Archive
-
Date
Life's tough for struggling duo
WOOTTON BASSETT and Pewsey Vale are finding life tough in the Hellenic League Premier Division. They lie in the bottom four of the table and this weekend face top 10 clubs at home. Bassett have struggled to hit the back of the net, only succeeding 12
-
Date
Christmas lights aim to outshine past displays
THE STREETS of Warminster and Westbury will be ablaze with colour on Friday evening when both towns switch on their Christmas lights. After weeks of planning and preparations organisers hope the array of lights will draw shoppers to the towns to make
-
Date
Family's plea to find much loved pet cat
Residents in the Upper Stratton area are being asked to look out for Popeye, a black and white cat, who went missing more than a week ago. Popeye, a 14-year-old female, was last seen on November 13 and her owners fear she may have wondered off after being
-
Date
Digging for victory
IT looks like an act of wanton vandalism. After more than 150 years of careful tending, the Corsham cricket square has been completely dug up. The hallowed turf, on which two England players once learned their trade, has been stripped off and eight tons
-
Date
Rowe keeps county job
Russell Rowe has been reappointed Wiltshire captain for next season. This summer the South Wilts opening batsman led the county to their most successful season since the introduction of three day cricket. Chippenham off spinner Jason Searle has been reappointed
-
Date
Arrested for theft
WARMINSTER police's crack down on shoplifting gathered momentum this week with the arrest of a man found with up to £500 of stolen goods. Police used CCTV footage to track a suspected shoplifter after he escaped from Boots on Monday afternoon. The man
-
Date
We must cut out the silly errors says Griffin
CHARLIE Griffin believes the Bluebirds have to cut out the individual mistakes ahead of tomorrow's crunch match at Merthyr Tydfil. Defensive errors have cost Chippenham valuable points in the last few weeks and the former Swindon Town striker knows it
-
Date
Gale blows away rivals in Ivy House competition
WEIGHTS in the Ivy House midweek open event were well down, with anglers battling a cold north easterly wind. Mick Gale, of Chippenham, won with an all-carp catch weighing 30lb 1oz, taken on pole fished expander pellets on a 14 hook. Ivy House matchman
-
Date
Shedding light on festivities
KIND-HEARTED BT engineers have helped bring Christmas cheer to scores of patients at the Prospect Hospice. Andy Davies and Howard Winfield used a special hydraulic platform to drape hundreds of fairy lights over the hospice's 17ft tree yesterday. Each
-
Date
Time's up!Contract row forces Junior Lewis back to Leicester
ANDY KING'S hopes of extending Junior Lewis' stay at the County Ground look set to be dashed. The midfielder's one-month loan spell expires after the visit of Queens Park Rangers tomorrow. And, while King would happily prolong Lewis' stay in Wiltshire
-
Date
Football stars take the plunge at the big switch on
The stars were sparkling when Old Town Christmas lights were switched on last night even though it was raining. Swindon Town FC glitterati Tommy Mooney and Sam Parkin pushed the plunger to flood Wood Street with light, Roly Gillard twinkled in his Christmas
-
Date
Top constable
A POLICEMAN from Wingfield has been named the best new recruit on his training course with Thames Valley Police. PC Jim Sturgess, 25, was presented with the Police Mutual Assurance Society book prize by inspecting officer Chief Constable Ian Johnston
-
Date
Bluebirds must travel
Chippenham Town have been drawn away at Newport County in the third round of the Dr Martens Cup
-
Date
Maths adds up to week of fun
NUMBER-crunching pupils had fun with maths at Westbury Infants School. The Maths Week Challenge even netted the school £300 for classroom equipment after pupils were sponsored to learn number facts. During the week the 222 students took part in maths
-
Date
We never asked for this invasion
ANDY NEWMAN, of the Swindon Stop The War Coalition, talks of his feelings this week as US president George Bush visits Britain President Bush's visit to the UK has clearly stirred up strong emotions. Given all the security, it seems more like an invasion
-
Date
Hospital's Last Post
When the bulldozers moved in to Princess Alexandra Hospital this week, part of Wroughton's heritage was also destroyed. The demolition of the red brick building, which had served people from all over the world since it opened in 1941, has left a large
-
Date
Striker Bryan blasts ex-boss
OWEN Bryan has moved to Melksham Town this week determined to prove a point to his former boss Colin Bush. The striker finalised the move from Corsham Town to the Conigre on Monday and goes into tomorrow's match at Odd Down eager for goals. Bryan, 21,
-
Date
Calne hope tokeep run going
AFTER a slow start to the season, Calne Town's First Division campaign is back on track and victory at Hallen tomorrow could move Kelvin Highmore's side up to fifth in the table. But promotion still looks a long shot, with the boys from Bremhill View
-
Date
Three women go head to head in candidate clash
SIMON Coombs the former Swindon MP and recent South Swindon parliamentary candidate has been deselected as the party's choice for the 2005 general election. Instead South Swindon Conservative Association has compiled a shortlist of three women from which
-
Date
Pupils star in comedy
Ref. 27599A TASTE of romance came to St Laurence School, Bradford on Avon, with a performance of Gregory's Girl by the Youth Theatre Group. Tickets for the three performances sold out a few days after going on sale and around 40 students aged 14 to 18
-
Date
Digging for victory
IT looks like an act of wanton vandalism. After more than 150 years of careful tending, the Corsham cricket square has been completely dug up. The hallowed turf, on which two England players once learned their trade, has been stripped off and eight tons
-
Date
Vision is worth fighting for
AFTER reading the article about the Trowbridge Vision doubts in last week's issue (November 14) I was both disheartened and angry. It described the potential cash crisis that the project could face 'before work has even begun' in your words. From the
-
Date
Skaters hail park decision
BUILDING work will start on Melksham's £100,000 skate- park this weekend after plans were rubberstamped on Wednesday. West Wiltshire District Council approved the plans this week, ending an anxious wait for campaigners. Yvonne Ashe, who along with Janice
-
Date
Citizen of the Year winner gives her prize to charity
YOUNG Citizen of the Year winner Anna Cairns has decided to give all her winnings to charity. Swindon Mayor Derek Benfield presented the Ridgeway School pupil with the cheque for £1,000 as her prize. But Anna, 17, said she would not feel comfortable spending
-
Date
Melksham Pubwatch faces crisis
MEMBERS of Melksham Pubwatch will hold crisis talks about the group's future next week because they do not feel they are getting enough support from the community. Chairman Cameron Scott said the 10-year-old association was in danger of falling to pieces
-
Date
Child abuse man begins jail stretch
DAIRY farmer Gordon Guley has been jailed for two and a half years after admitting sexually assaulting six boys over a 22-year period. Case officer Det Sgt Dave Martin said 44-year-old Hilperton farmer Guley used his tractor as a method of grooming boys
-
Date
Mum's fears over tot caught in gun drama
UNDER SIEGE: THE MOTHER of an 18-month-old boy inside the home of the armed siege revealed how she could have been in the flat when the drama began. Mother-of-three Dawn Pronick, 25, said her boyfriend Mark Cleere known as Buff had asked her to stay the
-
Date
Children listen to anti-drugs lesson
WILTSHIRE Rotary Clubs are helping to keep youngsters off drugs by sending out a strong message about the dangers of substance abuse. Clubs from Trowbridge, Melksham and Bradford on Avon are helping to run a mobile advice unit which is stopping off at
-
Date
Cadets burned by acid
YOUNGSTERS at an Air Cadet group were sprayed with acid some across the face and eyes after a chemical spillage during their evening meeting. What should have been a routine exercise at an Air Cadet parade turned into "an absolute nightmare" according
-
Date
Miniscoff at the ready
A COUPLE from Holt who launched their own range of organic ready-meals for children have brought out a Christmas recipe to bring in more customers. Angus and Shoo Oliphant founded Miniscoff in 1999 when they were living in London with two small children
-
Date
Christmas lights aim to outshine past displays
THE STREETS of Warminster and Westbury will be ablaze with colour on Friday evening when both towns switch on their Christmas lights. After weeks of planning and preparations organisers hope the array of lights will draw shoppers to the towns to make
-
Date
Service shows way into work
A NEW service is helping to show disabled people the range of job opportunities available in the county. Dr Ray Jones, director of adult and community services for Wiltshire County Council, helped officially launch Shaw Trust Wiltshire on Monday. The
-
Date
Alms robbery
Two men wearing baseball caps stole a charity box from Linhams Butchers in Westbury at 3.30pm on November 12. The box contained around £5 and the men are thought to be 16 to 18 years old. Anyone with information should contact WPC Jo Tidmarsh at Westbury
-
Date
Big Macs all round thanks to Big Mac
MANAGER Sue Aldridge is facing an expensive trip to McDonalds after her football team won for the first time for four years on Sunday. Her Melksham Park 2nds XI team ended their barren run with a 5-2 win in the under 14s Red Division of the Wiltshire
-
Date
Students in net profit
STUDENTS at Matravers Secondary School in Westbury have come up with an idea to get interactive with the community. Sixth-form students Sammy Mathews, Carly Spencer, Frances Scott, and Year 11 pupil, Darren Miller, have set up a weekly internet caf. The
-
Date
Supermarine 0, Trowbridge 80
TROWBRIDGE comfortably progressed to the third round of the Dorset and Wilts Vase as they demolished their Swindon opponents on Saturday. Supermarine were promoted into the Dorset and Wilts Division one this season but were no match for their Southern
-
Date
Elderly must fight freeze
EIGHTY pensioners in Swindon died from cold-related illnesses last year. Now Age Concern is encouraging people to fight the freeze and has just published its free guide to keeping warm and healthy. The charity's Swindon director, Jo Osorio, said: "It's
-
Date
It's a fair shop at police HQ
POLICE in Bradford on Avon have joined other groups in the town by using only fairtrade products at the new police station. Bradford was named the first 'fairtrade town' in Wiltshire after many shops and businesses in the town opted to sell fairtrade
-
Date
Christmas collections
THE refuse collection schedule for the Christmas period has been announced by Swindon Council. Collections throughout the borough will proceed as normal, other than on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, which fall on a Thurs-day and Friday. On those days there
-
Date
You are a flirty lot
Drinkers in Swindon are almost twice as likely to feel flirtatious after the odd tipple than anywhere else in the country, a survey has revealed. And we are also ahead of the field when it comes to harbouring alcohol-induced feelings of aggression. Around
-
Date
Camera idea works
People must be applauded for trying to improve road safety themselves. Father-of-three Tim Dews has installed his own speed camera in his Warminster garden in a bid to slow motorists down. Mr Dews was sparked into action because he was fed up of witnessing
-
Date
Graham back as Westlecotbid for DennyCup victory
THREE Wiltshire indoor clubs are still left in the Denny Cup but only one of them is from Swindon. Westlecot, beaten quarter-finalists last season, are the lone local survivors in the national inter-club championship following the third round exit of
-
Date
Trust fights Henge tunnel plan
THE National Trust this week set out its argument against proposals for a road tunnel underneath Stonehenge. The conservation charity believes the £193m scheme would damage the world heritage site and presented its case at a pre-inquiry meeting on Monday
-
Date
We are all in touch
THERE will be excitement, tension and exhilaration as rugby fans across town pray for glory in tomorrow's World Cup climax. The air will be filled with the sound of the rugby anthem Swing Low, Sweet Chariot rolling out from eager fans in pubs, living
-
Date
Angry boss blames ref for home loss
CHRIS Taylor launched a stinging attack on Saturday's match officials after watching his Warminster side crash out of the first round of the Wiltshire Senior Cup at home to Amesbury. Trailing 1-0 at half-time, Warminster put in a much improved second
-
Date
Police give warning to traders
WARMINSTER'S police chief is warning traders to be on their guard this Christmas amid an increase in shoplifting. Insp Geoff Miles has written to all shops urging them to step up security and make better use of their police radio network. Police believe
-
Date
Problems for Marine boss
SWINDON Supermarine manager Ray Baverstock has problems at both ends of the field ahead of the visit of title-chasing Bromsgrove Rovers tomorrow. At the back, long-term injury worry Darren McCluskey has been sidelined for over a month and is still a week
-
Date
Parking for the disabled
THE CO-OP store in Wroughton has promised to install parking for the disabled. The store's new car park has been open for a month but no parking has been set-aside for disabled shoppers. Bill Clark, 61, of Swindon Road, said: "There is definitely a lack
-
Date
Matt is back in the swing at Westbury
MATT Burton will swap his golf shoes for his football boots tomorrow as he prepares to return to Westbury United's squad for the FA Vase second round tie at home to Devizes. The midfielder had played the previous two seasons at Meadow Lane but decided
-
Date
Action would end danger on Hill Street
REGARDING the tragic death seven years ago of Michael Davies in a road accident at the junction of Hill Street and River Way, as an eyewitness of that dreadful event I should like to make the following comments. River Way leads to an industrial area and
-
Date
Melksham Pubwatch faces crisis
MEMBERS of Melksham Pubwatch will hold crisis talks about the group's future next week because they do not feel they are getting enough support from the community. Chairman Cameron Scott said the 10-year-old association was in danger of falling to pieces
-
Date
Child abuse man begins jail stretch
DAIRY farmer Gordon Guley has been jailed for two and a half years after admitting sexually assaulting six boys over a 22-year period. Case officer Det Sgt Dave Martin said 44-year-old Hilperton farmer Guley used his tractor as a method of grooming boys
-
Date
Sentence delay in drug case
A Melksham man has been remanded in custody after police found him with drugs worth more than £46,000. John Pellier, 37, faces jail after he was found with 6,897 ecstasy tablets, 42g of cocaine, 231g of amphetamine sulphate and 15g of cannabis resin.
-
Date
Innocent teenager attacked
A 35-year-old man chased three people along a canal tow path with a machete before kidnapping an innocent teenager, a jury has been told. Barrie Johnson grabbed the 17-year-old off the street and dragged him into a waiting car before trying to beat him
-
Date
Skaters hail park decision
BUILDING work will start on Melksham's £100,000 skate- park this weekend after plans were rubberstamped on Wednesday. West Wiltshire District Council approved the plans this week, ending an anxious wait for campaigners. Yvonne Ashe, who along with Janice
-
Date
Pirate CD salesman avoids jail
A PIRATE CD salesman who made up to £400 an hour selling illegally made discs on the streets of Swindon has avoided a jail sentence. Shaun Clarke, 29, admitted more than 100 offences after he was caught selling fake music, film and game CDs from market
-
Date
Pupils love school's classy new look
Ref. 27589Pupils at a Trowbridge primary school are already reaping the benefits from £90,000-worth of improved facilities. A series of grants means that Grove Primary School now has a remodelled classroom and an expanded computer suite. "The new facilities
-
Date
Railway modellers celebrate anniversary
THE Swindon Model Railway Club celebrates its golden anniversary year tomorrow and Sunday with a special exhibition. When the club was first formed, some of the classic engines its members now celebrate had yet to be built. Club treasurer Iain Steel said
-
Date
Time's up!Contract row forces Junior Lewis back to Leicester
ANDY KING'S hopes of extending Junior Lewis' stay at the County Ground look set to be dashed. The midfielder's one-month loan spell expires after the visit of Queens Park Rangers tomorrow. And, while King would happily prolong Lewis' stay in Wiltshire
-
Date
Attendance rockets for fireworks spectacular
Again we have been amazed at the support shown for our recent events, namely our Halloween party and firework display. When last year's firework display received an attendance of 400 people we were amazed. This year, with over 750 visitors, the figure
-
Date
RUH says cheers to drinkers
PUB customers in Rudge have helped raise nearly £4,000 for the breast cancer unit at the Royal United Hospital, Bath. Vanessa Kyte, from Frome, encouraged friends Pat and Christine Gifford, landlords of The Full Moon pub, to get the guests at their 20th
-
Date
Work gets approval
SWINDON Council's services directorate has been told it can continue to do asbestos removal work. Last month the directorate underwent a review by the Health and Safety Executive, which has control over the number of contractors authorised to remove the
-
Date
Attendance rockets for fireworks spectacular
Again we have been amazed at the support shown for our recent events, namely our Halloween party and firework display. When last year's firework display received an attendance of 400 people we were amazed. This year, with over 750 visitors, the figure
-
Date
Mayor hits back in Laverton row
I WRITE in reply to Alan Titcombe's letter 'Rate-payers need protecting', with which I whole-heartedly agree. The district councillors recently voted themselves a 58 per cent rise, the county councillors a 12.5 per cent one. Last year the police authority
-
Date
Searching for mothers who let babies go
WERE you forced to give up your baby in the 1940s, 50s or 60s? I am looking for natural mothers and their children now reunited to take part in a major TV documentary series about the history of unmarried mothers and their children in 20th century Britain
-
Date
Parked car pests drive mum mad
WE are all busy people and appreciate being able to park for a short while to get one or two jobs done. As was the case for me on Friday October 24. I had to pick up my son from my mum's at Roundstone Street at lunchtime. As usual I pulled up to wait
-
Date
Death wish keeps area in doldrums
I AM writing in response to Cllr Jeff Osborn's letter last week praising the introduction of the new team of Community Support Officers. Although I agree with his sentiments entirely I just wish he had kept his thoughts to himself. Doesn't he realise
-
Date
Letter on town hall was wrong
Alan Titcombe's letter (Wiltshire Times November 7), criticising Westbury Town Council for conclusively deciding to become trustee of our town hall, contained many misleading claims which deserve a response. Mr Titcombe is a director of a body which failed
-
Date
Pitch in to help our club
Your paper has given some much needed space to the very great need of a decent football pitch for Trowbridge Town Football Club who at present play at Woodmarsh. Our young players are a great credit to this town and deserve better, as do the long-suffering
-
Date
Town pip rivals as Percival pounces
A DAVE Percival double helped Trowbridge Town into the second round of the Wiltshire Senior Cup on Saturday with a 3-0 home win over rivals Biddestone. The two sides have been battling it out at the top of the Wiltshire League at the start of this season
-
Date
Knit champ has record all sewn up
VOLUNTEER Rosemary Robbins has smashed her record for the number of hats knitted for the Operation Christmas Child appeal. Mrs Robbins started her mammoth effort at the end of 2002 and has handed over 90 hats to the appeal. The 64-year-old said she did
-
Date
Trust fights Henge tunnel plan
THE National Trust this week set out its argument against proposals for a road tunnel underneath Stonehenge. The conservation charity believes the £193m scheme would damage the world heritage site and presented its case at a pre-inquiry meeting on Monday
-
Date
Local hero wanted to open new Tesco
THE Wiltshire Times is offering the chance for a community hero to win £500 for their favourite charity thanks to a partnership with Tesco Express. We have teamed up with the convenience store chain for the search to find a local hero to open the new
-
Date
RUH says cheers to drinkers
PUB customers in Rudge have helped raise nearly £4,000 for the breast cancer unit at the Royal United Hospital, Bath. Vanessa Kyte, from Frome, encouraged friends Pat and Christine Gifford, landlords of The Full Moon pub, to get the guests at their 20th
-
Date
Title charge
AFC Stratton are desperate for victory against local rivals Wroughton to keep their Premier Division title charge on track. Wroughton will not however be an easy nut to crack with the reputation as one of the most inconsistent and unpredictable sides
-
Date
Officer honoured for act of courage
LONG-SERVING policemen and officers who have gone beyond the call of duty were due to receive special awards today. Eleven officers have been singled out for long service and good conduct medals, two will receive Chief Constable Commendations and Royal
-
Date
How will this be beneficial to us?
SWINDON Council is worried that the Front Garden development may not be ready in time to meet the government's targets for the building of 10,000 new houses over the next seven years, so it wants another greenfield site to cover in concrete. Do councillors
-
Date
Rail travel could be disrupted
RAIL passengers travelling between London Paddington and the south west in the next two weeks are being advised to check their journey details with the start of track maintenance work. Network Rail is replacing track on routes used by First Great Western
-
Date
Painstaking search for evidence begins
Forensic officers at the scene in Cross StreetUNDER SIEGE: TEAMS of forensic officers moved into Cross Street to gather vital evidence just minutes after the siege ended. Officers dressed in white suits took over the flat to help piece together a picture
-
Date
Residents in line of fire
Residents Ian Lawes and Sue York criticised policeUNDER SIEGE: BESIEGED residents trapped in their homes have criticised police for keeping them in the dark. Residents in the line of fire were warned to keep away from windows and shut curtains while others
-
Date
Curtis is happy to stay at Southbank
NIGEL Curtis is one of the most sought after players in the Screwfix League, but the Corsham Town captain is not letting all the transfer speculation distract him from his main aim ahead of tomorrow's game at home to Larkhall Athletic. The former Devizes
-
Date
Lesbian couple attacked in pub
TWO women targeted by homophobes in a west Wiltshire pub for kissing believe police are not taking hate crimes seriously enough. One of the victims said gay men and women in west Wiltshire had "no hope" because of the narrow-minded attitude of police.
-
Date
BT set to extend service
PLANS to roll out high speed broadband throughout Wiltshire have been unveiled by BT. The company has lined up 48 more exchanges to be upgraded if there is sufficient demand. Work will be triggered by the number of people who register an interest in taking
-
Date
Over the moon after award win
Ref. 27588SIX stargazing pupils from Warminster are over the moon after scooping top prizes in a Europe-wide astronomy contest. The 15-year-olds from Kingdown School came second and 15th in the European Southern Observatory research competition as the
-
Date
MP will hand petition over in Parliament
Ref. 27567PENSIONERS campaigning for a fairer council tax deal in west Wiltshire have been buoyed by the news that MP Andrew Murrison will present their petition in Parliament. Dr Murrison made the pledge after campaign organisers Ron Young, 66, and Les
-
Date
Footbridge over brook is to be replaced
A SWINDON footbridge is to be replaced in a £99,000 project. Work to replace the Roussel footbridge, which spans a brook adjacent to Dorcan Way, begins on Monday, December 1. It is scheduled to last for about 12 weeks, although this will include a layoff
-
Date
Groups in debate on UN future
BRADFORD on Avon Oxfam and Amnesty groups meet on Monday to discuss the future role of the United Nations. The debate is being led by Malcolm Harper, director of the United Nations Association, who has taken part in national discussions on the role the
-
Date
Chairman reveals a late rush for top job
THERE has been a late rush of applicants for the Chippenham Town manager's job after Chairman Malcolm Lyus revealed he is hoping to appoint early next week. Lyus had been reported as saying Chippenham could have a new manager by the weekend but events
-
Date
Innocent teenager attacked
A 35-year-old man chased three people along a canal tow path with a machete before kidnapping an innocent teenager, a jury has been told. Barrie Johnson grabbed the 17-year-old off the street and dragged him into a waiting car before trying to beat him
-
Date
Aqueduct answer to problem
ENGINEERS have solved the problem of a crossover between the new Semington bypass and the Kennet and Avon Canal and will soon finish building a modern-day aqueduct. It is the first aqueduct to be built on the canal since it opened in 1810. David Berezynskyj
-
Date
No love lost as brothers clash
BROTHERLY love will go out of the window tomorrow as Wayne Thorne is desperate to get one over his older brother and help the Bluebirds fight their way to a much needed three points at Merthyr Tydfil. The defender could return to the starting line up
-
Date
It needs sorting out quickly, warns Toby
TOBY Redwood has urged Chippenham Town board to appoint a manager as soon as possible to ensure they stand a realistic chance of getting into the new Conference League Two next season. Caretaker manager Adie Mings brought the defender to Hardenhuish on
-
Date
Highmore's selection headache
CALNE Town's preparations for tomorrow's Screwfix League Division One match at Hallen have been hit by a number of late withdrawals. The Wiltshire side were always going to have a tough task on their hands travelling to fourth placed Hallen but the unavailability
-
Date
Striker Bryan blasts ex-boss
OWEN Bryan has moved to Melksham Town this week determined to prove a point to his former boss Colin Bush. The striker finalised the move from Corsham Town to the Conigre on Monday and goes into tomorrow's match at Odd Down eager for goals. Bryan, 21,
-
Date
Father's safety demand
MAKE HILL STREET SAFE: THE FAMILY of Michael Davies will quiz council officials next week over proposed changes to roads near where the 16-year-old Trowbridge schoolboy died. Wiltshire County Council will unveil its plans for the road, cycle and pedestrian
-
Date
Town pip rivals as Percival pounces
A DAVE Percival double helped Trowbridge Town into the second round of the Wiltshire Senior Cup on Saturday with a 3-0 home win over rivals Biddestone. The two sides have been battling it out at the top of the Wiltshire League at the start of this season
-
Date
Bluebirds must travel
Chippenham Town have been drawn away at Newport County in the third round of the Dr Martens Cup
-
Date
Lesbian couple attacked in pub
TWO women targeted by homophobes in a west Wiltshire pub for kissing believe police are not taking hate crimes seriously enough. One of the victims said gay men and women in west Wiltshire had "no hope" because of the narrow-minded attitude of police.
-
Date
Arrested for theft
WARMINSTER police's crack down on shoplifting gathered momentum this week with the arrest of a man found with up to £500 of stolen goods. Police used CCTV footage to track a suspected shoplifter after he escaped from Boots on Monday afternoon. The man
-
Date
Lake leak solved
Boating could return in the spring to the 1920s lake in Warminster's pleasure park which has been leaking for a number of years. Hydrock Consultants monitor- ed the site and concluded that water is likely to have infiltrated a land drain on the side of
-
Date
Search for sex attack witnesses
SATURDAY shoppers in Warminster could hold the key to identifying the man who indecently assaulted a girl. The girl, 13, was attacked in the Three Horseshoes Mall at 5.20pm on November 8 after she and a friend were approached by a man who claimed he was
-
Date
Police give warning to traders
WARMINSTER'S police chief is warning traders to be on their guard this Christmas amid an increase in shoplifting. Insp Geoff Miles has written to all shops urging them to step up security and make better use of their police radio network. Police believe
-
Date
Football stars take the plunge at the big switch on
The stars were sparkling when Old Town Christmas lights were switched on last night - even though it was raining. Swindon Town FC glitterati Tommy Mooney and Sam Parkin pushed the plunger to flood Wood Street with light, Roly Gillard twinkled in his Christmas
-
Date
Councillor compares meeting to a circus act
LAST night's full council meeting was compared to a circus act by one councillor who said it was the worst he had been to in 28-years. The monthly meetings are a chance for all 59 councillors to convene and discuss borough business. But the meeting ended
-
Date
Stolen property raid comes up with heroin
A POLICE raid aiming to uncover stolen goods resulted in one arrest for possession of heroin. Teams of six police officers raided three houses in the Parks area of Swindon, which were targeted using special intelligence. But the raids in Radstock Avenue
-
Date
Poison fear over
THE POISON scare at Westbury Dairies looks to be over after an extensive investigation revealed no contamination had been found in the milk supply. The investigation was triggered when a rogue dairy farmer called the company on November 3 claiming he
-
Date
Devon Youth 0 Wiltshire Youth 11
WILTSHIRE FA's Youth side created history on Saturday after crashing 11 goals past Devon in their first match in the South West Counties Championship at Ottery St Mary. This was the most goals ever scored by a Wiltshire side in one match and also the
-
Date
Paper tips Jenny for festive number one
A MIX-UP has led to a Bradford on Avon woman being tipped to get the Christmas number one in the charts. Jenny Batt's photo from her wedding day last month was included last week in The Sun newspaper line-up of singers tipped to get to number one on December
-
Date
Groups in debate on UN future
BRADFORD on Avon Oxfam and Amnesty groups meet on Monday to discuss the future role of the United Nations. The debate is being led by Malcolm Harper, director of the United Nations Association, who has taken part in national discussions on the role the
-
Date
Pupils star in comedy
Ref. 27599A TASTE of romance came to St Laurence School, Bradford on Avon, with a performance of Gregory's Girl by the Youth Theatre Group. Tickets for the three performances sold out a few days after going on sale and around 40 students aged 14 to 18
-
Date
Please spend a penny
Ref. 27598A WOMAN from Bradford on Avon is raising cash to buy loos for 100 families in India starting with a Loo Day at her home. Julie Davies has bought five loos so far for families in Andhra Pradesh. Mrs Davies said: "I have been to the village and
-
Date
Construction injuries fall after inspections
CONSTRUCTION sites in Wiltshire are getting safer. Figures released this week show the number of serious injuries has fallen in the past year. In 2002-03 the county's construction industry saw 69 major injuries, compared with 101 the previous year. There
-
Date
Please spend a penny
Ref. 27598A WOMAN from Bradford on Avon is raising cash to buy loos for 100 families in India starting with a Loo Day at her home. Julie Davies has bought five loos so far for families in Andhra Pradesh. Mrs Davies said: "I have been to the village and
-
Date
Rowe keeps county job
Russell Rowe has been reappointed Wiltshire captain for next season. This summer the South Wilts opening batsman led the county to their most successful season since the introduction of three day cricket. Chippenham off spinner Jason Searle has been reappointed
-
Date
Cattery delayed
A SCHEME to build a boarding cattery at a nursery near Warminster has been deferred. West Wiltshire district councillors decided they wanted to see the site at Weston Nurseries, Corton, near Warminster, for themselves before agreeing an application for
-
Date
Why is Cllr Payne so negative?
CLLR Graham Payne seems to have a very low opinion of the people of Trowbridge, implying that the majority of us are drunken yobs. He also seems to regard Trowbridge as a cultural desert. I have news for him there are people in the town who enjoy singing
-
Date
Christmas is all wrapped up
SWINDON CANCER APPEAL: Swindon Cancer Appeal supporters will be out in force over the Christmas period. Next week, fundraisers will be at the Wyvern Theatre with their collecting buckets to get donations from the audience. People attending the evening
-
Date
Help, and hope, is here at hand for town's desperate teenagers
RE 'We can't help until you break the law'. This is a bored young man, one among many in Trowbridge. As much as I believe in helping people, I equally believe you need to start by helping yourself. Wiltshire has a well equipped youth service, especially
-
Date
Thanks, Times, for warning us of fraud
I AM writing to thank you for printing the article in last week's Wiltshire Times about the letters being sent to local businesses in connection with registering under the Data Protection Act. We too received one of these letters, from a company calling
-
Date
Vision is worth fighting for
AFTER reading the article about the Trowbridge Vision doubts in last week's issue (November 14) I was both disheartened and angry. It described the potential cash crisis that the project could face 'before work has even begun' in your words. From the
-
Date
Defeat for Ludlow Arms sends town back in time
I ATTENDED a public meeting at the district council offices concerning the late opening of the Ludlow Arms in Westbury. The intention was to decide whether the Ludlow and its customers could continue to enjoy a late licence until 2am on Friday and Saturday
-
Date
School runs skills session
A MELKSHAM school is giving students a chance to brush up their study skills. George Ward School is inviting youngsters who would like help with improving their examination technique to a special Saturday Academy. A spokesman said: "This is a great opportunity
-
Date
Students ask the questions
STUDENTS at a Trowbridge secondary school were given the chance to quiz a host of invited guests as part of a citizenship in the community day. Wiltshire Times reporter Craig Evry and deputy editor Keith Gale joined a collection of other guests for the
-
Date
Man jailed for smuggling fake cigarettes into UK
LANDSCAPE gardener Kevin Woolton has been jailed for 15 months by Reading Crown Court for smuggling almost a million counterfeit cigarettes into Britain from Russia. Woolton, 45, of The Mountains, Wroughton, pleaded guilty to smuggling the cigarettes,
-
Date
Clubs gear up for popular Christmas matches
DECEMBER is a busy month for anglers and angling clubs for it is at this time of the year that nearly all clubs organise Christmas Fare competitions both for members and also open events. Every year these events attract club members who never otherwise
-
Date
'Linda lives on in her children'
JULIE Westmore, the cousin of murdered Highworth mother Linda Razzell, has spoken for the first time about how her heartache continues as she struggles to come to terms with the loss. Mrs Westmore and her sister Beverley Lewis are today caring for Linda's
-
Date
Football stars take the plunge at the big switch on
The stars were sparkling when Old Town Christmas lights were switched on last night even though it was raining. Swindon Town FC glitterati Tommy Mooney and Sam Parkin pushed the plunger to flood Wood Street with light, Roly Gillard twinkled in his Christmas
-
Date
Stolen property raid comes up with heroin
A POLICE raid aiming to uncover stolen goods resulted in one arrest for possession of heroin. Teams of six police officers raided three houses in the Parks area of Swindon, which were targeted using special intelligence. But the raids in Radstock Avenue
-
Date
Keith makes final journey
FAMILY, friends and civic leaders gathered at St Augustine's Church in Rodbourne to pay their last respects to Keith Small. The borough and former county councillor for more than a decade died on Monday last week aged 60. Fittingly, Mr Small's hearse
-
Date
Aussies to shade it
SUPERMARINE forwards coach Andy Sear said: "I know the result I'd like but unfortunately I reckon the Aussies might just shade it. "I think they have got more power in the backs, although England can more than match them in the forwards. "If England don't
-
Date
New town flats
EIGHTEEN new flats will be created in a Trowbridge street after two planning applications gained the thumbs up. Garner Lord has been granted permission for four one-bedroom flats and four studio flats at 4 Silver Street. Hyde Park Properties has the go-ahead
-
Date
Driver injured in two-car collision
A BUSY through road in Trowbridge was closed for more than an hour on Saturday night while police dealt with the aftermath of a two-car smash. The crash at 6.45pm meant Marsh Road was blocked between the King's Arms pub and the junction with Horse Road
-
Date
Hunt on for missing cat
WORRIED cat owner Ruth Godfrey is appealing for Wiltshire Times readers to help find her lost pet. Poppett, a small black and white cat, went missing in the Lavender Fields area of Trowbridge on November 12. She was wearing a collar with her name and
-
Date
Booze ban breached
AN alcoholic was found drunk hours after he was given an anti-social behaviour order banning him from drinking in public. Unemployed Simon Burnley, of Alma Street, Trowbridge, was arrested after he walked in the middle of School Lane, Staverton, at 11pm
-
Date
Conmen strike
MEN posing as water board workers entered the home of a pensioner in the College Road area of Trowbridge and stole her savings from a tin. The pair persuaded the woman to let them in on the afternoon of November 11 and fled in a dark blue car. They are
-
Date
Students' net gain
STUDENTS and internet fans can now log on at the newest branch of Wiltshire College. The Westbury IT centre officially opened on Friday, unveiling 16 computers, two classrooms and a range of courses and lessons. Over 35 retailers, councillors and staff
-
Date
Knit champ has record all sewn up
VOLUNTEER Rosemary Robbins has smashed her record for the number of hats knitted for the Operation Christmas Child appeal. Mrs Robbins started her mammoth effort at the end of 2002 and has handed over 90 hats to the appeal. The 64-year-old said she did
-
Date
Teachers learning on the job
SWINDON'S future teachers are learning the trade in the classrooms of The Ridgeway School in a new school-based training scheme. The School Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) scheme encourages adults to come into teaching from different professions
-
Date
Child abuse man begins jail stretch
DAIRY farmer Gordon Guley has been jailed for two and a half years after admitting sexually assaulting six boys over a 22-year period. Case officer Det Sgt Dave Martin said 44-year-old Hilperton farmer Guley used his tractor as a method of grooming boys
-
Date
Calne hope tokeep run going
AFTER a slow start to the season, Calne Town's First Division campaign is back on track and victory at Hallen tomorrow could move Kelvin Highmore's side up to fifth in the table. But promotion still looks a long shot, with the boys from Bremhill View
-
Date
Highworth and Fairfordfacing toughaway ties
BOTH Highworth Town and Fairford Town know that nothing less than their best will do if their names are to be in the hat for the third round of the FA Vase on Monday. Both Hellenic League outfits have daunting away ties in tomorrow's second round against
-
Date
Town's Wayne in race to face his brother
CHIPPENHAM Town livewire Wayne Thorne is racing to be fit to face his sibling this weekend. The defender's older brother Gary is a key figure in the Merthyr Tydfil side that the Bluebirds visit tomorrow, and Wayne hopes to shake off ligament damage that
-
Date
Search for sex attack witnesses
SATURDAY shoppers in Warminster could hold the key to identifying the man who indecently assaulted a girl. The girl, 13, was attacked in the Three Horseshoes Mall at 5.20pm on November 8 after she and a friend were approached by a man who claimed he was
-
Date
Problems for Marine boss
SWINDON Supermarine manager Ray Baverstock has problems at both ends of the field ahead of the visit of title-chasing Bromsgrove Rovers tomorrow. At the back, long-term injury worry Darren McCluskey has been sidelined for over a month and is still a week
-
Date
Title charge
AFC Stratton are desperate for victory against local rivals Wroughton to keep their Premier Division title charge on track. Wroughton will not however be an easy nut to crack with the reputation as one of the most inconsistent and unpredictable sides
-
Date
What happened to 'Made in England' tag?
probably one of the finest programmes the BBC has produced is the Antiques Roadshow. It is admirably presented by Michael Aspel with charm and wit, together with a team of characters offering their expertise with often intriguing information regarding
-
Date
Residents plan to hold own clean-up operation
VILLAGERS in Winsley are taking matters into their own hands mounting a clean-up operation after they claim Wiltshire County Council has failed to keep the roads and verges well maintained. Parish councillor Ian Kieschke says since the county council
-
Date
Westbury United 6, Wroughton 0
DEREK Graham admitted he would love to triumph in the Wiltshire Senior Cup again after watching his side progress to the second round on Saturday thanks to four goals from Toby Colbourne. The Westbury manager won the competition 10 years ago when he was
-
Date
Defeat for Ludlow Arms sends town back in time
I ATTENDED a public meeting at the district council offices concerning the late opening of the Ludlow Arms in Westbury. The intention was to decide whether the Ludlow and its customers could continue to enjoy a late licence until 2am on Friday and Saturday
-
Date
Soon this will be the place to live
WORK on building 350 homes in one of the most desirable postcodes in Swindon could start as early as next year. Swindon planners have received an application on behalf of Fairview New Homes Ltd which wants to transform the Okus Industrial Estate into
-
Date
Camera idea works
People must be applauded for trying to improve road safety themselves. Father-of-three Tim Dews has installed his own speed camera in his Warminster garden in a bid to slow motorists down. Mr Dews was sparked into action because he was fed up of witnessing
-
Date
High praise as young duo land award
BATH youngsters Olly Barkley and Steve Borthwick received glowing praise from their club coach after being named joint winners of the Zurich Premiership Player of the Month award. In an unprecedented move, stand-in vice-captain Borthwick and fly-half
-
Date
Dads meet for butties!
A social group for dads is to start next Friday at Oaktree Family Centre in Priory Road, Park South. Man Friday will meet every Friday from 12.30pm to 2.30pm in term time only. It will be a social opportunity with free coffee, bacon butties and a creche
-
Date
Tickets in please
CHIPPENHAM Town commercial manager Susan Evans has reminded Bluebird fans their Mega prize draw stubs have to be returned to her at the sponsors' lounge by the end of the Basingstoke match on November 29.
-
Date
Auction brings in £7,000 for pupils
CHILDREN at St Mary's RC Primary are to benefit from an auction which raised almost £7,000. "It was a brilliant night," said organiser Claire Hall. There had been fears of a poor turnout after few people bought tickets in advance. But more than 100 people
-
Date
MP will hand petition over in Parliament
Ref. 27567PENSIONERS campaigning for a fairer council tax deal in west Wiltshire have been buoyed by the news that MP Andrew Murrison will present their petition in Parliament. Dr Murrison made the pledge after campaign organisers Ron Young, 66, and Les
-
Date
Soon this will be the place to live
WORK on building 350 homes in one of the most desirable postcodes in Swindon could start as early as next year. Swindon planners have received an application on behalf of Fairview New Homes Ltd which wants to transform the Okus Industrial Estate into
-
Date
Art is used to keep young people away from drink
ART students are getting the message across to other youngsters that drinking and driving is not cool. Young people and those who have just thrown away their L-plates are the target of a campaign designed by New College students. Hreod Parkway School
-
Date
Dial A Ride needs two drivers
THAMESDOWN Dial A Ride and Community Transport is appealing for volunteer drivers. The organisation, which helps elderly or disabled people get about, needs someone to drive a minibus and a second volunteer for the door-to-door car service. The minibus
-
Date
Speed cameras: fact or fiction?
THERE seem to be many misconceptions about the effectiveness of speed cameras. The Wiltshire and Swindon Road Safety Partnership facts just do not make sense. The facts are, the top three most dangerous roads in the UK do not have any speed cameras on
-
Date
Footbridge over brook is to be replaced
A SWINDON footbridge is to be replaced in a £99,000 project. Work to replace the Roussel footbridge, which spans a brook adjacent to Dorcan Way, begins on Monday, December 1. It is scheduled to last for about 12 weeks, although this will include a layoff
-
Date
Three women go head to head in candidate clash
SIMON Coombs the former Swindon MP and recent South Swindon parliamentary candidate has been deselected as the party's choice for the 2005 general election. Instead South Swindon Conservative Association has compiled a shortlist of three women from which
-
Date
Family's plea to find much loved pet cat
Residents in the Upper Stratton area are being asked to look out for Popeye, a black and white cat, who went missing more than a week ago. Popeye, a 14-year-old female, was last seen on November 13 and her owners fear she may have wondered off after being
-
Date
Pedal power helps Pudsey
PEDAL power and a head for heights have seen a Cricklade man raise £200 for Children in Need. Bob Sanders took two days to cycle from his home to the foot of Mount Snowdon in north Wales. The gutsy 51year-old then climbed the 3,559ft mountain in seven
-
Date
Fair welcomes special visitor
Pupils at Windmill Hill Primary School are looking forward to a Christmas Fair next Friday. Father Christmas will visit the school, in Uxbridge Road, Freshbrook, to join the festiv-ities for school funds. The event, which takes place from 5.30pm until
-
Date
Open day to help keep centre open
THE fight to save a vital homelessness service from the chop will step up a gear next week. Trowbridge-based Action on Homelessness will open the doors of its Duke Street centre on November 28 to bring attention to its cash-strapped plight. West Wiltshire
-
Date
Beware - the disease detectives are at work
Blood, sweat and tears may not sound like a pleasant combination but it is what hospital staff have to deal with on a daily basis. But rather than mopping up the unsavoury liquid, microbiologists spend their time analysing it. Kishore Solanki, head of
-
Date
You are a flirty lot
Drinkers in Swindon are almost twice as likely to feel flirtatious after the odd tipple than anywhere else in the country, a survey has revealed. And we are also ahead of the field when it comes to harbouring alcohol-induced feelings of aggression. Around
-
Date
Hyacinth's invite
FRIENDS and family will be trying to keep up appearances with the Hallatts but it will all be in aid of a good cause. Caroline Hallatt will be transforming herself into snobby Hyacinth Bucket to host a dinner party with a difference in aid of Cancer Research
-
Date
Railway modellers celebrate anniversary
THE Swindon Model Railway Club celebrates its golden anniversary year tomorrow and Sunday with a special exhibition. When the club was first formed, some of the classic engines its members now celebrate had yet to be built. Club treasurer Iain Steel said
-
Date
We will listen to what public says
OFFICIALS have bowed to public opinion and decided to hold a special exhibition on traffic plans surrounding the Front Garden development. Swindon Council staff will be on hand to answer questions and take part in two forums on the Southern Development
-
Date
Karine is packing in the awards
A FORMER Swindon College student is celebrating after pulling off a hat-trick of industry awards. Karine Sears, 23, scooped three package design awards in as many years. Karine picked up her first Institute of Packaging student prize in 2001 and has continued
-
Date
Crowds watch town light up for Christmas
AFTER months of planning the big switch on of Christmas lights in Trowbridge went without a hitch on Friday as around 300 people watched George Galpin, eight, light up the town. George won a competition to design a Christmas light design that would be
-
Date
Where the English and French meet to make friends
I was delighted to see your photo of Pascale Philippe and myself, the secretary and president of the Anglo-French Club Swindon respectively, in your paper on Monday, celebrating the Rugby World Cup semi-final. I noted that you recognised the importance
-
Date
How will this be beneficial to us?
SWINDON Council is worried that the Front Garden development may not be ready in time to meet the government's targets for the building of 10,000 new houses over the next seven years, so it wants another greenfield site to cover in concrete. Do councillors
-
Date
Pitch in to help our club
Your paper has given some much needed space to the very great need of a decent football pitch for Trowbridge Town Football Club who at present play at Woodmarsh. Our young players are a great credit to this town and deserve better, as do the long-suffering
-
Date
Elderly evacuated and children sent home
UNDER SIEGE: ELDERLY residents were evacuated from a sheltered housing complex as the siege entered its 15th hour. Wiltshire County Council's emergency planning officer ordered the evacuation of 22 people from Charlotte Court at 2pm. Police were drafted
-
Date
Hyacinth's invite
FRIENDS and family will be trying to keep up appearances with the Hallatts but it will all be in aid of a good cause. Caroline Hallatt will be transforming herself into snobby Hyacinth Bucket to host a dinner party with a difference in aid of Cancer Research
-
Date
High praise as young duo land award
BATH youngsters Olly Barkley and Steve Borthwick received glowing praise from their club coach after being named joint winners of the Zurich Premiership Player of the Month award. In an unprecedented move, stand-in vice-captain Borthwick and fly-half
-
Date
Beware quins
BATH have been warned to expect the unexpected from tomorrow's Premiership visitors NEC Harlequins. The London side arrive at the Recreation Ground (2.15pm) in second place behind their hosts in the league table although Bath do hold a sizeable eight-point
-
Date
Supermarine 0, Trowbridge 80
TROWBRIDGE comfortably progressed to the third round of the Dorset and Wilts Vase as they demolished their Swindon opponents on Saturday. Supermarine were promoted into the Dorset and Wilts Division one this season but were no match for their Southern
-
Date
Man jailed for smuggling fake cigarettes into UK
LANDSCAPE gardener Kevin Woolton has been jailed for 15 months by Reading Crown Court for smuggling almost a million counterfeit cigarettes into Britain from Russia. Woolton, 45, of The Mountains, Wroughton, pleaded guilty to smuggling the cigarettes,
-
Date
Speed camera is one man's weapon
FATHER-OF-THREE Tim Dews has become so fed up with cars racing past his home that he has installed his own speed camera in the garden. Mr Dews, 41, who lives in Hill Deverill, near Warminster, says speeding drivers use the 40mph limit road through the
-
Date
Where the English and French meet to make friends
I was delighted to see your photo of Pascale Philippe and myself, the secretary and president of the Anglo-French Club Swindon respectively, in your paper on Monday, celebrating the Rugby World Cup semi-final. I noted that you recognised the importance
-
Date
Highmore's selection headache
CALNE Town's preparations for tomorrow's Screwfix League Division One match at Hallen have been hit by a number of late withdrawals. The Wiltshire side were always going to have a tough task on their hands travelling to fourth placed Hallen but the unavailability
-
Date
Football stars take the plunge at the big switch on
The stars were sparkling when Old Town Christmas lights were switched on last night - even though it was raining. Swindon Town FC glitterati Tommy Mooney and Sam Parkin pushed the plunger to flood Wood Street with light, Roly Gillard twinkled in his Christmas
-
Date
Miniscoff at the ready
A COUPLE from Holt who launched their own range of organic ready-meals for children have brought out a Christmas recipe to bring in more customers. Angus and Shoo Oliphant founded Miniscoff in 1999 when they were living in London with two small children
-
Date
Dial A Ride needs two drivers
THAMESDOWN Dial A Ride and Community Transport is appealing for volunteer drivers. The organisation, which helps elderly or disabled people get about, needs someone to drive a minibus and a second volunteer for the door-to-door car service. The minibus
-
Date
Paper tips Jenny for festive number one
A MIX-UP has led to a Bradford on Avon woman being tipped to get the Christmas number one in the charts. Jenny Batt's photo from her wedding day last month was included last week in The Sun newspaper line-up of singers tipped to get to number one on December
-
Date
Aussies to shade it
SUPERMARINE forwards coach Andy Sear said: "I know the result I'd like but unfortunately I reckon the Aussies might just shade it. "I think they have got more power in the backs, although England can more than match them in the forwards. "If England don't
-
Date
Help, and hope, is here at hand for town's desperate teenagers
RE 'We can't help until you break the law'. This is a bored young man, one among many in Trowbridge. As much as I believe in helping people, I equally believe you need to start by helping yourself. Wiltshire has a well equipped youth service, especially
-
Date
Sentence delay in drug case
A Melksham man has been remanded in custody after police found him with drugs worth more than £46,000. John Pellier, 37, faces jail after he was found with 6,897 ecstasy tablets, 42g of cocaine, 231g of amphetamine sulphate and 15g of cannabis resin.
-
Date
Auction brings in £7,000 for pupils
CHILDREN at St Mary's RC Primary are to benefit from an auction which raised almost £7,000. "It was a brilliant night," said organiser Claire Hall. There had been fears of a poor turnout after few people bought tickets in advance. But more than 100 people
-
Date
Lesbian couple attacked in pub
TWO women targeted by homophobes in a west Wiltshire pub for kissing believe police are not taking hate crimes seriously enough. One of the victims said gay men and women in west Wiltshire had "no hope" because of the narrow-minded attitude of police.
-
Date
Residents in line of fire
Residents Ian Lawes and Sue York criticised policeUNDER SIEGE: BESIEGED residents trapped in their homes have criticised police for keeping them in the dark. Residents in the line of fire were warned to keep away from windows and shut curtains while others
-
Date
Toy appeal for needy families
The Salvation Army in Trowbridge has launched a campaign to collect toys for families in need. The Pass the Parcel Toy Appeal began on Monday and people are urged to take any spare toys to a collection point at Superdrug in The Shires, Trowbridge. Salvation
-
Date
Christmas is coming early to Nationwide
NATIONWIDE Building Society is celebrating today after notching top profits. In the six months up to October 4 it recorded a 22 per cent hike in pre-tax profits to £188.4 million. In addition it has nearly doubled its share of the UK mortgage market to
-
Date
Mayor hits back in Laverton row
I WRITE in reply to Alan Titcombe's letter 'Rate-payers need protecting', with which I whole-heartedly agree. The district councillors recently voted themselves a 58 per cent rise, the county councillors a 12.5 per cent one. Last year the police authority
-
Date
Lake leak solved
Boating could return in the spring to the 1920s lake in Warminster's pleasure park which has been leaking for a number of years. Hydrock Consultants monitor- ed the site and concluded that water is likely to have infiltrated a land drain on the side of
-
Date
No love lost as brothers clash
BROTHERLY love will go out of the window tomorrow as Wayne Thorne is desperate to get one over his older brother and help the Bluebirds fight their way to a much needed three points at Merthyr Tydfil. The defender could return to the starting line up
-
Date
Christmas lights aim to outshine past displays
THE STREETS of Warminster and Westbury will be ablaze with colour on Friday evening when both towns switch on their Christmas lights. After weeks of planning and preparations organisers hope the array of lights will draw shoppers to the towns to make
-
Date
Minety play catch-up
THE World Cup Final means most teams take a week's break from league action tomorrow. But Minety, who have fallen behind on games after a couple of postponements several weeks ago, host Calne. Supermarine have to hit the road for their fixture at Blandford
-
Date
Mobiles warning
WILTSHIRE drivers have been issued with a warning from police that from December 1 it will be an offence to use a hand-held mobile phone while driving. The Department of Transport has approved the new laws in response to concerns about safety when people
-
Date
Karine is packing in the awards
A FORMER Swindon College student is celebrating after pulling off a hat-trick of industry awards. Karine Sears, 23, scooped three package design awards in as many years. Karine picked up her first Institute of Packaging student prize in 2001 and has continued
-
Date
Conmen strike
MEN posing as water board workers entered the home of a pensioner in the College Road area of Trowbridge and stole her savings from a tin. The pair persuaded the woman to let them in on the afternoon of November 11 and fled in a dark blue car. They are
-
Date
Parked car pests drive mum mad
WE are all busy people and appreciate being able to park for a short while to get one or two jobs done. As was the case for me on Friday October 24. I had to pick up my son from my mum's at Roundstone Street at lunchtime. As usual I pulled up to wait
-
Date
Beware - the disease detectives are at work
Blood, sweat and tears may not sound like a pleasant combination but it is what hospital staff have to deal with on a daily basis. But rather than mopping up the unsavoury liquid, microbiologists spend their time analysing it. Kishore Solanki, head of
-
Date
Sad glove story
A TOWN crier has put out an appeal for help to replace his worn-out gloves. Trevor Heeks, Trowbridge town crier, is looking for right-hand gloves to replace ones worn out by bellringing sessions. A Trowbridge Town Council spokesman said: "Trevor is right
-
Date
Bareback and front
LADY Godiva will ride again in Westbury today after a woman came forward to bare all and ride through the town on a white horse. Claire Fonteyne, 24, read about the search for a Lady Godiva to take part in the town's efforts for Children in Need in last
-
Date
Schoolmates rally round for Abigail's trip of a lifetime
SCHOOLMATES of a girl who has cancer raised £2,500 to help send her on a special trip to swim with dolphins in Florida. Abigail Taylor-Silk, 13, a Year Nine pupil at Ridgeway School in Wroughton, is battling Hodgkin's Disease. She hopes to go with loved
-
Date
Window smashed
A man was seen breaking a window in Maristow Street, Westbury, with a bottle on Saturday night causing £200 of damage. A 16-year-old youth has been arrested in connection with the incident.
-
Date
Mike is feeling quite confident
Among the thousands of England fans cheering their squad to victory in Sydney tomorrow will be Swindon Council leader Mike Bawden. Coun Bawden (Con, Old Town and Lawns) has given local politics a rest for a few weeks to enjoy a holiday in Australia with
-
Date
Maths adds up to week of fun
NUMBER-crunching pupils had fun with maths at Westbury Infants School. The Maths Week Challenge even netted the school £300 for classroom equipment after pupils were sponsored to learn number facts. During the week the 222 students took part in maths
-
Date
Poison fear over
THE POISON scare at Westbury Dairies looks to be over after an extensive investigation revealed no contamination had been found in the milk supply. The investigation was triggered when a rogue dairy farmer called the company on November 3 claiming he
-
Date
Bareback and front
LADY Godiva will ride again in Westbury today after a woman came forward to bare all and ride through the town on a white horse. Claire Fonteyne, 24, read about the search for a Lady Godiva to take part in the town's efforts for Children in Need in last
-
Date
Students' net gain
STUDENTS and internet fans can now log on at the newest branch of Wiltshire College. The Westbury IT centre officially opened on Friday, unveiling 16 computers, two classrooms and a range of courses and lessons. Over 35 retailers, councillors and staff
-
Date
MP will hand petition over in Parliament
Ref. 27567PENSIONERS campaigning for a fairer council tax deal in west Wiltshire have been buoyed by the news that MP Andrew Murrison will present their petition in Parliament. Dr Murrison made the pledge after campaign organisers Ron Young, 66, and Les
-
Date
Highworth and Fairfordfacing toughaway ties
BOTH Highworth Town and Fairford Town know that nothing less than their best will do if their names are to be in the hat for the third round of the FA Vase on Monday. Both Hellenic League outfits have daunting away ties in tomorrow's second round against
-
Date
Window smashed
A man was seen breaking a window in Maristow Street, Westbury, with a bottle on Saturday night causing £200 of damage. A 16-year-old youth has been arrested in connection with the incident.
-
Date
It needs sorting out quickly, warns Toby
TOBY Redwood has urged Chippenham Town board to appoint a manager as soon as possible to ensure they stand a realistic chance of getting into the new Conference League Two next season. Caretaker manager Adie Mings brought the defender to Hardenhuish on
-
Date
Appeal and thanks to an honest gentleman
I LOST a black wallet containing cards etc at the car park at Baileys Bath Close Bradford on Avon, on October 31 at approximately 12.30pm. A kind gentleman found it and telephoned my wife. She didn't know it had been lost as I didn't arrive home till
-
Date
Life will be hell if we lose!
BATH lock Steve Borthwick concedes life with the club's Australian coaching quartet could become unbearable next week if the Wallabies defy the odds and beat England in tomrrow's World Cup Final. Borthwick, who along with clubmate Olly Barkley was named
-
Date
Player-boss blasts inept home show
CHIPPENHAM Town caretaker manager Adie Mings has accused some of his players of not being up to the standard of Dr Martens Premier League football. Mings has been put in temporary charge of the Bluebirds while the search for Tommy Saunders' successor
-
Date
Boycott ballot
TEACHERS in west Wiltshire may vote to join colleagues across the country in a boycott of primary school tests. The Wiltshire branch of the National Union of Teachers this week began balloting over whether to boycott Key Stage 1 and 2 SAT tests. Wiltshire
-
Date
Man, 75, left friendless by home move
THE relative of a pensioner who has been forced out of a Melksham care home after more than 30 years is worried the move could spark depression. A 75-year-old was one of the first residents to be moved out of Waverley House as part of a shake-up of care
-
Date
Dads meet for butties!
A social group for dads is to start next Friday at Oaktree Family Centre in Priory Road, Park South. Man Friday will meet every Friday from 12.30pm to 2.30pm in term time only. It will be a social opportunity with free coffee, bacon butties and a creche
-
Date
Letter on town hall was wrong
Alan Titcombe's letter (Wiltshire Times November 7), criticising Westbury Town Council for conclusively deciding to become trustee of our town hall, contained many misleading claims which deserve a response. Mr Titcombe is a director of a body which failed
-
Date
Shops and firms close and police turn pub into HQ
Angling shop owner Pat CooperUNDER SIEGE: BUSINESSES forced to close when armed police units took over a Trowbridge street were left counting the cost of lost trade. Trowbridge's oldest firm James Long Masons Ltd were stopped from trading for the first
-
Date
Man, 19, attacked officers
BOWYERS worker Lee King assaulted two police officers and smashed a glass door pane after a night's drinking in Trowbridge. King, 19, of High Street, Semington, was given a two-year community rehabilitation order on Friday after admitting the offences
-
Date
Graham back as Westlecotbid for DennyCup victory
THREE Wiltshire indoor clubs are still left in the Denny Cup but only one of them is from Swindon. Westlecot, beaten quarter-finalists last season, are the lone local survivors in the national inter-club championship following the third round exit of
-
Date
Students in net profit
STUDENTS at Matravers Secondary School in Westbury have come up with an idea to get interactive with the community. Sixth-form students Sammy Mathews, Carly Spencer, Frances Scott, and Year 11 pupil, Darren Miller, have set up a weekly internet caf. The
-
Date
Pedal power helps Pudsey
PEDAL power and a head for heights have seen a Cricklade man raise £200 for Children in Need. Bob Sanders took two days to cycle from his home to the foot of Mount Snowdon in north Wales. The gutsy 51year-old then climbed the 3,559ft mountain in seven
-
Date
Sprawling areas are soulless
I would like to add my voice to those who are horrified that the historic land bordering onto Coate may be built upon with yet another sprawling housing development so many of which have given Swindon its deserved reputation of being soulless. Before
-
Date
Lesbian couple attacked in pub
TWO women targeted by homophobes in a west Wiltshire pub for kissing believe police are not taking hate crimes seriously enough. One of the victims said gay men and women in west Wiltshire had "no hope" because of the narrow-minded attitude of police.
-
Date
Art is used to keep young people away from drink
ART students are getting the message across to other youngsters that drinking and driving is not cool. Young people and those who have just thrown away their L-plates are the target of a campaign designed by New College students. Hreod Parkway School
-
Date
Beware quins
BATH have been warned to expect the unexpected from tomorrow's Premiership visitors NEC Harlequins. The London side arrive at the Recreation Ground (2.15pm) in second place behind their hosts in the league table although Bath do hold a sizeable eight-point
-
Date
Mings must wait
CHIPPENHAM Town are waiting on a number of players before deciding their team for tomorrow's match at Merthyr. Wayne Thorne, Colin Towler and Simon Charity are struggling with injuries, while Steve Brown and Pat Mountain are long-term absentees. Caretaker
-
Date
Why is Cllr Payne so negative?
CLLR Graham Payne seems to have a very low opinion of the people of Trowbridge, implying that the majority of us are drunken yobs. He also seems to regard Trowbridge as a cultural desert. I have news for him there are people in the town who enjoy singing
-
Date
School runs skills session
A MELKSHAM school is giving students a chance to brush up their study skills. George Ward School is inviting youngsters who would like help with improving their examination technique to a special Saturday Academy. A spokesman said: "This is a great opportunity
-
Date
Child abuse man begins jail stretch
DAIRY farmer Gordon Guley has been jailed for two and a half years after admitting sexually assaulting six boys over a 22-year period. Case officer Det Sgt Dave Martin said 44-year-old Hilperton farmer Guley used his tractor as a method of grooming boys
-
Date
Winners in library contest
YOUNG people from Swindon have won prizes ranging from vouchers to DVD players in a library competition. The competition was held to publicise the fact that libraries lend DVDs, videos, video games, music and audio books as well as books. Themed around
-
Date
Man, 75, left friendless by home move
THE relative of a pensioner who has been forced out of a Melksham care home after more than 30 years is worried the move could spark depression. A 75-year-old was one of the first residents to be moved out of Waverley House as part of a shake-up of care
-
Date
Award scheme veteran's prize
A SAILOR who has dedicated nearly 25 years to helping youngsters with their Duke of Edinburgh Gold award was honoured at a ceremony. Lieutenant Keith Kirkbright, 57, of Melksham, was awarded the Duke of Edinburgh's commendation at the Bishop's Palace
-
Date
Painstaking search for evidence begins
Forensic officers at the scene in Cross StreetUNDER SIEGE: TEAMS of forensic officers moved into Cross Street to gather vital evidence just minutes after the siege ended. Officers dressed in white suits took over the flat to help piece together a picture
-
Date
Hunt on for missing cat
WORRIED cat owner Ruth Godfrey is appealing for Wiltshire Times readers to help find her lost pet. Poppett, a small black and white cat, went missing in the Lavender Fields area of Trowbridge on November 12. She was wearing a collar with her name and
-
Date
Christmas is coming early to Nationwide
NATIONWIDE Building Society is celebrating today after notching top profits. In the six months up to October 4 it recorded a 22 per cent hike in pre-tax profits to £188.4 million. In addition it has nearly doubled its share of the UK mortgage market to
-
Date
'Linda lives on in her children'
JULIE Westmore, the cousin of murdered Highworth mother Linda Razzell, has spoken for the first time about how her heartache continues as she struggles to come to terms with the loss. Mrs Westmore and her sister Beverley Lewis are today caring for Linda's
-
Date
Getting fruity in a good cause down at MacDonalds
A SWINDON boss swapped the computer chip for a French fry to raise cash for charity yesterday. Bryan Welsh, development manager for IT firm Data Vision, agreed to spend the day in the hot kitchens of MacDonalds in Great Western Way. It was to help raise
-
Date
Town enjoys some early Yuletide fun
STALLHOLDERS were flooded with visitors in Fore Street, Trowbridge, on Saturday for the Christmas Street Fair. People were asked to get into the spirit of the event by dressing up as comic characters. June Fleming, chairman of the Hope Nature Centre which
-
Date
Alms robbery
Two men wearing baseball caps stole a charity box from Linhams Butchers in Westbury at 3.30pm on November 12. The box contained around £5 and the men are thought to be 16 to 18 years old. Anyone with information should contact WPC Jo Tidmarsh at Westbury
