Archive
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Couple vow to carry on
CHIPPENHAM NEWS: THE owners of a china, glass and collectables shop are pledging to carry on despite last week's £40,000 raid. Burglars broke into The China, Bowl in Market Place, Chippenham, in the early hours of last Tuesday morning, stealing thousands
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Our money's on Sarah
16649/9CHIPPENHAM NEWS: A WILTSHIRE beauty who could be crowned Miss World has found a sponsor after her story appeared in the Chippenham News. Sarah Bligh, 22, of Ditteridge, near Box, appealed for sponsorship after she won a competition to become Miss
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Turning up the heat
JON LEWIS has a burning ambition to play cricket for the full England side. The Gloucestershire seam bowler came close to making his debut at the end of last month in South Africa. Lewis, 29, who learnt his cricket at the County Ground through the ranks
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Rory's Glory Hunt!
RORY Fallon is being urged to take inspiration from Darius Henderson's loan rejuvenation and emerge from a 'dark tunnel'. Manager Andy King has congratulated the New Zealander on his debut goal for Yeovil and hopes a spell in Somerset will work wonders
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Perrin is ready to renew old rivalries
DARREN Perrin is relishing the opportunity of renewing old rivalries on Monday night when his Paulton Rovers side entertain highflying Chippenham Town. The former Melksham Town boss has a history with the Bluebirds and is eagerly anticipating Monday's
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Heritage boost
AN historic buildings committee could be set up in Westbury next month to ensure the town does not lose out on £10,000 funding a year. The move should be considered by the town council on March 7. Councillors are keen Westbury gets the same district council
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Neighbour objects to revamp bid
A PLANNED revamp of part of Westbury town centre would lead to a loss of neighbours' privacy, the town council ruled on Monday night. Antiques dealer Ray Coggins wants to alter 1 and 3 Fore Street to form three shops, each with a flat above. He also plans
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Driven to fundraising
A FIVE-STRONG team from Westbury disabled equipment store Mobility Works are busy training for a ladies' driving challenge. The quintet are entering Girls On Top, which raises funds for Dorothy House hospice, and takes place at the Royal Bath and West
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Food firm hopes to make a meal of it
A FROZEN foods firm has unveiled a new £350,000 product development centre. Trowbridge-based apetito has completed work on the development centre at its Canal Road base, which will help design a new range of products to capitalise on recent successes.
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Homes plan is revised
WESTBURY Town Council has recommended that plans to build sheltered accommodation for up to 100 pensioners in the town should go ahead. Developer McCarthy and Stone Ltd hopes to convert Frogmore House, in Frogmore Road, into 50 sheltered apartments and
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Campaign for a new surgery
HEALTH campaigner Russell Hawker is urging his fellow Westbury councillors to increase the pressure for a second doctors' surgery in the town. Cllr Hawker hopes Westbury Town Council will back the motion he has tabled for the meeting on March 7. The motion
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Jamie's 100-mile towpath challenge
MATRAVERS School pupil Jamie Davey is getting on his bike to help support the tsunami relief effort. Jamie, 13, is raising money for Wiltshire-based Hope and Homes for Children charity, which is caring for youngsters orphaned and abandoned by the disaster
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Shoeboxes bound for Sri Lanka
A TRUCK has left west Wiltshire for Sri Lanka loaded with more than 1,000 boxes full of aid for victims of the tsunami. Tina Greedy, 37, of Bowmans Court, Melksham, who organised the collection, is over the moon with the response. She said: "I'm absolutely
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Two become one as schools merge
TWO primary schools which have provided education to children in Melksham since the 1830s will merge onto one site under plans approved this week. Lowbourne Junior School and St Michael's Primary School will become a single primary school in September
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Craig proves Evry one's cup of tea!
THE Wiltshire Times news editor has been sold to another newspaper to raise money for tsunami victims. Craig Evry, 26, who has worked at the Wiltshire Times for six years, took part in a man auction in Melksham on Saturday. Organised by Mums of Melksham
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Policeman's death prompts cash donation
Pc Ann Morris and Chief Inspector Nick Ashley receive the cheque from James McGeeTHE death of ex-policeman Milroy Clarke has prompted the chairman of their local residents' group to donate money to a police fund. Milroy Clarke, 70, and his wife Joan,
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Blaze engulfs plastics factory
Fire crews at RHI ElectronicsWORKERS at a plastics factory have united to combat the after effects of a blaze that needed 47 firefighters to bring it under control. Fire crews were called to Dunlaw Engineering, on the Bowerhill Industrial Estate, Melksham
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Result for RBS staff
MORE than 100,000 staff at The Royal Bank of Scotland Group have been given a 10 per cent profit share worth an average £2,100 each as the company announced results. This is the seventh successive year that employees have shared in the success of RBS
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Wimpey director
George Wimpey has appointed David Jones as a production director. David will oversee site activity across the George Wimpey South West region, which includes Oxfordshire, Wiltshire and Berkshire. David began his career with Wimpey Homes in the South West
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WT backs the West Wilts Show
THE Wiltshire Times is the main sponsor of this year's West Wilts Show, one of the biggest community events in the district. The show, the ninth since it began in 1989, will raise funds for Larkrise Community Farm, Trowbridge, and Carers Support West
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MP's praise
WEST Wiltshire MP Dr Andrew Murrison praised the vision behind Edington Station Yard during a visit to the rural industrial development on Friday. The project in the village near Westbury was set up through the voluntary subscriptions of residents in
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Centenary celebrations
ONE hundred years ago Rotary was established by four business men in Chicago. Today it has 1.2m members, across 166 countries, who are celebrating its 100th birthday. Jenny Haworth found out what it means to be a Rotarian and what local clubs achieve
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Service is committed to helping
WILTSHIRE'S housing services for vulnerable people have been rated as good according to a new Audit Commission report. The Audit Commission, an independent watchdog responsible for ensuring public money is spent economically and effectively, gave the
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Awards for carers at event
IMPROVING standards in the care sector across the county will be highlighted at a conference next month. The Care Providers Today 2005 meeting will feature speakers from organisations involved in providing or improving the training of staff in the sector
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Youngsters nominate
CHILDREN from west Wiltshire have helped select the county's nominations for two literary awards that celebrate the best new titles for young readers. Pupils at Fitzmaurice and Christchurch primary schools, in Bradford on Avon, gave their views on the
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Council tax set to go up again
THE average west Wiltshire household will pay almost £50 more in council tax next year after the figures were finalised on Wednesday night. West Wiltshire District Council, the last authority to set its levy, voted for a 4.5 per cent increase, taking
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One dead fox but no arrests made
16624HUNTSMEN say they have made a mockery of the law by legally killing a fox, only hours after the hunting ban came into force. More than 100 riders and 500 supporters of the Avon Vale Hunt met at Monks Park, near Gastard, on Saturday to hold the first
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Rock on at Athenaeum
THE Athenaeum in Warminster will be rocking next week to help the tsunami appeal. The historic venue will be alive to the sounds of five top bands on March 4. The line up includes, Elguapo, Autumn Red, Carlo Sandblow, Best Before Never and The Buttmonkeys
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Tindle wins pro deal with United
IT was a sweet 16th birthday for Greg Tindle on Wednesday as he was awarded a two-year professional contract at Oxford United. After seven years of progressing through the League Two club's youth ranks, Tindle has been handed his shot at the big time
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Patisserie opens
LINGUISTS will have a chance to brush up on their French by visiting a new caf in Warminster. Visitors to Le Caf Journal, in the High Street, have the chance to polish up their language skills by chatting to the shop's managers. Veronica Wallace and her
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Former boss set to return
DEREK Graham admits there will be no room for sentiment when he returns to Meadow Lane on Wednesday night. The former Westbury United boss will visit his old stomping ground as assistant manager of Shepton Mallet, desperate for three points as his new
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Woman faces jail for stealing
A SHOP worker faces jail after stealing around £1,400 in cash from her employers. Vanessa Glennon, 21, who has a previous conviction for breaching trust to steal, had originally pleaded not guilty to taking the money. But she changed her plea on Tuesday
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Villagers' joy as losing run ends
TROWBRIDGE LEAGUE: HEYTESBURY finally celebrated their first league win of the season, with new boss Steve Bidgood sealing a shock 3-1 Division One triumph at third-placed Seend United. Hammered 7-3 at home by Seend just a month previously, the troubled
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Historic venue for town band
A POPULAR baroque band will be performing in an historic barn on Sunday. Bradford Baroque Band will be following a theme of German Baroque at the West Barn. The venue, which is next to the Tithe Barn, will play host to a variety of music composed by the
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Film review - The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (15)
THE Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou has about as much in common with the undersea adventures of Jacques Cousteau as Chitty Chitty Bang Bang has with space travel. But the films and explorations of the famous Gallic diver are the inspiration for Wes Anderson's
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Film review - Hide And Seek (15)
ALL of the omens are good for this well-crafted psychological chiller. It has an excellent cast, led by the peerless Robert De Niro, a great set-up and an unsettling air of menace. But, as happens all too often, the plot falls apart like an kit wardrobe
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Family's thanks
AT the moving funeral service last week for my wife, Pamela Stratford, the family and I were surprised at the size of the congregation, and perhaps even more surprised and grateful at the very large number of sympathetic cards and messages. We had never
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Victory for animals: call for pro-hunt lobby to give in gracefully
ON Friday Roger Scruton, a philosopher who apparently lives in Wiltshire, appeared on Newsnight, making what he thought was a mockery of the ban on hunting with hounds by pursuing mice with dogs. I had always assumed that a philosopher had some degree
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We need more parking fines
WITH regard to the letter from P. Bennett of Bradford on Avon, who was fined for inappropriate parking. I feel maybe the instances of such parking will be considerably reduced if such fines were spread throughout the town. It is astonishing the amount
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Council boss seriously ill
A REPLACEMENT has been drafted in for social services director Keith Skerman after it was announced that he needs surgery for a serious illness. Swindon Council was remaining tight-lipped about the 51-year-old's future after he went on leave five weeks
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Stolen suitcase insurance blow
76219-49A SWINDON couple returned from their holiday to Gran Canaria - but one of their suitcases didn't. And their travel insurers - Tesco Personal Finance - said they have to provide a receipt for every item in the case before they pay up. James and
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Meghan family receives £1.5m
A SEVEN-YEAR-OLD girl who will never live beyond her teens due to the birth injuries she suffered at a Swindon hospital has been awarded more than £1.5m compensation. Meghan Murtough has epilepsy and acute cerebral palsy, cannot swallow, and has to be
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Tesco do their best for the Prospect
SUPERMARKET staff in Swindon helped raise nearly £17,000 for the Prospect Hospice in Wroughton. Tesco chose the Wroughton-based hospice as its charity for 2004 and shoppers have been urged to hand over all their change. Staff also set up a fundraising
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School head faces eight child sex charges
Barry Knock, 51HEADTEACHER Barry Knock will fight allegations of sex offences involving five children. Parents are today being told about the charges that come eight months after Mr Knock was suspended during a police investigation. A HEADTEACHER who
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Spain pain a spur for Shona's Scots
SHONA Watt admits Scotland's clash with Spain in the latest round of the Women's Six Nations Championship tomorrow is "a big grudge match.'' The Scots are still smarting from a 6-5 defeat to their rivals in last season's tournament, a result that cost
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Event puts the fun into local fund
A FARMSTEAD fun day is to be held today to celebrate the success of the Wiltshire Children's fund. Hundreds of young people in the county have been helped by the fund, which is administered by children's charity, Barnardo's and based at the White Horse
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Error could silence homes protesters
A MISTAKE in minute taking could mean a major development will go ahead without the objections of local people being heard. The error could mean the difference between the success or failure of an appeal lodged by Persimmon Homes against the decision
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Lease deal gives fresh hope for centre
CAMPAIGNERS bidding to build a nature centre were given a boost on Wednesday night, but their battle is far from over. West Wiltshire District Council agreed to restore the lease it had given to the Hope Nature Centre on land at Southwick Country Park
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Putting their best foot forward for charity
16652/3TWO 18-YEAR-OLDS have organised a tough trek across Dartmoor to raise money for cancer sufferers. Matt Garland, of Seend Cleeve and Chris Morris, of Steeple Ashton, hope to undertake an 85-mile walk across the moors in mid-March. Mr Garland, who
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Man crushed to death by machine
MYSTERY surrounds the death of a national bodybuilding champion crushed in a machine at a car parts factory. Anthony Smith, 54, died after being caught in a machine at the Trelleborg Automotive factory on the White Horse Business Park, in Trowbridge,
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Police make a saw point
16597/3POLICE are appealing for the owner of a stolen chainsaw to come forward and claim it. The saw was seized as stolen goods by the police in July but they have no record of it being stolen. Sgt Steve Jones of Trowbridge police said: "We know it was
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Family 'betrayed' by sex offender
A MOTHER has spoken of her family's anguish on discovering a former scoutmaster had sexually abused her son. Brian Tullett, 64, of Holt, faces the prospect of years behind bars after admitting eight sex offences against three young boys. This week the
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Cricklade to bounce back after heartbreak
CRICKLADE Town will be hoping the wintry conditions will not effect their return to league action this weekend when they visit Westbury United, writes RAY BURROUGHS. Following their Senior Cup exploits against Highworth Town, Graham Jackson's troops have
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Dyton hails Purton revival
ALAN Dyton has given the thumbs up to the rebuilding job done at Purton months after he helped bring the Red House down. Last season's Division One West champions were dismantled following the summer departure of manager Alan Clark. Dyton swooped to lure
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Devizes play for their pay
DEVIZES' players will find themselves seriously out of pocket if they don't show a vast improvement this weekend. The squad were too embarrassed to pick up their wages after a sorry 6-2 defeat at Screwfix Premier anchormen Clyst last Saturday a performance
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Collier's battle cry
AFTER cruising along nicely for much of the season Supermarine have suddenly been sucked into the familiar territory of a Southern League relegation scrap. A disappointing derby defeat at Oxford City last time out leaves the men from Hunts Copse just
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Mayor keeps in touch with the BMW factory
THE MAYOR of Swindon Coun Peter Stoddart has been on a tour of the BMW factory to see what it holds for the future of the town. Coun Stoddart was joined by a group of Swindon councillors, including the council's cabinet member for finance, Coun Nick Martin
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Traveller bailed
A MAN has appeared in court charged with fare dodging. Andrew Thompson, 30, of Cricklade Road, pleaded not guilty to deception after failing to pay his taxi fare on February 10. Magistrates heard Thompson was spotted by police climbing over a fence after
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Safer route for school
A FOOTPATH by Colebrook Infants' School is to be widened as part of the Safer Routes to School scheme. The infants' school submitted an application to Safer Routes to School's Challenge Bid for funding to improve the footpath and a dropped kerb-crossing
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Recycling bid is a success
SWINDON residents have recycled nearly two tonnes of plastic bottles since last November. The amount that has been recycled is the equivalent of 40,000 plastic bottles enough to stretch from Swindon to Marlborough. There are now four plastic bottle banks
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PM thanks head of charity
THE former boss of a Swindon charity had her hard work recognised when she met Tony Blair at a special reception. Pippa Tarr was operations director of Reach Inclusive Arts, based in the Pinehurst People's Centre. She is still involved with the charity
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Join the fun and help plant 2,000 new trees
MORE than 2,000 trees are to be planted in Purton Wood as part of a tree planting and activity day. The event at the wood next to Moulden Hill will take place as part of the Woodland Trust's Tree for All campaign. Everybody who goes along to the event
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True test at match
POLICE believe the true test of a new drive to tackle football hooliganism will come at Swindon Town's next home game. The scheme, which allows fans to text police if they see any trouble, was introduced before Wednesday's win over Port Vale. But football
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Tsunami concert will be recorded
THE organisers of a concert to raise money for the Tsunami appeal will record the music on the night for a charity CD. This will then be sold to raise money for Children in Need. The concert is taking place at the Furnace nightclub on Saturday, March
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Time capsule buried for the future
A TIME capsule containing modern-day medical gadgets will be buried at Great Western Hospital this weekend. The flagship hospital is to hold an open day tomorrow. And before the doors are opened to the public bosses will plant the capsule in the courtyard
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Shipman inquiry will be part of death seminar
THE inquiry into how "Doctor Death" Harold Shipman was able to kill so many of his patients will be one of the many subjects which will be covered during a talk in Highworth. Living with Mortality is a funeral information day which has been organised
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Top catch is what the doctor ordered
DR MARK Everard has been making a name for himself during the winter months with plenty of specimen roach from the Avon around Great Somerford. During another recent outing to the river at Chippenham Everard had another outstanding day, with specimen
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Man accused of child porn
A 36-YEAR-OLD man from Lyneham has appeared before magistrates on child porn charges. Stephen Brooks, of Bakersfield, is said to have downloaded the material between April 1999 and August 2000. He also stands accused of possessing an indecent photograph
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Disabled online
A CHARITY that aims to help disabled people in Swindon find work has won a contract with Wiltshire County Council. Working for Opportunities will provide website and information services for Workable Wiltshire from now up to December 2007. Workable Wiltshire
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Woman denies threat to kill
A TOOTHILL woman has appeared before town magistrates charged with threatening to kill a child. Gillian Newton, 30, of Westminster Road, was arrested on February 18 and has been in custody since. At a previous hearing she pleaded not guilty to the charge
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Go-slow on the M4 as new roadworks begin
MOTORISTS travelling to and from Swindon are expected to suffer as major work begins on a stretch of the M4 today. Drivers will be fined for exceeding 40mph on part of the M4 near junction 18 at Bath during ten months of roadworks. Drivers will also be
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Pub toasts its success in contest
A BAR has fought off competition from hundreds of other drinking establishments nationwide to reach the finals of Music Pub of the Year. Riff's Bar in Hook, near Wootton Bassett, has been nominated for the third year in a row at the Performing Right Society
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A healthy diet pays off for Sue
GET FIT FOR '05: SUE Sherwin is forgoing wine and munching her way through more fresh fruit. And the 50-year-old credit controller, from Purton, feels far better for it. She said: "I don't miss it I'm too busy keeping fit. I definitely feel healthier
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Counting his chickens
WOOTTON Bassett's ex-battery hens are being re-homed faster than you can say chicken run. On Monday the Evening Advertiser featured the plight of 400 hens rescued from battery farms in Devon. The hens had been taken to the Swindon and District Animal
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Arson cost thousands
SURVEYORS are counting the cost of an arson attack on public toilets in John Street. The damage to The Parade toilets in John Street last month is estimated at £55,000. The toilets have been closed to the public because of the severe fire damage. A quantity
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NY trip ends in jet drama during NY
IT was meant to be a school trip of a lifetime to New York but it ended with two girls having to be met by paramedics off the plane due to extreme turbulence. Around 40 students from Kingsdown School were whisked off to the Big Apple for an art trip over
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'I just love being an estate agent'
HAPPY AT WORK: ACCORDING to the poll only four per cent of estate agents are happy with their work. Ian Street, 38, is the manager at Atwell Martin estate agents in Old Town. He has been in the trade since he was 19 and says he loves his job. Ian said
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Happy at work?
HAIRDRESSERS are officially the happiest workers in the country according to a job satisfaction poll. An impressive 40 per cent of the chirpy workers said that they are happy at their job, putting them head and shoulders above other occupations. Coming
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North Wilts chief executive told he must retire
THE chief executive of North Wiltshire District Council has been told to retire. Bob Marshall, who joined the local authority in 1995, has learned this week that he will not have his current contract renewed following his appraisal. The Chippenham-based
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Migrants are not one way
A YOUNG man was asked his thoughts on the immigrants coming into his country. He said that there were too many, they settled in the same areas, were arrogant and couldn't speak the language. He was a Spanish youth who was talking about the 300,000-plus
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Westbury 36, Pewsey Vale 0
JON Parker insists Westbury are not even thinking about the Dorset and Wilts division one title after Saturday's win kept them in contention at the top. The Westbury coach, who scored five minutes into his first game back for five months, said his side
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Bath must battle on
BATH have failed in a bid to have their Zurich Premiership home clash with NEC Harlequins tomorrow postponed. With five players away on England duty and a packed treatment room, Bath had hoped for a reprieve from the fixture against the relegation-haunted
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'It's given us hope for the future. It's a miracle'
30226/1CHIPPENHAM NEWS EXCLUSIVE: A MOTHER told by doctors nine years ago she would be unlikely to ever have another baby, has discovered she is pregnant. Michelle Thomas-Mewse, 35, manager of Sir Audley Arms in Chippenham, has stunned friends and family
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Man admits role in friend's home raid
A BURGLAR who stole hundreds of pounds worth of goods from a house in Westbury is facing a prison sentence. Aaron Gibbings, 28, of Mount Pleasant, Atworth, admitted taking part in a burglary at a friend's house in Beech Grove when he appeared at Swindon
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OK for centre
A NEWLY-opened equestrian centre near Westbury is celebrating being approved by the British Horse Society. Heywood Equestrian Centre, which is run by husband and wife Kevin and Claire Worcester, is now a BHS-Approved Livery and Facility Centre. The couple
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Members wanted
ORGANISATIONS wishing to join the Westbury Community Care Planning Group are being invited to get in touch. The group is made up of representatives of voluntary and statutory organisations involved in the Westbury area. These include carers' groups, the
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Fossils go on display
FOSSILS of reptiles and fish found in Westbury will be on display for four months from Tuesday. The exhibition of fossils, collected by Simon Carpenter, runs until July 2 at Frome Museum. Mr Carpenter's collection is the result of 12 years work in Westbury
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A driving force in customer service
STAFF at a Westbury car dealership have been recognised for reaching high levels of customer service. The service department at Elkins Ford has scooped the Ford Motor Company's Customer After-Market Service Incentive award following positive feedback
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Councillor in 'close down Lafarge' call
THE CONTROVERSY surrounding Lafarge Cement Works took another twist this week when Westbury's county councillor called for the plant to be closed down. Cllr Chris Newbury said he had become 'dreadfully weary' of the works and said it was no longer in
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So why wasn't victim's son told about it?
EXCLUSIVE: A SON whose frail mother was one of seven victims of a deadly pneumonia infection which swept through a care home was kept in the dark about the outbreak. Derek Sheppard's mother Phyllis, 88, died after she caught the pneumonia infection affecting
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Westinghouse name lost as firm moves
16656WESTINGHOUSE Brakes is cutting its 70-year-old tie with Chippenham even further, by changing the firm's name as it finalises the move to Melksham. The rail firm will unveil its new multi-million pound factory in Hampton Park East, Melksham, on March
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McArthur director
A NEW non-executive director has been appointed for McArthurGlen, which runs outlet villages in Swindon, Bicester and across Europe. Vittorio Radice, 47, spent a year as executive director of general merchandise at Marks and Spencer, seven years as chief
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Work Your Proper Hours Day slated
CONSULTING firm Croner has weighed in against the TUC's Work Your Proper Hours Day, being observed across the country today. The union is lobbying business to cut down on unpaid overtime, but Croner has said a "coffee break culture" may be to blame. Richard
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Profiting from sustainability
SWINDON firms have been invited to learn about the concept of authenticity. Authentic businesses are those which have a positive and profound purpose. Many business theorists say these companies achieve success because not in spite of their dedication
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We can help your charity
THOUSANDS of pounds are up for grabs in the latest round of grants from the parent company of the Wiltshire Times and Chippenham News. The Gannett foundation, the charitable arm of our US parent company, is looking for charities to apply for cash and
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County's online election service
VOTERS in Wiltshire can now have all their election questions answered online before they go to the polls. The Vote Wiltshire 2005 page aims to clarify the electoral process for voters and potential candidates ahead of the Wiltshire County Council poll
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Warning over web auctions
POLICE have issued a series of internet auction site safety tips after a spate of offences against Wiltshire residents. Wiltshire Constabulary's Fraud Squad is urging users of services such as e-Bay to conduct all transactions through the site rather
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A Red Hot prospect
RED Hot Chili Peppers producer Todd Burke was so impressed with the music of a west Wiltshire band he has offered to mix their latest EP. Four-man rock group Hooker are on the verge of stardom and have hit the jackpot with the top record producer, who
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Government throws out Strip Stibbe campaign
Lt Col Giles StibbeA PETITION signed by more than 1,200 Wiltshire Times readers to strip an army officer of his OBE has been thrown out by the Government. Lt Col Giles Stibbe, who was convicted of dangerous driving after a triple death crash near Trowbridge
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Waiting game for Luke
LUKE Gullick has committed himself to Biddestone for the rest of the season unless he is offered a dream move to Oxford United. The 18-year-old winger is waiting to hear back from the League Two club after spending the previous week on trial at the Kassam
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Driver caught speeding on A36
MOTORIST Bryan Woodcock received a 21-day driving ban after his Subaru Impreza was clocked at over 90mph on the A36. Woodcock, 33, of Virginia Drive, Warminster, was stopped by police on the Warminster bypass at 2pm on September 24 last year. Over a quarter
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Westbury United 3, Willand Rovers 0
PAUL Brickley believes his Westbury side are finally beginning to show why they were being tipped as title favourites in the summer. After inflicting a first away defeat of the season on high-flying Willand, Brickley hailed his players and insisted they
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Bradford move back to the top
BRADFORD Town have taken over at the top of the Premier Division following their 2-1 victory over visitors AFC Stratton. The home side took the lead from a penalty after 15 minutes when defender Mike Little was pushed in the area and Tom Pang scored from
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'No excuses' says speedy van driver
BUILDER Nicholas Townley admitted he had no excuse for driving at more than 50mph in a busy Warminster street. Police clocked Townley's Mercedes 311 van at an average speed of 53.2 mph in Victoria Road on October 1 2004. Townley, 20, admitted speeding
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Trowbridge Town 2, Ross Town 1
NEIL Kirkpatrick admitted there was no substitute for experience after a brace from veteran striker Dave Mitchell restored Trowbridge to the top of the league on Saturday. Mitchell has been unavailable for the majority of the season, but five goals in
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'Miracle' as blind man's sight returns
30217A PENSIONER has regained his sight after more than a year of blindness. John Jones, 74, of Queensway, Warminster, had been certified blind. But last Monday he woke to find his sight had miraculously returned, and he has been on cloud nine ever since
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Corsham hit out over FA blunder
WILTSHIRE FA officials have refused to apologise for a blunder that Corsham Town claim could have cost them thousands of pounds. Corsham wrote to county officials after it was revealed they had been wrongly denied the use of two of their players in the
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Changes to benefit patients
PATIENTS at Warminster Hospital will soon see improved facilities with the opening of a new out-patients' area. The out-patient department is moving into a bigger area, using a former ward recently vacated by another team. Sister in charge Ruth Wyatt
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Villagers compose their own opera
BUDDING musicians will get the chance to turn village stories into an opera thanks to a collaboration of Wiltshire art projects. Schoolchildren and residents from Codford will flex their artistic muscles in composing their own mini opera, over the next
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Actress gets West End role
A YOUNG actress from Warminster will step out in the West End this weekend in a one-off musical called The Road. Camilla Yates, 19, from Broxburn Road, will take to the stage at the Theatre Royal in London, in front of 2,700 people, after two weeks of
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Soldiers' Iraq terrors blamed for pub brawl
THE horrors of the Iraq war led to an alcohol-fuelled brawl in a Warminster pub, a court heard last week. Black Watch soldiers David Roy, 29, Ryan Nellies, 20, and William McCarthy, 19, all pleaded guilty to charges relating to a fight in the John Barleycorn
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So why wasn't victim's son told about it?
EXCLUSIVE: A SON whose frail mother was one of seven victims of a deadly pneumonia infection which swept through a care home was kept in the dark about the outbreak. Derek Sheppard's mother Phyllis, 88, died after she caught the pneumonia infection affecting
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Health and lifestyle advice
LIBRARIES across west Wiltshire are preparing themselves for World Book Day on Thursday. The event, which is in its eighth year, is the largest annual celebration of books and reading in the UK. To mark the occasion, staff at Bradford on Avon library
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Best foot forward
THE manager of a pleasure boat firm is planning to walk 630 miles to raise awareness of the lack of drinking water in the Third World. Chris Yalland, 43, general manager of Bradford on Avon firm Sally Boats, will walk solo around the south west coastal
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TV role for costume dancers
A GROUP of dancers from Bradford on Avon went from period performances to primetime TV when they appeared on a daytime talk show this week. The Jane Austen Dancers, who re-enact the social and popular dances of the late Georgian and Regency periods, were
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Hunt for 1950s Korean veterans
THE British Korean Veterans Association is trying to contact former members of HM Armed Forces who served in Korea/Japan from 1950-1953 and also those servicemen and women who served in these two places at a later date with the Peace Keeping Force 1953
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Do firms come off best?
WE have restored our property, it is not a Grade II listed building neither is it in the conservation area, but when we started work we hopefully restored sympathetically to the building, using slate roof tiles and matched new to existing windows to retain
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Council's latest bid to solve pigeon problem is another waste of cash
HAVING just read the Wiltshire Times I read with horror and some amusement that our elected representatives are to convert the old public convenience at Town Bridge into a pigeon loft. The Pigeon Control Advisory Service say that by doing this the pigeons
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'Swanderful!
A SWINDON supermarket has promised to help a local charity thanks to the Adver. The Swindon Swan Sanctuary used to rely on Tesco, in Ocotal Way, to provide lettuces for their injured animals. But the store called a halt to the donations, saying that improved
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Drunk chemist gets reprimand
A CHEMIST who swigged vodka at work was let off with a reprimand after she cleaned up her act. Jyoti Thakore, 48, of Edgar Row Close, Wroughton, was sacked after she hugged customers and giggled with her eyes glazed in front of colleagues at the pharmacy
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MoD still investigating crash involving Hercules
THE CAUSE of the RAF Hercules crash in Iraq in which nine airmen and a soldier died is still being investigated, says the MoD. A spokeswoman said no details would be released until the end of the board of the inquiry findings. British defence sources
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Top MP warned over propaganda
THE LEADER of the House of Commons has been rebuked for using Swindon Council to score a political point in Parliament. Peter Hain, had launched an attack on the council's £10m cost cutting saying they were horrifying. Speaking to MPs in Parliament he
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Keeping the faith
IF IT ain't broke don't fix it goes the saying and Swindon have largely stuck to that motto ahead of their Berks, Bucks & Oxon Premier Division clash with Oxford tomorrow. After last weekend's 95-point demolition of Thatcham, the Greenbridge Road
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Youth attacked outside pub
A TEENAGER was attacked and robbed outside a pub in the early hours of Thursday morning. The 16-year-old youth was punched to the floor and kicked in the face several times in an incident outside the Rose and Crown pub, Stallard Street, Trowbridge, at
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Man in court over benefit fraud charge
FORMER apetito worker Andrew McMillan admitted claiming Jobseekers Allowance for three weeks while working at the frozen food factory. McMillan, 21, of Lambrok Close, Trowbridge, was given a 12-month conditional discharge for the offence when he appeared
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Youngster meets Caprice
A SIX-YEAR-OLD girl from Trowbridge met a supermodel at a tea party organised by a London children's hospital. Sarah Hampton-Smith, of Paxcroft Mead, who has been a patient at Great Ormond Street Hospital for three years, met Caprice, who officially opened
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Man claims road is too dangerous
A FARMER fed up with vehicles crashing through his hedgerow believes it is only a matter of time before there is a fatality. Keith Tucker, 53, of Manor Farm, Bradford Road, Holt, said he offered Wiltshire County Council a strip of his land last year to
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Bikers' tribute to much-loved father
16615/2BIKERS planned a moving farewell to a good friend yesterday as they formed a cortege of motorbikes for his funeral. The service for Andrew Richards, 37, who was found dead in a shed at his home in Newleaze, Steeple Ashton on Valentine's Day, took
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Fixtures and teams
SOUTHERN LEAGUE Premier Division: Bath C v Dunstable, Chesham v Hednesford, Chippenham v Cirencester, Halesowen v Bedford, Hemel Hempstead v Team Bath, Hitchin v Aylesbury, Kings Lynn v Gloucester C, Merthyr v Grantham, Solihull Boro v Histon, Tiverton
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...but there's no sentiment from Fisher
HIGHWORTH must avoid defeat at table-topping Didcot to keep their own title aspirations alive. That's the opinion of manager John Fisher, whose troops are currently nine points off the pace with two games in hand. But the ever-confident Elms chief doesn't
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Hughes tipping rivals for top
RATHER than stoke the derby-day fire, Cirencester boss Brian Hughes is full of praise for Chippenham counterpart Steve White. The two sides meet at Hardenhuish Park tomorrow and the Centurions chief has tipped their table-topping local rivals to maintain
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Retrial for cigarette case man
A MAN accused of involvement in a massive bootlegging fraud has been remanded in custody to face a retrial after a jury in Kent failed to reach a verdict on one of the charges he was facing. Abraham Smith, 52, of Hay Lane, Wroughton, was unanimously convicted
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Have your say on schools
PARENTS are being urged to attend meetings to decide the fate of West Swindon schools. A consultation document, which lead member for education, Coun Garry Perkins helped draw up, has now been sent to all parents. These must be returned by March 24. Options
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Bingo punters join gambling protest
CUSTOMERS and employees of Rank Group Gaming Division, which owns Grosvenor Casinos, Hard Rock Casinos and Mecca Bingo, have embarked on a nationwide campaign to persuade the government to amend the Gambling Bill. The draft Bill, currently being debated
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Another charged
A man has been charged with assisting an offender over the deaths of a former policeman and his wife. The 21-year-old local man is due to appear at North Wilts Magistrates' Court in Chippenham on March 10. The bodies of Milroy (pictured) and Joan Clarke
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Neighbours row in block of flats
A NOISY neighbour has appeared before Swindon magistrates after threatening another resident in his block of flats. Frank Masheu, 33, of Mall Street pleaded guilty to breaching the peace on February 12. Masheu admitted threatening his neighbour after
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Men tried to force into woman's home
POLICE are appealing for information after two men tried to force their way into a woman's house to commit a crime. They called at her home in Stamford Close, Toothill, at about 6pm yesterday and asked whether they could turn off her water. After failing
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Scrapstore makes the connection
SWINDON Children's Scrapstore has been awarded a computer linked up to the internet as part of an awards scheme from BT. The donation from the BT Community Connections scheme also includes a 12-month connection to BT Yahoo worth £180, as well as Microsoft
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No change in teenage births
THE number of teenage pregnancies in Swindon has not changed for five years despite a massive sex education drive. Figures released yesterday showed there were 167 teenage pregnancies in 2003 exactly the same number as in 1998 when the Government launched
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New life breathed into arts festival planned
WOOTTON Bassett has been on the map since Saxon times and a proposed arts festival will ensure it stays there for another thousand years. A meeting this week was the first step towards reviving the festival, which was last held in 1983. The new event
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Benefits of eating right foods
Fiona Dickens, community dietician for the Swindon and Marlborough NHS Trust and Swindon Primary Care Trust, will be giving weekly advice about how to eat healthy What is a healthy diet? A healthy diet is one that promotes positive health, while providing
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Exercises to keep warm
Swindon's very own Mr Motivator Darren Grace is off sunning himself in Thailand, so his colleagues at the Swindon Marriott Leisure Club, Tim O'Mahoney and Jules Beckett, are stepping in to keep you fit and active this week. We're going to give you an
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Charities to lose cash are named
THE names of the charities which face losing funding under council cuts have been released. A number of voluntary organisations are devastated to learn that they now look certain to have their support severely reduced, and in some cases stopped altogether
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Teamwork is the key ingredient
HAPPY AT WORK: THIRD on the list of happy workers are chefs and cooks. Twenty-three per cent of chefs and cooks said that they were satisfied in their jobs. John Townsend, 22, has been a cook at the Lydiard Beefeater for six months. He said: "I think
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A soft option
REGARDING the extortionate hike in water rates. With all the technology we have now wouldn't it be great if Thames Water gave us soft water out of our taps? With people suffering from eczema and the damage this hard water does to kitchen appliances isn't
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Central site is sensible one
The town centre is most certainly the only sensible option for the Bath University site. My daughter is a student at the University of Central Lancashire in Preston. This university is spread throughout the town and is situated in buildings both old and
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Crash test dad's views
AS father of the "Crash Test Woman" I would like to make a few comments. On behalf of my daughter and the rest of us I would like to thank the emergency services for their professionalism, including A&E at GWH. Our best wishes and prayers go to the
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More to a fine school than size
S GUNTER appears to suggest a 420-pupil school might not be as good as a small school such as Windmill Hill. My three sons go to the 420-pupil plus Brookfield School. It and they are doing very well. The standard at Brookfield was high even when it had
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Hunting for Tories in Parks
I read in the Advertiser on February 22 that some hunt supporters are to come to the South Swindon constituency to call on front doors to try to persuade people to vote Conservative in the General Election. However, your report contains comments from
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Trowbridge 8, Tadley 29
TROWBRIDGE slid further into relegation danger on Saturday after a comprehensive defeat to Tadley. They are now just three points ahead of second from bottom Bradford on Avon and still have to play them before the end of the campaign. It is still unknown
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The diggers get to work at Goldiggers
CHIPPENHAM NEWS: DEMOLITION of the former Goldiggers nightclub is drawing to a close as developers are finalising a new name for the site. Building teams have cleared much of the rubble from the site but are preserving the 1930s frontage so it can be
