Archive
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Clean-up plan for estate
RESIDENTS on a housing estate near Lacock said they are feeling positive following a meeting to discuss ways of clearing up and improving their area. People living on the Corsham Road housing estate, two miles from picturesque Lacock, claimed the area
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Pyjamas day brings in cash
A CHIPPENHAM office worker went to work in her pyjamas, and even took her teddy with her, but it was all for a good cause. Surrinder Kaur, 45, of Elmwood, collected more than £220 from colleagues at Westcode Semiconductors in Chippenham, for the Forever
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Bar manager stole cash to help finance rent arrears
BAR manager Pamela Jones kept up a string of lies for two weeks before finally admitting to her bosses that she had stolen nearly £2,000 from them. Jones, 41, was bar manager at Chippenham's Borough Arms, when she stole the money from landlord and licensee
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Man loses sight after stones hurled at him
DOCTORS fear Peter Thorne may never regain the sight in one eye after a vicious attack by stone-throwing teenagers in Chippenham left him half blind. His wife Janet fears his memory could also have been affected and believes it will be a long time before
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Son set to sue care home over dad's death
A SON has spoken of his grief after an inquest said neglect was partly responsible for the death of his father, Arthur Horrod. John Horrod, from Calne, said his 76-year-old father was a simple caring man who used to look forward to seeing him each day
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Weymouth put the boot in as City's cup interests end
SALISBURY City were booted out of the Dr Martens Cup courtesy of two goals in each half by old rivals Weymouth. The defeat, their 16th of the season, signalled the end of any interest in cup competitions for the strugglers.
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The illness that obscures the joy
CELINE Mills and her baby son Charlie were just finishing a session with the Journal photographer when I arrived at their home in Charlton All Saints. They were a picture, on film or not - Charlie with his brown eyes, toothless grin and blonde hair and
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Praying to play
FORGOTTEN-man Juan Cobian still has faith that his nightly prayers will be answered. The Town full-back has found himself out in the cold and revealed that Roy Evans has offered him the chance of a loan spell with another club. Cobian is not surprised
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Highworth Scouts
Four Scouts from Highworth made a clean sweep last month in a sponsored litter pick-up that raised £2,600. Jamie Curtis, Harry Seymour, Andy Haylett and Claire Mollart are fundraising to attend the World Scout Jamboree in Thailand next year.
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Doctors' surgery opens
A NEW look doctors' surgery opened its doors in Calne on Monday thanks to an innovative conservation and refurbishment project that will eventually provide space to accommodate another GP. Patford House has opened a year after work began on refurbishing
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Toddler's life saving heart operation is a success
SAMANTHA and Matthew Bayley have had the best early Christmas ever after their three-year-old daughter Emily pulled through a major open heart operation this week. The Corsham toddler went into theatre at Bristol Children's Hospital at 8.15am on Monday
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Small firms grant scheme
GRANTS are now available for small businesses via the South Wiltshire Economic Partnership. The scheme, from which several firms have already benefited, is for the purchase of equipment, rent of premises or employment of staff. All types of small business
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Sir Christopher on track
BUSINESSMAN Sir Christopher Benson from Salisbury has been appointed chairman of Cross London Rail Links Ltd. The company, owned by the Strategic Rail Authority and Transport for London, has been set up to examine the feasibility of, and ultimately deliver
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Here we go again
This players' strike business shows no sign of going away and there remains the possibility that the game with Bristol City will be hit. Hopefully, common sense will prevail and both sides sit down and start talking. Two sides refusing to talk and lawyers
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Blackpool's Sly trick
HOW many of you would have swapped places with Danny Invincible at Blackpool? Time's up and your team is losing. It's all or nothing as the referee points to the penalty spot. Funnily enough, his miss immediately reminded me of the goal he lashed home
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Weymouth put the boot in as City's cup interests end
SALISBURY City were booted out of the Dr Martens Cup courtesy of two goals in each half by old rivals Weymouth. The defeat, their 16th of the season, signalled the end of any interest in cup competitions for the strugglers.
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Crowds turn out for lantern walk
GERMAN-BORN Esther Hamill said Saturday's ninth annual lantern walk through the streets of Malmesbury was the most successful yet, with more than 140 people packing the town's streets. Mrs Hamill, who moved to England 13 years ago, began the annual walk
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Students get in on the act
A-LEVEL student Emily-Louise Brookes, from Oaksey, near Malmesbury has won a special trophy for Bible reading. Miss Brookes, 17, came first in the Bible readings from her own choice class and gained the highest total across four classes in the festival
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Boy gets the chance to be head for the day
SCHOOLBOY David Cross will spend a day as headteacher at Minety School after his parents bid for the honour in a fundraising auction of promises. David, nine, will join headteacher Bernard Crooks bright and early tomorrow at 8am before taking the school
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Home products group Reckitt in purple Haze
Vanish-to-Harpic firm Reckitt Benckiser, which employs about 75 people at its Groundwell Estate distribution centre in Swindon, said it expected to exceed its financial targets, as it reported strong third quarter results. The Anglo-Dutch group said the
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Bottle water firm takes two units at the io centre
Bottled drinking water specialist Culligan International (UK) Ltd has taken two units at the io centre in Hobley Drive, Swindon, to accommodate its expansion plans. The expansion will give Culligan a total of 12,135 sq ft of space four times the amount
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Boys will sing carols in Brazil
BOY choristers of Salisbury Cathedral are off to Brazil next month to give concerts in prestigious venues and to meet children who live in shanty towns. The 16 boy choristers, together with Simon Lole, the cathedral's director of music, nine lay-vicars
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Hotel parties for charity
THE annual Christmas Charity Show at Blunsdon House Hotel racks up its 20th anniversary next month. In aid of the Bristol Royal Hospital for Sick Children, it has been playing to packed audiences. Organiser John Holmes is hoping for another great turnout
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Naval history comes to life
AN entertaining presentation, entitled Nelson Remembered by Wiltshire Historical Drama Group, History at Large, provided an illuminating evening for an appreciative audience at Wootton Bassett Library. History at Large is an Arts project created by George
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Chippenham Sunday League Round-up
DIVISION Two side Westbridge United produced the giantkilling feat of the day in the PPL Presto Print sponsored Eric Hughes Memorial Cup when they overcame high riding Premier Division outfit Corsham Park Rangers 3-0. Paul Daly grabbed a brace before
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It's a Christmas cracker
RECORDS look set to tumble for the number of shoeboxes full of festive gifts collected this year for Operation Christmas Child. Wiltshire organiser Hilary McFall is confident that last year's record of 20,000 boxes will be outstripped as this year's boxes
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Adopt lion cub or a gorilla for Christmas
FOR a unique Christmas present this year, you couldn't get much cuter than a lion cub born at Bristol Zoo in August. She doesn't come cheap however. Aiesha eats her way through 6kg of meat and a raw egg every day, which will cost the zoo £1,000 a year
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Jury throws out life sentence for murder
DAVID Kimber, who served four and a half years in prison after being found guilty of murder, could be freed next year after a jury decided the killing of his common law wife, Maria Vertannes, was manslaughter. After a week-long trial last week the jury
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Family are taking advice on action
KAREN Chandler's younger son, Kevin, said his family are still considering bringing a private prosecution against Bryan Maloney. Mr Chandler, 21, who lives in West Lavington, said he would like to see a change in the law which would see people who have
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Three more goals for hot-shot Glenn
SKURRAY'S WILTSHIRE LEAGUE: WROUGHTON'S top marksman Glenn Armstrong, who has been attracting some interest from Nationwide League scouts, scored yet another hat-trick in his side's 3-0 Premier Division win over Pewsey Vale Reserves. He scored the first
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Warning on TV ads on easy debt payment
PERSUASIVE TV ads offering secured loans to consolidate your debts should be resisted at all costs, says Wiltshire Trading Standards Department. The department has taken the opportunity presented by National Consumer Week this week to warn people against
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Princess sees HQ in action
THE emergency services were in full swing when Princess Anne dropped in for a flying visit last Friday. The royal visitor had taken a few minutes out of her busy schedule to take a look around the ambulance service control room in Chippenham. While Richard
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Wellington 0, Corsham Town 2
SCREWFIX DIRECT LEAGUE: CORSHAM Town moved into their highest ever Screwfix Direct League position with a comfortable victory at lowly Wellington on Saturday 10 November. In-form strike duo John Freegard and Matt Pratley both scored second half goals
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Battle to save air base begins
SHADOW Defence Secretary James Gray has vowed to fight to the death to keep RAF Lyneham open amid fears the station may be closed completely. North Wiltshire MP Mr Gray visited the base on Monday and was told by Station Commander Steve Duffill that there
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White Horse canter to victory
YOUTH FOOTBALL: GOALS from Tom Taylor, Craig Ewles and Craig Berry (2) were enough to give White Horse Leisure a 4-1 home win against a gallant Castle Combe Colts White side in the under 11s division of the Wiltshire Times and News Mid-Wilts Youth and
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Standing room only for Festival of Remembrance
THE first ever Festival of Remembrance was staged in Calne at the weekend, and the Saturday evening event was a sell-out with people standing in the aisles. The festival at John Bentley School, was the dream of Rob Mitchell, a member of the Royal British
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Fresh blood for Marine
Supermarine boss John Murphy has unveiled his first signings for the club. The new Hunts Copse supremo has moved quickly to secure the services of his old proteges Paul Donnelly and Nick Beaverstock, both of whom played under Murphy during his spell in
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Injecting fun into fundraising
DEVIZES Chamber of Commerce looks like being more of a fun organisation to belong to after bookshop owner Jo Edwards was elected chairman at its annual meeting on Monday evening. Mrs Edwards, 38, formerly Jo Batchelor until she married Peter Edwards in
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Friends put best feet forward to help kids
THREE members of Devizes Catholic Youth Group have raised more than £300 for the Devizes Opportunity Centre with a 30km walk along the Ridgeway. Amy Lewis, Hannah Ryan and Gareth Simmons, all students at St Augustine's RC College in Trowbridge, set out
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Teenager in crash was over drink limit
A TEENAGE driver whose car ended up on its roof near the canal bridge at Rowde was more than twice the legal drink-drive limit, a Devizes youth court has been told. The 17-year-old, who cannot be named because he is under 18, appeared before the South
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Borthwick fit for England
BATH'S Steve Borthwick has passed a fitness test on his injured knee and will take his place in England's second row for the Test match against Romania at Twickenham on Saturday. The 22-year-old has shrugged off the injury picked up against London Irish
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Haulage boss ran firm while bankrupt
FORMER haulage boss Robert Eddolls has been spared prison after being convicted of running a company after being made bankrupt. Eddolls, 62, of Highworth Road, Swindon, will do 80 hours unpaid work after being guilty of the Department of Trade and Industry
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The only way is down for fundraising students
A DOZEN students from Swindon's New College were roped in to raise more than £1,000 for Children in Need by abseiling the five storey Minton Place building in the town centre. The youngsters were organised by fellow student Terri Blacker, 17, who is studying
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Roadworks give drivers a headache
A SERIES of roadworks on one of Swindon's busiest routes is causing traffic chaos for drivers. Rush-hour traffic battling to avoid the roadworks in Whitehouse Road, which started on Monday, face more misery as the delays look set to continue into next
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Day of horror on the roads
A VAN driver from Swindon could face criminal proceedings after building equipment from his work vehicle swung off and smashed into a bus carrying children. Tim Gough, 36, of Laburnum Road, Pinehurst, is being comforted at home after equipment from his
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All set for the festive spectacle
LATE-NIGHT Christmas shopping starts in Salisbury next Thursday when the Christmas lights are switched on in the Market Square at 7.30pm. 'Merry Christmas is here in Salisbury' is the theme of the city's festive shopping season this year, and this will
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Claim hits the wall
A HOMEOWNER whose cob wall collapsed after a sustained period of wet and stormy weather has been saddled with a £20,000 repair bill after his insurance company refused to pay up because the damage was not caused by a single identifiable incident. Fed-up
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Housing development is on target for summer
WESTLEA Housing Association joined councillors, residents and contractors at a site ceremony to mark the start of work at its 54-home development at Stokes Croft, Calne. After the ceremony the parties involved in the £3.6m development project signed a
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Work protest to Minister
COMMITTEE members from the Summer Fun in Calne playscheme have taken written to Education Minister Estelle Morris about a lack of financial support for students. The playscheme, which runs throughout the summer holidays, employs mainly university students
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Prominent musiciansplay in recital series
THE Prince of Wales' personal harpist Catrin Finch is coming to Calne as part of a new recital series, which is helping to put the town on the map as a centre of excellence for music in the region. A whole host of internationally renowned artists have
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Supporters of centre wanted
PEOPLE in the north of Calne are being urged to show their support for a potential new community centre and give the plans the best chance of going ahead. The town council is in discussions with developer Persimmon, which is responsible for building the
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Teacher hit by van in accident blackspot
STAFF at St Mary's School, Calne, are to raise safety concerns with Wiltshire County Council after another member of staff was hit by a car in Curzon Street. School housemistress Nuala Bailey is currently off work and suffering from a badly bruised shoulder
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Warning on festive thefts
POLICE in Devizes have warned householders to keep their homes well secured in the run-up to Christmas. Inspector Pete Bowerbank said: "It is bad enough being burgled at any time of year, but when you have a house full of Christmas presents and other
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Into Africa for grandmother
DEVIZES grandmother Valerie Thomas is bound for Kenya for the second time this year. Mrs Thomas, of Orchard Close, will be heading off to an area north of Nairobi for several months to carry out scientific research with the environmental charity Earthwatch
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The second Battle of Roundway set to begin
PARISH councillors are girding themselves for the 21st century Battle of Roundway to defend their boundaries. Devizes Town Council has applied to Kennet District Council to support an application to the Boundary Commissioners to reorganise the parish
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Girl saves puppy in house blaze
A 14-YEAR-old girl braved a kitchen fire at her home yesterday to save her trapped Labrador puppy. Tracey Donnelly smelt smoke at her home in West View Crescent at about 10am and went to investigate. She found the kitchen in flames and her 19-week-old
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Top town to attract cash
THE Wharf at Devizes was selected as the site for the proposed new county records office and heritage centre because of its high-profile among funding bodies who might contribute to costs. Details of information given to a county committee which made
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Wigglybus success is let down by technology
THE meteoric success of Pewsey Vale's Wigglybus has hit a major snag, with the number of users down by 20 per cent in the last two months because of problems with software and other technology. A meeting at Pewsey's Bouverie Hall on Tuesday night was
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I'm innocent and my wife knows it
GRANDFATHER Bryan Maloney, who was cleared of murdering friend Karen Chandler, has spoken for the first time to declare his innocence and describe his ordeal on remand. Mr Maloney, 64, of Haggs Lane, Urchfont, who was found not guilty by a majority verdict
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Repairs toplay areas prove to beeye opener
THE bill to replace equipment at three play areas, which was removed by Marlborough Town Council because of safety fears, could be more than £60,000, councillors heard on Monday. This was the initial estimate given by one company, one of six asked to
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Gardener ill in chemical alert
SPECIALLY trained firefighters were called to a house in Herd Street in Marlborough yesterday afternoon after a drum containing chemicals was found during a garden clearance. The 25-litre plastic drum which had no markings, had started to leak as it was
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Children dance for Diwali
CHILDREN at College Fields Nursery School, Marlborough, took part in an Indian dance workshop on Tuesday, in preparation for the Hindu festival of truth and light, Diwali. Bharatanatyam Dance, which originates in southern India, was used to tell the story
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New care home for the elderly unveiled
A MULTI-million pound care centre for the elderly is being planned for the site of Coombe End House residential home in Marlborough. The new-look home will have double the present number of beds for the elderly and may include sheltered accommodation
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News is hot off press. . .
THE last surviving Fleet Street newspaper printing press is to go on display at the Science Museum in Wroughton. Made by the Wood company, it was installed in Northcliffe House in 1934. It printed copies of the Daily Mail and the now long-defunct Evening
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Pensioner banned from road
PENSIONER Ann Baston-Pitt was banned from the road for a year after she was caught drink driving on the way home from the pub. The 62-year-old was going home from the Liden Arms to prepare a late Sunday lunch when she was stopped by police who noticed
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A surprise Christmas package
SWINDON'S post offices have taken delivery of this year's Christmas stamps. And this year there is an even greater incentive to use traditional mail when sending your Christmas greeting. A unique diamond stamp has been delivered to a secret location somewhere
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Mum's run will help charity
A SWINDON mother-of-two managed to raise about £2,000 after taking part in this year's London Marathon. Debbie Comer, 35, donated half the money to the charity Breakthrough Breast Cancer and this week she presented the remaining cash, £1,100, to the charity
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Skateboard Park petition
PARENTS and youngsters in Malmesbury have collected a 90-signature petition supporting a skateboard park. An action group called Malmesbury Skaters and Riders Action was set up seven years ago to lobby for it. Persimmon Homes has offe-red to develop a
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Sacked for smoking in his own home!
A SALES executive claims he was sacked on his second day for smoking in his own home. Mark Hodges, 41, was warned the firm had a strict no-smoking policy at his interview. But he said he was stunned when his boss sacked him from the £28,000 post after
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And the new headteacher for the day is David, 9
SCHOOLBOY David Cross will spend a day as headteacher at Minety School after his parents bid for the honour in a fundraising auction of promises. David, nine, will join headteacher Bernard Crooks bright and early tomorrow at 8am before taking the school
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Masterpieces set to adorn schools' walls
MASTERPIECES by some of the world's greatest artists have been donated to three Swindon schools. The set of framed reproductions will be on permanent display at the schools as part of Sainsbury's Pictures for Schools scheme. Peter Blake's Children Reading
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Shopkeepers pass Lottery age limit test
ALMOST all of Swindon's National Lottery retailers are taking their responsibility seriously and refusing to sell National Lottery scratchcards to under-age children. That is the conclusion of a report carried out by trading standards officers in the
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All set for the festive spectacle
LATE-NIGHT Christmas shopping starts in Salisbury next Thursday when the Christmas lights are switched on in the Market Square at 7.30pm. 'Merry Christmas is here in Salisbury' is the theme of the city's festive shopping season this year, and this will
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Concorde painting sale
THE original painting used to produce a Concorde commemorative cover has been put up for sale. It shows one of the British built supersonic airliners flying over New York and ironically includes the twin towers of the World Trade Centre which were blown
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County's courts face a shake-up
SALISBURY is nearer to having a new courthouse, following a proposal to shut magistrates' courts at Trowbridge and Devizes. Wiltshire Magistrates' Court Committee pressed for the closures at its meeting last week. "We hope this will bring it closer for
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Thrills and spills
A NEW comedy-thriller has been premiered at the Arts Centre. The Swindon-based Wes-t ern Players drama group is performing Secondary Cause of Death until Saturday. The play, which started last night, is the sequel to last years' production Murdered to
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Claim hits the wall
A HOMEOWNER whose cob wall collapsed after a sustained period of wet and stormy weather has been saddled with a £20,000 repair bill after his insurance company refused to pay up because the damage was not caused by a single identifiable incident. Fed-up
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Knee op patient is back home
KNEE patient Jackie Whatley, who has been in constant pain for nearly two years, is back home in Mere after having her operation in Germany - paid for by the NHS. Mrs Whatley is believed to be the first patient to take advantage of the Government's ruling
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Keep the Fat Alberts in our skies
They have become something of a good luck talisman for Swindon. The sight of Fat Alberts the nickname given to the Hercules aircraft passing noisily over the town has become so familiar that it would be difficult to imagine them disappearing. But that
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Another day to remember
TOWN and village centres across Salisbury District fell silent on Sunday as people gathered to remember the dead of two world wars and other conflicts. On a bright but chilly Remembrance Sunday, wreaths were laid at memorials in Salisbury, Wilton, Amesbury
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It's Joe soap, a TV star in the making
A TEENAGED actor from Tisbury is poised to become a household name after landing a star role in television's newest soap. Joe Jacobs, who trained in performing arts at Salisbury College, auditioned for ITV's Night and Day after two casting directors appeared
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Village unites in defiance at housing spread
RESIDENTS in Alderbury are on the march to fight more house building on their doorstep. Fierce opposition has been expressed to plans by the Longford Estate to build 80 homes near Oakwood Grove, off the old Southampton Road. Villagers say the plans are
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Praying to play
FORGOTTEN-man Juan Cobian still has faith that his nightly prayers will be answered. The Town full-back has found himself out in the cold and revealed that Roy Evans has offered him the chance of a loan spell with another club. Cobian is not surprised
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A dis-service
THANKS a lot to Thamesdown Transport. Since they altered the bus routes last week, my granddaughter, aged ten, has to get two buses to go to school. She lives at Woodhall Park, she has to cross a busy road and get another bus to go along Thames Avenue
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Blandford 13, Minety 5
A DISAPPOINTING overall performance by Minety saw them lose their third Dorset and Wilts Division One fixture in a row. A good first half for the visitors was followed by a nightmare second in which nothing seemed to go right and a narrow lead was soon
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Windsor 11, Chippenham 25
A SOLID all-round performance by Chippenham saw them cement their lead at the top of South West Division Two East with an important away win at title challengers Windsor. The late withdrawal of centre Tom Crockett saw Reynolds move in from the wing, with
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Frome 4ths 5, Cooper-Avon Tyres 3rds 17
THE 3rds, with their strongest side of the season, enjoyed a rare victory at Frome. Centre Mike Burbage added two more tries and winger Dave Soulsby added the third. Darren Miller completed the scoring with a conversion.
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Corsham 2nds 7, Cooper-Avon Tyres 2nds 36
COOPER-AVON another good performance, running in six tries. The scorers were captain Lee Townsend, Steve Jeggo, Steve Nicol, Russell Holland, Mick Hurn and Pete Groves. Richard Foley added two conversions and Stuart Moore one.
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Cooper-Avon Tyres 10, Corsham 11
CORSHAM dominated this Southern Counties South game but came very close to losing due to unforced errors and wrong options being taken. The Melksham side took the lead against the run of play when, following a quickly taken penalty by scrum half John
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Minety admit fixture defeat
MINETY will go into their Dorset and Wiltshire Division One clash at Trowbridge on Saturday without 12 first team regulars after admitting defeat in their long-running battle to reschedule the fixture. Almost the entire first team squad have been invited
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Thank you for help
WE would like to say thank you to all those people who helped during the dreadful event that happened to us last Saturday. It's at times like that when we appreciate, so much, living in this small, close knit community. The kind thoughts and words we
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Idea is nonsense
BEING an exiled Cornishman, I have read with interest the comments made with regard to the possibility of a statue to Merlin. I find it quite incredible that this idea has even been suggested. It is sad that in this Harry Potter age that we are living
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Actions needed
PLEASE find below a copy of the letter we sent to D A Fothergill (Letters November 8) in reply to his letter headed Families Need Help. Yes we need help, we need help and support to get justice for the people who died needlessly due to Major Stibbe's
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We let courts go
I am somewhat surprised but pleased to see that the people of the town are making their feelings known regarding the vandalising of Devizes Market Place. One letter said: "The arrogance of our local representatives has been breathtaking. "They have ignored
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Incineration is not only option
We very much value everyone's contribution to the debate on how we are to dispose of our waste. We would, however, like to clarify a number of points raised in last week's letter from Friends of the Earth. Mrs Carver talked about incineration as if it
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Lower speed limits are vital to save more lives
I WOULD like to respond to last week's letter protesting against a 20mph speed limit around schools, and suggest why lower speed limits are needed. The loss of lives on our roads is approximately ten daily. Road crashes are the single biggest killer of
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Safety in spotlight
CHIPPENHAM police are targeting cyclists in a bid to cut down on road accidents with the arrival of dark winter nights. WPC Heather Barham, who has spearheaded the town's Cycle Safe campaign, said the aim was not to prosecute cyclists, but to keep them
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Shoppers aid raiders' hunt
DETECTIVES are following up a number of leads, thanks to help from the public, after the Safeway store in Chippenham was raided by masked men. The two men hit a security guard round the legs with a baseball bat as he and a colleague prepared to fill up
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Roundtabler dies in crash
THE wife of a man killed after a three-car smash on a winding stretch of road near Christian Malford has revealed he was due to go on holiday to Barbados next week. Gary Pearce, 35, died on Tuesday after a pile up involving three high-performance cars
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Neglect contributed to the death of care home resident
RETIRED machinist Arthur Horrod was found with bed sores as big as a woman's hand before he died a year ago. Pathologists and doctors who examined 76-year-old Mr Horrod said he had the worst bed sores they had ever seen. The jury at the four-day inquest
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Glory trail continues as Bemerton hit five
BEMERTON Heath Harlequins marched into the third round of the FA Carlsberg Vase after completing a stunning demolition job on Combined Counties League outfit Cove. A brace apiece by Neil Cole and Matt Guy along with an Ian Chalk goal ensured an eventual
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Not enough care
This week the family of an elderly man who died in a nursing home in Calne are trying to come to terms with the fact he died in pain because the care he received was sadly lacking. The story will have sent alarm bells ringing for many people with elderly
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Battle begins to save base
THE Gazette and Herald shares the fears of North Wiltshire MP James Gray about the future of RAF Lyneham. This base is far more than just home to RAF squadrons. For many people civilians and forces personnel alike RAF Lyneham is away of life. The village
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Corsham's rail plans delayed
PLANNING delays have put Corsham's long-awaited railway station plans back another six months, dashing hopes for a re-opening in 2002. Planning applications will now be presented in January 2002, putting the start of work to July 2002, with an opening
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Toddler's life saving heart operation is a success
SAMANTHA and Matthew Bayley have had the best early Christmas ever after their three-year-old daughter Emily pulled through a major open heart operation this week. The Corsham toddler went into theatre at Bristol Children's Hospital at 8.15am on Monday
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Haulage boss ran firm while bankrupt
FORMER haulage boss Robert Eddolls has been spared prison after being convicted of running a company after being made bankrupt. Eddolls, 62, of Highworth Road, Swindon, will do 80 hours unpaid work after being guilty of the Department of Trade and Industry
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Men for all seasons
SHOPPERS can make a hot date with a bunch of burly firefighters who have stripped for action for a good cause. The 13 men, all based at Chippenham's Dallas Road fire station, threw caution as well as their jackets and shirts to the wind to pose for a
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Luther falls under the spell of new film
THIS year's biggest film opens on general release tomorrow, but one of Harry Potter's biggest fans has already given the film his own personal critique. Luther Frost-Barnes, the eight year-old cerebral palsy sufferer who is the beneficiary of the Gazette's
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Cycleway bridge plan dropped as too costly
PLANS for a new cycle bridge across the River Avon near Chippenham have been abandoned, to save money. North Wiltshire District Council is making plans to complete the final leg of the North Wiltshire Rivers Route, which is part of the National Cycle
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Antiques thieves raid homes
ANTIQUES were stolen from two homes in Tytherton Lucas, near Chippenham, at the weekend. Burglars took a grandfather clock valued at £1,500 from one house between 7.15pm and 9.15pm on Saturday. They broke into the dining room of another house through
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Witness plea after fight
A CALNE woman is alleged to have been struck to the ground with a billiard cue during a fight in Chippenham's Old Road. A conflict between two groups of people broke out between 10pm and 10.30pm on October 30 near the Railway public house. "The dispute
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Vandals slash tyres on cars
VANDALS who slashed tyres in Chippenham on Saturday November 10 caused hundreds of pounds worth of damage. All four tyres, worth £520, on a Honda Accord were damaged and two nearside tyres on a Rover 416 were slashed in Stockwood Road. A Honda Civic in
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Neo Nazi isjailed for vendetta on church
RACIST teenager Paolo Falcone will be spending Christmas in prison after magistrates decided there was no excuse for his behaviour in a civilised society. Falcone, 18, pleaded guilty to two racially aggravated attacks on Chippenham's New Testament Pentecostal
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Corsham's rail plans delayed
PLANNING delays have put Corsham's long-awaited railway station plans back another six months, dashing hopes for a re-opening in 2002. Planning applications will now be presented in January 2002, putting the start of work to July 2002, with an opening
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Officer tells of ordeal with hooded gunman
TERROR came to the streets of Calne on Monday November 12 when a masked gunman in a black balaclava stalked the town, holding up cars and pointing his weapon at police. The gunman passed just yards from Holy Trinity Primary School, in a scene chillingly
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Chippenham Town 2, Mangotsfield United 3 (aet)
MIDWEEK FOOTBALL: AN EXTRA-TIME penalty from home skipper Gareth Loydon sent Chippenham Town out of the Dr Martens Cup at the first hurdle at Cossham Street on Tuesday night. The Bluebirds had recovered from a two-goal half time deficit to force extra
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Chippenham Town 2, Bedworth United 1
HOT-SHOT striker Steve Tweddle scored the winner as Chippenham Town moved into a Dr Martens League Western Division promotion spot with victory at Hardenhuish Park on Saturday. Half-time substitute Tweddle, making a welcome return to league action after
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We're staying put, says Bluebirds chairman
CHIPPENHAM Town look set to stay at Hardenhuish Park even if their dream of Nationwide Conference football becomes a reality. Dr Martens League grading committee chairman Barry Hughes visited the ground on Monday to assess the work required to bring it
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Discounts for finance show at Olympia
PEOPLE interested in attending the Business Finance EXPO show at London's Olympia Two on November 27 and 28 can take advantage of a special deal. Travel specialists Superbreaks are offering five per cent discount on travel and accommodation to business
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Good luck, Phil
I WOULD like to wish Phil Cannon all the best as he prepares to swap Wiltshire for Merseyside. Town's youth development officer is quitting Town to join Everton. I have always found Phil extremely personable, honest and totally dedicated to his job. He
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I suppose this is what they call 'cup fever'
THAT mixed feeling of excitement and dread has gripped me so it must be the FA Cup this weekend. Hartlepool United are our visitors and as luck would have it, they're just starting to put some form together. The North East side were rock bottom of the
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THE men in the middle
The Football League has offered to act as an arbitrator in the battle for control of the club. Chief executive Pete Rowe has friends at the Football League who sympathise with his plight as 'man in the middle'. Until the EGM, the chief executive is quite
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Glory trail continues as Bemerton hit five
BEMERTON Heath Harlequins marched into the third round of the FA Carlsberg Vase after completing a stunning demolition job on Combined Counties League outfit Cove. A brace apiece by Neil Cole and Matt Guy along with an Ian Chalk goal ensured an eventual
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Playground plans altered
SHERSTON Parish Council is asking manufacturers to modify plans for a new £40,000 playground at Pennymead following consultation with youngsters in the village. Three meetings were held with young people last month to gauge opinion. The meetings took
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Firm offers chance to savour the flavours
FOOD firm Tracklements has opened a kitchen for customers to get a closer idea of what goes on behind the scenes. The kitchen is the latest part of a £300,000 six-month expansion at the firm's Pinkney Park site, in Sherston. The company, which employs
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TV crews capture wonders of gardens
GARDENING enthusiasts will be able to take in the delights of The Abbey House Gardens in Malmesbury from the comfort of their own homes. The gardens, which are in the shadow of the ancient abbey, are set to feature in BBC television's Gardener's World
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New IT centre comes to town
MALMESBURY Mayor John Bowen admitted to being excited at the opportunities offered by a new IT Learning Centre which he opened in the town last Thursday. More than 16 computers have been installed at the town hall by Wiltshire College, which is renting
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Abbey appears in the spotlight
MALMESBURY Abbey is to feature in a three-part series of 15-minute worship programmes. The vicar, the Rev David Littlefair, will give the reading in the first programme, recorded on October 16 and being broadcast on HTV at 11.30am on Sunday. The programme
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Long gone Jon
It seems that Home Secretary David Blunkett is seeking to change the cannabis laws. No longer will young people (or anyone else who fancies, like, a blow, man) find themselves hauled through the courts for an act of minor hedonism some might say was on
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New mortgage business opens in Old Town
A new business designed to help people find the right mortgage has opened in Swindon's Old Town. Mark Darwin and father and son Roger and Dominic Rice have launched a local branch of mortgageforce, a national independent mortgage broking organisation.
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C&W is set to buck the trend
Defying the lack of confidence in the telecommunications sector, Cable & Wireless is prepared to spend up to £1.7 billion buying up to 15 per cent of its shares and offer remaining investors a special 11.5p a share dividend. The funds to do this would
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Crematorium is mooted
WOOTTON Bassett could have its own crematorium if councillors set the plan in motion. A £500 study is needed to look into the feasibility of such a facility and Wootton Bassett Town Council's amenities committee is being recommended to commission it at
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Explosion fear after M4 crash
FIRE crews blocked off two lanes of the M4 near Membury services on Tuesday after a lorry carrying 24 tonnes of highly explosive ethanol was involved in a crash. A second lorry careered into the back of the Leyland Daff articulated lorry on the westbound
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Sex pest dad-of-two given jail sentence
A LONER who indecently exposed himself to girls and women in the Cotswold Water Park has been sent to prison. Stephen Le-Maitre, 33, of Springfield Farm, Minety, was given a three-month custodial sentence when he appeared before magistrates. He was also
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Rowe puts Bookmen on course for victory
MID-WILTS SUNDAY LEAGUE: SELECTABOOK took an early lead in their Tamaru Hinchey Shield match against Trowbridge Wanderers when Jamie Rowe's sixth minute shot took a slight deflection off a defender. Wanderers replied 12 minutes later through Paul Clarke
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Rural learning to go mobile
VILLAGES across Wiltshire are to benefit from two £500,000 mobile learning units to be set up in March. The Wiltshire and Swindon Lifelong Learning Partnership, a Government initiative set up in 1999, has commissioned the two specially fitted mobile learning
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Porton Ladies 1, Chippenham Town Ladies B 6
LADIES FOOTBALL: CHIPPENHAM stayed top of the table after this comprehensive victory. They scores six times and another seven shots shared by Charoltte Johnson, Eleanor Showering and Harriet Titcombe hit the crossbar. Chippenham were taken by suprise
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Westbury United 1, Devizes Town 3
SCREWFIX DIRECT LEAGUE: DEVIZES Town moved into the Premier Division's top six for the first time this season after taking the Wiltshire derby honours at Meadow Lane on Saturday. The visitors hardly missed injured top scorer Barry Flippance as goals from
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Swindon Supermarine Youth 4,Chippenham Town Youth 4
YOUTH FOOTBALL: CHIPPENHAM Town youth team staged an amazing comeback to stretch their unbeaten start to the FA County Floodlight Youth League to ten matches at Swindon Supermarine on Thursday night. Chippenham, who went into the clash on the back of
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Showdown as Hellenic take on Screwfix
REPRESENTATIVE teams from the Screwfix Direct League and the Cherry Red Records Hellenic League will do battle for the first time at Yate Town's Lodge Road ground on Tuesday night, kick off 7.30pm. Devizes Town midfielder Nigel Curtis is the only player
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Karen's killer is out there, says man who walked free
BRYAN Maloney, the Urchfont gardener cleared of killing mother-of-two Karen Chandler, has criticised the police investigation, which, he claims, has left the real murderer at large. Speaking at his home, Mr Maloney claimed the police never considered
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Melksham through
MELKSHAM Town booked themselves an FA Vase third round date at home to United Counties Premier Division side St Neots Town with a fine 2-1 extra-time win at AFC Totton on Saturday 10 November. Nigel Mottershead headed home to give the Jewson Wessex League
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Almondsbury Town 0, Wootton Bassett Town 2
A MUCH improved display helped Wootton Bassett to a deserved win at struggling Almondsbury Town on Saturday 10 November. The visitors were forced to soak up early pressure and could have gone in front on 27 minutes when Jack Dodds shot straight at goalkeeper
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MP voices concern atchanges
By James Gray WHEN I visited RAF Lyneham on Monday I was very concerned to hear from the Station Commander that there was any possibility of the station ever closing. When I got back to the office I received a letter from the Minister of Defence telling
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Pewsey Vale 0, Easington Sports 1
CHERRY RECORDS HELLENIC LEAGUE: HIGH-FLYING Pewsey Vale saw their unbeaten home record bite the dust as they slipped to a shock defeat at the hands of lowly Easington Sports on Saturday. Pewsey were denied by the woodwork on four occasions and had a goal
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Villagers are troubled about possible closure
THE future of RAF Lyneham has been thrown into doubt following a Ministry of Defence annoucement that is reviewing three bases. A study is to examine where is the most cost effective place to base the new A400M aircraft. It is feared that if the decision
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Clyst Rovers 3, Calne Town 0
DEPLETED Calne Town are still without an away point this term after defeat at the hands of mid-table Clyst Rovers on Saturday. Missing nine first team regulars, Calne were only able to name a squad of 13 players, with 39-year-old manager Paul Rankin making
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Young join veterans in Remembrance parades
YOUNGSTERS joined veterans across the county on Sunday November 11 to pay tribute to those who gave their lives in conflict. The Remembrance day parade in Marlborough included a large number of young people, with members of the cadet forces, both from
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FROM THE DUGOUT by Brian Newlands, Devizes Town manager
15/11/01: WITH nearly a third of the season gone, the leagues are certainly beginning to take shape. Certainly when you have played 10 games or more wherever you are in the league is usually a true reflection of how your season has gone. Some teams bemoan
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Lyneham could close by 2010
RAF Lyneham could close by the end of the decade, an MP has warned. The base that has been at the centre of numerous war efforts for more than 60 years is having its role reviewed by the Ministry of Defence. North Wiltshire MP James Gray, who is also
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Council gives best value
DEVIZES Mayor Ray Parsons and town council manager Simon Fisher were at the House of Commons on Monday to be congratulated for finding out how to give best value for money as a parish council. Devizes is one of the few parish councils in England and Wales
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Witness plea after fight
A CALNE woman is alleged to have been struck to the ground with a billiard cue during a fight in Chippenham's Old Road. A conflict between two groups of people broke out between 10pm and 10.30pm on October 30 near the Railway public house. "The dispute
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Man in court for urinating
TRAINEE shop worker Simon Drake appeared before magistrates following a police clamp down on people urinating in a public place. Drake, 19, of Broadleas Park, Devizes, was fined £50 with £35 cost by Kennet Magistrates on Thursday when he admitted causing
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MP vows to keep up fight to rescue court
DEVIZES MP Michael Ancram is to lobby the Lord Chancellor, Lord Irvine of Lairg, to prevent the proposed closure of the town's magistrates' court, the last courthouse in Kennet district. A meeting of the Wiltshire Magistrates' Courts Committee, held at
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Roof windows win a reprieve
RESTAURANT owner Mark Coles has won an appeal against a refusal by Kennet District Council to grant him retrospective planning permission for rooflights in an extension to his Kingsbury Street premises in Marlborough. However, while planning inspector
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Church is put in the picture
ARTIST Diane Jones has lent her talent to raising money for the upkeep of St John's Church, the medieval parish church for Devizes town centre. Mrs Jones, the current president of the Lawrence Society of Art, has painted St John's on many occasions but
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Youngsters shine at chess championships
A WILTSHIRE team composed entirely of Swindon players came sixth in the national under-14 team chess championships in Stoke. Four of the town's junior internationalists, Liden's Richard Webb, 14, Old Town brothers Joshua, 13, and Daniel Hall, 11, and
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Lyneham could close by 2010
RAF Lyneham could close by the end of the decade, an MP has warned. The base that has been at the centre of numerous war efforts for more than 60 years is having its role reviewed by the Ministry of Defence. North Wiltshire MP James Gray, who is also
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Signing on!
SIGNING at the new Wal-Mart Asda hypermarket scheduled to open at North Swindon on November 26 will mean much more than names on cheques. Nearly 50 staff are learning how to use sign language to communicate with customers who have impaired hearing. Their
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A fundraiser for Prospect
A CHARITY fundraiser in memory of Danny Bohane, is to be held in aid of the Prospect Hospice. Danny was being cared for at the Prospect Hospice, before his death from cancer in June. His death has left his wiDOW Sue to look after their three children
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Man had his ear torn off
CLUBBER James Gibson ripped off part of the ear of a man after getting involved in an argument about a woman. He is alleged to have attacked Mark Traynor at Swindon's Eros nightclub. Mr Traynor was left with serious injuries a third of his left ear was
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Ambulance honours
THE commitment of three Amesbury men to St John Ambulance was recognised last week. Brothers Matthew (29) and Simon Maggs (28) and Alan Giles (28) were presented with Long-Service Medals at the annual inspection of the Amesbury adult division at the Baptist
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It's Joe soap, a TV star in the making
A TEENAGED actor from Tisbury is poised to become a household name after landing a star role in television's newest soap. Joe Jacobs, who trained in performing arts at Salisbury College, auditioned for ITV's Night and Day after two casting directors appeared
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Another day to remember
TOWN and village centres across Salisbury District fell silent on Sunday as people gathered to remember the dead of two world wars and other conflicts. On a bright but chilly Remembrance Sunday, wreaths were laid at memorials in Salisbury, Wilton, Amesbury
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Drinkers shot pet cat twice with air gun
TWO men shot a neighbour's cat with a .22 air rifle during an afternoon's drinking session, Salisbury magistrates heard on Tuesday. Mark Whitby (32) and Neil Panter (29) were fined a total of £600 and given a five-year ban on being involved with animals
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Plans for new Co-op finalised
A PLANNING application is expected within the next ten days or so to build Amesbury's long-awaited new Co-op supermarket. The Co-op board of directors is meeting during November to finalise the planning bid for a flagship store on the Redworth House site
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Homes to get £6m upgrade
A MULTI-million pound programme to upgrade roads and services for more than 300 homes at Boscombe Down is to start next year. Contractors are preparing to move in on the huge former Ministry of Defence married quarters estate to widen roads, put in new
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Family welcome a new addition
PROUD great grandparents Frank and Ann Jackett from Calne, were among five generations of the Evans dynasty who celebrated a new arrival to the family last weekend. Mr and Mrs Jackett were at the heart of the celebrations at the chapel of the Royal Military
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Local talent takes bow at town gallery
THE work of local artists is now on display at the Bluestone Gallery in Old Swan Yard, Devizes. Guy and Janice Perkins set up the gallery in May last year, selling quality British hand-made ceramics, glass, designer jewellery and art. This is their second
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Tree protesters call for councils' watchdog
TREE protesters in Devizes got the vote of confidence they needed when more than 350 people turned up at a public meeting in the Corn Exchange last Thursday. The protesters, many of whom had staged a round-the-clock vigil at the surviving London plane
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Tiny tots set for new home
PARENTS and staff at Urchfont Pre-school have launched themselves on a challenging campaign to raise £48,000 to build new premises for the group. Urchfont Primary School, where they are currently housed in a mobile classroom, wants to replace the mobile
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Pensioner hit by car, to sue
PENSIONER Mavis Rigden is hoping High Court action will win the £50,000 she needs for home support following an accident four years ago when she was hit by a car. Mrs Rigden, 63, was walking along the B3098 near Erlestoke Prison in November 1997 when
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Serenade for the Penguins
MEMBERS of the Marlborough Penguins Swimming Club arriving for their lessons at the leisure centre on Monday found themselves being serenaded. The music came from members of the Preshute Primary and St Peter's School accordion bands who joined together
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Anger at state of footpaths
TOWN councillors in Marlborough have been taken to task by one of their own members for not patrolling allocated footpaths to ensure they are not blocked. Coun Bryan Castle is the footpaths co-ordinator for the town council and on Monday he singled out
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Storm in a tea cup at council
MARLBOROUGH town councillors have become embroiled in a storm in a teacup after Coun Peggy Dow took an inventory of crockery at the town hall, including a count of the tea pots. Coun Hilary Cripps, chairman, told Monday's meeting of the council's recreation
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Runaway mum gives herself up
MISSING Burbage mother-of-two Sarah Annis, who disappeared with her youngest child after a court ordered her to hand the girl over to her French father, has voluntarily surrendered to custody. Ms Annis, whose parents live near Pewsey, is to ask the Court
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Challenge is issued over hospital fund
PUBLIC spirited William Burroughs has booked Marlborough Town Hall for an open meeting to rally support for an appeal to raise money for a new £8.9 million Savernake Hospital. Mr Burroughs, of Great Bedwyn, has hired the town hall for Tuesday December
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College's pass list earns a top award
SWINDON College's plastering courses have won a prestigious award from the Worshipful Company of Plasterers. The award, for the highest percentage of student passes in the southern region, shows the high quality of work produced by the College students
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Friends get ahead for charity
TWO friends put their heads together to raise thousands of pounds for charity. Sam Smith, 28, and Jenny Truffle, 41, raised £2,617 which was split between the Prospect Hospice and the Challenging Cancer and Leukaemia Charity when they took part in a sponsored
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On track for a work of art
WHEN Railtrack commissioned the Swindon Arts Community Fund to come up with artwork to promote safety issues related to railways, it was only too pleased to help. SACF along with Headlands and Ridgeway schools, and Swindon artists Mike Juggins and Sue
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Lucky for the second time
A SWINDON mother who wit-nessed the suicide jet attacks on the World Trade Centre two months ago, has reacted with shock and disbelief at the latest plane tragedy to hit New York. Gillian James, 62, of Purslane Close, Woodhall Park was left wondering
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All aboard for maths lesson
A MATHS bus made a stop at a Swindon primary school to help pupils get to grips with fractions and equations. Sponsored by Zurich Financial Services, the space-themed maths bus was boarded by more than 60 children from Pinehurst Junior School yesterday
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Drug rape warning to town's clubbers
A SWINDON nightclub and a leading drug project in the town have united to issue a warning to clubbers over drug rapes. With the party season fast approaching, the Swindon and Wiltshire Alcohol and Drugs Advice Centre wants to ensure the safety of festive
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On the right route for a lifetime's happiness
A COUPLE are celebrating their diamond wedding after meeting on the buses during the blackouts in the Second World War. Arthur and Muriel Bradley, from the Lawns, Swindon, met on a Wilts and Dorset bus in Salisbury in January, 1941. Arthur was working
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Technology comes under the spotlight at conference
SWINDON Council's Mobile Media Club, based at cre8 Studios, is hosting a conference on new technology at the Oakfield Campus of the University of Bath in Swindon. The event, on November 23 and 24 between 9.30am and 5pm, gives teachers, artists, educationalists
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Stolen cards used to buy store goods
A MOTHER-of-three spent more than £1,000 in two days with stolen credit cards to raise cash to fund her crack cocaine habit. Sarah Elbrow spent hundreds of pounds on jewellery as well as buying cigarettes, sweets and getting cash back from super-markets
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Thames staff join Pudsey
THAMES Water staff in Reading and Swindon will be joining in the fundraising efforts for this year's BBC Children in Need appeal on Friday, November 16. Employees from across the company will be answering calls at Thames Water's customer Centre in Swindon
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'Freemasonry is the path to Satan'
CHRISTIANS who claim Freemasonry is cursed by God and is the path to Satan are running a seminar in Swindon. Bournemouth-based Free-dom Ministries International is behind the three-day event at The Bible Society in Stonehill Green, Westlea. Freemasonry
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Children get a spicy treat
CHILDREN from Liden Pre-School enjoyed a special lunch out at one of Swindon's Indian restaurants. They are taking part in Cultural Awareness Week, and their supervisor Linda Jenkins decided to give them the experience of Indian cuisine. They helped chefs
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High fliers will be back in action
COTSWOLD Aviation Centre at Kemble Airfield near Cirencester will again play host to the Great Vintage Flying Weekend during the weekend of May 10-12 ,2002. Reduced price advance tickets for the event will be available at all local Tourist Information
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Mum,42 scoops £97,000 at bingo
A SWINDON woman has scooped a £97,000 bingo prize. The 42-year-old mum, who has asked to remain anonymous, won the national prize during an eyes-down session at the Gala Bingo Club on Greenbridge Retail Park. Club manager Gary Fitt said: "We had a good
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A glimmer of light
ONLY three businesses have stumped up cash towards the Christmas lights since the Advertiser named and shamed the Scrooges of the town more than two weeks ago. The Evening Advertiser exposed a chilly side to the Christmas spirit when it was reported that
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Glass sales help Afghans
A MOTHER and son from Wilton are raising money for Afghan orphans by selling glass hand-blown by Afghan refugees. Jane and John Quick, who have both lived and worked in Afghanistan, are taking stalls at a series of Christmas fairs in the Salisbury area
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It could be a case of life and death
IS THIS the most vandalised phone box in Swindon? The booth, at the junction of Midhurst Avenue and Welcombe Avenue, regul- arly has its coin box rifled and glass panels smashed. And people who live close by say the vandalism could prove more than just
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Baby look at you now
IT is a miracle that Natalie Rendell has turned out to be a normal schoolgirl. The four year old charging around school with the energy of most healthy children her age was never expected to see the school playground. Instead, when Natalie was born four
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London Road set for lift-off
A MAJOR redevelopment of the London Road area of Salisbury, including a health and fitness complex and a 102-place day nursery, could be under way within months. Ambitious plans that will transform one of the main approaches to the city are nearly complete
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Be very sceptical
WE should be sceptical about official crime figures, partly because it is the police who decide what is "recorded" and even what is worthy of investigation. Would Alex Ferguson be allowed to referee a Manchester United match? It is also obvious that millions
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Phone moan
I RECENTLY attended an NHS dentist, and during my treatment the dentist answered her mobile phone twice! The second time she actually continued working on my teeth, with the phone tucked under her chin! I would like to complain directly to the surgery
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Better off out
SOME people have asked me to clarify further the ramifications of the EU Recycling Directive which was mentioned in Friday's Advertiser. The makers of fridges, dishwashers, cookers, computers and other electrical appliances will be forced to pay for the
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Don't hold your breath for improvements
IN the light of the new Conservative administration on Swindon Borough Council, let not the electorate hold its breath in expectancy of overnight change in the borough's fortunes. For far too long Swindon's Labour-run council has laboured under delusions
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Ear to ear service branded a big joke
I TOO am a disgruntled ntl client and was horrified to learn of the shop closure. Their audacity in saying they are moving "from eye to eye to ear to ear," is some joke! I have never waited less than 20 minutes for their so called customer services line
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Chippenham Minis have mixed fortunes
CHIPPENHAM Minis played host to Wootton Bassett and had mixed fortunes. The understrength under eights just lost out 15-10 , Cameron Roberts scoring both tries. The under nines defeated Minety 1st team 30-10, the seconds winning 35-0. They followed that
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Silence was broken
ON Remembrance Sunday my family and I, along with scores of other local people, went to the war memorial in Chippenham to pay our silent tribute. At 11am when St Andrew's Church clock started to strike everyone bowed their heads for the two minutes silence
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Oxfordshire under 18s 6, Dorset and Wiltshire under 18s 22
THE Twin Counties gained a convincing win at Witney in their second Southern County Championship pool game. They took the lead after five minutes with a Simon Whatling penalty. Oxfordshire replied with a penalty just before the interval. Midway through
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Bradford on Avon 33, Marlborough 10
DESPITE a spirited display, Marlborough went down to defeat at the hands of leaders Bradford on Saturday 10 November. Marlborough dominated the scrums, but failed to take full advantage of their possession throughout. Marlborough's two tries came in the
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Devizes 13, Wootton Bassett 22
WOOTTON Bassett battled back from a half-time deficit to clinch victory in their local derby clash with Devizes at the Sports Club ground on Saturday. The hosts' made a fine start and were three points ahead after just two minutes when Andy Webb converted
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Hospital plans
The answers to two questions asked after the meeting in Marlborough town hall on November 6 may be of interest to those pondering a public appeal for Savernake Hospital. Tony Beddow, the independent consultant, reckoned £500,000 would be enough to give
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The worst is yet to come for residents
WE attended the meeting called by the newly-formed Devizes Guardians group, to discuss the future of our town. Kennet District Council's behaviour regarding our Market Place, especially the removal of the trees and the parking spaces, does seem to have
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We must look to future of town's Market Place
I invariably come home after public meetings wishing "if only I'd asked a second question and said something else." My missed message after the meeting in Devizes Corn Exchange on November 8 would have been something like this: Let's imagine that the
