is a joint initiative by Malmesbury Town Council and North Wiltshire District Council to celebrate
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Police ready for anarchists
POLICE have advised residents and traders not to panic after threats by anti-monarchists to use the town as a base on Saturday, November 4, from which to disrupt the opening meeting of the Beaufort Hunt. A London-based group known as the Movement Against
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Flood warning 'came too late'
ANGRY residents say the Environment Agency failed to warn them in time about flash floods which swept through low-lying areas in Malmesbury on Monday October 30 causing thousands of pounds of damage. And homeowners have blasted Wiltshire County Council
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Wiltshire's Dyson does it again
AFTER weeks of speculation Dyson launched its newest invention, a dual-drummed washing machine, Thursday morning. A million hours of research and development have gone into developing the hi-tech machine, which was launched in front of the world's media
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Face saving plea
TOWN councillors are calling for the main features of a building in Marlborough High Street to be retained. They were commenting on a plan by Haine and Smith opticians to open a shop at the former Barclays Bank building at 23/24 High Street, latterly
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Storms add to railway chaos
IT has been one of the quietest weeks in the history of Pewsey railway station, with no passenger trains running in the past 72 hours and no prospect of services being restored until the weekend at the earliest. It is the first time in living memory passenger
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Police pair leave force to take over Crown pub
A POLICEMAN whose wife recently quit as a special constable has now also resigned. Constable Richard Taylor and his wife Pauline are to take over The Crown public house in Marlborough. On Monday Mrs Taylor will ask licensing justices at Devizes to give
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Crack seized in drugs raid
WHAT is believed to be the first ever seizure of crack cocaine by police in the Marlborough area was made on the night of Tuesday October 31 when drugs squad officers raided three homes and made three arrests. It was the third successful drugs raid in
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Deputy mayor told to clean up garage site
DEPUTY mayor Stewart Dobson has been told the site he owns beside the war memorial is an eyesore and should be tidied up before Remembrance Day. A partly demolished brick wall on the former garage site, which forms a backdrop to the cenotaph, has prompted
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Wigglybus takes route to success
THE pioneering Wigglybus service is to be extended after carrying 40,000 passengers in its first 18 months and attracting the attention of Government ministers. The Pewsey Vale-based bus run will feature a new evening run into Pewsey from the villages
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Shoplifter admits stab attack on detective
A STORE detective has told of the torment he suffered waiting for the result of an Aids test after being stabbed in the eye with a drug user's syringe. Nigel Wright was working at the Borough Parade in Chippenham when shoplifter Samuel Bryan attacked
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Evening WI
THE Highworth Evening Women's Institute meets at 7.45pm on Wednesday in the Silver Threads Hall. Bridget Tubb will be giving a talk on antiques. Visitors are welcome. For further details, contact (01793) 762517.
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Silver Band
HIGHWORTH Silver Band's Summer Season ended in September with a concert in the town gardens, Old Town, Swindon. The crowds were superb this year. All concerts were well attended and despite the rather wet summer, all park concerts were held in bright
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Drama night
AN evening of drama will be held in The Rec Community Hall on November 24, starting at 7.30pm. The programme will combine presentations from adults and young people. The youngsters will be work ing towards the event by undertaking a six-week drama workshop
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Wiltshire's Dyson does it again
AFTER weeks of speculation Dyson launched its newest invention, a dual-drummed washing machine, Thursday morning. A million hours of research and development have gone into developing the hi-tech machine, which was launched in front of the world's media
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Villagers will have a say over leisure bid
ROWDE parish council should be at the forefront of plans to redevelop facilities in the village, a meeting was told. The full council meeting in front of more than 30 villagers on Thursday heard chairman Graham Maslin say there had been a brief meeting
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Ward gets carpet treatment
SIX beds on the Kennet ward of Devizes Hospital are being kept empty this week while a carpet is replaced, but a spokesman has said it is not preventing patients being admitted. Work to replace the carpet began on Monday October 30 and is expected to
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Outcry looms as trees face chop
COUNCILLORS are bracing themselves for a public backlash after they approved the axing of five trees in Market Place, Devizes. The move met with vociferous opposition and a 2,400-signature petition in protest when it was first proposed last year. But
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Fascinating story behind cutlery set
CUTLERY once owned by an infamous Hitler aide is to be auctioned in Swindon. The hallmarked 71-piece set is engraved with the personal monogram of Nazi Luftwaffe chief Hermann Goering. And the story behind it suggests Goering may have tried to buy a bolthole
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Girl, 12, injured by store's stepladder
DISCOUNT store, Sports Soccer has been fined just over £12,000 after admitting health and safety breaches which included an injury to an eight-year-old girl. Swindon magistrates heard how a large stepladder fell on Jodie Bradford's head when she visited
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How to survive Guy Fawkes' night
IT is a sobering thought that the majority of injuries caused by fireworks last year were to youngsters, in spite of the fact that it is illegal to sell them to those under 18. Alcohol has been highlighted as a factor in many accidents, increasing the
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Warm welcome for one of Swindon's famous sons
ANIMAL expert and broadcaster Dr Desmond Morris took a trip back to his childhood last night when he visited Swindon. The famous scientist returned to his home town to launch a new public lecture series for the University of Bath in Swindon. The lecture
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Winter's night brings hefty haul
Three more big carp have come out of Salisbury Angling Club's Steeple Langford lakes. Club member Dave Winters had a memorable one-night session on the main lake and caught three commons over 20lb - the largest a hefty 24lb 5oz fish. His trio came just
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Hague elbows out his 6X appeal
TORY leader William Hague declined a pint of Wadworth's 6X during a press call at Devizes Corn Exchange on the evening of Thursday October 26, despite it being sponsored by the local brewers. Although he has claimed to regularly drink 14 pints during
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Charity walkers brave the elements
DESPITE severe weather warnings on Sunday, more than 200 walkers braved the elements in the Devizes Lions sponsored walk on its first time on a new date. The ten-mile walk was seen off from the Wharf by Mayor of Devizes, Coun Tim Price, and Lions Club
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Hague elbows out his 6X appeal
TORY leader William Hague declined a pint of Wadworth's 6X during a press call at Devizes Corn Exchange on the evening of Thursday October 26, despite it being sponsored by the local brewers. Although he has claimed to regularly drink 14 pints during
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A star in his eyes
FORMER Tisbury Rector Jonathan Meyrick was less a saint than a sinner when he went on TV to perform a pop song once described by the Church as "disgusting". Now a cathedral canon at Rochester, he appeared on Stars in Their Eyes on Saturday night impersonating
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Sorry, I've got to fly!
THEY'RE shoes as well as skates, James Bond would be proud of them and they're here, writes Barrie Hudson (pictured). Swindon is one of only a handful of places where the coolest of the cool can buy a pair of Street Flyers. Would-be fashion leaders with
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Shops asked to open late for grand Christmas event
RETAILERS in the town centre are being asked to show some Christmas spirit by opening their doors to the elderly and disabled for a special night of shopping. This year's late night shopping event for those with mobility problems is due to take place
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Night pub praised for a quiet approach
A CONTROVERSIAL Salisbury pub has been given the go-ahead to stay open until midnight, despite objections from people living nearby. The Town House in Bridge Street withdrew its original application to open until 2am and offered not to allow entry to
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Rail project is out of sidings
AROUND £20,000 has been released for a study into the reopening of Wootton Bassett railway station. Members of Wiltshire County Council have given the go-ahead for the project, which could result in a station being opened in January 2005. The money will
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M-way road works begin
MORE than £1 million of repairs to motorway bridges near the West Swindon junction of the M4 will start next week, the Highways Agency has announced. The work, which will last for the next four months, is likely to cause tailbacks and congestion for motorists
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'Cowboys' trash woman's house
COUNCIL house decorators have been labelled 'cowboys' after making a mess of a Bulford womans home. Elaine Robertson (46) returned from a holiday in Greece to find white paint all over the bricks, grass, flowers and even her red Fiat Punto, which was
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Salisbury storm to victory
Salisbury 23 Basingstoke 2nds 0: IN near monsoon conditions Salisbury provided an example of how to use the elements to advantage and contain an opposition. With the gale at their backs Salisbury's first half game plan was simple. Kick high and long for
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I thought 'nobody believes in us'
JUST one look at the sparsely populated County Ground stands was enough to show Andy King the size of his task. It was his first game in charge at the County Ground and there was no doubting the need for three points. However, the lack of support from
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Weather beaten
TORRENTIAL rain and 90mph winds brought chaos to south Wiltshire as falling trees smashed through power lines and blocked roads. Emergency services were flat out coping with the worst weather the area has seen since the storms of 1987. Two inches of rain
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Get a move on!
I WAS wondering where the headquarters of the MAS (Mutual Admiration Society) are. It seems to be very popular these days. One can see them parked on all the roundabouts here in Swindon, smiling at one another, waiting for the other member to make the
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Freedom at risk
MOST of the British public are well aware of the EU Single Currency debate. It is doubtful if many will know of the imminent threat to our free speech and freedom of the Press if the proposals for the coming Treaty of Nice are implemented and the new
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No attraction
I THINK I must be missing the point of Rupert Burr's letter in Friday's Adver (Where is the funding for me?). He seems to be comparing Steam Museum with his own farm enterprise. Steam represents a part of Swindon's history and achievement something to
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Orwell awaits us?
FOLLOWING the report on the Lawrence murder and the admitted racism of the Metropolitan Police it seems to have been assumed without proof that almost the whole of the indigenous population is guilty of racism, either personally or institutionally. This
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. . . so are the Tories
MOST of the British public are well aware of the EU Single Currency debate. It is doubtful if many will know of the imminent threat to our free speech and freedom of the Press if the proposals for the coming Treaty of Nice are implemented and the new
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Fairs are wanted
YES, we do want two Mop Fairs a year. This has been a tradition in Marlborough for many, many years. Having been a resident in Marlborough for 59 years, I know the excitement they bring to children, I speak from my own children, I speak from my own childhood
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School in picture
I WAS very pleased that Potterne School's win of £100 of computer vouchers was reported in the Gazette. The winning photograph was taken by Richard Pearce, a member of the village Millennium Committee at the Millennium Midsummer Celebration, where the
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Crossing crossness
THE Pewsham estate in Chippenham is like a small town. It has a community centre, doctors' surgery, chemist, chinese takeaway, video rental shop, small supermarket, post office and school. But there is not one zebra crossing. There are implied crossing
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Re-think needed
CAN anybody who has witnessed the recent weather doubt it is a result of accelerated climate change? Yet despite the role vehicle emissions play in this, people complain about taxes designed to reduce them. Someone has to lead the way and it makes a change
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Lucky for some
PENSIONERS in North Wiltshire using the Lifeline Alarm Service are lucky to have to pay only £8.74 to £8.82 a quarter. In Devizes I have to pay more than £48 a quarter for the Lifeline Alarm Service, which used to be run by Kennet District Council. The
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Culprits must pay
THE BSE disaster has cost every man, woman and child in the UK £177 each in compensation to farmers alone. This would have been very much more if we hadn't obtained funding from our European partners. When another disaster, Thalidomide, happened the cost
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Lifeline costs rise
IN the Gazette of October 26 you report the increase of charges to be imposed from April 2001 by North Wiltshire District Council for the Lifeline Alarm Service, a true life saver for 1,200 vulnerable and elderly persons . Your account states the cost
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A backward step
I READ with disbelief the new proposals by Kennet District Council for its skip service to be available for one hour only each week during the mid-afternoon rather than from late afternoon onwards. This will mean that anyone who works will be denied the
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Colour warms winter
THE autumn display of nature's wonderland at Westonbirt is with us once again as the Gazette revealed last week. However many times I witness this annual rhapsody, the magic never fades. To walk through Westonbirt at any time of year is to feel warm,
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Greedy policy should get the thumbs down
THEY say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I described the old Gaumont cinema as ugly. Mr Reeves believes (Gazette last week) "the rear end can leave a lot to be desired." I simply do not like 1930s Art Deco. If it came before a planning committee
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Village schemes are only ideas to be discussion
WITH reference to last week's story about plans for Rowde I would like to clarify the current position and its background. Mrs Brown has farmed in Rowde for 50 years but a trust has not been set up by her to provide land for new facilities in the village
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Call for balance over heritage site
AS chairman of Avebury Parish Council I write to say how interesting the village found the work of Brian Edwards in resurrecting the mid-war film on Avebury and its residents of the day. It was part of the splendid exhibition in the Avebury Social Centre
