Archive
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Council wants out-of-town supermarkets
TOWN councillors in Amesbury are to start pushing for new supermarkets on out-of-town sites, to cater for hundreds of families moving into new estates being built around the town. The move comes in the wake of the planning permission given to Amesbury's
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Fears grow over link
FEARS are growing over the status that a proposed new road on the outskirts of Amesbury will have a local link road or a town bypass. The road in question is the southern section of the Amesbury link road, part of a proposed development of 550 new homes
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Mowlam backs Journal stance
EX-CABINET Minister Mo Mowlam, renowned for not pulling her punches, backed the Journal in highlighting the problems surrounding care of the elderly and the problems facing care home-owners when she visited Salisbury on Tuesday. Dr Mowlam, former Northern
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Pianists wait in the wings
THIS year's Marden House concert season draws to a close in Calne on Sunday with a recital by four young pianists playing works by Schumann, Rachmaninoff, Brahms and Liszt. The concert celebrates ten years of master classes given by pianist Philip Martin
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Clear-out and grab bargains
PEOPLE in Calne are preparing for the fifth clear-out day on Sunday. The event, which enables any residents to pass on their unwanted goods and take their pick of other people's for free, is being organised by the town council and Friends of the Earth
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Growing school set to expand once more
CALNE'S newest primary school is expanding so quickly that it already needs space for three new classes, less than a year after it opened its doors. Fynamore County Primary School, which serves children from the new housing development in the north of
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'Barmy bureaucracy' is a matter of inches
TAXI driver David Small has put his home in Baydon up for sale and is planning to move to France after what he calls barmy bureaucracy over the height of his garden fence. Mr Small, 55, has been ordered to shorten his six foot garden fence at Ermin Close
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Market loses two hardy perennials after 30 years
DEVIZES market will be losing two familiar faces when Peter and Ann Reitzner close their stall for the last time at the end of this month after 30 years. The couple opened Pine Tree Nurseries at their home in Conscience Lane, Rowde, in 1972, and their
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Riding high to save sight
JOURNALIST Bruno Clements has just returned from a gruelling 460-mile sponsored bike ride across the Pyrenees. Mr Clements, 40, of Cyprus Terrace, Northgate Street, Devizes, has raised £300 for Sight Savers International, the charity that fights tracoma
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Film star on battlefield
ACTOR Richard Le Parmentier, who plays Admiral Motti in the latest Star Wars film, will sign autographs and host a question-and-answer session at Attack 2002, this weekend's show staged by the Devizes and District Wargames Group at the Corn Exchange.
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Villagers'protest on home fails
VILLAGERS in Wedhampton, near Devizes, have failed to stop a detached house and garage being built in a paddock off the High Street. The application, which was approved by Kennet district councillors on Thursday, was smaller than the original scheme submitted
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North Gate site fears over large new shops
DEVIZES Chamber of Commerce fears too many new shops on the proposed North Gate site would draw business away from the main shopping area of The Brittox and Maryport Street. Kennet District Council wants to begin redeveloping the area between Snuff Street
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New school hall is blessed
THE Bishop of Ramsbury, the Rt Rev Peter Hullah, joined pupils, teachers and parents to bless a village school's new £450,000 hall. The extension at Bishops Cannings School, near Devizes, means all 200 children can now fit comfortably into the hall for
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Plan for £200,000 indoor skate park
YOUNGSTERS could get a £200,000 indoor skate park in Devizes within 18 months, it was revealed this week. The groundwork is being done on planning the project, which will involve building an extension on the front of the Southbroom Youth Centre on the
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Stepfather murder conviction was safe
WILTSHIRE Police yesterday reacted with relief when the conviction of a former soldier found guilty of murdering his nine-year-old stepdaughter was declared safe by the Court of Appeal. Private Miles Evans, an Army driver, was convicted of murder in April
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Pupils enjoy day on tiles
Students from St John's School broadened their knowledge of ceramic design when they visited the Marlborough Tile Factory. Two groups of children from the Chopping Knife Lane buildings were taken on a tour of the factory on Thursday. Staff at the Elcot
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Historic ring of romance declared treasure trove
A ROMANTIC 17th century posy ring, inscribed with the words: 'No recompense but love,' was uncovered on the World Heritage Site at Avebury by a villager using a metal detector without permission, a treasure inquest was told yesterday. Peter Cawley, of
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Pupils quit hotel of hell
NINETY schoolchildren have been brought home from a continental trip three days early after it was discovered they had been booked into a hotel from hell. Teachers accompanying the Year 9 pupils from St John's School, Marlborough, raised the alarm after
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College's late-night fireworks blasted
FAMILIES in Marlborough were left fuming on Saturday when a late night firework display at the College shook the town with a series of explosions lasting for nearly half an hour. The display was organised as part of an end of term ball for the public
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Awards presented to vital police team
STAFF backing up police in Swindon have been awarded NVQ training certificates. The certificates, presented by Assistant Chief Constable Stephen Long, were awarded following a pilot course run in conjunction with Active Learning and Development. Two of
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Off-duty police nick drink-driver
DRINK-driver Kerry Lind-sell knew he was in trouble after crashing his car on a roundabout in Swindon he was in full view of a coachload of police officers heading home from a night out. Lindsell, 29, crashed his car on Marlborough Road near the Coate
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Choir prepares to perform with the best
AN up and coming choir from Swindon will be appearing alongside one of the best singing groups in the world next week. Wessex Male Choir, which was formed less than a year ago, will be sharing the stage with the Sons of Orpheus, the male choir of Tucson
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Major faces trial on two deception charges
MAJOR Charles Ingram from Easterton has opted for trial by jury at crown court on two charges of obtaining pecuniary advantage by deception. The charges relate to applications for insurance policies, dating from between November 1 2001 and January 22
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Yobs spit on shop window
SHOPKEEPER David Stocks-borough says badly behaved teenagers in Stratton are making his life a misery. Since he and his wife Pat took over the convenience store in Grange Drive, children aged as young as 13 have been breaking the shop's windows, spitting
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Barber shop raises funds for Prospect in World Cup style
GENEROUS customers at Barnets Barber Shop got into the World Cup spirit not by having David Beckham-style haircuts but by raising £154 in aid of Prospect Hospice. Many volunteered to pay an extra £1 per haircut with the chance of winning a replica World
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Laptop stolen
A laptop computer was stolen from the Evening Advertiser offices in Victoria Road between 1.20pm and 2.30pm yesterday. The laptop contains sensitive information. Anyone who can help should call Swindon Police on 528111.
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On wheels to get a good deal for charity
CYCLIST Mark Rutty is performing his own Tour de France to raise money for charity. Mark, 29, from Haydon Wick, set sail for France on Monday, ready to embark on a 320-mile cycle in aid of Swindon Downs Syndrome Association. Leaving behind his wife, Becki
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How should your money be spent?
MEMBERS of the public will be asked their opinions over the next few weeks and months on how Swindon Council spends its money. The cabinet last night went out to consultation on a proposal to create a new 'strategic direction' for the council, with its
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Arrows in the picture
THE Royal Air Force is putting the finishing touches to one of its biggest ever recruiting campaigns. It will take place during the Royal International Air Tattoo and will highlight every trade and profession that is available in today's modern RAF. Group
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Faulty tube the likely cause of fatal crash
AN UNDERSIZED inner tube was the likely cause of a car smash in the Middle East in which a South Cerney-based soldier died, an inquest heard. Fijian Pte Tuate Tumani-kaitai Qionimacawa, 31, known as Josh, was serving in Oman when he died in the crash,
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Firm gives £70k to begin park revamp
A BID to restore Lydiard Park to its former glory has been kick-started by a £70,000 donation. West Swindon-based Innogy, formerly National Power, has provided the full amount of corporate sponsorship needed to begin detailed feasibility work on the £5.5
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MP calls for debate on imitation guns
SOUTH Swindon MP Julia Drown is demanding a parliamentary debate on the use of airguns and replica guns. She says the danger they pose to people and animals is growing and a complete ban on their use may be the only answer. Ms Drown has asked Robin Cook
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No jail for internet porn man
THE former chairman of the charity Wiltshire Mind has been spared a jail sentence despite pleading guilty to downloading thousands of images of child pornography from the internet. Paul Corbyn, 44, was sentenced to two years' com-munity rehabilitation
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Tilly leads the triathlon
AN eight-year-old girl from Martin was the brains behind a charity triathlon held at Salisbury District Hospital on Sunday afternoon. Tilly Shepherd, who has cerebral palsy, suggested the idea to staff at the children's therapy unit to raise money towards
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Killer's bid to clear his name ends in failure
A FORMER soldier convicted of murdering his nine year-old step-daughter and burying her body in a badger's sett has failed in the Appeal Court bid to clear his name. Miles Evans, then 27, was found guilty in January 1998 at Bristol Crown Court of the
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Sorry to those who missed out
I would like to apologise to those people whom we turned away from Devizes Beer Festival on Saturday evening. This was not a decision we took lightly. We had been expecting about ten per cent more visitors than last year and so arranged for a corresponding
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Hospital move needs thought
IT is good to know that our district council is taking significant steps to promote the redevelopment of the North Gate area of Devizes, but disappointing that the council is supporting the transfer of the hospital to Green Lane. It is our view the hospital
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Rector speaks out in schools row
THE rector of Wilton has slated the county council over its attitude towards education in south-west Wiltshire, where it proposes to scrap middle schools despite overwhelming support for them from parents and staff. Decrying the creeping destruction of
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Postal worker opened packages and stole cash
A POSTAL worker who stole at the mail centre where she worked has been warned that she faces the prospect of going to prison. Swindon magistrates heard that Gillian Lewis, 36, was under financial pressure when she was tempted to steal from postal packets
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Council to blame for fiasco over skatepark
LESLEY Bennett, who doesn't live in Chippenham, attacks the residents of Monkton Park for refusing to put up with a scheme that was blighting the lives of those affected. One elderly resident has suffered a nervous breakdown as a result of the skatepark
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Allotment holders face price increase
Chippenham Town Council has given notice to the town's gardens and allotments society that rents must increase by £5 a plot a year from September 2003. Last year the council increased the rent by £5, or 66 per cent per plot. The proposed increase for
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Vandals are a blooming nuisance
VANDALS made a blooming nuisance of themselves, trashing many of Salisbury's hanging baskets just one week before the city comes under the scrutiny of Britain in Bloom judges. More than 16 floral displays in Catherine Street, High Street and Butcher Row
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Our children have been very let down
HOW disappointing it is to hear that a well used facility has had to close and that no replacement is available. I am referring to the skatepark in Chippen's Monkton Park which was so well received when it first opened and has been an object of pride
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Mowlam backs Journal stance
EX-CABINET Minister Mo Mowlam, renowned for not pulling her punches, backed the Journal in highlighting the problems surrounding care of the elderly and the problems facing care home-owners when she visited Salisbury on Tuesday. Dr Mowlam, former Northern
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A meaty issue
I MUST take issue with Geoff Elliott (EA, June 25). He calls me ignorant in respect of a letter I wrote concerning whingeing farmers. Had he read my letter correctly, he would have understood that I was criticising the hypocrisy of farmers like Rupert
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Care of elderly nears crisis point
CARE homes are continuing to close in Wiltshire at an alarming rate, causing the number of nursing home places for elderly people to drop to their lowest levels for years. It is a serious problem for the county's social services, whose director, Annie
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Festive laughs
MAY I thank the organisers of the Old Town Festival. It must have been a lot of hard work. I am so pleased so many people went with families; the children certainly enjoyed it all. They were well catered for, judging by the laughter I heard. We had two
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Dance disruption floored festival
I would like to say that we thoroughly enjoyed the Old Town Festival this weekend. However, it was slightly marred by the intervention of council workmen, who took away dance flooring while the children were still performing. The audience was stunned
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Plea to find missing cat
RECRUITMENT consultant Michelle Sivell is appealing for information about her 15-year-old cat Oscar, who went missing from her Chippenham home more than a week ago. Oscar vanished from Pew Hill Park on June 29 while Miss Sivell, 33, was on holiday. He
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School playing field delays near an end
PUPILS at Chippenham's Abbeyfield School could finally have their long-awaited playing fields when they start school in the autumn. Headteacher Trish Shubrook said she was confident the comprehensive school, which opened in its present premises last September
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Pupils enjoy pieces of past
PUPILS at Sutton Benger School have been pulling out the stops to improve the school environment. The primary school invited Salisbury artist Johanna Dewfall into the classroom for three days to guide pupils in a jubilee art celebration. Together they
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Roadworks come to an end at last
ROADWORKS which have been carried out at Chippenham's Bridge Centre roundabout for the past six months have finally come to an end. New traffic lights were installed at the weekend, ending the work which has at times caused traffic to queue up Bath Road
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When wrongequals right
STAFF and pupils at Langley Fitzurse School only wore half their school uniform for a Wrong Trousers day, last week. They had to wear normal uniform from the waist up, but for a small fee they donned outlandish trousers on their bottom halves. Ten-year-old
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Girls face quiz on school arson
TWO teenage girls are believed to have carried out an arson attack at a Corsham school that left a cleaner needing hospital treatment. Police say the fire was deliberately started in a bin in the girls' toilets at Corsham Comprehensive School on Monday
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Minister says he will listen
DEFENCE Minister Geoff Hoon promised to listen to the people of Lyneham when he considers the future of RAF Lyneham after being presented with a dossier of the Gazette's campaign when he visited Wiltshire on Friday . Mr Hoon was on Salisbury Plain launching
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Swindonians show their generosity
NO-ONE can ever accuse Swindonians of lacking community spirit. When the Evening Advertiser came up with the idea of a memorial for those who had died from mesothelioma it never had any doubt that people in the town would rally round. But we were surprised
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Packages will take to the air
PUPILS at St Patrick's Roman Catholic Primary School, in Corsham, have been collecting essential items for orphans half way around the world. The children have have collected dozens of boxes of games, soft toys and clothes for orphans in Sierra Leone.
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Dressing up time at fete
A JOINT fete held by St Michael and All Angels' Church, in Lyneham, and St Mary's Church, in Bradenstoke, attracted a host of colourful characters Saturday. The fete, at the Hocketts Close field in Lyneham, included a garden party, stalls and refreshments
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Transplant survivor serves up a hat-trick
RENEE Chong, who had a heart and lung replacement seven years ago, has beaten competitors from 16 nations to win three medals. Cystic fibrosis sufferer Mrs Chong, 48, of Monks Park, Milbourne, near Malmesbury, returned from the European Heart And Lung
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Mum is to the palace born
BEING born a month early has earned mother-of-two Margory Kick a place at an exclusive party at Buckingham Palace. Mrs Kick, 50, of Marshfield Road, in Chippenham, was born a month premature shortly after midnight on February 6 1952, the day King George
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Row grows over BBC makeover of garden
A BBC garden makeover, which has sparked a major row in a quiet cul-de-sac, may have fallen foul of planning law. Martin and Sylvia Johns, of Gundry Close, Chippenham, were devastated when a giant fence and a nine-foot high platform appeared in their
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Police name man killed under wheels of train
RAILWAY police confirmed yesterday that a man who died after being struck by a train near Pewsey Station was psychiatric patient Bruce Wicks, who lived in the village. Officers took three days to confirm the identity of Mr Wicks who received multiple
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Tweddle is staying after row is settled
CHIPPENHAM Town striker Steve Tweddle is to stay at Hardenhuish Park after burying the hatchet with manager Tommy Saunders. The prolific striker was placed on the transfer list at his own request in May following a disagreement with Saunders, but no club
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Signings still pour into the Bluebirds
DR MARTENS PREMIER LEAGUE: CHIPPENHAM Town manager Tommy Saunders looks set to take his new signings tally for the summer into double figures by the weekend with the signings of Jason Eaton and Murray Fishlock. Ex-Swindon Town stalwart Mark Robinson became
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Solicitor is struck off
LUCKINGTON lorry driver David Hamilton says he is relieved after solicitor Margaret Davies was struck off by a disciplinary tribunal in Bristol for misleading him over an accident claim. At the tribunal in London, Margaret Davies, 47, of Royal York Crescent
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Heron takes note of scare
ROY Waine is using pop music to scare off a predatory heron which is eating his fish. The heron has made off with 11 fish in three months, and Mr Waine, 67, of Park Road, Malmesbury, hit on the idea of using music to scare the bird away. Ten days ago
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Hunting fan, 7, hands over petition
SEVEN-YEAR-OLD Sherston schoolboy Roddy Seymour-Williams presented a pro-hunting petition to 10 Downing Street on Monday, collected during a 24-hour vigil in London by the Beaufort Hunt. Roddy, of Farleaze Farm, handed over the petition to a policeman
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Ancient corpses found at abbey
THE skeletons of three bodies and the skull of another, thought to date back to between the 12th and 14th centuries, have been discovered underneath the old cinema site in Malmesbury. Workman John Brain made the grisly discovery when a mechanical digger
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Skating in the right direction
At last things seem to be looking up for the skateboarding enthusiasts in Devizes. A new scheme to build a £200,000 indoor park at a youth centre next to Devizes School this week got the blessing of town councillors. It is the first bit of good news the
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Wiltshire Cricket League round-up
Division One: IN the battle for promotion Calne slightly improved their position at the top. Visiting struggling Buscot Park then held their hosts to 181-5 with Hamish Miller 74 and Chris Lockley 45. Jeremy Brett with a fine 110 not out and Chris Downham
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Frenchay v Chippenham
CHIPPENHAM kept up their West of England Premier Two promotion charge on Saturday with a five-wicket win over Frenchay at the Bob Clarke Memorial Ground. The home side went into the clash looking to avenge an opening day defeat at the hands of Chippenham
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Creamed by Devon again
COUNTY CRICKET: WILTSHIRE suffered yet another heavy defeat at the hands of Devon at Torquay on Sunday, this time in a one day match in the 38 County Cup in a match which decided the group winners in this competition. Devon won the toss and put Wiltshire
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Frocester v Malmesbury
MALMESBURY remain at the foot of the Gloucester and Wiltshire League Division One after a seven-wicket defeat at Frocester on Saturday 6th July. The visitors lost the toss and were asked to bat, but the score moved along steadily. Jeremy Newman and Chris
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Purton v Goatacre
Gloucester and Wiltshire League Division Two: GOATACRE'S poor recent run came to an end at near neighbours Purton thanks to a fine bowling and fielding display. The visitors won the toss and, after electing to field first, made an early breakthrough when
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Redmarley v Marlborough
AUSTRALIAN Matt Kimble and Nick Dobson excelled with the ball as Marlborough easily dispatched Redmarley by seven wickets on Saturday 6th July. The home side batted first, but soon found themselves reduced to 40 for eight as the visiting attack seized
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No win, no fee company Claims Direct runs out of cash
THE future of "no-win, no-fee" personal injury specialist Claims Direct has been thrown into doubt after it ran out of cash. The company urged the High Court yesterday to allow it to fall into administration after warning it could become insolvent within
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Another firm is hit by global downturn
ANOTHER local company has been hit by the global downturn in the telecommunications sector. Just a year after its £15 million purpose-built facility was officially opened by The Princess Royal, Optical Micro Devices has called in administrators and is
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Convent makes way for houses
FIVE luxury homes are to be built on the site of a Wroughton convent. The building will be demolished to make way for houses that are likely to be marketed for at least £500,000. The land has been sold for a reported £1.25 million to Prowting Homes West
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New officers vow to forge links in town
NEW police officers in Wootton Basset have promised to combat public disorder and involve the community in fighting crime. Sergeant Gavin Williams and Detective Sergeant Peter Chamberlain are both eager to forge links with people in Wootton Bassett. Sgt
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Triplets at home and doing well
THE Twine triplets Lauren, George and Harry have been discharged from Princess Margaret Hospital in Swindon. The trio from Wootton Bassett left the Special Care Baby Unit on Monday evening, and are settling in at home with their parents Alison and Neil
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County council is branded an ostrich
WILTSHIRE County Council has been branded an ostrich that has its head stuck in the sand, in an official report of a discussion group with dissatisfied residents in Chippenham and Devizes. The research was carried out to explore the reasons behind levels
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Moo year's honours for RCPCA rescue heroes
RSPCA inspectors Kate Davis and Phil Bussey have been commended for their bravery after they saved a cow that fell into a swimming pool. Miss Davis and Mr Bussey were called to a house near Nailsworth, Gloucestershire, on December 11 last year after the
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Rail passengers put service before merger
RAIL passengers want a safe, reliable service that runs on time and is not overcrowded, a report produced by the Rail Passengers Committee for Western England has said. The report, produced by the committee on behalf of the Strategic Rail Authority, was
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Proud day for Ghurkas
A NEW era dawned in the history of the world-renowned Gurkas on Friday when a new squadron was born. Hullavington's 94 Supply Squadron was retitled the 94 Supply Squadron Queen's Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment in recognition of more than 80 Gurkas serving
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Face to face with TV'scorporal punishment
The Gazette likes to think it breeds its reporters tough but would intrepid journalist EDWARD O'DALY be strong enough to stand the insults of ITV's hard man Corporal Nauyokas, who has reduced recruits in the Lad's Army documentary to tears, when he was
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Community rallies for Charlotte's fund
THE grandmother of Charlotte Wakeham, the seven-year-old schoolgirl who was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour earlier this year, has spoken of the day she had to tell her son his daughter was terminally ill. Wendy Bryant, who lives in Victoria
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Club's appeal for new rooms
DEVIZES Town Youth FC are hoping the community will back them in their bid to have a new £33,000 changing block ready for the autumn. The FA, in conjunction with the Sport England Lottery Fund have awarded Devizes £21,600 towards the work and the club
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Now it's official: we're the best
THE Gazette is the best weekly newspaper in Britain according to a host of media experts judging the UK Press Gazette Regional Press Awards. The Gazette beat five other of the country's top weekly papers, including three former winners of the title, to
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Nice and Eadie does it on road to recovery
LEICESTER City winger Darren Eadie is hopeful of a return to the Foxes first team by Christmas as he continues his recovery from a long-term knee injury. Eadie, who was raised in Corsham, has a crunch 12 months ahead as he bids to return to fitness and
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Players flock to tournament
MALMESBURY Youth FC will play host to more than 1,000 young players this weekend when they stage their annual six-a-side tournament on land near the Red Bull pub. The club have stepped up their marketing campaign for this year's event and have been rewarded
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Army game too much for Town
FORMER Army PT instructor Tony Kerwick is dishing out his own brand of corporal punishment to Calne Town's weary players as they bid to get fit for the new Screwfix Direct League First Division campaign. New joint-manager Kelvin Highmore has enlisted
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Plan for £200,000 indoor skate park
YOUNGSTERS could get a £200,000 indoor skate park in Devizes within 18 months, it was revealed this week. The groundwork is being done on planning the project, which will involve building an extension on the front of the Southbroom Youth Centre on the
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A classic night out
THE countdown is on for one of the biggest musical extravaganzas Lacock Abbey has ever seen. Workmen have been at the Abbey this week setting up the stage and getting the estate ready for Lacock Proms, which is being sponsored by the Gazette and Herald
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Motorists face three months of roadworks
MOTORISTS face three months of delays on the busy A360 between Devizes and Potterne because of major roadworks and the construction of a new roundabout in Potterne. The road will be closed altogether in the last week of October and traffic will be diverted
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Gyms all fixed for disabled
WHEELCHAIR users will now be able to make use of keep fit equipment at leisure centres in Devizes, Marlborough and Tidworth after Kennet District Council revamped its Fitness Zone gyms. The opportunity came to upgrade the equipment with the ending of
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Jeweller sets stage for gem of music gala
FORMER West End show singer David Dudley, who runs a jewellers shop in Marlborough, will be taking to the stage again for a charity concert being held in the town. Baritone Mr Dudley has sung at several local events recently including the Marlborough
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Tim's Fund is helping Afghans a decade on
TEN years after the death of Tim Goggs, the Easterton man who died while helping rid Afghanistan of its legacy of minefields, the fund that bears his name is still helping the people of the war-torn country. Mr Goggs was 23 when he went to Afghanistan
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Mother's warning hit by lack of funding
CONCERNS over a man with learning disabilities who indecently assaulted a woman, could not be addressed by health authorities because of a lack of money, Kennet magistrates heard. The 23-year-old Devizes man pleaded guilty on April 8 to assaulting the
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Drink driver is fined after car ends up in a tree
A CAR being driven by dad-to-be Paul Hamilton ended up in a tree after he celebrated the prospect of becoming a father, a court heard. Hamilton, 22, of West View Crescent, Devizes, appeared before Kennet magistrates on Monday, charged with drink driving
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A tale of love, horror, and botany
THE GLITZ and glamour of the 1950s Hollywood B movie is coming to Wroughton. The Ridgeway School pays homage to the age of Invasion of the Bodysnatchers and It Came From Outer Space with its summer production of Little Shop of Horrors. Little Shop of
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Please give generously!
CASH-strapped Swindon Town is so desperate for money that it is asking supporters to donate equipment to spruce up the stadium in time for the new season. Today club bosses revealed a wish list of items ranging from goal nets and computers to table linen
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Farmer gets a royal surprise
FARM worker Gilbert Kilford, of Shrewton, got the surprise of his life when he went to the Royal Show, in Stoneleigh, Warwickshire, last week to receive an award for 50 years' service. Just minutes before he was to receive the bar and life membership
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New man at Bishop Wordsworth's helm
BISHOP Wordsworth's school has announced the appointment of Dr Stuart Smallwood as its new headmaster. Dr Smallwood, who is deputy head of the Salisbury boys' grammar school, will take over at the helm at the start of the new term in September. He will
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Old pupils relive their school days
ABOUT 300 ex-pupils and staff who were at Durrington Comprehensive School in the 1970s and '80s went back on Saturday for their first reunion. They gathered in the hall of the school now Upper Avon to chat over old times and update one another on what
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Council make contingency strike plans
COUNCIL bosses in South Wiltshire and the New Forest were putting contingency plans into place this week to combat the effects of a series of one-day strikes planned by local government workers. The summer of discontent is due to get under way next Wednesday
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Couple ready for court action over plan refusal
ANGRY couple Irene and David Baker say they will take North Wiltshire District Council to the High Court if they are not allowed to build a new access to their home at Gore Farm, Heddington. The Bakers applied to the council for permission for a new road
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Villagers fight MoD over closure of club
VILLAGERS are fighting Ministry of Defence plans to close a servicemen's club, which they say will mean the end of their youth club. The residents of Lower Compton, near Calne, have formed an action committee to stop the closure of the Bassett Club, which
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Eco club students dig in to rebuild school pond
MEMBERS of a school's environmental club have rebuilt a pond in its grounds. The John Bentley School pupils researched the pond's wildlife and habitats themselves, put in a new liner in and stocked it with plants. Parents were invited to a barbecue to
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It's more a case of Scooby dooby don't
SCOOBY-DOO, that lovable and goofy Great Dane, undergoes a computer-generated overhaul in Raja Gosnell's low-concept, high-camp caper. Together, Scooby (voiced by Fanning) and Fred (Freddie Prinze Jr), with Daphne (Sarah Michelle-Gellar), Shaggy (Matthew
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Safe crossing is on the way
WORK to build a pedestrian crossing across New Park Street in Devizes is likely to last two months, Wiltshire County Council has said. The new crossing will allow pedestrians to cross the increasingly busy street between Snuff Street and Couch Lane more
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Robbo is the talk of the town
FORMER Swindon Town favourite Mark Robinson is ready to don his boots once more after quitting the game last season. Robinson, 33, has decided to take a leaf out of an old teammate's book by joining Gareth Davies at ambitious Dr Martens Premier League
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Boy damages fence in feud
A TEENAGER has admitted kicking holes in a fence during a long feud with neighbours. The 14-year-old admitted being involved with another youth and damaging three fence panels to a value of £30. Devizes Youth Court gave him a three-month referral order
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Charity boss is spared jail
THE former chairman of mental health charity Wiltshire MIND, has been spared a jail sentence despite pleading guilty to downloading child porn from the internet. Paul Corbyn, 44, of Moonrakers, Devizes, was sentenced to two years' community rehabilitation
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Forty years of playgroup fun
PLAYGROUP leaders of 40 years ago found many changes when they were invited back for the ruby anniversary celebrations at Aldbourne Pre- School. Audrey Gilligan and Daphne Ludlow were among the first leaders of the playgroup started by Peggy Bendle. The
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Live wire left by vandals
SUPERMARKET manager Alan Martin has described vandals who left a live electricity wire across a riverside path in Marlborough as mindless morons. Mr Martin is manager of the Waitrose supermarket whose extended car park, opened a year ago, stretches from
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Top award for club stalwart
ROTARIAN Peter Mansfield has collected a top national award for his work with the organisation. Mr Mansfield became only the fifth Marlborough Rotarian in the club's 40 year history to receive the award and it was officially presented to him by the branch's
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Council told a trust should run town hall
TOWN councillors in Marlborough have been told they should consider relinquishing control of the town hall because of escalating maintenance costs. There was little support, however, for Coun Stewart Dobson when he said the council should explore the
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Bike firm's home plan is refused
COUNCILLORS have refused permission for two houses to be built at the site of Bike Busters motorcycle sales and repair centre in Wootton Rivers. The business, which has been operating from Forest Road in the village since 1986, is to continue a few miles
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First customer was a wise owl
WILDLIFE illustrator Joannah May has sold one of her paintings of an owl to the first customer who visited her Hughenden Yard gallery in Marlborough when it opened last November. It was the fourth painting that Miss May, 37, has sold for £1,500 since
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Conmen sink to depth of cruelty
DOORSTEP conmen sunk to new lows when they struck twice in the Marlborough area. First they attempted to dupe a Burbage woman in her 80s by saying her son had been badly hurt in a car crash. Then they stole £500 from an elderly Pewsey couple, money that
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Tight contest to net trophy
EIGHT junior Devizes Angling Association members turned out to compete for the Gazette Cup on Saturday in a three-hour match fished on Crookwood Lake, near Urchfont. The event produced plenty of action, with fish showing at every peg. Ben Lomas-Milne
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Homes gaffe revealed
A SENIOR executive of Swindon Council was caught out last night when it was revealed that plans published by his department included building 50 homes on the site of Princess Margaret Hospital by the end of 2002. Eagle-eyed Tory leader Mike Bawden spotted
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No room at the inn? Oh yes there is!
LANDLORD Ian Blake got so fed up telling would-be guests at The Crown, Stratton St Margaret, that the pub was full, that he persuaded Swindon's Arkell's Brewery to increase the number of bedrooms to 21. The brewery has now added an extra eight en suite
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Concern at Swindon's 'invasion'
A WAR of words has been sparked by North Wiltshire District Council over accusations that Swindon Council wants to "invade" towns and villages beyond its boundaries. The district council claims Wootton Bassett, the Lydiards, Purton and Cricklade could
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Apology
IN the Gazette of July 4 we published a reader's letter concerning plans to move the hospital and health centre from the centre of Devizes to a new site in Green Lane, Devizes. The letter was critical of Maurice Came and Coun Jerry Willmott for being
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Police drive to recruit more ethnic officers pays off
A DRIVE to recruit more black and ethnic police to Wiltshire is paying off. Just over a year ago the force appointed Sergeant Christian Lange to look at recruitment, retention and progression of race minority staff. Since then the force has seen a 100
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Do our opinions count ?
I AM sure that many of your readers will, like me, be disappointed that they were unable to attend and participate in last week's consultation over the North Gate site in Devizes. With such short notice it was impossible for many of us to rearrange work
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Army showcase is sure-fire success
THOUSANDS of people flocked to Salisbury Plain at the weekend to enjoy a series of spectacular displays put on by the area's soldiers. Army 2002, at Larkhill, the British Army's showcase event of the year, provided two action-packed family days out, billed
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Take chance to air views
MAY I, through the Gazette, awaken the people of Devizes to what is a major planning consultation taking place as to the future of the North Gate site in Devizes at the rear of the Black Swan and Dillons. This will be the last opportunity to enhance the
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Vandals let horses run free
GROVELY Riding School in Wilton is asking local people to be vigilant, after five horses were deliberately set free. This is the fourth time in recent weeks that vandals have released horses from the riding school or nearby fields, and staff are becoming
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Council should heed this cautionary tale
AS an occasional visitor to Devizes, I was interested to read the correspondence in the July 4 edition regarding shopping. One of the reasons for my occasional visits is the shops. I live in a modern town, which, for the second time in 30 years, is being
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New man at Bishop Wordsworth's helm
BISHOP Wordsworth's school has announced the appointment of Dr Stuart Smallwood as its new headmaster. Dr Smallwood, who is deputy head of the Salisbury boys' grammar school, will take over at the helm at the start of the new term in September. He will
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Honda worker could face prison for burglaries
A HONDA worker who committed a string of burglaries to fund his drug addiction has been warned he could face prison. Richard Price, 30, took part in a night time raid on the Lidl supermarket in Gorse Hill where thousands of pounds worth of goods were
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Council make contingency strike plans
COUNCIL bosses in South Wiltshire and the New Forest were putting contingency plans into place this week to combat the effects of a series of one-day strikes planned by local government workers. The summer of discontent is due to get under way next Wednesday
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'They are using our children as blackmail tools'
EXASPERATED resident Rob Emmett has criticised Chiseldon Primary School for ignoring its neighbours in pursuit of selfish goals. At a Swindon Council planning committee meeting, he opposed the school's proposal to relocate a mobile building. Mr Emmett
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Of fruit and fruitcakes
I HAVE seen all the negative comments about Pinehurst Junior School. I and my husband truly support Mr Hobbs and the school in deciding to participate in this keep healthy exercise. My son goes to this school and now eats apples and bananas every day.
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Let's see some leadership shown
HAVING read the article by Ben Fitzgerald on Social Services in Swindon (EA, July 9) and can only say "What on earth is going on?" To say that we, the taxpayers of Swindon, are being let down by certain people in the council (both officers and councillors
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Our England
DO I detect a whiff of Anglo-Celtic sour grapes in Peter Heaton-Jones' little piece on St George and the English flag? Is there a possibility that the English are rediscovering themselves despite all the efforts to remove anything and everything that
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Thanks a million
I WOULD like to say thank you to everyone who helped us to reach the excellent total of £30,825.96 for the Wiltshire Branch of the British Red Cross during Red Cross week May 4-11. A big thank you to the centre organisers and to all the collectors who
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Sometimes things don't run on time
I ENJOYED the festival very much on Saturday. So much that I decided to invite along visiting family on the Sunday. We enjoyed watching the different types of dancing but were very disappointed not to be able to watch the Irish dancers finish their performance
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Why take away the floor?
WHAT a lovely festival at the weekend. It was great to see such a great turn-out of performers of all ages. I particularly enjoyed the dancing, but was very disappointed not to see the Irish dancers finish their excellent display due to council workmen
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Teams get back into groove for new term
RUGBY clubs across the county began their preparations for the new campaign as players reported back for pre-season training last week. Chippenham, who narrowly missed out on a place in South West One for the third year running last term, will train at
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Park and ride to be scrapped
CHIPPENHAM'S Christmas park and ride scheme is set to be scrapped after six years because of high costs and a disappointing take-up. North Wiltshire District Council hopes to encourage more shoppers into town using better signs, publicity about car parking
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Pedal power aids charities
RAF engineer Al Graham cycled 600 miles in seven days memory of a colleague who died from cancer aged 44. Flight engineer Dave Rimmer died on June 20 2001. His colleagues at RAF Lyneham, Flt Lieut Al Graham, 44 and Flt Lieut Andy Valentine, 45, of the
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Anger at bid for huge rise in allotment rent
ALLOTMENT holders in Chippenham are outraged by proposals to increase their rent by nearly 70 per cent in September. The proposed increases by Chippenham Town Council would see the annual rent increase from £15 to £25 in September, and to £35 in September
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500-year-old plaques ripped from church
SPECIALIST investigators at New Scotland Yard have been alerted after two historical plaques were ripped out of a church in Lacock. Two brass plaques, inset into the floor of St Cyriac's Church in Lacock, were taken by thieves on Saturday. It is believed
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Country park may be handed to town
A MASSIVE new country park could be on the cards for Chippenham, bringing the countryside within a few minutes walk of the town centre. The Borough Lands charity owns a swathe of land between the town and Mortimore's Wood to the east, leading down to
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Now reward the fans with goals
WE have all made sacrifices for Swindon Town. Season ticket holders are paying above the odds and Swindon Council has lost around £300,000 in written-off debts owed by the club. Now Town is asking its supporters to dig deep by providing the equipment
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Robbo is talk of the town
FORMER Swindon Town favourite Mark Robinson is ready to don his boots once more after quitting the game last season. Robinson, 33, has decided to take a leaf out of an old teammate's book by joining Gareth Davies at ambitious Dr Martens Premier League
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School play off to a flying start
RAF LYNEHAM has said it will try to curtail flights directly over Corsham School to avoid disrupting the pupils' current open air production of George Orwell's Animal Farm. The school lies directly underneath the furthest point of an imaginary eight-mile
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Residents will fight skatepark re-opening
ANGRY residents in Monkton Park, Chippenham, said they could be forced to take legal action if the skatepark reopened. They are now asking North Wiltshire District Council to make a commitment to move it. The skatepark closed two weeks ago following a
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Royal couple to open fair
THE summer fair at King's Lodge School, Chippenham on Saturday July 13 will be a royal occasion with a King and Queen as guests. Queen Phillipa Armstrong and King Chris Hopwood, year six pupils in their last week at the school, have been picked to be
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Councils to face strike
COUNCILS are bracing themselves for strike action by unions unhappy with a pay offer to council employees. The one-day walk out by local council employees is scheduled for July 17, with Unison, GMB and TGWU demanding pay rises of six per cent having rejected
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Conmen sink to depth of cruelty.
DOORSTEP conmen sunk to new lows when they struck twice in the Marlborough area. First they attempted to dupe a Burbage woman in her 80s by saying her son had been badly hurt in a car crash. Then they stole £500 from an elderly Pewsey couple, money that
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Army showcase is sure-fire success
THOUSANDS of people flocked to Salisbury Plain at the weekend to enjoy a series of spectacular displays put on by the area's soldiers. Army 2002, at Larkhill, the British Army's showcase event of the year, provided two action-packed family days out, billed
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Another Swindon man joins the ranks
SWINDON Town's record signing Mark Robinson will make his playing comeback next season in the Dr Martens League Premier Division with Chippenham Town. The 33-year-old right back became new summer signing number nine for manager Tommy Saunders on Tuesday
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Thommo is delighted to fly with Bluebirds
GOALKEEPER Paul Thompson is looking forward to life in the Dr Martens Premier Division after completing a £2,500 move from Devizes Town to near neighbours Chippenham Town. The 29-year-old stopper was granted the move after an improved bid from the newly-promoted
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Chairman is expecting bumper crowds
CHIPPENHAM Town chairman Malcolm Lyus is looking forward to seeing bumper crowds at Hardenhuish Park in August after the fixture list for the Dr Martens Premier Division campaign were released last week. Chippenham, runners-up in the Western Division
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Town needs a new stalwart
CHIPPENHAM Town are looking a new kit manager after club stalwart Tony Godwin resigned from his duties due to the extra travelling involved in the Dr Martens Premier League. Godwin worked tirelessly behind the scenes as the Bluebirds reached the FA Vase
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Village fear safety of masts on school site
VILLAGERS in Sherston say mobile telephone masts near the proposed site for a new school could prove a risk to pupils. At a public meeting attended by more than 100 in the school hall on Friday, there was support for a plan to built a new school on a
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Suspect is linked to PC attack
POLICE are linking a man arrested in Bristol for car theft with the attack on dog handler Andy Whitmarsh and his dog Zeus. The man, from Bristol, was arrested in the city last week following the theft of three cars from Kemble MoT Centre on July 1. He
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Circus show is boy's dream
ALL the fun of the circus was brought to life by disabled schoolboy Daniel McAleavy and his friends in a colourful variety show in Malmesbury on Sunday. More than 100 parents, friends and family packed the town hall for the special show, financed through
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Hoon's boon for Lyneham
People living in Wiltshire have it from the very top that they will be listened to before any decision is made on the future of RAF Lyneham. The Gazette made the most of a visit to the county by defence minister Geoff Hoon and presented him with a dossier
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Corsham v Lansdown
SKIPPER Craig Gibbens led the way with five wickets as Corsham consolidated second spot in the West of England Premier One with a 104-run win over struggling Lansdown at Station Road on Saturday 6th July. Corsham went into the clash missing six first
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Goatacre v Butleigh
GOATACRE moved a step closer to a third Lord's appearance on the afternoon of Sunday 7th July when they cruised to a seven-wicket win over Somerset visitors Butleigh. The last 32 clash attracted around 200 spectators to the Wiltshire side's home ground
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County resistence is futile
WILTSHIRE'S top four team of Barry Sictorness (Wootton Bassett), Neil Hope (Westlecot), Graham Shadwell (Cooper-Avon) and Mark Dyer (Westlecot) put up brave resistance to the formidable Cornwall four at the regional finals at Clevedon, but were defeated
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Test for young athletes
SCHOOL ATHLETICS: A TEAM of 22 youngsters from Wiltshire travel to Nottingham today to represent their county at the two-day English Schools Athletics Association Championships. Pupils from schools across Wiltshire were selected to compete at the prestigious
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Skipper's site for sore ankle
DEVIZES hopes of victory at Bredon on Saturday 6th July took a nosedive when skipper Andy Hodder ran over his foot while adjusting the position of a sightscreen. Hodder, who starred with six wickets in the previous week's win over Malmesbury, suffered
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Swindon's Kleeneze may grow
SWINDON-based Kleeneze signalled it was poised to deliver steady growth after completing a restructuring of the business. Chief executive George Pollock said the board was optimistic of an upturn after seeing profits tumble 42 per cent in the last 12
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Park set to be restored
LYDIARD Park is set to be returned to its former Georgian grandeur as part of a £5.5 million project. Swindon Borough Council is hoping to turn the park into a major regional tourist attraction with the help of £3.8 million from the National Lottery Heritage
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Court told of drunken rage
ESTRANGED husband David Bishop, savagely attacked wife Susanne Glachan in a drunken rage when she refused to take him back, a court heard. North West Wiltshire magistrates heard how, after a drunken binge, Bishop, of Longfellow Crescent, Wootton Bassett
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Dig deep for Malawi, urges retired nurse
RETIRED nurse Maria Brennan is appealing for help for her native country of Malawi where hundreds of thousands of people are dying from either starvation or AIDS. Mrs Brennan, 66, of Goddard Road, Pewsey, is worried that by the time the world realises
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Shortage of heads is worrying, says chief
COUNTY education bosses are still concerned about a shortage headteachers in Wiltshire schools. There are still 11 unfilled posts across the county. Wiltshire County Council's chief education officer, Bob Wolfson, said the situation is worrying but some
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Firm sacked lorry driver
LORRY driver Lee Hudson was given the sack after he accidentally crashed his lorry into Kingway Bridge, near Corston, Malmesbury, and was charged with careless driving. Mr Hudson, of West Bromwich, said he crashed into the bridge on April 24 because he
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Office plan put on hold
A CONTROVERSIAL plan to convert a crumbling historic building into offices has been put on hold. Members of North Wiltshire District Council's area development control committee last week deferred making a decision about the future of the Grade II Listed
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Display shows off might of Army tanks and firepower
THOUSANDS of visitors marvelled at the Army's military might at Army 2002, held on Salisbury Plain at the weekend. The event, featuring guns, tanks, and, for the first time, the Army's Apache attack helicopter, took place near Larkhill Barracks. "This
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Chefs hunger for challenge
THEY say an army marches on its stomach, but three chefs from Hullavington proved that as well as filling stomachs, they can march with the best of them. Staff Sergeant Mark Normanton, 34, Private Peter Gibson, 23, and Lance Corporal Michael Todd, marched
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Appeal short of its target
A CHURCH appeal in Box to replace heaters and carry out essential conservation work, is still thousands of pounds short of its target. The £55,000 appeal set up last September by the church of St Thomas a Becket has already raised £25,000, but another
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Historian's timely find
STAFF at the Wiltshire Record Office have thanked a sharp-eyed local historian for retrieving a copy of the Potterne parish register, stolen from the record office in March. The register, a copy of the original which covers baptisms and burials for just
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Army chef threatened with knife by worker
CATERING worker Stephen Brooks threatened an Army head chef with a 10-inch kitchen knife after suffering a regime of bullying, Salisbury Crown Court heard. Brooks, 36, of Raines Park, London, had pleaded guilty to two charges of threats to kill dating
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Expansion is very welcome
A COMMUNITY centre is set to expand after being offered new premises at a peppercorn rent. The Welcome Centre in Park North will open up a satellite centre in the former Park South Infants School premises in Priory Road. Staff hope to have the centre
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Young musicians sing their hearts out
BUDDING young musicians sang their hearts out for the annual Swindon Infant Music Festival yesterday evening. Around 700 five to seven-year-olds from 25 local schools pooled their voices to form a huge choir in the Oasis Leisure Centre. Over the past
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Creepy crawlies at large
AN ARTIST has helped create a woodland garden with giant insects at a special school. Gordon Dickinson, of No Added Sugar, has helped staff and pupils at Crowdys Hill School transform their pond by creating giant plywood mini-beasts to place around it
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Health check on new hospital
WITH less than five months to go, the new Great Western Hospital is rapidly taking shape. Since October 1999, a nondescript muddy field beside the M4 motorway has been transformed with bewildering speed into what will become a cutting edge hospital with
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Mysterious death of man who unearthed gold ring
A TREASURE hunter who illegally dug up an old gold ring died just 12 days later under mysterious circumstances. Joan Cawley says her 38-year-old son Peter came across the 17th century posy ring on October 29, 2001. A few days later Mr Cawley's body was
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Let's get it built
AFTER three months of effort and fundraising, it only took a few seconds for the vital decision to be made. Swindon Council's cabinet did not hesitate in backing the building of the Evening Advertiser's memorial garden to remember the victims of mesothelioma
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Hospital under pressure from emergencies
A SURGE in emergency cases has been reported by staff working at Princess Margaret Hospital's Accident and Emergency department. According to the latest figures, admissions were seven per cent higher during April and May, compared with the same period
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Parachutist might have been distracted
A PARACHUTIST who had made about 3,500 jumps might have been distracted when he began a radical left turn only 50ft from the ground. Peter Lambson (54), of Durrington, a former chief instructor at the Joint Services Parachute Centre, Netheravon, died
