Archive
-
Date
Wheelchair coach pilot go-ahead
THE Government has chosen a coach service between Chippenham and London as the first in the country to run wheelchair accessible vehicles. The Department of Transport has announced that the National Express service has been chosen as the nation's pilot
-
Date
Sanctuary woman to face trial
FORMER animal sanctuary owner Debbie Stinchcombe has appeared in court charged with causing unnecessary suffering to two rabbits. Stinchcombe has also denied two charges of abandoning two rabbits. The prosecution is being brought by the RSPCA. Stinchcombe
-
Date
No excuse for lack of safety
FOUR people have been killed on the A419 in the past week. In both accidents a vehicle passed across the central reservation and entered the opposite carriageway. The road is a motorway in all but name certainly judging by the speed of traffic travelling
-
Date
Give me the job
MALCOLM CROSBY believes he is the man to heal Swindon Town's wounds and lead the team to success on the pitch. The assistant manager is in charge for the visit to Notts County this evening but Crozza wants more than a caretaker role. He met with the Town
-
Date
Facelift is a 'tart-up'
PLANS to revamp Corsham's shopping precinct have been branded as nothing more than a cheap tart-up. The multi-million pound scheme was unveiled in a glossy presentation by developers Castlefield Land and Springvale Properties, and precinct owners North
-
Date
Heroin addict let off jail 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
-
Date
Hunters ride again
AN ANIMAL welfare group is preparing to protest against hunting with hounds over Christmas. Foxhunting resumed on Monday, nearly 10 months after a ban was imposed because of the foot-and-mouth epidemic. Members of the Beaufort Hunt, which Prince Charles
-
Date
Purple colour doesn't wash
JAMES Dyson's purple washing machine is not going down well with shoppers. Now the north Wiltshire-based Dyson Appliances is bringing in a white version of the Contrarotator after the jazzy purple, purple and white, and silver models failed to take off
-
Date
Council's anger over paper's 'yobs' insult
FURIOUS councillors in Melksham have criticised a newspaper's Christmas advertisement feature, which labelled the town as having a problem with violent, drunken yobs. Commissioned by the Five Towns Initiative and put together by staff at The Chronicle
-
Date
Toilets shut as vandals rampage
VANDALISED toilets in Melksham have been closed until the New Year as council contractors repair the damage. Vandals wrecked the toilets in Bath Road earlier this month causing more than £1,000 worth of damage. Melksham town councillors are now considering
-
Date
Teenager in court for HQ attack
TWO teenagers accused of causing £65,000 worth of damage at the new divisional police station near Melksham have appeared in court. David Canham, 18, of King Street, Melksham, and Richard Mitchell, 19, of Wesley Road, Trowbridge, are charged with causing
-
Date
Party night will remember Kieran
FAMILY and friends of Melksham meningitis victim Kieran Smith are planning a major fundraising drive next year on what would have been his 21st birthday. The popular 20-year-old former George Ward School student died in hospital after developing the deadly
-
Date
Claims of poor bus link denied
CLAIMS over a poor bus service between Bradford on Avon and Melksham have been dismissed. Wiltshire County Council has rejected demands from Councillor Terry Chivers to subsidise the route arguing that it already does. A spokesperson for the council said
-
Date
Christmas cheer
HOMELESS families in west Wiltshire were brought together on Wednesday for a Christmas party in Melksham. Around 40 families were invited to Kingsbury Square hostel for the event organised by parenting alone support service Splitz. Fran Lewis, Splitz
-
Date
It's Christmas everyday at Nationwide
THE new chief executive Philip Williamson of Swindon-based Nationwide, sees his job as being able to offer the society's members Christmas every day in the form of excellent services with the internet playing a key part for many. "It's a familiar image
-
Date
Christmas waste can be recycled
HOUSEHOLDERS are being urged to think about the amount of waste they throw away this Christmas and what they do with it. After complaints about last year's service, West Wiltshire District Council has pulled all the stops out to ensure everyone's rubbish
-
Date
Touch of festive cheer
SHOPPERS and traders in Chippenham joined the festive spirit on Saturday with an extra special effort in the town centre. The town's regular Saturday market, at the Buttercross, took on the Christmas theme, complete with decorations and a visit from Santa
-
Date
Pupils tell the Christmas story
SCHOOLS across Wiltshire have been celebrating the meaning of Christmas with festive plays and productions. Many infant and junior school children have each played their part in traditional Nativity plays or more updated versions. The younger children
-
Date
Army dismisses grave accusation
THE Army has hit back at claims people are unable to visit family graves at Imber Church. Although the area is only open to the public on particular days, people are able to make accompanied visits to the churchyard for a specific reason, like to tend
-
Date
Handbag taken in burglary
A 74-YEAR-OLD woman from Warminster had £1,000 stolen from her house after being targeted by a distraction burglar. The woman allowed the man, who was posing as a tree surgeon, to carry out work at her home and was about to pay him when he pushed past
-
Date
Elmore 5, Warminster Town 0
SCREWFIX DIRECT LEAGUE: PREMIER Division Elmore were in control for most of this Les Phillips Cup game although Warminster battled and defended well at times. Warminster welcomed Sam Naish back from university and he proved to be Warminster's best player
-
Date
Fire lessons are learned
FIRE chief Chris Trimby is hoping Warminster is better prepared to cope with a major fire, a year after flames swept through the town centre. The early morning blaze, which caused £1m worth of damage, started in newsagents Balfour News, in Market Place
-
Date
It's more than pride at stake
SCREWFIX Direct League clubs are hoping to draw bumper crowds over the festive period as the fixture computer once again gives fans a mouth-watering selection of matches to look forward to. The most notable clashes come on Boxing Day. Melksham Town and
-
Date
Firms hit by £28,000 raids
MORE than £28,000 worth of power tools and building equipment was stolen from six workshops in Sutton Veny, near Warminster. Aidys Body Care, Warminster Metal Workers, DPA Services, Select Pile, Hintons and another workshop were all burgled in the early
-
Date
Traders bring back Christmas
TRADERS have rallied round after thieves ransacked a small village school last week and stole all the children's Christmas presents. The thieves, who pulled out a double-glazed window to gain entry into the school in the early hours of Thursday morning
-
Date
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
-
Date
Don't ignore police Christmas message
Wiltshire police are stepping up their Drink Drive campaign as the party season gets under way. And not only are they carrying out vehicle spot checks during the evenings and asking motorists to take a breath test if they suspect they have been drinking
-
Date
Young Wilts caught early
A youthful Wiltshire side, featuring some six under 17 players, went down 3-1 to Hampshire Schools in an Under 19 Inter-Counties Cup tie at Swindon Supermarine's Hunts Copse ground. Semi-finalists last season, Hampshire took a 2-0 lead inside the opening
-
Date
Highworth Set their Sights
Highworth Town take a breather from league action this weekend when they visit Division 1 side Bisley Sports in the Supplementary Cup. A few weeks ago a Cup upset could have been on the cards but the Wiltshire side's recent impressive form must make them
-
Date
Good year forecast for 'grey' imports
GREY imports cars built for other countries which may not meet UK standards are set to go from strength to strength next year. Imported cars are already cheaper than those made for sale in Britain, but they may become even cheaper because of an improved
-
Date
. . but this is still a great place to drive
WEST Wiltshire is a great place to keep your car insurance premiums low. This part of Wiltshire is among the cheapest in Britain, according to the AA's latest records. Where you live can be almost as important as a clean driving licence when you're trying
-
Date
The two wheel deal
YAMAHA has chosen the busy Christmas period to promote two-wheel transport. It points out the benefits of being able to cut through city traffic, freedom from unreliable public transport, a paltry £15 road tax, plus excellent fuel economy and free parking
-
Date
Good things come in small(er) packs
It may be smaller than its older and bigger Shogun brother, but it is still worthy of the name and is indeed perfectly formed. The five-door Pinin is the ideal sports utility vehicle for single people or a young family. Shopping, the school run or with
-
Date
Rush hour drivers get that sinking feeling
SINKING manhole covers outside the Avon factory near Semington caused rush-hour chaos on Monday morning. Heavy lorries and tractors thundering past the factory have caused the manhole covers, installed by factory contractors, to sink for the sixth time
-
Date
Mr Santa barges in
SANTA paid children a watery visit last weekend when he hopped on board a barge on the Kennet & Avon Canal at Bradford on Avon. Adults and children got into the festive spirit filling the boat, the Barbara McLellan, on all four trips as it cruised
-
Date
Claims of poor bus link denied
CLAIMS over a poor bus service between Bradford on Avon and Melksham have been dismissed. Wiltshire County Council has rejected demands from Councillor Terry Chivers to subsidise the route arguing that it already does. A spokesperson for the council said
-
Date
Bath 12, London Irish 20
BATH'S season lurched towards crisis point as they were deservedly bombed out of the Powergen National Cup with ease by dominant London Irish at the Recreation Ground. The Exiles celebrated their first cup win at Bath for 21 years and heaped more pressure
-
Date
US calling...
I am in search of an old friend. I haven't corresponded with him for about 20 years. I'm looking for Michael Stuart Banks. He should be in his mid-50s I would think. He worked for the postal service when I knew him in the late '70s early '80s. He used
-
Date
Perhaps offenders need an eyesight test
I WAS not surprised to see the letter from Peter Collins (Wiltshire Times, December 7) concerning safety in the Tesco car park. Some time ago there was correspondence concerning motorists who either ignored or couldn't see signs for disabled parking bays
-
Date
Danny's call to club together
DEFIANT Danny Grewcock has shrugged off the latest international accolade to come his way to concentrate on the mission to rescue Bath's season. And the former Saracens lock forward has admitted: "There are no easy answers but we will get it right.''
-
Date
Thanks for nothing
AS A mother of five children aged 17 years to 17 months and a resident of Hilperton for 13 years (the last three years at Paxcroft Mead), I'd like to thank the council for a wonderful array of facilities provided on the Paxcroft Mead estate to meet the
-
Date
Postal staff help charity
ROYAL Mail staff are helping charity during the Christmas rush. A team from Consignia in Dorcan have collected 10 kilos of soon-to-be useless European currency to help the Prospect Hospice. John Pile, an industrial engineer with the Royal Mail, helped
-
Date
He's too famous for Swindon gig
IT appears unlikely chart-topper Gordon Haskell has become too big a name to play venues like Swindon Arts Centre. The singer has become the challenger to Robbie Williams and Nicole Kidman for the Christmas Number One. And he will sing his single How
-
Date
It's a very special Christmas for Jack
CHRISTMAS will be an extra special event for little Jack Porter and his family because it will be the first year he has been allowed to eat chocolate. The six-year-old from Covingham received a new kidney in the summer, a gift for which his family had
-
Date
Police use decoy cars to help beat auto crime
POLICE decoy cars are being used to trap thieves in a new anti-crime strategy. On the first day of the operation, officers arrested a man who is suspected of many thefts from vehicles in Swindon. Now the force has issued a stark warning to criminals any
-
Date
Driver, 80, killed in accident on A419
A MOTORIST has died in the second fatal accident on the A419 near Swindon in less than a week. An 80-year-old Cricklade man died when he lost control of his car as he headed north on the road last night. The accident happened when the pensioner became
-
Date
Chief of schools retires
THE man in charge of Swindon's beleaguered education service will take early retirement next year. Director of education Dr Mike Lusty told senior councillors that he feels the time is right to leave. It follows a dismal year in which Swindon's education
-
Date
Electrical company fined £3,000
A TROWBRIDGE electrical company has been ordered to pay more than £3,000 for failure to recover and recycle packing waste. Wilts Wholesale and Electrical Company Ltd pleaded guilty to two offences, dating back to 1998 and 1999, at Trowbridge Crown Court
-
Date
Festive spirit shines through
HOUSEHOLDERS across Trowbridge have been helping brighten up the town this Christmas. The town's Festival of Lights competition was judged on Monday night. The judges, who travelled around town in the Wiltshire Times vintage bus, were joined by town crier
-
Date
Snakes and ladders is not such a funny old game for us!
THE long trip up to Newcastle awaits us this Sunday and Kingston Park is probably the coldest ground I've ever played on. And that's including some fairly nasty Welsh hillsides! I can remember a game a couple of years ago up there when the lads came in
-
Date
Man sentenced after brawl
TWO love rivals brawled in front of children and partygoers at a family event organised by Trowbridge-based telephone giant Virgin Mobile. Stuart Holburn-Thorburn, 42, butted his ex-wife's new lover when the pair met at the party in July. Held in the
-
Date
MP attacks plans to close courthouse
WILTSHIRE MP Andrew Murrison has criticised plans to shut Trowbridge Magistrates Court. Last Friday Dr Murrison met Paul Wilcock, justices chief executive and John Bush chairman of the magistrates courts service in Salisbury to discuss the plans for the
-
Date
Parents hail verdict
THE parents of train driver Stephen Dunn have welcomed the guilty verdict against the motorist who caused his death. Retired Leslie Dunn, 70, and his wife, Patricia, 63, of Pitman Avenue, Trowbridge, have been struggling to rebuild their lives since the
-
Date
What happened to the goodwill?
THE ignorance of residents in Bradford on Avon who packed a council meeting this week to protest at a proposal to open flats for people with mental health problems is staggering. The plan being proposed by the West Wiltshire Housing Society would give
-
Date
The Shogun GDi diesel's silent shaft technology gives a smooth performance
Mitsubishi's Shogun Sport with a completely new uprated 2.5 Diesel and slightly modified 3.0 litre V6 petrol engines have gone on sale in the UK with no increase in their current prices. This year, Mitsubishi's Shogun Sport sales have increased by 46.5
-
Date
All the best people ski
SALOMAN, the specialist snow-sport equipment company, have teamed up with Renault to recommend skiers to use Renault's 4wd Scenic RX4 to get there. The Saloman special edition, with CD and special interior fittings, is available with two engines the 140bhp
-
Date
What Santa (and most of us) would llike for Christmas
LOOK here, Santa, it really is time you got up to date. Put Rudolph and his mates in a rest home, and get yourself a high-speed load lugger, just right for careering round the world loaded up to the roof rack with prezzies. I've got the very thing. Plenty
-
Date
And the next purpose is performance
Vauxhall has come up with one or two performers lately, topped off by the scorching Astra 888, but one of the most interesting is the latest GSi version of the Zafira. This is the first of several 'hot models' which Vauxhall has in the pipeline, created
-
Date
French fancies which will Rouen your diet!
HELEN FRYER is from Covingham but 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. I've been doing my tourist thing again. This time
-
Date
Night out ended in robbery
A JURY has heard how a short cut home after a night out on the town ended when Gregor McPherson was robbed by two men. The victim was attacked by Mohammed Elmi and a 16-year-old accomplice near the County Ground, the court heard. After following him across
-
Date
Director loses his hair to raise cash for Bibles
THE Swindon-based Bible Society sponsored one of its staff to shave off his locks. The £2,000 Philip Poole raised will be used to provide Bibles for immigration detention centres around the country. Mr Poole swapped his head of hair for a Santa hat during
-
Date
School work to get under way
A NEW special school will be ready in time for the next academic year after Swindon Council was allowed to bypass Government regulations. A standing order that requires competitive tenders to be sought for large building projects has been waived. Instead
-
Date
Free trees give away
SUPERMARKET Tesco has had an attack of Christmas generosity and started giving away stock at its branch in Ocotal Way, Swindon. With just three days left until Santa makes his rounds Tesco has decided to get in on the act and give away 600 Christmas trees
-
Date
Grateful letter to a life-saver
FREDERICK Ready could not hold back his tears when he opened a letter from a man whose life he saved 47 years ago. Despite being almost five decades ago, Mr Ready's memories of August 5, 1953, are burned into his memory. Mr Ready, 61, a retired pharmaceutical
-
Date
Trader sold fake goods at market
BLUNSDON Market trader Joseph McGeough has been fined for selling counterfeit goods after ignoring several warnings to check his stock for fakes. Swindon trading standards officer Russell Sharland visited McGeough's clothes stall in May, August and November
-
Date
Give us the gift of peace at christmas
ONE of the families which will have to stay on camp is that of Private Neil Thompson who is there with his wife Rosalyn and his step-daughter Lauren who is four years old. Neil, who comes from Liden, said: "I can't go home this year because I am on duty
-
Date
Meanwhile, the show goes on at Meadow Lane
NOTTS COUNTY keeper Steve Mildenhall is already fending off Swindon Town attacks before a ball has been kicked at Meadow Lane tonight. The current Evening Advertiser player of the year is struggling with a sprained left ankle which could yet keep him
-
Date
She's a winner!
A STUDENT nurse expecting her fifth child was the winner of a Daihatsu Terios off-road vehicle in a competition at the Greenbridge Retail and Leisure Park. Caron Devenney, of Charfield Close, Swindon, won the car after finding the key to open its door
-
Date
Reeves: We'll try to get a result at County for Roy
TOWN skipper Alan Reeves has hailed Roy Evans for laying the foundations of success. The players cut a sorry bunch as they digested news of their 'gaffer's' departure yesterday but no-one will be allowed to sulk. Reeves and his troops are determined to
-
Date
Ruddock commits to Town
RAZOR RUDDOCK has committed himself to Swindon Town despite his intense disappointment at seeing Roy Evans quit. The player-coach has also hinted that he would be prepared to take on the manager's role should it be offered. He said: "I was gutted to see
-
Date
Cutting back on the arts is a big mistake
I WAS disappointed and baffled by the news that Swindon Council may cut its grant to Sixth Sense Theatre Company. As head of drama at Commonweal School, Sixth Sense has provided brilliant opportunities for students to look at issues which are relevant
-
Date
Early Christmas for councillors
FROM recent reports in the Evening Advertiser it would appear that councillors have started to enjoy the Christmas spirit a little early. n £125,000 on lap top computers. n New windows for Wat Tyler House a comparatively new, modern building, that shouldn't
-
Date
Bradford on Avon under 11-12s 55, Devizes under 11-12s 15
BRADFORD notched up their third successive win with an impressive display. Due to the unavailability of several players, Bradford were only able to field eight, so the game was split up into four quarters to allow Devizes to give all their players a game
-
Date
Cooper-Avon Tyres 2nds 24, Swindon Supermarine 2nds 8
COOPER-AVON progressed to the next round of the Dorset and Wilts 2nd Team Cup thanks to a much improved second half performance. They ran in four tries, scored by captain Mick Hurn, Tim Holland, Neil Newport and Simon Scratchley. Fly half Richard Foley
-
Date
Swindon forced to shuffle pack
Swindon will be without skipper Andy Morley for their final Southern Counties North outing of the year, at home to Oxford tomorrow. Swindon last played Oxford only three weeks ago and ran out convincing winners. And victory tomorrow will bring them a
-
Date
Warehouse's ritzy facelift
A DERELICT former warehouse just yards from Chippenham High Street is being turned into upmarket flats. The grade II listed Courtyard, in Chapel Lane, will be restored and turned into seven apartments. New maisonettes and flats will be built alongside
-
Date
Boys display new 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
-
Date
Fresh faces must learn from errors
SWINDON'S director of education Mike Lusty has finally decided to retire after a turbulent year in which his department has been deemed to be failing by Government inspectors. It was performing so badly that an academic from Bath University and officials
-
Date
Hunters ride again
AN ANIMAL welfare group is preparing to protest against hunting with hounds over Christmas. Foxhunting resumed on Monday, nearly 10 months after a ban was imposed because of the foot-and-mouth epidemic. Members of the Beaufort Hunt, which Prince Charles
-
Date
Peace, goodwill and anti-terrorism
Westbury constituency MP Dr Andrew Murrison updates readers on the latest news from Parliament. CRY Freedom! Shorn of its more swivel-eyed bits, Mr Blunkett's Anti-Terrorism Bill is back on an even keel. It can now expect a safe passage onto the statute
-
Date
Still no relief for Westbury
MIXED feelings surround the decision to put a major road scheme on hold. The Government will not fund the controversial £15m Westbury bypass until it has taken a wider look at the road structure throughout the south west. The regional assembly, Government
-
Date
Snatch of the day at fish bar
CASH was stolen out the tills of a fish and chip shop in Westbury. Thieves smashed a pane of glass in the raid on Portway Fish Bar in High Street and stole £130 cash on Saturday night.
-
Date
Virgin in drugs and sex shame
ONE member of staff has been fired and another suspended from Virgin Mobile after allegations of drug use, violence and sex at the firm's Christmas party. Police were called to Reflections nightclub in Westbury twice in 15 minutes in the early hours.
-
Date
Fears over Sunday late drinking plan
A MELKSHAM clergyman has slammed plans to allow some pubs and clubs in west Wiltshire to sell alcohol until midnight on Sundays. The district council's ruling cabinet has approved the scheme, which is only open to those premises with public entertainment
-
Date
Classroom role for old pavilion
SCHOOLCHILDREN could use Melksham's historic cricket pavilion for extra classroom space, as the future of the historic building looks more secure. The building's long-term prospects looked in doubt after vandals caused thousands of pounds worth of damage
-
Date
IT firm moves to new offices
THE local economy gets a boost in the New Year with the move to a new site of 200 staff of Cirencester-based specialist IT training and consultant company QA plc to Swindon. The firm is moving its administration function to new building on the Delta Business
-
Date
House prices growth slows
NatIonwide is forecasting a six per cent rise in prices next year, a far cry from the 2001 figure of nearly 12 per cent. It also sees house sales volumes being slightly down from 1.44 to 1.37 average as earnings drop and unemployment rises. Alex Bannister
-
Date
Green light for bypass
WORK will start on the £10m Semington bypass within days, even though the Government has still not given the final go-ahead. Highways chiefs say they will lose a year if contractors do not start work by January 7. Wiltshire County Council is still waiting
-
Date
Local advice set to return
WORK will soon be able to start on west Wiltshire's much-needed new Citizens Advice Bureau. Planning permission has been granted to create a new Wiltshire district office at a former Indian takeaway in Mill Street, Trowbridge. Manager, Sarah Cardy, said
-
Date
Firefighters' calendar is hot property
FIREFIGHTERS who posed for a raunchy calendar are well on the way to selling every copy printed. The two crews, based at Chippenham Fire Station, are aiming to sell all 2,000. The calendar is proving a major hit with 1,000 sold in a week. The crews are
-
Date
Fire chief's warning over festive hazards
FIRE officers are warning festive revellers to stop decorations and candles turning into Christmas killers. Dangerous decorations are among the list of potential fire hazards, with new warnings being issued by Wiltshire Fire Brigade this month to prevent
-
Date
Village store is the west's second best
A HUSBAND-and-wife team have finished runners up in a competition to find the best neighbourhood shop in the west. Alan and Sarah Appleby, who run Winsley Post Office and Spar, were nominated by customers and last week flew to Scotland for a champagne
-
Date
Still no relief for Westbury
MIXED feelings surround the decision to put a major road scheme on hold. The Government will not fund the controversial £15m Westbury bypass until it has taken a wider look at the road structure throughout the south west. The regional assembly, Government
-
Date
Hannah's card helps children's groups
SALES of the Wiltshire Times Christmas card designed by three-year-old Hannah Jordan have benefited two west Wiltshire children's groups. Stepping Stones Opportunity Group in Trowbridge, which takes special needs pre-school children, sold more than 900
-
Date
Missing sex offenders slip through police net
POLICE in Wiltshire are unable to find four sex offenders who have slipped through the net designed to protect children's safety. But police are not revealing details or photographs of the offenders because they do not consider them to be a dangerous
-
Date
Girls targeted in double snatch bid
PARENTS are calling for the number of paedophiles living in west Wiltshire to be revealed after perverts tried to snatch two schoolgirls in four days. The mother of nine-year-old Sophie Gregson, who was the victim of an attempted abduction in Hilperton
-
Date
Backwell Utd 1, Westbury Utd 0
SCREWFIX DIRECT LEAGUE: WESTBURY remain in the Screwfix Direct League Premier Division relegation zone after going down to a 1-0 defeat at second placed Backwell United on Friday night. The North Somerset outfit, conquerors of Devizes Town last week,
-
Date
Time-travel is a fun pastime
CHILDREN were told to be seen and not heard at Heytesbury Primary School, near Warminster last week. They dressed as grubby street urchins and teachers got the cane out as part of the school's Victorian day. After some research, the pupils learnt about
-
Date
Melksham Town 7, Wellington 0
SCREWFIX DIRECT LEAGUE: MELKSHAM 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
-
Date
Larkhall Athletic 0, Corsham Town 0
SCREWFIX DIRECT LEAGUE: CORSHAM Town were left to rue a glut of missed chances as nine-man Larkhall Athletic held on for a share of the spoils on Saturday 15th December. The home side saw Jim McLay dismissed in the 20th minute for kicking Corsham defender
-
Date
Chippenham Town 3, Cirencester Town 0
DR MARTENS LEAGUE: 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
-
Date
Busy holiday for the Bluebirds
Title-chasing Chippenham Town embark on a gruelling programme of four games in 11 days in the Dr Martens League Western Division,when they make the trip to top of the table Halesowen Town tomorrow. Manager Tommy Saunders (above) then leads his team against
-
Date
United in danger
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 tomorrow
-
Date
Society pays tribute to keen birdwatcher
BIRDWATCHER John Pollard was honoured at Wiltshire Ornithological Society's last meeting. Mr Pollard, who died in May, was the manager of Barclays Bank, Warminster. He was a keen cricketer and the society's treasurer for 20 years. He was due to receive
-
Date
Town shut down by gas leak
A GAS leak forced firefighters to cordon off Warminster town centre and evacuate shops on Friday. The fire brigade was called at 1.30pm when the gas concentration of the leak rose above safety limits. A BT engineer detected the dangerous level in an underground
-
Date
Marine to 'nick' it
Supermarine face another crucial relegation clash tomorrow, when they host troubled Shepshed Dynamo. A wretched run of form has seen Shepshed slip to 16th in the division and Marine manager John Murphy insists the Midlanders will be wary of getting embroiled
-
Date
Devizes facing Premier test
SCREWFIX Direct Premier Division big boys Bideford are the visitors at Nursteed Road tomorrow, and Devizes will need to be at their best to get a result. Since Chippenham's departure from the league, Bideford have emerged as Taunton's only serious title
-
Date
It's a House-warming as Purton entertain Cricklade
In the Wiltshire League, an entertaining game looks to be on the cards at the Red House, where Purton Reserves take on Cricklade Town. Both sets of players should know each others' play, with quite a few having played for both sides this season. After
-
Date
We're Europe's most congested country
BRITAIN is Europe's worst place for driving. Our roads are the most congested in Europe a depressing thought for everyone who feels that they spend a fortune to be mobile . . . and then discover that they're spending their lives in traffic jams. Worse
-
Date
Multi choice among the multi-purpose vehicles
MATRIX usually means a mould, an original which leads to a lot of copies, so with the existing collection of mini-MPVs it's a strange name for Hyundai to choose for its late addition. Renault's Scenic was the real matrix which spawned this whole new sector
-
Date
The new Volvo XC90 offers the flexibility of up to seven forward-facing seats
Volvo is to unveil its new Sports Utility Vehicle, the Volvo XC90, at the Detroit show next month. The vehicle will receive its first UK public debut at the British International Motor Show in Birmingham next autumn. The car, which will be powered by
-
Date
Upset over plans for mental home
ANGRY residents in Bradford on Avon joined forces on Tuesday night objecting to a proposed home for people with mental health problems. There was standing room only at the town council's planning meeting in the old town hall as more than 30 people begged
-
Date
It's a heavyweight
Audi is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its first all-aluminium bodied car. At the 1991 Frankfurt Motorshow, Audi amazed the motoring public with the quattro Spyder concept car . Then a month later in Tokyo it unveiled its futur-istic sportscar in
-
Date
Most desirable car
And the most desirable car in Britain is . . . the Ferrari F355, according to Top Gear magazine, whose hundredth issue celebrates the 100 best cars its testers have ever driven. Top of the tree is the Ferrari F355, of which the magazine says: "Yes, there
-
Date
Which table?
PARENTS must be very puzzled, when their children start school, choosing the best school for them to go to. What evidence do they have? Well, they have the 'word on the street' of other parents. They also have SATS league tables which measures the ability
-
Date
Does a town this size really need a mayor?
CLLR Jeff Osborn and his supporters are a little too indignant about my previous letter about the future of Trowbridge as the county town. I suspect Cllr Osborn is deliberately muddying the water again though, because he knows very well that I did not
-
Date
Disruption hits Bath's hopes
THE old spectre of international calls has returned to haunt Bath's preparations for their Premiership appointment in Newcastle on Sunday (2.30pm). Desperate to rebuild his players' dented confidence, coach Jon Callard saw several of his squad spirited
-
Date
Put light on the matter
I HAVE heard of some hair-brained schemes in my time but Wiltshire County Council's plans to switch off lighting in villages and estates really must take the biscuit. I have never seen such an open invitation to thugs, thieves and sex offenders in all
-
Date
Memories of a changing town
HOW lovely to see a photograph of The Parade with its trees which looked so attractive, but I cannot remember the variety of them. I am 86, and also remember the trees in the grounds adjoining Bellefield House and the deer which lived there. Listening
-
Date
Let us be proud
I was amazed Mr Hungerford (Letters, December 14) could not think of anything Trowbridge has gained or achieved in the past 10 years that should be celebrated. Important enhancements to the town's retail facilities include the Shires development, the
-
Date
Children's peace was also stolen
ONE night the week before last, our small village school was broken into. Items were stolen, doors and windows wrecked and articles were strewn around rooms. Two sacks of wrapped and named Christmas presents for the children were amongst the stolen items
-
Date
Fire crews tackle blaze at historic hotel
A FIRE in an historic hotel brought Swindon's Old Town to a virtual standstill. Three fire engines and a turntable appliance were called to the Goddard Arms after a small fire was reported in a downstairs toilet. Firefighters, including two wearing breathing
-
Date
Swindon Town stars spread smiles among children in hospital
SWINDON Town players took an afternoon off training to visit sick children at Princess Margaret Hospital. Fresh from hearing the news that they were losing manager Roy Evans, they toured the children's ward at the hospital. Scott Woodward, 13, from Swindon
-
Date
Farmer calls for barriers
FARMER George Pothecary says he is fed up of calling for safety improvements along the A419. There have been two separate accidents in less than a week in which four people have died. All have involved a car leaving the road and crossing the central reservation
-
Date
21/12/01
THESE are difficult and testing times for all involved with Bath Rugby. Last weekend's defeat to London Irish was a bitter pill to swallow, especially when you take into account what was a terrific team performance in defeating Gloucester seven days previously
-
Date
Santa's post is via pub
FATHER Christmas will be getting a huge sack of letters from the Hungry Horse pub in Yarnbook. Landlady Julie Fernandes has made a post box for children to post their Christmas letters. Mrs Fernandes said: "Christmas is geared around children. The pub
-
Date
Funds roll in for park action group
PARENTS in the North Bradley area are celebrating a number of new donations for their project to create a new children's play area. The North Bradley Park Action Group has been awarded £2,700 from the Foundation for Sport, a grant it applied for more
-
Date
Drivers fail to see the vital signs
ONE in five drivers in Trowbridge is unable to see properly behind the wheel, according to research carried out by Specsavers Opticians. Motorists are being warned that long winter nights and bad driving conditions will make matters worse. Karen Tolmie
-
Date
Addict notched up 60 burglaries
ONE-MAN crime wave Barry Middleton has been jailed for five years and three months after admitting more than 60 burglaries. The 23-year-old heroin addict struck at night while householders were asleep making off with cash, bank cards and any item he could
-
Date
Drink binge led to attack
A BINGE drinker downed anti-depressants and 20 pints of Guinness before viciously assaulting a stranger outside a nightclub. Stephen Mitchell, 36, of Boundary Walk, Trowbridge, attacked student Adrian Evans from behind as he left The Junction, Mortimer
-
Date
Youth group's new home
YOUNGSTERS on a new housing estate near Trowbridge have a new youth group to go to. IMPAX, for 11 to 15-year-olds, has moved to the Paxcroft Mead community centre, from its old home at Bethesda Baptist Church. Group leader, Richard Butler, said: "We have
-
Date
Restaurant goes cold turkey
A TROWBRIDGE couple went to a restaurant to discuss details of the booking they had made for Christmas Day lunch only to find it had shut down. When Eileen and Roy Smith then tried to phone the Sportsman restaurant in Rode, an answer-phone message simply
-
Date
Driver said he was his brother
Teenager David Young will spend Christmas behind bars after giving his brother's name when he was stopped driving without insurance. The 19-year-old, who doesn't have a driving licence, panicked when he was caught behind the wheel of a BMW on the evening
-
Date
Spy cameras to cut town crime
WORK to install CCTV cameras in Trowbridge town centre is set to start in January. Trowbridge Town Council has awarded the contract to install the system to TH White in Devizes, which put in the Chippenham and Calne schemes. Mayor Jeff Osborn said: "We
-
Date
Carer stole cash from resident
A CARE home employee from Trowbridge stole money from an 89-year-old patient suffering from dementia. Rebecca Merritt, 27, took money from the patient's purse over several days and was caught when managers at Trowbridge Oak Nursing Home set a trap. Merritt
-
Date
Temporary solution to health care crisis
A MENTAL health care crisis in the area has been temporarily averted after a doctor was found to cover Charter House unit at Trowbridge Hospital. As reported in last week's Wiltshire Times, the 27-bed unit had been forced to turn mentally ill patients
-
Date
Mel C shows her spice for giving
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
-
Date
Eat, drink and stay healthy!
PRINCESS Margaret Hospital today warned people: "Don't poison yourself this Christmas". The hospital deals with patients every year who are the victims of food poisoning from the Christmas turkey or a festive buffet. But infection control nurse Sue Thompson
-
Date
Animal charity inspector is back where she grew up
RSPCA inspector Stephanie Daly has returned to Wiltshire, the county in which she grew up, to begin the next step of her career with the animal welfare charity. Stephanie, 29, has returned to the area as the new inspector for Swindon, having transferred
-
Date
First the good news, Student's car found, and now the bad. She can't drive it
A BUSINESS studies student who feared she had lost three months of college work when her car was stolen has been reunited with both car and contents. Hayley Munday feared she had lost all the work she had done since starting her course at Swindon College
-
Date
Handbag snatched
A THIEF ran off with a handbag containing £74 worth of goods, from a 15-year-old girl, walking near the library in Calne. The bag was discovered minutes later in the car park of The Pippin, after being stolen at 3.40pm on Tuesday. It contained £74 worth
-
Date
Brother of shooting victim is back home
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
-
Date
Bid to protect dancers fails
ATTEMPTS by Labour councillors to protect the future of Swin-don Dance have been blocked by other parties. Labour leader Sue Bates proposed asking the ratification committee to include options for enhancing cultural services. In particular, she asked
-
Date
Preparing for some rough and tumble
MOST children at this time of year are busy thinking of what presents to ask Santa Claus for as shops stock up on festive delights. But little Declan Hobbs, of Peatmoor, has already received the most precious gift a new hand. Declan, who celebrated his
-
Date
Farewell to the boss
A TEARFUL Roy Evans said quitting Town had been just as difficult as turning his back on 35 years with Liverpool. The former director of football struggled to keep his emotions in check as he said goodbye to the players at the club's Wanborough training
-
Date
Give me the job
MALCOLM CROSBY believes he is the man to heal Swindon Town's wounds and lead the team to success on the pitch. The assistant manager is in charge for the visit to Notts County this evening but Crozza wants more than a caretaker role. He met with the Town
-
Date
Frampton Cotterell 43, Cooper-Avon Tyres 7
COOPER-AVON, looking for a morale boosting performance before tomorrow's vital home league fixture against Frome, were well beaten for the second consecutive week. The only highlight for the visitors was a try by flanker Alan Davis which was converted
-
Date
Trowbridge 26, Bradford on Avon 8
TROWBRIDGE gained another convincing victory over neighbours Bradford on Avon in this Dorset and Wilts cup game, despite being down to 14 men for half the game. It was up front where Trowbridge gained the advantage with powerful scrummaging and clinical
-
Date
Weekend fixtures
South West Divisions South West 1: Cheltenham v Stroud; Dings Cruisaders v Maidenhead; Keynsham v Dorchester; Reading v Chinnor; Swanage & Wareham v Bridgwater & Albion; Weston-super-Mare v Barnstaple. South West 2 East: Aylesbury v Stow-on-the-Wold
-
Date
Bassett hand a Yeovil debut to Dingle
Wootton Bassett travel to Yeovil to face Ivel Barbarians in Southern Counties South action tomorrow. Bassett hand a league debut to promising No 8 John Dingle, and they will be hoping to get back into form after the recent league disapointment against
-
Date
Cirencester's festive crunch
CIRENCESTER face a pre-Christmas crunch tomorrow when they host Spartans in a top-table Gloucestershire Premier League encounter at their Whiteway ground. The two sides met at the Gloucester outfit's Archdeacon Meadow earlier in the season, a game resulting
