Archive
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Have a high old time on the Gazette
NORTH WILTS FESTIVAL: Fun for all the family will be the order of the day at the Gazette and Herald stand during North Wiltshire Festival 2002. The Gazette has organised three busy days of entertainments for children and the chance of a welcome rest for
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Fun for all
NORTH WILTS FESTIVAL: THE biggest event in the district, is set to be the best yet with three days of non-stop free entertainment for all the family. Months of planning and preparation will culminate in the business, community and leisure festival that
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Ex-wife of murder victim tells of agony
THE ex-wife of murder victim Evan Jones has told of the trauma of his death and how it led to a drink driving conviction. Linda Jones, 45, of Manor Road, Chippenham, said her former husband had just got back in contact with her and their two children
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Festival gets ready to rock
MOTOWN legend Edwin Starr arrived in Chippenham this week to check out the preparations for the North Wiltshire Festival 2002. The singer is no stranger to Chippenham as a number of years ago he performed at Goldiggers nightclub. He said he is really
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Fun at the crease
Swindon Cricket Club, in conjunction with the Swindon District Assocation, are once again holding two cricket fun weeks in August. They are mainly aimed at eight to 12-year-olds, and as well as teaching and expanding upon the basic cricket skills they
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All the Wiltshire Cricket League fixtures
WILTSHIRE Cricket League fixtures for tomorrow: Division One: Swindon Nalgo v Calne; Bath Civil Service v Box; Buscot Park v Biddestone; Potterne v Beanacre; Burbage and ER v Westinghouse. Division two: Minety v Nationwide House; Collingbourne v Highworth
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Bassett seek to maintain their second spot
Bassett, back to winning ways following their three-wicket win over Malmesbury, consolidated their second place in Division One of the Glos/Wilts League. Tomorrow they travel to Bredon without captain Steve Twine, and with Sean Clark and Lee Stevens available
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Swindon Aim for a Double
SWINDON captain Will Nichols is looking to complete the double over Colwall in this Saturday's home fixture. The batting has a very settled look, and with Matt Baker coming into form really should be able to post a substantial total. The captain himself
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Order for abusive behaviour
SWINDON magistrates have issued their first Anti Social Behaviour Order against a 14-year-old Highworth boy. Christopher White, of Queens Avenue, has admitted he engaged in anti-social acts, which included causing a nuisance on school premises when he
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What's in store
NORTH WILTS FESTIVAL: Friday, July 26 9.30am: Olympiad Studio Hall, business welcome reception with guest speaker HSBC chief economist Mark Beresford Smith 11am: Monkton Park, official opening. Noon to 1pm: Olympiad Studio Hall, Business Link seminar
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Fun for all
NORTH WILTS FESTIVAL: THE biggest event in the district, is set to be the best yet with three days of non-stop free entertainment for all the family. Months of planning and preparation will culminate in the business, community and leisure festival that
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Dealers told 'steer clear of Wiltshire'
DRUG detection officers this week spoke openly about plans to refocus their department and create a new intelligence unit for the police division which covers north Wiltshire. Last week some officers expressed disquiet at plans to disband the existing
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Lorry driver dies in roadside crash
FATHER of two Nick Hall, who was settling into a new home in Marlborough with his wife Monica and sons Freddy, five, and George, three, died on Tuesday in a lorry crash in west Wiltshire. Mr Hall, 44, died instantly in the crash which occurred on the
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Corsham Town 0, Chippenham Town 1
A SECOND half Matt Rawlins penalty proved decisive as Chippenham Town maintained their winning start to the pre-season campaign before a bumper crowd of more than 400 at The Southbank on the night of Tuesday 23 July. Bluebirds boss Tommy Saunders fielded
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Bluebirds ready to move on
CHIPPENHAM Town chairman Malcolm Lyus believes a new stadium on the outskirts of town represents his best chance of achieving Nationwide Conference football within the next five years. Lyus and the executive committee will do everything they can to keep
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Anger as CCTV scheme rejected
TRADERS have reacted angrily to the news this week that Devizes will not be getting a CCTV scheme. A petition has already been signed by more than 140 shop owners protesting at the decision. The Kennet Community Safety Partnership decided not to go ahead
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Blaze breaks out in grinding mill
TEN employees were evacuated when a blaze broke out at a Westbury grinding mill. Fire broke out in a hopper and grain grinder at Faccenda on the West Wiltshire Trading Estate, at 10.30am Tuesday, July 23. Fire crews were alerted when employees noticed
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Man swerved into lorry
ARMY sergeant Geoffrey Towler was killed when he came off his bike in a high-speed head-on collision with a lorry on the A350 between Westbury and Yarnbrook. At an inquest in Chippenham on Wednesday, July 24, the court heard how Sgt Towler, 32, of the
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Town stunned by councillor's death
THE people of Westbury have been shocked by the death of town and district councillor John Annetts. Cllr Annetts, who had been a tireless campaigner in the town for more than 16 years, died in the early hours of Wednesday morning, July 24, of a suspected
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Persistent offender in drunken outburst
PERSISTENT offender Darren Cunningham was caught by police drunk, swearing and throwing litter around in The Cloister Gardens, in Malmesbury, on Sunday. Cunningham, 26, of Athelstan Road, Malmesbury, pleaded guilty to being drunk and disorderly when he
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Morale to blame for nurse crisis, says GP
MALMESBURY GP Dr John Pettit has blamed low morale among nurses at the town's hospital for the staff crisis that has forced a reduction in opening hours at the minor injuries unit. Starting on Friday, July 26, the unit will be open from 9am to 5pm. It
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TV vet set for role as groom
MALMESBURY vet Mike Sandiford, who features in the hit BBC television programme Vets In Practice, is marrying fiance Fran Pinero-Paz at the town's Old Bell Hotel next Friday. Mr Sandiford met Miss Pinero-Paz, who has a three-year-old daughter Hannah,
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Brislington v Westbury
WESTBURY travelled to Brislington in a vital game they had to win in order for them to climb away from the relegation places. Westbury made four changes from the team that defeated Frome at home last week. Adam Pothecary, Peter Gizzie, Garrick Hopkins
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Purton v Marlborough
PURTON finally recorded their first league game of the season on Saturday 20 July with an emphatic 87-run success over Wiltshire rivals Marlborough. Purton elected to bat first and were soon in trouble when Sheppard was bowled by Australian Matt Kimble
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Preparing for musical
DRESS rehearsals for one of the biggest shows in Melksham this year will begin on Monday, July 29. More than 50 young people between eight and 18 will take part in a triple performance of the all-American favourite Annie next month. Ex-George Ward School
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Canoe club wins grant
A lottery grant of £5,000 has enabled Wiltshire to set up its own canoe club, based at Melksham Adventure Centre. The grant has enabled the Wiltshire (Youth) Canoe Club to buy 10 complete sets of canoe equipment and start giving lessons to young people
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Horse box theft
MELKSHAM: Police are appealing for help in catching a thief who stole a horsebox from Broughton Gifford between July 16 and 17. Police arrested and released a suspect on bail but are appealing for anyone who saw a suspicious vehicle in The Common between
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The plaice to be
A fish and chip shop in Melksham has launched a caf service. Tricia's Plaice, in Church Street, unveiled its £20,000 refurbishment by inviting customers to its sit-down facility. The caf style section will be open six days a week. Owner Tricia Herbert
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Accused enters no pleas
A MELKSHAM father accused of attempting to rape a 21-year-old girl in the town will appear before a crown court judge next week. Martin Palmer, 28, of Foresters Park Road, Melksham, is accused of attempting to rape the young victim and stealing her handbag
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New hopes on £500k centre
RESIDENTS on the Forest estate, Melksham are a step closer to getting their £500,000 multi-purpose community centre. People living close to the proposed site in fields off Awdry Avenue have been fighting for years to turn the community centre project
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Fears over perverts using park's toilets
NOTORIOUS toilets in Melksham town park could be made safer with the introduction of a child-only facility to deter perverts. Town councillors want to make the area around Bath Road car-park safer for children as some believe it has become a haunt for
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Store aids sufferers
TESCO in Trowbridge is holding a raffle next week in aid of Cystic Fibrosis. Prizes include £260 worth of Tesco shopping vouchers, a DVD and surround sound system, a balloon ride and one year's free subscription to the Wiltshire Times. Cystic Fibrosis
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The plaice to be
A fish and chip shop in Melksham has launched a caf service. Tricia's Plaice, in Church Street, unveiled its £20,000 refurbishment by inviting customers to its sit-down facility. The caf style section will be open six days a week. Owner Tricia Herbert
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Mum admits drink-driving
A SINGLE mother who drove 50 yards down a road after an argument with her boyfriend appeared at North West Wiltshire Magistrates Court last Thursday, July18, after failing a breath test. Judith Scanlan, 42, of High Street, Stourton, Warminster, was stopped
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Virgin on the extravaganza
Virgin Mobile said thanks to its hard working employees on Sunday, July 21, hosting an elaborate party in the grounds of Longleat House, near Warminster. The party, called The Sky's The Limit, lived up to its name, as the company played host to nearly
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Our fight against the evil trade goes on
BY CHIEF CONSTABLE ELIZABETH NEVILLE: THE publicity in the Gazette last week about the proposed closure of the drugs unit in Melksham will have made many people, especially parents, very concerned, if there were any truth that Wiltshire Police was about
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Couple's joy at new home
Two Warminster pensioners who were facing homelessness have been offered a new house thanks to the Wiltshire Times. John Jones, 72, and his 80-year old aunt, Rose Scott, had been told that they would have to leave their home in Imber Road, Warminster,
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I love my Sonata...even if it is the poor man's Merc
BILL Calthrop talks to Chris Bishop, managing director of Old Town management consultants QHS Services, about his 1996 Hyundai Sonata CDi How long have you owned it? Since December 1999. Why did you choose it? It's the secong Hyundai I've had, the first
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Home away from home
WHEN is a mobile home not mobile? The answer, of course, is when it's a static caravan of the sort most of us have spent a childhood holiday in. True, they can be transported from site to site by low loader, but if you want a real mobile home for your
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Golden celebration
BRADFORD-ON-AVON couple Jan and Thelma Oleszynski celebrate 50 years of marriage on Friday, July 26. They plan to spend the weekend being pampered by family, culminating in a barbecue with relatives on Sunday evening. Mr Oleszynski, 77, was born of Polish
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Man dedicated to raising funds for Dorothy House
IN gratitude for the loving care Dorothy House offered his wife, Brian Raines has dedicated the past few months to raising money for the hospice. Diane Raines was referred to Dorothy House in June 2001 after a recurrence of her breast cancer. Like so
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Town will be a 'soft touch' for criminals
SECURITY camera campaigner Marian Hannaford says Marlborough will become an increasingly soft touch for criminals now that there is little prospect of CCTV ever being installed in the town. The Kennet Community Safety Partnership, chaired by the head
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Let nature find solution to pigeon crisis
I HAVE been reading about the problem with pigeons in the centre of Trowbridge. I work for HJ Knee Ltd in Fore Street. We have always had a problem with the pigeons nesting on our roofs and in the compost store room. What do we do to keep the number of
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Reserve threat
West Wilts is fortunate to have two Local Urban Nature Reserves, one in Warminster and one in Melksham. There is currently a proposal to cut a new route for the proposed Wilts and Berks Canal through Conigre Mead Nature Reserve in Melksham. This will
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More concern over a burning issue
I have read with interest the various letters concerning the possibility of air pollution from the chimney at the cement works at Westbury. We live in Keevil and, when the wind is in the right direction, we have smelt burning rubber when sitting in our
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This town will suffer
THANKS to County Councillor Tony Moore it has been made public that West Wiltshire District Council is likely to refuse the development of the Ushers' site in Trowbridge by retail developer Foinavon. This means once again Trowbridge will suffer. National
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Let churchyard teens speak out
THIS hoo-ha in Westbury churchyard begs us to ask if society gets the youngsters it deserves. Adult standards leave much to be desired: we accept blatant sex on stage and screen; we litter our streets; integrity in public and private life is dodgy, whilst
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MP is optimistic for the future of RAF Lyneham
NORTH Wiltshire MP James Gray believes the newly published Strategic Defence Review strengthens the argument for saving RAF Lyneham. The Government document released last week emphasises the need for troops to be able to move quickly from one hot spot
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Around the houses... again!
Old plans for new housing in and around Swindon look set to be dusted off thanks to the latest Government planning guidance for the town. Swindon is still attracting thousands of new workers from throughout the world and they must all live somewhere.
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Good news for students
STUDENTS from the Clarendon School in Trowbridge have won an award for a project based on the Wiltshire Times. Year nine pupils beat off competition from 15 other groups and won the annual Business Partnership Award for their project, which studies local
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Boy's brush with success
SCHOOLBOY James Tyrrell has come second in a national competition for primary school pupils. The ten year old painted a picture of himself as an artist as part of the Amazing Me competition, sponsored by Skips crisps. Children were asked to imagine themselves
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Obscene films charge denied
A FORMER video shop owner denied eight charges of possessing obscene films featuring graphic animal pornography at a court hearing last Thursday, July 18. Robert Levy, 54, went before a judge at Swindon Crown Court charged with possessing the videos and
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School's in for summer
TALENTED schoolchildren from years 6 and 7 have the opportunity to join a summer school this August. The school will take gifted and talented students from west Wiltshire primary schools and Clarendon and John of Gaunt schools. Spokesperson, Mariella
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Store aids sufferers
TESCO in Trowbridge is holding a raffle next week in aid of Cystic Fibrosis. Prizes include £260 worth of Tesco shopping vouchers, a DVD and surround sound system, a balloon ride and one year's free subscription to the Wiltshire Times. Cystic Fibrosis
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School's trip of a lifetime
STUDENTS from the John of Gaunt School in Trowbridge set off for an African experience of a lifetime on Friday. The group of 14 pupils, aged between 16 and 18, are taking part in a project organised by World Challenge Expeditions and will be travelling
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Schoolkids rev up for motocross challenge
TROWBRIDGE schoolchildren will be racing against each other at Farleigh Hungerford in a couple of weeks in the Moredon Motocross Club event. Grove School pupils Scott Clifford, Jamie Dell and Joe Rowe will be racing with the cadets and juniors at the
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Double celebration
It was two for the price of one at St John's Church, Trowbridge, on Saturday, July 20, as Katrina Dennison and James Regan got married and immediately afterwards had their baby christened. Eleven-month-old baby Marshall, attended his mum as a pageboy,
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Man's eyebrow is bitten off in brawl
DETECTIVES are hunting a sadistic attacker who they believe bit off and swallowed a man's eyebrow in a sickening street brawl. CCTV footage shows in detail how the monster clamped his teeth onto his victim's left eyebrow and savagely ripped it off. The
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Punk-metal band wins county clash
TROWBRIDGE-BASED band Sub:luminal beat heavy competition to win Wiltshire's Battle Of The Bands competition last Thursday night, July18. Six bands competed at The Furnace in Swindon. Trowbridge alternative rockers Equilibrium, Latitude Blue and Origin
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Residents' fight for safer village
A SAFETY group in Wingfield has succeeded in its campaign for more footpaths in the village. Wiltshire County Council has granted the villagers a footpath between Chapel Lane and Church Lane, which they say will be in place by the end of the year. Wingfield
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Police baffled by sex attack case
HOUSE-TO-HOUSE inquiries aimed at trapping two thugs who sexually abused and urinated on a 32-year-old man with learning difficulties in Trowbridge have failed to turn up any new leads. Detectives leading the investigation are baffled at the lack of evidence
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Ciren try to break duck
Cirencester Town round off a week of high-profile fixtures when Conference club Barnet visit the Corinium Stadium tomorrow. Tottenham and Manchester United have sent their youth teams to the new ground in the last seven days. But Barnet are set to bring
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Murphy's Hunt
Swindon Supermarine's search for a new centre half is set to continue after manager John Murphy failed to land two of his prime targets. Cinderford defenders Lyndon Tompkins and Clayton Hook have turned down the chance of a move to Hunts Copse, with Tompkins
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TV tipster on starting line
CHANNEL 4 racing guru John McCririck will be among celebrities attending the first open day at the West's only racehorse rehabilitation centre run by the charity Greatwood on September 1. Greatwood moved its centre from Devon to Rainscombe Hill Farm,
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Ten pups take a bow
AIREDALE terrier Georgie Girl has surprised owners Rowena and Jon Tyacke and their 12-year-old son Oliver by producing ten healthy puppies. And they are probably the only puppies who star on their own website www.airedalepuppies.co.uk. It was set up by
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Family man is victim of fate
TRAGEDY struck again on Wiltshire's roads on Tuesday, July 23, when father of two Nick Hall was crushed to death when a 17-tonne truck ploughed into the back of his lorry. It is believed Mr Hall, a white line installer for Ringway Parkman, had stopped
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No carping, Withey is the clear winner
THE two-leg Airsprung event fished at Blue Circle Lakes produced some good catches. Phil Eggleton, of Bradford, won the first leg with a mixed catch of carp and chub weighing 19lb 5oz, taken on both pole and waggler fished sweetcorn and pellets on a 14
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All Pinins come with free insurance
FOUR-wheel drive Mitsubishi models are available from £12,995 throughout July, August and September. The three and five-door Pinin Attivo 1.8 MPI models come with alloy wheels, front fog lights, spare wheel cover, a chrome exhaust finisher and a CD tuner
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An answer to those holiday trips
WITH the advent of the holiday season, VW is promoting its Sharan as a practical solution to journeys with buckets, spades and screaming kids. Its seven seats, two integrated child seats, air conditioning, heat-insulated, tinted glass and numerous storage
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Dualfuel choice widens
CUSTOMER choice at Vauxhall has widened with the manufacturer adding a 1.8, 16V engine to run alongside its two 1.6-litre-engined Astras in the dualfuel range. The introduction of the new model coincides with news that Birmingham trading standards officers
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Pursuing class can cost dear
CLASS-conscious car styling can lead to weaker used values when it makes a car hard to identify, warns CAP Black Book, the trade-confidential benchmark guide to used car values. Writing in the latest edition, senior editor Tony Styles says the trend among
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Simple measures can help reduce holiday fuel costs
FAMILIES who take to the road on days out during the holidays can save enough money through simple fuel-saving driving techniques to round off the summer with a free trip to the cinema or for a lunch out, according to the AA. On the motorway alone, as
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End of world is not nigh
AN astronomer funded by a Swindon-based research body has reassured people that the giant asteroid heading towards earth is unlikely to mean the end of the world in 2019. However, he cannot entirely rule out that Asteroid 2002 NT7 will miss the earth
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Rover's engine is a tax-beater
ROVER has launched a tax-beating turbo-charged Rover 75 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 driveability. A new design
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From tai chi to curtains
WOULD-be bar stewards, cabinet makers and Chinese philosophers could soon be among adult learners thronging Swindon College. The college has just released its latest Adult Learners' Directory, and says its course list is the biggest and best ever. More
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Price-busting cars from Europe on the increase
RECORD numbers of cut-price new cars are being imported from Europe by British dealers and internet retailers in order to meet the growing demand of buyers wanting 'cheaper cars today, not tomorrow', according to an investigation by independent monitor
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Male drivers distracted by the fairer sex
MEN really are a danger on the road, but it's women who are the cause, according to new research from Lloyds TSB Insurance. The results reveal that half the male population admit to being distracted by attractive passers-by when driving. The survey shows
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Looks are not always everything
LOOKS don't matter to those motorists who seek only out-and-out versatility from their vehicles. Seats and space are all that count, hence the success of the striking Fiat Multipla. Practicality does bring plaudits, and Fiat's innovative Multipla six-seater
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Birthday nearly ends with jail term
A HONDA worker has narrowly avoided a jail term after smashing a beer glass into another man's face in a nightclub. Carl Tronier, a team leader at the Swindon factory, was instead ordered to undertake 240 hours of community service. He was also ordered
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One obstacle too many for disabled
DISABLED facilities at the Royal International Air Tattoo have been dismissed as wholly inadequate. Visitors say getting to the show at RAF Fairford across pot-holed fields presented an impossible obstacle course for many. And once inside, they claim,
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20 skeletons near abbey
A TOTAL of 20 skeletons have now been found on the old cinema site close to Malmesbury's historic abbey. Three skeletons and the skull of a fourth were discovered by workmen employed by Chase Homes. The developer is building homes and on the site, which
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Not a suitable use for church
I OBJECT most strongly to the idea of the use of the former Railway Museum for illegal immigrants. I thought the contents of Bath Road Museum were to be transferred to the Faringdon Road building, but it seems Swindon councillors want it to become another
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Don't block up all our views
I listened with great interest to the condemnation of the encroachment on villages by Swindon's ever-expanding boundaries. How many Swindonians recall Rodbourne and Haydon Wick being small hamlets, or Stratton just as a village? But people have to live
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One rule for the rich, and another for us
IN our society today we are seeing greed and selfishness the like of which has never been seen before. The most recent example is that of the PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor taking an award of £130,000 per annum giving him a final salary in excess of
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Issue worth a protest
JUST a thought. Those youngsters at Dorcan Technology College who boycotted lessons and chanted in protest at plans to introduce a new school uniform could perhaps protest as a mob, or even individually, at the replica football strips sold by football
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No reason for litter
IT was no secret that, because of last week's strike, there would be no refuse collection on that Wednesday. It was also made perfectly clear that households so affected would not have a collection until this week. The only reason that refuse was lying
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Why were bin bags left out?
WHILE I understand that having bags of rubbish piled up in the street for a week is both aggravating and annoying, I find myself confused that the residents of Union Street chose to leave them there in the first place. Even if some people didn't know
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Programme sales will boost appeal
NORTH WILTS FESTIVAL: VISITORS to the North Wiltshire Festival will help boost the Gazette's appeal to buy a new ambulance for Wiltshire St John Ambulance. A donation of 25p from the sale of every £1 programme from the event will go to our appeal to raise
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Fun events to fill holidays
YOUNGSTERS will have the chance to learn about animal care from the experts as part of a series of events at Chippenham library during the summer holidays. RSPCA officers will be at the library on Monday, July 29, to give children aged from four to seven
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Tough task at Thame
WILTSHIRE take on Oxfordshire at Thame in their next three-day Minor Counties Championship match starting on Sunday. Oxfordshire have made a particularly impressive start to the championship season, winning all three of their matches and lie in second
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Glos swoop for Rhodes
Gloucestershire have signed South African star Jonty Rhodes as one of their two overseas players for next season. The 32-year-old from Natal, who is rated one of the world's best fielders, has agreed a one-year deal with Gloucestershire with an option
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How many more will follow him?
SO it's farewell then Paul Doherty, Swindon Council chief executive. It grieves us to say it, but you simply had to go. As the authority's most senior officer, Mr Doherty was one of those who bears ultimate responsibility for the disgraceful state of
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Gang War
ALAN REEVES is saddened by the 'war' that has ripped apart Wimbledon Football Club. The once famous Crazy Gang is nothing but a distant memory with conflict not camaraderie now the order of the day. Dons' chairman Charles Koppel is determined to relocate
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Pool could close as vandals strike again
HIGHWORTH'S open air swimming pool could be forced to close after a third vandalism attack in just six weeks. The pool was closed after teen-agers covered the sides in broken glass. The pool, at Highworth Recreation Centre, is run by a charitable trust
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Programme sales will boost appeal
NORTH WILTS FESTIVAL: VISITORS to the North Wiltshire Festival will help boost the Gazette's appeal to buy a new ambulance for Wiltshire St John Ambulance. A donation of 25p from the sale of every £1 programme from the event will go to our appeal to raise
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Have a high old time on the Gazette
NORTH WILTS FESTIVAL: Fun for all the family will be the order of the day at the Gazette and Herald stand during North Wiltshire Festival 2002. The Gazette has organised three busy days of entertainments for children and the chance of a welcome rest for
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Festival gets ready to rock
NORTH WILTS FESTIVAL: MOTOWN legend Edwin Starr arrived in Chippenham this week to check out the preparations for the North Wiltshire Festival 2002. The singer is no stranger to Chippenham as a number of years ago he performed at Goldiggers nightclub.
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Man seeks revenge on paedophile allegation
A PEWSEY man who was questioned by police in relation to a paedophile inquiry was arrested after he attempted to confront the people he believed had contacted the police. Kennet magistrates were told on Monday that Ian Mowbray-Smith, 51, of Nether Leaze
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Dyson job losses hit expansion
BUSINESS owner Sally Marks has withdrawn plans to expand her caf in Malmesbury because of Dyson's decision to move vacuum cleaner manufacturing from the town to Malaysia. Miss Marks runs the Summer Caf in the High Street. Earlier this year she submitted
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Churchyard raided as police hunt gang
AN ANGRY community is uniting against a gang of teenagers who have turned a quiet town churchyard into a den of drugs and underage sex romps. Mayor of Westbury, Bill Braid, and town clerk, Les Fry, visited All Saints Church on Monday, July 22, to help
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CRUSHED TO DEATH
A FATHER-OF-TWO was crushed to death when a 17 tonne distribution truck ploughed into the back of his lorry. Accident investigators believe 44-year-old driver Nick Hall, an employee for Ringway Parkman, was stood in a lay-by between the cab and trailer
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Winsley v Hampset
WINSLEY managed their first double of the season, with both first and second teams winning. The first team won the toss and elected to bat at Hampset and were soon in trouble, losing both openers early. However, sensible early batting from More started
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Arson attempt
MELKSHAM: Young arsonists tried to burn down a wooden fence on Tuesday, July 23. A group of children were spotted in Meadow Road lighting matches and trying to set alight wooden panels, between 7pm and 7.45pm. Scorch marks were left on the fence with
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'Save our tree' plea
NATURE-LOVERS in Melksham worried about the future of a fifty-year-old tree have demanded a protection order be slapped on it to save it from the chop. The tree, in Market Place, overlooking the bus stop, has been a recognised feature in Melksham since
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Paul fights off the competition
A BLACK belt in karate requires strength, poise and mental toughness, earned through dedication and commitment. But Paul Wiltshire aims to use his experience in the ancient fighting art to make his mark on Melksham Town Council. Victory in Thursday's
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New boss for law firm
Wiltshire law firm Goughs has appointed a practice manager. Iwan Thomas, 45, left his job with a patents firm in Essex to take up the newly created position with Goughs. Originally from Cardiff, Welsh speaking Mr Thomas gained an MBA at Warwick Business
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Shops prepare to stop thieves
SHOPKEEPERS in Trowbridge are bracing themselves for a rise in the number of attempted thefts when schools break up for the summer holidays. Workers in town centre shops spoke of a massive problem with shoplifting but said security measures were in place
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Shares surge ahead
THE London market broke its losing streak to close sharply higher after investors took their lead from a better performance on Wall Street. By the close of trading the FTSE 100 Index was up 188.8 points at 3965.9, reversing yesterday's slide and beginning
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Solicitors secure record damages for clients
RECORD damages recovered on behalf of clients over the past 12 months are being celebrated by South of England solicitors Thring Townsend. In excess of £10 million was won for people who suffered a variety of personal injuries. The cases involved included
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800 jobs go as bakery closes
INDUSTRIAL caterers with units servicing some of Swindon's largest companies are among those affected by the sudden closure of Mountstevens. When the Bristol-based bakers' staff arrived for work yesterday they were told that the company had ceased trading
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Leisure discount for cardholders
Proof of age cardholders from Validate UK will now be eligible for discount at leisure centres across west Wiltshire. DC Leisure have launched a series of discounts at swimming pools and leisure centres across the county. Cardholders will get 10 per cent
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MP plea over Imber
COUNTY: West Wiltshire MP Andrew Murrison has written to defence minister Dr Lewis Moonie to ask when he intends to visit the deserted village of Imber. He has urged Dr Moonie to do everything he can to promote access to St Giles Church and the nearby
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Work on canal may be killing off ducks
Flood defence work on the Kennet and Avon Canal has led to the deaths of several ducklings and cygnets, according to a local resident. Pensioner, Lorna Hillier, of Seend Cleeve, has seen the bedraggled bodies of young ducks and swans as she walked along
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Bakery chain axe shocks south west
Staff at Mountstevens bakeries across west Wiltshire were left reeling at the news on Wednesday, July 24, that their workplace was to close with immediate effect. The Bristol-based bakery chain, which has outlets in Trowbridge, Melksham, Chippenham, Corsham
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Watch out for aliens
ALIENS will be invading Wiltshire's libraries this summer. Youngsters at Trowbridge library will take part in alien role-playing and craft activities based on the popular children's picture book Here Come the Aliens by Colin McNaughton. The activity is
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Awards for best villages
WEST Wiltshire villages have been celebrating success in the county's best kept village competition with a second, third and fourth place. Chitterne was the highest ranked west Wiltshire village taking second place in the small village category of the
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Three times the fun for triplets' parents
WOOTTON Bassett couple Alison and Neil Twine and their five-year-old son Jack are coping admirably with three new additions to the family after the birth of triplets Lauren Mae, George Andrew and Harry Neil on June 25. The babies, now at home in Clarendon
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Toilets vandalised
WARMINSTER: Vandals went on a damage spree in cemetery toilets. Sinks and urinals were smashed in the toilet blocks at Pine Lawn Cemetery on Tuesday, July 23.
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Woman admits driving charges
A WARMINSTER woman appeared at North West Wiltshire Magistrates Court on Thursday, July 25, accused of twice refusing to give a breath test. Tina Slade, of Westleigh, was also accused of driving other than in accordance with a licence and driving while
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Sculptor gets them talking
LONGLEAT has appointed a new sculptor in residence to unveil it's latest exhibition in the grounds of the house. Stone sculptor, Nicolas Moreton, exhibits eight larger than life stone carvings, including a seven foot tall naked man and a baby in a mothers
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Anthrax letter sent to mother
A POISON PEN letter containing an anthrax warning was sent to a pregnant woman in Warminster sparking a major security alert. The young mother, who has not been identified by police, was taken with her 18-month-old child to the Royal United Hospital in
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Man fatally injured after fall
FORMER Warminster traffic warden Cyril Van De Merwe died after falling at his home in Dorothy Walk, an inquest heard. Mr Van De Merwe, 61, suffered fatal head injuries when he fell down stairs in February. His wife, Lindsey Van De Merwe, described him
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Pups breathe new life into wolf pack
Keepers at Longleat Safari Park, near Warminster are celebrating the birth of six wolf pups all thanks to a tape. The wolf pack at Longleat had dwindled over recent years and keepers had become so worried that they resorted to playing tapes of wild Canadian
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Good sports given £500 cash reward
FERNDALE: Ferndale Rodbourne have scooped the Skurrays Wiltshire League's DC Mills Sportsmanship Trophy, plus a cash boost of £500. League general secretary Pete Ackrill said: "The club are worthy winners of the award. "The club has teams of all ages
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CRUSHED TO DEATH
A FATHER-OF-TWO was crushed to death when a 17 tonne distribution truck ploughed into the back of his lorry. Accident investigators believe 44-year-old driver Nick Hall, an employee for Ringway Parkman, was stood in a lay-by between the cab and trailer
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Crushed to death
A FATHER-OF-TWO was crushed to death when a 17 tonne distribution truck ploughed into the back of his lorry. Accident investigators believe 44-year-old driver Nick Hall, an employee for Ringway Parkman, was stood in a lay-by between the cab and trailer
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As a learner driver, are you aware of this?
THOUSANDS of learner drivers are putting their chances of passing the driving test at risk because they are not aware of imminent changes to the requirements, according to shock survey results compiled by driver training experts BSM. More than 600 learner
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The perfect vehicle for a booze cruise
WITH my son's wedding in the offing and in anticipation of vast quantities of wine and food being consumed, it seemed an opportune time for a quick trip via the Channel Tunnel to Europe for some goodies at reasonable prices a good 50 per cent less in
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Driving in summer can be hazardous
WHEN you set off on your summer car journey, are you seeing clearly through a sparkling windscreen or is your vision obscured by fly stains, dust and the general murk of an un-washed screen? According to RAC Auto Windscreens, at least half of us risk
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Civic is30
THERE have been seven generations of Civic, the latest spearheaded by the Swindon-built award winning Civic Type-R. Coincidentally, the model also notches up its two millionth sale in Europe. One quarter of those have been built at the Honda's European
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Appeal to help trace pet parrot
Bradford on AVON: An African Grey parrot escaped from a home on the Downs View estate, Bradford on Avon, just after 7pm on Sunday. The parrot, which belongs to Jo Webb, has a grey body with a red tail. He whistles and talks and is unlikely to have left
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Sorrow over loss of baker's shop
SINCE we moved to Westbury nearly 20 years ago one of the best things we discovered here was the delicious bread from Raines baker shop so much better than the flaccid, tasteless stuff sold as bread in most supermarkets. Children brought up on this will
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Successful French day was not a royal snub
ON behalf of Corsham Twinning Association I would like to reply to the article headed Fury at Queen Snub as French Day celebrated which was printed in the July 12 edition of the Chippenham News. French Market Day is an annual event, organised by Corsham
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Do residents face another loss?
A recent newspaper report states that Trowbridge Town Council has discussed plans for a replacement Civic Hall in the town. This goes on to say that an architect will be asked to draw up proposals. Does this mean the council has already opened negotiations
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Are you a branch of tree?
I am tracing my family tree and I have traced my great grandfather, Charles Alcock, back to the 1891 census where he and my great grandmother Alice Hall lived at 28/29 Church Street, Warminster, which was a grammar school. I was wondering whether your
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Depot to give passengers better service
The first phase of a multi-million pound development to house and maintain First Great Western's £80m fleet of new trains has been revealed. The facility at First Great Western's High Speed Train Depot in West London, built in conjunction with Railtrack
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MMR vaccine popular with Swindon folk
MORE Swindon parents are choosing the controversial measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine than in most other parts of the country. According to newly-published Department of Health figures, 95.4 per cent of all children in the town reaching the age
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Koi! Who stole my carp?
THIEVES stole more than £1,000 worth of prize fish from a back garden pond. Janet Duffy, 46, who lives alone in Cranmore Avenue, Park South, went to feed her 14 beloved pets as usual around 8pm on Tuesday, when she discovered they had been taken. Police
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Driver escapes from serious injury
LORRY driver escaped with minor injuries after his vehicle crashed into a bridge on the A420. Police believe Roger Garmson, 31, misjudged the height of the A419 flyover when the lift on his truck struck the bridge on the White Hart roundabout yesterday
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Keep control or lose your postie
IT may not sound the most dangerous job in the world, but delivering the mail has its hazards. In the past year, there have been around 75 dog attacks on postal staff in the Swindon postcode area. Dog attacks account for around 16 per cent of accidents
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Council chief quits - part two
FOLLOWING his appointment to the top job at Thamesdown Borough Council in October 1996, Paul Doherty described his task in hand to the Evening Advertiser. He said: "I am certain that my job is to ensure that we provide high quality services. If we don't
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Council chief quits
PAUL Doherty is resigning from his post as Swindon Council's most senior officer. The chief executive has accepted voluntary severance of his £100,000-plus contract following pressure from council leader Sue Bates. His departure date is uncertain, although
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Battle for life to fighting fitness
TWO years ago Nick Rule lay in a hospital bed on a life support machine and his family feared he would die from the pneumonia that was sapping his life away. But now Nick, 23, from Cherhill, near Calne, has fought back to fitness and has been able to
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Party is family affair
A TROWBRIDGE couple celebrated their golden wedding on Friday, July 26, with a family party. Ernie and Francis Lamb, of Maple Grove, were reunited with some old friends and family members at the party, attended by their five children, 12 grandchildren
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Return to Tudor days
Figures of the past will be brought to life at Trowbridge museum. Romans in Wiltshire will be on their best behaviour for visitors to the exhibition on August 3 and on August 31 the museum surges ahead to the Tudor period. Bess Yeoman will be demonstrating
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Court's future to be decided
Trowbridge: West Wilts MP Dr Andrew Murrison and Wiltshire County Council leader Peter Chalke met with Courts Minister Yvette Cooper on Tuesday, July 23, to discuss the future of Trowbridge Magistrates Court. Dr Murrison said the meeting was positive,
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Babies go on show
BABY Of The Year photographs are now on display in Tesco, Trowbridge, where parents of entrants can choose which photograph they would like to put in to the Wiltshire Times as part of the competition. The portraits, taken by photographers BCR, will be
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Flats will pay for new community centre
PERSIMMON Homes has agreed to build a community centre on its housing development in the North of Calne on condition flats are built on top. The Calne North Community Centre Steering Committee has lobbied Persimmon to build a centre on the estate, next
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Singers at pop event
Young hopefuls flocked to St Thomas's Church, Southwick, on Saturday, July 20, for a children's pop festival. Organised by the Friends of St Thomas, the festival gave children a chance to sing and dance to their favourite pop songs, coached by an expert
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Blooming towns wow the judges
GARDENERS have been helping brighten up west Wiltshire by taking part in each of the town's floral competitions. Kieran Duggan, four, impressed Trowbridge in Bloom judges with his hanging basket and received a certificate. The youngster developed his
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Pupils' plea for cinema
CHILDREN from Newtown Primary School in Trowbridge have been putting forward their views on the future of the town and a cinema is their top choice for a new amenity. Pupils in years five and six have been working on their very own version of the Vision
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Robin Hood children steal show
TALENTED CHILDREN from Hilperton Primary School staged a musical production of Robin Hood last week. The children, aged between seven and eleven, dressed up and sang to two hundred and fifty parents and friends of the school during three performances
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Virgin staff head for the big apple
TWO lucky workers from Virgin Mobile in Trowbridge jetted off to New York on Wednesday to attend the launch party of Virgin Mobile across the Atlantic. Rachel Reynolds, 18, and Tina Thacker, 25, were randomly selected to join in the fun in New York and
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Inquiry into the Record Office move
CONCERN about how the decision to move the Wiltshire and Swindon Record office from Trowbridge was made will be addressed on Tuesday, July 30. Organisations worried about how the decision was taken to move the office out of Trowbridge, including Trowbridge
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Fete boosts funds for the elderly
RESIDENTS of The Paddocks residential home in Hilperton braved the rain and held a fete in the grounds on Saturday afternoon, July 20. The home's fundraiser, attended by Trowbridge Mayor Andrew Bryant, raised money for entertainment and luxuries for residents
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Disney trip hopes grow for Charlotte
Cancer victim Charlotte Wakeham is responding well to treatment and it looks like she will get her dream holiday to Disney World. The seven-year-old Paxcroft School student, who has a terminal brain tumour, has had three weeks of radiotherapy and drug
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Ladies driven to charity
WILTSHIRE firefighters launched the Marie Curie Cancer Care's Ladies Driving Challenge at Trowbridge Fire Station on Wednesday, July 24. The event is being held at RAF Colerne, near Chippenham, on September 28, to help raise money for the Marie Curie
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Fears for Ushers site development
SLOW progress over plans for the redevelopment of the derelict Ushers brewery site in Trowbridge has left townspeople worried it may never be developed. Multi-million pound plans for 111 homes, seven stores and a leisure outlet on the former brewery and
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Festival gets pumped up
Every year, the Trowbridge Village Pump Festival turns a quiet, rural backwater into a vibrant, nationally recognised open air music event. TREVOR PORTER meets the dedicated team who ensure everything runs smoothly. Who would guess on travelling through
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Isle is next port of call for Bluebirds
Not content with signing a host of their former players, Chippenham Town are now following in Swindon Town's pre-season footsteps. A week after Andy King's men ventured across the water to Newport Isle of White, the Bluebirds are to make the same trip
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Catch this monster
ONE of the most savage and bizarre attacks detectives have ever seen took place in Trowbridge at the weekend. The victim, a man in his 30s, was found in agony, after his eyebrow was bitten off in a gruesome incident in the town centre. It is feared he
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Matthew lands top youth prize
MATT Pearce took the honours as Devizes Angling Association held its own version of the South West Junior Championships at Crookwood Lake, near Urchfont on Saturday 20th July. Devizes AA took it upon themselves to arrange their own individual tournament
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Safer driving pays if you do it with RoSPA
IT really does pay to be a better driver following the launch of a scheme to reward drivers who pass the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) advanced driving test. All successful candidates in the test will now receive a year's free
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A touch of luxury
THE unsung hero of British sports car manufacture, Westbury-based Marcos Engineering Ltd, has produced a new car in just four months. Company founder Jem Marsh, who lives in Bradford on Avon, says the Marcasite TS250 combines "the charisma of the traditional
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Youngsters have a nose for space
A ROCKET nose on display at Highworth Library is encouraging children to learn about space. The nose cone of a Skylark sounding rocket was loaned by Geoffrey Eastwood, 75, of Brookfield in Highworth. Mr Eastwood acquired the nose-head when he worked for
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Potent, sporty and good value
OUTSTANDING performance is promised by SEAT as the manufacturer launches its most powerful and sporting car to date. The Leon Cupra R rewrites the hot-hatch rule book by combining performance with good equipment levels and safety. It has been built to
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Camera helps capture spectacular images
SCIENTISTS funded by a Swindon-based research council have just opened a new window on the universe. The experts, based at the universities of Sheffield and Southampton in collaboration with the UK Astronomy Technology Centre at the Royal Observatory
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Solstice help is on the way say police
A MAJOR confrontation between travellers and the police is feared by local people in Avebury. Villagers believe trouble during the annual solstice is inevitable unless the number of travellers coming to take part is strictly controlled. Wiltshire police
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Prepare to be delayed
WORK starts on Monday to repair the surfaces on rural Wiltshire roads. The work will also reduce the risk of skidding and involves planing, patching and then overlaying the road with tar and special chip surface dressing. The £220,000 job is programmed
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Nissan daring to be different
INTO the pool of faceless family cars plunges Nissan's latest Primera. No dipping the old toes into the water for Nissan they've dived in at the deep end with something that dares to be different. On body styling alone the new Primera stands out from
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Fire brigade makes tests easier for older recruits
WILTSHIRE Fire Brigade has made its physical aptitude test easier for older recruits to help solve a staff shortage. The brigade has also made changes to the order of the tests applicants have to undergo. But Eugene Johnson, Wilt-shire's assistant chief
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Your chance to win a new set of tyres from Goodyear
IF your car tyres are worn out, you could win a set of new ones. Goodyear is offering a new set of tyres to anyone who can prove they have the oldest working set of Goodyears in the UK. The offer follows the remarkable tale of Welsh farmer Allan Davies
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Carnival will commemorate Golden Jubilee
THIS year's Wootton Bassett Festival will be a special one, commemorating the Queen's Golden Jubilee. On August 3, High Street will be closed to make way for attractions aimed at people of all ages. More than 40 groups have announced they will be taking
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Back to the drop zone
VETERANS who took part in a famous parachute drop are to meet up again on a former wartime airfield near Swindon. Up to 160 men and women who once served with the RAF are expected to travel to Down Ampney for the 28th Arnhem Drop reunion and memorial
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Study your past for certificate
AN OXFORD University archaeology course begins in Swindon on September 30. The part-time undergraduate certificate in archaeology will consist of weekly sessions hosted by English Heritage staff at the National Monuments Record Centre, near the Designer
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Cafe owner abandons her plans to expand
A MALMESBURY cafe owner has abandoned expansion plans and blamed vacuum cleaner tycoon James Dyson. Sally Marks, who runs the Summer Cafe in High Street, fears redundancies caused by Dyson's decision to shift vacuum cleaner manufacture to Malaysia will
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Expert at summer painting school
A WEEK of painting instruction by an expert is on offer at each of two forthcoming summer painting schools at Lawn Community Centre. Artist Peter Robinson will be in charge of the courses, which will run from August 5 to 9 and 19 to 23. The fee is £60
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Flagship post office promises to deliver improved service
SWINDON'S two main town centre post offices are to close to make way for a new, flagship branch at Plaza 21, on Sanford Street. The new branch is set to open in October this year. The Post Office says the merger is needed because of Government plans to
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Closed for repairs
Part of Rodbourne Road will be closed for repairs from Saturday night until Monday morning. Pedestrians, however, will remain unaffected. Between 11.30pm on Saturday and 6am on Monday, the stretch from Kemble Drive to Church Place will be closed to all
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Youngsters are set for a swinging time
WILTSHIRE'S biggest ever Tarzan Swing is to open in a Swindon playground next month. The mayor, Stan Pajak, will be at the Richard Jefferies Adventure Playground in Eldene Drive on August 31 to declare the swing officially ready for use. It is the latest
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An NVQ for being a mum!
TEENAGED mum Anna Eagle has just become the first person in the country to receive an NVQ Level One in the Young Mums to Be scheme. And now she's doing her bit to help others by setting up a support group for fellow teenaged mums in Swindon. Anna, of
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Community pays its last respects
HUNDREDS packed into the church of St John the Baptist and St Helen in Wroughton to pay their last respects to former Swindon Mayor Harry Garrett. There was standing room only in the ancient parish church as councillors and Swindon mayors joined the many
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Can you come to the rescue?
SWINDON Animal Sanctuary is looking for an animal lover to take over its dog rescue activities. The charity has rescued and re-homed more than 350 abandoned dogs since it was set up in 1986. It is also fundraising to build a permanent sanctuary and has
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Charlie is flying back home today
FOUR-year-old cancer sufferer Charlie Jarvis was set to return home from the United States today following a visit to a specialist cancer clinic in Houston, Texas. The youngster, who was diagnosed with a form of cancer called Neuroblastoma a year ago,
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She's the bravest little girl in town
BETHANY Robinson has no doubts in her mind about why she has been singled out for praise by Swindon Mayor Stan Pajak. Asked why she won the young person category of his Good Citizen Award, the Moredon three-year-old said: "Because I beat cancer". For
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Book is 'story to warn the world'
A MAN'S moving chronicle of his wife's cancer death after a catalogue of medical blunders is to be sold in Australia, the United States and the United Arab Emirates. In The Woman Who Wouldn't Die, Don Lucey, from Wootton Bassett, tells the story of the
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PC rests his feet after 25 years on the beat
A WOOTTON Bassett police officer, who is retiring after 22 years of service in the town, said his most hair-raising moment was a face-to-face encounter with a knife-wielding man. Today PC Dave Wood was due to hang up his helmet for the last time after
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Too long and too loud
IN response to the letters in the Evening Advertiser concerning the closing down of the Irish dancing at the Old Town Festival, my officer was at no time told to do this by the Festival Committee. The dancers were due to finish at 3pm and the Wroughton
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Bottleneck blues
I CONCUR with your leading story on Monday (July 22). RIAT needs to sort its act out. I left Eastleaze at 8am and after confronting all styles of driving, from considerate to rude including a touch of road rage, we made the Fairford Red Car Park at 10am
