Archive
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Bombing survivor's campaign
CHIPPENHAM NEWS: A SURVIVOR of the terrorist bombings in Bali has been refused disability benefits as he tries to get his life back together. This week is the second anniversary of the terror attacks on the Sari nightclub in Bali where Paul Lawrenson,
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Goal Lift!
NEW boy Christian Roberts is looking forward to banging in the goals for Town, but former club Bristol City have taken measures to prevent him from coming back to haunt them. The 24-year-old penned a two-and-half-year contract after coming through a medical
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Scooter mayhem
CHIPPENHAM NEWS: CORSHAM town councillors are concerned about a youth racing around on a motorised scooter in the town. Cllr Roy Jackson said at a meeting on Monday: "Yesterday afternoon there was a youth racing around on a motorised scooter. "I live
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Magazine's search for man of the year
CHIPPENHAM NEWS: A CORSHAM hunk who reached the final of a magazine's man of the year competition last year has urged people in north Wiltshire to enter this year and get the chance to strut their stuff on the catwalk. The search for man of the year has
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Pupils having a ball with a week of sport
CHIPPENHAM NEWS: CHILDREN took a well-earned rest from algebra and grammar to spend a week enjoying games. Youngsters from Redland Primary School, Chippenham, have been taking part in a week-long sports project promoting fitness and healthy eating. Instead
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Kitchen shop's recipe for cash
CHIPPENHAM NEWS: A KITCHEN shop in Corsham has pledged to boost the finances of a pre-school by £10,000 using an ingenious scheme. Kitchens By Design, Newlands Road, has offered to help the Mansion House Pre-school Playgroup raise money for its nursery
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CCTV for town still discussed
PLANS for CCTV in Highworth are still up in the air. Councillors have discussed proposals to install cameras in trouble-hit Swindon Street with the police. Inspector Simon Dicks said the system needed to be connected to an ambitious integrated scheme
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Voters book a date at library
COUNCILLORS are holding question times with residents in libraries right across north Wiltshire as part of Local Democracy Week. At Chippenham Library Wiltshire county councillors Philip Allnatt, Patrick Coleman and Paul Fox will hold drop-in surgeries
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Free parking to be a thing of the past
DRIVERS could say goodbye to free parking and face a squad of traffic wardens if blanket parking charges are imposed on every town in north Wiltshire. Hundreds of free spaces and one-hour restricted bays could be replaced by parking meters and rising
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Students in fancy walk for charity
A PROCESSION of students in fancy dress brought Westbury to a standstill on Friday morning as Matravers School held its annual sponsored walk. Nearly 850 pupils completed the eight-mile round trip to West Wilts Golf Club in Warminster and were rewarded
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Harbour launches new business plan
A woman who launched a website three years ago is to be the sole UK supplier for a new product. Christine Harbour launched Tara's Choice in 2001 with a range that included herbal products and a range of books covering female health issues such as breast
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Anita clocks up 25 years
A CORSHAM woman was celebrating after clocking up a quarter of a century at a town firm. Anita Stamp, 51, of Penleigh Close, started working at a Bath solicitors when she was 17. Working her way up the ranks she joined Goughs solicitors in Corsham in
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It's back to basics in keeping yourself fit
BACK pain is something nearly everyone will suffer from at some point in their life and a Trowbridge osteopath is trying to raise awareness of how you can help yourself during National Back Pain Week. Claire Gregory, 25, a former pupil at the Clarendon
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High flyers help clean-up beauty spot
UP TO 40 hang gliders took a break from their aerial pursuits to tidy up the Westbury White Horse and Bratton Camp on Saturday. Members of the Avon Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club filled 41 bags with litter including an old exhaust pipe, a picnic table
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Outrage at abuser's three-year jail term
The girl's mother says the sentence isn't long enoughA MUM has reacted with horror after a violent man who groomed her five-year-old daughter for abuse was jailed for just three years. Swindon Crown Court heard on Tuesday how Maurice Cooper, 29, of The
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Clean air battle hits TV screens
A FILM about the campaign to stop Westbury cement works burning waste products as fuel will be broadcast across the south west on Monday. BBC cameras have been filming pressure group The Air That We Breathe over a three-month period for the Inside Out
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School wins lottery cash for games
A SCHOOL in Melksham is to benefit from new games facilities after securing a £200,000 Lottery grant. The George Ward School, on Bath Road, will have a multi-use games area built on the premises after governors secured a £217,859 grant through the Big
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School wins lottery cash for games
A SCHOOL in Melksham is to benefit from new games facilities after securing a £200,000 Lottery grant. The George Ward School, on Bath Road, will have a multi-use games area built on the premises after governors secured a £217,859 grant through the Big
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Family trek raises cash on Ted's day
FUNDRAISERS across the county were out in force for this year's Ted's Big Day Out to raise money for the Royal United Hospital, Bath. Judith Mott, of Hazlewood Road, organised a fundraising walk from her home in Melksham to the RUH before handing over
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It's doubles all round as village toasts top pub
28847/1A PUB in Whitley is celebrating a double success after being judged top in its field by two leading food guides. The Pear Tree, in Top Lane, was named Best Pub in the Country by the AA Pub Guide at a presentation at the Carlton Tower Hotel in London
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Driver's blood test result is 'unbelievable'
MAGISTRATES labelled a drink-driver's test results as unbelievable after hearing he was caught near Melksham at more than four times the legal limit. Anthony Crayford, 50, of Sarum Avenue, Melksham, gave an alcohol reading of 349mg per 100ml of blood
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Giant estate plan might create bypass for town
These fields could vanish under a 700-home estate under plans to develop the east of MelkshamPLANS for a housing estate bringing up to 700 new homes to Melksham have provoked strong feelings among local people, who are angry at the prospect of a bypass
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Hopes and fears for town
IN last week's publication of your paper, the problems of pigeons in Trowbridge were once again brought to readers' attentions. Here in Bradford on Avon we have solved your problem, or more pointedly the town council has. On the site of the old gas works
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Big contract to bring new jobs
NEW jobs could be created after Swindon truck firm Man ERF walked away with its biggest ever contract. The company, based in Blagrove, in West Swindon, has been confirmed as the winning bidder to supply the UK Armed Forces with a fleet of 5,000 cargo,
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RUH off critical list, says report
After a torrid 12 months health bosses at the Royal United Hospital, Bath have promised staff and patients there is plenty to be optimistic about. Describing 2002/03 as 'quite a difficult year', chairman Mike Roy insisted the hospital trust was undergoing
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Bring joy to youngsters
OPERATION Christmas Child has come a long way since its launch in the 1980s and this year volunteers are hoping for record support. Wiltshire residents first started packing shoeboxes with gifts for needy children 10 years ago but this year co-ordinators
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RSPB hails fall in nest attacks
BIRD crime in Wiltshire and the southwest is on the decline, according to the RSPB. Figures released this week show that there were only 37 recorded crimes against birds and their nests in the whole of the south west region, a fall of 16 from 2002. Wiltshire
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Suppliers claim water too costly
A WILTSHIRE water supplier has attacked Ofwat's latest draft decision on price limits, claiming they are too high. WaterVoice Wessex, which represents a number of companies including Wessex Water, issued a formal response to the five-year proposals, which
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Porton Down case winds up
AN inquest into the death of a serviceman at Wiltshire's Porton Down base 50 years ago will begin winding up next month after hitting another delay. The inquiry into the death of RAF Leading Aircraftsman Ronald Maddison, being held at the former Trowbridge
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Man lost control of van in storm
A CHAPMANSLADE motorist lost control of his van in a snowstorm moments before he was killed in a head-on smash, an inquest heard on Monday. Jan Boadella, 23, of Lodge Hill, died from head injuries after the collision south of Warminster on March 11. Andrew
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Man behind throne born at Brook Hall
Scaffolding surrounds the remains of the home of one of Wiltshire's leading familiesA VITAL part of west Wiltshire's and England's history will be lost if parts of Brook Hall are allowed to collapse. The once-prominent prominent medieval manor house in
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Town can't fund tourism centre
FEARS that funding for Corsham's Tourist Information Centre could be withdrawn have prompted town councillors to insist they could not afford to run the facility if the responsibility fell to them. The Tourist Information and Heritage Centre in Corsham
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Five-star show fuels title bid
CORSHAM Town Reserves are the new Premier Division leaders following their 5-1 away victory over Pewsey Vale Reserves. Rob Humphries (2), Adam Taylor, James Weston and James Highmore were on target for the Town and Neil Stevens for the Vale. Purton Reserves
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County open title defence
YOUTH FOOTBALL: WILTSHIRE youth team start the defence of their South West Counties championship title on Wednesday with a match against Gloucester at Yate. The youngsters went through last year's campaign unbeaten and manager Mel Gingell is calling for
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Tripp on the edge
NIGEL Tripp is considering his future at the Conigre, after watching his Melksham Town side take just five points from their first nine league matches. Monday night's Les Phillips' Cup exit at the hands of neighbours Devizes Town was almost the final
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Fans herded off Farm
TWO fans of reality show The Farm say they were treated like criminals when they tried to support the celebrity contestants. Donna Tippetts, 21, and Sabrina Millar, 22, of Hollybush Road and Cotswold Close, Waminster, made the journey to East Hill View
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RSPCA roasts 'sleazy' TV show's boar stunt
THE FARM-based TV reality show filming in Wiltshire has come under fire from the RSPCA for mistreating a boar. The C5 show The Farm was swamped with complaints after contestant Rebecca Loos took part in a stunt where semen was collected from the pig.
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Accused 'preyed on vulnerable women'
Artist's impression of Geoffrey Holyoake in courtA CROSS-DRESSER drugged and sexually assaulted three Trowbridge women in a series of attacks, a court heard this week. Geoffrey Holyoake, 53, of Vallis Road Frome, lured the women to his home where he performed
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Golden trio celebrate a special day
THREE couples celebrated a total of 150 years of marriage and renewed their vows in Bradford on Avon. Jim and Dot House, of South Leigh, Ron and Maureen Mayes, of Bassetts Close and Denzil and Philomena Lincoln, of Trowbridge Road, all celebrated their
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More arrests as police fight child pornography
TWO more west Wiltshire men have been arrested as part of a countywide operation targeting internet paedophiles. A 32-year-old man was arrested at his Trowbridge home on Tuesday and a 38-year-old Bradford on Avon man was arrested the day before, both
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Questions remain over six-acre site
WITH less than three months to go before the developer of the six-acre Kingston Mills site in Bradford on Avon submits its planning application many concerns raised by community leaders are yet to be answered. Developer Taylor Woodrow hopes to submit
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Honours go to town achievers
FLOWERS and certificates were handed out to Bradford on Avon's star achievers on Friday. Mayor Vicky Landell Mills presented the awards at the town council's annual gathering at St Margaret's Hall. The Bradford division of the St John Ambulance won the
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How Robin Hood legend lives on for youngsters
28830/3Bradford businessman Paul Skelton talks to Wiltshire Times reporter Jenny Haworth on how he was inspired to set up a children's charity in one of Europe's poorest nations WHEN Paul Skelton took a break from running his successful construction business
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Town tainted by binge drinkers
THERE are fears picturesque Bradford on Avon could be turning into a haven for binge drinkers after police confirmed every arrest last month was alcohol related. In September 14 people were arrested, 12 men and two women, and in every case alcohol played
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Elsie was a role model for us all
Whilst reading the Wiltshire Times, October 1, I saw the obituary for Mrs Elsie Underwood who died on 15 September at the grand age of 103. I thought how wonderful it was that this remarkable, independent lady had had such a full life, retiring from a
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Thriving village hit by new estate
FURTHER to the comments regarding the confusion over Westbury Leigh and Leigh Park Estate (Letters, October 8), the differences between the two are becoming most apparent. Westbury Leigh was a thriving village with many amenities. The construction of
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Foul language from school's fields
I LIVE near Clarendon College. The pupils cause two problems for our estate. I take pride in where I live and try to do as much as I can to keep our part of the street clear of rubbish which the pupils drop each day on our pavements. The second problem
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Loo plans from a true visionary
ONCE again Mr Rothschild has been berated for improving a derelict site (Letters, October 8). Pumpkin's Tower, you either like it or hate it. I like it and surely it is better to have a building rather than a derelict site with a tatty notice board on
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Views on recycling
AFTER reading all that has been said about the change to refuse collection I am deeply saddened. It seems as if we (the public) are being bullied into doing as the council (public servants) wish. The gist I get, forgive me if I am wrong, is that we are
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Crazy parking system
Last week, for the first time in ages my wife and I watched a West Wiltshire District Council car park officer attach a fine notice to a car parked in Lovemead car park in Trowbridge. As it was such an unusual event we walked over and noticed that although
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Time for station to ring in changes
A FEW days ago I saw a minor misdemeanour; I politely reminded the offender of this lapse. He also politely acknowledged it. However, some days later, nothing had changed. I decided to ring Westbury Police Station, which was closed. But I did get a recorded
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Man And Boy - Theatre Royal
UNTIL OCTOBER 23 2004, BATH: DAVID SUCHET stars in the long-awaited revival of Terence Rattigan's powerful thriller Man And Boy directed by Maria Aitken at the Theatre Royal Bath from Monday until October 23. This is a chance to see a rarely performed
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Police in murder case want to trace revellers
DETECTIVES investigating the murder of Mick Love are trying to trace two men who may hold vital information. The pair were seen drinking cans of lager near the murder scene about 10 minutes before the father-of-two's body was found. They were spotted
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Wrangle over BT plans to axe phone booths
BT did not tell Swindon Borough Council it could block plans to axe phone boxes in the town. The communications giant has drawn-up blueprints to scrap 10 loss-making public payphones in Swindon. There are 20 telephone kiosks in the town which are making
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Pub calls time on happy hour
Ref. 72735-37AN end to all-you-can drink and happy hour promotions at Yates' has been heralded as a major victory in the fight against binge drinking by Swindon Council. The council's licensing officer, Lionel Starling, condemned the town centre as a
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Readers say moving gravestones was wrong
A MASSIVE 90 per cent of people think Wroughton Church was wrong to knock gravestones to the ground without first consulting the bereaved relatives. In our telephone poll, which was open from noon on Wednesday until noon yesterday we asked you to phone
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Charity cards for Christmas
SHOPPERS in Trowbridge are being asked to do their bit to help children suffering from cancer. December is National Cancer Awareness Month and charity Christmas cards are now on sale at the CLIC shop, Fore Street. Last year the charity raised £80,000
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Drug possession
A 39-YEAR-OLD man from Trowbridge pleaded guilty to possessing heroin at Chippenham Magistrates' Court on Friday. Stephen Verrall, 39, of Duke Street, was found in possession of the drug on Thursday. Verrall said he used it for personal use to relieve
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1980s take on story of Troy for students
MURDER and mayhem broke out at a Trowbridge caf as the Greeks and Trojans clashed in the town. Students from The John of Gaunt School were at Berkeley's caf to film scenes for a production of Shakespeare's Troilus and Cressida. Jane Asplin, head of performing
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Robbery brothers face jail
TROWBRIDGE brothers Nigel and Richard Ingram face jail after admitting a robbery which left an autistic teenager too traumatised to testify. The pair were also due to stand trial for kidnapping the 17-year-old, but this charge will now lie on file as
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Pupils' pyramid reaches for sky
28866/1PUPILS at The Mead Primary School almost raised the roof when they built a 35ft pyramid in their school hall. Woodpecker class teamed up to make the 3D structure with dowelling and elastic bands. Two hours later the pyramid hit the ceiling. The
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Duck takes Bears on toddle waddle
28853/4ROCKET the duck made a guest appearance at a toddle waddle to raise funds for the Meningitis Trust. The event at Southwick Baptist Church on Tuesday saw 17 members of the Little Bears Toddler Group tackle a mini obstacle course. Inspired by the
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Parents join in buggy war
28859A PRIMARY school in Trowbridge turned into a makeshift workshop as parents and children joined forces to build a buggy as part of a national learning initiative. Parents of children at Keevil Primary went back to school on Tuesday to pit their creative
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Foiled silver-lined swag bag scam fails
MECHANIC Paul Rowlands failed to dupe supermarket security when he hid stolen goods in a foil-lined bag. The 47-year-old, of Wesley Road, Trowbridge, tried to flee when his ruse at Tesco in County Way, Trowbridge, went wrong. Rowlands, who was caught
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Giant John felled by phone thieves
28557/4A GANG of muggers attacked a man 6ft 8in tall and stole his mobile phone as he walked home after a night out in Trowbridge. John Turner, of Park Street, was attacked from behind by four people and needed hospital treatment for broken bones and
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Drilling to begin in 'toxic' waste probe
Henderson Close in Trowbridge was built on a former landfill siteWORKS to test for possible contamination underneath homes built on a former Trowbridge landfill site will start later this month. West Wiltshire District Council contractors will drill in
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Accused 'preyed on vulnerable women'
Artist's impression of Geoffrey Holyoake in courtA CROSS-DRESSER drugged and sexually assaulted three Trowbridge women in a series of attacks, a court heard this week. Geoffrey Holyoake, 53, of Vallis Road Frome, lured the women to his home where he performed
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Daiwa tops in opening match of the winter
THE opening event in the Commercial House League was fished on the Avon at Melksham and Conigre where weights were fairly even. Daiwa BAC topped A division with 31 points with Superseal top of the B division with 34. Individual honours went to Kevin Dicks
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Birds on display
SWINDON Cage Birds Society is holding an open day on Saturday, October 30, from 2pm until 4.30pm. The show, which will be held at the Even Swindon Community Centre in Jennings Street, Rodbourne, is open to everyone. Entrance costs £1 for adults and is
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Guild spins its way to success
A SWINDON group has woven its way to success. The North Wiltshire guild of weavers, spinners and dyers won the south of England Sheep to Shoulder competition. To win the event, which was held in Newbury, the team of six had to spin, fleece and then knit
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Rolfe's on hand
CELEBRITY antiques dealer David Rolfe will help raise funds for Westlea Pre-School later this month. The star of ITV West's The Bargain Hunters and Beat the Dealer will value antiques and items of interest before a fundraising auction on Sunday. The pre-school's
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Place to change
Gardeners from the Weir Field allotments in Wroughton will be able to change in comfort once a new changing room is built. They have been granted to build the cabin by Swindon Council. It is expected to be finished by the end of October.
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Jewellery taken
JEWELLERY and a games console were stolen after thieves used a ladder to break into a house in Tregoze Way, The Prinnells. The burglary happened between 1pm and 3pm on Wednesday and the thieves got in through a first floor window. Burglary squad officers
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Sad Chris silent
CHRIS Evans was too upset to talk about his split with Billie Piper, when he was spotted moving boxes out of the couple's London flat. Swindon actress Billie, 22, has asked her husband for a divorce, according to reports, and is being comforted by ex-boyfriend
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Burglary charges
A MAN accused of breaking into an elderly woman's house and stealing her handbag from her bedside while she slept has had his case sent to Swindon Crown Court. Mark Thirkettle, 31, of no fixed address, is alleged to have entered the 82-year-old's home
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Boost tot's fund
Ref. 21900-66 Abby SmithDONATIONS are still needed for the Abby Smith Cancer Fund. In August we told how sick thieves had stolen more than £70 from the account. Helen Smith, of Woodhall Park, had set up the fund shortly after the tragic death of her three-year-old
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Abused kids get someone to turn to
CHILDREN'S charity the NSPCC has launched a new campaign this week. The Someone To Turn To campaign is the latest phase of the NSPCC's Full Stop campaign. It aims to encourage every child and young person to speak to someone they trust if they are worried
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School is 'top of the class'
Ref. 72746-201THE future is bright for Head-lands School that was the message from its new head teacher at her first open evening. Jan Shadick greeted prospective pupils and their parents at school in Cricklade Road last night with the message that it
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Last chance for thug to escape jail
A YOUNG thug who attacked a Good Samaritan has for the second time in seven months escaped being sent to jail. Anthony Gregorace savagely beat his victim with an advertising hoarding before raining punches and kicks on him as he lay on the ground. But
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Could you help young criminals?
VOLUNTEERS are needed to help wayward youngsters who find themselves in trouble with the law. The adults are needed to support young people during police interviews where the parent or guardian cannot attend. Wiltshire Youth Offending Team wants to hear
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What shoppers had to say about troubled firm
WH Smith's own customers have mixed feelings about the store and its future. Many find that the store is not offering them the choice they want, they also find that some of the prices are steep. Emma Kemp, 31, a homemaker from Cheney Manor said: "I am
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It's a sign of the times for nursery toddlers
Ref. 72730-44A SIGN language that has been specially designed for communicating with tots has come to a Swindon nursery school. The system has been devised so that adults can communicate with children who are too young to talk. It also helps children
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Family's hell over daughter's crimes
A GIRL of 16 and her younger sister saw holidaymakers loading valuables into swimming pool lockers and then fooled staff into opening them so they could steal the contents, a youth court was told. The Swindon youngster, who was on holiday with her family
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Three times banned in two years
A DISQUALIFIED motorist stopped in the early hours of Wednesday morning had an appalling driving record, magistrates heard. Firuz Miah, 26, had been banned twice last year and was ordered to stay off the roads for two years in Sept 2002 for dangerous
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Ditch Europe and get extra cash
I WONDER if the Government has ever considered that there just might be a link between the £5 billion pensions shortfall and Gordon Brown removing a similar sum from the national pensions fund when he took office? It does, of course, have three solutions
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Ancient Wrekin is for sale
We need to reach out to Shrop-shire ex-pats, who may now be living in the Wiltshire area, and all those who know and love Shrop-shire, to let them know that part of the Wrekin is for sale. It is being sold by P D Savills and is on the market for £500,000
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Coate is vital to our survival
THE Advertiser, September 22, published one of the best photographs of Swindon for some time. In a few square inches it showed a patchwork of an old English field system, mile upon mile of ancient hedgerow, which will have been cut and laid by hand by
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Supermarine 15, Cooper Avon Tyres 27
CATs continued their impressive league form on Saturday with a hard fought win at Supermarine. The result has moved them up to second in the Dorset and Wilts Division One and kept them in the hunt for the one automatic promotion slot at the end of the
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Westbury 34, Swindon 2nds 0
WESTBURY's Lee Swindon was air lifted to hospital on Saturday with a badly broken leg as the match was delayed for an hour. The second row forward was caught in an off the ball tackle midway through the second half and after lengthy treatment was flown
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Bradford on Avon 36, Tadley 3
DAVE George fears his side could be dragged into a relegation battle this season unless they start learning from their mistakes. The Bradford on Avon coach has seen his side struggle with their first few matches in the Southern Counties League and knows
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Alcoholic is jailed to protect public
CHIPPENHAM NEWS: AN ALCOHOLIC from Corsham who lost his licence after drink-driving has been caught for the second time at more than three times over the limit and is now behind bars to protect the public. David Brown, who suffers from epilepsy, was stopped
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Town can't fund tourism centre
CHIPPENHAM NEWS: FEARS that funding for Corsham's Tourist Information Centre could be withdrawn have prompted town councillors to insist they could not afford to run the facility if the responsibility fell to them. The Tourist Information and Heritage
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'We'll let carcasses rot in streets,' warns hunt
HUNTERS refusing to collect fallen stock claim dead farm animals will be left to rot if a hunting ban is passed. The Beaufort Hunt has stopped collecting dead carcasses in protest against the government's plans to ban hunting with dogs. This week farmers
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Accountants making the grade
Staff at a chartered accountant and business advisory group have achieved success in recent exams they have taken. Ben Freeman, Andrew Perrott and Rob Scane, who work for Monahans, which has offices in Trowbridge and Chippenham, have passed their finals
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Town steps up calls for extra GPs
THE campaign for a second doctors' surgery in Westbury took a fresh twist this week after health bosses were accused of getting their sums wrong. West Wiltshire Primary Care Trust says Westbury will not need any more GPs until 2010 and will only re-enter
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Karaoke thief faces the music for stealing singalong system
A thief stole a karaoke machine from a Westbury pub while on bail for a dangerous driving offence. Christopher Mounty took the machine from the Railway Inn in Station Road on August 21, but it was found the same day in nearby bushes. The 21-year-old,
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Charlie inspires big jeans effort
28790/1JEANS for Genes Day struck a particular chord for children at Westbury Leigh School as they raised funds for a fellow pupil. Youngsters and staff netted £300 for charity after everyone paid £1 to wear jeans for a day. While half the money went
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Top county game goes to South Wilts club
TROWBRIDGE cricket club chairman Brian Scrine is unsure whether he will bid to host a Wiltshire match again after losing the battle for next year's C and G Trophy tie to South Wilts. Scrine was disappointed with the decision to give Wiltshire's first
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Nursery snaps up top report
A NURSERY in Melksham is celebrating a glowing Ofsted report. Snapdragons day nursery has been praised for offering a warm and friendly atmosphere that promotes learning while also allowing children to grow in confidence and self-esteem. Manager Lisa
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Hunt for attacker continues
Teenage burglarPOLICE have released a photo-fit of a youth who attacked a 77-year-old grandmother in her Seend home. The man, thought to be aged between 15-17, broke into the home of Gladys Gibson 12 days ago, pushing her into an armchair while a second
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Mayor held at gunpoint
THE mayor of Melksham was held at gunpoint in a terrifying taxi hijacking on a trip to the South America. Cllr Terri Welch and her daughter Karen Bashford, 31, were forced to hand over money after getting into a "pirate taxi" in Venezuela. Cllr Welch
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Factory employee on murder charge
Murder victim Mick LoveWORKERS at a tyre factory in Melksham were left reeling after a colleague was arrested and charged with the murder of a postal worker in Swindon. Colin Lewin, 34, is the third generation of his family to work at the Cooper-Avon
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Just to say 'thank you'
Good news travels very slowly! In the spring the High Street in Dilton Marsh was extensively resurfaced. The next rain produced a small lake outside my house, totally blocking pedestrian access, as the drain was no longer in the correct place. A call
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Planning decision goes against the grain
THE recent decision by the planning inspector overturning a planning refusal from West Wiltshire District Council for one dwelling at Montague Place, Melksham, will anger many councillors and local residents. After considering all the facts the inspector
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Girl Friday: Lucie Vinall
Ref. 72726-9Name: Lucie Vinall, Age: Quite young, Employer: Myself SO WHAT DO YOU ACTUALLY DO? I own and manage The Bank in Wood Street, which sells rather lovely interiors and fashion accessories the kind of classic and cutting edge contemporary products
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Mobile business info
A NEW service offering business information by mobile phone has been launched. The service gives mobile phone users access to Yell.com's business information on around two million local and national shops and services. A search application is downloaded
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Brownie reunion
I would like to invite all former 8th Trowbridge Brownies to a 50th birthday party on November 6 from 3-5pm at Newtown Community Primary School. Get in touch for further details. MRS J POTTER (01225) 866061 (home) (01225) 713191 (work)
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Building on success
A BUILDER from South Cerney is the new national president of the Federation of Master Builders. David Croft's role as president of the construction industry's largest trade association will last for two years. Mr Croft, 63, hopes to strengthen the FMB's
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Justice not been done
I FEEL very strongly about the Stibbe court case as it was a travesty of justice. How a man who causes an accident by driving dangerously resulting in the deaths of three people and injuring others, who then flees the scene of the crime and doesn't even
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Plan for jobless
A business is giving something back to the community by helping unemployed people find work. FromeOnline has set up the Right Track initiative to help people find jobs or to support workers looking for new careers. Right Track will run 48 workshops across
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Rail links are focus of forum
A RAIL forum will be held in Warminster tonight involving west Wiltshire MP Dr Andrew Murrison. The shadow health minister will be one of the invited guests at a forum in Dewey House at 7.30pm. Richard Gibson and Malcolm Drury, of Wessex Trains, and Chris
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Book a date for library
COUNCILLORS are holding question times at libraries in Local Democracy Week. At Trowbridge library people can meet town mayor Grace Hill at 3.30pm on Monday, Jeff Osborn at 10.30am on Tuesday and Tony Moore and Trevor Carbin at 10.30am on Thursday and
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Gym'll fix it for charity at marathon tumbling event
GYMNASTS in west Wiltshire have gone head over heels to raise money for charity. The West Wilts Esprit Gymnastics Club raised £1,257 by hosting a sponsored somersault and on Thursday they donated £400 to Bath Cats and Dogs home at Claverton. The remaining
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Turn to someone you can trust
CHILD protection charity the NSPCC is urging people to look out for young people in distress, in a response to the sentencing of 29-year-old Maurice Cooper. An NSPCC survey shows half of young teens know a young person suffering from harm but keep it
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Gale in top job
WILTSHIRE TIMES and Chippenham News deputy editor Keith Gale has been appointed acting editor following the departure of editor Toby Granville at the end of last week. Granville has moved to the Oxford Mail as assistant editor. Gale has taken temporary
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More arrests as police fight child pornography
TWO more west Wiltshire men have been arrested as part of a countywide operation targeting internet paedophiles. A 32-year-old man was arrested at his Trowbridge home on Tuesday and a 38-year-old Bradford on Avon man was arrested the day before, both
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Help fight 'hypocrisy and double standards'
MORE than 1,000 Wiltshire Times readers from west Wiltshire and beyond have given their support to our campaign to strip Lt Col Giles Stibbe of his OBE. This week the campaign gained the support of former RAF officer Pamela Gabell, who spent 23 years
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Agency map reveals extent of flood risk
HOMES across west and north Wiltshire are at significant risk of flooding over the next 12 months, according to new flood maps released by the Environment Agency. The maps, published this month, shows areas which could be hit by overflowing rivers and
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High price to pay for bin complaints
WEST Wiltshire District Council is shelling out nearly £20,000 of taxpayers' money to employ an officer to deal with recycling complaints, just weeks after introducing its green bin scheme. The council says the new 'recycling support officer' post is
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Which pub serves the best value?
28875/2The newly published Good Pub Guide 2005 reveals the price of a pint at big company-owned pubs is much higher than in free houses. We sent reporter Ed Mezzetti to look at the picture across north and west Wiltshire to see if the same trends exist
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Westbury United 3, New College 1
MATTY Bown has given Westbury United a boost ahead of tomorrow's Screwfix League Division One match at Wellington by committing his future to the club. The former Paulton Rovers striker has attracted interest from Melksham Town and Devizes Town, but after
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Melksham Town 6, AFC Stratton 0
JAMIE Harrison starred for Melksham on Saturday as they cruised through to the second round of the Wiltshire Senior Cup against an injury hit Stratton. The former Corsham Town midfielder scored twice and was at the heart of all the hosts' best moves as
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Taylor's tops of manager's wanted list
BIDDESTONE boss Gary Skidmore has moved to strengthen his squad after Saturday's disappointing defeat at Amesbury. He has put in seven-day approaches for Corsham Town reserve striker Adam Taylor and Calne Town defender Graham Ford as he bids to guide
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Bush fumes at club and county clash
CORSHAM Town manager Colin Bush has hit out at the Wiltshire FA after losing two players on county duty for next week's FA Vase tie. Scott Lye and Jamie Lyons will both be unavailable for the first round proper match at Backwell next Saturday after being
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Call to string players to join new orchestra
ONE of Warminster's newest orchestras is appealing for string playing musicians to join up. Oboist Amanda Wakelin-Smith said the hunt for string players was becoming more difficult, threatening the survival of orchestras across the county. Thirty people
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Malmesbury Vics 1, Bradford Town 0
MARK Hodkinson has warned his players he will make sweeping changes if there is a repeat of Saturday's lacklustre performance. The Bradford boss was incensed by his side's lack of desire and accused them of letting the club down. Bradford have set their
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Four dismissed as tempers boil over
TROWBRIDGE LEAGUE: SEEND United Reserves and CS Filos were left fuming as four players saw red in the return Division Two clash at The Lye. It was the second time this season that a quartet of players have been dismissed in one game though Seend, who
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Helping hand
WESTBURY FC Youth raised over £400 for footballs for the children of Kosovo, in the former Yugoslavia, in a charity match at Meadow Lane. There are over 35 under 11s and each paid £3 each to play in a match where they were treated like professionals for
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Longleat paints a giant picture
THE historic surroundings of Longleat House will be the setting for a recordbreaking art attempt later this month. A giant canvas will be set up in the Great Hall as part of the national Big Draw event. Visitors will be invited to draw pictures of themselves
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Man, 21, drunk in takeaway
A BOOZY night cost a man almost £200 after he refused to go home quietly. Joseph Dent, 21, of Semington Road, Melksham, had been drinking in Bradford on October 1 before causing trouble in a takeaway. Michelle Hewitt, prosecuting, said police were called
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Police seize crack cocaine
CRACK cocaine has been seized in an armed drugs raid near Bradford on Avon. A 45-year-old Trowbridge man was arrested on suspicion of possessing drugs with intent to supply just before 2pm yesterday. A small quantity of crack cocaine was seized when 20
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Playing for laughs
28855/1A COMEDY featuring a 1960s general who transforms into a hippy will be performed in Bradford on Avon. Halfway Up The Tree, written by Sir Peter Ustinov, who died in March, will be performed by the Bradfordians theatre group later this month. The
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Don't bung it bin it!
We moved to Chippenham, from Horsham in West Sussex, only four months ago but last Friday I visited the offices of North Wiltshire District Council for the second time, to complain about the amount of litter along the path through the park area between
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Let's get real
THE passing of the Hunting Bill marks a change to hunting not the end of it. With wild animals to be replaced by the humane alternative (drag hunting) the pastime is elevated from barbaric blood sport to real sport. Who better than Prince Charles to set
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Chalet School victorious!
Ref. 31138-14 Mum Karen Turner with her son AllenPARENT power has helped save a Swindon special needs school from the axe. Last night, it was announced that the Swiss Chalet School in Gorse Hill, which caters for children with learning difficulties, would
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Successful college is beacon for others
Cirencester College, which is attended by 200 Swindon students, is one of 20 colleges awarded Learning And Skills Beacon status at an awards ceremony in London this week. Dr Kim Howells MP, the Minister of State For Lifelong Learning, Further And Higher
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Olympian is star guest as he hands out the prizes
Ref. 72745-164 Matt ODowd (third left) returns to Commonweal School to present the prizes. From left are Rebecca Cann, Ross Cullen, head teacher Keith Defter, chair ofgovernors, Christine Hardisty; Gemma Gillies, Sam LamdonSWINDON Olympian Matt O'Dowd
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School is shut in safety alert
CHURCHFIELDS School has been closed to pupils for emergency repairs after bricks and tiles from the main building fell down. Head teacher Steve Flavin made the decision to close the school, which has 1,000 pupils aged 11 to 16, after the main building
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400 more jobs to go at car giant
Ref. 72741-153SWINDON'S manufacturing sector has been dealt another blow as a key employer announces further job losses. BMW-owned Swindon Pressings Limited in Stratton have confirmed 400 jobs will be lost between now and next summer. Bosses blame the
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School deadline
A PRIMARY school will find out today whether its seven-classroom extension can be built in time for the next academic year. The Mead School in Hilperton needs to reach its full 14-classroom capacity and create more play space on site by removing mobile
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Tributes to class assistant
TEACHERS and students have being paying tribute to a classroom assistant who died last week from breast cancer. The funeral of mother-of-two Linda Pauffley of Paxcroft Mead was held on Thursday. The 35-year-old had only recently achieved a distinction
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Plans for centre are a step closer
VILLAGERS in Staverton are a step closer to having their own district centre after councillors approved plans for four shops and 14 flats on land north of Thestfield Drive. West Wiltshire District Council's planning committee gave their approval to the
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Saved by an alarm
A SMOKE alarm prevented a house being destroyed by fire after the owner left cooking unattended while he went out shopping. Fire crews from Trowbridge and Bradford on Avon were called to a house in Orchard Road, Trowbridge, by neighbours who heard the
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School closes
A SECONDARY school in Trowbridge was forced to close on Wednesday when flash floods left corridors impassable. Heavy rainfall left up to four inches of water in corridors and classrooms at the John of Gaunt School on Wingfield Road. Headteacher Andy Packer
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Biker Bill dies at 56
William 'Biker Bill' HillFRIENDS and family have paid tribute to one of Trowbridge's best-known characters, who died from a heart attack on Wednesday, aged 56. Biker Bill, whose real name was William Hill, has been described as "a father figure, a friend
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Award marks teen's dedication to animals
28850/2TEENAGER Jason Doel has received an international award to mark his dedication to Larkrise Community Farm in Trowbridge. The 15-year-old Matravers School pupil was presented with a Lions Club International Young Leader in Service Gold Award at
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Polish exiles return home for first time in 60 years
George and Emilia in 1958A POLISH couple who settled in Trowbridge after the Second World War have returned to the country of their birth for the first time in nearly 60 years. George Kenich, 75, and his wife Emilia, 69, of Frome Road, were invited to
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Help for over 50s
AGE Concern is holding an information and advice drop-in session in Wootton Bassett. It offers free and confidential information for people over 50 and their families. The session takes place at Wootton Bassett library on Wednesday, October 27 from 10am
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Frogs give the warning signs
ALMOST a third of the world's frogs, toads, newts and other amphibians face the threat of extinction, a major global study has revealed. The discovery is seen by experts as a possible early warning of environmental disaster. Amphibians act like canaries
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Hands protest
MORE than 400 people have now sent in paper cut-outs of their hands to make a giant paper chain to protest at plans to build at Coate. The hands will be on display at Coate Water on Saturday, November 13, at 2pm. Visitors will be asked to link in with
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CCTV for town still discussed
PLANS for CCTV in Highworth are still up in the air. Councillors have discussed proposals to install cameras in trouble-hit Swindon Street with the police. Inspector Simon Dicks said the system needed to be connected to an ambitious integrated scheme
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Youngsters are ready for fights
HUNDREDS of schoolchildren are aiming for success in a conkers competition today. The tournament takes place at Ruskin Junior School in Stratton. And, unlike schools in other parts of the country, the youngsters won't be forced to wear safety goggles.
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OAP hit by car
A RETIRED Wootton Bassett taxi driver was knocked down by a car in the town yesterday. Dougie White, 74, was crossing Station Road near the junction with the High Street shortly before 10am when he was struck by a silver Ford Orion, driven by a 33-year-old
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Call for help to build play area
A DREAM to build an adventure playground for children in Penhill and Pinehurst could be shattered unless more people volunteer to help fundraising efforts. Community action group Twist is hoping to build a £150,000 facility at Seven Fields Park. The park's
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Cracking down on child abuse
Ref. 72643-33 Child Protection Officer DS Tim CornerTHE child protection unit at Swindon police station will receive on average 2,000 calls about child abuse every year and they investigate every single one. It's an incredibly difficult job and one, which
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Teenager ran off with taxi takings
A BOY stole a taxi driver's takings after distracting him for a matter of seconds, Swindon Youth Court heard. The 16-year-old approached the victim as he sat in his car outside a chip shop in Pinehurst. Prosecutor Stacey Turner said the driver had only
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Protesters challenge the police
PEACE protesters demonstrated outside the High Court before launching a challenge to a ruling that the police acted lawfully when officers blocked their bid to attend an anti-war demonstration. More than 120 people from two coaches were searched, detained
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Call to aid Liberia
Ref. 25263-25AID worker Brian Barber, is calling for security to be beefed up in war-torn Liberia. Mr Barber, of Lydiard Millicent, has been in the African state since spring 2003 helping to install radio stations with the Glasgow-based charity, Mercy
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Trouble in store
Ref. 72734-55WH Smith may have been the first stop for people's book and stationery needs for decades but it has plunged into the red for the first time since 1996. Poor sales and weak Christmas trading have left the Swindon-based high street retailer
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Titchmarsh digs up treasure
Ref. 72728-169HE may be more at home digging over flowerbeds, but celebrity gardener Alan Titchmarsh was up to his elbows delving into the past when he came to Wroughton. And people in Swindon were among the first to lend him a hand. The Science Museum
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Foul play says club
Ref. 72702-5THE COUNCIL has refused to throw a lifeline to a children's football club facing bankruptcy. Highworth Junior Football Club says its future is at risk because of a £35,000 bill for an archaeological dig. The club which has 200 young players
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The law's winning
Ref. 72708-93YOBS have been cleared off the streets of three areas of Swindon thanks to new police powers. But local campaigners say officers still need to do more to win the war on vandalism, underage drinking and anti-social behaviour. It is now nearly
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Residents' chance to air their views
RESIDENTS of Covingham and Stratton will have the chance to put their views to Michael Wills, MP for North Swindon tomorrow. The public meeting will be held at St Paul's Centre in St Paul's Drive, Covingham, at 6pm. The meeting has been arranged so that
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Keep out!
FORMER Home Secretary Jack Straw and his successor David Blunkett are largely responsible for the rise in violent crime which is sweeping the country. A responsible immigration policy rigidly enforced as in most other countries would have prevented the
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Help at hand
With reference to an article in the Advertiser headlined We just didn't know (02/10/04), the Society For The Prevention Of Solvent And Volatile Substance Abuse operates a Freephone helpline on 0808 800 2345. The line is available Monday to Friday, 9am
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Help to fight this ageism
IT is good to see Swindon Council no longer bars people over 70 from becoming crossing patrols outside schools (EA October 12). In a recent poll for Age Concern most people agreed retirement ages must go and, similarly, age discrimination in recruitment
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CATs caught up in red tape mix-up
COOPER-AVON Tyres have been thrown out of the Powergen Junior Vase after an administration error saw them field an ineligible player. The Wiltshire side were due to meet Swindon in the second round tomorrow but now have a blank weekend after the mix-up
