Archive
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Flowers cost driver dear
UNINSURED driver Paul Smith crashed his car while over the drink-drive limit on a trip to buy his wife some flowers, magistrates have heard. Smith, 38, of Easton Square, Sherston, pleaded guilty at North Wiltshire Magistrates Court in Chippenham on Monday
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Scaling tough challenge
A TEAM of Chippenham firefighters and Westinghouse Brakes employees are aiming to beat the station's best time of 19hrs 33mins when they attempt the gruelling 24-hour Three Peaks Challenge. More than 80 teams will be competing on June 27 to scale Britain's
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Mystery power cut brings town to a halt
NEARLY 600 homes and businesses in the centre of Chippenham lost power on Monday for two and a half hours from 1.30pm to 4pm because of a mystery electrical fault. Businesses were paralysed as tills, computers and lights went off and the power was only
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Cash draw will boost club's fund for repairs
SUPPORTERS of Chippenham Town Football Club are holding a weekly competition based on the National Lottery that organiser Vic Swanborough predicts could net £1,000 a month towards the £52,000 cost of ground repairs. The Hardenhuish Park outfit are second
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Inquest on baby's death
THE heartbroken parents of a baby girl who died just hours after birth, claim she could have survived had hospital staff acted more quickly during the birth. At an inquest in Bristol, doctors from Bath's Royal United Hospital said they had altered the
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Free parking under threat
FREE parking in Corsham's town centre car parks could be scrapped. A review is about to look at whether parking charges should be brought in at the Newlands Road short and long stay car parks, and the car park alongside the Methuen Arms. All are owned
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We're so lucky to be alive, say fire family
A FAMILY who lost everything when their home was gutted by fire two weeks ago are trying to rebuild their lives. Grandmother Margaret Butterfield, 59, only had time to call the fire brigade before fleeing her blazing home on Baron's Mead, Chippenham,
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Bard work for young actors
PUPILS at a Chippenham school were given the chance to take starring roles in two of Shakespeare's greatest plays this week. The children at St Mary's Roman Catholic Primary School took part in a Shakespeare marathon run by Bath Theatre Royal's education
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Record office may be sited at livestock market
CHIPPENHAM'S Livestock Market could be the home of the new county record office. Wiltshire County Council's chief executive Keith Robinson said in order to take the project forward, county councillors had to decide whether to stick with Devizes as an
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Apathy to blame for demise of carnival
THE resignation of Chippenham's carnival committee on Monday night means that the historic event faces extinction. Despite numerous appeals for support, no-one stepped forward to take on the running of the town's historic event. Established in 1923, the
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Stately home has star turn
THE visitors' car park at Wilton House turned into film city last week, as shooting took place in the stately home on a British film. The Earl of Pembroke's home is one of a series of locations across the south of England chosen as backdrops for the filming
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They're just not talking this through
IT would seem that Swindon Council has shot itself in the foot again. After the changes made at the Drove Road junction and the major work on the Oxford Road both of which have come in for sustained criticism one would have thought it would have learned
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Nobody's a winner in Bramall Lane anarchy
JUST what on earth was going on at Bramall Lane? To see Sheffield United reduced to six players was extraordinary. But the question on everyone's lips was did they do it deliberately? The Football Association was expected to decide today whether the game
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Web page is a top 20 smash
North Wiltshire District Council's website is a real hit, according to an independent survey. The website has made it into the Top 20 of local authority websites, according to a survey carried out by the Society of Information Technology Management in
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Traders bitter about loss of town parking
COMPETITION for town centre parking space in Chippenham has intensified in the wake of the closure of Timber Street car-park. North Wiltshire District Council, which owned the car-park, scrapped it to make room for a new-look, safer bus station. But local
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They're off to see the wizard
THIRTEEN pupils from Corsham School are hoping to star in the next Harry Potter film after being chosen as extras for the movie. The children, all aged between 11 and 13, answered a request from Warner Brothers for teenage extras to star in Harry Potter
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Youth is given police caution
A TEENAGER has received a caution from police after he was found with a small quantity of cannabis in Aldbourne on Friday following an incident in which one of the village library windows was smashed. Police were called after a stone was thrown through
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Pewsey warms up its welcome
NEW Welcome to Pewsey signs have been officially unveiled at the four main approaches to the town. Mounted in substantial oak surrounds, the new signs carry architect Mark Ellerby's own interpretation of King Alfred, and give the village's Saxon name,
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Drink driver admits error
A DRIVER from Pewsey admitted he was trying to insert a tape into his cassette player when he lost control of his car and crashed in the village. Charles Barker, 46, of Sharcott, pleaded guilty before Kennet magistrates in Devizes on Monday to driving
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Blueprint for village's future
RESIDENTS of Pewsey are being given the chance to help shape the future of the village and its surrounds. Kennet district and Wiltshire county councils are staging a consultation day in the Bouverie Hall in Pewsey on Monday from 2pm to 9pm, when people
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Heading practice pays off for Steve
CHIPPENHAM Town striker Steve Tweddle was delighted to be back on the goal trail after opening the scoring in Saturday's 1-1 draw at home to fellow promotion-chasers Weston-super-Mare. Tweddle, who hit 49 goals last season as the Bluebirds clinched promotion
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It's not a birthday party as we know it, Jim
ONCE an important trading and administrative centre, the historic town of Cricklade has probably received a few VIP visits over the centuries. But it's doubtful if it has ever received a stranger deputation than the 25 extra terrestrials who turned up
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Youth go into future
YOUTH leaders in Malmesbury have been the first to use state-of-the-art musical and computer equipment worth £8,700, which is now available to youth centres across north Wiltshire. The equipment which includes a digital video camera, sound equipment,
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Party to help kids
A GOLDEN jubilee party at Malmesbury Vics Football Club will be raising money for the children's charity Sparks, a cause particularly close to the heart of manager John Norris. Mr Norris, 55, of Manor Close, Sherston, manages the Vics' first team in the
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Blaze remains in DNA identity test
REMAINS recovered from a fire in Hankerton might not be formally identified for another five or six weeks, a police spokesman has said. The remains, believed to be those of 85-year-old Betty Greenslade, are being compared to a DNA sample taken from her
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New donkey? Let us bray...
THE retirement of Brambles the donkey has left parishioners in Lea without a donkey to join them on Palm Sunday. Every year the congregation processes from the village school to St Giles Church led by Brambles, but now old age has meant the 39-year-old
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Parents return to work for building fundraiser
PARENTS at Lea and Garsdon School are giving their time to raise money to pay for new classrooms. They have already raised £8,000 towards a target of £18,000 with traditional fundraisers such as cake sales, but have decided their professional skills could
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£60,000 bid for new school hall
LUCKINGTON School has launched a campaign to raise £60,000 towards the cost of a new school hall. The need for a hall was highlighted in the school's last Ofsted report, but it is expected to cost £150,000, a public meeting at the school was told on Monday
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Fed up Internet user goes it alone
AN Internet user from Dauntsey is so fed up with slow web connections that he has taken matters into his own hands to bring high-speed broadband to the area. Gavin Culverhouse, 30, has approached broadband company Tele2. It has told Mr Culverhouse that
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Head looks to restful future
HEADTEACHER Barbara Harvey has no set plan for her retirement from Crudwell School. Mrs Harvey, 53, has been at the school for seven years and has been teaching since 1970, but she has no specific plans for the retirement that commences at the end of
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More juniors at the crease
CALNE Cricket Club will launch an under 11s team this season following the success of their under 13 and under 15 teams last season. The club decided to form the junior sides last season and were rewarded when the under 15s became the Wiltshire champions
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GWC helps charities with £3,000 gift
THE Prospect Hospice and the Children's Society have each benefited by £1,500 through the fund raising activities of staff at a Swindon company. Last year's fund-raising by GWC Group's charity committee resulted in the cheques being handed over to the
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More jobs go at music giant
Music group EMI is cutting 1,800 jobs 800 more than analysts had predicted as part of a restructuring of its troubled recorded music division. The company which earlier this month announced it was closing its CD pressing plant in Swindon, with the loss
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Councillors resign to protest law
THREE councillors have resigned from Idmiston and Porton Parish Council in protest at new legislation requiring councillors to sign a declaration concerning their private finances. The three resignations follow a rising tide of concern among parish councils
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Library plan wins support
HIGHWORTH town councillors have unanimously supported plans for a Co-op food store and public library. Councillors accepted the application with the proviso that the layout of the Burbage Walls area be adjusted to ensure they conform to Highworth's historic
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A far cry from other careers
LARGER-THAN-LIFE Fred 'Boots' Deacon, the town crier of Wootton Bassett, is looking for a deputy, but he said you have to be raving mad and quick-witted to take up the position. Mr Deacon, 69, of Fairfield, Wootton Bassett, has been the town crier since
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Add his name
I JUST wanted to voice my disappointment at the recent Swindon memorial story and the town's poor excuse of not being able to afford the adding of names. I knew Mr Vince Phillips from my time in the Territorial Army back in 1989 as did my sister know
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Children take risks in traffic
I READ in your paper on Thursday, March 7, that another child had been injured along Akers Way. I don't know the circumstances but I can't say I'm surprised. I was at the top of Akers Way on Thursday, going towards Woodhall Park. Hreod had obviously just
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Council failed to maintain square
I REFER to the reports March 12, 'Council is planning to redevelop square' and March 13, 'Residents hoping for a square deal' that explained how Swindon Borough Council are putting forward proposals to local residents on ways of improving Cavendish Square
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Cash prize ensured
CORSHAM dad Christopher Fry will have no problems sending daughters Jessica and Imogen to university after he won £7,500 in a competition. Mr Fry, 49, had a letter through the post from an insurance company, guaranteeing him a cash prize if he signed
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Scheme to fight drug scourge is extended
A DRUG scheme originally piloted in the south west is to be expanded to the rest of England. The scheme will see £1 million handed out over the next two years to help people confront drugs issues in their local community. The national launch today follows
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Chippenham Sunday League round up
COLERNE A and Hullavington Village set up an all First Division final of the WG Parr Trophy after beating respective opponents Semington Rovers and West End Wanderers. Last season's beaten finalists Colerne A needed a penalty shootout before ending Semington's
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Youngsters bid for title
WILTSHIRE under 18s will be looking to round off their season with the South West Counties Championship trophy this weekend as they play host to title rivals Gloucestershire at Corsham Town, kick off 2.30pm. Mel Gingell's side need victory to make sure
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New push forour crop idols
THE Wiltshire young farmers who are looking for girlfriends are to become poster pin-ups representing their club in the next phase of their campaign. As well as finding some female companionship for the bachelors, the campaign aims to raise the organisation's
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Goal glut as 21-gun salvo hits strugglers
MID-WILTS SUNDAY LEAGUE: NETHERAVON went goal crazy on Sunday as they hammered bottom club Linpac 21-0 to move into fourth spot in the Mid Wilts Sunday Football League table. Linpac, who lost 10-1 to the same side two weeks ago with nine men, this time
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The beat is a treat for police recruits
SIX months ago, new recruits Rob Kilgour, Andy Henson and Emma Cooper took their first tentative steps out on to the streets of Chippenham as police officers. Since then they have tackled burglars, caught shoplifters and fraudsters, talked to grieving
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Woman gets a year's ban
A Corsham woman told magistrates she was unaware she was over the drink-drive limit when she drove home after discussing repairs to her car with a friend. Kate Mousley, 22, of Chapel Knapp, Gastard, near Corsham, was disqualified from driving for 12 months
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Bottom side upset the favourites in cup shock
BROMHAM Reserves, bottom of Division Three, beat favourites Deverills Reserves to reach the final of the Spring Cup (sponsored by Milleprint of Westbury). Nathan West gave Bromham a 1-0 lead with Danny Hargreaves equalising for Deverills before the break
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Question mark over rail strike
DOUBT is hanging over the national boycott of rail services organised by the Better Rail Action Group which is scheduled for Friday March 22. BRAG wants hundreds of thousands of commuters up and down the country to steer clear of the trains in protest
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Away win turns Vics ladies season around
MALMESBURY Vics' ladies football team completed a remarkable turnaround in fortunes at the weekend as they lifted themselves off the bottom of the Wiltshire FA Womens League table for the first time. The club, playing in their inaugural season in the
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Minehead 2 Corsham Town 2
THE Wiltshire side's frustrating weekend continued on Sunday as they were held to a draw at Irnham Road by lowly Minehead, the team they had defeated 4-0 at The Southbank just a week previously. Corsham took the lead on 15 minutes when Freegard set up
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Avebury campers must go
THE National Trust has taken ownership of a grass verge in Avebury in order to evict a group of travellers who have been camping there on and off for the last four years. The unremarkable location, part of the verge off Green Street, just outside the
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Calne Town 5 Wellington 2
CALNE Town's hopes of avoiding the drop into Wiltshire League football look brighter than ever after a five-star display gave them maximum points from their home clash with Wellington on Saturday 16 March. The victory was the First Division strugglers
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Devizes Town 6, Bridport 3
SCREWFIX DIRECT LEAGUE: HOT-SHOT striker Barry Flippance grabbed a first half hat-trick as Devizes Town recorded their sixth straight league success with an emphatic victory over Bridport at Nursteed Road on Saturday. Flippance's treble cemented his position
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Nominate county's unsung heroes
THE Gazette is working with the county council and commercial sponsors to find the unsung heroes of the county who do quietly and have their own remarkable stories to tell. If you know someone who looks after an elderly neighbour, a youngster who organises
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Melksham are back on form
MELKSHAM Town returned to winning ways in the Premier Division with an impressive 3-0 home win over sixth-placed Dawlish Town at The Conigre on Saturday 16 March. Matty Bown set the home side on their way with the opening goal and former Chippenham Town
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Top council boss made false claims on expenses
A SENIOR council officer fiddled his expenses after taking his wife and granddaughter with him on a business trip to Edinburgh, a court heard on Tuesday. David Head, the council's head of emergency services, took them out for meals at two Edinburgh restaurants
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New school may have grass roof
THE proposed new St John's School at Marlborough could have a grass roof to help it blend in with its surroundings, headteacher Patrick Hazlewood revealed this week. The split-site St John's School and Community College plans to build a new school on
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Canal pub hit by firm's collapse
WORK to transform the Kennet and Avon Canal at Horton near Devizes into a boaters' paradise has turned into a nightmare after a series of disasters culminated in the financial collapse of the firm of contractors undertaking the work. The landlord of the
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Behind the scene with police
FAMILIES experienced the long arm of the law as police descended on the Wiltshire Heritage Museum in Devizes. But it was all part of the fun of a special family day and police were out in force talking about their different jobs. Police handlers and their
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Builders argue case for leewayon houses
DEVELOPERS have pressed for more houses to be built in Kennet than those already planned. At the public inquiry into the replacement Kennet Local Plan last week, developers asked for an allowance to be built into plans to build houses in the area over
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Council cracks down on prostitution trade
MEASURES to tackle town centre prostitution were backed by Swindon Council at last night's cabinet meeting. Responding to demands for action by residents of the Broad Street area to crack down on the nuisance caused by kerb crawlers, prostitutes and pimps
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Did you witness this bus station assault?
DETECTIVES today appealed for vital witnesses to come forward to help them with a rape inquiry. They say two men hold the key to their investigation into an attack on a woman at a Swindon bus station. The 35 year-old single mum had been enjoying a night
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Enough to drive you round the bend
IT is supposed to be the answer to Swindon's congestion. But people in Wroughton believe the traffic arrangements surrounding the new park being built nearby are simply barmy and will actually feed traffic straight into their village. The problem has
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Crossing plan is put on ice
PLANNED safety improvements to a notorious crossing, where a teenage boy lost his life, were put on ice last night after it was revealed negotiations were underway with supermarket giant Asda to fund the work. Precise details were not revealed at the
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Mother of four missing
MOTHER-of-four Linda Razzell disappeared after failing to arrive at work in Swindon. Today police said they were very concerned for her safety and pleaded with her to get in touch. Officers were expected to continue their search for the Swindon College
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Police launch huge rural crimes probe
A MAJOR police operation led by officers from Salisbury and Bristol has been launched to investigate a series of rural crimes. Operation Agile started after 32 burglaries in Downton, Tisbury, Zeals, other parts of Wiltshire, North Dorset and Somerset.
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Councillors resign to protest law
THREE councillors have resigned from Idmiston and Porton Parish Council in protest at new legislation requiring councillors to sign a declaration concerning their private finances. The three resignations follow a rising tide of concern among parish councils
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Cut in bus services is 'appalling'
CUTS in evening and Sunday bus services planned by the Wilts & Dorset bus company have been slammed as appalling and devastating. The cuts will be implemented from next month. The company said this week that a number of changes will be made to services
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Pupils' feastfor poor eyes
SIXTH formers at John Bentley School, Calne, were given a practical demonstration of student cooking last week, to prepare them for leaving home and fending for themselves on a budget. Head of sixth form Ian Stannett, head of art Allan Aggett and Andrea
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Old time cars thrill children
YOUNG historians at Key Day Nursery in Calne went back in time last week when they got the chance to explore three vintage cars. The cars, a 1934 Vauxhall 14X6, a 1924 Model T Ford and a 1968 Bedford lorry, were brought along by staff at the Atwell Wilson
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Chamber to go to vote
CALNE Chamber of Commerce members will decide whether or not to join the Wessex Association of Chambers of Commerce next month. Calne is currently the only chamber in north Wiltshire which has not joined the association. A spokesman for the Calne chamber
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Theft shocks haulage firm
STAFF at Devizes haulage firm Hams Transport have been left reeling after a burglary. One lorry and two bulk tipping trailers were stolen in the night time raid and the thieves left a trail of damage in the depot, based on the Hopton Industrial Estate
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Bluebirds swoop to vital win
Chippenham Town have one foot firmly planted in the Dr Martens Premier Division after a pulsating 3-1 victory over fellow promotion chasers Solihull Borough. Boss Tommy Saunders has tried to play down Town's prospects of going up. The self-confessed chronic
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Historic path may be gateway to estate
RESIDENTS fighting to stop houses being built on a green field site at Quakers Walk took their protests to a public inquiry in Devizes on Tuesday. More than 300 houses and a primary school are proposed behind Wiltshire Police Headquarters, to the east
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Council to wield axe on final tree
THE last original London plane tree in Devizes Market Place is doomed after Kennet councillors voted to have it chopped down at the earliest opportunity. Independent tree expert Simon Pryce said he could not guarantee the safety of the remaining Victorian
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Police to step up hunt for attackers
POLICE are to step up patrols in Devizes town centre after officers volunteered to work on into the early hours to combat late night attacks. Sgt Dave Bonner-Smith from Devizes police station said that officers whose shifts normally finished at 10pm had
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Policeman's son died in tragic car accident
MARLBOROUGH police officer Alan Spencer was sent to conduct traffic around a fatal accident, only to find that his 20-year-old son Matthew was the victim, an inquest has heard. Mr Spencer and his wife Lesley, of Five Stiles Road, comforted each other
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Injured worker rescued
THE jinxed reputation of the former Portman Building Society HQ site in Marlborough High Street grew this week after a scaffolder was injured and had to be rescued by firefighters and paramedics. Monday's lunchtime incident was almost a carbon copy of
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New school may have grass roof
THE proposed new St John's School at Marlborough could have a grass roof to help it blend in with its surroundings, headteacher Patrick Hazlewood revealed this week. The split-site St John's School and Community College plans to build a new school on
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Razor eyes comeback
NEIL RUDDOCK has his heart set on a first team return before the end of the current campaign. Town's player-coach made a successful comeback against Wootton Bassett in testing conditions at the County Ground last night. The 33-year-old's left knee stood
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Chief whip denies any cruelty at pig farm
LORD Carter, the Government's chief whip in the House of Lords and agricultural advisor to Tony Blair, has denied that pigs on an Everleigh farm owned by a company in which he was a director until 1997, were cruelly treated and kept in illegal conditions
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Battling back
PAUL EDWARDS is desperate not to be discarded as a one-season wonder by manager Andy King. The 22-year-old winger is Town's classic 'rags to riches' star and the Mancunian does not want to see his professional dream snatched away after his first season
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Finding their way around
THOUSANDS of free maps are to be handed out to school children across Swindon. The Explorer 169 map of Cirencester and Swindon usually retails for £6.99. But under a new initiative from the Government's mapping agency Ordnance Survey, every 11-year-old
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Bid to cut deaths on our roads
FALLING asleep at the wheel could kill you that is the frank message of a road safety drive being backed by Swindon Council. The authority is helping to publicise the Think Campaign being run by the Government's Department of Environment, Transport and
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A fascination with history
IF knowledge, as Reg Holdsworth of Coronation Street used to put it, is power, there's enough at the National Monuments Records Centre to make the National Grid look like a penny candle. As well as keeping photo-graphic records of just about every square
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Group grants are tightened up
RULES governing grants awarded by Swindon Council have been tightened up after it was revealed that some voluntary groups, such as the town's Citizen's Advice Bureau, had been claiming council cash but not providing an adequate service to justify the
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How naive. . .
DOES J Utteridge (Gazette, March 14) really believe his own words when he says that if we bring damage to the attention of local 4x4 clubs, they will repair it? In my regular walks over Roundway and the Marlborough Downs I am continually sickened and
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Man jailed for drink and drive
DRIVER David Charles has been jailed for three months after admitting driving while nearly three times over the limit. Town magistrates heard that Charles, 28, of Deansfield, Cricklade, was arrested after a silver Vauxhall Nova he was driving ploughed
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Blow to morale
I READ with much sadness and a great deal of frustration your front page news 'Teacher admits assault on boy'. In the final paragraph you say: "The school's headteacher said that as the teacher had resigned that was the end of the matter." What on earth
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Cyclist robbed
SWINDON: Muggers attacked a cyclist in Church Place on Sunday morning. The gang of three white males, who were walking from the direction of the town centre, made off with money and personal property. Anyone who saw the attack should contact PC Rob Mortimer
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Pupils and parish dig for jubilee
A LIVING commemoration of the Queen's Golden Jubilee has been planted in Wroughton. Children from the village's junior and infants schools were invited by the parish council to plant a hedge of field maple, hawthorn and hazel. They braved wind, rain,
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What a loss
I REFER to the Gazette's front page report (March 14) on the fining and resignation of science teacher Colin Pitman last Thursday. I would also like to highlight a very interesting article in the Sunday Telegraph by Chris Whitehead, the ex-chief inspector
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A giant leap from eyesore to beauty spot
SALISBURY'S most notorious eyesore, Dunn's House, has been given a new lease of life and is to be taken over by James Hay Pension Trustees. The company, which already employs 450 people in Salisbury, hopes refurbishment work will be finished by the end
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Hold-up bid at station
A MAN wielding a gun tried to rob an office at Salisbury railway station on Monday. The man wheeled his bicycle into the station just after 11am, went to the island between platforms two and three and knocked on the door of an office used by Rail Gourmet
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Is this charge really legal?
I HAVE today received my Kennet Council tax bill 2002/2003 and was surprised and very concerned to see that the Bishops Cannings parish tax bill, band D has been set at £32.78, an increase of 307.7 per cent. Why such an increase for this parish, as the
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Book now if you are planning to travel by train over Easter
PEOPLE planning to travel by train with First Great Western over the Easter break are being urged to book their seats early and to beware of engineering works. Extra services are being provided by the Swindon-based train operator to help cope with the
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'I'd trust her with my children'
A CLOSE friend of the Cannings family told Winchester Crown Court that he often left his own children in the care of Angela Cannings and would not hesitate to do so again. Terry Chambers, who worked with the Canningses at Tesco, in Salisbury, said: "Angela
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The evidence is there
MR STACEY (letters, March 8) questions the facts I give on various animal cruelty issues. He is particularly annoyed that I speak out against his pastime of greyhound racing. However, all the facts are easily checked and photographic and video evidence
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Police launch huge rural crimes probe
A MAJOR police operation led by officers from Salisbury and Bristol has been launched to investigate a series of rural crimes. Operation Agile started after 32 burglaries in Downton, Tisbury, Zeals, other parts of Wiltshire, North Dorset and Somerset.
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Trolleys are blight on neighbourhood
SO shopping trolleys have made the front page (Evening Advertiser, March 12). The Rev Brian Sweetman has collected many dumped shopping trolleys for collection; he has also returned many to the Safeway store and to Asda-Walmart. The environmental damage
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Pioneering op sets Ian's heart a-flutter
A WILTON grandfather is enjoying a new lease of life after undergoing pioneering heart surgery. Ian Smith (63) became the first person to have the new operation, performed by surgeons at Southampton General Hospital. Now there is such a spring in his
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Let's make this place somewhere we can be proud of
I cannot say I am surprised that Swindon was not granted city status yet again! When you consider the amount of shops that are closed not only in the town centre but also the Old Town area. Also the lack of entertainment facilities within these two areas
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A small world
YOUR March 4 article identified the Philippines as a potential resource in filling nursing shortages at PMH. Your readers might be interested to know that, at Manila airport, British Airways has a check-in desk devoted entirely to processing Filipino
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I have never met Parkinson
I AM delighted that you publicised the evening of clairvoyance (Friday, March 15) to raise money for the special care baby unit, at Princess Margaret Hospital Social Club. But I must take issue with a number of points, upon which I can only assume, you
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Pool in hunt for Callard
FORMER Bath head coach Jon Callard is being lined up to form a coaching dream team with another club legend Richard Hill at Welsh side Pontypool. Callard, who quit the Recreation Ground earlier this month, has been shortlisted with Hill for the role of
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Bridport 3 Minety 24
MINETY continued their fine league run by completing the double over Bridport. The visitors, who denied their opponents a try for the third game running, broke the deadlock with barely five minutes on the clock through Dave Miller. More tries from Mark
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Corsham 21, Wootton Bassett 16
WOOTTON Bassett slipped to defeat at Corsham after a spirited fightback from the home side in Saturday 16 March Southern Counties South encounter. Bassett held the upper hand in the early stages but, questioning a number of refereeing decisions, they
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Wootton Bassett under 14 10, Melksham/Devizes under 14 27
THE combined Melksham and Devizes under 14's team secured victory in their final Wiltshire Cup game of the season at Wootton Bassett at the weekend. Early nerves were settled when a five metre scrum was won by the visiting pack and captain David Finlay
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Chippenham 3rd 22, 16th Army Tank Regiment 17
CHIPPENHAM 3rd came from behind to defeat a strong Army team at Allington Field on Saturday 16 March. The visitors opened well with two early tries. Joscelyn Barnes' strong run before the interval led to the hosts' first try, as Deakin went over. Barnes
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Tadley 22, Chippenham 26
GRANT Trewartha scored a stoppage time try as Chippenham kept their South West Division Two play-off hopes alive thanks to a stunning second half fightback at Tadley on Saturday 16 March. The relegation-haunted hosts began well as they went in search
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Theatre group has Lottery cash
TEENAGE drama enthusiasts are celebrating after getting thousands of pounds in Lottery funding. The North Wilts Young People's Theatre Group in Chippenham has got a £4,990 grant, which will rescue the club from financial difficulties. The grant was made
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Cat loses front leg after being caught in gin trap
A CAT caught in an illegal gin trap on Tuesday is recovering in Chippenham after a vet was left with no option but to amputate her leg. The tabby and white cat, believed to be two or three years old, has been named Tripod by staff at the Hale Veterinary
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Firefighters help tackle car blaze
CHIPPENHAM firefighters were called out to tackle a blaze in an abandoned car near Ford at 11.45pm on Tuesday March 18. Police raised the alarm when the Ford Fiesta, in a ditch off the A420, caught fire. Firefighters spent half an our putting out the
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Great strides to help babies
CHIPPENHAM student Matthew Pentecost is running the London Marathon to raise money for cot death research, in memory of his sister Dawn, who died from the syndrome before he was born. Matthew, 18, of Plantation Road, Chippenham, is running the 26-mile
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Bosses say club could go topless
THE owners of a topless bar who have bought a club in Chippenham have not ruled out the possibility of lap dancing girls appearing there. Businessman David Broome and former Swindon speedway rider John Jefferies have bought Rush nightclub in New Road.
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Ex-club player dies in attack
FORMER Chippenham rugby player Evan Jones was kicked and punched to death in a vicious and sustained attack, say police. Mr Jones, 46, was found unconscious in the Stokes Croft area of Bristol on Wednesday. He was rushed to hospital but did not regain
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New M&S perchance?
TODAY is something of a red-letter day for Marks & Spencer's Salisbury store. Salisbury mayor Ian Tomes is set to unveil its new look this morning after weeks of renovation and refurbishment - £2million worth in fact - that includes a new coffee shop
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Let's get this sorted quickly
IT looks like Asda may step in to fund work on a notorious crossing where 13-year-old Shaun Shirley lost his life. That is highly commendable, particularly when there has been so much dithering around the subject. Schoolchildren have been running the
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Battling back
PAUL EDWARDS is desperate not to be discarded as a one-season wonder by manager Andy King. The 22-year-old winger is Town's classic 'rags to riches' star and the Mancunian does not want to see his professional dream snatched away after his first season
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King's flower power
ANDY KING employed a dastardly pre-match plan to try and secure three points from Wigan Athletic. You may have noticed the Town players emerged from the tunnel clutching plants. The official reason was to say thank you to the mums in the crowd but I have
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Town trials are no error
MORE than a thousand professional footballers are expected to be discarded this summer and the prospects of them all finding new clubs are pretty bleak. Town have up to a dozen players out of contract and those released will take their chances in the
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Trust in the future
FULL marks to everyone who turned out for the Swindon Town Supporters Trust meeting. It was good to see standing room only in the Winners Lounge as Tony Norris, Bob Holt and Andy King answered questions on a variety of issues. Some seemed to think there
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Station is on line to open next summer
CORSHAM is still in line to have a new railway station by summer 2003. Last week, members of Wiltshire County Council's environment advisory panel agreed to recommend that Cabinet authorise the completion of all the legal agreements. Coun Peter Davis
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Graveyard threat to town plan
PLANS to revitalise Corsham's town centre shopping precinct are set to be thrown out, because developers want to build a car park on a graveyard. Planning officers at North Wiltshire District Council have recommended the plans be refused and councillors
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Pupils help space agency
A PROJECT with NASA is giving pupils at Neston School a chance to shine in space. The space agency is launching a new satellite which will be covered with more than 1,000 mirrors and youngsters at Neston are helping to polish them. As a reflection of
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Planning blow hits carnival
PEWSEY'S Carnival Committee is having to dig into its reserves to maintain its charity donations because plans to raise cash for a storage building by selling part of the assembly field were thwarted by planners. The carnival committee was hoping that
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Draw boosts Town hopes
CHIPPENHAM'S promotion bid received a boost when rivals Halesowen Town and Weston-super-Mare shared the spoils in a dramatic clash on Tuesday night. Weston looked set to close the gap on the Bluebirds to five points when they led the champions-elect 2
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Frome United 2, Chippenham Ladies 5
GOALKEEPER Becky Powell saved two penalties and Seb Everson bagged a hat-trick as Chippenham Ladies avenged last month's league cup defeat. Everson latched onto Ella Martin's throughball to put the home side in front in the seventh minute, only for Frome
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Get ready for a close finish warns Tommy
CHIPPENHAM Town manager Tommy Saunders believes the race for promotion to the Dr Martens Premier Division will go down to the wire after Weston-super-Mare fought back to snatch a point at Hardenhuish Park on Saturday 16 March. The result maintained the
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Chippenham Town 1, Weston-super-Mare 1
THE Dr Martens League Western Division promotion race remains very much in the melting pot after local rivals Chippenham Town and Weston-super-Mare shared the spoils in a pulsating clash at Hardenhuish Park on Saturday 16 March. The two sides sat in second
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Charity shop plea for staff
MANAGER Liz Lockstone is looking for some new faces to go with her charity shop's new name and sign. The Cancer Research UK shop, as it is now known, was relaunched with a stylish new fascia in Malmesbury High Street last Friday, but Mrs Lockstone says
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Couple fall for cascade
WHEN tree surgery brought light into the darkest corner of Abbey House Gardens, it provided the inspiration for their latest feature. A 20ft waterfall is the newest addition to the gardens owned by Ian and Barbara Pollard and is due to be switched on
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Bidder eyes up post office
CONSIGNIA is in negotiation with a serious bidder interested in reopening Westport Post Office and Triangle News in Malmesbury. The business closed at the beginning of March after owners Tim and Sandra Legg, who had run the newsagent and sub-post office
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Secondary school set to open at Filands
THE main buildings of Malmesbury's new secondary school are ready for the pupils' first day on April 8. The new school has been built next door to the upper comprehensive campus at Filands, and will replace the split-campus sites at Filands and Corn Gastons
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Newts get in the way of quarry waste plans
ENGLISH Nature has told French company SITA that it must find a new home for endangered newts if it wants to fill Knockdown Quarry, near Sherston with waste. The company commissioned an environmental survey at the request of English Nature, which found
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Stories come to life for kids
HARRY Potter, Bob the Builder and a ghostly clutch of witches descended upon Hullavington School when pupils and teachers dressed up in celebration of World Book Day. The primary school's 130 pupils took the opportunity to don the fanciful costumes for
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It's time to get on and decide
THE ongoing lack of direction on the issue of a site for the new Wiltshire Records Office is a good example of why politicians should sometimes not be allowed near decision making. Having spent the last two years wrangling over where the centre will go
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Workers' talent being wasted
Workers believe their talents are not being used to the full because bosses often underestimate their abilities, according to a new report. Managers were accused of being uninterested in finding out about the career hopes of their staff. More than one
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Unpaid overtime is worth £28bn
The value of unpaid overtime has risen to £28 billion a year after a huge increase in the number of workers putting in extra hours for no pay, says the TUC. More than 5.5 million workers are doing more than their contracted hours, an increase of 250,000
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New stations arrive on air
SEVEN new radio stations are to go on air in Swindon from next year. National media group GWR has won the licence to provide digital radio services in Wiltshire and Bath, beating rival company Emap. The new stations will only be available to those with
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Parents incensed by scramble for places
PARENTS are furious after Braden Forest School in Purton was forced to refuse admission to more than 100 pupils. The school had only 225 places available for the 335 pupils who applied to join in September. Now the parents of 110 children are having to
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Developer continues fight for new homes
A HOUSING developer which saw its building plans for fields in Highworth thrown out will be back with a bigger and more imposing proposal. The agent for Wilcon Homes, Barton Willmore Planning, has become em-broiled in a row with Swindon Borough Council's
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Man turns himself in for village robbery
SHOP worker Jaspal Singh who was allegedly hit over the head and locked in a storeroom by a knife-wielding robber, has spoken of his ordeal. Mr Singh said he was working in the One Stop store in Wootton Bassett High Street at lunchtime last Thursday when
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I'm not a doctor
WITH reference to your article on page five of Wednesday's (March 13) Evening Advertiser, I would just like to correct one statement in the article, which referred to me as an anaesthetist. I am actually an anaesthetic assistant, there is a big difference
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Specials leaving to join the police
SO many special constables are leaving to join the ranks of the full time regular force of Wiltshire police that they have announced another recruitment drive. Members of Wiltshire's Special Constabulary, the part-time police officers who have their own
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Cricklade finally remember how to win
SKURRAYS WILTSHIRE LEAGUE: BOTTOM of the table Cricklade Town battled well for their first Premier Division victory since December when defeating visitors Biddestone 3-2. It was the third victory from 25 games for last season's Premier Division champions
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Libraries play the game
COUNTY councillors have approved plans for PlayStation games to be hired out at Devizes, Chippenham, Salisbury, Trowbridge, Warminster and Wootton Bassett libraries from April. A smaller library will also be selected to hire out the games on a trial basis
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Tension in the semis as the cup final places are decided
MID-WILTSHIRE SUNDAY LEAGUE: CORSHAM Boys reached the final of the under 15 league cup after beating Westbury Youth 6-3. Corsham scorers were Chris Andrews (2), Warren Jones, Matt Thompson, Shane Mitchell and Dean Brookman. Myles Hickton (2) and Sam Tucker
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Phoenix makes final flight
A SQUADRON whose emblem is a Phoenix rising from the ashes has been disbanded at a solemn ceremony at RAF Lyneham. It was a poignant moment for 57 (R) Squadron, which took its distinctive badge after the entire complement was either killed, wounded or
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Pewsey Vale 8, Headington Amateurs 1
HELLENIC LEAGUE: PEWSEY Vale manager Don Rogers saw his side register their biggest win of the season to storm back to the top of the Hellenic League Division One West table, then complained they should have scored more goals. Hat-tricks from Ross Anderson
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Highworth stay unbeaten
HGHWORTH Town stretched their unbeaten run to seven games but were made to work hard for a 2-1 win by bottom but one side Harrow Hill. Highworth took the lead on the half hour when Warren Fuller scored with a good effort from the edge of the box. After
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Drugs found in car
A KINGTON Langley man whose girlfriend is pregnant has promised to stay off drugs after being convicted of possession of a Class A drug for the second time. Peter Penny, 19, of Doveys Terrace, pleaded guilty at Chippenham Magistrates Court on Monday to
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Wroughton are hit for six despite fightback
SWINDON MINOR LEAGUE: WESTLEA beat Wroughton 6-3 in an entertaining mid-table match up. Westlea started the stronger and were soon in the lead through Matthew Twine. Wroughton soon levelled via Daniel Franklin, but Sam English hit two for Westlea before
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Mum's bid to raise awareness of a killer
A MOTHER has joined a determined effort to raise awareness of meningitis and the vital research into the disease. Beverley Ford works at Rota Val Ltd on Bumpers Farm Industrial Estate in Chippenham. Her son, Ryan, eight, was a best friend to Daniel Higgs
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Calne Town 5 Wellington 2
CALNE Town's hopes of avoiding the drop into Wiltshire League football look brighter than ever after a five-star display gave them maximum points from their home clash with Wellington on Saturday. The victory was the First Division strugglers' second
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Mystery over car crash
SOLDIER Dean Penfold's dangerous driving caused a head-on crash near Tidworth in which his wife was seriously injured, magistrates in Devizes heard on Monday. Penfold, a 21-year-old lance corporal of Wavell Road, Tidworth, was on the wrong side of the
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County has World Book Day covered
CHILDREN all over Wiltshire have been developing a love of reading after a week of events themed around World Book Day. On Friday, toddlers in Malmesbury curled up in their bedtime pyjamas and listened to their favourite night-time stories at Kings Day
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Footage unearths hill's secrets
TV viewers got the chance to see archive footage of Silbury Hill as some of the mound's secrets were revealed on BBC2 last Thursday night. The Chronicle programme, The Hill with the Hole, showed how English Heritage archaeologists have been using BBC
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Torrington 2 Corsham Town 1
CORSHAM Town slipped to their fifth league defeat in six matches as promotion-chasing Torrington scored twice in the final ten minutes to clinch victory at Vicarage Field on Saturday 16 March. The visitors took an early lead through John Freegard's 13th
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Bid for record office comes under attack
WILTSHIRE county council is to decide tomorrow whether to renege on its decision to choose Devizes as the home for the new county record office. Although council leader Peter Chalke is still championing the bid for a new heritage centre on land at Devizes
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Blake leads county field
UPAVON professional Richard Blake has finished top of the Wiltshire PGA Order of Merit after the final match of the Winter Series at Kingdown Golf Club on Thursday. Blake, who is also the Wiltshire PGA secretary, could only manage an eighth place finish
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Pals heed call of the wild
A FLIGHTLESS parrot that climbs to the top of the nearest hill to call in a sonorous bass voice to its lady love sounds like the creation of the Monty Python team. But Dauntsey's School pupils Pete Budge and Saul Cowen are off to New Zealand in the summer
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From the dugout by Brian Newlands, Devizes Town manager
I'VE had a lot of reaction to my cases with the FA. First of all I'll state I had a fair hearing on both cases. The first one was the illegal approach. This was the one that incensed me. Corsham so clearly had it wrong but after a phone call with Mark
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Newlands is rapped over payments claim
DEVIZES Town manager Brian Newlands has received a fine and a slapped wrist from the Wiltshire Football Association after being found guilty of bringing the game into disrepute. The Nursteed Road chief landed himself in hot water with county officials
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Lifeline for strugglers
CALNE'S Screwfix Direct League survival hopes have received a fresh boost with the news Premier Division outfit Yeovil Town Reserves will resign from the league at the end of the season. The Somerset side are set to streamline their first team squad next
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Canoeists line up for great race challenge
CANOEISTS are bracing themselves for the challenge of the Devizes to Westminster race, due to leave from Devizes Wharf on Good Friday on the 125-mile course along the Kennet and Avon Canal and River Thames to London. Hopefully, the race, cancelled twice
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Homes plan for jam factory site rejected
A SCHEME to bring the derelict jam factory in Easterton, near Devizes, back into use as affordable housing has been thrown out by Kennet Council because of fears children could be hurt at the dangerous access to the site. Hazelwood Foods, which closed
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Guardian up for election
THE Devizes Guardians, the residents group set up in the wake of the felling of three trees in the Market Place, has decided to field a candidate in the town council by-election caused by the recent death of Jean Owen. The group was buoyed up by the reaction
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Andes walk beckons mum
A MOTHER who knows the heartache of losing a child to cot death is to undertake a 120-kilometre trek in South America to raise money for cot death research. It is 11 years since Collingbourne clerical worker Evelyn Harman's daughter Carly died, but she
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Responders who make a difference
A SPECIAL team of military volunteers is helping Wiltshire's ambulance service meet Government call-out targets. Members of the First Responders have been specially trained to provide a life-saving emergency medical service to people throughout the county
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Oops . . .they faked it again!
BRITNEY Spears has been taken into custody after a raid on a Swindon car boot sale. The American pop sensation's film was among more than 700 video CDs and VHS cassettes seized when police and copyright experts pounced on a trader running a car boot stall
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Around 750 young singers raise the roof at music festival
MORE than 750 children made their parents glow with pride as they raised the rafters at the fourth annual Junior Music Festival last night. The children, aged seven to 11, had been preparing for the concert for months, honing their singing skills with
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Swindon's oldest resident dies
SWINDON'S oldest resident Elizabeth Gould has died, taking with her 107 years of memories. The former seamstress, known to everyone as Queenie, saw Queen Victoria pass through Swindon Station on the royal train. And she recalled going to work as a servant
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Hobbits to hit the big time
HOBBIT mania is set to hit the heights in a Salisbury sale room as well as at the Oscars next week. Rare first editions of JRR Tolkien's fantasy novels The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings will come under the hammer at Salisbury auction house Woolley &
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Festival takes a southerly direction
EDWINA Currie, TV gardeners, Michael Nyman and starry classical music-makers are among the artists and performers who will make Salisbury Festival extra-special this year. Trevor Davies, director of the festival, unveiled the programme at Salisbury Guildhall
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'I'd trust her with my children'
A CLOSE friend of the Cannings family told Winchester Crown Court that he often left his own children in the care of Angela Cannings and would not hesitate to do so again. Terry Chambers, who worked with the Canningses at Tesco, in Salisbury, said: "Angela
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Pioneering op sets Ian's heart a-flutter
A WILTON grandfather is enjoying a new lease of life after undergoing pioneering heart surgery. Ian Smith (63) became the first person to have the new operation, performed by surgeons at Southampton General Hospital. Now there is such a spring in his
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New town school on expansion timetable
AMESBURY is due to have a new school up and running by September next year. A planning application to build it on land bordering Stockport Road and the Boscombe Down married quarters is "imminent", according to developer Bloor Homes. They want to start
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New home for snake that found life a boa
A seven-foot boa constrictor was handed over to the RSPCA last week after it started to strike out at its Calne owners. The snake's owner, Andrew Bell, 32, who has young children, became concerned for his family's welfare after the pet boa constrictor
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MPs pay tribute to retiring chairman
MEMBERS of Parliament James Gray and Michael Ancram were at a presentation dinner on Saturday in honour of Ray Smith, who has retired after five years as chairman of the Calne Conservative Association. Mr Smith, 75, has retired after moving to Devizes
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Mother is set on play centre
MOTHER of two Sharon Taylor is waiting to find out this week if her proposals to turn an empty industrial unit into an indoor soft play centre have been approved by planners. Mrs Taylor, from Compton Bassett, has two sons, Jack, eight, and two year-old
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Nursery fights back after mobile crisis
A NURSERY in Calne threatened with closure has passed its Ofsted inspection just in time to safeguard its lifesaving lottery grant. A fortnight ago Pauline Crane, owner of Angeline's Nursery, feared she would have to close the facility because of the
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Scotsman dies days after 100th birthday
SCOTSMAN Jim Smellie, one of Calne's oldest residents, has died aged 100, just a month after his celebrating his birthday. Mr Smellie, who lived at Marden Court, died peacefully last Wednesday at the Kington Langley home of his daughter, Barbara Sealy
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Fairford lift Floodlit Cup
FAIRFORD Town lifted the Cherry Red Records Floodlit Cup last night, defeating Hellenic Premier Division leaders Gloucester United 3-1 at Cinder Lane, to win 6-3 on aggregate. Fairford went ahead in the 38th minute when a good run and cross from Kevin
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Carnival bid to get better
THE organisers of Devizes Carnival have approached local businesses in an effort to raise enough sponsorship to maintain its reputation as one of the fastest growing carnivals in the South West. This week, Dave Buxton, vice chairman of the organising
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Music studio plan at school
A GROUP of musical parents have applied for planning permission to build a recording studio in a disused farm building at Lavington School. The idea is for the studio to be used by pupils during the day and for the community in the evenings and at weekends
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Pupils could hack pressure
PUPILS at Devizes School found out last week what it is like to chase a copy deadline when they entered the International Newsday Challenge 2002, sponsored by the Times Educational Supplement. For the TES Newsday, pupils from primary, secondary and international
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Praise for primary's improved standards
CHIRTON Primary School has improved beyond recognition according to the latest Ofsted inspection report. School inspectors said the small village school had serious weaknesses two years ago. In January there was a follow up inspection and the report was
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Small change but big hassle
DEVIZES Cubs who gave up their Saturday to make money for their troop by packing bags at Safeway supermarket were disappointed when the Portman Building Society refused to bank all of their small change. The youngsters, aged from six to 11, from the 6th
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Chief whip denies anycruelty onpig farm
LORD Carter, the Government's chief whip in the House of Lords and agricultural advisor to Tony Blair, has denied that pigs on an Everleigh farm owned by a company in which he was a director until 1997, were cruelly treated and kept in illegal conditions
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More parking restrictions
NEW parking restrictions in Devizes are to be extended to take in the part of Commercial Road around the hospital and by the cemetery. Business people have already expressed their disgust at the two-hour restriction, which will force them to use pay-and-display
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School denies claims of admissions dodge
HEADTEACHER Patrick Hazlewood has denied that his highly-rated Marlborough school has turned a blind eye to some out-of-catchment parents using addresses of relatives in the town to get their children admitted. St John's is among the top performing state
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Rugby captain passes on skills
ENGLAND rugby captain Martin Johnson was in Marlborough on Thursday to pass on some of his knowledge of the sport to pupils at Preshute Primary School. The coaching session by Johnson, who also leads the British Lions, was one of the lots in a SPARKS
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Chamber wants more businesses involved
THE man who donated the time capsule that was buried beneath the town hall as part of the Millennium celebrations has become the new president of the Marlborough Chamber of Commerce. Anthony Wells took over as president at the chamber's annual meeting
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Double strike sinks bassett
ANDY KING will come face to face with Tommy Saunders after Town's 2-0 win over Wootton Bassett booked a Wiltshire Shield final date with high-flying Chippen-ham. First half goals from Nathan Edwards and Bertie Brayley were enough to give the Second Division
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Town hails its first freeman
HISTORY was made in Marlborough on Tuesday when the town council met in St Peter's Church to bestow the honour of the Freedom of the Town upon former mayor Jake Seamer. It was a most fitting venue for the ceremony because St Peter's was saved for Marlborough
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Nightclub doormen set for rowing venture
TWO nightclub doormen are testing their pulling power by rowing a record-breaking 4,500 miles across the Indian Ocean. Simon Chalk, 29, and Bill Greaves, 41, are due to set sail from Kalbarri in Western Australia at the end of April. Their destination
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Safety first Lainesmead
CHILDREN from Lainesmead Primary know all about crossing the road safely. For the South View Avenue school has won Swindon Council's road safety competition for the first time, collecting book vouchers and a magnificent trophy. A group of 10 to 11-year-old
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Mystery of the Boer War pipe
WROUGHTON pensioner Henry Dallaway is hoping history buffs will be able to tell him more about a pipe carved by a British soldier while being held as a prisoner during the Boer War. Henry dug out the hand carved wooden pipe from the back of a drawer after
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Open verdict on man found dead in canal
WILTSHIRE deputy coroner Nigel Brookes has recorded an open verdict on the death of Robert Wood, 63, whose body was found in the Kennet and Avon Canal near Devizes a few days before Christmas. Despite hearing Mr Wood was likely to have been very drunk
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Richard is hot stuff in the kitchen
A CHEF has scooped two silver medals at a national culinary competition held in London. Competing at the Salon Culinaire in Earls Court, Richard Bowden, 37, won silver in the senior Fish Dish class. Richard is head chef at Joint Services Command and Staff
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Shoplifter's last chance
A SHOPLIFTER who was found to have a syringe loaded with heroin in her handbag has again walked free from court. Zoe Drapper, who was on a probation order at the time of the offence, also failed to surrender to custody after being caught stealing. And
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Hill disaster
COMING to Wiltshire in 1950 and knowing nothing of its history or archaeology I soon discovered the wonders of Stonehenge, Avebury and Silbury Hill, the latter to be climbed just because it was there. Standing on the top of this man-made mound I visualised
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Honour for council department
A COUNCIL department has been awarded the prestigious Charter Mark by the Government. The governor support service is the first Swindon Council department to be given the honour. It is presented to public service organisations able to demonstrate that
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Aircraft chosen as memorial to fallen falle
A DAKOTA aircraft that flew in the Berlin Airlift has been chosen as a permanent memorial tribute to Army air despatchers who have lost their lives while serving their country. The aircraft is to be positioned at the entrance to 47 Air Despatch Squadron
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Hobbits to hit the big time
HOBBIT mania is set to hit the heights in a Salisbury sale room as well as at the Oscars next week. Rare first editions of JRR Tolkien's fantasy novels The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings will come under the hammer at Salisbury auction house Woolley &
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Take real care
I FEEL compelled to comment on the tragic death of the young student killed in a Kenya lake (Gazette, March 14). Any visitor virtually to any part of Africa should take extreme caution before setting foot in any so-called fresh water lakes/rivers. They
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Cut in bus services is 'appalling'
CUTS in evening and Sunday bus services planned by the Wilts & Dorset bus company have been slammed as appalling and devastating. The cuts will be implemented from next month. The company said this week that a number of changes will be made to services
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I wish him well
I WAS appalled to read of the prosecution of Colin Pitman for the 'assault' on a pupil. We have now no doubt lost another good teacher in a subject that can ill-afford to lose any. This is due to the excessive response of the authorities to what would
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Festival takes a southerly direction
EDWINA Currie, TV gardeners, Michael Nyman and starry classical music-makers are among the artists and performers who will make Salisbury Festival extra-special this year. Trevor Davies, director of the festival, unveiled the programme at Salisbury Guildhall
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Funds secured
SWINDON: Funding to the tune of £400,000 has been secured for the Wiltshire and Swindon Summer Challenge programme. The cash, from the National Lottery's New Opportunities Fund, will be used to run activities for young people when they leave full-time
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Children can help rid us of the litter
CHILDREN could hold the key to a litter free future in Swindon, according to the company set up to safeguard the future of the town. Swindon Initiative has launched a clean-up competition aimed at young people and is hoping their environmental enthusiasm
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Castle's past
IN LAST week's Gazette and Herald Mr and Mrs Hill wrote to say the Assize Courts should not be lost to private interest, the way Devizes Castle was. Much as I might agree with them, I feel the true facts should be reiterated. The Assize Courts came on
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He raped nine years ago and did it again
A DOUBLE rapist, given two life sentences after attacking two women at his flat, first struck in Swindon nine years ago. Hugh Joseph, 32, was jailed for eight years in 1993 after attacking a young mother an attack described at the time by Judge Mark Dyer
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Jobs in doubt after takeover
WRYNAMS, the Rover and Skoda dealers in Southampton Road, Salisbury, have been taken over. Their new owners are Jacksons, the Mercedes and Jaguar dealers with premises in Bournemouth and Poole. It is believed that about 20 staff who have been working
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Musicians of tomorrow
MAY I through the pages of your newspaper say a very big thank you to everyone who was involved in Swindon Young Musicians Senior Gala concert at the Wyvern Theatre. The concert richly illustrated the need to keep the arts groups in Swindon fully funded
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Records Office is to blame for rise
I WONDER how many Wiltshire residents are happy with the 9.9 per cent hike in county council tax bills this year? We have heard county councillors blame central government for this. However it now appears that Wiltshire county councillors are prepared
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Why must we all pay for councils' follies?
YET again have Wiltshire County Council, Kennet District Council, our town or parish councils and the Wiltshire Police Authority between them contrived to serve the property owners of Wiltshire with council tax increases way above the rate of inflation
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It is better to just run this town competently
So, Swindon has failed again in its bid to become a city. I am neither surprised nor disappointed by this verdict. I have lived in or near to some fine cities, and visited many others, and by no stretch of the imagination can Swindon be called a city.
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City bid has more do with council's vanity
Being a non-Swindonian who has lived here for several years due to my job, but who has also lived in cities elsewhere in the UK and regularly travels overseas, I think I have a realistic view of Swindon's chances of becoming a city. My view is that the
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On your bikes
The Stroke Association is looking for people to get on their bikes and take part in the Great Ridgeway Ride on Sunday 2nd June 2002. This is a marvellous opportunity for anyone who is interested in mountain biking to join a picturesque ride on the Wiltshire
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Wimbourne 2nd 29, Devizes 2nd 5
DEVIZES 2nd included a host of new players as they took a break from the Bath Combination Merit Table with a friendly against old rivals Wimbourne. Good pressure from the Wimbourne forwards saw them move seven points ahead thanks to a converted try and
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Wimbourne 8, Devizes 3
DEVIZES suffered their first defeat in seven league outings as Wimbourne sealed the Southern Counties South title with a narrow victory over the Wiltshire side on Saturday 16 March. The home side dominated possession from the outset and probed the Devizes
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Final anguish
DEVIZES under nines produced a spirited display to reach the final of the Warminster Rugby Festival on Sunday 17 March. The young Saddlebacks reached the semi-finals after victories in their matches against Wiltshire rivals Wootton Bassett and hosts Warminster
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School's XV take on an Italian job
HARDENHUSH School, Chippenham, embark on their first ever rugby tour of Italy on Saturday 23 March, with 34 pupils making the trip to take part in two matches against teams from the north of the country. Year eight and year ten pupils will take on their
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Ovens can cook up an England prop debut
CHIPPENHAM prop Laurence Ovens will travel to Italy at the end of the month after becoming the latest in a long line of youth players from the Wiltshire club to be capped by England Schools. Ovens was informed of his inclusion in the starting eleven for
