Archive
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Paperboy left injured by hit and run driver
PAPERBOY Jeffrey Watkin was left lying in the middle of the road in agony after he was the victim of a hit and run driver. Jeffrey's mother Patricia is appalled no-one stopped to help the 13-year-old, who sat crying with pain after dragging himself to
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Olive branch for banned Smart?
THE door has been opened for Frank Smart to possibly make a return to the Swindon Robins team in the future. Robins promoter Pete Toogood has given his biggest hint yet that banned Smart could ride again at Blunsdon. During an exclusive interview with
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All corners of county gather to pay tribute
SERVICES and parades will be held throughout the region to remember the dead of two world wars. Devizes, mayor Tim Price will lead his guests, including MP Michael Ancram and Recorder of Devizes Judge John McNaught, from the town hall to St John's Church
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Anger as parking charges rise
THE Tory group on Kennet District Council has been accused of pushing through a more than double increase in parking charges at Station Road in Devizes. Following a vote on Tuesday afternoon, motorists will have to pay 35p an hour to park at the former
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Motherly advice is enough to save day
THE new club suits at Swindon have already been the source of great amusement in this column. But one further story made me giggle this week. A certain player was asked for his suit size and he had to go and phone his mum to find out. Nobody at the club
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Time to join fitness challenge for air ambulance
FITNESS fanatics can still take part in a unique sports challenge and raise money for the Wiltshire Air Ambulance. There are still 17 places up for grabs for a skiing marathon at Blacklands, near Calne, is set to emulate a Swedish race, listed as the
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History is brought to book
KAY Taylor is so involved with village life she felt qualified to write a book about Sutton Benger. Mrs Taylor, who has been a village correspondent for the Gazette for 16 years, has been a member of just about every committee and organisation in Sutton
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Relief at rise in probation cash
WILTSHIRE Probation Service is to get a cash boost to enable it to recruit more staff. In the past few years the service has suffered cuts in funding and has not been able to replace staff who have left. From next April the service will be funded entirely
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Motorists urged to stay calm over fuel protest
COUNTY emergency planners urged motorists not to panic as Chancellor Gordon Brown waited to see if his pre-budget statement would appease fuel protestors Wednesday November 8. Mr Brown announced a cut of 3p a litre in ultra low sulphur diesel from March
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Toy story turns into big success for library
CALNE'S NSPCC Lend and Play Toy Library celebrated its first birthday with a party on Thursday. The facility, based in the Calne Family Centre at Broken Cross, operates like a book library and was initially funded by a grant from the Millennium Commission
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Wheelchair user fights for better bus service
WHEELCHAIR user John Watkins is campaigning for a regular low-floored bus service from Calne to enable disabled and elderly people to get out of town. Stagecoach currently operates one low-floored bus on its Calne to Swindon run, but because it does not
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Holders storm out of meeting
ALLOTMENT holders stormed out of a meeting with Calne Town Council after they were told they will be without plots for up to five months. The council called the special meeting, attended by more than 30 allotment holders, on Tuesday. The council is selling
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Motorists urged to stay calm over fuel protest
COUNTY emergency planners urged motorists not to panic as Chancellor Gordon Brown waited to see if his pre-budget statement would appease fuel protestors last night. Mr Brown announced a cut of 3p a litre in ultra low sulphur diesel from March 2001 and
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Council will sell off shop in High Street
NORTH Wiltshire District Council has agreed to sell 42, High Street, Wootton Bassett for an undisclosed fee. The council bought the shop for a nominal fee in a compulsory purchase order two years. It refurbished the shop before letting it out as a children's
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Couple are worldwide wed
A COUPLE who met in a thoroughly modern way over the Internet are celebrating the virtues of old fashioned love. David Turner, 43, of Wootton Bassett, and Iryna Vitaliyivna Galash, 30, of the Ukraine, were married at St Bartholomew's Church and are making
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Farmer will appeal over fish plan loss
PLANS to create an anglers' paradise outside of Wootton Bassett have been refused. Farmer Gordon Hunt wanted to build three fishing lakes on nearly four hectares of land at Ballards Ash Farm on Flaxlands outside Wootton Bassett. But North Wiltshire District
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Hi-tech washer creates 300 jobsDyson wants world to march to twin drums
JAMES Dyson's latest invention could mean as many as 300 new jobs for Malmesbury. The inventor, who launched the CR01 Contrarotator washing machine at the Malmesbury factory on Thursday November 2, said he is keen to keep his business in the town rather
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Flood inspires 11 hour vigil
FLOOD hero John Kadwell spent 11 hours directing traffic away from four feet of flood water at Kingway Bridge. Mr Kadwell, from Corston, was out cycling last Monday when he was alarmed to notice nothing warned motorists approaching from Malmesbury that
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Jail for former soldier who beat up girlfriend
A FORMER paratrooper who beat up his girlfriend has been jailed for ten months by a judge at Swindon Crown Court. David Blewett, who was invalided out of the regiment, attacked Sandra Brundell after she refused to let him stay the night on his birthday
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Reward offer to catch yobs
FURIOUS car salesman David Hendry is offering a £500 reward for information leading to the prosecution of vandals who cut phone lines into his showroom and office. Mr Hendry, of David Hendry Cars in Park Street, Malmesbury, lost Internet access, the use
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Post mistress fiddled accounts to hide £11,000 loss
AN Oaksey sub postmistress who fiddled accounts to cover up the disappearance of more than £11,000 was ordered to carry out 200 hours' community service. Solicitor Andrew Watts-Jones pleaded with magistrates not to send Colleen Willis, 41, of Bendy Bow
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Witches have a wizard time
CHILDREN and staff at Broad Town Pre-school's newly-formed lunch club wore fancy dress and painted pumpkin masks for a Hallowe'en party last week. Treats included biscuits they had decorated earlier. Parents and play leaders Elaine Steel and Sonia-Jean
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Driver scares woman
RACHEL Adams was left in fear after a stranger followed her home from Wootton Bassett to Calne and tried to approach her. Mrs Adams, 25, of Lansdowne Park, was on her way home from a business trip in London when she stopped to get petrol at the Shell
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An hour without power
LARGE areas of Wootton Bassett were without electricity for up to an hour on Tuesday morning. Poets Estate and Green Park were affected, and two petrol stations were put temporaril out of action. Poets Field Post Office and the Londis store had to turn
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Big-hearted gift for surgery
DOCTORS at the Marlborough practice in George Lane have been given a £3,000 replacement Heart Start machine by Savernake Hospital League of Friends. The defibrillator was handed to Dr David Maurice by league president Raymond White. It defibrillator will
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Chaos looms as track repairs shut rail line
RAIL travellers and commuters face chaos next week while the line through Pewsey and Great Bedwyn is closed for track repairs in the wake of the Hatfield disaster. Railtrack says it has found a number of cracked sections of track on the line between Newbury
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School comes in for praise
BURBAGE Pre-school provides a happy and secure environment, according to Ofsted inspectors. Their latest report says children are making good progress in most subjects, although the pre-school could have a better maths programme. The inspection of the
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Women rescued in fumes drama
AN investigation is to be launched after two elderly women were pulled unconscious from their fume filled home. Jean Cooper, 73, and Rhoda Bowyer, 70, would have died had their close friend Jenny Kiely not arrived with her husband Patrick and dragged
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Skate park in line for take off
YOUNG BMX riders and skateboard enthusiasts plan to build one of the country's biggest indoor facilities for the sport in Pewsey. They want to build an L-shaped covered barn next door to The Shak youth club on land owned by neighbouring Pewsey Vale School
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Teen in tune with charity
MUSIC-mad teenager Christian Gooch has brought together musical talent from Chippenham to produce a tape to raise money for Children In Need. The compilation, entitled Chippenham's Local Talent, includes recordings of piano, flute and guitar, as well
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Walkers and bikers helped
WILTSHIRE County Council and North Wiltshire District Council are consulting locals on a scheme aimed at improving conditions for pedestrians and cyclists. These include residents and schoolchildren who travel along Hungerdown Lane in Chippenham. The
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Factory alert
Staff were evacuated from Wavin Building Plastics in Parsonage Way, Chippenham, when a fire broke out in the machinery at 6.45pm on Monday November 6. Three appliances attended and firefighters using breathing apparatus used a dry powder extinguisher
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Sporty Spice hits right note with youngsters
POP star Melanie C praised youngsters from Chippenham and Corsham who collected cash for the homeless at her concert on Sunday November 5. The Spice Girl is donating the proceeds from her new solo single If That Were Me, to a homeless project, No Place
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Crackdown on egg yobs
POLICE officers caught a gang of egg-throwing teenagers after a series of attacks on a butcher's shop. PCs Pete Fennell and Richard Tottle lay in wait for the offenders at 8am yesterday morning after a complaint from Richard Iles of John Iles and Son
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Motorists urged to stay calm over fuel protest
COUNTY emergency planners urged motorists not to panic as Chancellor Gordon Brown waited to see if his pre-budget statement would appease fuel protestors last night. Mr Brown announced a cut of 3p a litre in ultra low sulphur diesel from March 2001 and
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Highworth
Festival success In expressing gratitude to those who took part, Elizabeth Drew, chair of the Highworth Festival 2000 committee, has said that wonderful support contributed to this year being the best festival yet. St Michael's Church A Christingle service
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Trainer's delight as his team romp homeWiltshire Football League
IN a depleted programme just three games were played in the Premier section with five other games surviving in the remaining leagues. In the Premier Division, Marlborough Town were glad their game got the go-ahead when they defeated Corsham Town Reserves
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Box win keeps their perfect start intactChippenham Sunday League
Early fears that the fixture programme from the Shoestrings-sponsored Chippenham Sunday League would be washed out failed to materialize. Only six of the 23 planned games were called off. On the downside, five of the league's 14 clubs involved in the
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Quest to remember fallen
Poem inspires vicar's wife to find out more about the 56 names on war memorials Vicar's wife Jenny Harrison has devoted a year of research to finding out about the men named on the war memorials of her husband's three parishes. NIGEL KERTON reports on
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Give war-hit children chance to learn again
FORMER Marlborough firefighter Glenn 'Drinky' Drinkwater is appealing to Wiltshire families to provide pens, pencils, paper, crayons and chalk for children in the Kosovan capital Pristina. Sgt Drinkwater, whose mother and stepfather live in Upper Isbury
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CCTV option studied after crime warning
A FEASIBILITY study will start next week to find out if Closed Circuit Television should be introduced in Devizes. Devizes is among the few towns in Wiltshire which does not have CCTV. Police said this week criminals were travelling from as far away as
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Doomed tree is fenced off
KENNET District Council workers have fenced off one of the trees in Devizes Market Place marked for the axe as part of the town centre regeneration work. The London plane tree between the Market Cross and Lloyds Bank, one of eight planted in 1889, will
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Schools front up to bankers
TWO teams of students from Devizes School and Dauntsey's School will be challenging the Bank of England over the level of interest rates in a national competition. Teams from more than 230 schools and colleges are competing in the Bank of England interest
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Objectors fail to stop disputed homes plan
PEOPLE protesting against a scheme to build 300 homes beside Quakers Walk in Devizes will have to carry their fight to a public inquiry after Kennet District councillors voted to include it in the new Local Plan. A meeting on Thursday voted to turn down
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A picture of village life is pieced together
TWO years of work to produce a Millennium collage of the village of Bromham was finally finished. The collage was produced by youngsters from St Nicholas' School, Bromham, and the local Women's Institute. The collage, which is four metres long, was presented
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Worker is hurt in explosion
A FACTORY worker was rushed to hospital with minor burns after an explosion at Surecast foundry in London Road, Devizes, yesterday afternoon. A furnace blew out fumes and gases into the face of the employee after a build-up of gas gave way at about 1.30pm
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Stars in their eyes
Kerry Smallman, 29, is a beauty therapist. She lives in Moredon Road and met film star Pierce Brosnan on holiday in New York 18 months ago. Kerry said: "I had just about finished a world trip when I met Pierce Brosnan in a cafe in New York. "I was having
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Three colleges merge to make No.1 in county
The new Wiltshire College has been launched merging three existing colleges in the county into one. Chippenham College, Lackham College and Trowbridge College were relaunched to serve more than 30,000 students from around the area. Wiltshire College will
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Inspirational author is our Mr Cool!
Youngsters at Even Swindon Junior School have enjoyed a touch of inspiration from children's author David Mason. The children listened to Mr Mason as he read extracts of his book, Leo's Magic Shoes. However, the main purpose of the day was to fire the
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Helping to keep the stars in shape
Less than seven months ago, sports physiotherapist Ian Minton was staring death in the face. Now he is looking forward to a life mixing with celebrities as physio to a charity football team. Ian, 37, was a practising sports physiotherapist with an office
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School children turn inspiration into all kinds of art
Children from a Stratton primary school showed off their artistic skills at an exhibition yesterday. Ruskin Junior School held an exhibition of work by youngsters all based on one painting called Graham Children, by William Hogarth. Collages, quilts,
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Driver thought to have fallen asleep
Leigh Smy probably fell asleep behind the wheel of his car after drinking at a Swindon nightclub, an inquest heard. Mr Smy, 22, died when the friend's car he was driving careered off the A420 on the Oxfordshire/Swindon boundary, and smashed into a wall
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Stuck in the middle
While other children settle down to lessons, Tanya Lowry opens the school book her mother has bought her at the kitchen table. It is a routine the 13-year-old has got used to in the two months since she moved to Swindon at the end of the summer. The secondary
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Noise zone is price of success for air base
AIRCRAFT movements into and out of Boscombe Down will increase by more than a third if the base succeeds in its bid to house the RAF's new generation of tanker aircraft. The Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft (FSTA) project would also spell the end for
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Major Wrecks on television
DEVIZES' male majorettes, the Major Wrecks, will be appearing on national TV as part of BBC's Children In Need telethon on November 17. Nick Glennister, a founder member of the Major Wrecks, said: "We got money last year from Children In Need to help
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Pupils' work goes on show
ARTWORK by pupils from all over the south west is currently on show in the art school at Dauntsey's School, West Lavington. The exhibition, entitled Young at Art, runs until November 17 and includes work by children from Dauntsey's School and Dauntsey's
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PC finding his feet on downs
THE latest arrival at Marlborough police station is just at home in the Australian outback as he is on the Wiltshire downs. Before joining the Wiltshire force three years ago PC Andy Sexton served for five years with the Victorian Federal Police in Australia
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Protesters pledge to keep fight going
Despite an on-going protest, two fields in Highworth are now on the market for housing development. But like Swindon's Front Garden, which is also earmarked for houses, concerns have been raised over its suitability for development because of flooding
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Firm has a vision for new jobs
A Dorcan components firm has applied for planning permission to build a second site in the town which could create hundreds of new jobs. Bookham Technology, which made £200 million earlier this year when it floated on the stockmarket, currently employs
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Professor is moving on
After nine years at the head of the University of Bath, Vice-Chancellor David Vandelinde has announced he is to leave next summer. Prof Vandelinde, 58, will move to the University of Warwick to take up his position as Vice Chancellor there from August
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MP welcomes news
South Swindon MP Julia Drown has welcomed figures which show a continued rise in the number of childcare places. The latest Government figures show that a further 32,000 childcare places have been created nationally as part of Labour's National Childcare
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Herr's a very funny thing
First of all, I have to admit that I like Swindon very much. The inner town is quite small in contrast to, let's say, London and therefore it makes everything nice and personal. And Old Town is even more calm and I really enjoy just walking through the
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All korma cravings are fed on curry day
Poppadam and passandas were the order of the day at a charity meal in aid of National Curry Day. Biplob Tandoori Restaurant in Wood Street, Old Town, gave the people of Swindon a taste of India on Tuesday night. The special guests of the evening were
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Popular store begs to move
The boss of a rapidly growing business in Harnham spoke this week of his desperate struggle to stay in the city where he started out ten years ago. Carl Chambers, owner of surplus store In-Excess, says it is virtually impossible for entrepreneurs like
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E-whizz! Surf's up 20 times higher
A new internet system, which operates at a speed around 40 times faster than an average home computer, is being introduced at Greendown School. The new initiative, which uses broadband technology, is being brought in as part of a Government initiative
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Village under siege as yobs bring nightly terror
War has been declared on the gangs of youths whose anti-social behaviour has left pensioners in Bulford terrified to leave their homes after dark. Under-age drinking, vandalism, shouting, swearing and littering by teenagers - sometimes in groups as large
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Hospital fined for others' faults
Salisbury hospital is being penalised thousands of pounds for poor performance - in spite of having met all its targets. Under government rules, hospitals are grouped into "health communities". If one member of the community fails to come up to scratch
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Sandbags keep the floods at bay
The Bishop of Salisbury's wife, Sarah Stancliffe, with Chris Coombs and Steve Higginbottom, of Salisbury Commercial Services, who delivered sandbags to the Bishop's Palace in The Close. District council workmen were out early on Friday and all through
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Lorry loads of hope
Swindon landlord Andy Marcer is already planning his next mercy trip to the Balkans days after delivering supplies to the ravaged part of the world. He said that without the aid which is being sent to Croatia and Bosnia, the people would be literally
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Political points to ponder
WITH reference to Coun Allnatt's letter in the Gazette on October 5 and the reporting of Lifeline increases, I must point out that there have been two omissions. Firstly, the Conservative and Independent groups are unable to defeat the Lib-Lab administration
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Have say on worries over nuclear power
OLDBURY nuclear power station, on the Severn estuary north of Bristol, has a 30-year-old Magnox reactor and will soon to be one of only two of its kind left in Britain. It suffers from the UK's worst reactor core problems. It is estimated that the graphite
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Fares report was detailed
As the severe weather continues to take its toll in communities across the country, I would like to publicly thank WRVS volunteers in the Wiltshire area who have given their time to help those in distress. WRVS emergency services teams have been working
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Thanks for help
MAY I thank all the people in Calne who supported the coffee morning in aid of the Alzheimer's Society on Saturday. We raised the magnificent sum of £565.50, all of which will go to the relief carers fund. To the members of Calne Flower Arrangers who
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I have a dream...
LAST Thursday I was fortunate enough to have been at Marlborough Town Hall to enjoy the production of The Dreamer, a play recently performed at the Watermill Theatre in Newbury. The play was brought to Marlborough by the Watermill Theatre and the Kennet
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Comfortable cup win lifts league prospects
Chippenham 23 Abbey 6 IN the first of two successive home games against the Reading-based Abbey side, Chippenham moved into the fourth round of the NPI Intermediate Cup with a comfortable win. The game saw the return from injury of fly-half Trevor Lloyd
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Service is no waste
FURTHER to the Gazette's article headlined 'Council is facing a shake-up over waste' I am appalled, as most council tax payers will be, that a member of North Wiltshire District Council can announce that we all have our waste collected free of charge.
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Consultation seems to have little value
I ATTENDED a meeting of Kennet District Council planning sub-committee last Thursday and witnessed local democracy in action. The meeting was to deal with the objections and recommendations arising from the public consultation on the deposit draft of
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Skip service must go on to stop fly tipping
I AGREE with much of what Geoff Brewer (letters, November 2) says about the need to recycle waste but it would be inadvisable to abandon the skip service before we have a recycling centre in Devizes and a more varied kerbside collection, otherwise we
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Maximum still intact
Cheltenham 0, W Bassett Under-14's 10: Bassett maintained their 100 per cent record with an impressive win at Cheltenham. However, they did not have everything their own way. For the first time in over a year Bassett found the opposition forwards more
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New hotel will be just the job
A NEW hotel for Chippenham will mean 40 extra jobs for the area. The Brewers Fayre Brewsters pub and Travel Inn hotel on West Cepen Way are due to open early next month. The pub restaurant, which has been open for two years, will re-launch on December
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Remember all these reasons
THERE are at least 65 million reasons why the annual poppy appeal and Remembrance Day must never be forgotten that is how many died in both sides in the two world wars of the 20th century and that is not counting the casualties from all the other conflicts
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Cup win a stroll in the park
Chippenham Town 2 Warminster Town 0 CHIPPENHAM TOWN strolled to an easy victory against Warminster on Saturday. Commenting on his team's performance in the preliminary round of Les Phillips Knock-out Cup match, Chippenham manager Tommy Saunders said:
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Councillors urged to make parking U-turn
COUNTY councillor Pat Rugg has urged her fellow councillors to think again and save some of the 59 on-street parking spaces scheduled to go as part of the refurbishment of Devizes Market Place. Although she is the vice-chairman of the Devizes Town Centre
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Our Anne is a true sporting heroine
I WAS deeply touched by the story of Paralympian Anne Dunham. The dressage specialist, who won gold in the recent Sydney games, really struck a chord with me and made me realise just how lucky I am. Here is a woman who has overcome one of the greatest
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Judo star helps kick off new super college
OLYMPIC judo star Kate Howey helped launch Wiltshire's new super-college, formed from combining Lackham, Chippenham and Trowbridge colleges. Principals and governors were joined by students and staff from local industries to celebrate the formation of
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Couple are worldwide wed
A COUPLE who met in a thoroughly modern way over the Internet are celebrating the virtues of old fashioned love. David Turner, 43, of Wootton Bassett, and Iryna Vitaliyivna Galash, 30, of the Ukraine, were married at St Bartholomew's Church and are making
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Feud goes round in circles
THE first prosecution for making crop circles has uncovered a rivalry between the different factions in crop circle investigation with allegations of harassment and dirty tricks. Crop circle enthusiast Matthew Williams, of Bourton Lane, Bishops Cannings
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Youngster's fight saluted by family
FAMILY and friends will gather at St James Church in Devizes on Thursday November 9 to say goodbye to James Lynch, nine, who died after a four-year fight against cancer. His father, Richard, said James, who died last Thursday, had beaten the cancer, it
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Two cultures in One World
AFRICAN drum and dance group Brekete wowed audiences in Calne schools last week as part of One World Week. Brekete's visit was funded by £3,333 from the National Lottery's Millennium festival awards and £200 from North Wiltshire District Council. The
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Council wants more say on business park
CALNE Town councillors want more involvement in plans for Beversbrook Business Park. They are to put a proposal to North Wiltshire District Council asking to have a say on the park's future. The town council's planning and economic regeneration committee
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Pre school is on the move
BREMHILL'S Rub A Dub pre-school is re-locating to Derry Hill's new Lansdowne Hall in January. The pre-school has been based in Bremhill's village hall for the past 14 years. It is hoped the move to a more central location will attract more children from
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Recycling push will cut service
RUBBISH collections in North Wiltshire could be cut back as the district council tries to meet recycling targets. North Wiltshire District Council is facing a fine if it fails to meet its Government recycling target. It is supposed to recycle 20 per cent
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Park and ride inquiry meeting
WOOTTON Bassett town councillors will be meeting in private tonight to discuss the inquiry into the controversial park and ride scheme. The Government's planning inspectorate is holding the public inquiry on December 5, after North Wiltshire District
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Canoeist guides her cash to good causes
Wootton Bassett Ranger Guide Jess Kelly, 18, has presented £550 to Wiltshire Air Ambulance and the Wiltshire North Guiding Centre appeal. Jess, of Britannia Crescent, Lyneham, raised the money by taking part in this year's Devizes to Westminster canoe
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Plan to restore rail link gathering steam
THE campaign to restore Wootton Bassett's rail link gained momentum last week when Wiltshire County councillors backed proposals for a feasibility study. The environment and transport committee proposes allocating £20,000 for a research project in 2001
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Low turnout disappoints
A WEEKEND firework display in Wotton Bassett made a £600 loss. The low turnout disappointed organisers, voluntary organisation Woodshaw Entertainers. Despite the cancellation of many other displays, including Lydiard Park's, the Wootton Bassett bonfire
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School plans made public
THE long-awaited public viewing of detailed plans for Wootton Bassett School's new premises won an appreciative response at the school on Monday. The exhibition attracted governors, staff, parents, pupils and local residents. "I am very relieved that
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Police chase armed raiders
POLICE chased an armed gang along the M4 from Wootton Bassett after an attempted break-in. Police received reports that five men wearing balaclavas and carrying crowbars and a pistol were at technology firm Memory Plus at 1.40pm on Monday. They did not
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Knitter vows to carry on
DISTRICT council deputy leader Ruth Coleman is determined to carry on knitting at meetings despite complaints from the public. Protestors shouted out complaints about Coun Coleman's knitting at a meeting last week, aggrieved because they thought she was
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Member faints during debate
COUNCILLOR Philip Allnatt is taking it easy this week after collapsing at a meeting during a heated debate. Wiltshire county councillor Mr Allnatt, of Lady Coventry Road, Chippenham, was rushed to hospital after he fainted at an environment and transport
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All corners of county gather to pay tribute
SERVICES and parades will be held throughout the region to remember the dead of two world wars. Calne, the Remembrance Day parade, made up of representatives of the Royal British Legion, Royal Naval Association, Royal Air Forces Association, Army Cadets
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Inventor is rising star
INVENTOR Tom Lawton hopes the world will wake up to his ingenious new alarm clock. Mr Lawton, 26, a former pupil of Chippenham's Sheldon School, launched his ear-friendly Wakeyoo in October 2000 to coincide with the clocks going back. Wakeyoo is different
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Developer revises old cinema site homes plan
DEVELOPER Chase Homes is confident revised plans for three new townhouses at the old cinema site will get a better reception than its previous scheme. The Bath-based company's original plans were severely criticised earlier this year as totally inappropriate
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Driver banned
DRIVER Guy Fisher, who was stopped by police while parking his car, was banned for 18 months for drink driving. Fisher, 58, of Corn Gastons, Malmesbury, appeared before Chippenham magistrates on Monday when he pleaded guilty to a charge of drink driving
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Fruit chutney wows capital
STAFF at the Sherston-based mustard and condiments firm Tracklements Ltd were delighted last month when the company was selected as an exhibitor at the prestigious Fortnum and Mason Food Show. Tracklements was one of only 25 companies from across the
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Motorists urged to stay calm over fuel protest
COUNTY emergency planners urged motorists not to panic as Chancellor Gordon Brown waited to see if his pre-budget statement would appease fuel protestors last night. Mr Brown announced a cut of 3p a litre in ultra low sulphur diesel from March 2001 and
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High tide at the cathedral
The spire of Salisbury Cathedral reflects in flooded meadows beside Queen Elizabeth Gardens on Tuesday - a view made famous by the artist John Constable in somewhat drier times.
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Sailors expect to have swell time on high seas
SEVEN intrepid Wiltshire Women's Institute members are today due back on dry land after four days on the high seas aboard the tall ship Sir Winston Churchill. Pat Rodger, Maggie Roberts and Sue Hillier from Boxlea WI, Wendy Wallington from Malmesbury,
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Pirates put on a swagger
PUPILS at Pewsey Primary School made convincing pirates when they staged Treasure Island for an audience of parents and teachers. Pupils from the after school drama club, which is run with the help of the Moonrakers Theatre Group, put on their own production
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Plan for phones to make way for homes
BRITISH Telecom looks set to get permission to demolish the former repeater station in London Road in Marlborough to make way for a homes scheme despite opposition from Kennet councillors. BT says the old repeater station has been made obsolete by modern
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Ex-Land girl joins nation's salute
FORMER Land Army girl Joan Gay is to rejoin some of her wartime colleagues at the Cenotaph in Whitehall on Sunday for the national ceremony of remembrance. Mrs Gay, who met and married the farmer's son while serving on the land during the Second World
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Motorists urged to stay calm over fuel protest
COUNTY emergency planners urged motorists not to panic as Chancellor Gordon Brown waited to see if his pre-budget statement would appease fuel protestors last night. Mr Brown announced a cut of 3p a litre in ultra low sulphur diesel from March 2001 and
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Mechanic lost control of car
CAR mechanic Scott Chisholm was banned from driving for a year after he crashed his car into the arches at the top of Ivy Lane, in Chippenham. Chisholm, 20, of Hungerdown Lane, Chippenham, pleaded guilty to a charge of dangerous driving, when he appeared
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Companies fined after chickens die in lorry
WEBBS Country Foods and hauliers Phil Hanley Ltd have been fined thousands of pounds after a vet discovered 'a mountain of dead birds' at the end of a lorry journey through snowy conditions. A total of 780 birds were found dead in their crates at the
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Fireworks spark cattle stampede
HOUSEHOLDERS David and Patricia Bowen-Jones are demanding thousands of pounds in compensation after rampaging cattle stampeded through their garden when they were frightened by fireworks. Ten terrified bullocks burst from their farm enclosure and stampeded
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Devizes return with points from away tripMid Wilts Youth and Minor League
IN a restricted programme, Greg Chown and Hugh Brown scored the goals for Corsham United in a 2-2 home draw against White Horse Juniors. Chippenham Town saw off the challenge of Corsham Boys thanks to Jamie Harlow (4), Marshall Huffer, Zac Kluklowski
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League leaders weather stormTrowbridge League
THE weather again caused the postponement of five Trowbridge League fixtures (sponsored by Just Signs Trowbridge) and five ties involving local clubs in the Wiltshire Junior Cup. In division two leaders Broughton Gifford Reserves maintained their excellent
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Rain stops play in all but two fixturesDevizes Sunday League
ADVERSE weather conditions wreaked havoc on league fixtures again this week with only two games going ahead. The first saw Fusion playing Devizes Snooker Club in a one sided game. Tony Sardoe opened the scoring for Fusion and his goal was followed shortly
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Relief at rise in probation cash
Wiltshire Probation Service is to get a cash boost to enable it to recruit more staff. In the past few years the service has suffered cuts in funding and has not been able to replace staff who have left. From next April the service will be funded entirely
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Southgate helps out at Academy
ENGLAND and Aston Villa defender Gareth Southgate passed on his expertise to the students of the Cirencester Foot-ball Academy yesterday. Southgate, famed for missing the penalty which knocked England out of Euro 96, took training with both the boys and
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Motorists urged to stay calm over fuel protest
COUNTY emergency planners urged motorists not to panic as Chancellor Gordon Brown waited to see if his pre-budget statement would appease fuel protestors last night. Mr Brown announced a cut of 3p a litre in ultra low sulphur diesel from March 2001 and
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Footprint clue leads to a year in prison
Burglar Robert Gillespie has been jailed for one year after he was caught out by a footprint. Gillespie, 29, denied being involved in a break-in at Ashton Fields in Ashton Keynes when he was questioned by police. But he was caught out by his shoe print
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Kingshill closed after stolen car accident drama
A man driving a stolen vehicle smashed into two parked cars on one of Swindon's main commuter routes. Police closed Kingshill Road after the accident, which happened early today. The stolen silver Saab, which had been travelling down the hill, crashed
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Traders angry after shops are targeted
A string of shops in Ferndale has been targeted by vandals for the second time in as many months. A bike shop, launderette, video shop and hair salon were ransacked by thieves in search of cash late on Tuesday night. Owners of the small business fear
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School opening becomes poetic occasion
Poetry filled the air as pupils and staff celebrated the official opening of Catherine Wayte Primary School. Kit Wright was invited to add a poetic twist to the festivities. He also helped plant a tree to mark the occasion. Headteacher Gaye Ching said
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Children get a healthy option
Children at a school were today being be asked to design their own healthy midday meal. The Midday Munching Project is the brainchild of Swindon Borough Council, which has joined forces with food company New Zealand Milk (UK) Ltd, which has its European
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Pub is rewarded for its top drop
The Blue Boar pub in Aldbourne has received one of the licenced trade's highest awards the coveted Cask Marque. The prestigious Cask Marque is only awarded to those pubs that have proved they have the highest standard and expertise in the care and dispense
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Business as usual say Daewoo showroom
Swindon's Daewoo showroom today reassured customers that it will be business as usual. It says it is unaffected by yesterday's news that the company's Korean parent had gone into bankruptcy. Sales and service in the town is being handled at the Halford's
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Youngsters are given a Sporting Chance ...
A free event where disabled adults and children can try a variety of sports has been organised for this weekend. The programme will offer the opportunity for people to sample tennis, basketball, football, indoor athletics and sportsability which includes
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Making progress
MP Michael Wills will host a public meeting in Cricklade addressing the town's traffic and policing concerns. It follows a June meeting in which residents expressed concern over environmental damage being caused by increasing lorry traffic and the effectiveness
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Sign will point the way to the past
A new initiative will enhance Swindon's reputation as an important geological centre, by signposting a site of special scientific interest. The new sign post being revealed tomorrow will explain the importance of the Old Town Railway Cutting Site, which
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Thanks for my freedom
Joyce Tribe's life changed completely the day she met a stranger after hurting herself in fall near her local shop. Her health was deteriorating and it was the third time the former World War II WAAF had crashed to the ground. Shortly afterwards an unknown
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Floods leave timetables washed out
Rail services on one Swindon line will remain suspended for up to four weeks because of flooding, First Great Western announced today. There are currently no trains running between Swindon and Gloucester because the Sapperton Tunnel near Kemble has had
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Time for your comments please on school plan!
Parents and residents welcomed a chance to have their say on proposals to spend £500,000 improving a school in Upper Stratton. At an informal exhibition more than 30 visitors viewed plans to build a new resource area and classrooms at Ruskin Junior School
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Terry reveals facts about fiction
Terry Pratchett signs a copy of his new book The Truth for Barbara Williams in the new library at Tidworth Leisure Centre. More than 350 people crowded into Tidworth Leisure Centre library on Friday night for a rare public appearance by best-selling author
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Group will tackle interests of home owners
A new group looking after the interests of private house owners will be launched by Swindon Borough Council on Wednesday, November 22. The first meeting of the Private Sector Accommoda-tion Group will take place at 10am in the Civic Offices and those
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Pensioners lose rail travel battle
Pensioners in Swindon have lost their fight for cheaper rail travel. Councillors last night approved a scheme which will cut the cost of bus travel but leave pensioners without a rail concession. The chosen scheme will give pensioners a choice of half
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Drill digs the dirt on Stonehenge tunnel
The drilling rig at Stonehenge where core samples are being taken for analysis in preparation for the A303 tunnel project. A giant drill is being used beside the A303 at Stonehenge as part of a three-week survey by engineers in preparation for the proposed
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Squatter stole padlock to secure his property
Teenager Leighton Allen stole a padlock so he could use it to lock up the squat he was living in, magistrates heard. The 18-year-old wanted to protect his belongings by securing the door but could not afford to buy the £4.99 lock. Richard Thomas, prosecuting
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Help to preserve historic landmark
An army of volunteers is being recruited to help beat erosion which is threatening to destroy historic Barbury Castle. The 2,600-year-old hillfort, near Wroughton, has suffered damage over the centuries from cattle, sheep, and, in more recent years, human
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Pub hit by 'tidal wave' disaster
The landlord of the Wheatsheaf in Wilton, Dave Marriott, using a dehumidifier to dry out the pub after the flood. The fact that the majority of the district escaped relatively lightly following the country's worst flooding for half a century comes as
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Residents in uproar over digger joyride
Former Salisbury businessman Brian Moore with his fence wrecked by teenaged vandals at the controls of a mechanical digger. Angry residents have called on contractors working on Salisbury's Beehive park and ride scheme to tighten security after teenagers
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Noise zone is price of success for air base
AIRCRAFT movements into and out of Boscombe Down will increase by more than a third if the base succeeds in its bid to house the RAF's new generation of tanker aircraft. The Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft (FSTA) project would also spell the end for
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Call for re-think
I WAS interested to see the recent report about the use of the former cinema in Chippenham, which previously housed Goldiggers nightclub. It seems that North Wiltshire District Council is coming under pressure to do something about the lease on the building
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Living on ponds, ditches, canals
I note the residents of the Front Garden have had a pool of water fall on them. Do they realise that half of Swindon is built under/over ponds, ditches and canals? I feel I could support them if only they would admit the policy of building anywhere. W
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Hypocrites that violate basic rights
As reported in the press recently, 30 years ago Britain booted 2,000 inhabitants off the island of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean. It was then leased to the USA as a military base because the island was in a good strategic position for their B52 bombers
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Protesters fuel the wrong debate
I AM a Dorset man and proud of it. On the war memorial in Corfe Castle there is carved this inscription Dorsetmen Don't Shame Their Kinde. Thinking of that motto and seeing the fuel protesters and my fellow Englishmen panic-buying fuel, I almost wish
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Defences hold sway as flair smothered by mud
Wootton Bassett Seconds 61 Colerne 1st 12 Bassett's in form second string were far too good for a poor Colerne outfit who were thrashed in a nine try scoring romp. Bassett's skipper Dave Floyd and winger Craig Smith both claimed a brace of tries with
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Fair play needed
DOES anyone think it fair to those of us who live in England (which is 87 per cent of the population of the United Kingdom) that MPs who represent Northern Irish, Scottish or Welsh constituencies where certain powers have been devolved to their assembly
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We all agreed
THERE was a very significant omission from the Gazette's November 2 report of the meeting of Devizes town centre working party, chaired by Coun Pat Rugg, at which the future of the trees in the Market Place was again discussed. The omission was that all
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Chippenham dream of cupJunior Rugby
Thornbury Under 15s 5 Chippenham Under 15s 28 CHIPPENHAM had to battle hard to overcome Thornbury in the match to would decide who would proceed to the final of the Bristol Combination Cup. With both teams fired up and raring to go, Chippenham exploded
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Diverting tale
HUGH Pym's rant about the Tories' legacy in last week's Gazette was only offered to readers in a nave attempt to divert their attention from the reality of the expensive and disastrous administration his party are providing for the stakeholders (New Labour
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Thanks to you all
LACKHAM Riding and Driving for the Disabled would like to thank Judy Coombs for letting our charity sell draw tickets on three occasions on Thursdays during 2000. Also our thanks to Safeways, Sainsbury's, Budgeons and Somerfield for allowing us to raise
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Precedent set
I WAS somewhat disturbed by the report concerning the Olympic athlete who despite an instruction by the magistrates felt unable to attend Kennet Magistrates Court in Devizes in person due to heavy training commitment. Now that the Olympics are past and
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What a damp squib
CONGRATULATIONS to Devizes Round Table for holding their firework display on Sunday evening in spite of the heavy rain and near gale force winds. I am assuming that it was not possible to postpone it for a week in the hope of better weather. If it had
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Blazing support
I WOULD like to take this opportunity as chairman of Devizes Round Table to thank all the people who braved the elements on Sunday night, to support our annual firework display. I recognised people who had travelled from Trowbridge, Calne and of course
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Heed wake-up call
OCTOBER saw large areas of the UK under water and five people killed in the storms, this is proof positive of the effects of climate change long predicted by scientists and green campaigners. Primarily climate change has happened because of our desire
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Farmers are to blame
HUGH Pym says in his letter in the Gazette on November 2 that the BSE scandal will be forever associated with the Conservatives in office. But as far as I am concerned I shall always associate it with those farmers who fed such disgusting food to their
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Felling trees will exact a heavy price
JUST when we thought it was safe to leave the future of the Devizes Market Place in the hands of the politicians they produce the same old nonsense about those "rotten" trees. Their physical state does seem to be a matter of disagreement and it is interesting
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Salisbury in cruise mode
Salisbury win a line-out in their 58-0 demolition of Corsham. RUGBY. Salisbury 58 Corsham 0. SALISBURY climbed to second place in the league after strolling to victory in this re-arranged match at home to Corsham. The game started well with tries from
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Frantic first half is enough to ensure a victory for Cricklade
Calne 10, Cricklade 16: Cricklade took the game to their opponents and proved worthy winners. The first few minutes saw several end-to-end movements with both sides establishing promising positions. Cricklade were the first to convert the high pace into
