Archive
-
Date
Hospital loses dead mother's belongings
MELONY Elder, who filed a formal complaint after she found her mother Sheila Patterson dead in her bed at Royal United Hospital, Bath, said she is completely unsatisfied with the investigation and angry her mother's belongings have been lost. Mrs Elder
-
Date
Court jails man who failed last chance
YOUNG offender Lee Turner, who was given four months to turn around his life of crime, has failed and was jailed on Monday. Turner, 20, of Corsham, who has 11 previous convictions, was saved from an almost certain custodial sentence in January when financial
-
Date
Elderly foil tricksters
THREE elderly women have foiled tricksters who called at their homes in Derry Hill. A man and a woman knocked at their doors and gave a variety of reasons to be let in including pretending to want a glass of water, asking for a donation for the Roman
-
Date
Farmer found shot in barn
FARMER Bob Griffiths, who had suffered with long-term depression, has been found dead with a gunshot wound. It's believed the father-of-two, who would have been 40 on Saturday, took his own life. He was born near Chippenham where he went to school before
-
Date
Residents demand action on blackspot
ANGRY residents are demanding urgent action to improve safety on Lyneham's roads, following the death of RAF airman Colin Burnett last week. The 32-year-old father-of-two was killed when his motorbike collided with a Porsche on the B4069 Chippenham Road
-
Date
Box v Marlborough
A hard-hitting display of 77 from Frank Whiting took Marlborough to a four-wicket win at Box in Glos/Wilts Division Two. Box batted first and were in a good position thanks to Richard Foley (64), Neil Pettit (32) and Tony Trotman (21). A mid-innings collapse
-
Date
Swindon v Devizes
SWINDON slumped yet again with a five-wicket defeat to Devizes that leaves them perilously near the foot of the Glos/Wilts Division One 1st XI table. Having elected to have first use of what looked an easy-paced wicket Swindon needed a competitive total
-
Date
Team event proves a winner
THE quartet of Kevin Arthur, Ken Clark, Alaistair Clark and Roger Searle scored a bumper 120 points to ensure their Pewsey Radiovision team picked up the inaugural Salisbury Journal/High Post Corporate Golf Challenge trophy on Thursday. More than 100
-
Date
Richard set for Le Mans challenge
SALISBURY'S Richard Stanton is spearheading the challenge of the De Walt Race Sport team at this weekend's Le Mans 24 hour race. Stanton is one of six drivers in the all-British team which is bidding for success across the channel in their TVR. "We could
-
Date
Man robs grocery store
A MAN stole thousands of pounds in cash from a Box store last Friday and then assaulted a member of staff as he made his escape. Police believe the man entered the rear office of the Co-operative shop in High Street after walking through the store at
-
Date
Town bursts into bloom
CORSHAM town centre is sprucing itself up for the summer with a new stained glass window and 100 hanging flower baskets. The stained glassed window was unveiled in the town hall on the 50th anniversary of the queen's coronation. Meanwhile, floral hanging
-
Date
Father and son with reason to celebrate
PROUD dad Keith Ratcliffe has a special reason to celebrate Father's Day this year, now the son he once nearly lost to meningitis has returned safely from the war in Iraq. Lee Ratcliffe, 18, of Yockney Close in Corsham, is enjoying a few weeks' leave
-
Date
Alien invasion
WIZARDS and witches, dragons and aliens, angels and monsters, all assembled in a quiet Wiltshire village at the weekend. Hundreds turned out for Kington Langley's third annual Scarecrow Weekend with the theme of Out of This World - and residents stretched
-
Date
Plea to pet owner
DAUNSTEY farmer Robert Eustace is appealing for the owner of a shepherd dog worrying his sheep to come forward. The dog, which has a black and golden coat that has been cropped, is allowed to run amok by his owner and has already killed two lambs and
-
Date
MP welcomes news of towns' broadband boost
NORTH Wiltshire MP James Gray said he was delighted to hear that Malmesbury and Wootton Bassett would both go live with broadband within the next few months. He said BT would start to build the necessary lines and hoped to go live in around ten weeks'
-
Date
Motorcyclist dies at accident blackspot
A 29-YEAR-OLD serviceman from RAF Lyneham died after his motorbike was in collision with a van on the A3102 Lyneham to Calne road yesterday (June 11) at 11.50am. The man, who was driving his silver Triumph Daytona towards Hilmarton, crashed into the front
-
Date
Feat of strength
AFTER the pain and exhaustion of long stretches in the saddle, the 14th Crudwell 24-hour bike ride ended outside the village hall with cheers of appreciation from spectators on Sunday. It had been a tough ordeal for many of the 355 riders who, between
-
Date
Leader wants to help others
NORTH Wiltshire District Council's new chairman Coun Dianne Moore is looking forward to her new role as the public face of the council. Coun Moore, who has lived in Chippenham for 30 years, took over as chairman from Coun Brian Atfield at the first meeting
-
Date
Pub group on the rocks
PUB chain Porter Blacks has gone into receivership and been taken over by new management. KPMG Corporate Recovery is currently running business as usual while it looks for a buyer. The pub chain Porter Black Holdings operates 32 licensed premises across
-
Date
Winner to see the cash flow
WESSEX Water has £10,000 to give away to a local project to improve the environment. The award is part of the celebrations for the tenth anniversary of the Wessex Watermark - a scheme that has supported numerous environmental projects over the last decade
-
Date
MP welcomes news of towns' broadband boost
NORTH Wiltshire MP James Gray said he was delighted to hear that Malmesbury and Wootton Bassett would both go live with broadband within the next few months. He said BT would start to build the necessary lines and hoped to go live in around ten weeks'
-
Date
Plea to pet owner
DAUNSTEY farmer Robert Eustace is appealing for the owner of a shepherd dog worrying his sheep to come forward. The dog, which has a black and golden coat that has been cropped, is allowed to run amok by his owner and has already killed two lambs and
-
Date
A little flutter solved mystery of soldier
THE mystery surrounding one of Sherston's six forgotten First World War soldiers, Gabriel Wicks, has been solved in an amazing set of coincidences. The soldier died aged 19 while fighting for the 6th Shropshire Light Infantry at the second Battle of the
-
Date
Trouble in the air as mast is criticised
MOBILE phone giant O2 has assured worried residents that the 80ft mast built on Filands Farm is temporary and safe. The Tetra mast is part the new £1billion Airwave police communication system being installed throughout the country and was put up last
-
Date
Jumping out of the pages
CHILDREN'S author Bob Hartman was at Malmesbury Abbey last week reading stories from his books. The former pastor has been working as a performance storyteller with children for the last 12 years and entertained more than a hundred children and parents
-
Date
Little top brings big circus fun to town
THE crowd gasps as the black stallion rears on its hind legs and a juggler's club arcs towards the roof of the big top in a mesmerising cascade. Yes, Giffords Circus has come to Malmesbury and what an enjoyable show it was, too. Based on the village circus
-
Date
Closing court is an injustice
DEVIZES is set to lose its court house with the announcement that a brand new one is to be built in Salisbury. For some time now it has been known that that the writing was on the wall for justice in Kennet. Despite protests the decision had already been
-
Date
West End top county league
West End hold a narrow lead in Area A of the Wiltshire Four-Rink League, with three other teams hard on their heels. Swindon and Rodbourne Cheney both have a game in hand on the leaders. There are 14 points at stake in each match, six for the overall
-
Date
Supermarine A edge out B string in derby
Swindon Supermarine A and B fought out the10th local derby in the latest round of Swindon & District 4-Rink League matches, the A side coming out on top by just one shot 75-74. With fluctuating fortunes on all four rinks Richard Gardiner looked to
-
Date
County rivals set for league clash
TROWBRIDGE warmed up for this weekend's Wiltshire derby against Swindon by beating Dumbleton by 45 runs in a low scoring game in Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Division One. After a good start, Trowbridge lost their last seven wickets for 34 runs as the
-
Date
Young openers in form in derby tie
CHIPPENHAM comfortably overcame a weakened Westbury side in the first round of the Portman National under 15s club championship. Openers Tim Rowson (59 not out) and Liam Dawson (45) gave Chippenham a solid foundation with an opening partnership of 90
-
Date
Building firm in liquidation
THE Swindon-based UK headquarters of a multi-national building firm responsible for the construction of a £16.2m airport terminal in Guernsey has gone into voluntary liquidation. Concept Developments (Wiltshire) Ltd, which has bases on the Europa Industrial
-
Date
Equestrian stars shine at Wilton
THE presence of Zara Phillips as a competitor ensured that Wilton Horse Trials was once again a right royal occasion. But the daughter of the Princess Royal was not a winner at the weekend, finishing eighth on Biddesden Marengo, nine points off the lead
-
Date
Cup of woe for county
WILTSHIRE exited the Minor Counties Knockout Cup after suffering a disappointing 76-run defeat to Buckinghamshire at Chippenham on Sunday. With rain threatening and the possibility of a rain reduced match, skipper Russell Rowe won the toss and invited
-
Date
Moulding plays mop up role in victory
South Newton 123-9 bt Eastleigh & Otterbourne II 62 all out A RAIN-affected pitch hampered South Newton's progress with John Mitch-ell's brisk 13 the highlight of the opening exchanges. Chris Penny arrived at the crease in the tenth over, after three
-
Date
Captain leads way
Farley bt Over Wallop Hampshire Division One North WINNING the toss and electing to field, the Farley skipper again gave his bowlers the chance to perform and he wasn't disappointed as Over Wallop were dismissed for 172 with only Cavill, 62, offering
-
Date
Nomansland caught out by diving Seward
Sulhamstead 178-6 beat Nomansland 152 (Hampshire Division One North) IF EVER a catch won a match, Jamie Seward's was the one. Nomansland's Lee Palmer looked like taking the visitors home until Seward took off on the boundary and made as fine a catch as
-
Date
Wade's battlers close in on leaders
SOUTH Wilts rose to the dizzy heights of second in the table after they recorded their third win on the trot. The Salisbury side's emphatic victory at Andover, combined with defeat for Bournemouth and a draw for Havant, helped consolidate their claims
-
Date
Fire service gets roasting
THE Swindon and District Men's Bowls Association continued their 2003 campaign with an impressive 119-103 victory over the English Fire Service on Saturday at Swindon Bowls Club. The host rink of Mike Williams, Cliff Dennis, Bob Hiles, and skip Don Clarke
-
Date
Wawickshire 99, Wiltshire 126
WILTSHIRE opened their Middleton Cup campaign with an excellent win over Warwickshire at Coventry. There were wins for the rinks skipped by Mark Dyer, Graham Shadwell, Dave Snell and Steve Warren, while Neil Smith and Ian Jefferies narrowly lost. Mark
-
Date
Forecast looks good for two
WOULD-BE weathermen and women will be thundering a path to Bristol this weekend, in a bid to join the BBC. One hundred hopefuls from across the West will attempt to follow in the footsteps of Bill Giles and Michael Fish at the BBC Talent auditions at
-
Date
BT's early gift brings instant connections
BROADBAND availability is taking off in Wiltshire as BT has passed its initial target of one million UK broadband connections by the summer. To mark the achievement, BT is cutting every trigger level in the UK by 50 registrations, a reduction of up to
-
Date
Hall will use solar power
AFTER two years of consultation, Neston Memorial Hall is finally ready for refurbishment. The hall committee hopes the first phase of the work to revamp the kitchen will be complete by the end of the summer. Plans for the refurbishment were presented
-
Date
Hosts needed for French kids
AN English language study firm is appealing for local families to adopt a French child for a few weeks this summer. Belaf, run by husband and wife team Tim and Carole Browne, of Cherhill, provides study holidays for French- speaking children. The couple
-
Date
Youth teams are clamouring to join new league
OFFICIALS of the new North Wilts District Youth and Minors Football League say they have been overwhelmed by the response from teams wanting to join. Virtually all clubs from the Swindon and District League have made the switch to the new regime and the
-
Date
Farmer dies of gunshot wound
FARMER Bob Griffiths, who had suffered with long-term depression, has been found dead with a gunshot wound. It's believed the father-of-two, who would have been 40 on Saturday, took his own life. He ran farms in Woodborough and Manningford and it was
-
Date
Police come under fire for failing to halt rave
POLICE officers were expected to come under severe criticism last night for their lack of action over an illegal rave in Savernake Forest. Several people including Joan Davies, chairman of Savernake Parish Council, had asked for the issue to be discussed
-
Date
Golden memories of Queen's coronation
FORMER National Serviceman Fred Greenaway says he will never forget the day of the Queen's coronation 50 years ago. He was chosen to be among the elite of British troops on parade for the glittering occasion and remembers with pride marching ahead of
-
Date
Trust is accused of ignoring comment
THE Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary Care Trust has denied claims that it did not consider all the responses received in its consultation on changes in health services. The trust has been accused of rushing the consultation through since it began in
-
Date
Outcry as death knell sounds for last court
COUNCILLORS fighting to save Kennet's last remaining courthouse have spoken out in fury at the decision to close it. The fate of the magistrates' court in Devizes was sealed this week by the decision of Lord Chancellor Derry Irvine to give the green light
-
Date
Jobs safe at former hotel
THE OWNERS of the former Savernake Forest Hotel have said the Marlborough Area Development Trust's fears of job losses are unfounded. Karl and Angela Baum run a successful business, KBA Consultancy and Training Ltd, from the old hotel building between
-
Date
Huge boost to recycling
KENNET District Council is to dramatically increase its spending on waste collection in order to recycle more materials. The council has been set a target of recycling 25 per cent of household waste in Kennet by 2006. Its current recycling rate is 11.6
-
Date
Work on Locarno is agreed
AN initial package of remedial work has been agreed for the Locarno and repair work on the building could start by the end of the month. Owner Gael Mackenzie and Swindon Council the authority responsible for public safety in the immediate area surrounding
-
Date
Road to shut for six months to allow flats to be built
TRADERS and residents in Old Town are unhappy over the proposed six month closure of a road they claim is vital to business. Cheryl Deller, 50, who runs the Flower Market, Devizes Road, fears that if builders close off Bradford Road people will be discouraged
-
Date
College blamed for television wipeout
A £15 million scheme to rebuild New College has been blamed for ruining people's TV viewing in parts of Walcot. Scores of homeowners say they have had their television pictures distorted after work started on the building in December 2001. Residents living
-
Date
Normandy veterans remember comrades
IT would have taken far more than pouring rain to stop a contingent of veterans in Salisbury from commemorating the 59th anniversary of D-Day on Friday. More than 40 gathered at the war memorial in the Guildhall Square for a service to mark the anniversary
-
Date
£1.1m injection for leukaemia research team
aSCIENTISTS at Salisbury District Hospital are to offer fresh hope to people with rare forms of leukaemia after being awarded a £1.1 million grant by a national charity this week. The money from the Leukaemia Research Fund will be used by the hospital's
-
Date
End of era for Battle Axe
AFTER more than 56 years' service with the 32nd Regiment Royal Artillery, the historic 74 Battery, Battle Axe Company, has left Larkhill to move north. The officers and men of the famous company have joined the 39th Regiment Royal Artillery at their home
-
Date
Camp vigil pays off as dad bags dream home
DETERMINED dad Matthew Hibberd, who spent three weeks under canvas to peg down his family's dream home, hopes to move in within the next 28 days. The 31-year-old braved floods and postponed celebrations for his birthday and third wedding anniversary to
-
Date
Stones plan will help "blighted communities"
AN exhibition opening in Amesbury today will give people the chance to have their say on an £183m package of road improvements aimed at restoring the natural setting of Stonehenge and tackling traffic snarl-ups on the key A303 holiday route. The exhibition
-
Date
Lucky escape for teenager trapped in pit
CHILDREN are being warned to stay away from building sites after an Amesbury boy was rescued from a 26ft deep construction pit. Marten Cox (13), who is a pupil at the town's Stonehenge School, had been playing in his back garden around 7pm, when friends
-
Date
Actress takes lead role in foresight saga
ACTRESS Amanda Ryan organised a special Day of Hopes in Calne for her biggest fans - her family. The 31-year-old, who starred alongside Cate Blanchett in historical thriller Elizabeth, has relatives in Westbury, Chippenham and Calne on her mother's side
-
Date
Anger over spoiled post
large="ghstamp.jpg" small="ghstamp2.jpg"/>STAMP collector Paul Evans is seeking a Royal Mail inquiry after a set of postcards with first edition stamps were returned to him incorrectly marked and damaged. Mr Evans, 44, of Dixon Way, Calne, has been
-
Date
CCTV volunteers set to boost crime battle
THE first batch of volunteers has signed up to staff Calne's CCTV monitoring station, which could be up and running in a month. The CCTV system, which records the town centre 24 hours a day, has already proved a success and the police have used several
-
Date
Death trap fears for abandoned factory
POLICE fear an abandoned factory, which has become a magnet for young vandals, is a potential death trap. The building was left vacant 18 months ago when Calne's Signum Circuits went into liquidation. It has since been plagued by gangs of youngsters,
-
Date
Stratton are on the lookout
STRATTON Under 11s are looking for players for the 2003/2004 season. The contacts are Nigel Hiscock on 01793 349087 or Gavin Graham on 01793 638880. GREENMEADOW Youth, after securing new sponsors JWD Auto Ride, are seeking new under 14 players for next
-
Date
NFC recruiting
THE NFC Soccer Sixes tournament takes place on Sunday, July 27, and organisers are seeking teams to take part. The senior competition will be played at Wanborough's King Edward's Place ground. Any clubs wanting to enter a team can contact organiser Neil
-
Date
South Cerney in six appeal
SOUTH Cerney Football Club are holding their annual men's six-a-side competion on Sunday, June 22. The competition will be run on a league basis and all teams wishing to participate must be affiliated. To enter a team contact Gavin Jones on 01285 869223
-
Date
Pete finds a holiday hot-spot Down Under
DEVIZES firefighter Pete Eagles has just returned from the busman's holiday of a lifetime in Australia where he joined Aussie colleagues on call at the busiest fire station in the southern hemisphere. Mr Eagles, 37, who works for Kennet District Council
-
Date
Double joy for Croft Juniors
CROFT Juniors have been in fine post-season form after sweeping aside all opponents in two summer tournaments. The under 10 squad travelled to Cheltenham for a six-a-side competition in which the best young sides from Gloucestershire and Bristol took
-
Date
A wizard day to celebrate
HARRY Potter fans are being invited to celebrate at Devizes library the publication of the young wizard's latest adventure. Librarians at Wiltshire County Council have organised the event to coincide with the publication on June 21 of Harry Potter and
-
Date
Car park attendant has a job in store
FORMER car park attendant Tim Merritt has got a new job. Mr Merritt, of Hillworth Gardens, Devizes, was laid off from his job as the part-time car park attendant at One Stop in the Market Place, Devizes. He was told his services were no longer required
-
Date
Adding up to a world class
BUDDING mathematicians at Rowde Primary School, near Devizes, have enjoyed remarkable success in the recent World Class Tests. The tests are designed for the top ten per cent of children in mathematics and problem solving. These are the children expected
-
Date
Navy crew delivers gift after war delay
A CASKET of goodies from Marlborough, Wiltshire, has finally made it to Marlborough in New Zealand after being held up by the war in Iraq. It was sent by Coun Margaret Boulton who was Mayor of Marlborough until Coun Bill Cavill took office in May. Rather
-
Date
String sensation
DEVIZES FESTIVAL 2003: YOUNG local violinist Georgia Browne played an outstanding opening concert for the Devizes Festival fringe at St John's Church on Sunday afternoon. She was accompanied by Tom Hartley on piano. These two Bristol University music
-
Date
Farmer dies of gunshot wound
FARMER Bob Griffiths, who had suffered with long-term depression, has been found dead with a gunshot wound. It's believed the father-of-two, who would have been 40 on Saturday, took his own life. He ran farms in Woodborough and Manningford and it was
-
Date
Objectors cry foul on pavilion scheme
TOWN councillors in Marlborough say the town's public school has bowled wide of the mark with its plans for a new two-storey pavilion on its Hyde Lane playing fields. However today Kennet District Council officers are recommending councillors give the
-
Date
Youngsters get chance to explore sculpture
TALENTED young artists have got the chance to work alongside a professional sculptor in a free summer school. Peatmoor Primary School is hosting In At The Deep End, a six day exploration of large scale sculpture inspired by sea life. The a week-long course
-
Date
Brigadier Gray goes to Basra
TORY MP James Gray, who never rose above the rank of private, has been made an honorary Brigadier in time to visit British troops in southern Iraq. The North Wiltshire MP is spending an arduous week in the Basra area to assess efforts to rebuild the country
-
Date
Seventy per cent believe in astrology
There are 15 astrology schools in the UK. You can study for a degree in astrology. Research by Leeds University, for Olgivy and Mather (the advertising company) found more than 70 per cent of people believed there was truth in astrology. Broadcaster Derrick
-
Date
'I noticed his eyes were like pinpricks'
SWINDON DRUGS FEATURE: THE IDEA that your child might become involved with serious drugs like heroin is every parent's nightmare. But the sad reality is it does happen, and every parent should be aware of the signs of drug use, because the problem needs
-
Date
Plan to form drama group
A COMMUNITY drama group is being set up in Penhill. Organiser Cate Watson wants people of all ages, especially youngsters, to get involved. Cate, 30, said: "I'm aiming to get around 25 people, and eight have already signed up. "This will enable residents
-
Date
Protect village
I READ with dismay and disbelief, that the breathtakingly beautiful village of Slaughterford is once again being threatened by developers. Countryside Properties has applied and failed on six planning applications to build houses in this conservation
-
Date
Soldier takes to the sea for race
AN ARMY officer from Swin-don is taking on the might of the German Army in a 3,600-mile dash across the Atlantic. Major Simon Davies will join 13 other men from the British Army in the Daimler-Chrysler North Atlantic Challenge, a yacht race from Rhode
-
Date
School blameless
I sympathise with the letter entitled Lessons for School in the Gazette on May 29. I wholeheartedly agree with the writer that Dunstan and the other schools in Calne are a credit to the pupils and their head teachers. The problem is not of Fynamore's
-
Date
Residents make call for safety on roads
RESIDENTS are demanding action to improve safety on Lyneham's roads, following the death of RAF airman Colin Burnett last week. The 32-year-old father-of-two was killed when his motorbike was in collision with a Porsche on the B4069 Chip-penham Road.
-
Date
Victoria reigns over festival
There are 18 days left until the beginning of the Old Town Festival at the end of the month. The event celebrates the culture and extensive history of the Old Town area with around 40 events taking place over the week. The 11th festival is being organised
-
Date
RAF boys break for the border to bring Mexican merchandise home
A HERCULES crew from RAF Lyneham has stepped in to help a theatre group with its production of Much Ado About Nothing. During an exercise in California the crew were asked to hop on a bus into Mexico to shop for The Meysey Players. Their list included
-
Date
Blame council for lack of candidates
YOUR paper recently gave space to a comment by Coun Charles Vernon about the failure to have contested elections for seats on the town council. In his view it was due to apathy. I wonder if it has occurred to Coun Vernon (now Mayor Vernon) that the lack
-
Date
Courthouses move to bigger site on Wilton Road
A NEW courthouse providing Salisbury with a modern magistrates' court as well as crown and county courts, is to be built off Wilton Road it was revealed this week. The new court complex is to be built on the existing car park opposite the Old Manor Hospital's
-
Date
The nurse who has felt really welcome
IMMIGRATION FEATURE: KATHLEEN McCalla has worked in the NHS for more than four decades. Born in Jamaica, the 71-year-old did her nursing training in London and moved to Swindon with her husband Wentworth in 1959. She found work at the Victoria Hospital
-
Date
Murder footnote
THE story by Lewis Cowen last week of the assistance that the Gazette and Herald has been able to give HTV film makers on the case of Constance Kent convicted in 1865 on her confessing to the murder of her three-year-old stepbrother at Rode five years
-
Date
Widow waits ten months for council to rebuild home
AN elderly widow from Quidhampton is still waiting for her bungalow to be knocked down and rebuilt, nearly a year after she was moved into temporary council accommodation. Doreen Ascough (80) was moved to a bungalow in Victoria Road, Wilton, last August
-
Date
It's such a lovely town
IMMIGRATION FEATURE: IT worker Varaprasad Karamchedu thought long and hard before deciding to uproot his family from India and move here. He was the South Asia regional training manager for Motorola when he was offered a position based at its Swindon
-
Date
Ex-PoW has been a true Brit for 42 years
IMMIGRATION FEATURE: JIM Pajak made his home in Swindon after travelling the world in the Polish army during World War II. He was even a prisoner of war in Russia and that's where the 83-year-old learned English. "Some of the Polish soldiers were always
-
Date
We must tell the full story
I WAS upset to read that there is another protest against the newly-proposed skate park. But what really made me angry was the front page layout. Directly below the news of the protest was an article entitled Skateboarder, 12, admits to causing barn blaze
-
Date
Normandy veterans remember comrades
IT would have taken far more than pouring rain to stop a contingent of veterans in Salisbury from commemorating the 59th anniversary of D-Day on Friday. More than 40 gathered at the war memorial in the Guildhall Square for a service to mark the anniversary
-
Date
Rash of signs mars the view
YOUR readers will have noticed a number of new grey poles rising from Devizes' pavements in recent weeks. These are the result of the unexpected attentions of Wiltshire County Council Highways Department, which have blessed us with a completely new set
-
Date
My dancing days
WHEN I was five years old my parents (my father was also born in Swindon) wanted my sister and I to learn dancing.We went to Wendy Plaister of Bath Road. I am preparing my autobiography and this part is the start. I am trying to obtain a photograph, however
-
Date
Rubbish ideas
GJ F SHORT (EA June 5) appears to have completely missed the point of my letter about green sacks, which you printed on May 22. To spell it out what on earth is the point of encouraging residents to separate their garden waste from their other refuse
-
Date
We must defend the old
THE Advertiser (May 9) highlighted the spate of distraction burglaries. I'm sure many readers were angry after reading the article. What kind of people are these morons, robbing old age pensioners and targetting sheltered housing? Old people are on a
-
Date
MPs must pay for ignoring our views
IN THE period prior to the invasion of Iraq the Evening Advertiser conducted a survey that showed 80 per cent of people in Swindon were opposed to war. Despite this the two Swindon Members of Parliament backed Tony Blair, claiming that they were elected
-
Date
Residents fight plan for £400,000 nursery
AMBITIOUS plans to build a new £400,000 Barnardo's community nursery to help Chippenham parents get back to work, have come one step closer. Barnardo's has submitted a full planning application to build the 50-place nursery and Sure Start offices on land
-
Date
School pupils have an unexpected tweet
PUPILS at Monkton Park School in Chippenham have been enjoying a real 'tweet' this term, watching blackbirds nesting in the boys' toilets. Two adult birds got into the toilets through a window during the Easter holiday and set up a nest on one of the
-
Date
Kids have last word on park's design
YOUNGSTERS shared their views about the future of a new play area at Barrow Green in Chippenham. Plans for the play area were examined by the people who really matter the children who will be using it. The play area finally got the go-ahead recently after
-
Date
Gladiator biker makes a special delivery
GLADIATOR star Jane Omorogbe, Rio, roared into St Nicholas School, Chippenham to present pupils with a specially made £30,000 mini-bus on Monday. The Variety Club children's charity provided the special needs school with the new bus that has wheelchair
-
Date
Pub group on the rocks
PUB chain Porter Blacks has gone into receivership and been taken over by new management. KPMG Corporate Recovery is currently running business as usual while it looks for a buyer. The pub chain Porter Black Holdings operates 32 licensed premises across
-
Date
Eye test free for risk group
SPECSAVERS in Borough Parade, Chippenham, is joining the fight against glaucoma this week to raise awareness of the biggest cause of blindness in the country. The optician is offering free eye tests to groups potentially at risk from glaucoma. FROG (For
-
Date
Final step on Goldiggers
LAWYERS were busy making final arrangements to complete the deal for the purchase of the Goldiggers site, before the deadline of midnight last night. Developers E&J Redditch Ltd, which wants to pull down the former nightclub and cinema in Timber Street
-
Date
Valuable glass ruined
POLICE are hunting vandals who twice smashed intricately-engraved windows at St Peter's Church in Chippenham. The culprits first struck at the church in Lords Mead on May 29 and are believed to have used stones to crack a window in the side chapel. Then
-
Date
TV vet is a hit with children
TELEVISION vet Trude Mostue delighted youngsters at Redland Primary School in Chippenham last week when she answered questions about her career and presented the school with its Investors In People award. Trude sprang to fame as a young vet in the television
-
Date
Binman, 37, dies after collapsing
THE brother-in-law of 37-year-old refuse collector, Chris Jefferies, who died of a massive brain haemorrhage on Friday, has told how the whole family is numb with grief. Mr Jefferies, who lived with his wife Sally, 39, and daughter Louise, 13, in Braemor
-
Date
Colwall v Goatacre
A superb all-round display at Colwall gave Goatacre a much-needed first Glos/Wilts Division One win of the season. After restricting their hosts to 149-7 off their 50 overs, Goatacre knocked off the runs for the loss of four wickets in just 36 overs,
-
Date
Harvey books a semi-final Trophy date
Ian Harvey's heroics booked Gloucestershire a Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy semi-final place now he hopes his teammates can arrange him an August date at Lord's. Australian all-rounder Harvey claimed five wickets for 23 runs with his medium-pace
-
Date
Rod & Line - by Roland Batten
Forest park is pick of the venues ANGLERS are continuing to enjoy good sport with some big carp landed as well as excellent bags of tench, roach and rudd and a big cat. New Forest Water Park heads the list of venues with the biggest fish where carp to
-
Date
Equestrian stars shine at Wilton
THE presence of Zara Phillips as a competitor ensured that Wilton Horse Trials was once again a right royal occasion. But the daughter of the Princess Royal was not a winner at the weekend, finishing eighth on Biddesden Marengo, nine points off the lead
-
Date
Solid display ensures win
DOMINANT performances throughout the team lifted Salisbury's A team men to a big win over East Dorset in the top division of the Hants and IOW League on Saturday. Lee Mahony and Tim Gadenne did not lose a set, Tom Williams and Roger Witt only let one
-
Date
Emily prepares for cup opener
WOMEN'S rugby star Emily Cooke has arrived in Vancou-ver with her England team mates in readiness for their Churchill Cup campaign which opens on Saturday against the host nation Canada. England then take on the USA on Wednesday with a potential final
-
Date
Go back to traditional roots
IN this world where the environment is being damaged at an alarming rate more needs to be done to save it and one of the best places to start is in property. Just looking at building sites with their overflowing skips it is possible to see that the construction
-
Date
Captain Bell rings changes
SALISBURY Rugby Club have installed Dave Bell as first team captain for the forthcoming season. A prominent member of the squad during the past two seasons, Bell replaces Don Parsons who stepped down at the end of the 2002/3 campaign. Bell has already
-
Date
Complete IVF treatment now available in city
CHILDLESSNESS is the cause of heartbreak for many couples. Infertility treatment, including in-vitro fertilisation (IVF), has been available at Salisbury District Hospital since 1996. Now a new centre licensed in December by the Human Fertilisation and
-
Date
Dizzy heights for South Wilts
SOUTH Wilts Cricket Club registered an emphatic win over old foes Andover on Saturday to move up to second in the table - their highest position since finishing runners up in the 1999 season. Rob Wade's men eventually ground out a total of 184-8 after
-
Date
Double delight for Blencowe
ALAN Blencowe enjoyed his best ever weekend in motor racing when he secured two podium finishes at Silverstone in the latest rounds of the Green Flag British Touring Car Championship, writes Mike Turner. The Tisbury scaffolder finished third and then
-
Date
His luck must surely turn!
Yesterday we wished businessman John Keeping all the very best for the future. For he has suffered both the death of his wife and was fleeced of £164,000 by an employee he trusted. But today we have to report that Mr Keeping's misfortune is not yet at
-
Date
Small price to pay for goodwill
THE problems with television reception being experienced by people in the Upham Road area of Walcot since the New College rebuilding should be addressed immediately. When it comes to providing education, a number of factors are of great importance. It
-
Date
Evans Above!
YOUNG England goalkeeper Rhys Evans has invited Town to try and bring him 'home' but insists three lions on his shirt and two international clean sheets is proof enough for Andy King to make him a first-choice acquisition. The 21-year-old Swindonian has
-
Date
Town gets a taste of life during civil war
CORSHAM will be echoing with the sound of battle cries and roaring gunfire as a civil war re-enactment takes the town back in time. The Sealed Knot Living History Group will set up camp near the Lady Margaret Hungerford Almshouses on Saturday, recreating
-
Date
Court jails man who failed last chance
YOUNG offender Lee Turner, who was given four months to turn around his life of crime, has failed and was jailed on Monday. Turner, 20, of Corsham, who has 11 previous convictions, was saved from an almost certain custodial sentence in January when financial
-
Date
New business down on farm
THE Gooding family who farm at Colerne are opening a new pick your own fruit business today. Three generations have farmed in the village over more than 60 years. Now the third generation Peter and Kate Gooding have decided to diversify and start a fruit
-
Date
MP flies out to war zone
NORTH Wiltshire MP James Gray has packed his bags and headed off to Iraq to find out for himself about the post-war situation. "With quite a number of people from this area - including but not limited to very many servicemen and women from RAF Lyneham
-
Date
Trust is accused of ignoring comment
THE Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary Care Trust has denied claims that it did not consider all the responses received in its consultation on changes in health services. The trust has been accused of rushing the consultation through since it began in
-
Date
Farmer dies of gunshot wound
FARMER Bob Griffiths, who had suffered with long-term depression, has been found dead with a gunshot wound. It's believed the father-of-two, who would have been 40 on Saturday, took his own life. He ran farms in Woodborough and Manningford and it was
-
Date
Sheltered housing debate drags on
THE future of Aston House sheltered accommodation in Pewsey remains undecided, according to Sarsen Housing Association. The latest organisation to become embroiled in the long-running debate over the future of the warden-controlled bedsits and flats is
-
Date
Tommy second time lucky with signing
CHIPPENHAM Town boss Tommy Saunders has made his second signing of the summer with the capture of midfielder Ellis Wilmot at the second attempt. The 23-year-old Bath City player was a target for Saunders last season but he went out on a successful loan
-
Date
Eye test free for risk group
SPECSAVERS in Borough Parade, Chippenham, is joining the fight against glaucoma this week to raise awareness of the biggest cause of blindness in the country. The optician is offering free eye tests to groups potentially at risk from glaucoma. FROG (For
-
Date
Final step on Goldiggers
LAWYERS were busy making final arrangements to complete the deal for the purchase of the Goldiggers site, before the deadline of midnight last night. Developers E&J Redditch Ltd, which wants to pull down the former nightclub and cinema in Timber Street
-
Date
Feat of strength
AFTER the pain and exhaustion of long stretches in the saddle, the 14th Crudwell 24-hour bike ride ended outside the village hall with cheers of appreciation from spectators on Sunday. It had been a tough ordeal for many of the 355 riders who, between
-
Date
Benefactor given award
THE Bangladeshi government has awarded Badrul Amin of Malmesbury a certificate for his work sending medical equipment to Bangladesh. Mr Amin, of Alexander Road, was given the award by the Bangladesh health minister, the Rt Hon Quamrul Islam, last month
-
Date
Forgotten war dead are finally honoured
SIX of Sherston's First World War heroes, who until now have been forgotten, are to be commemorated on the memorial at the village church. The parish council has launched a £5,000 appeal to alter the memorial by adding the names of six men from Sherston
-
Date
Villagers set up youth club after vandal attacks
A YOUTH club is being set up in Minety in response to a recent spate of vandalism, which has been blamed on youngsters. A meeting last week, held in the sports pavilion, attracted a strong turn out of around 50 parents and children to discuss establishing
-
Date
Danger on 'safe' route to school
PRIMARY pupils using Nuns Walk in Malmesbury as a path to school are at risk from chicken wire and garden refuse being dumped and burnt there. The route, which connects St Aldhelm's Church at Cross Hayes to St Joseph's Primary School at Holloway, was
-
Date
Cry of foul on broadband bid
CAMPAIGNERS in Shertson have accused BT of moving the goalposts in their fight to bring broadband to the village. Sherston Business Group reached the 200 registrations BT said it needed before a feasibility study could be conducted two weeks ago. But
-
Date
Residents demand action on blackspot
ANGRY residents are demanding urgent action to improve safety on Lyneham's roads, following the death of RAF airman Colin Burnett last week. The 32-year-old father-of-two was killed when his motorbike collided with a Porsche on the B4069 Chippenham Road
-
Date
It's a match for anyone
THE multisports complex in Crudwell was officially opened on Saturday after a year-long campaign to get it built. The complex was the vision of 39 -year-old mother-of-two Rebecca Thomson who succumbed to a rare form of brain cancer in March 2002. An action
-
Date
Cricketers are bowled over by lottery cash windfall
YOUNG cricketers at Marlborough are celebrating the news that they have won a £1,200 Awards For All lottery grant. They money will be used to buy proper junior kit instead of making do with hand me downs from the Marlborough senior side coaching, venue
-
Date
Corsham v Taunton
CORSHAM slipped off the top of the Stroud and Swindon Premier League Division One after being held to a draw by newly promoted Taunton on Saturday. Corsham looked well on the way to victory as they reduced their visitors to 138 for eight, but a dogged
-
Date
Woodmancote v Malmesbury
MALMESBURY managed a scrappy win on Saturday against league newcomers Woodmancote. Having lost the toss Malmesbury, delighted to find themselves fielding on a damp wicket, made early inroads into the opposition batting to gain the upper hand, reducing
-
Date
Chippenham v Westbury-Old Bristolians
CHIPPENHAM'S promotion hopes took a knock as they went down to a 52 run home defeat in their Stroud and Swindon Premier League Division Two game. Chasing a modest total of 168 for victory, Chippenham were bowled out for just 115, with several batsmen
-
Date
Thrilling win moves Calne closer to title
WILTSHIRE CRICKET LEAGUE: THE last two unbeaten sides in Division One had their colours lowered on Saturday, with Westinghouse and Biddestone both losing. Westinghouse visited Purton and thanks to Chris Ferris (63 not out) and Paul Bailey (32) closed
-
Date
Optimism is rising after an industry slowdown
WHILE business confidence in the West wanes due to recruitment problems, a Swindon company has signalled increased optimism in the town's construction industry. Heathco Ltd, which is based in Shrivenham Road, thinks the market is starting to pick up again
-
Date
Having a ball for campaign
SWINDON CANNCER APPEAL: STAFF at Nationwide had a ball and hope to have raised hundreds of pounds for Macmillan Cancer Relief in the process. Workers at the building society's Pipers Way headquarters held a softball tournament last night where five teams
-
Date
Fonthill reach regional final
LDCC Fonthill 97-8 bt Winsley 95 LDCC Fonthill reached the regional final of the village knockout, with a two wicket win over Winsley on Sunday. Friday's rain left the wicket at Fonthill Park in a very damp condition, and after winning the toss, captain
-
Date
MP welcomes news of towns' broadband boost
NORTH Wiltshire MP James Gray said he was delighted to hear that Malmesbury and Wootton Bassett would both go live with broadband within the next few months. He said BT would start to build the necessary lines and hoped to go live in around ten weeks'
-
Date
Town gets a taste of life during civil war
CORSHAM will be echoing with the sound of battle cries and roaring gunfire as a civil war re-enactment takes the town back in time. The Sealed Knot Living History Group will set up camp near the Lady Margaret Hungerford Almshouses on Saturday, recreating
-
Date
Specials hope for recruits
WILTSHIRE Constabulary are hoping 30 Special Constables will join the force after potential volunteers attended an awareness day at the beginning of the month. The event was held in Salisbury and 30 information packs were distributed. It is hoped that
-
Date
Family trims accident risk
RUPERT Hodges, 16, took time out from studying for his GCSEs to cut four-foot high grass which was obscuring a busy road junction. His father Julian Hodges of Bath Road, Colerne said: "It is an accident waiting to happen. It is extremely dangerous. "The
-
Date
Grounded helicopter is back in the air
THE Wiltshire Police helicopter and Air Ambulance, which was grounded for five days due to a defect, is flying again. The police and ambulance service used an older machine while the helicopter was grounded. The defect, a crack in one of the flexbeams
-
Date
Winner to see the cash flow
WESSEX Water has £10,000 to give away to a local project to improve the environment. The award is part of the celebrations for the tenth anniversary of the Wessex Watermark a scheme that has supported numerous environmental projects over the last decade
-
Date
Police settle in
POLICE operators have moved into Wiltshire's new joint emergency control centre and begun working there. The £7 million centre, built alongside Wiltshire police's headquarters in London Road, Devizes, will comprise operators from Wiltshire police, ambulance
-
Date
Police player is given ban
FOOTBALLING policeman Adam Davey was handed a 42 match ban and fined £20 for violent conduct in an inter force match in April. The Devizes officer was playing for Wiltshire Police's over 40s veterans 'team against a side from South Wales. He was one of
-
Date
Schools sell voucher books to make cash
SCHOOLS across Wiltshire are taking part in a private fundraising scheme launched this month. The School Plus scheme provides schools with a discount voucher book for free which they can then sell to parents and their local community. Schools keep £6
-
Date
Shootouts add some tension
THE introduction of the dreaded penalty shootout ensured there was heartbreak and tears for hundreds of youngsters at Corsham Football Club's annual six-a-side tournament. It was the 13th year of the annual competition, which hosted 318 teams from across
-
Date
Dad-to-be went on drinking rampage
A DEVIZES dad who set out to "wet the baby's head" after hearing his partner was pregnant ended up terrorising his 18-month-old child and her babysitter, Kennet magistrates heard on Tuesday. Carl Fletcher, 28, of Victoria Road, Devizes, had pleaded guilty
-
Date
Driver takes turn for worse
RUSH hour traffic in Devizes was brought to a standstill when a lorry shed ten tonnes of cardboard. The cardboard was strewn across the pavement and half of the carriageway in Northgate Street by the Wadworth Brewery roundabout. PC Jerry Horroll of Devizes
-
Date
Navy crew delivers gift after war delay
A CASKET of goodies from Marlborough, Wiltshire, has finally made it to Marlborough in New Zealand after being held up by the war in Iraq. It was sent by Coun Margaret Boulton who was Mayor of Marlborough until Coun Bill Cavill took office in May. Rather
-
Date
Kennet questionshospital plans
KENNET District Council is refusing to endorse the plans by health bosses for Devizes Hospital. The council said this week that a number of unanswered questions remain about what facilities the proposed new Devizes Hospital at Green Lane will have. Last
-
Date
Proud of my Irish heritage
IMMIGRATION FEATURE: THE Irish community is the largest immigrant population in Swindon. Official statistics show that around 2,300 people described themselves to be of Irish origin. But an estimated number of people of Irish descent may be around 10,000
-
Date
A place we call our home
IMMIGRATION FEATURE: People have always been attracted to Swindon because of the employment prospects, and that perhaps explains why the town has such a diverse ethnic population. BHAVANI VADDE spoke to four people whose families have settled here. In
-
Date
Heather inspires boost for charity
A teenager with a painful skin condition has inspired employees at a Swindon firm to raise money for a life changing charity. Heather Skerry, 13, of Gorse Hill, has dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa, known as EB, a skin condition that causes skin to blister
-
Date
Four are held in custody
SWINDON police have arrested four people on suspicion of entering the country illegally. They were found at the Elgin Industrial Estate and are currently being held in custody. Two a 25-year-old woman and a 31-year-old man are believed to be Kosovans
-
Date
Reward offered to trace killers of cygnets
A £350 reward is being offered to anyone who can help catch the vandals who caused the death of four cygnets by dumping vegetable oil in Peatmoor Lagoon. Roger and Sue Hulbert, who run the South West Swan Sanctuary in Shrivenham Road, Swindon, are still
-
Date
I've had enough!
Hard working transport boss John Keeping has been dogged by bad luck. Yesterday we reported on how he was defrauded of £164,000. Today he has found out he may have to shut down his business. JOHN Keeping thought he had suffered enough bad news after being
-
Date
Courthouses move to bigger site on Wilton Road
A NEW courthouse providing Salisbury with a modern magistrates' court as well as crown and county courts, is to be built off Wilton Road it was revealed this week. The new court complex is to be built on the existing car park opposite the Old Manor Hospital's
-
Date
Tourism chiefs hope banger will be a smash
THE Cornish have their pasty and Cheddar has cheese, now Wiltshire looks set to create its own culinary landmark - the Salisbury sausage. In a clandestine session last week, a select gathering of connoisseurs met to let their taste buds choose a sausage
-
Date
Motorcyclist dies at accident blackspot
A 29-YEAR-OLD serviceman from RAF Lyneham died after his motorbike was in collision with a van on the A3102 Lyneham to Calne road yesterday (June 11) at 11.50am. The man, who was driving his silver Triumph Daytona towards Hilmarton, crashed into the front
-
Date
Plea to restore old milestone
AN ancient milestone on the outskirts of Amesbury needs to be preserved, town councillors were told last week. The eighteenth century stone slab, on Stonehenge Road, is in desperate need of restoration before its markings are lost forever. Cllr Rosemarie
-
Date
Binman, 37, dies after collapsing
THE brother-in-law of 37-year-old refuse collector, Chris Jefferies, who died of a massive brain haemorrhage on Friday, has told how the whole family is numb with grief. Mr Jefferies, who lived with his wife Sally, 39, and daughter Louise, 13, in Braemor
-
Date
School launches bid to get specialist status
AMESBURY'S Stonehenge School has committed itself to an ambitious £320,500 project to get specialist status in mathematics and computing. On Friday local dignitaries and businesses joined staff, pupils and representatives from the community at the launch
-
Date
Second date for teddies' fun
RAIN may have stopped play at Calne's very first Teddy's Carnival Picnic on Sunday, but it hasn't dampened people's enthusiasm and another event is planned on Saturday. The Green had been transformed ready for the picnic, with a fire engine, silver band
-
Date
Delight over first Ofsted
STAFF at Calne's Fynamore Primary School are celebrating the results of the school's first Ofsted report. Headteacher Carolyn Maddox said the report shows the school, which opened in 2001, has a strong infrastructure and has set the foundations needed
-
Date
Mum's the word in battle of the hot pots
THAI-BORN Jacky Carter pasted the opposition at a curry competition held at the Lansdowne Arms at Derry Hill. Her Penang curry was judged the best out of the ten contenders put forward in the annual culinary contest, held last week. Mrs Carter, 47, of
-
Date
Call-a-friend combats crime
A NEW call-a-friend campaign has been launched in Calne to combat distraction burglaries committed in the area by bogus callers. Vulnerable people living in the community will be encouraged to keep a special yellow card with the telephone number of a
-
Date
New move to revive flagging market
THE town council has taken new steps to try to reverse the continuing decline of Calne's Friday market and boost its flagging trade. In a bid to attract more people into the market, the most popular stalls, which are the vegetable and flower stands, have
-
Date
Samba kicks off festival, with more hot stuff to come
DEVIZES FESTIVAL 2003: DEVIZES Festival got off to a sophisticated start on Saturday evening when Monica Vasconcelos and her supporting band Nois presented a Brazilian Samba Night at the Corn Exchange. With the accent on rhythms from the African-influenced
-
Date
Sex change operation is my last step to freedom
FROM her earliest childhood, Diana Day knew she was a woman, although she had been born a man and christened Derek. But on September 30 this year, Diana, 48, will complete a journey to full womanhood when she undergoes gender reassignment surgery in a
-
Date
Dig in
THE DIGS Football League still has places available for teams wishing to sign up next season. Applications are welcomed for the Friday night sessions in Swindon and the new Devizes-based league where fixtures are played on Wednesday evenings. To apply
-
Date
Seal of approval for golden shot
DEVIZES-based photographer John Chillingworth has achieved an accolade only dreamed of by many - to have one of his pictures featured on a national postage stamp. One of his pictures of a street party in London is reproduced on the stamps recently issued
-
Date
Friends drum up support
FAMILIES turned out to support the work of Devizes Hospital League of Friends at the charity's annual fete. More than 200 people of all ages went to the event on Saturday. It was held in the car park of the hospital's main entrance and the attractions
-
Date
Marine still waiting for takeover
SWINDON Supermarine supporters will not know the identity of their new chairman until the start of the new football season. Steve Moore continues to hold talks with potential successors after announcing he was stepping down from the position at the end
-
Date
Pupils running start for new trim trail
PUPILS at St Joseph's RC Primary School in Devizes put their running shoes on last Saturday to raise money for the school's parent staff association. They set out on a 400-metre circuit around the school grounds. Reception and year one children did one
-
Date
New access for hospital
TRAFFIC to Green Lane Hospital and the former Roundway Hospital site will be re-routed from Nursteed Road along Marshall Road from next Wednesday. Planning permission for the redevelopment of the southern part of the former county asylum was granted on
-
Date
Intrepid team in tandem trip
AN intrepid group from Bromham is raising money for the children's cancer charity CLIC by riding a tandem bicycle from John O'Groats back to Bromham next month. Members of the Bromham Wednesday Club are hoping the weather holds for them as they undertake
-
Date
Keep hold of missing dog
FARRIER Darren Oldman has appealed for anyone who sees his missing dog Geordie to hold on to the animal. There have been several sightings of the seven-year-old Yorkshire terrier cross since he went missing in Market Lavington on May 27, all of them in
-
Date
Shop fights to keep its security shutters
SHOP owners Ralph and David Miller are fighting a decision by Kennet District Council to remove their security shutters. The father and son, who run The Sports Shop in The Brittox, Devizes, had the grille-type shutters installed at a cost of £2,500 after
-
Date
Depressed farmer dies after suspected suicide
FARMER Bob Griffiths who had suffered with long-term depression has been found dead with a gunshot wound. The father of two, who would have been 40 on Saturday, is believed to have taken his own life. His body was discovered on Monday in a shed in the
-
Date
Developer's appeal to go to public inquiry
A PUBLIC inquiry will determine whether the "quiet heart" of the village of Urchfont, near Devizes, is to be redeveloped for 14 upmarket homes. Developer firm Charles Church is appealing against a decision by planning officers at Kennet District Council
-
Date
Jobs safe at former hotel
THE OWNERS of the former Savernake Forest Hotel have said the Marlborough Area Development Trust's fears of job losses are unfounded. Karl and Angela Baum run a successful business, KBA Consultancy and Training Ltd, from the old hotel building between
-
Date
Depressed gran dies in canal fall
FRIENDS and neighbours of Devizes grandmother Joan Appleton have spoken of their shock at her apparent suicide. Mrs Appleton's body was recovered from the Kennet and Avon Canal at Foxhangers Lock on June 4, just a day after she went missing. The divorced
-
Date
Band flies the flag for Proms
FANS of brass bands will be able to go to the Proms on June 21 by heading for the village of Aldbourne. The award winning Aldbourne Band will be presenting a Proms Night at the Old Manor House. The gates will open at 7pm and the concert will start at
-
Date
Golden memories of Queen's coronation
FORMER National Serviceman Fred Greenaway says he will never forget the day of the Queen's coronation 50 years ago. He was chosen to be among the elite of British troops on parade for the glittering occasion and remembers with pride marching ahead of
-
Date
New novel delivers electronic wipe-out
CAN you imagine what your daily life would be like without all the electronic gadgets households and businesses depend on? You would be late getting up because your alarm clock failed to go off and the kettle and microwave are on the blink. The central
-
Date
Obedient dogs help charity
FORMER Blue Peter presenter John Noakes, who was famous for telling his sheepdog Down Shep, would have been a top performer at an event held in Manningford Bruce. The Manningford dog training group led by Jane Dennis from Fyfield, held a sponsored Down
-
Date
Tributes paid to caring work of retired nurse
TRIBUTES have been pouring in this week for retired nurse and former Marlborough town councillor Joan Appleton, who died last week. Mrs Appleton, 82, was formerly an assistant manager at Coombe End House residential home for the elderly in London Road
-
Date
Police come under fire for failing to halt rave
POLICE officers were expected to come under severe criticism last night for their lack of action over an illegal rave in Savernake Forest. Several people including Joan Davies, chairman of Savernake Parish Council, had asked for the issue to be discussed
-
Date
Hammer gang batters way in
BURGLARS used a sledgehammer to batter down the front door of a remote cottage near Marlborough on Saturday afternoon. Police said considerable force was used to get into the house at Clatford, which was protected by good quality locks on all its windows
-
Date
Hooking the youngsters
CHIPPENHAM Angling Club is organising a special fishing workshop this weekend, which it hopes will hook youngsters onto the sport. Interested youngsters will be handed a basic rod, called a whip, and line and given a short individual lesson in fishing
-
Date
Secret weapon helps Devizes take bronze
DEVIZES Angling Association reeled in the bronze medal and clinched a spectacular double promotion at their debut in the team event at the National Angling Championships. The competition was held on the Shropshire Union Canal, which is notoriously difficult
-
Date
Bullying helpline to give extra support
TWO parents are setting up a bullying helpline after claiming not enough is being done about the problem. But educationalists in Swindon have said they are already doing as much as they can to stamp out bullying. That's It is being set up by Park North
-
Date
Doing the shopping is a lot easier now for Bill
WHEELCHAIR user Bill Clark is delighted that his favourite supermarket has increased the number of user-friendly disabled trolleys. The 61-year-old had been urging Tesco to stock trolleys known as the Handycart model because the other type jammed with
-
Date
Co-op store to open its doors in Watchfield
A NEW Co-op store is due to open in Watchfield offering electrical equipment as well as groceries. The shop is one of Oxford, Swin-don and Gloucester Co-op's Swift Shop style supermarkets. It is located on Majors Road, on the same site as the Watchfield
-
Date
Hoping for Hogwarts' trip to walk in the shoes of Harry Potter
Schoolboy Nicholas Ormondroyd could soon find himself reading the long-awaited new Harry Potter book in Hogwarts Castle itself. The eight-year-old of Fairthorne, Shrivenham, showed he's no muggle head when he won the Chippenham round of a national quiz
-
Date
So busy they need more counsellors
LESS than three months after being saved from closure, Swindon Relate is so busy that it needs new counsellors. It is planning an information day next Wednesday in a bid to find people who would be interested in doing the Relate organisation's national
-
Date
A marathon effort from gym visitors
SWINDON CANCER APPEAL: Athletes at Trax gym know the meaning of the old saying 'no pain, no gain'. Around 55 people took part in a gruelling two-week long marathon event, and amassed £3,000 for the Swindon Cancer Appeal. Participants at the Shepherd Street
-
Date
Patrick's our new star
THE Evening Advertiser's new astrologer Patrick Arundell says that your stars are not the definitive guide to winning the lottery or finding love. But he says his forecasts can suggest the time is right for certain things and the choice is yours if you
-
Date
Can you help catch a thief?
A THIEF who conned a refund from a shop in Marlborough is being investigated by police. The man walked into Wool-worth's in High Street at 1.17pm on Sunday, May 11. The thief is described as 5ft 6in tall, aged 30-40 years, with dark brown hair with a
-
Date
Natural energy
THE recent armed conflict in the middle East has reminded us of our dependence on oil from this part of the world and on fossil fuels in general. Apart from the question of sourcing our energy supply from areas of political instability, there is also
-
Date
We need Rhodri
REPLYING finally to Mr Eels (Gazette June 5) I have read the White Paper on regional change. Did he attend the November 23 2002 conference in Bradford-on-Avon? Presided over by the Bishop of Exeter, it made clear that an elected Assembly for the south
-
Date
Call this safety?
FULL support for the letter from Julie Green (Gazette, June 5). Her comments on the current state of affairs in London Road, Chippenham were spot on. It is an old adage "that whom the Gods wish to destroy they first make mad". This "road safety" scheme
-
Date
Stones plan will help "blighted communities"
AN exhibition opening in Amesbury today will give people the chance to have their say on an £183m package of road improvements aimed at restoring the natural setting of Stonehenge and tackling traffic snarl-ups on the key A303 holiday route. The exhibition
-
Date
Homes and jobs for St Ivel plant
WOOTTON Bassett residents will hear next week what is to happen to the former St Ivel site, after plans are presented to the town council. The site has been empty since St Ivel stopped pro-duction in February and the 200 employees working at the site
-
Date
Patients will suffer in row over doctor
AN NHS patient in pain is turned away from her local hospital and forced to travel ten miles for treatment, purely because she is a patient of a certain surgery. It beggars belief, but sadly it appears to be true. What a reflection on primary care in
-
Date
Mayoral appeal raised £20,000
RETIRING mayor of Salisbury Sue Mallory raised more than £20,000 during her mayoral year which came to an end on Saturday. Before handing over the office to new mayor Bobbie Chettleburgh during the traditional mayor-making ceremony, Miss Mallory announced
-
Date
20mph speed limit brought in
The speed limit in various roads in Gorse Hill has been reduced to 20mph. The limit applies to areas of Cricklade Road, the whole of Caulfield Road, 43 metres of Ferndale Road, and the whole of Avening Street and Edinburgh Street. Gordon Earle, 53, said
-
Date
Reaping benefit
IN reply to Mike Braun's letter (Gazette, May 29) I would like to thank him for his kind words and try to put a few statistics and comments forward to qualify his remarks from the Chippenham Folk Festival organisation's point of view. It is not the intention
-
Date
City's mayor is a "true moonraker"
BOBBIE Chettleburgh was made Salisbury's 743rd mayor during the colourful mayor-making ceremony in St Thomas's Church on Saturday. Some of the biggest crowds seen for years lined the streets of Salisbury in brilliant summer sunshine to watch the traditional
-
Date
On the trail of the lonesome signs
You may not know about it and visitors to Swindon are unlikely ever to hear of the town's 48km Millennium Trail.There are a few path markers but no leaflets. THE Millennium Trail was launched in a blaze of publicity, but few visitors to the town have
-
Date
Big cars to blame
WHAT a strange world we live in. Not so long ago we were all up in arms about the affect of pollution from car exhausts on our children. We have reduced the lead content but our cars seem to be getting bigger and bigger. Do we really need a V6 or V8 four-wheel
-
Date
Theatre will suffer if capacity too limited
I WAS glad to see your article of June 5 about the launch of the Marlborough Riverbank theatre project. With the impressive list of local dignitaries, including Michael and Lady Jane Ancram, the Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire Sir Maurice Johnston, Michael
-
Date
Holiday study beckons for bright sparks
TWO bright sparks from a Salisbury school have shown they are in a class of their own by winning places at a prestigious academy for gifted and talented pupils. Caroline Akers (14) and Marcia Henstridge (15) from Westwood St Thomas's School will spend
-
Date
Right priorities
I AM very pleased to see that after advising the council they have erected the priority signs in Penhill correctly, turned them up the right way and put them on the correct side of the road. Well done! And for the fact that you had to be advised on this
-
Date
Tourism chiefs hope banger will be a smash
THE Cornish have their pasty and Cheddar has cheese, now Wiltshire looks set to create its own culinary landmark - the Salisbury sausage. In a clandestine session last week, a select gathering of connoisseurs met to let their taste buds choose a sausage
-
Date
£1.1m injection for leukaemia research team
aSCIENTISTS at Salisbury District Hospital are to offer fresh hope to people with rare forms of leukaemia after being awarded a £1.1 million grant by a national charity this week. The money from the Leukaemia Research Fund will be used by the hospital's
-
Date
Unlock the past
I think that the Mechanics' would make an ideal location for the Reference Library/Local Studies centre. Then make available all the information about Swindon, the Railway Village and the surrounding area, which is currently locked away in the reference
-
Date
Passing the buck
THE passing of the underpass (EA June 4) shows the sorry state of the times we live in. The new Swindon Company (sounds like something from 1900) should be thinking of ways to make underpasses safe and clean for pedestrians, not closing them. I always
-
Date
Still trainspotting after 50 years
Great to hear that Swindon is keeping that great trainspotting tradition alive! While growing up in Swindon during the late 1950s and early 1960s, we used to take the old GWR railcars from New Town around the corner to Swindon Old Town. I think it cost
-
Date
Bath snap up Balshen
Bath yesterday completed the signing of former England Under 21 captain Christian Balshen. Hooker Balshen, 23, will move to the Rec from Swansea, and becomes Bath's sixth summer signing following Martyn Wood, David Flatman, Rob Fidler, Duncan Bell and
-
Date
Duo to span the centuries
JUNE 18, BATH: ON June 18, cellist Frances Bartlett and pianist Luis Pars join talented artist Ewan Eason from Bath Spa University to give a recital in the Michael Tippett Centre, Bath, at 7.30pm. Their programme will reflect the development of cello
-
Date
Dancers step back in time
Chippenham dancers stepped back in time at two special performances to celebrate their achievements in the last year. More than 100 members of the Chippenham Dance Academy aged between three and 20 took to the stage to perform A Step Back in Time at Trowbridge
