Archive
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Striker fined for parking
CHIPPENHAM Town striker Adie Mings has been fined £80 for parking his car on a double yellow line while he bought a paper in the One-Stop shop in Sheldon Road, Chippenham. At Chippenham magistrates court on Monday, Mings, 33, was fined £40 for failing
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Man dies in street after drinking binge
A 22-YEAR-OLD collapsed in Chippenham's Market Place after a drinking binge, and died on his way to hospital, an inquest heard last Wednesday. The death of Damien Richens, of Roman Way, Market Lavington, on September 9 2001 was the second tragedy to hit
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MS group to hold AGM
The Chippenham Multiple Sclerosis Society will hold its first ever Annual General Meeting on Monday April 8 at 7.30pm in the Jubilee building. Accounts will be presented and nominations made for the group's officers. The MS group has 32 members and meets
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Driver fined for causing crash
DRIVER Steven Evans has been given five points on his licence after he admitted causing an accident on the A4 near Pewsham, Chippenham. Evans, 20, of Chamberlain Road, Chippenham, appeared before North West Wiltshire magistrates on Monday when he pleaded
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Fined for heroin
DRUG user Julian Flippance, who was fined for possession of heroin, told North West Wiltshire magistrates on Monday he uses it once or twice a week for a kick. Flippance, 32, of Hungerdown Lane, Chippenham, pleaded guilty to possession of 0.1g of heroin
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Lydia's memorial tree is damaged
Lydia Harding's memorial tree at Sheldon School is due to be replaced after an accident which left the plane sapling snapped in two. The tree was recently dedicated to Lydia, from Chippenham who was just 16 when she died of cancer last year. Her parents
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Cattle market site first choice for record office
CHIPPENHAM'S Livestock Market site in Cocklebury Road will be the home of the new county record office. Wiltshire County Council's Cabinet did a U-turn on Friday and made Chippenham rather than Devizes as its first choice for the relocation of the Wiltshire
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Pupils' design to combat fire
NINE science high-flyers at Hardenhuish School have set their minds to the creation of a new fireproof waste bin. The students are part of a team of top achievers identified by the Chippenham school's science department. They were invited to take part
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Fight to save river valley
CAMPAIGNERS fighting to stop houses being built in Chippenham's river valley are facing yet another planning battle. Developers Redcliffe Homes Ltd and Laing Homes want to build on land next to Rowden Lane. In January, North Wiltshire District Council
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Drivers have to be on alert
BAD accidents on the M4 are now an all too often occurrence. Yesterday's crash, in which two drivers died, does appear to have been prompted by the bizarre action of one driver taking a wrong turn and driving four miles along the motorway the wrong way
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Jail will not help this drug addict
ON the face of it, it seems that four years jail is surely not enough punishment for a man who has put so many people through so much misery. Peter Smith, sentenced to 33 months behind bars in 1998 for 21 offences including house burglary, has been jailed
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Fancy a light ale? anyone?
REGULARS at the Castle Inn, Castle Combe, are being given torches to help them find their way home in the dark after a few drinks. Manager Mark Bullows took action after his calls for street lighting in the village were unsuccessful. Mr Bullows said:
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Listed home to grow
Plans for an extension over a double garage at Spencers Farmhouse, Ashley, were approved by members of North Wiltshire District Council's area development control committee last week. The application, for a guest bedroom and bathroom at the Grade-II listed
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Brave officer faced gunman
POLICE AWARDS: LAST September, Rod Stacy-Marks, an inspector at Corsham Police Station, was clearing his office on his final day there, when he received a call about a violent domestic situation. The occupant of a house in Corsham's Methuen Way a man
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Last chance to save town tree
THE final surviving historic tree in Devizes Market Place will come under the axe on Wednesday unless the town makes one last effort to keep it. Kennet District Council claims the tree, which survived the last early morning purge in October thanks to
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Boycott group on wrong track
It's strange isn't it that some people come banging on our door when they want publicity but when something goes wrong they run for cover? For months David Da Costa, of the Better Rails Advisory Group, had the sort of high profile usually associated with
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School set in woods hunts for new home
AN alternative school operating from a site in the heart of Wiltshire woodland is hunting for a permanent home. The School in the Woods is based in Rocks East Woods, between Marshfield and Colerne. It was set up by a group of parents disillusioned by
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Mum wins on a hunch
TENSION mounted in the final moments before the winner was declared in our Room Makeover competition finals night at the headquarters of Devizes Fine Kitchens at Hopton Industrial Estate on Friday night. Each of the 16 finalists were called on to come
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Inventor has bitter victory
A brilliant inventor who lost both his Somerset homes and had to move into an industrial estate unit in Corsham after he divorced his wife, may end up getting nothing despite winning his case against negligent solicitors. Robert Channon, 57, an engineer
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Mums' dispute ends in attack
A mother was left with a bruise the size of a hand on her left arm after another mother attacked her in the street. Hanna Burchell, 32, of Orchard Close, Corsham, pleaded guilty to assaulting Angela Butterworth, who lives four doors away, on March 12,
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It's Red alert for poor Gerard
GERARD Houllier's team seem determined to finish off their manager. After recovering from heart surgery, Mr Houllier (pictured) is well on his way to further problems if his Liverpool stars don't watch it. HIs first match back saw the Scousers reach the
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The clash of the titans
TOWN'S win over Wootton Bassett set up a tasty looking Wiltshire Premier Shield final clash with Chippenham. I do not know whether Andy King has ever heard of Tommy Saunders but you can bet your bottom dollar that the Bluebirds boss will be looking forward
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An Out and Out success
Warm and welcoming with an eclectic mix of red and cream decor, modern furniture and original features, Out and Out, at Bathampton Mill, was an immediate hit with us. Formerly a Beefeater, the Mill is found in a peaceful country setting just across a
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Expert will try to trap killer cat
POLICE in Malmesbury are calling in an expert to help find a big cat spotted around Minety, just weeks after an animal dubbed the Minety Monster savaged lambs and ewes. Sgt Kier Pritchard, of Malmesbury police, said that three or four people have reported
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Charity ready to care for sufferers
A CHARITY is offering a relief care service to provide short, regular breaks for people caring for someone with Alzheimer's disease or dementia. The north Wiltshire branch of the Alzheimer's Society can help with trained relief carers to provide companionship
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Let us lighten the way home
MARK Bullows, manager of the Castle Inn in Castle Combe, is enlightening his regulars. He has been campaigning for months for street lighting near the pub, but without success. Now he has taken the matter into his own hands and is issuing his customers
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No insurance ban
Andrew Bryant of The Crescent, Pewsey, was disqualified from driving for one month by magistrates in Devizes on Monday after he admitted driving without insurance in London Road, Devizes. Bryant, 30, was also fined £10.
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Driver fined £60
Matthew Birchall, 18, of The Links, Pewsey, was fined £60 by magistrates in Devizes on Monday for driving an Austin Mini otherwise than in accordance with a licence in New Park Street, Devizes, on November 29. He was ordered to pay £35 prosecution costs
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Knees-up fun for over-60s
MEMBERS of Pewsey Evergreens celebrated the golden anniversary of the pensioners' club with a party in the Bouverie Hall on Wednesday last week. The club has just over 50 members and most attended the 50th birthday celebration party, where they also celebrated
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Let our children play, says father
FAMILIES are calling for the trustees of a new, lottery-funded £186,000 village hall to have a change of heart and let children play in the car park when it is not being used. They say parents delivering children to Rushall School, which is close to a
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Hardenhuish may host county shield final
HARDENHUISH Park is set to stage the Wiltshire Premier Shield final. Chippenham Town and the Wiltshire FA have reached an agreement over the venue for the clash between the Bluebirds and Swindon Town. Swindon, who secured their passage into the final
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Rocester 0 Chippenham Town 2
DR MARTENS LEAGUE: CHIPPENHAM Town moved another step closer to the Dr Martens League Premier Division after grinding out a victory at relegation-threatened Rocester on Tuesday evening. The Bluebirds left it late before clinching their 21st league win
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Two wins could do it for Bluebirds
CHIPPENHAM Town face local rivals Mangotsfield United and Gloucester City over the Easter weekend knowing two victories would virtually guarantee them Dr Martens League football next season. The Bluebirds, 2-0 winners at Rocester on Tuesday night, remain
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Hurst consultancy takes to the web
HURST Financial Consultancy in Salisbury has launched an interactive website for people who want to organise their finances from the comfort of their own home. The Castle Street company is believed to be the first in the area to offer such a facility
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Water company sold
Wessex Water has been bought by YTL, a large Malaysian energy group, for £1.2 million. Wessex Water which supplies water to more than one million people, said the deal would bring stability to the company.
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New fires spark heated row
ANGRY residents on a Westbury estate fear they will be left to pay the bill for replacing gas heaters removed by a housing association. People living on the Phoenix Rise estate have been told by Bristol-based housing association, Orbit, that faulty flues
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TV focus on cafe society
DEVIZES has once more become the centre of attention in the gourmet world with the town's TV chef Peter Vaughan using the facilities at his health food shop and caf as the backdrop for a new series on healthy eating. Mr Vaughan, who runs the Healthy Life
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Young singer has star quality
YOUNG singing star Mimi Kevan turned in a star performance at the Trowbridge civic dinner on Friday. The talented 15-year-old from Westbury performed with style and brought the house down. She said: "It went really well I really enjoyed it and the audience
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Sacked worker wins fight over racial bias
Former Dyson employee Paul Blake has been awarded £5,000 after winning a claim for racial discrimination against the vacuum cleaner manufacturer. But the 37-year-old lost a claim for unfair dismissal and a claim for discrimination on the grounds of disability
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Projects get a surprise boost
PROJECTS in Lea and Hullavington received a boost last week as the district council spent leftover cash from this year's budget. Lea and Garsdon Primary School is trying to raise money to build two new classrooms, while Hullavington Parish Council needs
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School chums are exposed
FORMER Malmesbury School pupils will not have trouble putting names to faces at this year's reunion. The organisers of the annual event for pupils at the school between 1939 and 1950 want everyone to wear name badges . "It saves you staring blankly at
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Winners are talk of town
MUSIC and drama students of all ages have put Malmesbury on the map at a festival of the arts in Bath. Ten students from the Sandra McDowell studio of speech and drama picked up first place trophies in this year's Mid Somerset Competitive Festival. The
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A Lord's encounter to be proud of
BIG match nerves seemed to have got the better of Godolphin's young cricketers as they arrived at Lord's on Saturday for the final of the National Indoor Six-a-side competition. Defeats in their opening three games against rival qualifiers from Kent,
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Estate closer to community centre dream
THE dream of a £500,000 community centre on a Melksham housing estate has moved one step closer to reality. Residents living on the Forest estate have been battling for a multi-purpose community centre built on land off Awdrey Avenue for five years. Securing
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River link key to new canal route
PLANS to take the Wilts & Berks Canal through the centre of Melksham, alongside the River Avon, have been backed by a town pressure group. Enthusiasts have been trying to get the £550m restoration scheme off the ground for years, and have until September
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Camera is watching vandals
A SECOND surveillance camera will be switched on in Melksham next week in a bid to catch town centre vandals on tape. A CCTV camera on top of Lovejoys in High Street is being trialed, in a bid to stop attacks on town centre shops. Several stores, including
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Teenagers rescued from river
TWO teenage boys had to be rescued from a river after being swept under a bridge by strong currents. The two boys, both in their early teens, were swimming in the river Avon at Melksham when they ran into difficulty. Emergency services, including a rescue
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A cautious message from GWR
The GWR group has given an update of its trading, saying that in the quarter to March 31, UK like for like revenues were expected to be flat. They would include a 4.8 per cent reduction year on year in national revenues and a 2.7 per cent increase in
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Old Town firm in Sri Lankan deal
THE champagne was flowing at the Old Town offices of independent IT management consultancy Newburn Consulting to celebrate the forming of a multi-million joint venture with a Sri Lankan computer company. Representatives of John Keells Computer Services
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Clock makes its return
The blue clock face, which has made a welcome return to the parish church tower, can now be relied upon to show the time accurately. The restoration of the clock has been financed the Friends of St Bartholomew's and all Saints' Church. The chime marks
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Importance of news
NEWSAGENTS are urging west Wiltshire MP Andrew Murrison to support changes to the distribution system for newspapers. Southwick shopkeeper Kim Harrild, who is also chairman of the Bath and west Wiltshire branch of the National Federation of Retail Newsagents
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New winner of trophy
The Jack Winter Memorial Trophy, donated by the Arthritis Research Campaign branch committee for Novice Vocal Solo at Swindon Music Festival, was awarded this year to Cathy Gibbs. The award commemorates the branch founder, whose vocal prowess was appreciated
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Capital idea for wheelchair users
A PILOT scheme to make coaches more accessible to wheelchair users has been launched in Wiltshire. The trial has seen National Express introduce a coach with wheelchair access on its Bath to London service. Wiltshire County Council has designed new bus
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Irish love story unfolds on stage
A TOURING company from the Watermill Theatre, near Newbury, will stage the Irish love story I Dreamt I Dwelt in Marble Halls at Wootton Bassett's Memorial Hall, on April 9, at 7.30pm. An old woman in Northern Ireland finds herself musing on the 1930s,
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Back-up medics are saving lives
MILITARY volunteers who give up their free time to back up Wiltshire Ambulance Service will help save lives, ambulance bosses have said. The Wiltshire First Response scheme, where members of the armed forces answer 999 calls in fast response cars, was
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Youth centre opens
WOOTTON Bassett teenagers spent months designing the new youth and development centre, which opened its doors on Saturday. They helped shape the new centre 18 months ago when 1,000 questionnaires were sent out asking what they thought should be included
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People awards are proving popular
NOMINATIONS are pouring in for the new People of Wiltshire Awards. The scheme, overseen by Wiltshire County Council, has been set up to reward unsung heroes and companies who give to the Wiltshire community. Categories include an environment award open
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Malaysian company buys Wessex Water
MALAYSIAN group YTL Power International has taken over Wessex Water at a cost of £1.2bn. The deal ends months of uncertainty for Wessex Water after its parent company Azurix announced it was exploring the sale of the company. Wessex Water chairman Colin
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Kidlington 1, Pewsey Vale 2
PAUL Day bagged a late winner for top of the table Pewsey Vale as they struggled to overcome lowly hosts Kidlington on Saturday 23 March. Pewsey were given an uncomfortable ride throughout by plucky Kidlington, who stunned their high-flying visitors when
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Tribute to team
POLICE AWARDS: FOR their work on the inquiry into the crash on the A350 at West Ashton in July 2000, which resulted in the deaths of Craig Dicker, 23, of Devizes, Adam Lumley, 21 of Melksham, and five-year-old Tamara Jayne Sheppard of Compton Bassett,
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County leads way in new fight to curb youth crime
THE problem of youth crime is dominating the national news at the moment. JILL CROOKS reports on a new way of dealing with young offenders that has shown an 85 per cent success rate when piloted in Wiltshire. YOUNG offenders will be urged to face up to
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RSPCA appeals to help lone animals
The RSPCA has appealed to local people not to pick up apparently abandoned young foxes, rabbits, badgers and hedgehogs. The society is inundated each year with young animals that have been removed from their natural habitat by well-meaning members of
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Angry town refuses to fund CAB
councillors in Warminster are refusing to support the west Wiltshire Citizens Advice Bureau. Officials have refused to fund the Trowbridge-based centre after learning Warminster's branch was likely to remain a part-time operation. Cllr Ultan Ryan said
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Bonnet eggs-travaganza
CHILDREN were brimming over with good ideas when they rose to the challenge of designing an Easter bonnet. Gazette reporter Lewis Cowen found it difficult to pick a winner when he was invited to judge the bonnet competition at Cedar House Nursery School
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Raft races mark Queen's Jubilee
TEAMS will be taking to the water to celebrate the Queen's Golden Jubilee in Warminster. Warminster Lions Club is organising a raft race to be held at The Lakeside Pleasure Park on June 3. Teams of four will be entered into a series of heats in junior
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Easier travel for disabled
A NEW trial range of coaches to make travelling easier for wheelchair users was launched in Wiltshire on Monday. The coaches, which run from Bath to London via Heathrow, are the first in the UK. Wheelchair access will be available at Sainsbury's and outside
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Calne Town 0, Minehead Town 1
CALNE Town blew their big chance to move out of the Screwfix Direct League First Division relegation zone for the first time in six months as a late Craig Carr penalty sent them crashing to a home defeat against nearest rivals Minehead on Saturday 23
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Policemen want more officers on the beat
WILTSHIRE police officers would strongly support changes within the police service, it was found at a meeting of the Wiltshire Police Federation on Tuesday night. The Government's contentious Police Reform Bill was one of the topics discussed at the meeting
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Mum wins on a hunch
TENSION mounted in the final moments before the winner was declared in our Room Makeover competition finals night at the headquarters of Devizes Fine Kitchens at Hopton Industrial Estate on Friday night. Each of the 16 finalists were called on to come
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Cattle market site first choice for record office
CHIPPENHAM'S Livestock Market site in Cocklebury Road will be the home of the new county record office. Wiltshire County Council's Cabinet did a U-turn on Friday and made Chippenham rather than Devizes as its first choice for the relocation of the Wiltshire
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Devizes Town 5 Elmore 2
SCREWFIX DIRECT LEAGUE: BARRY Flippance blasted his second hat-trick in successive matches as Devizes Town extended their winning run to seven matches at Nursteed Road on Sunday. Andy Coombes and Nick Mooney were also on the mark for the in-form hosts
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FC Chippenham book final place
YOUTH FOOTBALL: FC CHIPPENHAM booked their place in the Wiltshire Times and News Mid-Wilts Youth and Minor League under 15s cup final with a convincing win over Stratton Juniors. FC Chippenham dominated the first half and were 4-0 up by the break. Stratton
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Wiltshire under 18s 4, Gloucestershire under 18s 0
YOUTH FOOTBALL: WILTSHIRE under 18s clinched the South West Counties Championship title on Saturday with a comprehensive victory over main rivals Gloucestershire at Corsham Town. Chippenham Town striker Gary Banks got the hosts off to a dream start in
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Two dead in 100-vehicle pile-up
Two people have been killed today in a 100-vehicle pile-up on the southbound M40 in Oxfordshire. Thames Valley police said the accident happened at about 7am in thick fog when a motorcyclist and a van were in collision at Lewknor. A spokesman for Thames
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MP highlights plight of sub postmasters
DIFFICULTIES faced by sub postmasters across west Wiltshire have been raised with MP Andrew Murrison. He visited Curt Eijvergard at Boreham Post Office on Friday. Also attending the briefing were Janet Bick, branch president, Jerry Lewis, branch secretary
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Ducks take a dive for river race
PEOPLE in Bradford on Avon will be going quackers on Easter Monday when the town's 15th annual duck race takes place. Plastic yellow ducks have been on sale for the last few weeks and will be released into the River Avon near the town bridge at noon on
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Oscar win is hair-raising
OSCAR fever hit Holt this week as the creator behind the wigs and make-up in the Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring watched his colleagues accept the Academy Award at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles. Peter King, a partner at Bristol firm,
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Train trip to Wales
A SPECIAL train will be leaving Trowbridge on June 8 on a grand tour of Wales. The Kennet & Avon Welshman will also collect passengers from Bradford on Avon before it sets off through some of the most remote regions of Wales. The journey will include
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Verge camp is shut down
THE last of the travellers who have been camped on a grass verge in Avebury were evicted on Tuesday. They left peacefully when sheriff's officers accompanied by police arrived to move them under an order issued by the courts. Their departure ended a three-year
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Three Easter walks across the downs
EASTER SUNDAY: Free walks are being organised on Easter Sunday by The Ramblers Association. For an eight and a half mile walk around Wilton meet at the Tesco car park in Devizes at 9.30am and share transport to the start. A 12-mile walk around Alton Barnes
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Vandal-proof seats are installed in park
CAMPAIGNERS fighting to rejuvenate Faringdon Road Park hope the first of eight new vandal-proof benches is the start of a new era for the site. Coun John Taylor (Lab, Central) joined a small group of residents to celebrate the installation of the steel
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Can you help these teenagers on their mercy mission?
YOUNG Swindonians will be visiting Kenya to help a charity build a medical centre and raise awareness about AIDS. They are paying for their own flights and expenses during the six-week trip but want companies or individuals to help raise another £4,000
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Catalogue of crime
PETER Smith was a one-man crimewave who carried out 57 burglaries across Swindon in just 10 months. He was fuelled by the desperate need to feed his heroin addiction. Today he is starting a four-year jail term, but there remain up to 2,000 heroin addicts
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Play tickets still on sale
Tickets are still available for Ade Morris's play, I Dreamt I Dwelt in Marble Halls, based on the extraordinary life of Madelyn O'Sullivan. The performance is at the town hall on Thursday April 4 at 7.30pm and tickets cost £5. Call (01249) 814000.
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Hunt on for princesses
Girls who want to be one of Calne's three carnival princesses can pick up an entry form from the town hall. The competition is open to girls aged from six to 11 and judging will take place on Saturday May 11 at 6pm in the town hall.
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Deliveries in SP postcode 'among worst'
A WATCHDOG group has hit out at the standard of first-class mail delivery in Salisbury district. It follows the release of figures from Consignia showing that the delivery in the SP postcode area is among the worst 20 in the country. The figures reveal
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Council helps Jubilee
Calne town council has decided to back jubilee celebrations in the town by helping to insure events. Events like street parties need insurance before the road can be closed so the council has set aside cash to help meet these costs. These grants will
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Hawaiian dream days
The John Bentley School's humanities and art department has a once in a lifetime opportunity for its Year 10 and above students to visit the Hawaiian Islands in 2003. The expedition will highlight the ecology and culture of four islands.
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Builders plot to get swan down
A GANG of builders went to great lengths - and heights - to rescue a swan, after it had strayed on to their construction site and got trapped in the shell of a half-completed building. The distressed animal flew through an open window on the Tannery site
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Appeal on extension
An appeal has been lodged after North Wiltshire District Council refused a planning application for an extension at a house in Barry Place, Derry Hill. The Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions will make a final decision.
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The years roll away for more ET magic
ET (U) returns to the cinema this week, 20 years after it became the biggest grossing film of all time. Director Steven Spielberg has given the film some digital spit and polish and enhanced a few scenes but essentially this is the film that had us caring
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Investigation into care-home death
AN investigation is being launched into the death of an elderly woman after a salmonella outbreak at a Salisbury nursing home. Milford House Nursing Home, on Milford Hill Road, was closed to new admissions for more than a week after seven residents and
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Mammoths, sloths and tigers
Ice Age (U) is another Disneyesque animated feature hard on the heels of Toy Story, Monsters Inc. and Shrek. It actually has little to do with the Ice Age and more to do with a prehistoric mammoth, sloth and tiger trying to return a baby boy to his tribe
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City ringfenced to beat street boozers
DRINKING alcohol in Salisbury parks and streets could soon be a criminal offence. In a bid to clear the city centre of rowdy drunks, Salisbury District Council this week put out for consultation a plan to ban drinking in virtually every public place inside
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Britney shows her wild side
SHINY and wholesome with a naughty side, that's Britney ... and that's her movie. The American teenybop queen has made her big screen debut in Crossroads, a coming of age, girly, road trip film. And while her role as an 18-year-old, virginal, high achiever
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St John group condemned to raise £100,000
DEDICATED first-aiders in Amesbury who freely give their time to help others are appealing for help themselves. Members of the Amesbury division of St John Ambulance have had to abandon their headquarters building in Parsonage Road after it was condemned
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Easter anthem
FOUR members of Zion Baptist Church, Trowbridge, are tackling an anthem usually sung by 100-strong Welsh male voice choirs. The quartet all church deacons will sing Morte Criste, a version of When I Survey the Wondrous Cross as part of the Easter Sunday
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Sponsors needed for arts festival
Calne's music and arts festival organisers are seeking sponsors for a variety of events which will be taking place between October 4 and 13. Planning is already well underway and events include an art exhibition and workshops, orchestras, chamber and
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New contract for ready-meal firm
TROWBRIDGE firm apetito has won a £1.4m contract to provide meals on wheels to the residents of East Sussex from March 1.
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More workers on the street
CALNE is to get a third street-based youth worker following a decision by the town council on Monday. The council's policy and resources committee agreed to fund a third worker to solve problems created by sickness. Last year the town had two workers
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MP highlights plight of sub postmasters
DIFFICULTIES faced by sub postmasters across west Wiltshire have been raised with MP Andrew Murrison. He visited Curt Eijvergard at Boreham Post Office on Friday. Also attending the briefing were Janet Bick, branch president, Jerry Lewis, branch secretary
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Library club is thriving
KEEN youngsters have given a big red tick to a thriving homework club run at Calne Library. The club has become increasingly popular and membership has grown to 180. There are now often queues for the library's computer terminals. The homework club was
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Bookies fails in bid for retail location
TOTE Bookmakers has lost its bid to open a betting shop in Calne's new shopping centre. A petition signed by local residents opposed the opening of the new betting shop, and the application was thrown out by members of North Wiltshire District Council's
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Quiz team puts safety first
SCHOOLCHILDREN in west Wiltshire have been showing off their road safety knowledge through a district-wide quiz designed to save lives. The west Wiltshire area road safety quiz, now in its 15th year, was held last week at The Mead School in Trowbridge
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Thief was 'very drunk'
AN alcoholic who stole a charity box from a petrol station told police he was too drunk to remember the crime. Michael Nurdin, 26, was caught on security camera stealing a St John Ambulance charity box from the Marsh Road petrol station in Trowbridge.
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Curtain up for villagers' play
THE newly formed Ashton players are busy rehearsing for their forthcoming fantasy play Steeple Ashton Taylers. The play, based on people from the village, runs from Wednesday April 3 until Saturday April 6. The plays are written by Mike Montague Smith
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Woman jailed for £30,000 post theft
A middle-aged sub post mistress who embezzled more than £30,000 over a six-month period has been handed a one-year prison term. Mother-of-two Catherine Leat was in dire financial straits when she pocketed the money from the post office she ran at a shop
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Swinger's benefit gig
THE oldest swinger in town had a Trowbridge pub packed last week. Fred Wedlock, who hit the charts in 1981, performed at the White Swan, Church Street, for a fee of a mining plaque off the pub's wall. Landlord Peewee Hunt said: "A friend of mine found
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U-turn on record office site plan
WILTSHIRE County Council has done a u-turn over where to build a new Wiltshire and Swindon Record Office, abandoning its proposed move from Trowbridge to Devizes. Instead, the council has chosen to back Chippenham as its preferred location for the new
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Attacker jailed for bottle assault
A 22-year-old high on a cocktail of drink and drugs when he struck a man about the head with a bottle outside a Trowbridge nightclub, has been jailed for three years. Radouane Bendhiyaf set upon his victim outside Club Blue following a minor fracas inside
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Way is cleared for land swap
IMPROVEMENTS will be made to a busy Devizes junction. Wiltshire County Council wants to swap a piece of land with Gaiger Brothers Ltd at Brewery Corner, with another piece adjoining, in order to relieve the congestion at the roundabout and junction of
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Driver fined £60
Matthew Birchall, 18, of The Links, was fined £60 by magistrates in Devizes on Monday for driving an Austin Mini otherwise than in accordance with a licence in New Park Street, Devizes, on November 29. He was ordered to pay £35 prosecution costs. Magistrates
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Director on swindling charges
A COMPANY director has been charged with swindling more than £330,000 from his London-based firm. Police arrested 48-year-old David Watmuff at his former home in Ganbrook House, Broughton Gifford, four years ago after the alleged deception was uncovered
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Runners keeping it in the family
THIS YEAR'S Lions Club charity fun run and 10km race was truly a family affair. Rosemary Barber, the first woman to cross the line of the 10km race on Sunday, was supported by her 83-year-old mother, Dorothy Amor, who walked the fun run course. And there
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Appeal after photos theft
MOTHER-OF-TWO Alice Isaacson has appealed for the return of irreplaceable family photographs stolen in a burglary at her home. Ms Isaacson returned to her home in Victoria Road, Devizes, last Tuesday evening to find thieves had used the key she kept under
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Man attacked by gang of girls
THREE teenage girls beat up a young man in Trowbridge on Saturday, stealing his mobile phone. The 18-year-old youth was left with a bloody nose and bumps and bruises to his head after the attack by the entrance to Bowyers at 2.10am. Sgt Martin Scorah
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Video porn case heads for court
A FORMER Trowbridge video shop owner charged with possessing animal pornography films for financial gain will face a crown court trial later this year. Robert Levy, 54, of Parklands has been charged with four counts of possessing obscene material, after
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Bonnet designs show solo inspiration
CHILDREN from Court Mills Pre-school in Trowbridge held a special Easter parade on Thursday. The children, aged three and four, each made their own Easter bonnet at home. Play leader, Elaine Varnam, said: "We invited them to surprise us. Usually we make
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Ex-shop manager on indecency charges
A FORMER manager of a Trowbridge mobile phone shop is facing a crown court trial after allegations that she indecently assaulted two women. Abigail Dunn, 25, was the manager of the One to One shop in The Shires shopping centre, Trowbridge, during the
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Tension high during debate on green site
PASSIONS were running high at the public inquiry to hear objections to the replacement Kennet District Local Plan. The main topic of the inquiry last week was Quakers Walk in Devizes, a footpath which links the north eastern edge of Devizes with Roundway
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Children enjoy Easter parade
CHILDREN at Paxcroft Mead Parent and Toddler Group, Trowbridge had a day of fun on Tuesday to mark the start of their Easter break. The group, which meets at Paxcroft Community Centre, made Easter bonnets and paraded around to show them off. Toddler group
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Explorer joins local crews in canoe race
CANOEISTS from all over the world will converge on Devizes Wharf tomorrow for the start of the 54th Devizes to Westminster canoe race, known as the canoeists' Everest. Among thepaddlers waiting to make the 125-mile trip along the Kennet and Avon Canal
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Victorian school bids to expand for future
A PLAN to build a new hall and classrooms at St Nicholas Primary School, Bromham, near Devizes, have been unveiled. Parents and villagers attended an open meeting at the school last week to hear details of the £330,000 project. Most of the money will
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Balloonist is guest
Round-the-world balloonist Brian Jones is the guest of honour at a charity fashion show being organised by Frocks fashion store at Devizes town hall on St George's Day, April 23. The event will raise cash for Winds of Hope, to help children suffering
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Clamping signs illegal
A Housing association has been told to take down its signs warning motorists they will be clamped if they park beside a block of flats it owns and administers in the centre of Devizes. Officers from Wiltshire County Council's highways department wrote
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Police plea on farm vehicles
DEVIZES police are urging local farmers to take advantage of a free scheme to register their quad bikes and other off-road vehicles following a spate of thefts in the area. Officers have been called to investigate many thefts of vehicles, used for farm
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Open verdict on man found dead in canal
A WILTSHIRE deputy coroner has recorded an open verdict on the death of Robert Wood, whose body was found in the Kennet and Avon Canal near Devizes just before Christmas, despite hearing Mr Wood was likely to have been very drunk and unsteady on his feet
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Light shed on mystery bangs
POLICE say teenagers camping out near Marlborough Town Football Club were responsible for two huge explosions that woke families shortly after 4am on Sunday, March 24. Police received a number of calls from alarmed householders in the east side of the
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Good wishes from Vera Lynn
ARTIST and sculptor Polly Gedney who is to fulfil an ambition to run in the London marathon to raise funds for a charity supported by Dame Vera Lynn, had the chance to meet the forces sweetheart this week. Mother of two Mrs Gedney, 31, is running the
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Queen hopes dashed
Marlborough Town Council has been told that it is unlikely the Queen will accept an invitation to celebrations in 2004 for the 800th anniversary of the town getting its charters because she has another visit to Wiltshire planned in 2003. The council has
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Addict put on testing order
HEROIN addict Katy Williams will undergo a drug treatment and testing order in a bid to get off drugs. Magistrates in Devizes imposed the penalty after hearing that Williams, 34, had committed four shoplifting offences to feed her heroin addiction. Williams
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Loyal football fan gets shirty
COME triumph or defeat, Dan Castle is a staunch supporter of Swindon Town Football Club and avid collector of players' old shirts despite living nearly 100 miles away. Dan's close following of the club's fortunes started when he was 19 and living in Marlborough
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Verge camp is shut down
THE last of the travellers who have been camped on a grass verge in Avebury were evicted on Tuesday. They left peacefully when sheriff's officers accompanied by police arrived to move them under an order issued by the courts. Their departure ended a three-year
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Trolls had to face the music
PUPILS at Mill School in Potterne really got into their roles last week when they performed Trolls by northern composer and playwright Peter Skellern. Skellern, best known for his hit song She's A Lady, had written the hilarious fairytale, in which a
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North Gate rethink
KENNET District Council is stepping up its efforts to develop Devizes' Wharf and the North Gate site, following the news that the town is no longer the first choice for the Wiltshire Records Office. Council leader Jerry Willmott told a meeting of the
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Choir misses out on contest top slot
A choir from Kingsbury Hill House School narrowly missed out on winning a singing contest and following in the footsteps of former pupil, the chart-topping Pop Idol Will Young. The 48-strong choir entered the southern regional heat of the Sainsbury's
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Moved grave stone angers family
Dorothy Davidson, of Devizes, was appalled to learn the headstone at her parents' grave had been pulled out of the ground. Mrs Davidson, 68, of West View Crescent, and her daughter, Heather Paget, found the headstone lying flat on the grave when they
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Leaping up to help
YOUNG trampolinists at Marlborough Leisure Centre have raised £1,130 for sufferers of a skin condition, who are known as Butterfly Children. Child sufferers of the skin blistering condition epidermolysis bullosa (EB) have extremely sensitive skin which
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TV focus on cafe society
DEVIZES has once more become the centre of attention in the gourmet world with the town's TV chef Peter Vaughan using the facilities at his health food shop and caf as the backdrop for a new series on healthy eating. Mr Vaughan, who runs the Healthy Life
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Councillors say rival town gets better deal
TOWN councillors in Marlborough say they are fed up with Devizes getting preferential treatment because it has greater voting power at Kennet, with eight votes compared to just four for Marlborough. The subject was raised when Coun Marian Hannaford asked
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Time to move on
MOTHER and daughter Jean Cook and Vanessa Hillier, who have run the popular Macklins restaurant in St Peter's Church in Marlborough for the past three years, hang up their pinnies for the last time on Mach 29. Mrs Cook, who lives in Five Stiles Road and
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ITV Digital decision blow for clubs
TOWN'S efforts to put the club back on a stable financial footing have not been helped by the decision to place the ailing ITV Digital into administration. Although director Bob Holt believes the loss of up to £300,000 will not actually cripple the club
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Homes peppered in paint
POLICE in Marlborough are appealing for witnesses following an incident in which homes in London Road were peppered with paint balls. PC Mark Kuklinski, who is investigating Saturday night's incident, said: "This was a very unusual crime and one which
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Not just here to make up the numbers
THE Swindon Town Supporters' Trust believes the club's directors must do more than simply acknowledge its existence. Members of TrustSTFC are growing increasingly frustrated at the board's unwillingness to let them play an active role in the fight for
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Costs of replacing play area to spiral
Replacing a children's play area in Marlborough could cost thousands of pounds more than expected, the town council has been told. Councillors met behind closed doors last week to discuss estimates to replace equipment that was removed by council staff
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The kings is alive!
STYLISH and modern, Old Town's Kings Arms Hotel has re-opened its doors following a quarter of a million pound refit. Now known just as The Kings, Swindon mayor David Cox was joined by Arkell's managing director James Arkell for a champagne reception
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Now we're funding women's football
NATIONWIDE, the current sponsor of the England football team, is also backing the future of women's football. The Swindon-based building society has renewed its overall sponsorship of the Football Association in a four-year deal believed to be worth £30
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Jubilee high jinks
Golden Jubilee celebrations in Stratton St Margaret will offer something for everyone. On the weekend of June 1 and 2 the parish council is holding a tea dance for older residents, a children's party and a disco for teenagers. All events will be at Grange
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Dumped cars are set alight
THE number of burnt-out abandoned cars in Wiltshire has risen faster than anywhere else in the country, according to national police figures. The number of torched cars has spiralled by 207 per cent since 1997 compared to a national increase of just 67
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When sleep can kill you
MOTORWAY service stations are backing the Government's Driver Tiredness campaign in a bid to cut the number of fatal car crashes due to fatigue. And Wiltshire's traffic police warn that driving when tired can be as dangerous as drink driving. The horrific
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Golden moments add up to a golden wedding
WOOTTON Bassett golden wedding couple Allan and Rosalie Ashcroft met as children in their native Lancashire. Now in their early 70s, they enjoy an active retirement and will celebrate their golden wedding tomorrow. The couple, who are well known through
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Targets missed
Wiltshire Health Authority has admitted it can't meet Government targets to reduce waiting lists by the end of this month. The number of people waiting for operations stands at 12,938, which is 21 per cent over target. Some 2,500 outpatients have to wait
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Builders plot to get swan down
A GANG of builders went to great lengths - and heights - to rescue a swan, after it had strayed on to their construction site and got trapped in the shell of a half-completed building. The distressed animal flew through an open window on the Tannery site
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Will the canoe racers turn out third time lucky?
ORGANISERS are hoping it will be third time lucky as canoeists prepare themselves for the gruelling Devizes to Westminster race this Easter weekend. The challenge, cancelled twice in the last two years, is due for the off from Devizes Wharf tomorrow and
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Investigation into care-home death
AN investigation is being launched into the death of an elderly woman after a salmonella outbreak at a Salisbury nursing home. Milford House Nursing Home, on Milford Hill Road, was closed to new admissions for more than a week after seven residents and
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I fought the law . . and the law won
WIELDING baseball bats, knives and pickaxe handles, five violent, deranged people went on the rampage and held four CID officers hostage in Theatre Square flats, Wroughton, yesterday. Around 200 police officers, four commanders, a pack of Alsatians and
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Vera visits camp for charity SOS
FORCES' sweetheart Dame Vera Lynn came to Tidworth on Monday to give her good wishes to two runners taking part in the London Marathon for one of her favourite charities, SOS - Stars Organisation Supporting Cerebral Palsy. She said: "We certainly need
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Emily helps England brush aside the Welsh
WINGER Emily Felt-ham was reduced to a cameo role in Eng-land's women rugby team's comprehensive 40-0 victory against the Welsh on Sunday. In front of a large crowd at London Welsh's Deer Park ground, the English recorded an identical winning margin as
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Closing speeches after Easter break
AFTER hearing six weeks of evidence in the trial of Angela Cannings, who is accused of murdering two of her babies, the jury is taking an Easter break before returning to give its verdict on the Salisbury mother. Judge Heather Hallett, who is presiding
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It's just not fair
CAN someone give me an answer? How is it I can rehome a greyhound for free, garden or not, because they can't find homes for them but rescue centres won't let you have a small dog they unless you have a garden? What is the difference? They are not very
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City ringfenced to beat street boozers
DRINKING alcohol in Salisbury parks and streets could soon be a criminal offence. In a bid to clear the city centre of rowdy drunks, Salisbury District Council this week put out for consultation a plan to ban drinking in virtually every public place inside
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We must teach care of animals
In reply to Brian Sedgley's letter about Mr Blair getting his priorities wrong in trying to ban fox hunting. Mr Sedgley, do you really know what the average person in the street does or doesn't care about? We all care about our children having a good
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Praise for school
ON behalf of the governors I would like to congratulate the headteacher and staff of St Mary's Infants' School, Marlborough, on their Ofsted report. The inspectors recognised the good work, both academic and pastoral. Of particular note was the quality
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Hunting out truth of the fox and hounds
I WOULD like to clarify the confusion at present felt over the ban against hunting with dogs Bill currently being overwhelmingly supported by the majority of Labour MPs in Parliament and which also has the promised vote of the Prime Minister. This Bill
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Rock's last stand
I WOULD like to say thank you to everyone who attended the "ultimate rock 'n' roll party ever" on March 9, at the Neeld Hall, Chippenham. We had the fantastic lady of rock 'n' roll from the USA, Linda Gale Lewis and a Rockabilly band. If you were not
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Chippenham 6, Swanage and Wareham 10
FOR the second year running, Chippenham failed to make the final of the Dorset and Wilts Cup, losing out to South Division One opponents in the closing minutes. Swanage, currently fighting relegation, were expected to give promotion hopefuls Chippenham
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Save on council costs
IN last week's edition of the Gazette were three powerful, logical letters giving a critique of our county elders decision to burden Wiltshire residents with a ten per cent increase in local tax on an already intolerable high level. The county's financial
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Dogged by pet owners' irresponsibility
DEVIZES Downlands Estate, with its nicely positioned flats and neatly kept grass and trees, is pleasant. We residents take pride in our surroundings, keeping the place tidy. Although there are several dog owners here, who exercise their pets several times
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Fury at rising bill
Like most other people in this area I have just received my council tax bill for the forthcoming year. Words can not express how cheated of my hard earned money I feel. I have had enough of being ripped off by councils running on their own agenda without
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Pervert preys on children
POLICE are hunting a pervert photographer who has targeted a Chippenham primary school three times in a month. Children at Charter Primary School have spotted the mystery snapper looking into the playground on three occasions taking photos of them as
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'Hidden' taxes
I WONDER how many readers are aware that the Blair/Brown duo have once again conned the British electorate into paying more "hidden" taxes. I have just received the North Wiltshire District Council's information leaflet regarding council tax for 2002-
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Driver failed to spot approaching car
A YOUNG motorist who turned into a petrol station in front of an oncoming car has admitted causing the resulting accident. Stephen Evans, 20, of Chamberlain Road, Chippenham, pleaded guilty to careless driving when he appeared before north west Wiltshire
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Defendant says sorry for abuse
UNEMPLOYED Paul King has apologised to magistrates for insulting a police officer following a brawl with another man at a Chippenham pub. King, 22, of Downham Mead, Chippenham, pleaded guilty to a public order offence when he appeared before magistrates
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I wanted to rent one of new shops
If North Wiltshire District Council say no-one followed up their interest in the new riverside units in Calne (letter from Philip Lucas, 21 March), I feel a correction is definitely in order here. When the new shops were still at foundation stage (1999
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Tribunal awards worker £5,000
A FORMER Dyson employee was subjected to racial discrimination, a tribunal decided last week. Paul Blake took his former employer to the tribunal after he was dismissed following a disagreement with a colleague last May, claiming unfair dismissal and
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U-turn on record office site plan
WILTSHIRE County Council has done a u-turn over where to build a new Wiltshire and Swindon Record Office, abandoning its proposed move from Trowbridge to Devizes. Instead, the council has chosen to back Chippenham as its preferred location for the new
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Villagers' anger at show plans
MORE than 50 angry residents packed Corsley village hall on Tuesday night protesting against plans to hold Wiltshire County Show and air pageant in the village. The decision to move the show from Lower Pertwood Farm to the Corsley Showground was made
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Failed to attend court
James Hooke, 25, of Rowden Hill, Chippenham, will appear before North West Wiltshire magistrates on April 8 charged with careless driving, no test certificate and no insurance. He failed to answer a summons to appear before the court on Monday.
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Drink led to pub fracas
JOBLESS Paul King apologised to magistrates for insulting a police officer following a brawl with another man at a Chippenham pub. King, 22, of Downham Mead, Chippenham, pleaded guilty to a public order offence when he appeared before North Wiltshire
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Firm fined after teen worker is injured
TEENAGER Martin Major lost two fingers while working at a chicken processing factory because the company failed in its duty to protect him, magistrates heard. The accident happened on August 6 last year when 17-year-old Mr Major was working at the Faccenda
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Kids praised for recycling
THE Winter Olympics may be fading from the headlines, but children from St Mary's RC Primary School in Chippenham are sporting gold medals of their own. The Schools' Recycling Scheme Gold Award is presented to schools who have collected more than ten
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Inquiry on Flowers' site
THE Flower family has launched a planning appeal after months of negotiation about the future of its former Chippenham scrapyard site reached deadlock. Outline planning permission was granted in autumn 2000 for housing, retail, business and leisure use
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Children cast animal magic
PUPILS have been making life a bit brighter at their Chippenham school. They have been creating a stunning piece of art for the playground at Redland School. More than 120 pupils have been involved in the two-week project and they have been helped by
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Goldiggers' boss barred as company director
THE former owner of Goldiggers nightclub, Paul Sampson, has agreed not to hold a directorship of any company for four years. Mr Sampson was the owner of Gold Leisure Limited which ran Goldiggers nightclub. The company went into liquidation in August 2000
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Daughter jailed for theft from sick mum
AN adopted daughter has been jailed for nine months for stealing £48,000 from her dementia-suffering mother, to pay for clothes, a holiday to the Maldives and flying lessons. Anna Henderson-Bentley, 36, of London Road, Chippenham, had admitted four counts
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Passengers knew nothing of strike
COMMUTERS were unmoved by calls for a day of action and a boycott of trains on Friday. Many travellers using Chippenham station were unaware the Better Rail Advisory Group (BRAG) had planned a day of action for March 21. All was quiet from the organisation
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Ten-men Rangers nudge City nearer to the drop
SALISBURY City player-manager Steve Richardson admitted his side was heading for the drop after Saturday's disappointing 4-1 defeat at home against ten-man Stafford Rangers. "We will keep fighting and you never know," he said. "But I certainly won't be
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Last chance
SWINDON TOWN are drinking at the last chance saloon after the High Court granted the club an unprecedented second spell in administration. For the time being at least, the seemingly endless list of creditors will not be able to wind up the club. But one
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Deal is on track for station's reopening
LEGAL agreements have been drawn up that mean Corsham is still on line to have a new railway station by summer 2003. Last Friday, members of Wiltshire County Council's Cabinet agreed to authorise the council's solicitor, Pete Jeremiah, and its environmental
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Relatives oppose car park on graveyard
A pensioner fears his grandparents' grave could be gravelled over and used for car parking. Jeff Knapp, 70, is angry that plans to revamp Corsham shopping precinct include using part of an old graveyard to extend car parking. "The car park should not
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Ken's gone but not forgotten
ANOTHER football commentator has left us to head for the great press box in the sky. The death of Kenneth Wolstenholme is a sad loss to the game. Many people seem to remember the 1966 World Cup final for the commentary rather than for the match itself
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Whistle while you work, Brian
MONEY worries have led to multi-skilling at the County Ground. I spent Monday afternoon watching 27 hopefuls take part in a trial match. There were only two names that I recognised...Actually, make that three. The referee looked very familiar. The man
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Woodgate farce
I think the Football Association have made a real dog's breakfast of the Jonathan Woodgate affair. The Leeds defender (left) has been ruled out of international action for about two years and his World Cup hopes are in tatters due to the baffling reasoning
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Time to rain on Mac's parade
I WONDER whether Steve McMahon has any plans to parade the LDV Vans Trophy around the County Ground before Saturday's game? I hope not as I do not imagine it would go down too well. But three points for Andy King's men would go a long way to banishing
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Looking Up?
ADMINISTRATION is a word which immediately sparks contrasting emotions. Is it another nail in the coffin or the first significant step on the road to recovery? I hope it proves to be the latter. If the club really had no prospects of survival then why
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Students rise to challenge
STAFF and students at Wiltshire College Lackham completely stripped down and reconditioned a tractor for charity last week. The 24-hour marathon effort was organised in aid of the Larkrise Community Farm, near Trowbridge. The 12 students, in their first
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Cash to be on tap for walkers
Members of the Wiltshire Children's Holidays charity will be doing a pub-crawl with a difference on Saturday, March 30 they will only be drinking water. The team will be stopping at pubs between Chippenham and Wootton Bassett not to have a drink but to
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Proposal for school fields is rejected
THE county council has confirmed that it has no interest in selling Minety School's playing fields to developers. Two weeks ago, district council planners unanimously rejected an application to build 34 houses on the site. Now a spokesman for the county
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Retiring head leaves in style
CRUDWELL Primary School headteacher Barbara Harvey spent the last week of term before her retirement totally immersed in the school's activities. Mrs Harvey, who retired on March 22, was one of a number of members of staff who took part in a bad hair
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Petitions pour in on Lyneham
MP James Gray said 10,600 people have signed a petition to save RAF Lyneham, more than twice the number he had hoped for. The signatures have been collected over the past two months across north Wiltshire and Mr Gray is to present them to the Speaker
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RSPCA probes attack on deer
THE RSPCA has launched an investigation after a landowner found a deer dying in woods near Lacock. Patrick Goley, 45, of Bowden Hill House, claims he saw hounds from the Avon Vale Hunt in the woods shortly before finding the dying deer with neck wounds
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Make date with disco
The Pewsey Vale Football Club is holding a disco at the clubhouse on Saturday, March 30, with tickets costing £2 for members or £3 to non members. It is also staging a bingo session at the clubhouse on Sunday at 1.30pm. Admission is free.
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Student's gift to school
Former Pewsey Vale School student Neil Hopkins, who plays with the local band Jowdi with another ex-pupil Jon Veale, has sent his old school a copy of a CD he has made including a track called Haylie which has won awards in the Rotary Club Young Musician
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Pub rock day to roll again
Pub Rock Day organiser Alan Dainton is organising a third event in Pewsey on May 25, following the success of the previous two. Although he is no longer landlord of the Coopers Arms which he ran for 16 years, Mr Dainton, former Pewsey sports centre manager
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Wigglybus needs to change to be viable
PEWSEY Vale's innovative Wigglybus will have to look to its laurels if it is to become the public transport of the future, a report published last week insists. The present set-up is too expensive and not attractive enough to draw motorists away from
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Village enjoys Eventful day
PEWSEY Vale School is bidding to become a specialist language college, it has been revealed. Deputy headteacher John Cranfield, who manned a display setting out the the school's objectives at a major village exhibition on Monday, said the new status would
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Davies: 'I want to stay next year'
CHIPPENHAM Town defender Gareth Davies wants to stay with the Bluebirds next season to repay the club for their support in his battle to overcome his knee problem. The former Swindon Town man quit the professional game at the age of just 28 in January
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Time to move on
MOTHER and daughter Jean Cook and Vanessa Hillier, who have run the popular Macklins restaurant in St Peter's Church in Marlborough for the past three years, hang up their pinnies for the last time on Mach 29. Mrs Cook, who lives in Five Stiles Road and
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Business park expands
New office units are set to be built at the Sheldon Business Park, at Sheldon Corner, Chippenham. Members of North Wiltshire District Council's area development control committee approved the plans last week. The open-fronted modern farm building was
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Honour goes to Tipsy Toad
THE Tipsy Toad public house at Bulkington, near Devizes, just missed out on a prestigious national award. The pub, which Mary Dolman and Tim Faulkener took over three years ago, was one of three hostelries from all over the country to be shortlisted for
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Headteacher decides to put down his chalk
WHEN pupils return to Westbury Junior School after the Easter holidays it will be to a new headteacher. The existing head, Robert Watt, 55, has left after 13 years. Mr Watt said: "Obviously I have very mixed feelings. "On the one hand I'm looking forward
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Let us lighten the way home
MARK Bullows, manager of the Castle Inn in Castle Combe, is enlightening his regulars. He has been campaigning for months for street lighting near the pub, but without success. Now he has taken the matter into his own hands and is issuing his customers
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Singer has heart set on solo career
THESE are the two faces of Emma Finney the soprano and the administrator. By day, Emma works as an administrator for West Wiltshire District Council but at night and weekends she is practising her singing in her determined goal to be an international
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Training project to share ideas
BUSINESS people from across south Wiltshire turned out in force for the launch of an innovative training project. South Wiltshire Economic Partnership's (Swep) first Business Training Network event, held at the White Hart Hotel in Salisbury last month
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Army team is staying put for now
THE Army group that selects future officers is to stay in Westbury, although job losses may only have been put off for a couple of years. Plans to move the Regular Commissions Board, which employs over 60 people, from Leighton House to Sandhurst, next
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Estate terrorised by tearaway teens
A GANG of youths, some as young as 13, are running amok on a Westbury housing estate. Police are appealing for people living on the Oldfield Park estate to help them trace the youngsters, who ride around on motorbikes but disappear when the police turn
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Boy drives his parents to despair
THE PARENTS of a teenage tearaway in Westbury told magistrates they were on the verge of giving up. The 13-year-old boy, who cannot be identified, has committed a string of offences over the past six months including theft, vandalism and assault. He was
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Gang attacks couple in street
A WOMAN and her boyfriend have been left traumatised after a serious unprovoked assault in Westbury town centre on Friday night, which left the man unconscious. The woman was confronted in Market Place by four men who were abusive to her before punching
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Date
Ten-men Rangers nudge City nearer to the drop
SALISBURY City player-manager Steve Richardson admitted his side was heading for the drop after Saturday's disappointing 4-1 defeat at home against ten-man Stafford Rangers. "We will keep fighting and you never know," he said. "But I certainly won't be
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Date
Hospital benefits from league's gift
The Malmesbury Hospital League of Friends is to spend more than £9,000 on equipment for the hospital, it announced this week. Two electrically operated beds and mattresses, 16 bedside tables, a music centre and new toys for the health clinic are among
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Expert will try to trap killer cat
POLICE in Malmesbury are calling in an expert to help find a big cat spotted around Minety, just weeks after an animal dubbed the Minety Monster savaged lambs and ewes. Sgt Kier Pritchard, of Malmesbury police, said that three or four people have reported
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Husband keeps charity pledge
FORMER mayor Ray Sanderson has donated around £14,000 to cancer research charities after pledging to raise the cash after his wife was diagnosed with cancer. Mr Sanderson, who was Malmesbury mayor in 1987, said he was touched by the support he has received
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New building unites two school campuses
MORALE was at an all time high as teachers moved into Malmesbury's new school at Corn Gastons this week. But the celebratory feeling was tempered by continuing lack of funds. Because of unfair Government spending arrangements, schools in Wiltshire get
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Teens told to avoid old site
YOUNGSTERS are being warned to stay away from Malmesbury Secondary School's two former buildings. Demolition is due to begin in two weeks on the old schools at Filands and Corn Gastons ready for the town's new multi-million pound school to open after
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Court lenient on bereaved driver
MAGISTRATES have chosen to be lenient on Malmesbury truck driver Mark Jenner, who failed to produce his driving documents within seven days of a minor collision because he was coping with the death of his wife. Mr Jenner, 39, of Filands, pleaded guilty
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New village club targets youngsters
YOUNGSTERS in Sutton Benger have been given the opportunity to become the next Ian Botham or Mike Atherton after the formation of a new cricket club in the village. Sutton Benger cricket club chairman Trevor Knowlden and his band of volunteers have toiled
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Collapsing humps delay new crossing
CALLS for a long-awaited crossing on Melksham town bridge have been renewed. Disability groups say the crossing, promised in time for Princess Anne's visit in 2000, is now two years overdue. The crossing was intended to link up the Riverside Walk, but
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Taxi drivers hit out at rank scheme
TAXI drivers in Melksham have poured cold water on a £300,000 proposal to revamp the town centre. Plans drawn up by London-based consultants Colin Davis Associates to improve town centre access for pedestrians went on show for the first time this month
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Crime on the rise in Melksham
CRIME figures for Melksham show the number of recorded incidents rose 16 per cent last year. Theft, criminal damage and vandalism make up the majority of crimes with violent crime and burglary rates falling. In a report to Melksham Town Council, Inspector
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Casualty service will close at night again
THE casualty unit in Melksham will again be forced to close at night just one month after re-opening. The news has sent shockwaves around the town with residents being told the unit could be closed overnight for up to six months. Blamed on a shortage
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Village's web of vice
VILLAGERS have defended an x-rated community website that posts stories of threesomes, sado-masochism and drug taking. Residents have been exchanging juicy tittle-tattle after village newcomer, Emma Doyle, introduced herself on the website last month
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Personal service may mean better survival
LLOYDS TSB is aiming to boost the survival rate among its customers by launching a more personalised service for small businesses in Swindon, Didcot and Newbury. "The business banking team is doubling efforts to improve the support we currently provide
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BT jobs to go at call centres
Telecoms giant BT is cutting 2,200 jobs under a major reorganisation of its call centre operations. The company is spending £100 million on creating 30 "next generation multi-function customer contact centres". But BT said the move meant the closure of
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NTL warning over £12bn debt
TROUBLED cable operator NTL cast doubt over whether it would be able to sustain operations during a critical overhaul of its £12 billion debt. The group, which is based in Hook, Hampshire, said "various uncertainties" remained including its ability to
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Soccer fun days
APRIL 2-5: Easter holiday soccer fun days for boys and girls aged five to 13 will take place from April 2 5, at Ballards Ash Sports Ground, Wootton Bassett, from 9.30am 3.30pm. For details, contact Chris Kirkland at the town council office on (01793)
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Volunteers on course to help
A free course, run by the Workers' Educational Association, has benefited parents and other volunteers who help in classrooms of schools around Wootton Bassett. About a dozen people took part in 11 weekly sessions from 9.30am to 2.30pm with tutor Ros
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New role is a healthy option
A PIONEERING partnership could soon be helping West Wiltshire people switch on to healthier lifestyles. West Wiltshire District Council and West Wiltshire Primary Care Trust have appointed a jointly funded public health consultant. Femi Oduneye has been
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Golfers get in the swing for charity
The town's Rotary club is promoting a charity golf day in aid of Wiltshire Air Ambulance, and details are available from George Tuckett, on (01793) 852759. The event, on June 10 at the Wiltshire Golf and Country Club, will be a team stableford competition
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Divorce is all the rage
THERE has been a steep rise in the number of marriage break-ups in west Wiltshire. Trowbridge County Court issued 906 divorces in 2001, a rise of 15 per cent on the previous year, with 187 cases going through so far this year. Court manager Mary Hamnett
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Lottery boost for Wiltshire
GROUPS across west Wiltshire are celebrating the award of thousands of pounds of lottery cash to help with community projects. The Awards for All Lottery funding programme gives grants of between £500 and £5,000 to groups which have an impact on their
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Greenfield lobbyists 'pushing an open door'
A Wootton Bassett action group plans to lobby town councillors over Bradley Homes' plan to build houses on a greenfield site near Vowley View. The company seeks to develop 2.63 hectares for housing. This is its third planning application in recent weeks
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Please get in touch Linda
THE estranged husband of missing Linda Razzell today joined the chorus of concern for her more than a week after she disappeared. Mystery still surrounds the whereabouts of the mum-of-four, who vanished after she made her usual Tuesday morning school
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Highworth Town 1, Cirencester Academy 5
HIGHWORTH Town, after their impressive run of seven games without defeat, have now conceded 11 goals in two games after their 5-1 home defeat by Cirencester Academy. The Academy took the lead on 23 minutes with a good header from Neil Dix and added a
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Brave officer faced gunman
POLICE AWARDS: LAST September, Rod Stacy-Marks, an inspector at Corsham Police Station, was clearing his office on his final day there, when he received a call about a violent domestic situation. The occupant of a house in Corsham's Methuen Way a man
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Vics through to cup final
SKURRAY'S WILTSHIRE LEAGUE: STRATTON Crosslink had only themselves to blame for not reaching the Wilts Senior Cup final, beaten 2-1 by Hellenic side Malmesbury Vics. Crosslink had the better of the first-half chances and missed a penalty midway through
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Honour for cops who intercepted arsonist
POLICE AWARDS: WILTSHIRE police officers Adam Hall and Lee Mead have received awards for their heroic actions in dealing with a violent man in June last year. The two constables, both 35, attended a house in Kingsley Gardens, Devizes, on the evening of
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Bookmen write new chapter in cup quest
MID-WILTSHIRE SUNDAY LEAGUE: SELECTABOOK secured their place in the final of the Tamura Hinchley Shield with a 6-1 success over Netheravon on Sunday 24 March. The league leaders survived an early onslaught and both Mark Lowe and Tom Adams came close to
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School set in woods hunts for new home
AN alternative school operating from a site in the heart of Wiltshire woodland is hunting for a permanent home. The School in the Woods is based in Rocks East Woods, between Marshfield and Colerne. It was set up by a group of parents disillusioned by
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Chippenham Sunday League round-up
BOX Rovers' hopes of reaching their first PPL Presto Print-sponsored Eric Hughes Memorial Cup final since 1999 were ended as holders and Premier Division rivals Cooper-Avon Rangers sent them crashing out as they eased to their fourth successive final
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Shrewton made to work for the points
SKURRAY'S WILTSHIRE LEAGUE: SHREWTON United, runway leaders of the Premier Division, were made to fight hard for their 2-1 victory by a youthful Corsham Town Reserve side. United had the better of the first 45 minutes, going ahead early in the game with
