Archive
-
Date
Trek raises funds
BATH runner George Harding has raised nearly £5,000 for a cancer charity through a sponsored Canadian trek. Mr Harding has collected £4,469 for the Macmillan Cancer Relief ten-day 'Tough Country' trek, which started on September 2. One of a 65-strong
-
Date
School senses appeal success
ST Nicholas' School in Chippenham came a step closer to realising its ambition to create a sensory room when Wavin Plastics handed over a cheque for £500. Company representatives Peter Curtis and Helen Stone visited the school in Malmesbury Road, to present
-
Date
Club's revival top night out
THE 1960s were reborn in Chippenham's Neeld Hall for the Top Twenty Club Revival on Saturday November 11. Hundreds of retro fans dressed up in Sixties styles and crowded the sell-out event. The memorial night was organised as a tribute to the life of
-
Date
Bridge money gap spanned
LONG awaited improvements to the Chippenham Town Bridge will go ahead with an extra £25,000 funding boost. North Wiltshire District Council's Chippenham area committee agreed on Monday to earmark the funds to beautify the bridge at the bottom of the High
-
Date
Bypass is good news for drivers
News that a start has been made on the new northern orbital road should be welcomed by everyone in this town who cares about our environment. Relief of the continuous traffic jams faced by drivers entering Swindon from the north, and the lessening of
-
Date
Traders may pay price for gaffe
CHRISTMAS regalia has adorned shop windows for several weeks now, and shoppers are wandering the High Street burdened with bags. Drivers jostle for space in the car parks and traffic jams will be building up in the weeks before Christmas. But this year
-
Date
It's time we got our fair share
IT is about time the needs of Wiltshire are recognised by the Government. An apparently prosperous county with low unemployment where the stockbrokers from London retreat to at weekends that is how Wiltshire is viewed by many, including civil servants
-
Date
Stick to what you know
I WOULD be a strange animal in the journalistic jungle if I said I didn't enjoy politicians putting their foot in it. They always make for good stories and we ran a cracker yesterday when shadow foreign secretary Francis Maude made a less-than-complimentary
-
Date
We are all prawns in the game
THANK the Lord someone has finally stood up to the people who have jumped on the football bandwagon. Manchester United skipper Roy Keane has hit out at the section of the Old Trafford audience for finding socialising and "eating prawn sandwiches" at the
-
Date
Winter thaw in health spending
MONEY is being ploughed into health services in a bid to stop bed blocking in hospitals this winter. Wiltshire has been given £600,000 by the Government to tackle the extra pressures on health and social care services. During winter more people become
-
Date
Young carers get animated during workshop
TWELVE of Wiltshire's young carers are making movies as they take a break from their responsibilities at home. The Mobile Media Club, based in Swindon, is holding weekly workshops at Chippenham Rotary Hall. The lottery-funded club gives Wiltshire youngsters
-
Date
Anger as allotment holders lose sites say
CALNE Town Council will move the town's allotments from Newcroft to four new sites without the input of allotment holders after they stormed out of a meeting last week. Allotment holders are angry at their treatment at the hands of the town council, which
-
Date
Hall in a day's work at village
VILLAGERS saw six years' hard work and fundraising come to fruition at the weekend with the opening of Derry Hill's new Lansdowne Hall. The £300,000 facility was opened on Saturday November 11 by Bowood Estate owner Lord Lansdowne, who donated the land
-
Date
Farmers' base sold in bid to cut costs
AGRICULTURE House, the base for the Calne, Pewsey and Devizes branch of the National Farmers' Union in London Road, Devizes, has been sold by the NFU as part of a cost cutting measure. The building was bought by the NFU in 1959, and in addition to being
-
Date
Fear for trade after park and ride axed
CHIPPENHAM'S Christmas shopping park and ride scheme has been abandoned this year sparking fears that town centre trade will suffer. North Wiltshire District Council was accused of simply forgetting to organise the park and ride scheme, which catered
-
Date
Choir looks to its roots
THE popular Parish Singers Choir has been given a new name to recognise the villages from which it was founded. The singers will now be known as the Brinwell choir to reflect that the group was first formed by villagers in Brinkworth and Crudwell about
-
Date
Book reveals larder secrets
OAKSEY villagers are revealing the secrets to their favourite recipes in a cook book to celebrate the Millennium. Oaksey Village Hall Trust treasurer Val Price said the book was inspired by 32 American tourists who stayed with families in the village
-
Date
Village fights for its 'green'
LUCKINGTON Parish Council wants to keep the controversial Bell Field in the middle of the village out of the hands of developers. Parish council clerk Roger Mackney confirmed the council had applied to North Wiltshire District Council for permission to
-
Date
Volunteers needed to fortify eroding castle
AN army of volunteers is being recruited to help beat erosion which is threatening to destroy historic Barbury Castle. The 2,600-year-old hill fort, near Wroughton, has suffered damage over the centuries from cattle, sheep, and, in more recent years,
-
Date
School reaches gold standard
BROAD Town School's recycling efforts have won a gold award from Wiltshire Wildlife Trust. The trust's education officer, Matthew Bunt, led a special assembly and presented a framed certificate to mark the school's collection of 25 tons of paper for recycling
-
Date
Retiring head is praised for his work
WOTTON BASSETT School head Hylton Thomas is to retire next summer before the school's scheduled move into new premises in 2002. His decision will enable his successor to be involved in preparations for the move. Mr Thomas announced his retirement after
-
Date
Sweet treats as worthy eats
PUDDING lovers can eat as much as they want and raise money for charity at the same time. A posh frocks and puddings do has been organised in Wootton Bassett for much-needed pre-school funds. For just £5, guests can enjoy as many puddings as they can
-
Date
Trust upset at bridge design
THE design of a footbridge for the new school at Corn Gastons, Malmesbury has come in for flak from the Civic Trust. The proposed bridge, across Sherston Road, was omitted from the school's original building plans. However, it was later included by developers
-
Date
Trust upset at bridge design
THE design of a footbridge for the new school at Corn Gastons, Malmesbury has come in for flak from the Civic Trust. The proposed bridge, across Sherston Road, was omitted from the school's original building plans. However, it was later included by developers
-
Date
Builder gets site of national honours
MALMESBURY builder Kevin Heal has been named as one of the best builders site managers in the south west. Mr Heal, 46, of Marsh Farm, Crudwell Road, was one of 16 regional site managers selected last month for a seal of excellence award from the National
-
Date
Tribute to town ambassador
MALMESBURY Town Council has paid tribute to the sixth Earl of Malmesbury, William James Harris, who died on Saturday, November 11aged 92. Malmesbury town clerk Edward Ferguson said: "The Earl was an ambassadorial figure for the town and always viewed
-
Date
Police seal village in gun drama
A MAN was arrested in Sherston early on Wednesday November 15 on charges of possessing a firearm with the intent to endanger life. Police said about 40 officers, including a team of specialist negotiators, were sent to the village after a telephone call
-
Date
Council airs flood concern
TOWN councillors are to draw the district council's attention to their concern that parts of Marlborough could flood if it is hit by the abnormal rainfall that fell on other parts of Britain recently. Mayor Maurice Cooper said he could recall as a boy
-
Date
Wall crushes prized cars
BROTHERS Mark and Paul Alder are counting the cost after their prized BMW and Porsche cars were crushed under large chunks of masonry when a wall toppled over a few feet from their Marlborough home. Postman Paul, and his brother Mark, a customer services
-
Date
Shutting gates on threat ofrising damp
LANDSCAPE gardener Andy Peel Cross is backing a new device to stop floodwaters getting into homes. Mr Peel Cross,who operates out of the Wagon Yard in London Road, Marlborough, under the name Garden Landscape and Design, is accustomed to installing water
-
Date
Supermarket helps ease town parking
PARKING difficulties in Marlborough will ease from Tuesday November 21when a 90-space extension to the Waitrose car park is opened. Store manager Alan Martin said the new extension, part of the supermarket's £8 million expansion programme, will be managed
-
Date
Jobs loss fears as firm is sold
THERE was gloom in Ramsbury on Tuesday November 14 when the 50 employees of medical supplies company MSB Ltd, the village's biggest single employer, were told they will be out of work by Christmas unless they are prepared to work in Gloucestershire. MSB
-
Date
Toddler dies after meningitis blunder
FORMER Marlborough mayor Nick Fogg will represent the family at a hospital inquiry into the death of his 22-month-old grandson. Jacob Fogg died of meningitis in the arms of his parents Ed and Emma, and grandmother Edwina in the Great Ormond Street Hospital
-
Date
Artists' work goes on show
SCULPTURES, mosaics and pictures will be displayed in the Citadel Gallery in Chippenham from Monday November 20. The ten-day town centre exhibition will feature work by Chippenham artist Syrah Arnold and Calne sculptor Marina Graham, as well as calligraphy
-
Date
Bright start to Christmas
THOUSANDS of Christmas revellers will be heading into Chippenham town centre tomorrow evening to launch the festive season with the Christmas lights switch-on. Chippenham Town Council predicts the event will be the biggest yet, with celebrity singer Marti
-
Date
Volunteers' tree effort wood make difference
CHIPPENHAM Mayor Sandie Webb will dig in and join local people to plant hundreds of trees for the town's new wood. Baydons Wood, on a two hectare site off Baydons Lane, is part of a nationwide project called Woods on your Doorstep, run by the Woodland
-
Date
Fate of Goldiggers to be decided by public
THE public will be asked to decide the fate of Chippenham's landmark cinema building which most recently housed Goldiggers nightclub. Fears the building could be demolished provoked a storm of protest from local people who wanted the art deco former Gaumont
-
Date
PCs talk woman out of suicide
TWO police officers talked a tearful 25-year-old woman out of killing herself after she threatened to throw herself from a bridge on to West Cepen Way, Chippenham. PC Bill Monk and PC David Ibbott, members of the armed response unit based in Devizes,
-
Date
Heroic Heath
Battling Bemerton Heath Harlequins came back from a goal down to defeat their Division Two opponents at Western Way. FOOTBALL: Bemerton recorded a heroic victory over Football League opposition on Tuesday night when a Neil Cole double secured a thrilling
-
Date
Festive dancing free for all looms
PUBS and clubs face having to let people in for free over the festive period because of an ancient law banning charging admission for dancing on Sunday. Technically, under the Lords Day Observance laws, any club or public venue charging admission for
-
Date
Tribute to boy's great courage in final battle
TRIBUTES to the courage, patience and cheerfulness shown by nine-year-old Southbroom Junior School pupil James Lynch in his four-year battle against cancer, were given at a packed memorial service at St James' Church in Devizes on Thursday November 09
-
Date
Twirling the success baton
A NEW baton twirling group is proving popular and enthusiasts have been flocking to join. The Kennet Twirlers was set up by Devizes' mothers Janice Sweeney and Shirley Williams. The group held its first training session on Sunday at Devizes Leisure Centre
-
Date
Fears centre could be a magnet for trouble
TOWN councillors have objected to an application to open an amusement arcade in Devizes town centre, despite assurances youngsters will be barred and only the over 18s allowed in. Michael Geraghty of MG Leisure wants to open the amusement centre next
-
Date
It will be all tights on night
DEVIZES' male majorettes, the Major Wrecks, are preparing themselves for TV stardom in the BBC's Children in Need telethon tomorrow. The Wrecks are expected to feature on the programme between 8.30pm and 9pm, as part of the seven-hour programme being
-
Date
Polish team visits farm as part of national tour
Polish farmers on an organic farming fact finding mission have visited Lower Shaw Farm in Swindon as part of their country-wide tour. The four-strong female team are part of a fledgling organic movement in their country and are learning about organic
-
Date
Relief at last
Work has begun on the new £15 million by-pass which promises to solve north Swindon's congestion problems. The new four-kilometre Northern Orbital will stretch from the A419 at Blunsdon to West Swindon, serving the new northern development. It is part
-
Date
Number of unemployed people in Swindon falls again
The unemployment rate in Swindon for October fell to 1.6 per cent, bucking the national trend. The number claiming benefit in the town went down from 2,412 in September to 2,279. Julie Leigh, business manager at Swindon Jobcentre, was not surprised at
-
Date
Royal praise for air crew
Air crew who helped rescue their colleagues from the wreckage of a crashed Hercules are among three RAF Lyneham staff to be given bravery awards from the Queen. Lieutenant Simon Cree was the co-pilot and Flight Sergeant Piers Wakeham the air loadmaster
-
Date
£2.5bn railway revamp unveiled
A £2.5 BILLION transfor-mation of Wiltshire's train services is being planned by Railtrack. The project will involve doubling the size of Swindon station and building several new stations. It would mean twice as much track and double the number of trains
-
Date
Business venture offers hope to disabled jobless
A WILTSHIRE training organisation has set up a community business for people with mental health problems in Devizes. Evergreen Services, a non-profit making co-operative enabling people with mental health problems to work, will be offering services such
-
Date
Back at last
Swindon town's ailing defence have been given a timely boost by the return to action of Gareth Davies. Davies played his first competitive football for nearly nine months yesterday when he played for the full 90 minutes in the reserves' 1-1 draw with
-
Date
Schools visit adds up to help
OFFICIALS from Albania have been visiting schools to Devizes to find ways of improving their country's education system. The visit was organised by Patney-based International Community Assist, a charity which works with organisations in Eastern Europe
-
Date
Santa to light up the town
DELIGHTED children will once again converge on the Wharf to welcome Father Christmas when he arrives by canal barge to inaugurate the town's Millennium Medieval Christmas Fair. It is all part of the celebrations which accompany the official switching
-
Date
Parents beg for an end to the damage
Parents trying to transform a Swindon playground for local children are pleading with youngsters to stop vandalising their efforts. Since January, Cambria Bridge families have been fundraising to improve a patch of waste ground for their children to play
-
Date
The wheels are in motion for army recruitment campaign
Nearly 100 potential army recruits have come forward following a recruitment drive by the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment. The regiment, which is currently based in Northern Ireland, has spent the last week touring Wiltshire and
-
Date
Baby's family label hospital incompetent
The Wiltshire family of a toddler who died from meningitis after doctors wrongly diagnosed him with flu today hit out at the hospital which treated him. Jacob Fogg, the 22-month-old grandson of former Marlborough Mayor Nick Fogg and his wife Edwina, died
-
Date
Christmas cheers!
Something special is brewing at Arkell's for the festive season. The Swindon-based family brewery is starting work on its annual Christmas tipple Noel's Ale which should be available to the public in December. The festive brew, which has been brewed every
-
Date
Book is a bargain at a mere £5,400
A novel which is just just three years-old sold for £5,400 at a Swindon auctioneers. But this was no ordinary novel, this was a highly sought after first edition of the first JK Rowling Harry Potter book. A member of staff at the Lon-don antique bookstore
-
Date
New district needs £75m for schools
Around £75 million is needed to fund ambitious education and community schemes in North Swindon. With the town continuing to expand, councillors have laid out plans to cope with 10,000 homes which will almost form a small town in themselves. Expansion
-
Date
Christmas crackers!
It may only be the middle of November, but the Wilks family of Cricklade are in their own winter wonderland. For the third year running Sandy Wilks, 47, and her husband Vivian, 68, have gone to town with the Christmas decorations, and they have ended
-
Date
It's a yo ho ho ho yuletide!
Swindon's first Christmas of the millennium is set to arrive in spectacular style. Final preparations are being made for two of the town's most popular Christmas events. In store is a programme packed with song, dance, celebrity appearances and jaw-dropping
-
Date
Bill and Neil fly to Vegas
Salisbury powerlifters Bill West and Neil Arnold are hoping it will be a case of Viva Las Vegas next week. The duo head across the Atlantic looking to win medals at the 2000 World Powerlifting Championships.
-
Date
Much better late than never
For the second successive year, bad weather meant the annual bonfire and fireworks spectacular at Victoria Park, Salisbury, had to be rescheduled. It was touch and go whether the event would go ahead on Saturday evening - a week late - due to torrential
-
Date
Bonfire is back
MAY I take this opportunity to thank the many hundreds of people who bought advance tickets for the Neston Bonfire on November 4. As with many other bonfires, we were forced to cancel due to flooding. However we are back same time, same place, different
-
Date
'Nightmare' fire destroys hair salon
A blaze ripped through part of Durrington High Street on Friday, November 10 destroying a hair salon and causing serious damage to the Spar supermarket. The Cut 'n' Curl salon, which is above the Spar shop, was left completely gutted by the fire, while
-
Date
Buffer zones needed to protect
The Structure Plan for the next ten years as recommended for adoption has one policy which states in essence that brownfields will be used in preference to greenfields and another which states that land in the northern area, brownfields and the southern
-
Date
Best week yet
IT seems that this year's One World Week was our best yet in Calne, and we would like to thank all those who supported the week by taking part in events or by their practical assistance which was much appreciated. Among many others, we would particularly
-
Date
No water in garden
It is noticeable that the two people who wrote about the flooding of the Front Garden live in Old Town. I don't live in Old Town, but I can recognise water when I see it and during the period of very intensive rain, I visited the Front Garden on a daily
-
Date
A poem in praise of STEAM
I think Steam is great for school trips because it tells of Swindon's past history. It tells children about Brunel. I enjoyed my day very much and think everyone should visit. I have written a poem about it. Esme Willis (Age 7) Rodbourne Cheney Primary
-
Date
Better signs are required
Regarding your article about the Steam Museum, may I suggest the borough council members take a look at the poor signs and directions of how to find the museum. When I wanted to visit the museum, there was a sign pointing to the Outlet Centre Car Park
-
Date
Irreplaceable town
AS a newcomer to the area, I have to say, that the atmosphere of Devizes town centre, with the lovely big trees and tiny streets is something which once lost will be irreplaceable. The town bustles on market day, and it's a real joy to visit. This in
-
Date
... or is it?
WHY is there so much confusion about the United Kingdom Parliament and the devolved Parliaments of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland? Think of it as an enormous sports complex, where everybody has a say in the overall running of the ground and everybody
-
Date
Just not cricket...
I TOTALLY agree with Sir Leslie Loader's letter headlined Fair Play in the Gazette last week. The only way to obtain fair play is to elect an English Parliament which Tony Blair will not consider, although it would end the curent injustice and give us
-
Date
Green fight goes on
GEOFF Brewer (letters November 9) is right to draw your readers' attention to the environmental dangers highlighted by the recent floods. People all over Wiltshire and elsewhere in the country have been made painfully aware of some of the effects of global
-
Date
Not a diversion
I am surprised that Anthony Molland (letters, November 9) believes that I was trying to "divert attention" away from the affairs of North Wiltshire District Council, let alone indulge in a "rant." The Phillips report on the BSE scandal and the disastrous
-
Date
More are joining
COUN Molland talks about a decimation in Lib Dem membership. The truth is that rather than one in ten leaving the party, we have had ten applications for membership in the last month, just inthe Devizes constituency. Perhaps he doesn't get out and talk
-
Date
Farmers not to blame
YOUR correspondent last week seems to want to blame farmers for BSE. As a farm girl in the late 70s I have to disagree. It is only in the last few years that commercial and scientific advances have been distrusted by the public, including farmers. In
-
Date
Teens' Judo triumph
FOUR Bath teenagers have scooped five medals at the British Under-19 Judo Championships at Crystal Palace. Eighteen-year-old Oldfield School student Steven Edwards took gold in the boys' under-90 kg fight. Steven took five fights with clean throws, which
-
Date
Don't panic over tables
Percentages are a misleading way of calculating any organisation's performance year by year. And nowhere are they more inexact than in school examination league tables, which take no account of difficulties faced by individual schools. Or of social problems
-
Date
Back at last
Swindon town's ailing defence have been given a timely boost by the return to action of Gareth Davies. Davies played his first competitive football for nearly nine months yesterday when he played for the full 90 minutes in the reserves' 1-1 draw with
-
Date
Farmers' base sold in bid to cut costs
AGRICULTURE House, the base for the Calne, Pewsey and Devizes branch of the National Farmers' Union in London Road, Devizes, has been sold by the NFU as part of a cost cutting measure. The building was bought by the NFU in 1959, and in addition to being
-
Date
MP seeks answers in recycling centre row
DEVIZES MP Michael Ancram is looking into whether the controversial planning application to build a new recycling centre on Wiltshire County Council's depot at Horton Road should be called in by John Prescott, the Secretary of State for the Environment
-
Date
Cash boost to repair crumbling schools
HEAD teachers have broadly welcomed a Government injection of cash for urgently needed repairs in schools. Chancellor Gordon Brown announced the £200m boost in his pre-Budget statement last Wednesday. It will mean every primary and secondary school in
-
Date
Internet divorcee on third trip down aisle
BRITAIN'S first Internet divorcee is preparing to walk down the aisle for the third time. Linda Scott, of Wroughton, was the first woman in Britain to divorce online, thanks to a service provided by Swindon's Mark Keenan. The 47-year old's decree absolute
-
Date
Emergency fire call-outs fall
THE number of emergency calls to Wiltshire Fire Brigade has fallen, according to the latest figures. During August and September crews were called out 1,553 times 157 fewer than during the same period last year. The snapshot review of incidents takes
-
Date
Farmers get cash carrot to go organic
FARMERS in Wiltshire are being offered cash to convert to organic methods by the Ministry of Agriculture. So far 74 farmers in the county have converted 6,523 hectares to organic production. Philip Abbatt, chairman of the Calne, Devizes and Pewsey branch
-
Date
Festive dancing free for all looms
PUBS and clubs face having to let people in for free over the festive period because of an ancient law banning charging admission for dancing on Sunday. Technically, under the Lords Day Observance laws, any club or public venue charging admission for
-
Date
Remembrance spans the generation gap
YOUNG and old marched together for Sunday's Remembrance Day ceremonies as Wiltshire paid tribute to those who had lost their lives in war. Marlborough saw one of its biggest parades for some years. It included nine standards led by the Royal British Legion
-
Date
Compensation is too late, says former PoW
FORMER prisoner of war of the Japanese, Barbara Sowerby, is angry the £10,000 compensation she will be getting is 55 years too late. Grandmother Mrs Sowerby, 64, said she is convinced the decision to pay out the money now after more than half a century
-
Date
Conversion will give house new lease of life
WORK started this week to breathe new life into historic Patford House and give Calne a new doctors' surgery. GPs' working conditions have reached crisis point, according to Dr Paul Harris of Elm Grove Surgery, whose doctors will eventually move into
-
Date
WI finds every needle helps
TWO Millennium embroideries depicting Cherhill past and present have been given pride of place in the village hall. The cross-stitch pieces are the result of a year's dedicated work by the 15 members of Cherhill Women's Institute for their Millennium
-
Date
CAB benefits community
THE Citizen's Advice Bureau has helped Calne people claim £186,397 in benefits and compensation in the last 12 months. North Wiltshire CAB's annual report published this week shows 5,994 Calne people have been helped and 5,748 questions answered. North
-
Date
Clear winner
ANOTHER Community Clearout Day is being planned in Calne following the success of last month's event. It is expected to take place towards the end of January and town centre manager Mitch Roberts hopes to eventually go one step further and make it a quarterly
-
Date
Lights shine for everyone
ABOUT 80 parents and children walked the streets of Malmesbury with lanterns on Saturday November 11 in an ancient German celebration to honour Saint Martin. The tradition was brought to the town by Malmesbury resident Esther Hamill who spent her childhood
-
Date
Obituary
Eddie Pordage THE well-attended funeral of Edward Victor Pordage, 64, took place last Wednesday at St Bartholomew's Church, Wootton Bassett. Mr Pordage, of Station Road, took early retirement seven years ago due to arthritis, but his sudden death from
-
Date
Window on Wootton Bassett
Arthritis Research Fourteen teams who competed in an entertaining quiz at the Civic Centre on Friday evening raised £200 for the Arthritis Research Campaign. The event was organised by branch committee member Cath Moules and her husband Chris, who devised
-
Date
Be good sport
FORMER England Test cricketer Geoff Miller is the guest speaker at the Wootton Bassett Sporting Dinner next month. Mr Miller admits he was a "boring bread and butter cricketer" but he has forged a growing reputation as a top-class speaker and raconteur
-
Date
Internet divorcee on third trip down aisle
BRITAIN'S first Internet divorcee is preparing to walk down the aisle for the third time. Linda Scott, of Wroughton, was the first woman in Britain to divorce online, thanks to a service provided by Swindon's Mark Keenan. The 47-year old's decree absolute
-
Date
Music tribute helps charity
A ROSTER of performing talent gathered to salute the memory of the woman who taught them many of their musical skills. And the money raised will go to a musical charity in Purton. Ada Fisher, who died in March at the age of 84, was involved at various
-
Date
Little acorn of a idea grows in size
PRINCE Charles paid a visit to Westonbirt Arboretum on Friday November 10 to open the new great oak hall, which will be used as an information centre. The medieval-style building is made from 100 oak trees and constructed without using screws or nails
-
Date
Farewell to old faithfuls
STAFF at RAF Lyneham bid a sad farewell to the three of the old Hercules models on Sunday November 12. They are making way for brand new aircraft technology. Three of the old C-130K model Hercules flew out of RAF Lyneham for the last time as the first
-
Date
Builder gets site of national honours
MALMESBURY builder Kevin Heal has been named as one of the best builders site managers in the south west. Mr Heal, 46, of Marsh Farm, Crudwell Road, was one of 16 regional site managers selected last month for a seal of excellence award from the National
-
Date
Collector's hang-ups brought out of closet
A SELF-CONFESSED nutter will be displaying his collection of coathangers on television next week. Retired post office manager Bob Browning will show his famous collection to the nation to put Malmesbury under the spotlight again. The town made national
-
Date
Tribute to town ambassador
MALMESBURY Town Council has paid tribute to the sixth Earl of Malmesbury, William James Harris, who died on Saturday, aged 92. Malmesbury town clerk Edward Ferguson said: "The Earl was an ambassadorial figure for the town and always viewed Malmesbury
-
Date
Report calls for the rescue of town hall
MALMESBURY Town Hall appears to have been saved after a North Wiltshire District Council working group recommended it be kept as a community facility. But it still remains to seen whether the council is prepared to spend the thousands of pounds needed
-
Date
Ready, teddy go for Pudsey
KINGS Day Nursery in Malmesbury is aiming to raise more than £1,000 for the Children In Need Appeal with a variety of activities centred around teddy bears. Nursery head Alison Withers said they were featuring a different teddy bear as guest of honour
-
Date
Driver escapes after pole slices into van
LANDSCAPE gardener Gareth Lewis escaped death by inches after a metal pole skewered his van as he was driving through Malmesbury. The pole smashed through the side frame of the windscreen of his Transit van and stopped a few inches from his chest. He
-
Date
Obituary
Vera Callow The vicar of Wootton Bassett, Father Bernard Garratt, who officiated at the funeral of Vera Mai Callow, 95, at Kingsdown Crematorium, on Friday, gave thanks for her long, interesting life. Vera was one of the Fricker family's eight girls and
-
Date
Demolition of hated HQ set to be approved
A SCHEME for the demolition of the former Portman Building Society headquarters, once dubbed the carbuncle on Marlborough High Street, is set to be approved by Kennet District Council's planning committee. Today planning officers are recommending that
-
Date
Sent to Russia with love
CHRISTMAS boxes of goodies collected by pupils at St Francis School, in Pewsey, will soon be on their way to children in Russia. The Pewsey preparatory school has collected more than 200 boxes, almost one per pupil, for Operation Christmas Child. They
-
Date
Farm produce wool be on sale
PEWSEY'S first farmers' market will open tomorrow in the Bouverie Hall. The market is being organised by Burbage small holder Nick Venters, with the backing of Wiltshire Farmers' Markets which stage events in a number of towns. Mr Venters and his wife
-
Date
Party tickets up for grabs
FREE tickets are still available for the Mayor's Kiddies Millennium Party in Chippenham Town Hall on Saturday. Mayor Sandie Webb has organised the Christmas extravaganza for the town's children. Every partygoer will be fed and entertained, with performers
-
Date
Artistic pupils take bough
CHILDREN from Queens Crescent School took a morning out from lessons to watch Chippenham's giant Christmas tree being decked with decorations they had made. The 48 youngsters from the Reception year applauded when town council staff placed the first decoration
-
Date
Boy rejected by schools
CHIPPENHAM parents Steve and Celia Evans fear for the future of their son, who has not attended school for a year and a half. The Evans family, from Ladyfield Road, moved to Chippenham from Swindon in June 1999, but still cannot find a local school with
-
Date
Highworth
Rotary Club The Rotary Club of North Wiltshire will be organising a Christmas tabletop sale in the Highworth Recreation Centre on Saturday from 10.30am until 3.30pm. Admission will be free. At the October meeting of the Highworth Historical Society, Barley
-
Date
Penalty drama sees Whites booted out
FOOTBALL: Salisbury City 2 Havant & Waterlooville 2 (aet - Havant win 3-2 on pens) Those intrepid souls who braved a cold November night at Old Sarum could be forgiven for thinking they were attending a theatrical farce rather than a football match
-
Date
Unhappy man broke window
MARK Hiscock, who smashed a shop window in Devizes out of frustration, confessed the crime to a police officer the next day. Hiscock, 27, smashed the window at Cole & Son sports shop in the Market Place on June 20, causing damage estimated at £1,152
-
Date
Police woman hurt in fight
POLICE have appealed for witnesses to a public disturbance in Northgate Street at the weekend when special constable of the year, Emma Jane Brown, was slightly injured. Officers were called to the street outside the Kebab House at about 2am after reports
-
Date
Woman's horror as five snakes delivered to door
A DEVIZES woman was horrified when she opened an unmarked package which had been delivered to her home, and found five snakes hidden in boxes. The hatchling carpet pythons and two tiny Chinese water dragon lizards were hidden in several light bulb boxes
-
Date
Judges quash murder verdict
FATHER-OF-TWO David Kimber has won his appeal against a conviction for the murder of his common-law wife Maria Vertannes. He was given a life sentence two years ago for stabbing her to death. Lord Justice Henry, sitting with Mr Justice Hooper and Mr Justice
-
Date
Parents told to act on teenage boozers
POLICE are appealing to parents to keep track of their youngsters' whereabouts, after a series of incidents involving a gang of underage drinkers as young as 14 in Devizes. Officers arrested two 14-year-olds on the evening of Friday November 10 after
-
Date
Uniformly good time had by all
Corsham Town Hall was the unusual setting for an evening's cross-dressing, spelling tests and musical mayhem all to raise funds for the NSPCC. Members of Corsham Chamber of Commerce put away their office wear and donned gym slips and boaters to become
-
Date
Firefighters help Charlie with his special Christmas present
Firefighters from Swindon have helped the parents of a disabled youngster move a step closer to buying him a specially made bicycle for Christmas. Jackie and Kevin Dawson have been trying to raise £750 to buy the new bike for their son Charlie, five,
-
Date
Court is told of father's stress
A father accused of punching his baby son to death has a mental age of eight, a court heard. Paul Oldacre, 27, of Penhill, denies murdering seven-month-old Jamie on September 20 last year. Bristol Crown Court heard he has an IQ of 70 the average is 100
-
Date
Scheme aims for children to be seen and not hurt
Swindon's 20,000 primary school children can look forward to a safer winter this year thanks to a joint initiative between Nationwide Building Society and the borough council. The building society has chosen to pilot its road safety initiative in Swindon
-
Date
A poor result
Swindon's teenagers are badly falling behind the rest of the country in exam results. Results at GCSE nationally have increased for the fourth year running but youngsters here are underperforming. There is now a five per cent gap between the town's results
-
Date
Points spree in the rain
RUGBY: Salisbury turned on a devastating display of controlled rugby to register a 61-7 victory over Sherborne. Skipper Don Parsons made the first try with lancing runs from the base of the scrum, driving his team upfield until he scored the opener which
-
Date
It's not all doom and gloom for our anglers
Flooded rivers and lakes with banks under several inches of water have curtailed fishing for many anglers. Yet, despite the conditions, some anglers did go out, some good fish were caught and Salisbury Angling Club did quite well in the latest round of
-
Date
Customer Charter covers all issues at the football club
The Swindon Town Customer Charter is printed in full below: Mission Statement Swindon Town Football Club Ltd will strive to provide the best possible service to its customers at all times in relation to all its business activities. Customer Service STFC
-
Date
Booking into bedtime tales
IT was a night of magic at All Cannings Primary School when pupils and parents enjoyed an evening of bedtime stories. It was the second time youngsters have got ready for bed early as part of the school's Book Week. Infants, juniors and even a few parents
-
Date
Scouts joy at cash surprise
THE Great Bedwyn Scout Group has celebrated its first year of operation with a spectacular fundraising success. The Scouts, Cubs and Beavers outstripped expectations when they staged a Michaelmas Ball at the Marlborough Cup site at Barbary Castle on the
-
Date
Teens in trouble have a place to find advice
An initiative to tackle the problems of teenage pregnancies, prostitution and drug addiction, has been set up in Park South. Youth workers who help to run the advice point for young people, say the Parks area of Swindon has a serious problem with all
-
Date
Make a date to pick up a prize
A unique calendar which doubles as a lottery is being sold to make money for Swindon charities. North Swindon Lions Club has now published its lottery calendar for 2001, and buyers have a chance to win a cash prize every working day of next year for the
-
Date
Pay us better wages if you want results
Teachers are underpaid, undervalued and overworked and things need to start changing now. That was the message from Eddie Ferguson, the president of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, on his visit to Swindon yesterday. Mr Ferguson has forthright
-
Date
Warneford hits the top spot yet again
Highworth Warneford, the school which topped the first league table back in 1994, is yet again the best performing secondary school in the Swindon area. Only once has it been knocked off the top in 1995 by St Joseph's RC comprehensive. Headteacher John
-
Date
Grant aid is up for grabs
Charity groups and voluntary organisations are being invited to apply for a share of £2,000 from the Stroud and Swindon building society. The building society, which celebrates its 150th anniversary this year, has teamed up with the Evening Advertiser
-
Date
Pupils set to quiz MPs
To celebrate Universal Child's Rights Day, students at Commonweal School will have an opportunity to talk to Swindon MP Julia Drown. Ms Drown will be holding a special children's constituency surgery for pupils, to give them a chance to ask her about
-
Date
Running for two good causes
Around 1,000 pupils from Hreod Parkway School took part in a one-mile run to raise funds for a new school bus. The money raised by the sponsored event will be split between buying a new school minibus and Children in Need. PE teacher Jackie Cross said
-
Date
Victims' charity benefits from new internet legal service
A charity which helps the victims of road accidents is £140 better off thanks to a new internet legal advice scheme supported by a Swindon law firm. Can I Claim?, launched at the beginning of October, is an online site providing legal information, advice
-
Date
MoD police 'pulled our house apart'
A furious couple have made an official complaint about police conduct following their son's wrongful arrest for stealing firearms. Mac and Janet McHugh, of Pains Way, Amesbury, told the Journal this week that their lives were made a misery by MoD police
-
Date
Council has no interest in rail travel
I refer to the article, November 9, "Pensioners lose rail travel battle." In March of this year, prior to the local elections, I wrote to the Advertiser stating that, while Mr Avenell and his supporters may have won the battle to retain bus tokens and
-
Date
Tax burden on families continuing to fall
In the light of the success of the Working Families Tax Credit and the minimum wage Chancellor Gordon Brown will be carrying out consultations with regard to his next proposed change to improve the income of working families. The new Children's Tax Credit
-
Date
Memory lives on
I WAS privileged to take part in the Remembrance Sunday parade in Calne. Recently much as been said concerning the lack of support that Remembrance Day generates today. Children, apparently, have not been taught the meaning of the Poppy, some teenagers
-
Date
Problems need solution
I WRITE with reference to the letter from Calne's Councillor Quinn "Have say on worries over nuclear power" in last week's Gazette. Although the problem is a major one, surely the role of a town councillor is to concentrate on problems that exist within
-
Date
EU threat to our pensions
An expert report delivered to EU finance ministers this week confirmed that the UK is the only major nation within the EU with a viable long-term public pensions system. Frank Field, former Labour minister and welfare expert, says that Britain and Denmark
-
Date
Last chance to take action over climate
FRIENDS of the Earth campaigners are off this week to take action at a crucial world summit on climate change. The summit is taking place in The Hague, Netherlands, where these campaigners from around the world will be building a giant sea wall of sandbags
-
Date
Thanks for cash
MAY I express sincere thanks to all those who supported the Children's Gift Fair which was held in Marlborough Town Hall last Friday. Thanks to generous sponsorship and to the hundreds of people who attended the fair, more than £1,800 was raised for Barnardos
-
Date
Getting kneedled
Further to the Gazette article "Knitter vows to carry on" imagine the scenario, knit one, pearl one, oops I have dropped a stitch I wonder if something important was said then? Perhaps I'll ask the person next to me, oh dear, they're asleep. Never mind
-
Date
War dead shunned
BEING the last surviving member of the once quite strong and active Bishops Cannings branch of the British Legion, formed in 1947, I was once again disappointed at 11am on Remembrance Day to find myself the only attendant at the church and the memorial
-
Date
Club here to help
THE Chippenham PHAB Club, for people with any form of disablement or with learning difficulties, continues to go from strength to strength. Due to the generosity of those Chippenham people who supported our flag day on October 7, when we raised £661.19
-
Date
These are the facts
CAROL Burgess (Gazette November 9) obviously has a vivid imagination if she thinks farmers chop up their dead animals and feed them to the rest of their stock. Apart from being an ignorant remark, it was also so unrealistic that it was funny. This never
-
Date
Our firework display faces yearly dilemma
I WOULD like to reply to last week's letter headlined "What a damp squib" by David E Brown. We as a charity organisation and I use the word charity in the true sense of the word, give our time and efforts for free. We work hard throughout the year to
-
Date
Building should have a chance of survival
THE letter from David Slater last week highlights the many differing views and concerns on the future of the ex-Gaumont building and how important the future use of the building is for the benefit of the whole community. I am concerned and interested
-
Date
Remember lessons of war-time rations
I HOPE everyone has taken on board the rather stark messages contained in Mr/Ms Carver's letter "Rethink needed" and Geoff Brewer's letter "Heed wake-up call" in the November 2 and 9 issues of the Gazette. They reinforce the effect of our recent climate
-
Date
Cricklade hang on
Sterling defensive work by the Cricklade midfield restricted Chippenham to a sole penalty in the first half. Cricklade replied with a try from Simon Howse, who darted over the line to score. In the second half it was not long before Cricklade were able
-
Date
Rugby boys come up with the cash
TOUCH rugby international Samantha Way has raised almost all the money she needs to travel to the World Cup in New Zealand in January, thanks to the efforts of Swindon Rugby Club. The 15-year-old from Moredon needed £1,100 for the trip Down Under and
