Archive
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Inquiry will decide Flowers site plans
THE future of the vital Flowers town centre site in Chippenham is to be decided by an independent planning inspector because no-one locally can agree. Negotiations about how the crucial site should be developed have dragged on for years. The sprawling
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Villagers stock up at fete
VILLAGERS were on the streets dancing through the night to raise money at this year's Neston village fete. More than 400 people came from Chippenham, Ludlow and Freshford for an afternoon packed with entertainment. Among the activities were a turn in
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Prank lands man in court
PRANKSTER Aaron Morse threatened a friend with a pickaxe handle as a joke. Magistrates were told the 25-year-old Chippenham man waved the weapon at Garrod Caffrey when he opened his front door. Magistrates at Chippenham were told Mr Caffrey thought he
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Anger costs man a £250 court fine
ANGRY clubber Steven Vincent had to be restrained by police using CS gas after he threatened bouncers and police outside a Chippenham nightclub. Magistrates heard that Vincent, 26, of Long Avenue, Corsham, was ejected from Bud's in Station Hill, Chippenham
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Spin-king John gets call
WOOTTON Bassett make one change to the side defeated by Hatherley & Reddings by four wickets last week. With Lee Stevens unavailable for the home match against Malmesbury, young off-spinner John Millington gets his chance following last week's impressive
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Purton still in search of elusive win
Struggling Purton entertain Marlborough at home this week. The village side are firmly rooted to the foot of the table still without a victory all summer. That should have arrived last week at Hinton Charterhouse, when chasing 120 they collapsed to 100
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Swindon train eyes on Frocester ace Nick
Following successive victories Swindon travel to WIlts/Glos League Division 1 leaders Frocester tomorrow, hoping to avenge their thumping defeat at the County Ground earlier in the year. The hosts were defeated for the first time this season at the hands
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Turner rallies troops
Goatacre Cricket Club face their biggest match in a decade on Sunday. Wiltshire's top village outfit are just three games from a dream date at Lord's and they can edge a step nearer with victory over Werrington this weekend. Goatacre twice lifted the
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Spearman fires Gladiators
A 171-run partnership between Craig Spearman and Matt Windows inspired Gloucestershire to a comfortable 71-run victory over Hampshire in their Norwich Union League Division Two clash. On a superb Cheltenham pitch and in front of boisterous home support
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Estate agents in the swim
KINGSTONS Estate Agents in Trowbridge has raised money for disabled house-buyer Jeanette Waghorne. Maurice Beale, Jemma Smith, Andy Langley and Matthew Withers collected £1,326 from a sponsored swim, after having been approached by Mr Damien Waghorne
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School slips up over runaway
TEACHERS at a Westbury school forgot to tell the parents of a 13-year-old boy that their son had run away from school. Matravers School headteacher Nigel Gilhespy apologised to the parents of Paul Carpenter for the worrying lapse in protocol. Paul's 31
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118 new homes for old football ground
WORK could soon be starting on 118 new homes on the old Trowbridge Town football club ground in County Way, after years of delays. Site owners Swan Hill have sold it to another developer, Wilson Connolly, and work is due to start shortly. Chris Foulkes
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Airsprung close plant
AIRSPRUNG has announced the closure of its Scottish plant with the loss of 103 jobs but bosses say the Trowbridge plant is not under threat. The closure of the plant in Glasgow may even bring more work to Trowbridge. Chief executive, Tony Lisanti, said
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Students make a real show of their work
THE work of young Westbury artists attracted a great deal of interest at an art exhibition held at Matravers School. The first group of A-level art students, to attend the new sixth form at the school, invited the public in to see paintings, prints, ceramics
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In court for child slapping
SHOCKED shoppers watched in horror as a woman assaulted a three-year-old boy in Trowbridge town centre. Magistrates in Trowbridge heard how 20-year-old Emma Bush smacked and slapped the child up to seven times. The tot was pushed violently in the stomach
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Debut for theatre company
A NEW youth theatre company in Westbury will be performing for the first time on Sunday, July 21. The company, Two Planks And A Passion, has been formed by Darian Nelson, community arts director at Matravers School. He said: "The school gained arts status
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Wide load causes road jams
MORNING rush-hour traffic was brought to a standstill for the fourth time as police escorted an abnormally wide load from Westbury to the M4 at Chippenham. Roads in Wiltshire were jammed as the load made its way along the A350 with a police escort on
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A trilogy? It's groovy, baby
YEAH BABY he's back! Self-confessed king of swing Austin Powers returns to our screens this month so get ready for a fistful of rude gags, anatomy references and kitsch 70s costumes. Quite possibly one of the most outrageous superheroes the world of film
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Winsley v Claverham
WINSLEY got back to winning ways with a convincing victory at home to Claverham. Winning the toss, Claverham chose to bat on a decent looking pitch but after both their openers made good starts the loss of Bird triggered an extraordinary collapse. Wickets
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Cheltenham v Corsham
A DEPLETED Corsham line-up paid the price for a poor batting display as they were beaten by 30 runs at Cheltenham on Saturday 13th July. All-rounder Paul Marsh skippered the side in the absence of Craig Gibbens, but lost the toss and Cheltenham opted
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Westbury v Frome
WESTBURY entertained Frome in a vital league game as both teams are in the bottom three places. Westbury made three changes from the previous week's defeat at Westlands, Keith Wright, James Dark and Adrian Kesby coming in for the injured John Delina,
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Bowling along to a brighter future
YOUTH CRICKET: Corsham cricket club staged an open evening on Monday in recognition of the award of a bowling machine to the Club by the Stroud and Swindon Building Society, sponsors of the West of England Premier League. The bowling machine will be used
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Mum urges vaccine use
A mother who lost her 20-year-old son to the killer disease meningitis wants young people to listen to her pleas. Sue Smith, 42, said she is extremely disheartened at news that a drive to encourage 18-24-year-olds in Melksham to have the meningitis C
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Gory tales for children
BestSELLING science author Nick Arnold visited children at George Ward School, Melksham, and revealed a more gruesome side of science to youngsters. Spreading the message that science is cool, the award-winning author of Ugly Bugs and Blood thrilled the
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Man beaten on birthday
A FURIOUS Melksham mother has called for the mindless thugs who attacked her son on his 18th birthday to be brought to justice. The 37-year-old mum, who lives on the Forest estate, blasted the young hooligans who left her son with a broken jaw in two
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600 miss out in blunders over election
HUNDREDS of people in Melksham were due to go to the polls on Thursday in two town council by-elections amid rows over polling stations and council blunders. People living in the Town and Roundpond wards were turning out to vote after the resignations
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Garden wall is destroyed
Melksham police are hunting a hit-and-run driver who destroyed a garden wall and fence. Officers believe a drink-driver may have been responsible for destroying the stone wall and fence outside a pensioner's home in Berkshire Green. The woman, in her
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Angela steps in to save town carnival
THE search for Melksham's carnival queen is over despite a disappointing response from would-be entrants. Last year's carnival princess, 20-year-old Angela Holbrook, volunteered for the role in the nick of time. It was feared the poor turnout of potential
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Diet tips for athletes
BUDDING athletes in Melksham and Warminster are getting advice on what to eat to maximise their exercise programmes. Visitors to Melksham Blue Pool and Warminster Sports Centre can pick up a copy of a new fuelling fitness guide, which provides advice
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Gardens open
ELEVEN Melksham gardens will be open on Sunday July 21 between 2pm and 6pm in aid of the Children's Society. Tickets will be available from the Tourist Information Centre before the date and from Sainsbury's on the day at a price of £2.50 per adult, children
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Family distraught over pool tragedy
THE FAMILY of an African student found dead in a Melksham swimming pool cannot afford to fly over and see their relative's body. The father of 21-year-old Ugandan national Moses Ngero is said to be "extremely upset and distraught" over his son's tragic
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Website praise
Just wanted to let you know how appreciated your website is. I spent my childhood growing up in Chippenham and still class it as home. I moved to Australia 16 years ago and get onto the site to catch up with what's happening in Chippenham. It's great
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TMPS snaps up award for property software
SOFTWARE which enables speedy on-line property searches has earned Swindon-based TM Property Service a major industry award. The fast expanding company has won a Highly Commended E-Commerce Award for its TM National Land Information Service search product
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Staff to get safety tips
STAFF at Wiltshire County Council are to learn how to protect their own personal safety from Diana Lamplugh, whose daughter Suzy vanished without trace. Following the estate agent's disappearance Diana Lamplugh founded the Suzy Lamplugh Trust and now
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'Organised gangs' to blame for crime rise
CRIME in Wiltshire is on the rise as drug-related burglaries and robberies made their mark on the county's annual crime figures. Recorded crime in the county rose by six per cent from 36,555 to 38,889 offences from April 2001 to March 2002, according
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Councillors are set to take a hike
Five West Wiltshire District councillors will be donning their walking boots later this month to raise money for children's cancer charity, CLIC. Councillors Trevor Askew, Cliff Carter, Glyn Jackson, Chris Solman and Sally Tucker will be tackling the
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Parents' fear of drug unit closure
PARENTS in west Wiltshire have slammed government plans to downgrade cannabis saying it will encourage young people to take up the drug. Their fears come as Wiltshire policeplan to scrap its drugs squad despite promises to clamp-down on dealers targeting
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Diet tips for athletes
BUDDING athletes in Melksham and Warminster are getting advice on what to eat to maximise their exercise programmes. Visitors to Melksham Blue Pool and Warminster Sports Centre can pick up a copy of a new fuelling fitness guide, which provides advice
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Stars are nightmare creatures
CREATURES ranging from blood-suckers to flesh-eaters are the stars of a new interactive show at Longleat. The Ugh! Show is set in a fictional field laboratory in a rainforest, and gives the chance to get close to some of the planet's scariest critters
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Granny's hate for tragic Zoe's killer
THE grandmother of murdered schoolgirl Zoe Evans wants her evil killer to rot in jail. Describing the torment of losing the nine-year-old in such a brutal way, Ann Hamilton said she will never stop missing her little princess. Speaking at her home in
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Talent is there says new boss
TROWBRIDGE Town's new manager Neil Kirkpatrick plans to tap in to the rich pool of football talent in the town. Kirkpatrick believes there are enough good footballers in Trowbridge to form a decent Screwfix Direct League team and plans to prove it in
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Town boss bid to net new talent
TROWBRIDGE Town's new manager Neil Kirkpatrick plans to tap in to the rich pool of football talent in the town. Kirkpatrick believes there are enough good footballers in Trowbridge to form a decent Screwfix Direct League team and plans to prove it in
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Churchyard hit by sex and drugs gang
A CHURCHYARD plagued by a gang of teenagers has become a venue for drugs, drink and teenage sex. The Rev Paul Richardson of All Saints Church, Westbury says the gang's behaviour is sacrilege. Obscene grafitti is scrawled on gravestones, teenagers use
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Motoring is all about safe driving
THE high-powered antics of motoring pundits make it harder for road safety organisations to promote careful driving, says a top motoring group's boss. David Williams, chief executive of the Guild of Experien-ced Motorists, says: "Young drivers are watching
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Oh, what a mess!
WRECKING an Audi TT by using it to tow a boat and having a VW Golf infested with maggots after a fishing holiday are among the worst forms of car abuse uncovered by online car search service Fish4cars.co.uk. The shocking results of the poll of UK motor
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Music and sunshine draw festival crowds
MORE than 1,000 people flocked to the Woolley Festival in Bradford on Avon at the weekend to enjoy a showcase of musical talent. The fourth annual festival played host to bands such as The Bronz, Solar and So am I, as well as craft stalls, children's
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Ultimatum over historic Mill site
OWNERS of an historic building in Bradford on Avon have been dressed down over their failure to carry out urgent repairs to rotting walls and a leaking roof. Dry rot and crumbling tiles at Kingston House, part of the Kingston Mill site, are threatening
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Gap in logical thought?
I write re: the Hilperton Gap. You reported that people in favour of a road (with inevitable infrastructure even down to powerful lighting) do not like being unable to add their voices to those of the County Council (in favour), Persimmon Homes (in favour
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'Brutal' blow for trees
IT has been brought to my attention that Bradford on Avon Town Council has been accused of pollarding the trees in the town centre in a brutal manner. This was done by West Wiltshire District Council without the usual consultation with the town council
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More help needed
RESEARCHER looking into post-war residential care in England would like to hear from any former workers or residents of Besford Court Roman Catholic School near Pershore, Wiltshire, between 1945 and 1955. Please contact Thomas P Lavelle at the address
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New uniform . . . we just won't wear it!
YOUNGSTERS at Dorcan Technology College boycotted lessons and chanted in protest at plans to introduce a new school uniform. In an unprecedented scene, a mob of about 200 Year 10 students gathered on the front lawn of the 1,277-pupil college for 11-16
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Win or lose, all had a good time
Beaming with the thrill of physical exertion more than 400 pupils took part in the sports day. Regardless of results, it is a time to celebrate and socialise. Good sports Gemma Thorogood and her father Mervin are still smiling in spite of coming last.
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Front Garden planning application is lodged
THE first formal planning application to develop the Front Garden was lodged today by developer Bryant Homes. The outline application proposes up to 4,500 new homes, including 30 per cent affordable housing on site, a business park, a 1,000-space park
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'He seemed like a normal family man'
RAPIST GETS LIFE: THE neighbour whose call to the police helped to bring rapist Evans to justice is still horrified and disgusted that a man he knew should have had such a dreadful secret. James Coates, a 35-year-old member of the Royal Engineers, said
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Adver appeal is key to helping solve crime
RAPIST GETS LIFE: IT was last Christmas Eve when the Evening Advertiser broke the news of the sex attack in Euclid Street. Less than seven months later, after the newspaper followed up with an appeal to help police, Keith Evans was beginning a prison
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Double rapist locked up for life
A DOUBLE rapist who attacked his second victim almost seven years to the day after his first has been jailed for life. Keith Evans, 39, of Elborough Road in Moredon, struck in the early hours of last December 22. He raped the woman in an alleyway off
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118 new homes for old football ground
WORK could soon be starting on 118 new homes on the old Trowbridge Town football club ground in County Way, after years of delays. Site owners Swan Hill have sold it to another developer, Wilson Connolly, and work is due to start shortly. Chris Foulkes
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School club to expand
Staverton After School Club, which runs holiday care and fun sessions at Staverton School, near Trowbridge, is opening its services to children who do not attend the school. The club, which was was set up by Lottery funding nearly two years ago, is run
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Airsprung close plant
AIRSPRUNG has announced the closure of its Scottish plant with the loss of 103 jobs but bosses say the Trowbridge plant is not under threat. The closure of the plant in Glasgow may even bring more work to Trowbridge. Chief executive, Tony Lisanti, said
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Court battle boost
THE battle to keep the magistrates court in Trowbridge has received a boost. Westbury MP Andrew Murrison has received written parliamentary answers from magistrates' court minister, Yvette Cooper, that he says demonstrate the need to retain it. Dr Murrison
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Karaoke for charity cash
Staff at Leekes in Melksham have been among the fundraisers collecting cash for tragic cancer victim Charlotte Wakeham. Colleagues from the department store dressed up as their favourite stars including the Spice Girls, ABBA, Tina Turner and Westlife
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Worry over school plan
CAMPAIGNERS determined to get another secondary school for Trowbridge were due to hold a public meeting last night. Parents living on the east side of the town, where the Paxcroft Mead development has brought thousands more people into the town, are worried
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Noise row to escalate
THE noise row between the Wiltshire Rural Music School in Trowbridge and a tenant in the same building looks set to escalate. The school has applied for planning permission to convert the upper two floors of the building, where the tenant lives. The Gloucester
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Accident lands four in hospital
FOUR people have been treated in hospital after an accident near Trowbridge on Wednesday night. The accident happened near the accident blackspot on the Wingfield crossroads at 8pm. A grey Metro, driven by a young woman from Trowbridge, collided with
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Bluebirds make bow
Chippenham Town kick off their pre-season programme with a trip to old rivals Calne tomorrow. The teams will contest the Fred Rutty Memorial Trophy in honour of Calne's late former president. Chippenham won the inaugural memorial game on penalties last
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Highworth's tough opener
The Hellenic League have released August's fixtures and Swindon's Premier Division sides have been handed tough starts. Highworth face the unenviable task of visiting reigning champions North Leigh on the opening day (August 17), while Wootton Bassett
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Fight to keep unit
Drugs are the scourge of society. They always have been and they always will be. They corrupt children and ruin families across the county. So why are police in Wiltshire considering closing a drugs unit which was successful for capturing eight powerful
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Bullock nets top weight
FISH were hard to tempt in the Chippenham evening match fished on Monday 15th July on the Avon at Chippenham. Rob Bullock, of Chippenham, won with an all-roach catch weighing 4lb 12oz 8dm, taken on pole-fished casters on a 20 hook. Steve Palmer, of Chippenham
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Vauxhall delivers police models
VAUXHALL'S new Vectra is ready for police service with forces starting to take delivery of demonstrator models for a six-month evaluation period. The police-specification Vectra shares its interior, transmission and 147PS 2.2-litre engine with the SRi
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Cars need more looking after than a drop of oil
LOOKING after your car is more than a matter of avoiding collisions, checking tyre pressure and oil and having it serviced regularly. While most drivers stick to the speed limits, take extra care at junctions and use their rear-view mirror, not so many
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Swindon plant reaches a production milestone
HONDA has produced its half-millionth Civic at the Swindon car plant with a little help from Formula 1 drivers Olivier Panis and Jacques Villeneuve. The BAR Honda Grand Prix drivers took time off F1 duties to help build the milestone Civic, a mint-green
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F1 driver launches the latest Mgane
RENAULT F1 driver Jenson Button has unveiled the new Mgane II at the 2002 Goodwood Festival of Speed. Mr Button, from Frome, is a driver with the British Renault F1 team. He was joined at the Mgane's international debut by Renault UK managing director
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Space war pioneer is still on the attack
THERE could be a real battle between certain car makers over who really devised the multi-purpose vehicle. The French like to think they invent all the best ideas, and Renault's Espace has long been the obvious example, even before the term MPV came into
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Speed cameras - the Pros and Cons
SPEED cameras are a regular sight on British roads, and thousands more are planned. Precisely why, no one seems certain. Some argue that such a visible threat of a fine is bound to result in fewer cases of speeding and, as a result, fewer deaths and injuries
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Safety alert in LPG tests
OUT of 20 cars converted to LPG, 19 were found to be dangerous, in test results revealed this month. Now a campaign has begun for a licensing scheme to make sure garages carry out conversions correctly. The move comes as an increasing number of cars are
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Will you take the plunge for charity?
THRILL-seekers might like to consider throwing themselves off a building to raise money for the Royal National Institute for the Blind. The charity is organising a sponsored abseil from the Swindon WH Smith building, in Greenbridge, in October. The event
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Pub to sue Van Morrison after gig is axed
INTERNATIONAL rock star Van Morrison is being sued after pulling out of a sell-out concert due to take place in a pub garden. Around 1,500 fans paid £32.50 for tickets to the August 3 gig at The Crown Hotel at Everleigh. But the pub's owners, Gary Marlow
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Choir impresses judges at top Welsh festival
A SWINDON choir has beaten the Welsh at their own game coming second in a prestigious singing contest. Swindon Male Voice Choir travelled to the spiritual home of male-voice singing to take part in the annual Eisteddfod at Cardigan in West Wales. The
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Youngsters are aware of rich and poor
CHILDREN as young as nine are aware of the differences between rich and poor people, research funded by the Swindon-based Economic and Social Research Council has revealed. The ESRC, which is based at North Star and funds projects nationwide, enabled
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Teachers to be given laptops for class work
AROUND 230 teachers in Swindon are receiving new laptop computers to help them with their work. Under the Government's Laptops for Teachers scheme all schools in the borough are receiving an allocation seven for each secondary school and two for each
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Just one of the usual suspects
WHOEVER said crime doesn't pay had obviously never heard of identity parades. At a rate of £10 an hour for standing still, it has to be a way of earning pin money to rival bed testing, as long as you do not end up with a cell bed. "I've done this loads
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Eileen's last dish
DINNER lady Eileen Harris dished up her last lunch after working at Holy Rood Infants School for 18 years. The 60-year-old said an emotional goodbye to children and staff at a special assembly at the Groundwell Road school. She was presented with a crystal
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Poverty hits one in four youngsters
ABOUT a quarter of children aged under 16 in Swindon come from families reliant on means-tested benefit, research shows. The national board of the Health Development Agency met in Bristol to hear about child poverty in the South West. They heard that
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Feeling hot, hot, hot!
SWINDON'S top curry chef, Wahidur Rahman, was narrowly beaten to first place in the National Curry Chef of the Year South West regional final. Wahidur, from Curry Cottage in Rodbourne, holds the title of Swindon's Curry Chef of the Year. But yesterday
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Skateboarders roll on with park plan
TEENAGE skateboarders voiced their claim for a purpose-built park, at a meeting called by Crick-lade Town Council. More than 40 members of the public attended the open meeting to discuss plans to create an area where skateboarders can practice their skills
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Escaping from poverty
MANY letters from regular writers quote alleged official statistics which are self-evidently spurious. Although they pretend to result from painstaking research, I suspect that they are slavishly copied from dodgy publications. Chris Thackray tells us
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The time has come to act
THE amber light has turned to green ... to signal 'shoulders to the wheel' for one mighty push to receive Swindon's heritage and restore the Mechanics' Institite to its former glory. It is a historic monument that encompasses rich culture and salutes
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Corsham must travel
Corsham have been drawn away to Chipping Sodbury in the first round of the Powergen Intermediate Cup. Wootton Bassett are at home to Oxford Harlequins, Calne have home advantage in their game against Frome and Cooper-Avon Tyres are away to Midsomer Norton
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New players for new challenge
NEWLY-promoted Westbury Rugby Club are looking forward to their first season in the Southern Counties Division. To continue their success the club are looking to recruit new players, coaches, administrators and supporters. Training has started at Leighton
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Petition to stop rat-run
WORRIED residents want action to stop cars using a Chippenham road as a shortcut. Almost 500 people have signed a petition demanding something be done to reduce the amount of traffic using Audley Road. Residents say the road is now heavily used as a rat-run
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Flying spy for Bond
A SPY helicopter invented by a Corsham man has been drawing worldwide interest at an international air conference. Bob Channon's tiny remote-controlled surveillance helicopter has even caught the attention of James Bond film makers. The miniature aircraft
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Town boost for sports
MULTISPORT pitches and a revamped Neeld Hall are on their way to Chippenham. The schemes are just two of those planned by the town council this year. The projects are outlined in a glossy colour brochure just published by the council. The best value performance
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Gastard enjoys a good fete
HUNDREDS of people flocked to Gastard's annual village fete at the weekend. This year a record number of people joined in the festivities which helped raise money for the village hall. The traditional fete was opened by James Gray, MP for North Wiltshire
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Wiltshire League Fixtures
Division One: Swindon Nalgo v Potterne; Biddestone v Bath Civil Service; Westinghouse v Buscot Park; Calne v Beanacre; Box v Burbage & ER. Division Two: Minety v Lechlade; Bradford Town v Collingbourne; Great Bedwyn v Sutton Veny; Nationwide House
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Clock's Ticking
ANDY KING has set himself a seven-day target to finalise his ideal starting line-up for the big kick-off against Barnsley. Town's senior players head for the Isle of Wight tomorrow for their first taste of competitive action in almost three months with
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Anger costs man a £250 court fine
ANGRY clubber Steven Vincent had to be restrained by police using CS gas after he threatened bouncers and police outside a Chippenham nightclub. Magistrates heard that Vincent, 26, of Long Avenue, Corsham, was ejected from Bud's in Station Hill, Chippenham
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One bin limit for rubbish
PEOPLE used to putting out piles of rubbish for the bin men will have to cut the amount they throw away or find it still left on their doorstep. Every home in north Wiltshire is to be given a new bin in a bid to reduce the amount being thrown away each
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Trek for charity
AN adventurous horse rider from Westbury is setting off on a 17-mile charity trek next week. Angie Old will join more than 200 others who are taking part in the Strongid-P Ridgeway ride in aid of Spinal Research, which starts on Thursday. She said: "I'm
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Landlady takes a hard line
DRUNKEN troublemakers and drug dealers will have even fewer places to go now that The Red Lion in Melksham has joined Wiltshire's most successful Pubwatch group. Located in the town centre, The Red Lion has bolstered the Melksham Pubwatch campaign to
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Firm announces output growth
TROWBRIDGE firm, the Consortium, has announced a 10 per cent rise in output over recent months. The company employs 350 staff and supplies more than 7,000 product lines including pens and paper to 25,000 schools and businesses all over the country. Managing
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Plans for rail service
RAIL passengers and cyclists will soon be able to travel from Westbury to Weymouth on a new train. As part of a series of improvements planned for the Wessex rail line, the train will depart from Westbury at 9.30am every Saturday. The train is the first
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Scams will make your phone bill soar
WILTSHIRE police have warned residents and business people to beware of con merchants using premium-rate phone numbers to fleece them of hundreds of pounds. Various different scams have come to the notice of the Wiltshire fraud squad and Detective Inspector
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Firm announces output growth
TROWBRIDGE firm, the Consortium, has announced a 10 per cent rise in output over recent months. The company employs 350 staff and supplies more than 7,000 product lines including pens and paper to 25,000 schools and businesses all over the country. Managing
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Fete is a success
IT was one big song and dance last weekend as children, parents, grandparents and teachers mucked in at Westbury Junior School fete to raise money for a new playground. As part of Westbury School's effort to raise £6,000 to refurbish their playing area
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Solvents firm can re-open
A COMPANY in Westbury which closed in March after it was discovered to be releasing poisonous solvents into the atmosphere has been allowed to re-open. Solvent recovery firm, Absolute Solvents, was ordered to close the distribution and evaporation process
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Churchyard hit by sex and drugs gang
A CHURCHYARD plagued by a gang of teenagers has become a venue for drugs, drink and teenage sex. The Rev Paul Richardson of All Saints Church, Westbury says the gang's behaviour is sacrilege. Obscene grafitti is scrawled on gravestones, teenagers use
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Unlucky for all
JASON X (15, 91 mins) Starring Kane Hodder, Lexa Doig, Lisa Ryder, Chuck Campbell. In space, no one can hear you scream, but in the multiplexes they'll certainly hear you yawn with boredom at Jason X. The latest instalment of the popular Friday The 13th
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Corsham 2nds v Cheltenham 2nds
AN innings of 75 from captain Rob Shillaker proved in vain as Corsham 2nd were defeated by 11 runs at home to Cheltenham 2nd on Saturday 13th July. Cheltenham won the toss and elected to bat first on a flat Corsham track, only for Jamie Rowe to strike
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Landlady takes a hard line
DRUNKEN troublemakers and drug dealers will have even fewer places to go now that The Red Lion in Melksham has joined Wiltshire's most successful Pubwatch group. Located in the town centre, The Red Lion has bolstered the Melksham Pubwatch campaign to
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Author brings science to life in the classroom
ONE of Britain's best-selling science authors, Nick Arnold, visited youngsters at George Ward School, in Melksham, to reveal a gruesome side of science. Spreading the message that science is cool, the award-winning author of Ugly Bugs And Blood thrilled
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Row over drainage repairs
DELAYS in drainage repair work have caused a row in a Melksham street. Frustrated residents in St Michaels Road have suffered drainage and flooding problems for more than 30 years. West Wiltshire District Council ordered a professional investigation into
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Karaoke for charity cash
STAFF at Leekes in Melksham have been among the fundraisers collecting cash for tragic cancer victim Charlotte Wakeham. Colleagues from the department store dressed up as their favourite stars including the Spice Girls, ABBA, Tina Turner and Westlife
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Come on over
MY patience with the poor quality of service being provided by too many firms in this area connected with home maintenance, ended a long while ago. However, if it is true many of these have more work than they can cope with, surely it would make sense
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Cruel theft
WE have been told to make Trowbridge look nice with floral displays. I had three earthenware pots full of Busy Lizzies on my front doorstep and have been complimented on how nice they look. However, somebody was mean enough to steal one of them on Friday
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Replace a few road signs?
I WRITE regarding the £150,000 to redirect Bradford's traffic to new areas of the town, which seems excessive and pointless. The biggest problem is the two narrow parts of Market Street and the congestion here causing stationary traffic combined with
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Thoughts on issue of traffic congestion
MRS Epsley of Mason's Lane, Bradford on Avon, suggests a one-year trial of a one-way system in the town (Wiltshire Times, June 28). She should recall that such a trial took place for three months in 1999. The effect on this area of the town (Mount Pleasant
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More jobs may go at Motorola
STAFF at telecommunication giant Motorolas' two remaining sites in Swindon were called to meetings yesterday to be told consultation processes were being opened over possible further job losses. This followed the recent announcement that the company was
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Best villages rewarded
FRAMED certificates were presented to representatives from three of west Wiltshire's best-kept villages on Wednesday. Bratton, Sutton Veny and Chitterne were the overall winners in the national best-kept village competition, organised by the Council for
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County bypass schemes forge ahead
THREE bypass schemes in west Wiltshire are being pushed ahead. Wiltshire County Council wants to make progress on the proposed Westbury bypass, the Wylye Valley relief road, and the Codford to Heytesbury road. Ground investigation works are about to start
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Scams will make your phone bill soar
WILTSHIRE police have warned residents and business people to beware of con merchants using premium-rate phone numbers to fleece them of hundreds of pounds. Various different scams have come to the notice of the Wiltshire fraud squad and Detective Inspector
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Murrison joins science team
WEST Wiltshire MP Andrew Murrison has become a member of a parliamentary science team. The MP has just been appointed to the board of the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology, which is made up of several MPs and peers including fertility expert
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Council strike closes schools and libraries
STRIKE action across west and north Wiltshire closed schools and libraries and left rubbish bins uncollected. Unison members at Wiltshire County Council, West Wiltshire District Council and North Wiltshire District Council stayed away from their desks
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How to beat the tax
ROVER has just launched a new tax-beating turbo-charged Rover 75. It is designed to compete with the growing demand for compact-executive cars that combine tax-efficient CO2 ratings and the associated good fuel economy, with excellent performance and
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Is the space where you park yours?
CAR parking is the biggest cause of disputes between neighbours, with more multi-car families being one of the main reasons. Nearly one in four of the 1,000 households interviewed in a Norwich Union poll says car parking is a serious problem. You may
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Honda Jazz wins highest accolade
HONDA cars are hot in the awards sector this week. The little Jazz has just been voted Car of the Year by weekly motoring maga-zine, Auto Express. The car not only wins the supermini category against the cream of the crop of today's small hatchbacks in
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Volunteers' fight to save canal amenity
CANAL volunteers fighting to stay at Bradford on Avon wharf have sent off a 500-name petition to Transport Secretary Alistair Darling. Volunteers believe the fight to stay at their historic home is just beginning despite a proposal by owner British Waterways
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Pilot seriously injured as plane crash-lands
AN INVESTIGATION has been launched into a microlight crash near Bradford on Avon which left a pilot with serious leg injuries. Fire crews and paramedics were called out to a field near the B3109 at South Wraxall on Saturday when a Three Axis Thruster
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So why ruin open land?
MORE than 2,000 ratepayers and residents have previously signed petitions to the council objecting to a road in the Hilperton Gap area, and there are hundreds more signatures confirming that if any road is really necessary, the alternative route to the
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Thanks for...
ON behalf of the Trowbridge and District Christian Aid committee, may I thank all the people of Trowbridge and the surrounding villages for their extremely generous response to the recent house-to-house collection. The amount collected was £9,826.81 which
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Praise for a wacky day out
What a superb event was organised by the ladies of Bradford on Avon Netball Club to support Sport Relief last Sunday. The Wacky Races Sports Day was a marvellous afternoon's entertainment attended by families intent on having fun whilst raising money
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Church is located
THANK you for publishing Do you recognise this church? on the letters page in the Wiltshire Times last week. The phone continuously rang Friday, Saturday and Sunday with kind Times readers who took the trouble to inform me not only where Ford church was
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Fury about long-term care
If you fall ill with cancer you are quite properly looked after by the state. If however in your advancing years you are struck down with Alzheimers disease then you could find your savings being eaten away and you may even have to sell your home to pay
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Long raincoat not needed at shop
I WAS pleased to see the picture of businessman Daniel Moore in the Wiltshire Times (July 5). What a fuss about nothing, I had to ask directions, despite living in Trowbridge, so discreet it is. My excuse to visit was a forthcoming hen party, slightly
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Good Sports...
School sports days signal the end of the summer term and are a brilliant way to burn off pre-holiday energies. But they have also raised a serious debate should PE mean fun or competition? Staff at Drove Primary School believe they should be both. And
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Goodbye to my gentle giant
TODAY'S funeral of Mathew Hornsby, the man stabbed to death in Freshbrook in April, is something his pregnant fiance has both dreaded and looked forward to. For 17-year-old Shaley Winter it will mark the end of more than three months of agonising pain
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Police seek witnesses to rape of girl, 14
A MAN who raped a 14-year-old girl as she walked alone along a Swindon street is being hunted by detectives. The girl was walking along Cricklade Road before the late night attack. Swindon police spokeswoman Alvina Kumar said: "As she approached the junction
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Family carry on tradition
THE eighth generation of a west Wiltshire family has become a member of the Zion Baptist Church, Trowbridge after her father performed her full immersion baptism. It seems tradition cannot escape the Jones family, as surrounded by family and friends,
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Estate agents in the swim
KINGSTONS Estate Agents in Trowbridge has raised money for disabled house-buyer Jeanette Waghorne. Maurice Beale, Jemma Smith, Andy Langley and Matthew Withers collected £1,326 from a sponsored swim, after having been approached by Mr Damien Waghorne
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Thanks for the music
As organisers make the final preparations for this year's Trowbridge Village Pump Festival, TREVOR PORTER takes a look back to 1970, and how it all began. When a group of local folk followers decided to run a festival, little did they realise it would
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Former pupils plan reunion
FORMER pupils of a Trowbridge secondary school will be remembering their teenage years at a reunion party in September. Ex-pupils Dan Cossins, Tony Clements and Peter Twigg are calling for all students who left John of Gaunt Secondary School in 1991 to
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Jane's prize is blooming great
THE winner of the Wiltshire Times garden makeover competition has received £1,000 from Trowbridge Garden Centre and the chance to finally have her dream garden. Avid gardener Jane Saffin was amazed when she heard she had won and has already begun small
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Saying thanks to carers
A TROWBRIDGE woman has raised money for Dorothy House in gratitude for the outstanding kindness and care nurse specialists offer to her father. As a way of thanking the health professionals at Dorothy House, Sharon Sprong has collected £324 through a
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Project desperate for more support
A fundraising campaign is building up steam in a bid to get a nature centre near Trowbridge up and running next year. The Hope Nature Centre has been planned for Southwick country Park for two years, but first volunteers must raise £250,000 for the building
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Grenades found on building site
BOMB disposal experts were called in at Trowbridge on Tuesday after workmen found live Second World War ammunition on a building site. Bythesea Road was closed for five hours, causing traffic chaos in the town, following the discovery of anti-tank and
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Granny's hate for tragic Zoe's killer
THE grandmother of murdered schoolgirl Zoe Evans wants her evil killer to rot in jail. Describing the torment of losing the nine-year-old in such a brutal way, Ann Hamilton said she will never stop missing her little princess. Speaking at her home in
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Hughes' new boys to earn spurs at stadium christening
Cirencester Town officially christen their new stadium tomorrow and Premiership Tottenham are the high profile first guests. The £2 million Corinium Stadium has been two years in the offing, but now the wait is over and more than 1,000 fans are expected
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Unite against this zone of sin
Churchyards are intended to be a place of peace and harmony. They are where loved ones pay their respects to lost relatives and people gather to celebrate the union of one person with another after marriage services. But the All Saints churchyard in Westbury
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Big catches as weather gets better
THE total catch to date on the Bristol Water reservoirs has now passed the 30,000 mark, with another good week's sport on all waters. At Chew the settled conditions have seen much improved catches for boat anglers and still good fishing from the banks
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Honda joins the top players
HONDA has joined the big league, becoming the third most valuable car company in the world. The company's leap puts it 97th in the list of the world's most profitable companies. The only car makers ahead of Honda are Toyota (at 28) and Daimler Chrysler
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What can we do today mum?
THE first day of the summer holiday seems like a dream come true for children. Six long, blissful weeks of freedom stretch ahead into the sunny distance. No early mornings, no nagging teachers, no homework. The chance to catch Neigh-bours not once, but
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She came, she saw, she arranged the flowers
AN acclaimed florist who found fame at this year's Chelsea Flower Show has been sharing her secrets with her fans in Swindon. Claire Cowling, who was given the Best Florist award at the Chelsea Flower Show in May, held a workshop at Swindon College, and
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A close shave for charity
REGULARS at a Swindon pub will be putting down their pints and baring all tomorrow, in an effort to raise money for a local cause. Ten drinkers at the Pipers Arms in Old Town are undergoing a sponsored head shave and body wax, and hope to raise close
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£34,000 from the Race for Life
THE total raised by runners in this year's Swindon Race for Life for the charity Cancer Research UK has reached £34,188. Organisers are reminding women who took part in the event to collect their sponsor money. A contingent from Tesco in Octal Way raised
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Fighter plane mural brightens up the walls at sports club
ARTIST Mike York has turned his talents to brightening up the Supermarine Sports Club, with a mural of a World War II era Spitfire. The legendary fighter aircraft played a leading role in defeating the Luftwaffe during the Battle of Britain and was made
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Warning: Don't swim in the river
THE Environment Agency is warning parents and children of the dangers of swimming in rivers such as the Thames at Lechlade, near Swindon, this summer. As the weather warms up, rivers always prove a magnet to youngsters. On the Thames alone there is usually
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Man sold drugs to pay for food
A DRUG dealer who said he sold cannabis to buy food and pay his rent has escaped jail. Damien Courtley, 21, from County Road, Swindon, admitted possession of cannabis worth £300 with intent to supply. And he also pleaded guilty to possession of an offensive
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Air base is ready for the big take off
MORE than 150 aircraft have arrived at RAF Fairford ready for take off at this weekend's Air Tattoo. And their arrival has been witnessed by Forces Sweetheart Claire Sweeney. The star of Brookside, Celebrity Big Brother and the West End production of
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No connection between ring and son's death
THE mother of treasure hunter Peter Cawley, who died 12 days after unearthing a 300-year-old ring in Avebury, says his death was simply a tragic coincidence. Mr Cawley, 38, died after being found lying in a road near his home in Avebury Trusloe with severe
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'The public were right behind us'
STRIKING Swindon Council workers today paid tribute to the support received from members of the public during Wednesday's one-day stoppage. Thousands of workers downed tools in the biggest industrial strike the town has witnessed since the 1979 Winter
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Folk singing couple celebrate 50 happy years
SCEPTICS may say that romance is dead, but Ted and Ivy Poole are proof that it is alive and well in Swindon. The couple from Penhill are celebrating 50 years of married life today and they say they are as happy as the day they met. "I used to work with
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Make the distinction
I think when people refer to asylum seekers, they must make the distinction between those refugees who are fleeing after suffering genuine persecution and those who are economic migrants. The beating of young Somalian refugee Burhan Warsame was a disgusting
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Let's get some perspective
MR Selway asks in his letter (July 15), why do refugees not seek asylum in the first friendly country they arrive at. The answer is that they do this is precisely why the world's poorer countries bear responsibility for the largest number of refugees.
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Attitudes are sympathetic
FURTHER to recent correspondence about asylum seekers (EA July 5,9 and 15), many of your readers may be reassured to learn that the British public, while overestimating by over 10 times the number of the world's refugees and asylum seekers hosted by the
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Part of the community
WITH regards to BBC Wiltshire Sound's Peter Heaton-Jones' column in the Evening Advertiser on STFC and his condemnation of our beloved football club, may I ask him is he a Swindonian or does he actually like football? I bet the answers to both question
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A wonderful day
I AM writing to thank everyone who participated in the wonderful Wroughton Carnival. So much hard work must have gone into it. I have only lived in the village since 1996 but it has been a wonderful time. I am disabled so I am restricted most of the time
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The Bard at a gallop
JULY 22 - 27: HOLD onto your hats, the Reduced Shakespeare Company are on their way to Bath, ready to present all 37 of Shakespeare's plays in 97 minutes. London's longest-running comedy hit, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) appears
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Plan to demolish building
A BID to demolish most of one of Chippenham's oldest buildings is being fought. Fidutec Fiduciaire wants to knock down all but the original early 19th-century section of the Grade II listed building at 9 London Road. The firm says it would keep the protected
