Archive
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Healthy snack store opens
A SPECIALIST food shop opened in Chippenham's Emery Gate on Wednesday December 19. The Julian Graves store sells dried fruits, nuts, Bombay mix and all sorts of traditional confectionary, such as bon bons, Pontefract cakes and sugared almonds. Store supervisor
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Boys displaynew skills
YOUNG rugby players showed off their packing skills last weekend. Twenty boys, who are in the under 12s Chippenham rugby team, spent their day at Sainsbury's supermarket in Chippenham and packed bags for shoppers. The players raised more then £700 and
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Driver admits to false name
A COMPANY boss has pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified after police stopped him in one of his company cars. Keith Edwards, 47, of Quarry Edge, Kingsdown, near Box, appeared before magistrates in Chippenham on Monday. He also admitted having no
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Residents are kept safe after power line snaps
EMERGENCY services were put on standby and staff at the town hall were ready for a mass evacuation in London Road, Chippenham, after a live electricity cable snapped in half. And because the electric cable was on the pavement at least six people were
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Hinckley United 2:Salisbury City 1Dr Martens League Premier Division
THE welcome return of Paul Sales from a groin injury coincided with a much-improved Salisbury City performance on Saturday. But the luckless Whites remain rooted to the bottom of the table as they slipped to a 2-1 defeat at Hinckley United. The prolific
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Identify the missing men
THE Sarah Payne case brought out a very raw emotion in all right-thinking people, especially parents who have an innate instinct to protect their child from harm. It also opened up the debate about the merits of the Sex Offenders Register and its effectiveness
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Going, going gone!
ROY EVANS has quit the County Ground after deciding he cannot fulfil his dream of taking Swindon Town onwards and upwards. The director of football spoke to the Evening Advertiser this morning to confirm the news that fans have been dreading. The former
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Safe route makes life dangerous
THE newly completed cycle way in London Road, Devizes is receiving a mixed reaction. Some cyclists believe the path that was built at a huge cost to make their lives safer is failing. In the past couple of weeks several cyclists have reported near misses
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Festive care or spirit of scrooge
CHRISTMAS brings out the best and worst in people. In the village of Alton Barnes a couple's festive display in their garden has been spoilt by thieves who stole a figure of Santa that was the centre piece of the attraction. The couple spend many hours
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Charity effort spoilt by thugs
A COUPLE in their seventies have had their Christmas charity fundraising effort targeted by young thugs. Stan and Joan Williams, both 71, have been collecting money for Prospect Hospice for four years by putting up Christmas lights and having a contribution
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Museum buys historic gun
THE Heritage Centre in Chippenham has snapped up a slice of the town's engineering history an Edwardian double barrelled 12 bore breechloading shotgun. But heritage centre manager Mike Stone has a hurdle to cross before he can display the new find. "As
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Firefighters pose a profit
FIREFIGHTERS from Chippenham who got their kit off for a good cause are well on their way to raising £8,000 after they sold 1,000 copies of their charity calendar in less than a week. The two fire crews decided to produce the calendar to raise money for
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Bluebirds warned to stay off the turkey
DR MARTENS LEAGUE: TITLE-CHASING Chippenham Town will hit their in-form players in the pocket should they over-indulge on turkey and Christmas pudding over the festive period. The Bluebirds, currently lying second in the Dr Martens League Western Division
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And a happy Christmas to you all from me
I'D just like to take this opportunity to wish you all a merry Christmas and a happy New Year. It's been another turbulent 12 months at the County Ground. It certainly seems to have flown by. Terry Brady started the year as chairman but has now found
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Old Trafford beckons for Gazza!
SO Gazza wants to be a manager does he? That should certainly be interesting. Half-time kebabs should catch on a treat. I'm not sure whether to laugh or cry. For some reason I get really angry when I see footballers waste the talent they have. Most of
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No-one taking the can
HAS anyone glanced at the Avon Insurance Combination table recently? It does not make for very happy reading. Before yesterday's clash with Northampton, Town's reserves had won just one of their 11 games and were firmly rooted to the bottom of the table
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Hinckley United 2:Salisbury City 1Dr Martens League Premier Division
THE welcome return of Paul Sales from a groin injury coincided with a much-improved Salisbury City performance on Saturday. But the luckless Whites remain rooted to the bottom of the table as they slipped to a 2-1 defeat at Hinckley United. The prolific
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Boxing Day clash for Wessex rivals
JEWSON Wessex League rivals Bemerton Heath Harle-quins and Downton meet at Western Way on Boxing Day in their now traditional post-Christmas clash. Wednesday's match kicks off at 12 noon.
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Whites looking to prove a point or two over festive period
SALISBURY City's festive program-me kicks off with two crucial fixtures which could finally ignite their battle to avoid relegation. On Saturday they entertain Folke-stone Invicta then cross the Solent on Boxing Day to take on fellow strugglers Newport
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Opposition to floodlighting
A PLAN by Malmesbury Lawn Tennis Club to have floodlighting for its courts was due to be considered by North Wiltshire District Council last night. The club wants to install the lighting at its Tetbury Hill courts to extend playing hours. The proposal
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Sick woman celebrates festive season at home
HORSE lover Fiona Gale, who has refused to let health problems stand in the way of her hobby despite it nearly costing her life, will today celebrate her birthday out of hospital for the first time in seven years. Fiona, who lives in Sherston, has not
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Mum's heartbreak over killing of baby daughter
MUM Carolyn Iles has spoken of her pain and grief after her former partner was found guilty of the manslaughter of their baby daughter. She says she can never forgive 30-year-old Mark Stephenson, who shook their child so violently that she was left blind
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Bowlers back on even keel
MALMESBURY Bowls Club is on course to complete a £2,500 project to clear the green at its Baskerville site following the floods in October last year. Silt forced down the river valley by flood water clogged drainage pipes underneath the green, causing
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Choir girl sings out at Nobel concert
FORMER Malmesbury schoolgirl Rosie Lucas was part of a 50-strong choir performing with Sir Paul McCartney in front of 6,000 people at a Nobel Peace Prize concert in Oslo. The nine-year-old lives in Oslo, having moved from Lea, near Malmesbury, with her
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Reason to believe in Nasser and the England boys
Wilson on Wednesday IT is easy to jump on the bandwagon that regularly knocks English cricket. After losing the first test against India, the critics were quick to run down the efforts of the tourists. Although we are probably heading for a series defeat
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Wilsons' team bolstered
SALISBURY solicitors Wilsons have announced two new appointments. Susan Johnson, a partner in the trusts, tax and probate department, has been appointed to the council of the Association of Taxation Technicians (ATT). And Michael Parker has joined the
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Confidence high, and Santa helps
Flagship Jardinerie Garden Centre reports that consumer confidence is high in the Swindon area with bumper sales in November and December. This is bucking the trend for such outlets and reflects the go-ahead approach of the centre's parent company, Blooms
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Hear ye, awards are handed to stalwarts
WOOTTON BASSETT town crier Fred "Boots" Deacon was one of four town residents honoured with a Civic Award at a town council ceremony in the Memorial Hall on Friday. Mayor Percy Miles said the award reflected the prestige which these individuals have brought
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Chippenham Sunday League Round up
MAUD Heath Sports, who won the Rainbow Launderette sponsored WG Parr Trophy two seasons ago, progressed to the final eight courtesy of a stunning first half goal from Dave Beal which was enough to see them to a 1-0 win over fellow First Division side,
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Help at hand for victims of domestic violence
Domestic abuse typically involves a pattern of physical, sexual and emotional abuse and intimidation, which escalates in frequency and severity over time. It can be defined as the misuse of power and the exercise of control by one partner over the other
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Welcome points for struggling champions
SKURRAY'S WILTSHIRE LEAGUE: REIGNING Premier Division champions Cricklade Town chalked up only their second victory of the season when they defeated fellow strugglers Malmesbury Vics Reserves 2-0. Cricklade started well with Ian Ross hitting the bar,
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Firm is cream of crop again
A CORSHAM-based firm was presented with a prestigious industry award for the second year running on Monday. Coombe Castle International, which exports cheese and clotted cream, won the Frozen and Chilled Exporter of the Year award at the Food from Britain
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Plans for recycling centre at village site
HILLS Waste has applied to build a household recycling centre at its site at Compton Bassett. An application was made on November 30 for a household recycling centre, extended composting facilities and a small extension at the top of the site. Mike Webster
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Late goals end Linpac's victory hopes
MID-WILTSHIRE SUNDAY LEAGUE: SECOND half strikes from Dave Melin and Nick Harrison scuppered bottom club Linpac's hopes of securing their first point of the season in their clash at Trowbridge Wanderers. The fourth placed hosts were frustrated by a fine
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Harry while stocks last
hundreds of downtrodden mums and dads will be trawling the county's toy shops this Christmas trying to run to earth the only thing that will make the festive season bearable for their dearly beloved child. This year it is the Harry Potter Lego sets, featuring
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Malmesbury youngsters back on form
YOUTH FOOTBALL: IT was business as usual for the Malmesbury Youth under 14s squad in the Cirencester and District League. After crashing out of the cup last week, Malmesbury bounced back to trounce Wootton Bassett 10-0. The hosts dominated from the start
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Bluebirds warned to stay off the turkey
DR MARTENS LEAGUE: TITLE-CHASING Chippenham Town will hit their in-form players in the pocket should they over-indulge on turkey and Christmas pudding over the festive period. The Bluebirds, currently lying second in the Dr Martens League Western Division
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From the dugout, by Brian Newlands, Devizes Town Manager
20/12/01: THE Screwfix Direct League Premier Division is starting to hot up, with the big guns, Taunton and Bideford, again winning. Both are showing tremendous form at the moment. I honestly believe it is building up to be a really good and close championship
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Dawlish Town 2, Devizes Town 3
DEVIZES Town bounced back from two defeats in a week to shatter high-flying Dawlish's eight-game unbeaten home record at Sandy Lane on Saturday. Super strikes from Darren Tapper and Nick Mooney sandwiched Barry Flippance's tenth goal of the season for
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Soldier shot dead in head
SOLDIERS based at Tidworth have been shocked to learn of the death of PE instructor Bombardier Glen Hudson, who was shot in the head in a nightclub. Police believe 35-year-old Bombardier Hudson, who is separated from his wife, was in the wrong place at
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Street 1 Calne Town 0
SCREWFIX DIRECT LEAGUE: CALNE Town's hopes of an gaining impressive point at in-form Street were dashed when bogeyman John Hayter bagged a late winner at the Tannery Ground on Tuesday night. The relegation-threatened Wiltshire club carved out some fine
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Sex offenders slip through safety net
FOUR sex offenders in Wiltshire have disappeared. They have slipped through the net designed to protect children's safety. But we cannot tell you who they are, or what area they are believed to be living in. Police say they have decided to keep their
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Love of football marked by cup
A SOCCER cup in memory of Rupert Smith, who died after a tragic accident earlier this year, has been presented to his old school at Pewsey by his parents, Barry and Liz Smith. Rupert, who was 18 when he died after a fall at the family home at Bishops
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Dodging flak in chamber?
A KENNET councillor this week accused his colleagues of trying to dodge awkward questions from Devizes residents by cancelling council meetings. Ian Hopkins brought the matter up at Kennet's full council meeting on Tuesday afternoon, some six weeks after
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Study will look at railway link
A LOCAL railway enthusiast has been awarded nearly £3,000 to make a feasibility study into the possibility of reopening the Devizes rail line. Rolf Brindle, from the Spa, Melksham, was one of eight recipients of a Community Innovators Millennium Award
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Seamancelebratesa colourful century
RETIRED ship's radio officer Felix Owen of Collingbourne Ducis has celebrated his 100th birthday following a perilous maritime and flying career in which he nearly lost his life on a number of occasions. Mr Owen, who celebrated his centenary with a party
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A festive feast
NEARLY 90 senior citizens from Burbage and surrounding villages were treated to a Christmas lunch and entertainment by the Good Companions Club on Wednesday. The lunch was held in the village hall, where the guests were treated to a glass of sherry before
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Children journey back in time
PUPILS from Ogbourne St George and St Andrew Primary School enjoyed a living history lesson when they paid a visit to the Merchant's House in Marlborough on Friday. The children in Years 5 and 6 have been studying the Tudors and Stuarts, and went along
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Driver for trial on fatal crash
A DEVIZES driver Matthew Bywater, who is charged with motoring offences after a road accident in which Paul Ridout of Little Cheverell died, is due to stand trial in January. Bywater, of New Park Street, denies careless driving, failing to stop after
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Sculptor may pull out after studio plan fails
INTERNATIONALLY renowned sculptor David Hawkins says he and his company may be forced out of the county after permission to build a studio in the grounds of his trout farm was refused. Mr Hawkins said he was disappointed but not surprised by the decision
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Uninsured driver is banned after crash
MOTORIST Gary Billing has lost his licence for nine months after admitting driving without insurance when he caused an accident. Billing, 23, of Purlyn Acre, Marlborough, pleaded guilty before Kennet magistrates in Devizes last Thursday to careless driving
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Ban enforced on cemetery items
PERSONAL memorials left by bereaved parents at their babies grave will be removed from a Swindon cemetery. The decision to enforce regulations at Whitworth road cemetery was made by councillors at a meeting of the transport, environment and neighbourhood
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It's turkey and all the trimmings
JUST because you're in hospital on Christmas Day doesn't mean you have to miss out on a traditional Christmas lunch. Catering staff at Princess Margaret Hospital made up more than 1,000 Christmas Day meals last year, and expect to do the same this time
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Sex offenders slip through safety net
FOUR sex offenders in Wiltshire have disappeared. They have slipped through the net designed to protect children's safety. But we cannot tell you who they are, or what area they are believed to be living in. Police say they have decided to keep their
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Workers in dark over future of Motorola
STAFF at Motorola face Christmas without knowing if their jobs are safe. The company remained tight lipped yesterday after announcing more than 9,000 redundancies worldwide. Many staff knew nothing of the cuts until they read a late edition of the Evening
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Christmas cheer after home U-turn
MOTHER-of-three Naseem Dix has praised the Journal for helping her find the keys to the best Christmas present ever - a home for her family. Mrs Dix thought that she and her children, Richard (15), Thomas (four) and Rebekah (two), were going to be left
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'Gentle giant' soldier dies in club shooting
FRIENDS and Army colleagues were this week mourning the tragic death of Tidworth soldier Glen Hudson - the innocent victim of a Bournemouth nightclub shooting. Bombardier Hudson was shot in the head when he was partying with hundreds of other people at
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Plea to all to vote today
RESIDENTS of Calne's central ward are being asked to add voting for a new councillor to their list of things to do in the run-up to Christmas. A by-election is taking place in the Corn Exchange at the town hall today, to replace resigned mayor Chris Hughes
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Charity grant still in doubt
A DECISION on whether the Devizes charity Options will continue to receive National Lottery funding is likely to be made in January. The charity, which runs a caf and offers young people access to the Internet, is being investigated over the use of National
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On marks for new school
SCHOOLGIRL Alanna Britten helped to mark the start of work on a new primary school at Brickley Lane, Devizes. The school is being built as part of the planning gain from the new housing estate being put up by a consortium of developers, including Persimmon
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Site is poor exchange, say allotment holders
FORMER Spitalcroft allotment holders in Devizes remained unimpressed with facilities being offered at an alternative site in Windsore Drive, after a state-of-the-art presentation. The allotment holders were evicted last year from Spitalcroft off London
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Alarm bells on secret survey for new homes
PEOPLE in Rowde have expressed their concern that three sites in the village have been identified for new homes, despite the opposition of the landowners and villagers. Ed White, of Kennet District Council's forward planning and transportation department
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Firefighters keep walking
DEVIZES firefighters hope to have raised £1,000 for the National Fire Services Benevolent Fund from their walk from Melksham to Devizes in full breathing apparatus on Saturday December 16. The walkers collected more than £300 in buckets as they made their
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Police rule out re-opening Chandler murder case
WILTSHIRE police have said they will not be reopening the case into the death of Karen Chandler, whose remains were found in a burnt-out car on Salisbury Plain near Urchfont in June last year. A statement from Assistant Chief Constable Stephen Long said
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Church is forced to lock doors after attack
A DEVIZES church has been forced to lock its doors in the days running up to Christmas, after vandals kicked in the door to the bell tower and stole cash from a collecting box. They struck at St James' Church, Southbroom, between 10am and 6pm last Thursday
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Cyclist pilots a cash course
AIRLINE pilot Philip Taylor has raised more than £5,000 for National Kidney Research by travelling from Lands End to John O'Groats the hard way, by bicycle instead of at the controls of an aircraft. Last Wednesday Mr Taylor, 47, from Marlborough, presented
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By George, it's a top Christmas
NO couple could have had a better Christmas present than David and Jo Lawrence who have welcomed home their four-year-old son George after major heart surgery. George arrived home at Drake's Avenue, Devizes, in time to attend the nativity play at Lavington
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Village given warning to use shop, or lose it
VILLAGE shopkeeper Mary Quigley has put out a warning to residents in West Overton save the store by using it, or it could close by the spring. Her ultimatum came after growing rumours the shop was being forced to close. Mrs Quigley says no sudden closure
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Children dress the Jesse tree
THE ancient custom of dressing a Jesse tree has been revived at St Mary's Church at Great Bedwyn by the Rector, the Rev Rodney Harrison, with the help of children from the village. The Jesse tree represents the family tree of Jesus and can sometimes be
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Ex-town clerk fights for life
RETIRED police inspector and former Marlborough town clerk Graham Chivers is fighting for his life in hospital after collapsing at the weekend. Mr Chivers, 51, who lives in Devizes with his wife, Jan, and children Jonathan, 12, and Kirsten, 11, was taken
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Security cameras could cost £700,000
A CLOSED circuit security camera system for Devizes, Marlborough, Pewsey, Tidworth and Ludgershall could cost £700,000 to set up and up to £170,000 a year to run. That was the conclusion of a feasibility study considered by Kennet Community Safety Partnership
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Hills bid to build recycling plant
HILLS Waste has applied to build a household recycling centre at its site at Compton Bassett, near Calne. Hills also wants to extend its composting facilities and a build small extension at the top of the site. Mike Webster, Hill's waste management director
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MP's meeting on roadworks
JULIA Drown, Labour MP for South Swindon, has secured a meeting with local government minister, Sally Keeble, to discuss the problems caused by repeated road works. Speaking in Parliament, Ms Drown asked if the minister would agree to meet with her and
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Gearing up for the big festive getaway
ROAD and rail routes in and out of Swindon are expected to bear the usual last-minute Christmas rush this weekend and train operator First Great Western has warned that some services are already fully booked. No problems have yet been reported on the
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Choir raise voices and cash
AN ambitious campaign to raise funds for specialist equipment at Swindon's new Great Western Hospital has been given a boost thanks to the Thamesdown Ladies Choir. A specialist reclining chair worth £400 has been handed over by the choir, which intends
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The true spirit of Christmas!
THERE is something unusual about the bottles of spirits pictured above the labels are written in Braille. The Co-op supermarket, which has branches in Old Town, Groundwell Road, Cricklade Road, Beechcroft Road and the Eldene Centre, is the first retailer
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More shocks still to come
Motorola's latest round of job cuts may be relatively small, less than 20 per cent of its global workforce, but they are symptomatic of the crisis facing the telecommunications sector. While some may take comfort at the small numbers involved, it is small
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Major road safety plan backed by councillors
A ROAD safety plan designed to save lives and cut noise on the A419 has received council backing. A 26-point plan produced by the Government's road authority the Highways Agency was welcomed by councillors at the transport, environment and neighbourhood
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Christmas cheer after home U-turn
MOTHER-of-three Naseem Dix has praised the Journal for helping her find the keys to the best Christmas present ever - a home for her family. Mrs Dix thought that she and her children, Richard (15), Thomas (four) and Rebekah (two), were going to be left
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Reserves draw some comfort
TOWN reserves halted their eight game losing streak with a 1-1 draw against Northampton at the County Ground yesterday, the last game that Roy Evans watched in his capacity as director of football at Swindon Town. The home side included trialists Andy
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'Gentle giant' soldier dies in club shooting
FRIENDS and Army colleagues were this week mourning the tragic death of Tidworth soldier Glen Hudson - the innocent victim of a Bournemouth nightclub shooting. Bombardier Hudson was shot in the head when he was partying with hundreds of other people at
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Objectors must not be gagged
I REFER to the report in the Evening Advertiser on December 6 concerning Swindon Council and titled 'Council dismisses gagging concerns'. It was stated that the draft media guidelines approved by the council's committee said: "Quotes from elected members
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Fears for the safety of innocents after treaty
Tuesday December 11 will go down as one of the darkest days in British history. Tony Blair and his ministers have seen fit to give away to the EU 1,000 years of British sovereignty in exchange for a European extradition treaty. Any government or court
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Going, going gone!
ROY EVANS has quit the County Ground after deciding he cannot fulfil his dream of taking Swindon Town onwards and upwards. The director of football spoke to the Evening Advertiser this morning to confirm the news that fans have been dreading. The former
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Give us a break for Christmas
IT MUST be a tricky job editing the letters page of the Evening Advertiser. After all unless you were to write the letters yourself, which I'm sure as a reputable paper the Advertiser would never consider, you can only put in what is sent to you. It must
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Pewsey Vale 5, Malmesbury 27
MALMESBURY produced a fine second half display to defeat Pewsey Vale on a frosty surface on Saturday 15th December. The home side began by attacking deep into Malmesbury territory, but fell behind when a Roberts' penalty failed to find touch. The Pewsey
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Carnival gives £5,000 away
THE carnival in Marlborough has had its best year financially, and at the annual meeting on Monday, retiring chairman Pam Balcombe handed out cheques totalling more than £5,000 to charities and organisations. Carnival president, the mayor David Watson
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SHAC group for elderly in county merger
SHAC, the Marlborough voluntary group which provides home visits and companionship for more than 130 housebound people, many of them elderly, is merging with Age Concern Wiltshire from April. SHAC (Support for the Housebound and Aid for Carers) was set
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Santa appeal in wonderland
CARLOADS of people have been stopping to admire Christmas lights both on the house and in the garden of the Lockey and Northall families at Priest Acre, Fyfield, in the last few weeks. Many have used the collecting boxes to make donations for this year's
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Proposals for carnival site meet opposition
FAMILIES living next to the field where the Pewsey Carnival assembles are lodging objections to a plan to sell off part of the site. Residents in the hamlet of Kepnal say that the planning application for a house and garage submitted by the carnival committee
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Fight to curb the rat run speeders
RESIDENTS in Ogbourne St George are threatening to take to the streets in protest unless moves are made to slow down drivers who are using the village as a rat run. The village hall was packed for a meeting called by resident Lizzie Hawnt, following fears
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Upset as thief snatches Santa
Christmas enthusiasts Ray and Marie Pope have been left shocked after thieves stole a three-foot high Santa Claus from the festive decorations they display in the front garden of their Alton Barnes home every year. The retired village newsagent and his
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Census from a century ago to be made available
PEOPLE of a century ago are to give an insight into their lives from January 2 in their own words. Swindon and Wiltshire's 1901 Census will be available on microfiche at the reference library in Regent Circus. It is part of a nationwide move by the Government's
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Keeping on top of the mail mountain
MORE than 147 extra members of staff have been taken on in the Swindon postal area to deal with the Christmas rush. That is on top of the 971 sorters and delivery people who normally man the 24 hour operation. The massive surge in Christmas mail being
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Skate park removed from council agenda
YOUNG people campaigning for a skate park in Stratton St Margaret have been dealt yet another blow. Swindon Council's cabinet had been due to discuss last night whether the £42,000 plan should go ahead. But the item has been withdrawn from the agenda
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MP puts case for keeping Lyneham
North Wiltshire MP James Gray will be spending part of his Christmas holidays working to help keep RAF Lyne-ham open. The Tory MP is heading a campaign to try to stop the Ministry of Defence shutting the Hercules base. Its future is in the melting pot
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Santa goes collecting on the buses
SANTA has been on the buses in Swindon collecting money for charity and entertaining passengers. Mick Iles, 50, has been a bus driver for six years but yesterday he had a different role as Santa Claus. He rode around the town on Stagecoach buses collecting
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IVF treatment allows 14 Wiltshire women to conceive
FERTILITY treatment funded by Wiltshire Health Authority has led to 14 women being able to conceive this year. The In Vitro Fertilisation and sub-fertility treatment has been funded by an investment of £63,000 which has seen the birth of six healthy babies
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Disorderly teenager told to sort his life out
AN 18-YEAR-OLD man has been told to sort his life out by magistrates after pleading guilty to two counts of criminal damage, one of assault and one of being drunk and disorderly. Andrew Dowse, of Dryden Place, Wootton Bassett, appeared before magistrates
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Survey shows 10 per cent of headstones are unsafe
FEES for burials and cremations may rise to create a cash pot to fund vital repairs in Swindon's cemeteries. At a meeting of the council's Transport, Environment and Neighbourhood Services Commission, it was revealed that a survey of 2,257 memorials and
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Use it but don't abuse 999 calls
WILTSHIRE ambulance chiefs today appealed to people to dial 999 only if it is an emergency. And they warn that abuse of the system could put at risk the lives of people in genuine need of urgent treatment. Every year the Wiltshire Ambulance Service NHS
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Plight of the hidden homeless
A HOMELESS charity in Salisbury has published figures showing a big increase in the number of people who have needed its help this year. Alabar Christian Care Centres' four hostels have accommodated 239 individuals, 29 families and 41 children - a 20
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Your gifts of joy for needy
HUNDREDS of needy people in Salisbury District can look forward to a brighter Christmas, thanks to the unprecedented generosity of Journal readers. More people than ever before responded to our 12th annual appeal for gifts for those for whom Christmas
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Looking back on 12 eventful years
MOTOROLA UK arrived in Swindon in 1989, employing a staff of just 65 in one building on the Blagrove industrial estate. By February this year staff at the American-owned firm had grown to a peak of 3,000 employees at four sites across the town, with Swindon
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Brunel link's £13m gets the green light
TRANSPORT Sec-retary Stephen Byers delighted local councillors this week when he confirmed that the Government would provide the £13m needed for the building of the Harnham relief road and Brunel link for the city's Churchfields industrial estate. But
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Villages unite to campaign against masts
CAMPAIGNERS from three south Wiltshire villages are joining forces to stop the spread of telecommunication masts in and around their villages. Residents in Amesbury and Deptford have contacted campaigners in Woodfalls in the wake of an announcement that
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Rugby club's dream really is over this time
ELLINGHAM & Ring-wood's unexpected extended run in the National Cup finally came to an end on Saturday when they were narrowly beaten 8-6 in the fifth round by Sussex-based Newick. Despite originally being knocked out at the third round stage, the
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Just another case of Town's not so merry-go-round
ROY EVANS has become another 'statistic' in a sorry saga of instability at the County Ground. He is the fourth managerial 'casualty' in just three years. Jimmy Quinn, Colin Todd and Andy King all enjoyed a relatively brief tenure in the Town hot seat
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Soccer legend Ball rebuffed in FC takeover bid
A HIGH-PROFILE bid to take over the running of Salisbury City Football Club, by a consortium including England World Cup-winning hero Alan Ball, has been kicked into touch. Local businessman William Harrison-Allan put together what he believed was a great
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Tories should own up and take the blame
I READ with interest the ridiculous comments made in your paper on December 13 by the Tory education chairman, Garry Perkins, who stated: "This Labour Government has consistently and constantly starved Swindon's resources." It is not a new phenomenon
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Congratulations to Laura
TO Laura Clarke-Gowan, my warmest congratulations to you for achieving such impressive GCSE results in the face of adversity, family anxiety, humiliation and denegration. I fully endorse E R Scrivens letter of concern and support for Laura and her family
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A European issue
I think the question is not whether there is a rise in Council Tax next year but how much. The crisis in education at senior and middle management level derives from inadequate funding and inadequate control by the Labour group. Education funding may
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Green paper is a real threat
Just when you thought that the environmental damage caused by the expansion of Swindon couldn't get any worse, Tony Blair has caved in to the developers' wish-list and handed them a massive Christmas present. Swingeing changes to the planning system are
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Frome 3rds 0, Chippenham 3rds 31
CHIPPENHAM continued their unbeaten run, producing a good result from an at times scrappy match. Always looking dangerous with the ball in hand, their first try came from a move that started in their own 22. The ball was fed to winger Julian Squires who
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Wootton Bassett 8, Witney 15
WOOTTON Bassett conceded a last-minute try to lose out 15-8 to Witney after seeming set to hold on for a draw. In what was always an even match Bassett started the brighter and led early on through a penalty from veteran Kiwi Steve Cunningham. However
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Cricklade 15, Marlborough 62
MARLBOROUGH set up an away first round tie at Calne after romping to victory in the preliminary round of the Dorset and Wilts Vase on Saturday 15th December. The visitors ran ten tries past their hosts, who had beaten them at The Common when they met
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School romps to county win
RUGBY: CHIPPENHAM'S Hardenhuish School have become the Year 8 Dorest and Wiltshire Champions for 2001 after beating close neighbours Sheldon School in the final. The road to the cup started with a home game against Ridgeway School and the team found themselves
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Old people tricked by thieves in police guise
MEN posing as plain clothes policemen stole £2,080 in cash from two elderly people in Chippenham on Monday December 17. The thefts took place within 20 minutes of each other in Malmesbury Road and Downing Street, about half a mile apart. The first theft
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Security guard praised for rescuing man
SECURITY guard Nigel Wright has been hailed as a local hero for the second time after rescuing a drowning man from icy waters in Chippenham. Credit card fraudster Arshad Khan leapt into the river on Friday afternoon after he was chased from Argos by store
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Health scare for big man
CHIPPENHAM firefighters, police officers and ambulance staff were called out to the Pines Hotel early on Tuesday evening when 31 stone Ted Whitlock fell ill and had to be rushed to hospital. The emergency services feared Mr Whitlock would have to be winched
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Dirty video was trick claims man
A MIDDLE-AGED father who has spent the past eight months branded as a paedophile has spoken bitterly about the teenager who he claims tricked him into videoing her. John Foley, 50, of Corfe Crescent, Calne, was told on Tuesday that charges of taking indecent
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Brother in shooting drama out of hospital
THE brother of a man killed in a shooting in Chippenham has been released from hospital. But Kashmira Singh, 42, of The Causeway, Chippenham, is still not well enough to be questioned by detectives. Police investigating the death of Charlie Singh and
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Pony stands in for nativity
A WELSH pony called Wilfred will be standing in for his ill friend Peter the donkey at a live nativity in Calne on Saturday. The pair are favourites with children at Heddington Wick Riding School, and the Calne churches arranging the event are more than
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Boxing Day clash for Wessex rivals
JEWSON Wessex League rivals Bemerton Heath Harle-quins and Downton meet at Western Way on Boxing Day in their now traditional post-Christmas clash. Wednesday's match kicks off at 12 noon.
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Whites looking to prove a point or two over festive period
SALISBURY City's festive program-me kicks off with two crucial fixtures which could finally ignite their battle to avoid relegation. On Saturday they entertain Folke-stone Invicta then cross the Solent on Boxing Day to take on fellow strugglers Newport
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Window on a commercial wonderland
FOR most of us, Christmas comes next week, but for window designer Nina Tillett, it's all over bar the shouting and she is quite happy to forget all about it for another year. "I start talking Christmas in May," she says. Small wonder, then, that, on
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Don't keep workers in the dark
MOTOROLA is clearly going through the wars. It isn't alone, of course. Several high-tech companies in Swindon have suffered badly from the world economic slowdown. The American-based company yesterday announced more than 9,000 job losses worldwide. But
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Traders' fury as cars lose out to bus bays
Traders in Chippenham are furious that 40 parking spaces are to be lost at the town's bus station site. Work on revamping the much-criticised bus depot in Timber Street is due to start in January but shopkeepers fear the loss of parking spaces will make
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Youth told to sort out life
TEENAGER Andrew Dowse has been told to sort his life out by magistrates after admitting to two counts of criminal damage, one of assault and one of being drunk and disorderly. Dowse, 18, of Dryden Place, Wootton Bassett, appeared before magistrates in
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Man who punched partner is sentenced
MAGISTRATES have recommended 52-year-old Stuart Davies goes on a rehabilitation course for domestic violence offenders after he admitted common assault on his partner. North Wiltshire magistrates in Chippenham were told on Monday that Davies, of Eveleigh
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Heroin addict let offjail to see sick mother
A HEROIN addict who was discovered with £60 worth of the drug in Chippenham High Street has been allowed home on bail for Christmas to see his terminally ill mother. Patrick Button, 26, of Freshbrook, in Swindon, pleaded guilty before magistrates in Chippenham
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Bypass work gets go-ahead
Wiltshire County Council has unveiled a £1.2m scheme to improve a congested section of Chippenham's western bypass. The stretch of the A350 from the Safeway roundabout to outside Chippenham Golf Club will be turned into dual carriageway. Two lanes will
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Corsham's eyesore precinct to get facelift
A major makeover is on the cards for Corsham's 'concrete jungle' shopping precinct. The precinct's owner, North Wiltshire District Council has joined developer Castlefield to create a template for the new look shopping facility. Castlefield is due to
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Mel C joins the party as scheme celebrates
A PROJECT for the homeless run by a Chippenham arts charity and funded by Spice Girl Mel C, celebrated its successful first year at a conference in London last week. Kandu Arts for Sustainable Development has been touring the country with its No Place
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Do not suffer in silence, says hostage victim wife
A WIFE whose drug crazed husband held her hostage in their Chippenham home for five hours and seriously wounded her sister has spoken about her ordeal for the first time. Last week Stephen Edwards, 37, was jailed for life after a judge at Bristol Crown
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Football fans shop-in
CHIPPENHAM Town fans have been busy buying presents at the club's shop, and as a one-off, the shop will open on Saturday morning from 9.30am to 1pm. Roger Lewis, who runs the shop, said he wanted to give people another opportunity to buy a football shirt
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Chippenham Town 3, Cirencester Town 0
THREE goals inside the opening 18 minutes moved Chippenham Town three points clear of the chasing pack in the Dr Martens League Western Division promotion race as they swept aside in-form Cirencester Town at Hardenhuish Park on Saturday. Nathan Rudge
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Weather is against us as well
AS if all the upheaval off the pitch isn't bad enough, even the weather seems to hate us. I was gutted when referee Joe Ross deemed the County Ground pitch unplayable on Saturday. He clearly had no choice but it did deprive the fans of their chance to
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Spare a thought for Bowyer
LEE Bowyer feels hard done by the 'punishment' handed out by Leeds United. You have to agree that the player is a 'disgrace' (David O'Leary's words) and isn't the most savoury character in the world. I think Bowyer should swallow his punishment and get
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Town shopped
ANYONE else overjoyed at the prospect of a Friday night trip to Notts County? I have always loathed such arrangements and the reason for switching this fixture from its Saturday slot is just shameful. At first I thought television was to blame. If that
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New bus caters for the needs of the disabled
MALMESBURY and District Community Transport has bought a new bus to take elderly people to Burnham House Residential Home. Chairman Caroline Pym said the 17-seater LDV bus has been converted to transport 12 people and three wheelchairs. It also contains
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Legion appeal for new blood
THE Malmesbury branch of the Royal British Legion is appealing for new members before its meeting on January 10. The branch has a committee of 14 people, as well as other members, but its number has dwindled as people have got older. Ian Mace, 56, from
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Fundraiser will take on his final challenge
RUNNER Graham Jobes, who has twice completed the London Marathon, said a run between Malmesbury and Chippenham on January 27 will be his last challenge. Mr Jobes, 44, of Hanks Close, Malmesbury, is running the ten miles between the towns to raise cash
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Teacher drops in
TEACHER Janet Parke has returned home for the first time this Christmas since travelling to Zambia in October 1999 to teach primary schoolchildren. Ms Parke, 48, from Malmesbury, flew out to the African country just over two years ago to take up a post
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I cannot forgive him for killing our baby
HEARTBROKEN mother Carolyn Iles says she can never forgive her former partner for killing their precious baby daughter. Little Sacha Iles was three months old when she was shaken so violently by her father Mark Stephenson that she was left blind and deaf
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Police set to quiz suspect after cars are vandalised
THREE cars were left with wing mirrors hanging off following a spate of vandal attacks overnight on Friday December 14 and Saturday December 15. Police say they suspect the attacks were carried out by revellers on their way home from the pub, or by under-age
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D-day in race to raise canal cash
CANAL enthusiasts have just days to raise nearly £10,000 so they can qualify for a £90,000 grant for restoration work in Wootton Bassett. The Wilts and Berks Canal Partnership has been promised the grant from a landfill firm, but only if it finds ten
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Good news for launch edition
MALMESBURY Primary School pupils are making sure they are front page news. The school, which has launched its own newspaper, The Primary School Post, is celebrating the news that three 20-year-old mobiles will be knocked down and a £322,000 classroom
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That Reminds Me
SAFELY tucked away in the vaults of my home are two paper notes that represent a small fortune. How small depends upon the state of the market at the time. The notes are worth, respectively, 10,000 and 5,000 Reichsmarks each which is to say, not very
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SWEP eyes a 20-year vision
A CHALLENGE was thrown down to more than 80 business people last week to help shape the future economic development of Salisbury and south Wiltshire. Company bosses, officers and members of Salisbury District Council, training providers and representatives
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Adele sets her sights high, and succeeds
A SENIOR contact lens optician at Specsavers Opticians in Swindon, has scooped two highly acclaimed prizes for her contact lens honours diploma paper. Adele Peacock, 31, won £250 for best mark in a contact lens honours paper and the TA Doyle Memorial
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It all adds up to big success
STUDENTS from Year 11 and the Sixth Form at Wootton Bassett School have achieved certificates and charity sponsorshipin the annual national Maths Challenge. The event, organised by the UK Mathematics Trust, is intended to foster enthusiasm for maths.
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Man could face jail on firearms possesion
A WOOTTON Bassett man could face jail after illegally buying parts for a 9mm pistol over the Internet . Yein Chew Yee, 21, of High Street, appeared before North Wiltshire magistrates in Chippenham on Monday and pleaded guilty to the possession of a prohibited
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Party time for diamond pair
THURSDAY December 20 is the diamond wedding anniversary of Londoners Fred and Nancy Wade, of Green Park, Wootton Bassett. The couple first met at a dance in their teens. "I liked the way he danced, and that was it," Mrs Wade said. The church they got
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Rivals poised for derby date
PEWSEY Vale will be looking to return to winning ways when they travel to lowly Wiltshire rivals Malmesbury Vics in the Hellenic League Division One West on Saturday, kick off 2.15pm. Don Rogers' side, defeated at fellow promotion chasers Middle Barton
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We'll catch you, police warn drink drivers
WILTSHIRE police have warned that drivers who ignore their appeals not to drink and drive will be caught and prosecuted. They are saying that the temptation to have a few drinks when going out to celebrate over Christmas and New Year must be resisted.
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Highworth crash to surprise setback
COMPLETE MUSIC HELLENIC LEAGUE: HIGHWORTH Town's recent good run was brought to an abrupt halt by North Leigh, who completely outplayed the home side in a 5-0 victory. Andy McCabe gave the visitors an excellent start, netting after just six minutes and
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Nurse gets nominated for unsung hero award
A community psychiatric nurse from Chippenham has been nominated for the Unsung Hero of the NHS Award. Sarah Westover, 39, a senior practitioner in mental health, is based at Rowden Hill House in Chippenham. She received a letter this month saying she
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Villagers go clear in race for the title
TROWBRIDGE LEAGUE: BROUGHTON Gifford have taken a six-point lead at the top of Division One of the Trowbridge League (sponsored by Premier Training and Development). Broughton found themselves 1-0 down to Steve Coveney's goal in their home game against
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County council joins Lyneham campaign
THE county council has given its backing to a campaign to preserve the future of RAF Lyneham. The future of the giant Hercules base is under threat following the news that it is to be the subject of a strategic review along with RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire
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Jailed hostage man had a previous record for siege
Stephen Edwards has been jailed for life after a jury heard how he stabbed his sister-in-law up to 31 times and kept his wife hostage in a five-hour gun siege. Mr Justice Owen, sentencing Edwards to life at Bristol Crown Court, said he was a very dangerous
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Road works hurt trade
THE B4039 near Castle Combe has reopened after being closed for road repairs for two months, but traders said the closure has had a big impact on business. The one and a half mile stretch of road has been closed between The Street, in Burton, just past
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Rivals to battle it out in Christmas derbies
SCREWFIX DIRECT LEAGUE: SCREWFIX Direct League clubs in Wiltshire are hoping to draw bumper crowds over the festive period as the fixture computer once again gives local football fans a mouthwatering selection of matches to look forward to. The most notable
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Almshouses expected to be major attraction
THE keys to Corsham's historic almshouses were handed over to Lord Methuen and the trustees at a ceremony marking the end of restoration work on Monday. The Grade I-listed school and almshouses, bestowed on the town by Lady Margaret Hungerford in the
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Strugglers bid for points to pull away from drop zone
WESTBURY United are in danger of becoming cut adrift in the Premier Division relegation zone, despite some encouraging displays under the guidance of Derek Graham this term. Graham will take his young side to Paulton for their final game of 2001 on Saturday
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Store plays Santa for kids
TWO hundred schoolchildren nearly missed out on their Christmas dinner when the water supply was cut off an hour before lunchtime. Staff and pupils at Chippenham's St Paul's Primary School faced Christmas dinner disaster when at 10.45am they were notified
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Town bounce back to form
LES PHILLIPS CUP: MELKSHAM Town bounced back from last week's FA Vase exit with a 7-0 hammering of First Division strugglers Wellington in the second round of the Les Phillips Cup. After a sluggish start, Dean Ranger opened the floodgates with the home
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Fox hunters meet again
MEMBERS of the Beaufort Hunt met on Monday for the first time since the start of the foot and mouth crisis ten months ago. Around 100 riders, another 100 followers on foot and 30 hounds gathered at Swangrove, on the Badminton estate, to mark the start
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No festive spirit as managers fall out
THE festive season may be upon us, but Corsham Town manager Mark Godley believes Devizes Town chief Brian Newlands has shown little of the traditional Christmas spirit by making an illegal approach for one of his players. The Screwfix Direct League bosses
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Driver banned after fatal crash
THE inexperience of newly-qualified driver Simon Dyminski has been blamed for a car crash in which one of his friends died. Dyminski, 18, pleaded guilty at Kennet Magistrates Court in Devizes on Monday to a charge of careless driving, arising from the
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Larkhall Athletic 0, Corsham Town 0
CORSHAM Town were left to rue a glut of missed chances as nine-man Larkhall Athletic held on for a share of the spoils at Plain Ham on Saturday. The home side saw Jim McLay dismissed in the 20th minute for kicking Corsham defender Andy Hunt in retaliation
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Readers win our fantastic prizes
FOUR readers can look forward to a bumper time this Christmas after winning a large sack of prizes in the Gazette gift competition. The winners were presented with the fantastic prizes at Safeway, Devizes on Sunday. The quartet were among thousands of
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Thomson's spot on for Corsham
YOUTH FOOTBALL: CORSHAM United played host to Trowbridge Town in a thoroughly entertaining match in the under nines division of the Wiltshire Times and News Mid-Wilts Youth and Minor League. The team were level at half-time, Sam Thomson equalising for
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Bosses forget the goodwill
WILTSHIRE Screwfix Direct League managers Mark Godley and Brian Newlands enter the festive season in dispute over the future of Corsham Town winger James Lye. Corsham manager Godley has accused Devizes Town boss Newlands of making an illegal approach
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Kids' charity thanks women
EDITH Pickering, organiser of the Devizes branch of the charity Save the Children, last week presented certificates of thanks to three women who have helped the branch raise a record-breaking sum of money this year. Kay Billett, proprietor of Beale's
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Winter health guide issued
DEVIZES-based Wiltshire Health Authority is helping take the pressure off GP surgeries during the cold and flu season by publishing a leaflet containing useful seasonal health information. The leaflet, entitled Keeping Well, will be available from GP
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School party time for OAPs
THERE was a blend of song, dance and comedy in store for the 60 senior citizens who accepted an invitation to a party at Pewsey Vale School on Friday organised by the Year 8 students. The students presented a cabaret style show. They filled their programme
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Flower power aids charity
MEMBERS of the Marlborough Floral Club took advantage of a packed meeting with a national speaker to raise money for the Prospect Hospice at Wroughton. They raised £256 when Margaret Fairhurst, one of the country's top speakers and demonstrators, gave
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Charity delight at the double
THE Imperial Cancer Research Fund charity shop in Marlborough, which had been threatened with closure, received a double dose of good news this week. Charity chiefs have been able to negotiate a new lease for the Kingsbury Street shop that volunteers
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Villagers root for new trees
ENVIRONMENTALLY-minded villagers at Urchfont, near Devizes, enjoyed better weather than usual for a mammoth tree and hedge planting session. Some 25 volunteers planted an avenue of 80 trees along the unclassified road between Lydeway Garage and Foxley
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It's business as usual for some
EVERY Christmas is special for Major Paul McLeod. Like everyone else, he cherishes life but this year he hopes more than anyone that peace has finally come to Northern Ireland. He is one of those serving with the 1st Battalion of The Royal Gloucestershire
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Christmas comes early for Koalas
CHRISTMAS has come early for a Swindon centre for children with special needs. A £14,000 gift from Zurich Financial Services will benefit the Koalas Swindon Opportunity Group for years to come. The group works with babies and children aged up to five
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Social services are under attack
AN EXTERNAL report of Swindon Council's social services department has uncovered major weaknesses similar to those recently found in the education department. The joint review by the Audit Commission and Government Department of Health took place in September
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Cash for sixth forms
A FUNDING bonus of £1.28 million for schools' sixth forms in Swindon and Wiltshire has been announced. Total sixth form allocation for the financial year beginning next April has been provisionally set at £14.5 million. This amounts to a £1.28 million
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Toddler's death will not be in vain says family
LITTLE Alexander Trotter's death will not be in vain after a coroner made formal recommendations on infant care at his inquest. Wiltshire Coroner David Masters heard how 24-days-old Alexander died of broncho-pneunomia last October after twice being taken
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Your gifts of joy for needy
HUNDREDS of needy people in Salisbury District can look forward to a brighter Christmas, thanks to the unprecedented generosity of Journal readers. More people than ever before responded to our 12th annual appeal for gifts for those for whom Christmas
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Soccer legend Ball rebuffed in FC takeover bid
A HIGH-PROFILE bid to take over the running of Salisbury City Football Club, by a consortium including England World Cup-winning hero Alan Ball, has been kicked into touch. Local businessman William Harrison-Allan put together what he believed was a great
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Brunel link's £13m gets the green light
TRANSPORT Sec-retary Stephen Byers delighted local councillors this week when he confirmed that the Government would provide the £13m needed for the building of the Harnham relief road and Brunel link for the city's Churchfields industrial estate. But
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Villages unite to campaign against masts
CAMPAIGNERS from three south Wiltshire villages are joining forces to stop the spread of telecommunication masts in and around their villages. Residents in Amesbury and Deptford have contacted campaigners in Woodfalls in the wake of an announcement that
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Floating on festive spirit
THE Lions Club has been bringing the festive spirit to the streets of Calne for more than a fortnight already. The club's Christmas float, with Santa Claus, reindeer, lights, music and plenty of cheer, has been touring different parts of the town every
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Addict's burglaries created crime wave
HEROIN addict Barry Middleton has been jailed for five years and three months after admitting more than 60 burglaries. Swindon Crown Court was told last week the 23-year-old struck at night while residents were asleep, and took cash, bank cards and any
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An American stage tribute
THESPIANS at St Mary's School, Calne, paid a theatrical tribute to America last week when they performed two plays based in New York and Louisiana. Both female-centred plays, Steel Magnolias and Machinal, were received enthusiastically by a full house
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Troubled infants' school is to be merged
GUTHRIE Infants' School, Calne, which was placed in the bottom five per cent of schools across the country for reading and writing, will cease to exist. The school was last year placed in special measures, a status given by Ofsted inspectors who found
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Pupils create magic world
THURSDAY December 20 is the last chance for people to experience the magic of Narnia at John Bentley School's latest production of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. The performance will be the first production involving the whole school since students
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MP joins fight to save court
DEVIZES MP Michael Ancram has condemned the proposed closure of the town's magistrates courts as a retrograde step. All business normally dealt with at the temporary building in Northgate Gardens will eventually be moved to a new court building in Salisbury
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Danger fear on new cycle path
CYCLIST Gordon Bridewell has condemned as dangerous the new cycle path in London Road, Devizes, after being clipped twice by a car and a lorry while riding along it. Mr Bridewell's fears were echoed this week by Wiltshire county councillor Tony Molland
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CCTV plan is considered
A PROPOSED CCTV security camera system for towns in Kennet, including Devizes, could cost £700,000 to set up and up to £170,000 a year to run. A feasability study, which was considered by Kennet Community Safety Partnership last week, includes a central
