Archive
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Parents raise money for RUH
A CHIPPENHAM couple whose daughter was saved by staff at the Royal United Hospital in Bath have organised a fundraising campaign. Lauren Booth was six weeks old when she was rushed to hospital with meningitis. She was critically ill and stopped breathing
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Bowood plans get go ahead
LORD Lansdowne's controversial plans to build a multi-million pound flagship hotel and leisure complex on his Bowood Estate are to go ahead. Now the Marquis will begin talks with potential hotel partners to build and operate the 120-room four-star hotel
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Royal honour for health experts
HEALTH care professionals were honoured by the Princess Royal this week. Princess Anne presented the Evidence in Practice awards, hosted by the Bath and Swindon Research and Development Support Unit, which recognises people who use modern medical research
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High hopes for town's high rise
LIKE it or lump it, the David Murray John Tower has become an established part of Swindon's skyline. It is a symbol of the town, used by the council in its promotional work. So the people who live there should expect it to be maintained, almost cherished
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Pub grub is in fine fare
A VILLAGE pub has won more recognition for its top quality food. The Toll Gate Inn in Holt has been awarded accreditation to the Campaign of Real Food. Alexander Venables and Alison Ward-Baptiste took over the pub in 1999 and since then their food has
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More cash given for beds crisis
MORE money has been awarded to Wiltshire to help clear the bed blocking crisis within the county's hospitals. The county has now been given £744,000 to spend on the crisis instead of the planned £511,000. Ray Jones, director of Social Services for Wiltshire
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Anger over mill site demolition
ONE of Westbury's oldest industrial heritage sites is to be knocked down and replaced by a block of flats. Developer Bellacre Properties has been given permission to demolish the dilapidated mill building at Bitham Mill, despite being accused of deliberately
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Bratton pupils have answer to fundraising
KIND-HEARTED children at Bratton Primary School have been busy fundraising for less fortunate children. Every class has been involved in raising £413 for National Children's Homes. Janet Cartwright, youth fundraiser for Wiltshire schools, said: "They
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Mobile monitor will check airpollution levels
A SPECIAL mobile air monitoring station has been set up by the Environment Agency as part of its on-going policing of Blue Circle's cement works, Westbury. The specialist unit, which has been placed in the village of Bratton, will contain sensitive equipment
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Factory buses in Russian workers
A MINIBUS load of Ukrainians is travelling from London to work at Wincanton Logistics on the West Wilts Trading Estate, Westbury. One employee has spoken out against the move, saying he could not believe it was cheaper for the company to recruit people
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Boxes of delight
Shoeboxes have been coming in thick and fast for Operation Christmas Child. Organiser Judith Whalley has been out collecting the gifts all week and has taken them to a warehouse in Melksham ready to load onto the lorry. Roundstone School, Trowbridge,
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A superstore for the superbikes
Motorbike dealer group George White Superbikes, based in Manchester Road, Swindon has won a major accolade. It was named Dealer of the Year at this month's Motor Cycle News Awards at the International Conference Centre in Birmingham. The company, which
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Recording clues to a tragedy
SCENE of crime officer Ian Saunders has his own views on the number of fatal accidents currently beleaguering our Wiltshire roads, and one word sums them up speed. His role within Wiltshire Police force is to attend serious and fatal road traffic accidents
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More cash given for beds crisis
MORE money has been awarded to Wiltshire to help clear the bed blocking crisis within the county's hospitals. The county has now been given £744,000 to spend on the crisis instead of the planned £511,000. Ray Jones, director of Social Services for Wiltshire
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Viscount cleared of drink charge
A FINNISH meal soaked in vodka could have landed Longleat estate heir Viscount Weymouth with a drink-drive charge after he overtook a police van in his Maserati. But the 27-year-old aristocrat was cleared of the charge on November 8 after three police
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Warminster Town 0, Bath City Res 4
TOP of the table Bath City Reserves were well in control throughout the game although the final score included two penalties. In the sixth minute Bath were awarded a penalty for handball as a cross came over. Warminster goalkeeper Lloyd Chamberlain made
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The way forward
FOOTBALL: Corsham Town are holding a special general meeting at 7.30pm on Monday to discuss the way forward for the club. Supporters will have the chance to discuss the best way to achieve the club's aim of winning a place in the Screwfix Direct League
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Ladies on top
FOOTBALL : Chippenham Ladies B stayed top of the Wiltshire League after a 6-1 win over Porton Ladies. Scorers were: Seb Everson (3), Kay Quantick (2) and Charlotte Johnson. The ladies play Swindon Spitfires Reserves at Christian Malford this Sunday 18
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New invention to help curb thefts
AN INNOVATIVE invention could help prevent garage and shed burglaries. Richard Myall, of Marsh Street, Warminster, has helped Cleveland Studios Ltd develop a microchip that can protect valuable items. Anything from cameras and computers to garden machinery
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Silence is not golden
DISC jockeys at a community radio station could be silenced if it is made homeless. WCR in Warminster has broadcast from state-of-the-art studios in a converted toilet block at the town's assembly hall since 1996. Now there are doubts over whether the
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Warminster faces parking charges
PARKING charges will be forced on a west Wiltshire town if it fails to reach a compromise agreeable to West Wiltshire District Council by January. Warminster Town Council has been warned the town will face the same charging regime as Trowbridge, Melksham
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Rower nears end of race
A WARMINSTER man is competing in one of the world's toughest races. Will Mason has teamed up with Tim Thurman from Grimsby to tackle The Ward Evans Atlantic Rowing Challenge, which has a 2,900 nautical mile route from Tenerife to Barbados. Thirty-six
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Quirky fundraising stunts for Pudsey day
QUIRKY costumes and fun packed sponsored events have been taking place across north and west Wiltshire to raise money for Children In Need. Events leading up to the BBC's TV marathon tonight have included themed exercise sessions at Fit 2 Perform in Warminster
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Referee shortage is growing
LAST week's Wiltshire Junior League game between Dunbar Westside Reserves and Ferndale Rodbourne had to be called off after the match official failed to turn up. Brian Busson, the referees' appointment secretary for the Wiltshire League, said: "The referee
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Shrewton can stretch lead
Premier Division fixtures in the Skurrays Wiltshire League have been reduced this weekend, with several clubs taking part in the first round of the Wilts Senior Cup. However, league leaders Shrewton United are in action in Malmesbury, and could stretch
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The heat is on at Highworth
Hellenic: Premier Division side Highworth Town will be in desperate need of three points from their Hellenic home game with Didcot Town this weekend. Bottom club Cheltenham Saracens picked up their first win of the season in midweek, and are now just
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All the local football fixtures for the weekend
SKURRAYS WILTSHIRE LEAGUE Premier Division: Malmesbury Vic Res v Shrewton Utd, Melksham Town Res v Cricklade Town, Pewsey Vale Res v Purton Res, Warminster Town Res v Biddestone, Westbury Utd Res v Corsham Town Res. Intermediate Division: Biddestone Res
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Champions to make it tough for Melksham
Melksham Town's long unbeaten run will be severely threatened when they travel to Taunton in the Premier Division tomorrow. Robbie Lardner's in-form side have won nine and drawn three of their last 12 games. But a trip to the league champions and FA Vase
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Going up?
Supermarine prepare to host Weston-super-Mare tomorrow, knowing that victory could lift them from the Western Division bottom spot for the first time since August. A win at Hunts Copse would elevate the club above Cirencester, providing that Marine's
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The show must go on
WHILE the England-based British motor industry felt they couldn't stage the usual motor show this year, the Scots are made of more sterling stuff. Appropriately, Stirling Castle was the location for the annual Scottish Car of the Year Awards, which coincided
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Magic Ford
Making its UK debut at the show when prices will be announced was the all-new Fiesta, which goes on sale in the spring when prices will be announced. But what has been largely unheralded is that it is expected to be available to Motability Scheme customers
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Honda jazzes up the show
THIS year the Scottish Motor Show proved to be the only showcase for cars in the UK, the London event having been called off due to lack of support and Belfast because of the foot and mouth crisis. While there were notable absences by several manu-facturers
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Safe and stylish
The Peugeot 307 is now available with a powerful, 110 bhp HDi turbo diesel engine and the option of an automatic gearbox on 1.6 litre and 2.0 litre petrol engine models. And, in a further move to con-solidate its class-leading position on safety, the
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Move to prevent car dumping is welcomed
THE Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders has welcomed the Government consultation on a range of new measures that will cut down on illegal car dumping. The measures, which include giving local authorities access to DVLA records and more power to
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Winsley store voted top shop
WINSLEY Post Office Stores could be voted Neighbourhood Shop of the Year after winning the south west area final. The post office and general store beat off competition from across the area and will now go through to the national final of the contest,
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Underwater photos get shown on land
AWARD-winning underwater photographer Ed Whiting is holding an exhibition at the Silver Street Gallery in Bradford on Avon on November 25. Mr Whiting, who lives near Westbury, has been awarded a Licentiateship by the Royal Photographic Society and his
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Bath 19, London Irish 11
TEENAGER Olly Barkley helped to secure Bath's second Zurich Premiership victory of the season over London Irish and proved that Bath don't need Mike Catt to produce moments of magic. Fly-half Barkley's dazzling chip, catch and pass to set up a 36th-minute
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Why give up the Trowbridge site?
I AM a Devizes resident who strongly supports the building of a new record office at Trowbridge. The hard facts for Trowbridge are so overwhelming that after attending the open part of the meeting last week, it is apparent the pro-Devizes campaigners
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What message are we driving home now?
I read the article about the new Peugeot 307 on Page 11 of the Motoring section of the Wiltshire Times dated Friday 30 October 2001 with interest, until I read the quote that "at 90mph the car was very peaceful". The article continued: "my 307 spent a
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Danielli's bristling with intent
SIMON Danielli already has one memory of being a losing visitor in a West County derby and it's not an experience he wants to repeat during Sunday's Premiership clash at the Memorial Stadium. The 22-year-old was already a successful member of the all-conquering
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Cars blocked emergency routes
AS residents of the Green Lane estate we feel something must be done about all the cars that come on our estate on Bonfire Night. If anyone needed a 999 service there is no way anything could get to us. Also if the Red Cross, who cover the event and have
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Silence is golden
ON the vexed subject of fireworks I would like to begin by congratulating the organisers of Bradford's official display on producing something visually exciting but with a minimum of noise clearly this can be done. But what can be done about those who
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Is this the way to show respect?
I felt very sad on Sunday at 11am on the 11th day of the 11th month 2001. Yes, it was Remembrance Day and two minutes silence to remember people that had given their lives during war, not only the two World Wars, but also more recent conformations. Except
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'I was attacked before I bit him'
A MAN accused of severing another man's ear in a nightclub has told the jury how he bit out when he himself was attacked. Swindon Crown Court heard how James Gibson told police he was beaten at Eros, in Shaw Ridge, and remembered biting something in the
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Honda up for top award
A FLAGSHIP Swindon-built car is in line for one of the top awards of the motor industry. The Honda Civic, built at the Japanese giant's plant in South Marston, is one of seven contenders for European Car of the Year. Motoring journalists from throughout
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Have your say on the trains
RAIL watchdogs will hold a public meeting in Swindon as part of an investigation into First Great Western. The meeting, organised by the Rail Passengers' Committees Western England and Wales and the London Transport Users' Committee, will be the first
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Son tells of lucky escape from burning vehicle
A FATHER and son from Swindon are lucky to be alive after escaping the burning wreckage of their BMW minutes before it exploded. Matthew Rothwell, 30, of Lydiard Millicent, was trapped in the flaming wreckage of his BMW for several minutes before pulling
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16/11/01
THE performance against Australia was probably the finest first half display that I have ever seen from an England side. The whole week was an extremely satisfying experience even though I did not come off the bench during the match. The result was poetic
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Derby stirs the memories for old-boy contingent
YOU could feel right from the start of this week that there is a derby match against Bristol coming up this weekend. We had a hard, intensive training session on Tuesday and there was a little bit of added spice to it because of the game against our old
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Farmers take a fresh look
After the devastating effects of BSE and foot-and-mouth, the struggle facing the farming profession continues. Farmers are battling to maintain what for many is their heritage as well as their business. However, relying on existing methods of farming
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Anyone seen our Santa?
THE Shires shopping centre in Trowbridge is desperately searching for Santa. The centre has only a few weeks to find someone before it opens its grotto. Santa will have to work from 10am to 4pm Wednesday to Sunday, from December 1. Shires staff are also
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Injured girl helped by passer-by
A MYSTERY good Samaritan called an ambulance when a three-year-old girl crushed her fingers in a car door. Now the victim's family has thanked the unknown passer-by. Maureen Lewer was Christmas shopping in Trowbridge with her daughter Sharon and granddaughter
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Winsley store voted top shop
WINSLEY Post Office Stores could be voted Neighbourhood Shop of the Year after winning the south west area final. The post office and general store beat off competition from across the area and will now go through to the national final of the contest,
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School has the white idea
A SCHOOL in Trowbridge is one of only two in Wiltshire to join a project offering milk to all primary school children. The newly-opened Mead School at Paxcroft Mead has opted to join the Cool Milk at School scheme, which offers free milk to all under
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Fun day has a serious side
A FAMILY fun day at The John Bull pub in Westfield Road, Trowbridge, on Sunday November 25 will raise money for Breakthrough Breast Cancer. Organiser Tamara Owen is hoping to raise £1,000 from the event. She is keen to support the charity as her stepfather
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Fight to keep town's services
CIVIC leaders in Trowbridge have vowed to continue the fight to keep key public services in the county town. Trowbridge received a double blow with news last week that the town's magistrates court is to close and the decision by Wiltshire County Council
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Campaigners continue quest for peace
PEACE campaigners in Trowbridge may form a permanent group after a series of peace vigils against the bombing in Afghanistan gained good support. The Trowbridge Ad Hoc Peace Group was formed four weeks ago to give people the opportunity to protest peacefully
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Head announces retirement
THE headteacher of John of Gaunt School in Trowbridge says he is looking forward to a change of lifestyle when he retires at the end of this term. Stephen Gee and his wife Christine will be off to live in France as soon as school is over. But he is quick
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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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Time to speak up
WESTBURY MP Andrew Murrison sums up wonderfully the present state of affairs in Trowbridge over the possible loss of the County Records Office and its court when he describes the county town as Wiltshire's civic amputee (see Page 6). Trowbridge is fortunate
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Health lottery must stop
OLD soldier Dennis Fleming is facing the toughest time of his life when he deserves to be taking things easy. After serving for more than 40 years in the Army, he desperately needs surgery on a knee which is causing him a huge amount of pain and has rendered
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Off-roader on offer to lucky shoppers
A SHOPPING centre in Swindon is offering a new car as top prize in a Christmas competition. Greenbridge Retail and Leisure Park is offering the 4x4 Daihatsu Terios off-roader in a competition launched this week. Customers who fill in application forms
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Man escapes jail after glass attack
DRUNKEN Gawain Murtough walked free from court after he admitted glassing another man in the head in an unprovoked attack. The 31-year-old attacked clubber David Tomlinson from behind, striking him with a water glass he was holding. Mr Tomlinson needed
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Villages to get IT help
VILLAGES across Wiltshire are to benefit from two £500,000 mobile learning units to be set up next March. The Wiltshire and Swindon Lifelong Learning Partnership, a Government initiative set up in 1999, has commissioned the two units. One will be based
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Lord wins right to build hotel on his estate
LORD Lansdowne's controversial plans to build a multi-million pound hotel and leisure complex on his Bowood Estate will go ahead. Now the Marquis will begin talks with potential hotel partners to build and operate the 120-room four-star hotel complex,
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Light relief after a day honouring the dead
HELEN FRYER is a student from Covingham who is spending a year in the French city of Lille, working at the Pasteur Institute. Helen, 21, is a student at Keele University, where she is studying French and Biology. LAST Saturday, I visited Arras, about
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Animal parking
THE frustrations of wheel clamping suffered by modern motorists are nothing new and even horse riders in the past could incur penalties, records have proved. Newly acquired archives at the Wiltshire and Swindon County Record Office in Trowbridge show
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Web site puts Tim on line for award
A TERRITORIAL Army officer of the Royal Logistic Corps has been given a top Army commendation. Swindonian Capt Tim Matthews, 28, of 168 Pioneer Regiment The Royal Logistic corps, a unit based at Grantham in Lincolnshire, has been presented with a commander
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Cycling plan finds favour
A CONTROVERSIAL new cycle path for parkland in Old Town is set to win permission. The council has long wanted to build a cycle path and footway on the Lawns Public Open Space. In spite of protests from residents, the council's planning committee is likely
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Cowabunga! Swindon Ninjas are on the loose
The Teenage Ninja Turtles had better watch out because Swindon has its own group of martial arts experts. Principal Academy UK students were treated to a trip to Spain to train with the Ninja Grandmaster Dr Masaaki Hatsumi. Marc Moor, the group's instructor
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Backlash on new car tax
ONE in 14 drivers will decide to give up their company car because of extra tax they face from next April, Lex Vehicle Leasing predicts. But there will be an overall increase of around 400,000 company cars over the next few years. That's double the amount
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Youngsters taught that fitness is fun
CHILDREN are being taught how to keep fit for life in an initiative to combat sedentary modern lifestyles. The scheme, called FitBase, is being run by Swindon Services' lifestyle development team and is open to children aged between five and 10. The fitness
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MG gets its wrists slapped
JUST when reborn MG thought everything was going well, the maker has had its wrists slapped by the Advertising Standards Authority. MG Rover has now suspended the newspaper adverts which use the slogans 'Full Fat, High Caffeine and Maximum Strength' and
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Prince's harpist at classical recital
THE Prince of Wales' personal harpist Catrin Finch is coming to Calne as part of a new recital series, which is putting the town on the map as a centre of excellence for music in the region. A host of internationally renowned artists have chosen to perform
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'Super-home will change our lives'
FOR single-parent Mohammed Kahn, life is not easy looking after two disabled children. Raffat and Imran both suffer from severe muscle disabilities leaving them wheelchair-bound and unable to carry out everyday tasks like eating dinner and getting ready
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Brisk trading for Christmas
SWINDON stores have reported brisk trading in the run up to Christmas, in contrast to a national downturn in high street sales last month. The Office for National Statistics has recorded a sharp drop in business at clothing and depart-ment stores across
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Nursing home resident had bed sores as big as a hand
JURORS at the inquest of Arthur Horrod, a resident of a Wiltshire nursing home, said he died from natural causes but neglect had been a contributing factor. Retired machinist Mr Horrod, a resident at Calne's Dunstan House Nursing Home, was found with
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It's not a trendy wine bar yet
BEFORE it closed, it was owned by a bank that said it didn't close branches to make way for trendy wine bars. Now the former Nat West Bank in Wood Street is helping flog trendy flats and might become a trendy wine bar yet. The ex-bank is currently being
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I know i make a difference
AS a social worker, Liz Williams is sometimes called on to make agonising decisions to protect the welfare of youngsters under her supervision in the most extreme cases of neglect or abuse, this can mean removing children from their parents. Although
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Record bookings for show
SIXTH Sense, Swindon's professional theatre company, has recorded its highest ever number of bookings for a single production. A new production of Aesop's Fables will be performed 65 times in schools, arts centres and theatres in Swindon and around the
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Villagers campaign for a stronger voice
Villagers who say their lives are being disrupted by the laying of a new water main are planning a national protest against service providers who fail to consult over major installations. Residents of Blunsdon accuse Thames Water of springing plans for
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Pudsey has plenty of wheel appeal!
BAKED beans, dancing girls and a taxi dressed as a yellow bear can only mean one thing it's time for Children in Need. There are events going on all over town today and tonight to raise cash for the annual fundraising event. A taxi is roaming the town
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Duke ready to return to knock out Hartlepool
DAVID DUKE is confident Town can repeat their FA Cup North East knockout. The 23-year-old came off the bench during last season's 5-0 win over Gateshead but the wing-back is adamant that Hartlepool will prove to be altogether tougher opposition. Duke
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Eric it's what Nimes are made of
ERIC SABIN makes his FA Cup debut tomorrow and knows all too well that dreams sometimes come true. Town go into the clash with Hartlepool as favourites but the French striker is proof that the underdog sometimes has its day. The 26-year-old created history
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Roy's cup crisis
ROY Evans has seen his FA Cup preparations thrown into chaos thanks to a cocktail of confusion, injury and family illness. Town's director of football was less than impressed when he discovered that Wayne Carlisle and Jo Kuffour would not be available
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Government has let us down
A LOT has been written and said about the poor financial situation and performance of Swindon Council. The only answer from the politicians and council officers seems to be a swinging increase in council tax. Let's sting the poor old council taxpayer
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This danger has to stop
I AGREE with M Shewry's (Letters, November 2) views entirely. Banning of fireworks except at organised displays is long overdue. I'm sure I recall many years ago discussions taking place aimed at this purpose, since then fireworks have become even more
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Swindon send for wide boys
SWINDON have made changes to their wings as they prepare for their first-ever league meeting with Oxford. Both Matt Seyneave and Chris Lawrence make returns to the starting line-up, but Mark Scarrott has to settle for a place on the bench after dislocating
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Car owners flattened by tyre attacks
CAR owners were left with bills running into hundreds of pounds after their tyres were slashed. Cars parked in Stockwood Road, Fairfoot Close, and Westerleigh Close in Chippenham were attacked on Saturday night. All four tyres on a Honda Accord, parked
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Gimme your lunch!
WATCH OUT People of a nervous disposition should avoid the riverbank in Chippenham town centre at lunchtime. Crafty swans have obviously learnt to tell it's sandwich time and amuse themselves by mugging passers-by.
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Compromise is best solution
Planning officers have a duty to insist on the best when new developments are planned for Swindon. They have certainly done that with the Phoenix Gate development proposed for Fleming Way. Now it appears a compromise has finally been found. The new development
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Neo Nazi is jailed 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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Bush delighted with fightback
FOOTBALL: Manager Colin Bush has praised his Chippenham Town under 18s team after they staged an amazing comeback to stretch their unbeaten run in the FA County Floodlight Youth League to 10 matches at Swindon Supermarine. Chippenham were three goals
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Delay means the show goes on . . . and on
BRATTON'S Jubilee Players will be treating their audience to not just one but three plays tonight and tomorrow. The trilogy of one-act plays will begin at 7.30pm each night with Wife Required, a comedy with a sting in the tail about a man trying to find
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Fears over development of farmland
CONTROVERSIAL plans to build 62 houses on former farmland near Westbury Leigh have been given the go-ahead, despite objections from local residents and councillors. Wimpey Homes can develop the land north of Penleigh Road, providing it builds at least
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Community pre-school opens its doors
A COMMUNITY-RUN pre-school has a waiting list of children in its first week. Cygnets pre-school in Westbury Leigh celebrated is official opening day on Friday. In the first week, 28 children attended sessions at the Baptist Church Hall, with more wanting
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Exhibition on right track
A model railway exhibition held at the Paragon Hall in Westbury on Saturday 11 November by west Wiltshire group traders was a big success. John Catchpole, who helped organise the event, said: "Everyone who turned up seemed delighted that the show was
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Underwater photos get shown on land
AWARD-winning underwater photographer Ed Whiting is holding an exhibition at the Silver Street Gallery in Bradford on Avon on November 25. Mr Whiting, who lives near Westbury, has been awarded a Licentiateship by the Royal Photographic Society and his
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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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Bristol and West hit by its website investment
Financial services group Bristol & West blamed its investment in internet money site MoneyXtra for a 17per cent fall in half-year pre-tax profits . The former building society would not say how much it had ploughed into the website, which sells financial
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We all remember
VETERANS stood alongside those too young to remember, all with their heads bowed, in memory of the fallen in nearly 100 years of conflict at the weekend. Those gathered at each touching Remembrance Day ceremony on Sunday 11 November echoed back the final
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Cash boost for childcare
CHILDCARE groups across WIltshire have welcomed Lottery funding that will make it easier for parents to return to work. The £145,995 grant from the New Opportunities fund will be used to create 96 after-school places, 92 holiday club places and 150 early
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Home makeover is won at last
THE Wiltshire Times's biggest ever competition reached its nail biting conclusion on Monday. Ten finalists and their families and friends arrived at Southleigh Furniture in Crockerton, near Warminster, and were greeted by managing director Sean Haines
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Sitting in custard to raise a smile
TWO very brave members of staff from West Wiltshire Housing Society will sit in a bath of custard today at 1pm to raise funds for BBC's Children In Need and Dorothy House Hospice. Community warden, Mavis Newman and society chief executive, Stewart Mountfield
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Downton 0, Westbury United 1
SCREWFIX DIRECT LEAGUE: WESTBURY United set up a second round Wiltshire Premier Shield date with local rivals Warminster Town with victory at Jewson Wessex League outfit Downton on Tuesday night. Steve Perkins ensured Westbury manager Derek Graham enjoyed
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Bath City Reserves 5, Westbury Utd 2
SCREWFIX DIRECT LEAGUE: UNITED fell to a heavy defeat against First Division pace-setters Bath in the Les Phillips Cup. The home side's pace and power were decisive and they coped better with the wind and rain. United missed the unavoidable Mark Pearce
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Villagers through in cup thriller
TROWBRIDGE LEAGUE: THE first round of the A and B Cup (sponsored by Just Signs Trowbridge) threw up a repeat of last years final between Bradford Town Reserves and Broughton Gifford. Steve Roddy put Town ahead with a header after 15 minutes and a superb
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Marlborough Town 0, Trowbridge Town 1
SKURRAY'S WILTSHIRE LEAGUE: TROWBRIDGE gained important points to maintain their Premier Division challenge by defeating a much improved Marlborough team. The only goal of the match came after just five minutes, Mark Connor the scorer after Jerad O'Pray
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Town win through
MELKSHAM Town's dreams of a visit to Villa Park are still very much alive after a dramatic 2-1 extra-time victory in their second round FA Vase clash at AFC Totton on Saturday. An extra-time winner from substitute Matty Messenger booked Melkham's place
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Former Melksham keeper chases England place
FORMER Melksham Town goalkeeper Steve Perrin will be aiming for national honours when he lines up in an FA XI against a Ryman League representative side at Bishop's Stortford on Wednesday night. Perrin, who now plays for Forest Green Rovers in the Conference
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Police search for witnesses
A CAR being followed by police left the road on a sharp bend and ended up in a ditch on Saturday. Police are appealing for witnesses to the accident, which happened on the B3099 road, between Dilton Marsh and Standerwick at about 2.25pm. The two men inside
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MP voices concern at changes
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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We're rotten drivers
BAD driving by so-called experienced motorists is putting learners off taking to the roads. Over half of today's novice drivers are deterred by their fear of bad drivers, and almost as many are worried about road rage. The shock results come from a survey
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Women get the Company cars
MORE women are staking their claim on a place in the company car park. In companies with bigger fleets, women drive more than one-fifth of the company cars, says the Lex report on company motoring. But women are more likely to driver less powerful cars
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Fiat's new Stilo has plenty of style
An outstanding car at the Scottish Show was Fiat's all-new mid-size three and five-door hatchback, the Stilo. Going on sale in mainland Europe shortly, it is designed in-house by Fiat. The interior can be adapted to changing individual needs because the
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Seventh heaven
Burning rubber in a seven-seat people carrier hardly seems likely, but if that is your bag then Vauxhall's new Zafira GSi Turbo fits the bill. Its turbocharged engine has a top speed of 137mph and it achieves 0-60mph in under eight seconds. At £19,995
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Community gathers to plan new schemes
COMMUNITY spirit could be felt in full force on Monday night as residents, councillors and volunteers in Bradford on Avon set up a community planning group. More than 40 people gathered at the first meeting in St Margaret's Hall to discuss a range of
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Questions on records office saga
TROWBRIDGE town councillor Angela Milroy makes a compelling case for regarding with extreme suspicion and some serious reservations, the county council decision (by only four votes to three apparently) to move the county record office from Trowbridge
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Balshaw's Little face-off
ROOKIE centre Iain Balshaw will be plunged into a derby head-to-head with Bristol's Australian World Cup-winning legend Jason Little on Sunday. The England man was switched to the midfield from the wing for the first time for last weekend's 19-11 Premiership
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High cost is major problem for recycling
Bill Scott is correct in stating recycling is best carried out by means of kerbside collections. I have been arguing for this at the district council for 11 years. However, the new household recycling centres being established in Melksham, and soon in
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Tipping talk
ALTHOUGH I do not condone the dumping of rubbish in country lanes (Wiltshire Times, November 9) I can't help thinking this may be a result of our local authority axing the community skips some time ago. We seem to pay more and more in council tax and
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Fireman Dan calls it a day
A FIREFIGHTER has retired after spending more than half his life in the brigade. Danny Gray, 55, had his final morning parade at Swindon Fire Station in Drove Road. It marked the end of a 28-and-a-half year career which began in the days when many brigades
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OAP upset after theft of jewels
A PENSIONER from Purton has been left heartbroken after burglars stole £3,500 of antique jewellery from her home. Diamond-encrusted rings, gold bracelets and necklaces were taken in the burglary. The 72-year-old victim, who lives alone, was out when the
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Teacher is in running for school top award
A SWINDON teacher is in line for a national information technology award for his work in promoting the subject in his school. Assistant head teacher Simon Burrell has boosted the number of computers available for pupils at Lydiard Millicent Primary School
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Phoenix is set for go-ahead
A HOUSING complex that will "set the standard" for building in the heart of Swindon for the next 30 years has finally won the grudging backing of council planners. Officers are recommending that the council's planning committee support the £20 million
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Faulty tower
RESIDENTS living in one of Swindon's most prominent landmarks, the David Murray John Tower, say they are being neglected. Since the Brunel Centre was sold by Swindon Council in 1999, they say the 30-year-old town centre skyscraper, still owned by the
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Prominent musicians play 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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Pupils are united in diplomacy
EAGER young diplomats from Trowbridge spent part of their half-term holiday honing their debating skills. The youngsters, pupils at John of Gaunt School, went to a model United Nations conference in Belfast. The purpose of the conference was for the students
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Soccer pundits pull in the crowds
FOOTBALLING legends Jimmy Greaves and Ian St John were guest speakers at a charity dinner in Trowbridge. More than 300 guests packed the town's Civic Hall last Friday for the 10th Mencap dinner the charity's most successful event to date. The men-only
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Do not park your horse here
EVERYONE dreads the sight of a clamp secured to their car, but few know clamping was around before cars were invented. New archives at the Wiltshire and Swindon County Record Office in Trowbridge show an historical equivalent was used against those who
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Santa swoops in for Christmas bazaar
FATHER Christmas will be paying a flying visit to North Bradley next weekend. He will be soaring around the village on November 24, before finally coming to rest at North Bradley CE School, just in time to enjoy the school's Christmas bazaar with villagers
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Housing plans for school site
PARENTS living on a new estate near Trowbridge are worried a promised secondary school for their children will never be built. A 20-acre site in Green Lane at Paxcroft Mead was allocated for a school in West Wiltshire District Council's district plan
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Tribute to staff member
STAFF at a firm of solicitors in Trowbridge are busy making goods to sell for charity. Sylvester & Mackett are holding a Christmas Fair in aid of Macmillan Cancer Relief on November 24. Office manager Susan Roberts said: "We have all been busy making
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Living on the edge for children
THE Fire Brigade will be doing its bit for Children in Need tomorrow with an attempt to climb the distance to the edge of the Earth's atmosphere. Fire officers and support staff alike will be taking on the gruelling 12.5-mile climb. They will be setting
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Festive fun as lights go on
AFTER weeks of anticipation, Trowbridge's Christmas lights will be turned on at 6.30pm tonight. Two days of festive celebrations will include fairground rides, stalls and a visit by Father Christmas. Trowbridge town development manager Daryl Saville-Brown
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Artist's hair-raising story
AN ARTIST from Winsley was responsible for creating the facial hair for Robbie Coltrane and Richard Harris for the children's film, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Sarah Weatherburn, who owns a company in London that specialises in producing
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Reward offered for car bomber
A £1,000 reward is being offered by a Trowbridge businessman to anyone who can help catch the person responsible for setting fire to his car. An incendiary device was thrown through Andy Powell's £20,000 Mercedes C-Class saloon car last month. He had
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Court closure is rough justice
STAFF at Trowbridge Magistrates Court will face redundancy if they do not take posts at the new court house in Chippenham. They have been told they are unlikely to lose their jobs but many are thought to favour taking redundancy settlements rather than
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Brewery plan praise
PLANS to develop a former brewery site in Trowbridge got a positive, but cautious, welcome at a meeting of the council's town development committee on Tuesday. Councillors unanimously applauded the application by developers Foinavon and Mystique, to convert
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Setback for sex shop
TWO Trowbridge businessmen have vowed to continue their struggle to open a sex shop in Trowbridge, despite yet another setback. Brothers Daniel and Kevin Moore are looking for a new site for the shop after the landlord of the premises they had secured
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Old soldier faces fight of his life
AN OLD soldier who served in the Army for almost 40 years wiped away tears as he described how his country had let him down after his bid to have an urgent knee replacement operation abroad was rejected. Dennis Fleming, from Barnack Close, Trowbridge,
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Repairs to play areas prove to be eye 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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Splashing out for a new bed
A SWIMMING afternoon at Swindon's Link Centre was sponsored by home furnishing shop MFI. The firm has launched a Splash bathroom range and decided to hold the event to help promote it. It included a colouring competition for children with the chance to
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Now disabled people can go to the hall!
Purton's Millennium Community Hall has splendid disabled facilities the only problem being that the people for whom they were intended could not get there. The pothole-filled car park was in such a bad state that people with physical handicaps could not
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TV historian to visit museum
ADAM Hart-Davis, presenter of the BBC series What The Victorians Did For Us will be in the Steam museum on December 8 to deliver the Steam Christmas Family Lecture. It is the first time the TV historian has visited Steam. His lecture called What The Victorians
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Relieved parents to raise cash
A COUPLE whose young daughter was saved by staff at Bath's Royal United Hospital have organised a fundraising campaign. Lauren Booth was just six weeks old when she was rushed to hospital with meningitis. She was critically ill and stopped breathing.
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Dyslexic duo take art into community
TWO dyslexic artists have set up a community arts project to tour venues ranging from young offenders' institutions to schools. Josie Williams and Mike Juggins say they did not start their project, called Ants in Yer Pants, to specifically address the
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A real estate with style
THERE'S no good reason why the joys of this Mitsubishi should have been such a surprise. It's over 10 years since I drove my first Galant and decided that this was the Japanese BMW. Honda might qualify, but Mitsubishi wins because of its relative rarity
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You could save enough for a family holiday
PEUGEOT says some drivers could save themselves enough for a family holiday abroad every year, if they switch to diesel for their company car. The maker has worked out several tax scenarios to show how the choice of vehicle could save them money over
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Coupe comeback
AT FIRST glance, the new BMW 3-Series for next year suggests that the German maker of much-desired cars has lost its eye for glamour. The two pictures shown here (above, left) hint at a car with a top-heavy style, more of a utilitarian plodder than the
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Kia's MPV surprise
SURPRISE performer in the burgeoning MPV market, amid such well-known favourites as Ford's Galaxy and the Renault Espace, is the lesser-known budget entry from Kia the Sedona, pictured left. In the first half of this year the Korean challenger has become
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Children get their skates on for fun
YOUNGSTERS had the chance to experience the thrills and spills of ice skating last night for just the price of an Evening Advertiser. A synthetic plastic surface was put in place outside the Debenhams store in the town centre for the event, sponsored
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Shortage of social workers echoes the picture nationally
SWINDON is suffering from a national shortage of social workers. Uncompetitive pay combined with increasing house prices has meant that Swindon Social Services is crying out for suitably qualified staff. According to the town's head of children and families
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Work on flats for nurses under way
BUILDING work is now underway to provide accommodation for more than 140 nurses and other key workers at the new Great Western Hospital in Swindon. The £3.2 million scheme at the Commonhead site includes 143 bedrooms with shared kitchens and communal
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Middle Eastern channel comes to Wiltshire
MEMBERS of Wiltshire's Arabic community can now tune into one of the biggest Middle Eastern TV channels in the world. News channel Al Jazeera, which is watched by more than 35 million people worldwide, has been launched free on UK Sky Digital. The move
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Immigrants to stay in police cells
THREE illegal immigrants are still being held at Swindon police station waiting to be dealt with by immigration officials. The immigrants were picked up in Blagrove on Monday after escaping from a lorry they used to travel into the country. Ten more immigrants
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Keeping the peace among neighbours
FEUDING neighbours are on the increase in Swindon with arguments over noise, children and anti-social behaviour raging in the town's streets. Community Mediation Swindon has reported a 100 per cent rise in cases over the past six months, pointing to an
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Police in plea for accident witnesses
POLICE are appearing for witnesses after a collision between a lorry and motorbike in Swindon. The collision happened on Dorcan Way at the junction with Greenbridge Road about 3.30pm on Tuesday. The motorbike was travelling west towards Greenbridge when
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Boxes of cheer for the world's poor children
CHRISTMAS cheer and goodwill came early to a Swindon nursery as children helped collect nearly 100 gift boxes for charity. Staff at Poplars Day Care Nursery, in Lower Wanborough, showed off their collection of 95 boxes for Operation Christmas Child. The
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This danger has to stop
IT IS now November 11 and tonight the fireworks are still in full swing. I have two labradors who are really ill with the fireworks and my small grandchildren have been badly upset at bedtime for weeks. Now, can anyone tell me when this is going to stop
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Cycle of pain must be ended
YOUR double-page spread on November 6, highlighted yet again the distress and despair that is caused by bullying and its long-term effects. It coincided with two opposing and conflicting measures: to allow parents in England and Wales to continue smacking
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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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Westbury 36, Bridport 18
WESTBURY made a poor start, Bridport's pressure earning them points early in the game. The forwards then started their domination of the scrums leaving Bridport struggling to win the ball. Matt Doughty stormed over from the line-out and Mark Symes soon
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Rugby fixtures
South West Divisions South West 1: Barnstaple v Reading, Bridgwater & Albion v Dings Crusaders, Chinnor v Cheltenham, Dorchester v Weston Super Mare, Maidenhead v Stroud, Swanage & Wareham v Keynsham. South West 2 East: Abbey v Slough, Amersham
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No changes for Bassett
Wootton Bassett keep an unchanged side for the visit of Ivel Barbarians in their Southern Counties (South) League at Stoneover Lane (2.30pm). Bassett will hope to improve further from last week's victory over Devizes. However, Barbarians are in good form
