Archive
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Brave Domonic turns the miles into money
13293/1GAZETTE & HERALD: BRAVE Domonic Ubhie-Webb, who suffers from an incurable genetic disorder, has raised thousands of pounds for a new children's hospital in a sponsored walk. The eight-year-old was diagnosed at birth as having Beta thalassaemia
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Scouts are forced to stop their super sale
GAZETTE & HERALD: A POPULAR Scout jumble sale has been forced to close down after more than 30 years, because of red tape and legislation. The annual jumble sale organised by the 1st Chippenham Scouts in the Scout Hut in Audley Road has raised around
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Battle begins to save post office
13323/2GAZETTE & HERALD: THE Gazette has reacted to the shock news that Chippenham's main post office could close and become part of a convenience store by launching a campaign to save it. Post Office Ltd said it is in negotiations with Primeco Ltd
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Disabled cyclist achieves his goal
Mike PopeGAZETTE & HERALD: One-legged cyclist Mike Pope celebrated finishing his gruelling 1,000-mile journey to John O'Groats yesterday lunchtime with a glass of champagne. The above knee amputee set off from Lands End on May 23 with cycling partner
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Festival hints at mystery star guest
A mystery celebrity guest could be a star attraction at North Wiltshire Festival 2004, thanks to extra money coming in to the event. Support for the two-yearly festival of business, community and leisure is high and with an extra £8,000 in the budget
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Having a blast
Barges complete with cannons and traditonal music combined to ensure Pewsey's annual water festival on Saturday was a roaring success. The canalside was packed during the day and evening for the festival, which was organised by the Pewsey Wharf Association
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People pay to sit in stocks
13223/1THE sun was so hot at a fte in Pewsey that people paid to sit in the stocks to have a cool down. One of the organisers Debbie Jackson said: "The stocks were so popular that people were not only paying to throw wet sponges, they were paying for
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Trekking for Bobby
13310/3FARMER Jane Young, 60, is preparing for a gruelling trek in memory of her husband who died of bowel cancer ten years ago. Mrs Young, from Enford, will be raising money for the Cancer Research Bobby Moore Fund which is a cause close to her heart
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Fears mount after maternity meeting
FEARS that Malmesbury and Devizes maternity units will close was heightened this week after health chiefs announced an emergency meeting with staff. West Wiltshire Primary Care Trust denied that the emergency meeting of the Joint Consultative Committee
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£1.2m sports complex plan
EXCITING plans to provide a £1.2m outdoor sports complex, including a skate park, for Malmesbury's sports clubs and youngsters, were unveiled last week. The newly-formed Worthys Sports Association (WSA), wants to put the complex on the Worthys, where
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Scholarship delight
THREE pupils from Sandroyd School in Tollard Royal are celebrating scholarship successes. Alec Renton, Richard Mitchell and Rory Hodges, all boarders and in their final year, have won academic awards to Bryanston School and will take up their places in
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Play rangers help centre's cause
CEDRIC the Dragon - mascot of children's charity NCH - visited Woodlands First School in Salisbury, to judge a competition that has helped increase awareness of their new neighbourhood play rangers. Pupils from the school, together with those from St
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Cathedral has power to amaze
YEAR 7 pupils from La Retraite Swan School visited St Thomas's Church and Salisbury Cathedral as part of their medieval history studies. Helena Conroy-Lewis and Tim Brockbank were both "amazed" by the architecture of the cathedral and by the Magna Carta
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Trout project success
A UNIQUE project by pupils of Ringwood School to bring the wonders of underwater life into the classroom has been such a success that it could extend to other local schools and even spread across the country. Pupils at the school have successfully reared
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'Special friends' invited to visit
IN May, the children of Pitton School invited a "special friend" to come and visit them at school. On the Friday afternoon before half-term, the school was filled with grandparents, parents, and villagers who had accepted the children's invitations. The
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DNA theme gives artworks a twist
Fourteen-year-old Hannah Fisher with her paintings for the Wessex genetics laboratory at Salisbury District Hospital. DA5644P2EIGHT colourful paintings now brighten up a stairwell at Wessex genetics laboratory in Salisbury District Hospital. The artist
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Goatacre v Trowbridge
GOATACRE were back at their best on Saturday with a great all round team performance securing a comfortable four-wicket win over Trowbridge. Goatacre won the toss and invited Trowbridge to bat first in the overcast and humid conditions. Richard Greatorex
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Bedwyn keep up the pace at top of table
WILTSHIRE CRICKET LEAGUE: GREAT Bedwyn continue to set the pace after they travelled to Calne and gained a 44 run win. With Andy Turnell (34) and Alan Tuttle (32) top scoring Great Bedwyn made 185 all out, with Dan Knights, 3-49 in 12 overs, the pick
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City's season tickets are on the rise
THE cost of watching Salisbury City FC in action is set to rise slightly next season. The Old Sarum club, newly promoted to the Premier Division of the Isthmian League, have confirmed match admission prices will go up by 50p for the 2004-5 campaign, with
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Manx trip for Vince
WINTERSLOW motor cyc-ling ace Vince Prevett is riding high after earning himself a place in the Manx GP race on the Isle of Man in September. Vince, who rides for Salis-bury's Hayballs Motor Sport, gained his place after two successful meetings which
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Epsom joy for course chairman
SALISBURY Racecourse chairman Michael Wates was celebrating on Satur-day after Passing Glance, the horse he co-owns with the Kingsclere Stud, won at Epsom on Derby Day, writes Mike Turner. The horse, which runs in the famous colours of legendary Derby
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Sharp shooter AJ wins again
Hot shot AJ Smith. DA5681P2.CLAY pigeon champion AJ 'Smoker' Smith has yet again led the Great British team to victory at the European Championships, writes Joanna Snell. The Stapleford sharp shooter blasted his way out of retirement in 2003 to bag three
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Bounce causes all kinds of problems
BATTING first at Sutton Scotney's Winchester ground, South Newton were reduced to 18-4 in no time with Richie Cole, 10-2-20-3, doing the damage with pace and bounce. When Stuart Partridge, 26, was joined by Nick Moulding, 37, things steadily improved.
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Big match draws near
TICKETS are selling fast for one of the most star-studded sporting occasions ever to take place in south Wiltshire. Next month sees South Wilts entertain an all-star Lashings side of past and present test players including Richie Richardson, Mark Waugh
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Hole in one adds to golf day excitement
THE second annual Salis-bury Journal High Post Corporate Golf Challenge raised a total of £10,440 for Salisbury District Hosp-ital's Ace of Hearts Appeal. Thirty teams took part in the event at the Great Durnford course, competing for a variety of individual
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Zara up for Wilton test
A TOP-CLASS field of more than 400 competitors will descend on Wilton House this weekend for the 28th annual Wilton Horse Trials. The prestigious event is held in the Palladian Bridge Field against the picturesque backdrop of the stately home's acres
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Kruger's on fire as South Wilts make it three wins in a row
SOUTH Wilts continued their climb up the ECB Southern Electric League Division One table with a comprehensive ten-wicket victory over basement boys Old Tauntonians & Romsey. The win was the Salisbury side's third on the bounce and moves them up to
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The issue of immigration and its consequences for employers
From May 1, changes to the immigration laws came into force and mean it is now a criminal offence for any business to employ someone who is not entitled to work in this country. Any employer found guilty can be fined up to £5,000 per employee and the
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Sales of rugs are keeping mistreated horses warm
A MAIL order company has helped ensure that mistreated horses have a stable over their heads. Jumpers Horse Line, of Wootton Bassett, donated £1,199 to the International League for the Protection of Horses. The promotion ran on the Upland brand of rugs
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Frozen food firm brings 100 jobs
MORE than 100 new jobs will be created this summer when a frozen food distributor moves to Swindon. But the news for Swindon's economy is mixed this week as insurance company Heath Lambert has announced it is shedding 25 jobs as it moves a risk processing
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Neighbours see red over garden studio
13257/1A row has erupted between Wootton Bassett neighbours over a studio built in a back garden. Nick Mulford's neighbours maintain that his New Road studio is huge, unsightly and illegal, while he maintains that it is within planning guidelines and
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Club continues its celebrations
CALNE Bowls Club celebrated their 90th anniversary on Sunday and although they are low on numbers they hope to chalk up their centenary next. The club, which is based at the Recreation Ground in Anchor Road, marked the occasion with a friendly match against
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Canal lovers unite
Canal enthusiasts are merging the local branches of the Wilts and Berks Canal Trust in a bid to accelerate the restoration of the waterway and encourage new recruits. The Chippenham and Calne groups merged some years ago and now they will join with the
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Don't phone and drive, say police
WILTSHIRE Police have promised to get tough on motorists who talk on their mobile phones while driving. This week police in Manchester launched a massive clampdown on mobile phone abusers fining more than 500 motorists. Wiltshire has no current plans
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4x4s threaten country lanes
QUIET country paths throughout Wiltshire could be in danger after a rise in the number of applications to turn them into byways open to all traffic, including scramble bikes and 4x4 vehicles. The situation came to light when notices appeared on the path
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We lost the financial war, says author
D -DAY: FORMER wartime code breaker Harry Beckough purposely planned the release of his latest book to coincide with D-Day. D-Day commemorates the mass invasion of Allied troops on June 6 1944 to repel Hitler's Nazi troops and bring the Third Reich to
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Big event for pupils of small schools
A MUSIC festival will celebrate the singing talents of youngsters from some of Wiltshire's smallest schools. The Wiltshire's Small Schools Music Festival will showcase the vocal talents of primary school pupils with a series of concerts featuring music
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Green dream comes true
WILTSHIRE'S first community composting facility is to be based at CARE Rowde, a centre for people with learning disabilities. It opens on Monday and Rowde residents can take their organic garden waste to the site where it will be transformed into garden
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Corsham's promotion gets the seal of approval
TWO clubs can now officially celebrate promotion after their positions in higher divisions were ratified at recent league meetings. Corsham Town's place in the Screwfix League Premier division was confirmed and they will be promoted at the expense of
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Crowds pile in at festival of football
AFC CORSHAM offered up a real feast of football when they hosted their 14th annual six-a-side tournament on Saturday and Sunday. More than 10,000 people visited the Leafy Lane facilities in Corsham to witness over 2,300 footballers play out nearly 300
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School anguish of girl aged 10
DESPERATE mother Barbara Botwright whose daughter, Kayleigh, ten, has twice tried to strangle herself, is keeping her daughter off school and wants Wiltshire County Council to put her into a specialist school unit. Mrs Botwright, 32, of Potterne, says
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Cuts to rural bus services
COUNTY council transport co-ordinators have confirmed there will be cuts in the bus services from the Kennet Valley villages into Marlborough. Pensioner Doris Langford from Knights Close in West Overton told the Gazette this week there were fears in the
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Thousands delayed, 30 trains cancelled, Mass evacuations, What a boules up!!
Ref. 30826-2ARMY bomb squad experts were called to Swindon station yesterday after a suspect package sparked a mass evacuation, causing chaos on the rail network throughout the south west. But when the package was blown up in a controlled explosion it
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Man in court after car crash
A MAN has appeared in court following the car crash which claimed the life of 19-year-old Matthew Styles. Gary Huckin, 35, of Naunton Road, Walcot, is charged with causing death by dangerous driving, leaving the scene of an accident and failing to report
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Stadium plan 'ready in six weeks'
SWINDON Town chief executive Mark Devlin hopes Town's plans for a new stadium and sports village will be in front of planners within the next four to six weeks. He also insists concerns have been taken on board and there is no question of riding roughshod
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Groom takes the reins for big day
Ref. 30817-66IT'S not only in fairy tales that Prince Charming arrives on his white charger to sweep his beautiful bride off her feet. Bobby Chawla plans such an entrance when he marries his fianc Rekha Kumar in what is believed to be the first fully
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Investigation into alleged indecent assault continues
TWO police forces are continuing their investigations into claims three Swindon children were indecently assaulted on a school trip to Norfolk. Officers from Wiltshire Police are still conducting enquiries in Swindon on behalf of Norfolk Police. They
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Walk raises miles of cash
GAZETTE & HERALD: Carpenter Chris Richards has raised more than £900 for charity by walking 85 miles along the Ridgeway. Mr Richards, of Back Road, Calne, walked from Ivinghoe Beacon to Overton to raise money for the Motor Neurone Disease Association
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Dragons all set for carnival parade
GAZETTE & HERALD: A 35-foot dragon, a trailer full of belly dancers and samba band will all be taking to the streets of Calne for Saturday's carnival procession. This year the theme is The Elements and 11 floats plus a string of giant flowers and
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Charity is up for top award
DEVIZES-based Wiltshire and Swindon Community Foundation has been nominated for a major national prize at the Charity Awards 2004, in London on June 17. The charity, which works to channel pledges of funding from major companies throughout the county
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Gardener sows the seeds of knowledge
PUPILS at Rowdeford School, near Devizes, are learning about gardening from a top gardener. David Marshall has begun work as the instructor gardener at the Victorian walled garden in the grounds of the school, which caters for children with special educational
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Hospital fete is big success
THE work of Devizes Hospital League of Friends was highlighted at its annual fete on Saturday. The fine weather brought more than 200 people to the fete, which raised about £500 for League of Friends. The fete was held in the grounds of Devizes Hospital
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Affordable homes welcomed
KENNET councillors and members of the Mental After Care Association visited a new development in Marlborough on Friday to see work progressing on 13 new social homes. They are being built in Angel Yard, on part of the former Tannery site, by Raglan Housing
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Assistant director of Age Concern dies
THE Devizes headquarters of Age Concern Wiltshire has been inundated with messages of sympathy after the death of their assistant director Roger Chalk at the age of 56. Mr Chalk, who lived in Edington, near Westbury, had been diagnosed with cancer in
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All change in chamber after 'prod' allegation
THE alleged prodding of one Marlborough town councillor by another resulted in a row over protocol at a council meeting on Monday. Former mayor Coun Nick Fogg has refuted a claim by Coun Peggy Dow that he assaulted her by prodding her at the end of a
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Town remembers unsung heroes
A FAMILY reunion is to take place as part of Marlborough's 800th anniversary celebrations to commemorate inventors who have largely been forgotten in the town. Most people know that Richard Trevithick invented the first steam engine to run on rails and
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Bourton bonanza hauls in 1,000lb
THE Wednesday club match at Bourton on the Water turned out to be a humdinger with over 1,000lb of fish being caught and there were six individual weights of over 100lb. Cliff Brown just got the verdict over his brother Fred. Cliff took 128-8-0 ahead
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Auction to help toddler fight tumour
A CHARITY auction is to be held next month to raise funds for a toddler fighting a brain tumour. The Officers' Wives Club at RAF Lyneham where three-year-old George Mitchell's parents are based will stage the event at the De Vere Hotel in West Swindon
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Mysteries of Roman lives unearthed
ARCHAEOLOGISTS and volunteers have begun their quest to unveil the mysteries of what lies beneath at the Groundwell Ridge Roman Site. Yesterday the topsoil had already been uncovered, allowing a team from English Heritage to begin the slow process of
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We're caught in more traps
SPEED cameras will soon be operating at three new sites in Swindon. Each of the new mobile camera sites has a history of collisions in which people have been seriously injured. They are on the A4259 near Coate, the A419 near Covingham and on the B4006
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Hello, duckie!
Ref. 30786-17IT'S not just children who have been enjoying the scorching temperatures and blue skies. Our feathered friends have been taking advantage of the weather too. Adver photographer Siobhan Boyle snapped this youngster as she fed birds and ducks
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MP calls on Government to suspend house project
Plans to build a tunnel under the M4 as part of the Front Garden development must be put on hold, MP James Gray has demanded. The Wiltshire North MP has called on the Deputy Prime Minister to personally step-in and effectively suspend the massive housing
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Rory opens the festival
Comedian and impressionist Rory Bremner will open this year's Faringdon Arts Festival. The festival will showcase more than 50 events from the brightest local and national talents in music, literature, dance, art and drama during the first weekend in
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Drown backs drive for Euro farm reform
SWINDON MP Julia Drown has backed a campaign to scrap the controversial multi-billion pound Common Agri-cultural Policy. She threw her support behind the reform drive, which is being headed by Michael Wills, Swindon's other Labour MP. Ms Drown, who takes
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Questions answered on breathing problems
The Swindon branch of the Breathe Easy Group will be manning an information stand at the Stratton branch of Sainsbury's this weekend. Members will be on hand to answer questions regarding The British Lung Foundation and support group activities. Information
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Pupl friction
Ref. 30821-18A RESIDENT eager to do his bit to protect the environment has come up against an unexpected obstacle. Stuart Daniell has discovered the doorstep-recycling scheme that covers his home in Wootton Bassett does not include shredded paper. He
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Charity gets boost from art exhibition
More than 40 local artists will be exhibiting their paintings at the third annual exhibition organised by Age Concern Swin-don. The show will be held at Blooms of Bressingham, the garden centre just off Junction 16 of the M4 near Swindon. Visitors between
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Biker who died was over limit
MAIL Coach landlord Mark Hodges who died last year in a motorcycle accident had been drinking and had only had a few hours sleep, a coroner heard. The popular landlord of the gay pub in Fleet Street, Swin-don, died instantly on August 8 when his Suzuki
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What are you planning?
FOOTBALL FEVER: WITH Euro 2004 just days away the Evening Adver-tiser is keen to hear how our readers plan to celebrate it. Can you beat the efforts of the Barrett family? As revealed in yester-day's paper, father-of-two Paul has transformed his three-bedroom
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Kate dreaming of trip of a lifetime
Ref. 30819-04FOOTBALL FEVER: Kate Cady will find out today whether she will have the chance to cheer on England in Portugal, courtesy of Radio 1. Kate, 25, from West Swin-don, correctly guessed that Swindon was the secret location where Aled Jones, DJ
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Football fever
Ref. 30826-2FOOTBALL FEVER: Swindon has gone all patriotic as England's first game in the Euro 2004 football tournament draws near. KEVIN SHOESMITH looks at how the town is gearing up to the event SWINDON is in the grip of football fever as Our Boys prepare
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Street gripe
THE streets of Swindon seem to be paved with litter, spittle and chewing gum (EA "Chew this over,"June 1, page7.) There's more. Perhaps something can be done about people urinating in the telephone boxes by the old Post Office in Fleming Way. Nicholas
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Green charge
With reference to John Short's letter in the Advertiser on June 1 and the council leaflet on recycling green garden waste at £1 a bag. An average household from early spring until late autumn will average 35-40 bags. As a well known person used to say
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Housing facts
YOUR commentary on the protest over plans to build houses near Coate Water in Saturday's Advertiser states "Swindon Council states that its hands are tied by the Government's demands to build on the land." That's not true. The Government tells councils
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Home truths
DON'T believe councillors when they say we have to build all these new houses because the numbers have been forced upon Swindon. The Structure Plan to 2011 requires Swindon Borough Council to provide 23,000 homes from 1991. The latest assessment of housing
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What will it take to get our filthy town cleaned?
AFTER travelling around the world for five years, we have now settled in Swindon. And I have never seen such filth and disgusting things anywhere. The car park to town, in the alley that you have to go up always smells of urine and, without fail, has
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No postcode, then no delivery, Mail claims
SORRY about Old Town having a later mail delivery but at least that is better than the first class letter posted in Swindon on May 12 time unknown which arrived at my Swindon home mid morning on May 22. Alas, it had no postcode but surely that wasn't
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Churchill helped battle to keep hunting
THE name of Sir Winston Churchill is synonymous with inspiring wartime leadership and the implacable defence of freedom. He was recently voted Greatest Briton of all time on the BBC2 series Great Britons and his name has been in evidence during the 60th
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Council to blame for Corn Exchange crisis
THE clock on the Corn Exchange striking on the hour, the quarter hour and the half hour was pleasant to hear and, when we were gardening, we knew what the time was. I personally loved the sound of that clock striking and I hope it will be restored and
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Peace needs to be learned
There is a great deal of ambiguity and unease concerning the D-day celebrations in the sheer number of lives lost in that historic event and the subsequent traumas still suffered by their families and the survivors. The increasing use of 'living history
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Good deeds?
On June 4 I was driving down Victoria Road in Devizes, when I found myself behind a recycling truck. I watched with amusement, as the huge queue of traffic built up, as the driver moved down the road, blocking any traffic wishing to go in either direction
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Coaching trio to stay with Bath
BATH have ensured the futures of their successful coaching set-up with assistant coaches Mike Foley and Richard Graham plus head of physical preparation Chris Mallac signing new contracts. The Australian trio have followed head coach John Connolly by
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Salute to sponsors
GAZETTE & HERALD: By Brook Valley School will celebrate the opening of its brand new IT suite on June 18 with a tribute to the many sponsors and supporters who contributed to the cause. The primary school in Yatton Keynell will call the new facility
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Twinners to hold a dance
GAZETTE & HERALD: Chippenham Twinning Association is holding a fund raising barn dance on Saturday at Chippenham Town Hall. The money will be used to help the association's work fostering friendship and understanding between the people of Chippenham
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Correction
Thank you for printing extracts from my childhood experiences and D-Day of Hayling Island. I would like to correct one point, and that is, my mother Daisy is in Avonmead Nursing Home and not Mayfield Residential Home, as printed. PAT DAY Devizes
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Load of soap
Here in Bromham we are only too aware of the tactics deployed by the pressure group of which Pam Thomas is a member. I for one was certainly not taken in by her attempt in her letter last week (Gazette, June 3) to portray the all new, softer, kinder Dove
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Thieves are laying siege, says widow
GAZETTE & HERALD: An 85-year-old widow says she and her neighbours feel they are living under siege following a string of thefts of flowers and pots from the front of their homes. The woman, from the Redland area of Chippenham, who does not want to
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Not included
The article on the issue of car parking at Devizes Wharf (Gazette, May 27) drew attention to the fact that no Devizes Kennet councillors were on the committee. In fact, I attended the meeting as a visitor because I have not been allowed a place on the
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Defer maternity decision
I am writing to reassert the first point of my letter to Jenny Edwards, dated February 5, 2004, relating to your proposed closure of Devizes Maternity Unit. I had highlighted that the Audit Commission had previously found your financial processes to be
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Incineration is not the best way forward
The Bromham incinerator is not green. Incineration is not a suitable way to dispose of household waste. The order of preference in waste handling is waste minimisation, re-use, then recycling and composting followed by energy recovery. Incineration is
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Town centre scheme will drive people away
I read the Gazette's front page last week with disbelief regarding Kennet District Council's intentions to start changing the Market Place barely two years since work was completed on the last 'remodelling', and in so doing, remove the last parking spaces
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A hair do well
GAZETTE & HERALD: WITH the biggest fight of her career just days away, it was vital WBF boxing champion Jane Couch came to Chippenham to get her customary good-luck hairdo. Before every fight Couch, 34, has her hair carefully braided by hairdresser
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Suspicion falls on carwash vandals
GAZETTE & HERALD: A carwash drier that crashed on to a new black cab causing £1,500 of damage, may have been sabotaged by vandals, says garage chain Total. Gwynn Ash, a driver for Chippenham-based Lady Pamela's Cars, was sitting in the carwash at
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Jail term warning over sex attack
GAZETTE & HERALD: DEFENDANT Benjamin Roberts has been warned he faces a jail term after admitting carrying out a sex attack on a woman. Roberts, of Avebury Road, Chippenham, pleaded guilty to charges of indecent assault and assault occasioning actual
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From barmaid to a landlady
GAZETTE & HERALD: A BARMAID'S dreams came true when, overnight, she became landlady. Helen Brougham, 33, was working at the Jolly Huntsman, Kington St Michael, when she heard that the owners wanted to sell the pub. She made an offer but continued
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Church is reaching towards the future
GAZETTE & HERALD: A Norman church dating back to the 12th century, St Andrew's has undergone many transformations. Now, in 2004, it is evolving again to meet the needs of its community. Debbie Waite spoke to the people hoping to raise £750,000 to
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Man found dead in hotel
GAZETTE & HERALD: TRIBUTES have been paid to Devizes man Luke Wright whose body was found in the Pines Hotel at Chippenham, where he had been living. Police said there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death but said samples had been
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Rugby players in bikini stunt
13220/1GAZETTE & HERALD: CAR boot sales and sponsored walks may be conventional ways of raising money, but when Chippenham Under 16s Rugby Club wanted to fund a tour of Italy, the players donned bikinis. Ryan Surry, David Newman and Matt Jenkins,
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Crowds flock to view Venus
13298/3GAZETTE & HERALD: Hundreds of space enthusiasts crowded on to Chippenham town bridge on Tuesday morning to take up the once in a lifetime chance to view Venus passing in front of the sun. The last transit of Venus took place in 1882, while
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Devoted dad dies in bike crash
GAZETTE & HERALD: DEVOTED family man Tony Read, who died when his motorcycle collided with a car, would have celebrated his youngest daughter's first birthday next week. Mr Read, 48, died at around midday on May 30, when his Ducati motorbike collided
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Foley's back in for Wilts
Wiltshire return to Trowbridge for a Minor Counties Championship encounter for the first time since the mid 1990s when they take on Cornwall in a three-day match starting on Sunday. Forest Green goalkeeper Steve Perrin comes into the side for his first
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Town So Close to Ifil deal
JEREL IFIL is poised to become a permanent member of Andy King's squad, with Town having made an official bid for the young Watford defender. The Evening Advertiser understands that the Hornets are favourably disposed towards the five-figure offer, although
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Ales mark history of a village
GAZETTE & HERALD: A GROUP of beer-making entrepreneurs in Box claim their latest venture has all the right ingredients to brew success. The village will roll out the barrel this month when the Box Steam Brewery starts production of three new ales,
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Junction safety plan wins go-ahead
Road safety improvements could be made to an accident black spot on the A4 between Chippenham and Calne. Plans have been approved to alter the Studley crossroads junction under a redevelopment scheme at Blount Court Nurseries. Last week North Wiltshire
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Carers' role highlighted
THE vital role played by carers will be celebrated and promoted during National Carers Week next week. Carers Support North Wiltshire has organised a host of special events. National Carers Week was set up to support the six million unpaid carers in the
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Is number up for for our payphones?
North Wiltshire MP James Gray is fighting to prevent the removal of 25 payphones from across the district. British Telecom had originally planned to remove 54 of the 151 phones in north Wiltshire because it says they are no longer making a profit. It
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Brown is all set to leave the Bluebirds
OUT of contract Bluebirds winger Steve Brown is poised to join their Southern League Premier Division rivals Tiverton Town for the new season. The 30-year-old suffered a broken leg last season in the early stages of a league clash with Worcester City
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Strawberry helpers plea
PREPARATIONS for next month's strawberry fayre in Crudwell are well under way but volunteers are still needed to help out. More than 2,000 portions of strawberries are dished out on the village green during the two-day event, planned for July 10 and 11
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Dyson brings in foreign workers for training
DYSON is bringing Malaysian workers to its Malmesbury plant to be trained. The company moved both vacuum cleaner and washing machine production from its factory at Tetbury Hill to Malaysia in the last two years, making more than 800 people redundant.
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Village set to give go-ahead on skate park
A NEW skateboard park in Sherston could be just a couple of months away if the parish council give its support to the project at a meeting tonight. Plans for a new skate park have been circulating the village for the last two years but now it looks as
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Jazz star hits the US charts
SUAVE Jazz svengali Jamie Cullum is storming up the US charts with his latest album Twentysomething. The 24-year-old supremo from Hullavington has sold more than a million records in the UK since October and has entered the US billboard contemporary jazz
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Council's practices criticised by clerk
Edward FergusonMALMESBURY town clerk Edward Ferguson has accused the council of a lack of professionalism in a parting shot before he retires at the end of this month. Mr Ferguson has been off sick from the council for nearly six months due to stress,
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Decision on fate of village field put off
THE future of the Bell Field in Luckington still hangs in the balance after a meeting of district councillors last week. Cirencester-based developer Colburn Homes wants to build ten, two and three bedroom, houses on the land, which has remained undeveloped
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And love stuck
13291/1GREAT grandparents Arthur and Freda Paul of Minety, who celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary on Saturday, have been stuck on each other from the start. Mr Paul, who celebrated his 81st birthday the following day, had an infected thumb when
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Filands plan gets go-ahead at last
13325/2MALMESBURY Primary School will get a new £2.5m school building after a deal involving up to 150 houses at Filands and Tetbury Hill was given the go-ahead. The plans were given permission by North Wiltshire District Council in March but were referred
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History comes alive
THE Cathedral School in Salisbury travelled back 2,500 years when Year 4 held an ancient Greek day. All the children wore home-made 'peplos', and they spent the day as children in ancient Greece might have done. The children are shown here entertaining
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Readers raise funds for deserving causes
PUPILS of Norman Court School have raised £1,928.26 for Readathon. Readathon is a national sponsored reading event that is held in schools annually. All the money raised is shared equally between Sargent Cancer Care for Children and the Roald Dahl Foundation
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Skiers enjoy good snow
CHILDREN from Norman Court School, in West Tytherley, enjoyed a skiing trip to the Three Valleys, in France. The Alps had excellent snow conditions and the children were very excited by the amount of snow that they could see. They were divided into five
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German trip is a success
A GROUP of 35 Year 8 and Year 9 pupils from La Retraite Swan School and Bishop Wordsworth's School spent five days visiting Bitburg in Germany, close to the border with Luxembourg. Bitburg is famous for the brewing of Bitburger Pils but it is also near
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Wootton Bassett v Biddestone
BOTH sides were both full of confidence following recent results and after their superb batting performance a week earlier, Bassett had no hesitation in batting when they won the toss. After a steady first four overs, with runs easy to come by and few
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Foxy is so happy to be home again
GEORGE Fox has played cricket in some exotic locations but he says he is more than happy to be back playing in his hometown of Marlborough. The 26-year-old, of Rogers Meadow, is currently making runs and taking wickets for Marlboroughin the Wilts and
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Corsham v Taunton
AN impressive knock of 81 not out from Corsham's Mark Hadrill set them up for a total that Taunton could not match. Corsham skipper Neil Shardlow won the toss and elected to bat first at their Station Road ground. Shardlow himself opened the batting with
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Gloucester City v Marlborough
MARLBOROUGH finally learnt how to win a game in the last over. The previous two games against Hatherley and Reddings and Hinton Charterhouse resulted in defeats but this Saturday, Gloucester City were defeated off the last ball of the game. Marlborough
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Swindon v Malmesbury
SWINDON bounced back from their defeat at Cinderford last weekend with a crushing 104 run victory over Malmesbury at the County Ground. Swindon skipper Jon Baden won the toss and had no hesitation to bat first on a typically batsmen friendly surface.
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Festival hints at mystery star guest
JUNE 10: A mystery celebrity guest could be a star attraction at North Wiltshire Festival 2004, thanks to extra money coming in to the event. Support for the two-yearly festival of business, community and leisure is high and with an extra £8,000 in the
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Billet seals late win for Chippenham
BATH AND DISTRICT LEAGUE: CHIPPENHAM U11 had a thrilling last ball victory in their Bath League match at home to Lansdown. Chippenham bowled and fielded well to restrict Lansdown to 54-5 in their 16 overs. Brad Dawson took 2-4 in his three overs and the
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Leaders lose out to Bassett's revival
NORTH WILTS JUNIOR CRICKET LEAGUE: AFTER a disastrous start against league leaders Chippenham, Wootton Bassett recovered thanks to a determined innings of 41 not out from Jack Dymoke. Thanks to Dymoke, Bassett were able to reach 81-6 in their 20 overs
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County is facing a Cornish tester
WILTSHIRE face a tough test when they entertain Cornwall in a three-day Minor Counties Championship match starting on Sunday. Brian White's side, which will be playing at Trowbridge for the first time since the mid 1990s, includes a number of changes
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Filands plan gets go-ahead at last
13325/2MALMESBURY Primary School will get a new £2.5m school building after a deal involving up to 150 houses at Filands and Tetbury Hill was given the go-ahead. The plans were given permission by North Wiltshire District Council in March but were referred
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Triple whammy stuns Salisbury
VICTORY smiles were back on the faces of Salisbury's men in the National Club League, when they notched up their third win from four matches, beating Downend and Fishponds in Bristol on Sunday. Singles wins by Tom Williams, Lee Mahony and Nigel Watts,
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Wiltshire fall short of Devon target
A DETERMINED fightback was not enough to prevent defeat for the Wiltshire 50+ side against a strong Devon outfit at Sandford. Devon made the visitors field first, and on an excellent batting wicket soon set about the Wilt-shire bowlers. Bob Macey was
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Nifty South Wilts turn up the heat
Howzat? The bails fly as Alan Kruger claims yet another wicket for South Wilts. THE first all-day game of the season proved to be the shortest so far as South Wilts routed sorry OTs & Romsey at Wilton Road. By 3.20pm the game was over as the hosts
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Fears mount after maternity meeting
FEARS that Malmesbury and Devizes maternity units will close was heightened this week after health chiefs announced an emergency meeting with staff. West Wiltshire Primary Care Trust denied that the emergency meeting of the Joint Consultative Committee
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Motorola mobiles take more market share
MOTOROLA has increased its share of the mobile phone handset market, new figures show. Research for the first quarter of 2004 revealed that while one out of four phones sold in the world is made by Nokia, Motorola, in second place, increased its market
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County's cup hopes take a battering
WILTSHIRE'S hopes of reaching Worthing for a second successive year in the inter-county championship hang in the balance. They were surprisingly beaten at home by five shots by Worcestershire in their opening Middleton Cup group match at Wootton Bassett
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Traffic mars commemoration
D-DAY: ABOUT 100 attended a D-Day commemoration service in Marlborough on the 60th anniversary on Sunday. Wreaths were laid at the Second World War memorial in New Road in a touching ceremony. However the event was marred for many by busy weekend traffic
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Back to the beaches for a final time
D-DAY: SIXTY years on there is little trace left of the death and destruction that scarred the beaches in the D-Day landings in Normandy. But the memories of the invasion on that day, June 6 still haunt 81-year-old veteran Chris Hellings of Semington
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War hero steps back on bridge of gun boat
D -DAY: DECORATED Second World War hero Cameron Gough returned to the bridge of the gunboat he commanded 60 years ago, to lead a flotilla of boats back to the beaches of Normandy. Mr Gough's vessel, Motor Gun Boat 81, was fast, heavily armed and played
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Help at hand over exam nerves
Wiltshire's stressed out students are invited to get in touch with the Connexions service if worries about exams and revision get out of hand. Many young people feel stressed at this time of year in the run-up to important exams but for some young people
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Jazz star hits the US charts
SUAVE Jazz svengali Jamie Cullum is storming up the US charts with his latest album Twentysomething. The 24-year-old supremo from Hullavington has sold more than a million records in the UK since October and has entered the US billboard contemporary jazz
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Save a life, buy an alarm
WILTSHIRE Fire Brigade is urging all householders to fit a smoke alarm in their property. The call comes as the results of a survey were published showing that the smoke alarm was voted the best innovation of the last 20 years. Almost 70 per cent of those
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Police hot foot it
Wiltshire police officers will don their training shoes today for a run across the county to raise money for children's charity When You Wish Upon A Star. A total of 30 running enthusiasts from the constabulary, including the Chief Constable, Dame Elizabeth
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Roads to be improved
HIGHWAY chiefs have unveiled the list of roads they plan to resurface this year in Kennet. They include the A360 from Potterne to Littleton Panell, the B3098 from Edington to Erlestoke, and the A342 from Wedhampton to Chirton. In Pewsey, Dursden Lane,
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Pregnant mum dies on family holiday
MARKET Lavington mother Joy Crook is mourning the loss of her daughter, Rachel Stephens, after she tragically died while on holiday in Menorca. Mrs Stephens, who was 33, had spent six days on the Spanish island with her husband, Andy, and their daughter
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Eight are released pending inquiries
The men arrested amid violent scenes in Pinehurst on Monday have been released without charge. One man was arrested for stealing a car and seven for public order offences. All eight have been released pending further inquiries. On Monday night police
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Call for traffic to be calmed down
Ref. 30830-30PEOPLE living in Pinehurst Road, the scene of a fatal car accident this week are calling for speed calming measures. In a further incident on Tuesday night, a speeding driver smashed into two cars and a van before abandoning his own smoking
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It has been a very good year
AS THE Evening Advertiser's Swindon Drugs Hotline celebrates its first birthday police vowed to keep up the pressure on the dealers who ply their trade in the town. Six of the biggest heroin and crack dealers operating in Swindon are behind bars and police
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You're out of order John
Dr John ReidPEOPLE living on Swindon's council estates today hit back over suggestions that they have little better to do than smoke cigarettes. Health Secretary Dr John Reid sparked an outcry when he said that a public ban on smoking would take away
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Design a shirt competition
GAZETTE & HERALD: Youngsters are being encouraged to enter a design a T-shirt competition to promote an after-school club at Calne library. The T-shirts will be used to promote Infozone, which provides after-school learning support for children and
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Police in hunt for flasher
GAZETTE & HERALD: CALNE police are hunting for a flasher who exposed himself to a 16-year-old girl. The girl was walking home at 7.45pm on Wednesday, but she was overtaken at Broken Cross by a man who ran on ahead and then disappeared behind a hedge
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Burglar makes meal of theft
GAZETTE & HERALD: POLICE suspect children or a traveller could behind a burglary at a secluded gliding school in Yatesbury. The thief broke into a portable building at The Wiltshire Hang-gliding School, which is on the site of Yatesbury's former RAF
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Concern raised as hotel is allowed to open late
GAZETTE & HERALD: Councillors fear residents may be disturbed after The White Hart Hotel was granted an extended public entertainment licence, allowing it to open until 1am. The pub in London Road, Calne, is now open to 1am on Friday and Saturday
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Bus dream comes true
GAZETTE & HERALD: After two years of busy fundraising Calne Scouts have raised enough money to buy a new minibus. The 1st Calne Scout Group and the associated fundraising committee have also been collecting money to improve the Scout hall and its
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Charity under attack over river park work
GAZETTE & HERALD: A row has broken out over the redevelopment of Castlefields river park in Calne, which some residents believe should be left alone. Volunteer charity Castlefields Canal and River Park (CARP) has started a large-scale project to improve
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Readers to rescue
13322/1GAZETTE & HERALD: GAZETTE readers in their droves have been crawling out of the woodwork to help single mum Nicky Randall decorate the home she will share with her severely disabled daughter Jade. The Gazette reported last week how Ms Randall
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Pool gets new lease of life
A SHEEP washing pool that has been restored over the last ten months in Little Cheverell will be officially opened on Saturday at 11am. The pool dates back to the 19th century and was used by farmers to clean the fleeces of sheep before they went off
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Nobody hurt in Seend fire
A SMOKE detector helped to alert the fire brigade to a fire which had broken out in a house in Seend yesterday. The brigade were alerted by a call handling centre after the smoke detector went off after a fire started in a first floor bedroom of Seend
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Benefits of volunteering are on display
MEMBERS of the public have been told about the opportunities available to become a volunteer. Action Kennet helped organise a display in Devizes Market Place last Thursday to coincide with National Volunteers Week. A nine foot tall clown helped to attract
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Old boys team up to sail around Britain
TWO former pupils of Dauntsey's School, West Lavington, have joined the crew of Blueprint, a former round-the-world yacht attempting a record-breaking circumnavigation of the British Isles this month. Ed Cook, 20, from Pewsey and Joe Mottram, 21, from
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Maverick to go own way
Councillor Richard Allen plans to hold regular surgeries for voters in East Ward, Marlborough. Coun Allen, who was elected on to the town council in May last year, will be holding his first surgery on June 26 in the council chamber at the town hall from
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Plucky pensioner sees off three bogus callers
POLICE have commended Marlborough pensioner Stan Sandford, 80, for seeing off bogus callers when they called on him twice in a week. He refused to let them through the door at his home in Chiminage Close. Mr Sandford who worked as a petrol sales attendant
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Fears mount after maternity meeting
FEARS that Malmesbury and Devizes maternity units will close was heightened this week after health chiefs announced an emergency meeting with staff. West Wiltshire Primary Care Trust denied that the emergency meeting of the Joint Consultative Committee
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Market Place bulge has been booted out
The town centre plan with notes stuck to it indicating areas to which people objectedA CONTROVERSIAL 60ft extension jutting out from the One-Stop shop in Devizes Market Place has been ditched because of a public outcry Consultants acting for Kennet District
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Popular man found dead in his hotel room
TRIBUTES have been paid to Devizes man Luke Wright whose body was found in the Pines Hotel at Chippenham, where he had been living. Police said there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death but said samples had been sent off for toxicological
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New home for adult activity centre
Wendy SoarWILTSHIRE County Council has finally secured a new home for Devizes Activity Centre. Adult users of the centre, who have physical and learning disabilities, have been without a permanent home since last September. Now the county council is to
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School anguish of girl aged 10
DESPERATE mother Barbara Botwright whose daughter, Kayleigh, ten, has twice tried to strangle herself, is keeping her daughter off school and wants Wiltshire County Council to put her into a specialist school unit. Mrs Botwright, 32, of Potterne, says
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Lessons from the experts
13308/1CHILDREN from village schools in the Marlborough area have been working with sculptors at the Puthall Park Sculpture Show to make their own creations. Nearly 40 artists have their work on show at Puthall Farm on the A4 between Marlborough and Froxfield
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Cabbies hit back over new taxi rank
VEHICLES illegally parking on the new taxi rank outside the Castle and Ball Hotel in Marlborough's High Street include police cars, it is claimed. Cabbies have hit back at a suggestion in a reader's letter in the Gazette from Brian Lovelock that the rank
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Royal stamp on 800 years of history
13287/2THE celebrations kick off today for the 800th anniversary marking Marlborough receiving its Royal Charter from King John in 1204. Many are expecting the arrival of Prince Charles and the Civil War re-enactment to be the highlight of the celebrations
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It's truly dolphin magic
THE inexplicable magic of dolphins appears to be working for seven-year-old Caitlin Peck who suffers from a rare genetic condition. The little girl has just returned from a two-week course of swimming with dolphins in Florida, an experience it was hoped
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Sponsors rally round to fund celebrations
THE celebrations of Marlborough's 800th anniversary of receiving its Royal Charter are in the black, Mayor Graham Francis said this week. Staging the events over the next ten days is costing the town £25,000. Ever since the idea of the anniversary celebrations
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Prince set to pay visit to Waitrose
MARLBOROUGH'S royal guest, Prince Charles, will be popping into Waitrose supermarket during his walkabout in the town next week. Details of the itinerary of his visit next Friday as part of Marlborough's 800th anniversary celebrations are such a closely
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A final birthday for two friends
Ref. 30787IT'S every soldier's proud honour to parade before the Queen. But for friends Kevin Bird and Andrew Weekes, who grew up together in Swindon, the Queen's Birthday Parade on Saturday will be somewhat special. The childhood pals, who are both Band
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Teacher bids fond farewell
Ref. 30069-08THE HEADTEACHER of a Cricklade junior school is leaving on a high after 25 years. St Sampson's Junior School head Mike Ferris says he will miss working with children and his talented colleagues when he retires but feels it is the right time
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Air crash exercise
Ref. 13319-05SCORES of RAF personnel have been involved in a plane crash at RAF Lyneham but in fact it was all part of an exercise to test the base's emergency services. The base, which is home to the RAF's Hercules transport fleet, has a contingency
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Betz getz vote for the first time
Ref. 30822-03BETZ Yildirim will be taking time out from her A Level revision to vote for the first time today. She is among more than 2,000 young people in Swindon to have reached the voting age in the past year. Betz, who turned 18 on January 1, said
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Village all set for fun
THERE will be a double helping of village fete celebrations in Aldbourne this year. Its traditional village fete will take place as usual on Saturday, June 26, with the church bells signalling the start of the event at 2pm. There will be dancing, music
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Flippin' great
Ref. 30793-42A YOUNGSTER who suffers from a rare neurological condition is making progress after swimming with dolphins in America. Caitlin Peck,f rom Freshbrook, spent time in the pool with the fun-loving creatures as part of a three-week therapeutic
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Pints on the pitch
Ref. 30832-31FOOTBALL FEVER: AN OLD Town pub is using Astroturf to bring Euro 2004 out of its big screen and into the bar. Piper's Arms landlady Sam Gilbert, 36, had originally planned with landlord Steve Callow, 30, to lay real turf across much of its
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Football fever
Swindon has gone all patriotic as England's first game in the Euro 2004 football tournament draws near. KEVIN SHOESMITH looks at how the town is gearing up to the event SWINDON is in the grip of football fever as Our Boys prepare to take on France in
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Health issue
An apple has fallen off the tree in my garden. I wonder whether any member of Marlborough Town Council would be interested in referring the matter to the Health and Safety Executive? COUN NICHOLAS FOGG Oxford Street Marlborough
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Such a nerve
I was disgusted to read (Gazette, May 27) that serviceman John Plant has had his driving ban slashed from three years to only one year for killing Geoffrey Smith through careless driving. Apart from the fact that it was such a lenient punishment in the
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Churn returns from battle
GAZETTE & HERALD: CHIPPENHAM milk churn left to rot on the First World War battlefields of northern France 80 years ago has returned home. French developers building homes or roads on land which was once the scene of fierce fighting have to check
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Show songs help hospice
GAZETTE & HERALD: CLOGS will perform popular songs from famous musicals in concerts tonight and Friday. The Chippenham Light Operatic Group will perform numbers such as New York New York, Me and My Shadow, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire and The Way
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Bassett show how to beat the French
WOOTTON Bassett U15s did England proud by winning the recent Jacques Chretien Challenge tournament in France. Bassett's rookies, the only English side invited, took on teams from Paris, the Flanders region, Belgium and Holland and beat the favourites
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Parking first
With reference to the draft proposals for regenerating Devizes Market Place, the main thing I could see when I visited the exhibition was the plan to build more retail outlets and houses. I agree we need a wider variety of shops, but haven't the consultants
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Police in hunt for fraudster
GAZETTE & HERALD: A judge has issued a warrant for the arrest and detention of 39-year-old Jayne Knight who stole a pension book and used it to get cash. Knight failed to turn up at Swindon Crown Court to face sentencing for the matter which took
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Fewer insults
I am very surprised by the strength of language used in some of your letters about those opposed to an incinerator in Bromham. Members of DOVE and Michael Armstrong in particular stand accused of being vindicative, scaremongering and using intimidatory
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Bid to mark Brunel's design HQ in town
GAZETTE & HERALD: THE crumbling house from where Isambard Kingdom Brunel oversaw the building of Chippenham's western arches, should be restored and turned into a museum, claims North Wiltshire MP James Gray. Orwell House dates back to the early 1800s
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New nightclub set to smarten up its act
GAZETTE & HERALD: THE two new owners of nightclub Nero, previously Mad Jack's, have pledged to banish its alleged reputation of violence and turn it into a safe but thrilling night out. Billy Hines, 26 and Claudio Viverios, 28, bought the club in
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Proposals could be very damaging
The consultants Gillespies presented their initial ideas on their Devizes Masterplan at the Corn Exchange on June 4, at the end of the second month of their five-month assignment for Kennet District Council. We were not encouraged. Their presentation
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Team ensures it's all systems go for fans
13301/2GAZETTE & HERALD: WHILE football fans eagerly await the start of Euro 2004, experts from Chippenham have been putting in their own legwork on the tournament, by making sure the fans get to the games on time. Engineers from Westinghouse Rail
