Archive
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Cyclist injured in hit and run accident
POLICE are appealing for witnesses to a hit and run accident which left a Chippenham cyclist with head injuries. Michael Goodell, 38, of Marshfield Road, was cycling down Chippenham High Street early on Friday morning when a silver car, believed to be
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Skate ramps demolished
WORKMEN wielding acetylene torches began to dismantle Chippenham's doomed skatepark on Tuesday. The owner, North Wiltshire District Council, struck a deal with GBH, the original manufacturer of the skatepark equipment, and paid £600 for it to take the
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New base for gallery
THE Citadel Gallery, which is housed in Chippenham Tourist Information Centre, is set to close after its current exhibition, called Home Art. The exhibition has been created to provide inspiration for displaying and using art in the home. It runs until
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Smooth ride for path plan
CHIPPENHAM district councillor Robert Halse has stressed the need for concrete paving on the final phase of a river and canalside cycle path that will link Chippenham and Melksham. Last Thursday, North Wiltshire District Council's executive committee
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Angler dies on river bank
KEEN angler Stephen Vaughan collapsed and died as he fished on the banks of the River Avon on Tuesday. Father-of-four Mr Vaughan, 57, of Thingley, near Corsham, collapsed at around 8.30pm on a stretch of the river close to Avenue La Fleche. A member of
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Cleanup is in the bag
VOLUNTEERS began the hard job of clearing up after the North Wiltshire Festival site was left littered with rubbish on Monday. North Wiltshire District Council cleansing and amenity staff were called in to tidy up Monkton Park, which was invaded by more
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Openers pave the way for Malmesbury
BOTTOM club Malmesbury defeated a weakened Hatherley & Reddings in their latest Gloucestershire/Wiltshire League Division 1 outing. Batting first, Malmesbury piled on the pressure with the first wicket yielding 185 runs in 42 overs. The quicker scoring
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Nick returns to take over Whites
FORMER Southampton footballer Nick Holmes was this week officially appointed Salisbury City's new manager. After witnessing impressive displays by the side in their friendlies at Basing-stoke Town and Downton, the 1976 FA Cup winner agreed terms with
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The glory and the pain
SOME of the area's biggest sports stars experienced the highs and the lows associated with top-class action this week. There was elation for powerlifters Lee Steggles and Phil Randall who triumphed in their categories at the British Powerlifting Championships
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Belgian boost
ANDY KING is hoping for a double Belgian boost as he battles to bolster his squad ahead of the big kick off. Town travel to Hellenic Premier side Wantage Town this evening and the manager will use the clash to check out two foreign players recommended
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Admin worker forged receipts
ADMINISTRATIVE worker Cindy Risbrook embezzled £4,251 from Limpac Rotational Mouldings in Corsham by falsifying receipts, a court heard. Risbrook, 41, of Swan Road, Corsham, pleaded guilty to nine charges of false accounting to falsify details when she
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Hope is aiming to scoop record fifth title
NEIL Hope is aiming for a fifth Worthing national championships spot this weekend after re-writing the Wiltshire bowls record books on county finals day at Westlecot Bowling Club on Sunday 28 July. Highworth ace Hope, 23, will turn out for Westlecot in
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Mum says unruly son also has a good side
THE mother of Highworth boy Christopher White, the first to be given an anti-social behaviour order by Swindon magistrates. has defended her son. Mary White, of Queens Avenue, said there was another side to the 14-year-old. Christopher was brought before
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60 years in sharp focus
KEEN photographers Joan and Chas Woodgate, from Box, celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary by being in front of the lens rather than behind it as they celebrated with a family party. Despite being in their 80s, both have wholeheartedly embraced
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Soul legend is the Starr of the show
UP to 20,000 music fans crammed into Monkton Park in Chippenham on Saturday night to see soul legend Edwin Starr lead an all-star cast at North Wiltshire Festival 2002. The 60-year-old disco superstar took to the stage at 9.45pm on a balmy evening, to
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Alert on plane crash
POLICE, ambulance and fire crews spent an hour and a half searching for a microlite a motorist reported seeing going down near the M4. The woman called the emergency services from the motorway, at about 8pm on Monday. However, at 9.30pm the search was
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Sit-in protest on Portman closure
THE battle to prevent the Portman Building Society closing its Pewsey branch will continue until the door of the Market Place office is finally locked for the last time on Saturday, says campaign leader Caroline Dalrymple. Hundreds of Portman account
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Are they giant adverts?
PEWSEY crop circle researcher and writer Freddie Silva is convinced that most of the current season's patterns and formations are not the work of extra terrestrials or the weather. His assertion is that the human race is in fact responsible for most of
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Smoking's no longer a bone of contention
AFTER more than 30 years of smoking and many abortive efforts to give up, Pewsey osteopath Martin Preston says he has finally kicked the habit thanks to the help of hypnotherapist Steve Hurst. The father-of-two admits he did not have the discipline to
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Bent happy to move sideways
FORMER Chippenham Town striker James Bent will ply his trade in the Ryman League Premier Division next term at Chesham United. Bent fired 20 goals as Chippenham won promotion from the Dr Martens Western Division last term, but rejected Tommy Saunders'
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Chippenham 0, Yeovil Town 0
DR MARTENS LEAGUE: CHIPPENHAM Town's unbeaten pre-season run continued on Tuesday night as they shared the honours with Nationwide Conference giants Yeovil Town at Hardenhuish Park. Only the brilliance of Yeovil goalkeeper Chris Weale denied midfielder
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Action plea on young thieves
TRADERS are calling on police to take action to curb two 12-year-old boys who they blame for a series of thefts in Malmesbury. Chamber of Commerce chairman Alan Woodward said the boys live in the town and are known to shop owners. A 12-year-old boy was
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Traders alarmed at increase in road-rage
TOWN centre businesses in Calne have complained they are losing trade because of on-going traffic problems. The chamber of commerce has called for a special meeting to discuss the disruption on the roads which is causing road rage incidents, according
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Restaurant folds after royal visit
THE Med, Malmesbury's newest restaurant, has closed after just eight months and only weeks after Prince Harry ate there with pals. Owner Sally Marks, who opened the Continental-style restaurant on December 1 last year, has blamed lack of lunchtime trade
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An enjoyable kitchen sink drama with suds
ALTHOUGH Nicole Holofcener's bleak chick flick Lovely and Amazing (15) doesn't quite live up to its title, it is still an enjoyable slice of life. Dumpy housewife Jane Marks (Brenda Blethyn) goes under the surgeon's knife for a spot of liposuction. She
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Pond pumps taken in raid
THIEVES who used fence cutters to break in to Malmesbury Garden Centre overnight on Sunday, stole pond pumps worth between £3,000 and £4,000. The black pumps, of differing sizes, were stolen from a greenhouse at the garden centre on Crudwell Road, after
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Dairy farmer's son is new vet
VETERINARY graduate Mike John, who joined Malmesbury vets, The George Veterinary Group, two weeks ago, is no stranger to farm animals. Mr John, 23, who graduated in veterinary science from Bristol University, was brought up on a dairy farm in Pembrokeshire
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Widower strives to fulfil wife's last wish
CRUDWELL could have new tennis courts and a five-a-side football pitch by 2004, thanks to the last wish of mother-of-two Rebecca Thomson, who died earlier this year from a brain tumour. Mrs Thomson, of Kings Meadow, Crudwell, died in her sleep at Malmesbury
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Restaurant folds after royal visit
THE Med, Malmesbury's newest restaurant, has closed after just eight months and only weeks after Prince Harry ate there with pals. Owner Sally Marks, who opened the Continental-style restaurant on December 1 last year, has blamed lack of lunchtime trade
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Action plea on young thieves
TRADERS are calling on police to take action to curb two 12-year-old boys who they blame for a series of thefts in Malmesbury. Chamber of Commerce chairman Alan Woodward said the boys live in the town and are known to shop owners. A 12-year-old boy was
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A bad sign for our society
WHAT a dreadful indictment of our society that a man can lie dead in his house for seven weeks without anyone noticing. This might not have seemed extraordinary at all if it had happened in London, Bristol, or even Swindon but in Devizes? A town that
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It's time for a look at festival
THE concert night at the North Wiltshire Festival on Saturday was a magical evening of entertainment and excitement. How sad, then, that the rest of the three-day event did not live up to it. It gives the Gazette no pleasure to report the dismal reaction
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Chippenham v Stroud
OFF SPINNER Jason Searle grabbed five wickets as Chippenham rekindled their promotion hopes with a three wicket victory in a low scoring Premier Division Two game. Put into bat by Chippenham skipper Ian Merryweather, Stroud made a steady start and at
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Apperley v Devizes
DEVIZES joined Wiltshire neighbours Malmesbury in the Gloucester and Wiltshire League Division One relegation zone after a 57-run loss at fellow strugglers Apperley on Saturday. Having won the toss, Devizes skipper Andy Hodder invited Apperley to bat
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Marlborough v Lydney
MARLBOROUGH bounced back from last week's disappointing defeat at the hands of Purton with an eight-run win over visitors Lydney on Saturday 27 July. Home skipper Tom Norris lost the toss, but was surprised when Lydney opted to field first on a hot day
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Malmesbury v Hatherley and Reddings
MALMESBURY boosted their chances of Gloucester and Wiltshire Division One survival with a 153-run success against a weakened Hatherley and Reddings side on Saturday 27 July. The difference between the sides was evident as soon as the hosts batted, with
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Spinner claims 11 wicket haul
COUNTY CRICKET: WILTSHIRE put on a much improved performance against second placed Oxfordshire in their Minor Counties Championship match at Thame on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. After two successive defeats, Wiltshire played well and dominated the match
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Have you got an old mobile phone?
MORE than £350,000 has been raised for charities and other good causes through a scheme to recycle old, unwanted and obsolete mobile phones. Gareth Fernandes of Eurosource, the leading recycling company that has raised this money, said: "Latest figures
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Stress is keeping staff away
Stress is a leading cause of long-term absence from work, according to a new survey from people management specialists the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD). It says employees take an average of 10 days off sick each year, a slight
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Property prices still on the rise
PROPERTY prices continue to soar, with Nationwide today reporting a 2.5 per cent rise in July. This marks an annual move up of 22 per cent putting an average price for a house in the month at £108,818. Alex Bannister, group economist, for the Swindon-based
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Hospital retains high rating
HOSPITAL staff received a tonic last week, when Salisbury Health Care Trust retained its two-star rating in the latest government check-up. The trust, which runs Salisbury District Hospital, was said to be performing well overall in the government ratings
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Crowds take a trip down memory lane
MOTORING enthusiasts from all over the country packed out the eighth annual Wroughton Nostalgia Show. The sedate curves of aristocratic Daimlers and Rolls-Royces vied for attention with sporty Capris, groovy bubble cars and flashy Chryslers at the Wroughton
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Bobby retires after 22 years on blue line
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. PC Dave Wood has over the years worked in a variety of roles but has never
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Watchdog says train services still poor
RAIL operators say they have halted the decline in service which has been highlighted in a hard hitting report published by the Western England Rail Passengers Committee. Christopher Irwin, chairman of the rail watchdog group, said there was even stronger
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Charlotte prepares for a date at Disney
CHARLOTTE Wakeham, the seven-year-old who has an incurable brain tumour, is nearing the end of her radiotherapy treatment. Charlotte's family are hoping that when the treatment ends at the end of next week she will be able to fly to Disneyworld in Florida
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Controlled explosions in Trowbridge
BOMB squad experts carried out a series of controlled explosions in Bythesea Road in Trowbridge yesterday afternoon after a pile of up to 100 live grenades were found by workmen at the old TA site. Part of the town centre was sealed off and the explosions
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Butchers call it a day
BUTCHERS Gilbert Mills and Dennis Sheppard hang up their aprons for the last time on Saturday, when Ramsbury's only butchers shop shuts its doors. The closure of Mills butchers shop, which the pair have been running in partnership, will mean Ramsbury
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Man destroys tenant's bike
A BURBAGE property manager is facing a community sentence after admitting setting fire to a motorbike belonging to a tenant with whom he was in dispute. Stuart Cluny, 51, of Wolfhall Manor, pleaded guilty to setting fire to the £3,500 Honda 500cc bike
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Lorry driver went on binge
A LORRY driver has lost his job and his licence after getting behind the wheel with nearly three times the legal limit of alcohol in his system. Darren Crawford, 28, from Leighton Buzzard in Bedfordshire, pleaded guilty at Kennet Magistrates Court in
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Drink drive ban for mum
A MOTHER-of-two has been banned from driving for 18 months for failing a roadside breath test after crashing her van into a ditch with her two children in the back. Kennet magistrates heard on Monday that Michele Tietz, 41, from Couch Lane, Seend, was
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Painting duo put on a show
TWO of Marlborough's best known painters Karon Staniland and Stella Harrison have their work on show at the weekend at Mrs Staniland's home in St Martins, next to the Royal British Legion Club. Mrs Staniland formerly ran the Bazazzo Gallery in Silverless
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Samba band leads parade
MUSIC and traditional games will feature at this year's fete in Seend on August 10. The parade will start at 1.15pm led by the Bath Samba Band with Brazilian percussion. Fete chairman Tony Ewin said: "The Bath Samba Band is the main attraction and will
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First Great Western is last for reliability and punctuality
FIRST Great Western is last when it comes to reliability and punctuality, a new report shows. Strategic Rail Authority figures reveal that reliability figures for the Swindon-based company are the worst of the 43 services surveyed, while that for punctuality
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A bridge too far
A COUNCILLOR has hit back at the people who continue to rubbish a Swindon estate. David Glaholm (Lab, Penhill) said: "I get fed up hearing about the people of Penhill being knocked all the time." His comments come as a dispute between residents in Penhill
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Surviving on the breadline
POVERTY isn't part of peoples' life-plans," says Welcome Centre co-ordinator Lyn Thompson. "They might find themselves homeless, or living in hostels. They might be one-parent families who are isolated, low and vulnerable, or they may have experienced
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Roads flood as rain lashes town
TORRENTIAL rain lashed Swindon, causing widespread flooding around the town. The downpour left some roads inches deep in water. And many homeowners and businesses have reported flood damage. Among them was 58-year-old Janet Delicata, of The Little Shop
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Police sniff out drug farm
POLICE netted north Wiltshire's largest ever seizure of cannabis plants after beat bobby PC Steve Dixon sniffed out a warehouse drugs factory. PC Dixon and colleague Sergeant Nic Shorten first got scent of the 214 cannabis plants as they walked down an
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Climber prepares for Peruvian peak
DESPITE narrowly escaping death in a mountain accident two years ago, Wiltshire climber Duncan Whichello is fearless in the face of his next challenge to scale one of the world's highest peaks Last Saturday, the adventurous 34-year-old, of The Pippin,
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Residents hit out at rat infested garages
A ROW of rat infested derelict garages in Calne, which have become a community dumping ground since they were vacated three weeks ago, are finally being cleared. Firefighters have been called twice to tackle blazes at the garages in Ridgemead, owned by
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White horse gets revamp
CONTRACTORS and volunteers will begin the clean-up of Cherhill's white horse on Monday. Cherhill's White Horse Restoration Committee has used an £18,000 grant from the landfill tax to recruit a company to undertake the work. The committee has surveyed
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Traders alarmed at increase in road-rage
TOWN centre businesses in Calne have complained they are losing trade because of on-going traffic problems. The chamber of commerce has called for a special meeting to discuss the disruption on the roads which is causing road rage incidents, according
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Shaw's appeal
SHAW FC are looking for an individual or a company to sponsor their under 16 side for the new season. Anyone able to help should contact Kevin Prictor on 07970 554058.
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Giants reach for the sky
KEEN gardener James Packer continues to be surprised as his lilies simply get taller and taller. Mr Packer, of Tornio Close, Devizes, has been growing flowers, including lilies for more than 15 years. But he was astounded when four Connecticut King Lilies
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Barracks ready for new role
AGENTS for the Ministry of Defence's property wing are meeting Kennet District Council planning officers next week to discuss the future of Le Marchant Barracks in Devizes. The Ministry has been wanting to sell the Victorian barracks, built in 1878, since
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Mother wins top award for farm administration
REBECCA Hill, who handles the office work for a number of farmers in the Marlborough and Swindon areas, has been named as Farm Administrator of The Year. Mrs Hill, 42, of Chiseldon who has a six-year-old daughter, Lizzie, received the Lloyds TSB Bank-sponsored
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Tiger chews car on Longleat trip
A Marlborough family found a day out at Longleat Safari Park more scary than they expected when a tiger chewed through their car's bumper. Roly Lockey, from Priest Acre, Fyfield, took his wife Helen and daughter Amy, six, plus a couple of other relatives
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Skate ramps dumped
SKATEBOARDERS are unhappy that the ramps from the former skate park in Hillworth Park, Devizes, have been left on waste ground at the Hopton Park Industrial Estate. The town council was ordered to remove the equipment after resident Bill Richardson won
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Big lorries should not block new crossing
CONCERN over big lorries getting into and out of the TH White agricultural engineering premises should not delay the installation of the proposed pedestrian crossing in London Road, Marlborough, Mayor Margaret Boulton said. Residents at the eastern end
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House invaded by 20,000 bees
RESIDENTS in West Lavington were buzzing with fury on Sunday when they were told Kennet District Council could not help them deal with a huge swarm of bees that had gathered near their homes. They were told to phone back the following day. A swarm, at
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Man dead for seven weeks
THE body of Francis Mooney, 45, lay in his home for seven weeks before being discovered, an inquest was told on Wednesday. Police were called to Mr Mooney's home in Cornfield Road, Devizes, on Friday after neighbours noticed a large number of flies in
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Protesters told their cars cause a problem
A SENIOR county highways official has accused residents of Roundway Park of adding to the traffic congestion in Devizes. Philip Tilley, Wiltshire County Council's transport and development manager, made his remarks at the Kennet Local Plan public inquiry
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Number's up on dice riddle
VISITORS driving between Marlborough and Avebury expecting to see some of the annual crop circles have been surprised to see giant dice and dominoes in a field at West Overton. But the large dotted shapes have nothing to do with alien visitations or freak
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Gambler stole shop's money to feed habit
THE relief manager of a village convenience store stole more than £3,000 to finance his gambling habit, Kennet magistrates heard. Jonathan Walker, 41, of Lottage Road, Aldbourne, appeared before the before the court in Devizes on Monday and pleaded guilty
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Beware of crooks in cashpoint bank scam
AT least two people in Marlborough have fallen victim to a cashpoint scam sweeping Europe that has become known as either the Lebanese Loop or Romanian Loop. Using a simple home-made device crooks have been able to steal cash point cards and, using the
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Sit-in protest on Portman closure
THE battle to prevent the Portman Building Society closing its Pewsey branch will continue until the door of the Market Place office is finally locked for the last time on Saturday, says campaign leader Caroline Dalrymple. Hundreds of Portman account
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Top stables to host open day
ONE of the country's top horse racing centres will be throwing open its doors to the public on August 11 for the first time in more than a dozen years. The last time Manton racing stables at Marlborough were opened to the public was in 1989, but the Sangster
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Garden joy for golden couple
GOLDEN wedding couple Des and Elsie Douglas were stunned and delighted to return from a weekend break away to discover one of their daughters had carried out a Ground Force-style makeover on the garden at their Froxfield home. Mr and Mrs Douglas celebrate
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Bride is all set to put best face forward
EVENING Advertiser Bride of the Year, Katrina Bennett, is bracing herself for her big day on Saturday. The 25-year-old will be getting married to fianc David McCarron, 27, at the Goddard Arms Hotel in Old Town. It has been a busy few months for Katrina
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Poison victim still faces uphill task
STEPHEN Legg, the Freshbrook man who almost died when he contracted blood poisoning following a transfusion at Princess Margaret Hospital, is trying to re-build his shattered life in Scotland. Mr Legg, 40, settled out of court with the National Blood
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Time for businesses to rise to the challenge
THERE is still time for organisations and businesses in the Wiltshire area to take up the challenge of The Queen's Award for Enterprise. So far 33 organisations in the Swindon and Salisbury area of Wiltshire have applied for details of the 2003 Awards
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Rotarians go putting to raise £1,600
WOOTTON Bassett Rotarians swung into action and handed over £1,600 to Wiltshire Air Ambulance. Yesterday's presentation at the Wootton Bassett and District Rotary annual dinner was the result of June's fifth annual golf day. In the 12 years the ambulance
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Work on new college site to start next year
SWINDON College has revealed how it plans to move to a new multi million pound site in North Star in September 2004. Work will begin on a new £15.5 million campus in April 2003 and it will house all of the college's 2,200 full-time and 9,000 part-time
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Councillor calls for action on 'rent boys'
A TORY councillor last night called for Swindon Council to look into and tackle a hidden problem of young male prostitutes working the town's streets. Coun Doreen Dart warned that female prostitutes may be a more visible and high profile problem, but
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The team that's discovering the Reading Planet
STICKERS of intergalactic objects are being used to encourage children to read during the summer. The Reading Planet game is taking place in 16 libraries across Swindon and is aimed at children aged between three and 16. Children are given a Reading Planet
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Mormons to build church
THE Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints has been granted permission to build a new church and meeting house in Stratton. The site, on land adjacent to Highworth Road, currently stands vacant but was previously occupied by industrial premises
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Lambs exported
WE wish to raise public awareness that the cruel trade of live export of lambs has started up again. Nearly 2,500 lambs were exported from Dover in the early hours of July 15. They were herded on to the notorious live export ship, Caroline, the subject
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Police fail to locate the 'fallen' microlite
POLICE, ambulance and fire crews spent an hour and a half searching for a microlite aircraft that a motorist reported seeing going down near the M4. The drama unfolded following the phone call, from a woman on the motorway, at about 8pm on Monday. However
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A new era dawns for Stonehenge
CONSERVATIONISTS were unveiling major plans for the future of Stonehenge today. A new dawn was declared for Stonehenge with the announcement of a £57 million scheme by English Heritage. The new visitor centre and improved access is hoped to rescue the
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Issues not linked
I would like to thank George Champion for his support in stating the Angel Yard public inquiry was well advertised. However, the link with my personal parking situation when the inquiry was only concerned with highway safety, is irrelevant. Mr Champion
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Camel display benefits dogs
HEAT and dust must have made the performing camels feel at home in the sandy arena at Little Durnford on Sunday afternoon. And the fisherman casting his fly into the River Avon 50m away must have thought he was hallucinating. The camels, Rani and Timbo
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Air show flops
I HAVE attended many airshows over the past 30 years but none quite so appalling and poorly organised as RIAT 2002. Delays and disruptions on the scale experienced by many local residents and visitors alike last weekend are quite unacceptable. After spending
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Swindon research cleans up dirty pools
DIRTY swimming pools could be a thing of the past, thanks to new research funded in Swindon. Scientists have created their own mini-pool that stimulates the chemicals and germs that are found in public baths. They hope that the data they collect can be
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Love thy good neighbours!
ERIC Clissold is, in Stan Pajak's mind, the perfect neighbour. The 79-year-old lives next door to the mayor in Drove Road with his wife, Ivy. According to Coun Pajak, he is always friendly, chatty and happy to help out when he can lending tools, offering
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Residents halt path work
FOOTPATH renewal work along the Avon Valley path on Harnham Slope, Salisbury, was halted on Friday, after residents rallied together and voiced their anger at the lack of public consultation over the project. Locals have been left aghast at the two-metre
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Compost can cut rubbish
The proposed overhaul of refuse collection by North Wiltshire District Council obviously has local people concerned about how they will manage to reduce their rubbish. Strangely, evidence seems to show that the introduction of large wheelie bins may in
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Flood defence plans unveiled
Property owners of land prone to flooding in Downton have been urged to take a risk for future generations and embrace radical flood-defence proposals - setting aside nagging doubts over the details for the greater good of the village. A programme of
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Plan ahead before wheeling out bins
It was with interest that I read about the proposed introduction of wheelie bin refuse collection proposed for North Wiltshire from spring of next year. Having lived in Plymouth when the wheelie bin trial was implemented, I can confirm the success of
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Fresh hope for mother convicted of killings
THE cases of two Salisbury mothers, each currently serving two life sentences for murdering their babies, have stood the law on its head - placing countless innocent mothers in the impossible position of having to prove that their babies died of natural
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Thanks for your trouble
IN this troubled world of today it isn't often you can give a thank you to anybody. In April of this year I had a pacemaker put in and on July 2 my lovely wife died. On Friday, July 26, I decided to take a walk to the Homebase store in Greenbridge, which
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Nasty side of hunting
AUGUST sees the start of cub hunting, a nasty side of the sport which hunters like to keep hidden from the public. Foxhounds are not fox killers by nature so new hounds have to be given a taste for blood and trained in the art of killing foxes. Very early
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Don't let your skin sizzle in the sun
I AM writing to urge people to take care in the sun. It is estimated there are over 60,000 new cases of skin cancer in the UK every year, many of which could be prevented if people took better care of their skin. Whether you are at home or abroad this
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A knight in shining 'amour'
SWEETHEARTS Ashleigh Slater, 27, of Palmer Street, Chippenham, and postman George Tinson, 28, of Yewstock Crescent, tied the knot in true medieval style on Saturday. "Ever since I was younger I knew this was the type of wedding I wanted with a candlelit
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Challenge to aid orphans
WALKERS from Chippenham have raised £5,500 for Romanian orphans after taking part in the arduous Three Peaks Challenge. The 15 took on the challenge to climb Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Mount Snowdon in under 24 hours but they were hampered by thick cloud
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Adventure in Argentina
THE adventure of a lifetime awaits Derek McCord, who won an Earthwatch Millennium Award to study carnivores in the Argentinian Pampas. Mr McCord, from Chippenham, will carry out research with environmental charity Earthwatch, alongside their leading scientists
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Jumping ship for a new life
TEACHER Jan Johnson, who has retired from Frogwell School, Chippenham after 23 years, is on the crest of a wave as she prepares to fulfil a personal dream. Mrs Frogwell, 60, and her husband Trevor are preparing to take to the high seas in their yacht
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Enjoy a fun day in park
AUGUST 4: THOUSANDS of people are expected to attend the Chippenham Fun Day in John Coles Park on Sunday, August 4. The free annual event will offer local families an afternoon of games and entertainment provided by the town council. Clubs, businesses
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Car park crush will last for 12 weeks
PART of the top level of Chippenham's Emery Gate car park is to be closed for up to 12 weeks from the end of August for resurfacing work. The work is due to finish before the end of November and the most spaces out of action at any time will be 35. The
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A very sporting strategy
A new strategy for sport and recreation in Salisbury and South Wiltshire has been launched by Salisbury District Council's sports development department. Titled On Your Marks, the strategy aims to improve sporting opportunities for all people who live
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Now it's spend, spend spend
Swindon Council will sink altogether if it does not get its house in order. Its social services department is already spiralling out of control. Not that we did not know about that already, of course, thanks to Government inspectors rating it one of the
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What's best for the girl, not a killer
IT is hard to imagine the pain and suffering Sharon Oldacre has been through. Her life was turned upside down when her son Jamie was murdered by his own father at just seven months old, and it has taken all Sharon's spirit to get it back on track again
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Angler dies on river bank
KEEN angler Stephen Vaughan collapsed and died as he fished on the banks of the River Avon on Tuesday. Father-of-four Mr Vaughan, 57, of Thingley, near Corsham, collapsed at around 8.30pm on a stretch of the river close to Avenue La Fleche. A member of
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60 years in sharp focus
KEEN photographers Joan and Chas Woodgate, from Box, celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary by being in front of the lens rather than behind it as they celebrated with a family party. Despite being in their 80s, both have wholeheartedly embraced
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Granny is wanted on cocaine charge
POLICE believe a Bristol grandmother who went on the run two years ago after being caught with £240,000 of cocaine could visit friends in Chippenham. Detectives from the National Crime Squad now believe Diane Gibson, 62, may come to Chippenham and have
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Traders attack festival
ANGRY traders at the weekend's North Wiltshire Festival 2002 said they didn't sell enough, felt there was not enough people at the event, and would not come back again. Around 55 traders, community groups and businesses had stands in three marquees a
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Climber prepares for Peruvian peak
DESPITE narrowly escaping death in a mountain accident two years ago, Wiltshire climber Duncan Whichello is fearless in the face of his next challenge to scale one of the world's highest peaks Last Saturday, the adventurous 34-year-old, of The Pippin,
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Plug pulled on Bowood fireworks spectacle
THE Firework and Light Extravaganza at Bowood House due to take place on August 10, which attracted more than 4,000 people last year, has been cancelled. The Cheshire-based organiser, Performing Arts, said it has been scrapped this year because of poor
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Dog walking charity invites volunteers
A CHARITY that provides dog walkers for elderly people who are no longer able to exercise their pets themselves is appealing for volunteers in the Marlborough and Pewsey areas. The Cinnamon Trust, which operates from Hayle near St Ives in Cornwall, was
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Small altar-ation to the usual wedding service
FOR the first time in his 26-year career as a village priest, the Rev Colin Fox, vicar and rural dean of Pewsey, has married a couple and then christened their child at the same service. The service at St John the Baptist Church in Pewsey began like any
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Police unfair says council
PARISH councillors in Pewsey are claiming that statistics provided by Wiltshire police prove the village is not as well policed as Marlborough, and they are demanding at least one extra officer. Councillors refused to accept assurances from Chief Insp
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Thommo wants to carry on keeping it clean
NEW Chippenham Town goalkeeper Paul Thompson is looking to extend his unblemished goals against record against Dartford in their fifth pre-season friendly on Saturday 27 July. Thompson has gone six hours without conceding a goal since his £2,500 move
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Newport IOW 0, Chippenham Town 4
ADIE Mings staked his claim for a Chippenham Town starting spot with two goals as the Bluebirds romped to victory at Dr Martens Eastern Division side Newport IOW on Saturday 27 July. The burly striker helped himself to first half brace and set up trailist
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Traders attack festival
ANGRY traders at the weekend's North Wiltshire Festival 2002 said they didn't sell enough, felt there was not enough people at the event, and would not come back again. Around 55 traders, community groups and businesses had stands in three marquees a
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Black is back, with a well-worn formula
GET ready to don your black tie and cool shades, because the Men In Black are back, protecting the Earth from the scum of the universe in the imaginatively titled Men in Black II (PG). Jay (Will Smith) and Kay (Tommy Lee Jones) return as the funkiest
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Three cheers from gallery
A TEAM of volunteers has helped build a £3,500 minstrels' gallery, quiet room and coffee bar at St Giles Church in Lea. Churchwarden Ken Harper, who is a retired civil engineer, led the team of 11 volunteers, including vicar the Rev Richard East, on the
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Victorian era comes to life
MALMESBURY youngsters entertained Mayor John Bowen on Wednesday with their first public performance of Victorian songs, dancing and crafts. The 14 children, aged between eight and 11, have been practicing with the help of the town's Athelstan Players
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Elderly couple foil two bogus officials
AN elderly couple from Crudwell have warned residents to be on their guard after they scared off two bogus water board officials last Friday. The couple, who asked not to be named, said had they not been on their guard the men, who called at around 2.30pm
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Victorian era comes to life
MALMESBURY youngsters entertained Mayor John Bowen yesterday with their first public performance of Victorian songs, dancing and crafts. The 14 children, aged between eight and 11, have been practicing with the help of the town's Athelstan Players amateur
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Insensitive way to deal with case
HOW insulting of a council highways official to stand before the public inquiry into the proposal for 300 houses and a primary school to be built at Quakers walk in Devizes and tell families they are to blame for an increase in traffic. The objectors
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Trowbridge v Purton
PURTON travelled to Trowbridge in Gloucstershire and Wiltshire Division Two on Saturday 27 July and lost by 106 runs. Trowbridge started slowly against some good Purton bowling reaching 60 for 3 after 22 overs. However, Purton dropped two vital catches
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Goatacre v Cinderford
GOATACRE bounced back from the disappointment of losing to Werrington in the last 16 of the National Village Cricket Championship with a 20-run league win over Cinderford on Saturday 27 July. Due to a broken mower blade, the grass on the wicket was longer
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Corsham 2nds v Optimists and Clifton 2nds
A CAPTAIN'S knock of 97 from stand-in skipper Peter Dennett helped Corsham to a fine seven-wicket win on Saturday 27 July. Chasing a target of 193 Corsham clinched their first win in five games in the 42nd over.
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Optimists and Clifton v Corsham
CORSHAM'S dreams of lifting the West of England Premier League title were all but ended on Saturday 27 July after a 104-run defeat at the hands of Optimists and Clifton. The injury and availability problems that have dogged the side this season were again
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Wiltshire Cricket League round up
BOX have taken the lead in the race for the Division One title. With previous leaders Calne having a free week, Box took the opportunity to take over top spot by winning at Bath Civil Service. They bowled their hosts out for 149, but were then in some
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Town gets in festival spirit
Wootton Bassett's High Street Festival the town's major celebration of the Queen's golden jubilee takes place on Saturday, August 3. It will run from 10.30am to 7pm. There will be stalls, a bouncy castle, children's fairground rides, balloon modelling
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New inquest into Porton Down case
THE Ministry of Defence says it will not object to a new inquest being held into the death of a young airman who died after being tested with a nerve agent at Porton Down, Wiltshire's top secret chemical warfare centre. It made the announcement at the
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Mother wins top award for farm administration
REBECCA Hill, who handles the office work for a number of farmers in the Marlborough and Swindon areas, has been named as Farm Administrator of The Year. Mrs Hill, 42, of Chiseldon who has a six-year-old daughter, Lizzie, received the Lloyds TSB Bank-sponsored
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Staff tell of shock as bakery bites the dust
CAKES and loaves of bread were left on display as staff at Mountsevens shops in Wiltshire were ordered to leave when the firm went bust. The managers of shops in Marlborough, Devizes, Chippenham and Calne were told in a phone call that they and their
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Operators still refuse to share 999 centre
FIRE Brigade control operators are still refusing to move into the new joint emergency services centre in Devizes. Despite negotiations between Wiltshire's chief fire officer Neil Wright and the Fire Brigades' Union, fire controllers say they will only
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999 chiefs get to go shopping
POLICE, fire and ambulance workers will be attending the annual exhibition of the National Association of Police Fleet Mangers' Conference and Exhibition in Wiltshire. The event is being held at the Science Museum at Wroughton airfield on August 20 and
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Police sniff out drug farm
POLICE netted north Wiltshire's largest ever seizure of cannabis plants after beat bobby PC Steve Dixon sniffed out a warehouse drugs factory. PC Dixon and colleague Sergeant Nic Shorten first got scent of the 214 cannabis plants as they walked down an
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Pratley is on the mark as Corsham win
CORSHAM Town chalked up their first victory of the summer with an impressive 1-0 win at Dr Martens Western Division outfit Swindon Supermarine on the night of Tuesday 30 July. Matt Pratley's 23rd minute lob proved decisive and manager Mark Godley was
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Newlands resigns from Devizes job
SCREWFIX DIRECT LEAGUE: BRIAN Newlands has rocked Devizes Town by resigning as manager of the Screwfix Direct Premier Division club just three weeks before the start of the new season. Newlands enjoyed a successful seven years in charge at Nursteed Road
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Children pay tribute to road victim
CHILDREN released orange balloons into the night sky as residents of a Wiltshire village paid a touching tribute to 12-year-old Charlotte Smith, who was killed in a collision with a car. Parents blocked off the road in Lower Compton where the accident
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Top stables to host open day
ONE of the country's top horse racing centres will be throwing open its doors to the public on August 11 for the first time in more than a dozen years. The last time Manton racing stables at Marlborough were opened to the public was in 1989, but the Sangster
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Tourists have to go to chapel for info
WHAT is believed to be the only tourist information centre that operates from a working chapel, has opened in the centre of the world famous stone circle at Avebury. On Sunday the centre was formally blessed at a special service in the Avebury Chapel
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Dog walking charity invites volunteers
A CHARITY that provides dog walkers for elderly people who are no longer able to exercise their pets themselves is appealing for volunteers in the Marlborough and Pewsey areas. The Cinnamon Trust, which operates from Hayle near St Ives in Cornwall, was
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Top class party to celebrate golden era
STAFF and children at Worton and Marston School held a belated Queen's golden jubilee party at the end of term. Pupils were unable to celebrate at the time of the golden jubilee weekend in June because inspectors from Ofsted were at the school. After
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Mansion provides its own costume drama
IF you fancy acquiring a few fashion tips from Nicole Kidman, Swindon has the answer. Lydiard House is showcasing a stunning array of costumes used in blockbuster films, including a dress worn by the Holly-wood beauty. The Fashion in Film exhibition,
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More people put on priority housing list
SWINDON Council is to receive £25,000 of Government cash to tackle the growing problem of homelessness. It is part of £3 million extra funding as a result of the new Homelessness Act 2002 which came into effect yesterday, giving stronger protection to
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Overspend on budget looks likely to top £3m
SWINDON Council is likely to overspend this year's budget by more than £3 million, an emergency report to last night's cabinet meeting revealed. The bleak forecast leaves the council's financial position so fragile that, unless drastic steps are taken
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Institute plea turned down
A DESPERATE plea for urgent work to be carried out on the crumbling Mechanics Institute to protect it from further decay this winter was turned down last night. Swindon Council leader Sue Bates and her cabinet refused to fund work on the grade II listed
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Stay away from my daughter
A FATHER convicted of murdering his baby son was today taking his estranged wife to court to demand visitation rights to their daughter. Sharon Oldacre, 26, has spent three years rebuilding her life after husband Paul murdered their son Jamie when he
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Malmesbury made up for seventh year
Malmesbury Rugby Club, just starting their seventh season, have been granted full membership of the Rugby Football Union. The club, previously only an associate member of the Wilts & Dorset RFU enjoyed a successful 2001/2 season, winning more friendly
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Johnson joins Ciren's ranks
FORMER Gloucester and England A winger Brian Johnson has taken on the role of coach at Cirencester rugby club. Having signed a two-year agreement with the Gloucestershire Premier Division club, Johnson is hoping the position could be a springboard to
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Plea for blitz on young drinkers
TRADERS and town councillors in Calne want the police to do more to discourage under-age drinking, which they believe is inhibiting the regeneration of the town centre. They are concerned groups of under-age drinkers congregating outside the town hall
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Medic to sail round world
EMMA-KATE Lacey, who has just celebrated her graduation as a doctor, will be putting her medical skills into practise on a gruelling challenge on the high seas. Miss Lacey, 22, of Wyvern Avenue, Calne, has volunteered to be a medic on one of the yachts
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Parachute jumper is given a head start
STUDENT Michael Burden had a close shave to help his fundraising friend Sarah Richards pay for a hair-raising experience of her own. Mr Burden, 19, of Victoria Terrace, Calne, had his shoulder length locks shorn to a 'number one' cut to help fund Miss
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Cashier tells of robbery at knifepoint
GARAGE cashier Mary Giles has spoken of her ordeal after she was robbed at knifepoint. Mrs Giles, 66, was working at the Murco Garage in Oxford Road, Calne, when a man pushed her, threatened her with a knife and snatched about £60 from the till. Mrs Giles
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Village's grief at death of girl, 12
CHILDREN released orange balloons into the night sky as villagers paid a touching tribute to 12-year-old Charlotte Smith, who was killed in a collision with a car. Parents blocked off part of the road through Lower Compton, close to where the accident
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Controlled explosions in Trowbridge
BOMB squad experts carried out a series of controlled explosions in Bythesea Road in Trowbridge yesterday afternoon after a pile of up to 100 live grenades were found by workmen at the old TA site. Part of the town centre was sealed off and the explosions
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Future of Victorian vicarage in balance
MEMBERS of Southbroom parochial church council in Devizes are to take advice from a higher authority after they were told that Salisbury Diocese wants to sell off their Victorian vicarage. The PCC, which runs St James Church, was told on July 18 that
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Town forced to call off Watford visit
Cirencester Town's friendly clash with Watford has been cancelled. The Hornets were due to bring a reserve side to the Corinium Stadium this evening, but continuing problems with the new pitch has led to the game being scrapped. The playing surface which
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Fan scores top prize in raffle
DAVID Beckham fan Lee Hutchings has won a football shirt signed by his idol. Mr Hutchings, 27, won the shirt in a raffle organised by the PTA at St Peter's Primary School in Devizes. Mr Hutchings is a former pupil at the school and his mother, Jackie
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£10,000 grant saves historic medical files
PATIENTS' casebooks from the former Roundway Hospital, going back nearly 150 years, have been saved for posterity by a £10,000 grant. Archivists at the Wiltshire and Swindon Record Office were deeply concerned at the state of the 40 casebooks, which were
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Passengersgain a voice
USERS of public transport in Kennet district have been given a voice with the formation of Kennet Passengers, which held its inaugural meeting last month. The organisation will lobby local councils and Government with the opinions of local people who
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Painting duo put on a show
TWO of Marlborough's best known painters Karon Staniland and Stella Harrison have their work on show at the weekend at Mrs Staniland's home in St Martins, next to the Royal British Legion Club. Mrs Staniland formerly ran the Bazazzo Gallery in Silverless
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Picnic in the park kicks off carnival
FAMILIES are being urged to have a fun day out at the Devizes Carnival picnic, which will launch two weeks of carnival activities. The event, which was hailed a huge success after being staged for the first time last year, will be held on Sunday August
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Fire forum to build on success of its mailing
MEMBERS of the Marlborough Fire Forum are to follow up their recent leaflet drop with an open day at the town hall in November at which property owners and tenants can get fire safety advice. The fire forum was launched following the devastating blaze
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Shoot boosts bobbies' aim
FUNDraising by Marlborough bobbies Richard Oakman and Mike Barrett, who are to walk part of the Great Wall of China in aid of the new Swindon hospital Evolution Appeal, has been given a £485 kickstart. The money was raised on Saturday when Country Events
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Unbridled fun on horses' hols
THE centre of Devizes is a little less colourful this week after its four most famous residents left for their annual holiday. Royal, Buscot, Harry and Wilt, the Wadworth dray horses who deliver the brewery's ales for 50 weeks of the year, are given their
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Happiness is key to long life
THE Marchioness of Lansdown was a surprise visitor during Olive Wood's 102nd birthday celebrations on Friday at the Marlborough nursing home where she lives. The marchioness is president of the Wiltshire Blind Association of which Mrs Wood is a member
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Dog walking charity invites volunteers
A CHARITY that provides dog walkers for elderly people who are no longer able to exercise their pets themselves is appealing for volunteers in the Marlborough and Pewsey areas. The Cinnamon Trust, which operates from Hayle near St Ives in Cornwall, was
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Puzzle as doorstep tricksters hit again
BOGUS callers struck in the Marlborough area again this week leaving police puzzled by the fact that the majority of recent offences have happened on Monday afternoons. The raid, at about 1.30pm on Monday, came in a week when pensioners were conned in
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Schoolchildren will turn store into a beach scene
LIFE will be a beach at Swindon's Staples store in Greenbridge, Stratton, when young artists create a seascape mural. The junior artists from the Nythe Primary School, aged five to 11, were having lots of fun producing their masterpiece at the school
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Court told witness was intimidated
PRISON awaits teenager Gary Gunning, who has been found guilty of robbing a £1.20 bus fare from a man standing at a town centre stop. A jury at Swindon Crown Court took just under two hours yesterday to find that 18-year-old Gunning, of Keynsham Walk,
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Students learn to cross bridges as a team
STUDENTS put their thinking caps on to build bridges out of little more than paper and toilet rolls. Teams from six secondary schools battled it out at Greendown School in a race against time to build the longest possible bridge with basic building materials
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We're staging Children in Need
SWINDON will stage one of three huge concerts as part of this year's BBC Children In Need appeal. Despite facing massive financial problems, Swindon Council's cabinet last night decided to donate £10,000 from its reserves towards the cost of the event
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Legacy of Red Gables lives on
THE site of a former children's home in Purton has been transformed into a brand new housing estate. The old Red Gables' children's home in Restrop Road was closed in 1997, 83 years after it opened. It was demolished but has now been replaced with 11
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Office block revamp
A REDUNDANT 70s office block in Princes Street is to be turned into flats and a health club. The Marchday Group Plc was granted permission by Swindon planners on Tuesday night to turn Windsor House office block, formerly known as the Atrium, into 130
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Get priorities right
LAST Friday, having read in the Gazette about the sponsor's signs over the hanging baskets in Marlborough being too large I decided to look for myself. Both the baskets and the sponsor's signs are so insignificant as to be almost invisible. Visitors to
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Victorian times recreated
A CELEBRATION of the Victorian era is the subject of a fun day of events at the Richard Jefferies Museum this month. Called the Victorian Extravaganza, the show invites all the family to enjoy Victorian era entertainment, from Punch and Judy, to coconut
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Solicitor helps crash victim win damages
A SWINDON solicitor has helped a businesswoman who escaped uninjured in the Ladbroke Grove railway disaster gain £108,500 in damages. Thirty-one people, including Swindon computer programmer David Roberts, 35, and Bryan Tompson, 61, of Ampney Crucis,
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Badly decomposed body found in house
THE body of a 45-year-old man lay in his Devizes home for seven weeks before being discovered, an inquest heard this week. Police were called to the home of Francis Peter Mooney last Friday after neighbours noticed a large number of flies in the front
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Mental health plan is criticised
A THREE-YEAR recovery plan drawn up in an attempt to slash the £485,000 deficit in south Wiltshire's spending bill on mental health services crossed its first hurdle at a public meeting in Salisbury on Friday. The plan - including controversial proposals
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Harmony needed
I write to support the letter (July 25) from M Trevelyan-Hall concerning Marlborough College. The relationship between town and gown (as in Oxford/Cambridge, Eton/Harrow) can sometimes be difficult but never intolerable. However, the ancient town of Marlborough
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Work at disaster site honoured
A SOUTH Wiltshire man who was one of the first Metropolitan police officers to arrive at the scene of the horrendous Ladbroke Grove train disaster in London three years ago has been honoured. PC Graham Sharpe, who lives in Firsdown, near Salisbury, was
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Bin this scheme
I WRITE concerning the article on Page 5 of the Gazette last week about every household in the North Wiltshire District Council area being supplied with a wheelie bin free of charge. It is not so. We will pay for them through our council tax. Also, any
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Fined for forgetting a football friendly was being played
FORGETFUL football hooligan Darren Platt breached an international football ban because he had no idea England were playing two friendlies, a court heard. Print finisher Platt, 26, of Downton Road, Penhill, received the three-year banning order for affray
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Children pay tribute to road victim
CHILDREN released orange balloons into the night sky as residents of a Wiltshire village paid a touching tribute to 12-year-old Charlotte Smith, who was killed in a collision with a car. Parents blocked off the road in Lower Compton where the accident
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New pool is 'good and big'
TEN-year-old Ben Taylor, of Salisbury, summed it up for everyone when he said: "It's really good and big. More people can swim - it's great." He was talking about the gleaming new pools that form the watery element at Five Rivers leisure centre and swimming
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Schools say farewell to influential figureheads
TWO of the Swindon's most respected figures in education have stepped down this summer. Chris Gale has resigned as Ridgeway School's chairman of governors after 10 years. And Barry Fenby has retired as head of Dorcan School after 28 years in charge. Mr
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Safety is real issue surrounding signs
DURING the last three weeks the Gazette has published letters from Dr Glossop, Chris Walton and Dr Gray concerning unauthorised signs in the highway and how these are dealt with by the county council. Signs placed in the highway which do not comply with
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Wheelie bins will turn streets into eyesores
IT was with real dismay that I read last week in the Gazette of North Wiltshire District Council's proposals to introduce wheelie bins throughout the district. Have our councillors and their officers really given the matter serious thought? If they go
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Ruling 'could open floodgates'
SALISBURY will have to wait until the end of this month to learn whether it is to get a landmark ruling that could see the district council flooded with applications from pubs and bars to extend their licences for music and dancing. No pubs or bars in
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Stonehenge centre wins Lottery cash
AMBITIOUS plans to provide Stonehenge with a top-class visitor centre and rid the World Heritage site of the modern-day clutter of roads, traffic and fencing hit the jackpot this week - not just once, but twice. It was revealed yesterday that the venture
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We won't bite you
THERE have been several recent articles about the lack of consultation between Swindon and Wootton Bassett on future major road or housing expansion plans that could affect our town. In particular, comments made by Peter Doyle, Wootton Bassett town and
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Bath's Rec hopes hit by High Court ruling
THE possibility of Bath playing matches outside the city moved a step closer yesterday after a High Court judgment effectively hampered their hopes of increasing the capacity at their current Recreation Ground home. Swindon's Town's County Ground, along
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Silver medal show for the Old Boars
DEVIZES Old Boars over 40s rugby team emerged with two wins and a defeat from their Commonwealth Games adventure at Eccles RFC, Manchester, at the weekend (27 & 28 July). A 20 strong squad from the Wiltshire club travelled to the north west to take
