Archive
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Revellers pack park on fun day
Ref.10479CROWDS turned out for Chippenham's annual Family Fun Day in glorious sunshine on Sunday afternoon. The free event organised by the town council was bigger and better than ever this year, with a host of attractions and entertainments filling John
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Gardeners commended
Ref.10503GARDENING enthusiasts adorned Chippenham with a spectacular array of flowers in this summer's Chippenham In Bloom competition. Green-fingered residents amazed and delighted judges with their imaginative and carefully tended displays of plants
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Kids dice with death in river
Ref.10507WEILS'S disease victim Martin Dacre has warned that dozens of youngsters swimming in the River Avon are dicing with death. Mr Dacre says the children risk injury, disease and drowning as they take the plunge into the River Avon, spurred by the
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Lewy cautious in final bid
GLOUCESTERSHIRE were looking to bounce back from their National League setback today by booking an end-of-season Lord's final. The Gladiators, fresh from their Tuesday mauling by Division One title rivals Surrey Lions, were facing Derbyshire at the County
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Rod & Line by Roland Batten
Carp with a passion for fruit is caught HUGE bags of fish and some notable individual catches make up the news this week as anglers continue to enjoy excellent sport. Witherington Farm Fishery had a massive match-winning haul on Sunday, Waldens Farm Fishery
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Salisbury quartet into last eight
A LONG drive to Essex was rewarded with a place in the quarter-finals of a national competition for Salisbury's Over 40s ladies team on Sunday. The quartet of June Keen, Janie Melhuish, Kath More and Diana O'Connell eased into the last eight of the veterans
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Summer training is paying off
SALISBURY Hockey Club players displayed some good pre-season form in a 13-team round robin tournament at the weekend. They joined New Milton ladies in the mixed Madcows tournament at Blandford, playing eight 30-minute games in quick succession, seeing
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Closing date nears for cup entries
THE Nadder Valley Foot-ball League are urging clubs interested in competing in their two cup competitions in the coming season to return their entry forms as soon as possible. The closing date is fast approaching to register for the Lord Bledisloe and
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Countdown to big kick off continues
AN expectant crowd of 610 at Old Sarum was made to wait on Monday evening as the Bristol City team arrived after the scheduled kick-off time of 7.45pm, for their friendly with Salisbury City. However, the visitors showed no signs of travel fatigue when
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Helping spread support message
EVERY girl needs a little support but, depending on the degree of sporting activity we indulge in, some of us need more than others. We are talking bosoms, but size is not an issue here, according to Selaine Messem, who runs specialist sports bra business
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Alderbury bowlers triumph
ALDERBURY quartet Jerry Woolley, Allan Wilson, Peter Frost and John Webb won their Wiltshire Bowls Asso-ciation Championship fours final in dramatic style on Saturday, beating Purton in a thrilling tie that was only settled by an extra end. They led 12
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Kelly's Parisian delight
RISING athletics star Kieren Kelly produced his best ever performance when he represented Great Britain at the European Youth Olympics in France last week, writes Mike Turner. The 17-year-old shot putter (pictured right) smashed his previous best by almost
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Courage against the odds
IN a world where so many stories seem to have sad endings, and where the good seem prone to not winning, people such as little Hannah McCarthy are a breath of fresh air. Born with a rare and often lethal blood disease, she has battled through and is now
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Think of the good Lydiard Park will bring
IF Swindon's business community is pledging to put £500,000 cash towards a scheme to restore Lydiard Park, there must be a serious conviction that the project would reap enormous benefits for the town. For that sort of money to be voluntarily thrown into
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Police hit back at critics who claim vandalism is ignored
POLICE have hit back at complaints that they are not tackling vandals, by saying the crimes were not reported. Corsham police came under fire from town and district councillor Roy Jackson last week after he claimed they were not doing their job. "The
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Man admits benefit fraud
PENSIONER Antonio Ciriello could face a prison term for cheating the state out of thousands of pounds in benefits. The 68-year-old, of Ashwood Road, Corsham, pleaded guilty at Swindon Crown Court on Friday to seven counts of making false statements on
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Mother is let off jail term
YOUNG mother Amanda Freegard has received a six month Community Rehabilitation Order following an ongoing dispute in which she threatened to kill her husband. Freegard, 24, who lives with her husband and three children in Bences Lane, Corsham, pleaded
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Holiday fun in the country
AN array of colourful kites will be flying over Lackham Country Park on Sunday when the White Horse Kite Flyers put on a display. Kites of all shapes, sizes and colours will be flown throughout the day, with opportunities for children to take part in
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Nestonauts beam up to station in space
BUDDING Neil Armstrongs were due to be beamed up to the International Space Station last night as Neston School pupils spoke to NASA astronauts on an amateur radio. At 5.45pm a group spoke directly to astronauts on the station as it rose in the western
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Joe proves he's a real whizz kid
BOWOOD'S Space Dive super slide has proved the final frontier for many brave adventurers but for its 1.5 millionth guest it was a walk in the park. Those bold enough to take the Space Dive, known affectionately amongst youngsters as the Death Slide, have
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Grant lets village set example
NESTON Recycling Group is delighted to have received a £1,500 grant from the district council to fund its village green day. The group has already obtained funding for free distribution of compost bins to households in the village through the National
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Charity moves on
LOCAL charity Wiltshire Access Consultancy has moved to Pewsey. The charity, which had been run from the home of Devizes members Barbara and Ron Williams, is now located in the offices of Voluntary Action Kennet at 12 River Street, Pewsey. The new chairman
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Legion salutes Poppy Day stalwart
Ref.10505ONE of Pewsey's best-known carnival stalwarts Cossor Goldsworthy has been presented with a long service award for 50 years' service as a Poppy Day collector. Mr Goldsworthy, 84, received a long service medal on Friday from Pewsey's two Poppy
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Riders support air ambulance
A SPECIAL charity evening at Pewsey Vale Riding School at Stanton St Bernard, near Devizes, has raised more than £1,000 for local charities. The money from the event will be shared between Wiltshire Air Ambulance Appeal and the village church and hall
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Controversial all-weather pitch opens
Ref.10428THE controversial sale of a section of the playing field at Devizes School was claimed to be completely justified on Monday when a £525,000 all- weather pitch was officially opened. The pitch was partly financed by the sale of a piece of land
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P-p-pick up a penguin story
Ref.10480CHILDREN aged between four and seven enjoyed a story trail involving kiddies book Penguin Post at Malmesbury Library on Monday. The 17 children who took part in the story which follows the adventures of little Milo the penguin had a great time
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Tributes paid to road crash victim
TRIBUTES have been pouring in for 37-year-old Malmesbury woman Angela Eldridge, who was killed in a road accident at Callows Hill in Brinkworth. Ms Eldridge was returning home from her job at Barnes Travel in Aldbourne, near Marlborough, at 5.30pm last
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Time to stop 999 equalling a zero
A NEW broom has been brought in to sweep out the cobwebs at Wiltshire's troubled ambulance service and it is hoped that Tim Skelton can do just that. It was known back in March that the service, then headed by Dennis Lauder, was having trouble. It was
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Prodigy gets West call-up
CRICKET prodigy Liam Dawson has taken another step towards his dream of playing the game professionally by being selected to represent the West of England. The 13-year-old Chippenham batsman has been selected to play for the English Cricket Board's West
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Zurich jobs threat
MORE than 60 jobs hang in the balance after Zurich Financial Services based in Swindon announced the closure of its Zurich Life Assurance division, following its sale to Swiss Re, the world's largest life and health reinsurer. The servicing and administration
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Patients satisfied
SOUTH Wiltshire's GP and dental practices have been given a vote of confidence by patients. The first-ever patient survey on primary care services across the country shows that most patients served by the south Wiltshire primary care trust have confidence
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Second defeat
THE Cerne Valley captain didn't have to think twice before inviting Fovant to bat first on a rapidly drying wicket. Runs were extremely hard to come by with Andy Mer-cer bowling 12 immaculate overs to finish with 2-20. He was supported by Simon Corfield
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Park's last ball drama
AFTER a cautious start on what looked like a bowler-friendly wicket, Hampton Park found themselves up against it at 25-3 against Fair Oak III. This brought P. O'Sulli-van and G. Stafford together, who frustrated the bowlers with a stand of 20 which ended
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Time travel day a medieval Mecca
Ref.10472WOOTTON Bassett went back to Chaucer's day on Sunday, with its annual medieval festival. Hundreds of residents and visitors filled the blocked-off high street dressed in doublets and hose to watch historical re-enactments, medieval fancy dress
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Top two clash in final
SALISBURY & District Wednesday Evening League runners up South Newton beat the 2003 champions, Breamore at the South Wilts Cricket Ground last Wednesday to secure the HK Robinson Trophy. Batting first, Breamore lost both the Marlow brothers cheaply
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Market manager plans a musical retirement
Ref. 22944-4HIGHWORTH and Wootton Bassett market manager Dennis Williams will retire from managing both markets at the end of the month. Mr Williams, 77, has been a familiar figure at the Saturday Market in Highworth and Wednesday Market in Wootton Bassett
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On the track of the big cats
In the past five years there have been 60 sightings of big cats across Wiltshire. LILY CANTER reports on the on-going quest to find tangible evidence of the existence of these mysterious beasts roaming the countryside The Wiltshire wildcat is a widely
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Croppie makes it across pond
WELL known crop circle maker Matthew Williams has been dubbed a "merry prankster" by legendary American rebel, Paul Krassner. Mr Williams, 32, who lives at Bishops Cannings, near Devizes, was recently at an event called Starwood in Sherman, New York state
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Challenging the seven seas
It will be ten months of sheer hard work with none of the comforts of home. But as CAMERON RAMOS discovered, Pat Green can't wait to set sail on the race of a lifetime. MALMESBURY yachtsman Pat Green will be braving the seven seas in a challenge of a
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Parents urged to back Net campaign
MOTHER-of-three Tessa Colson is joining the campaign for greater child protection on the Internet. Mrs Colson from Pickwick Road, Corsham, said she is increasingly concerned about the level of highly offensive material that is easily accessible by her
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Treats for the troops
SHELAGH Phillips was delighted to receive thank you letters from two Colerne soldiers after she sent them goodies as part of the Gazette's Treats For The Troops campaign. She and her husband David, from Cepen Park North, Chippenham, were among the scores
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Gypsy mum protests over right to settle
THE family of a gypsy woman who has been refused permission to join them on a caravan park claim the county council is guilty of racial harassment. Mother-of-four Teresa Maloney is unhappy after the county council refused to grant a licence for her to
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Tragic chain of eventsled to death of biker
AN inquest into the death of motorcyclist James Barnett, who died two days after Christmas, recorded a verdict of accidental death. Mr Barnett was riding his Kawasaki motorbike when he ran into fallen power cables, knocked down by a car seconds before
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Troubleshooter to rescue 999 service
A NEW boss has been appointed to troubleshoot at Wiltshire's zero-star rated ambulance service in a bid to turn around its performance. The service failed to meet targets set out in a report in March and last month the Commission for Health Improvement
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Maternity services surveys all set to start
THE long-awaited maternity survey that will determine the future of Devizes and Malmesbury maternity units is to start in the next two weeks. Both units are under threat of closure by the Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary Care Trust as it says they are
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Chairman facing axe at crisis club
SCREWFIX PREMIER DIVISION: DEVIZES Town Chairman Chris Belcher has failed to meet the Football Association deadline to prove the club was legally turned into a limited company and is now set to be ousted on Monday night. Belcher had until midnight on
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Carer who stole frompatient escapes jail
A Bromham carer who pocketed hundreds of pounds from a multiple sclerosis sufferer she was looking after, has been told she won't face a prison term. Ellen Townsend stole two cheques from the woman for whom she was caring and then cashed them for £300
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Producer's wife in court
TV producer's wife Rosetta Gutteridge, of Market Lavington, near Devizes, escaped a driving ban after admitting speeding. Gutteridge, who recently married Tom Gutteridge the creator of the television series Robot Wars was caught driving her Mercedes at
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Madagascan mission for conservationist
FORMER Dauntsey's student Alison Judge from Ramsbury is about to return to one of the most exotic but poorest parts of the world. Alison, 31, quit the fast life in the City to take up a voluntary position with the little known conservation charity Azafady
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Disgrace of Nato adviser
A NATO adviser is likely to be sent back to the United States in disgrace after he admitted being drunk at the wheel of his car in Marlborough. Darryl McDonal, 40, who is normally based in Stuttgart, Germany, pleaded guilty to driving while twice over
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TV vicar and family enjoying their break
THE Rev Jamie Allen has contacted the office of the Bishop of Salisbury as he and his family take three months' leave of absence from the parishes of Seend, Poulshot and Bulkington. The Bishop's senior chaplain, the Rev Nicholas Papadopulos, said: "Jamie
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Hairdresser makes the cut for finals
A HAIRDRESSER is making headway in one of the biggest national hairdressing competitions. Julian Clark, 28, salon manager at Goldsworthy's in Swindon has been selected as a finalist for the annual British Hairdressing Awards. Having already won the hotly
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Diamonds and the Stones are forever
Ref. 26023-08A GUITAR signed by three of the Rolling Stones, and autographs of Beatle John Lennon and Great Escape star Steve McQueen have gone on sale at the Infinitely Better shop. The store, which is located on the first floor of the Brunel Centre,
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Precautions that will keep thieves at bay
Tips for beating the burglars include: Fit British Standard security locks to windows and doors. Fit locks on side gates and sheds. Always lock doors and windows when leaving home, even if you only plan to be out for five minutes, and also while working
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Secretary Pete turns up the heat to win tench cup
CONDITIONS were far from ideal for South Cerney AC's Tench Cup at Wickwater on Sunday. It was hot and sunny, and the 23 anglers who fished struggled to catch tench. Lots of carp, bream, roach and rudd were caught, but they did not count. Match winner
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Tragic week of motoring accidents
IT has been a tragic week for Salisbury motorists, after an eight-year-old boy and a pensioner lost their lives in separate accidents and another six people were seriously injured in a series of crashes. Alderbury schoolboy George Collins died after a
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Billy 'The Whiz' smashes blind speed record
A FORMER soldier smashed the blind solo world land speed record on Saturday, when he blasted down the main runway at Boscombe Down at over 170mph. The average speed for two consecutive runs from opposite directions was 165.8mph. Billy Baxter, known as
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Funds crisis hits city transport plan
A GOVERNMENT-BACKED plan for ridding Salisbury of its crippling traffic problems was thrown into doubt this week, after it was revealed funds are drying up. The award of the contract to build the new park-and-ride site at Wilton has already been put on
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Gas drama keeps 150 out all night
MORE than 150 residents were evacuated from their homes and forced to spend the night in emergency accommodation, after a gas pipe was severed. Contractors working on sewers in the Milton Road area of Boscombe Down cut through an essential gas main, causing
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Library wins design award
Ref.10457CALNE'S Millennium Library has been recognised in a prestigious UK-wide awards scheme that highlights the best in architecture and environmental design. It is one of 58 projects commended in the 2003 Civic Awards Scheme for its high standard
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Auditor clears town over allotments sale
AN auditor has cleared Calne Town Council of allegations of malpractice surrounding the sale of the Newcroft allotments. Former allotment holders and residents living next to the site were furious because they believed the six acres of land, which was
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Students go Dutch with a giant mural
STUDENTS from Calne's John Bentley School have created an enormous mural depicting life in Holland as part of an international project aiming to build bridges between schools. The 15ft by 4ft mural, which is hanging outside the front of the school's art
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Surgery repairs mean cut in service
SERVICES will be reduced at Calne's Patford House Surgery next week, when it is temporarily closed for essential refurbishments. Patients with urgent medical problems can still telephone the surgery and, if necessary, see a doctor. But routine appointments
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New book celebrates sports life in the town
THREE years of intensive research by local sports historian Rick Kibby are about to bear fruit with the publication of an exhaustive history of sport in Devizes and district. Entitled Devizes Allsports, the 400-page book is lavishly illustrated with photographs
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Police want new car park
WILTSHIRE'S chief constable Elizabeth Neville is asking Wiltshire Police Authority to agree to the building of a new car park at police headquarters in London Road, Devizes. Dame Elizabeth said in a report to the police authority's finance and major projects
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GP takes it easy after 30 years
Ref.10467DOCTORS and staff from Southbroom Surgery and Devizes Hospital joined with patients and friends to say goodbye to Dr Stephen Siggers who has retired from general practice after 30 years. Dr Siggers hung up his stethoscope on Monday at the end
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The drunken dozen
THE police realised that the problem of drunkenness in Devizes had got out of hand when they were called to deal with someone who was drunk at 9am in the town centre. In the last few weeks the police have been called out up to 12 times a day following
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Carnival callfor disabled
DISABLED campaigner Barbara Williams is calling on people with disabilities to join her in Devizes Carnival procession on August 30. Mrs Williams feels the carnival procession will provide a platform for disabled people. Mrs Williams, 80, said: "The carnival
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No cheer over real ale at award-winning pub
MEMBERS of the Devizes branch of the Campaign for Real Ale were accused of being smug and aggressive when tasting the beer at an award-winning pub in the area last week. Last Thursday, the group of 14 ale enthusiasts dropped into the Bridge Inn at Horton
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Vandalism a major problem
THE number of burglaries has dropped in Devizes but criminal damage is on the increase. Inspector Pete Bowerbank of Devizes police told town councillors shed and garage burglaries had gone down from 81 to 23 and burglaries overall had reduced from 103
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Hanging baskets stolen
THE president of Devizes Chamber of Commerce, Jo Edwards, has called for a CCTV system to be put back on the agenda after hanging baskets were stolen last week by vandals. Five hanging baskets, put by the town council as part of its campaign to win a
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Gangs of drunk louts frighten off tourists
Ref.10486LATE night hooliganism in the town centre is discouraging tourists from coming to Devizes, say the new managers at one of the town's hotels. Ben Cox and Heather MacNaughton, who took over the running of the Black Swan Hotel in the Market Place
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Man charged on race attack
MARK Few, of Snuff Street, Devizes, appeared in court on Monday following an alleged assault on an Indian restaurant waiter in the town. Few, 30, was charged at Chippenham Magistrates' Court with a racially aggravated assault and criminal damage at Deedars
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Jazz in the moat a swinging success
DEVIZES Castle moat could be used for more community events but general access to tourists is not on the agenda, according to Robin Taylor who lives at The Gatehouse. Mr Taylor was speaking after the success of a jazz concert in aid of Wiltshire branch
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The Dalek sees red
COACH driver Brian Jackson became a star at the weekend as a determined exterminator. Mr Jackson, of West Lavington, built a life-sized Dalek called Ruby, and at the celebrations to mark the 40th anniversary of Doctor Who at Longleat House on Sunday,
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Blacksmith forges trans-Atlantic links
BLACKSMITH Eddie Payne from Aldbourne has been forging links across the Atlantic with colleagues in Canada. He has just returned from spending a month in Canada as a guest of their annual blacksmiths' convention called Caniron Mr Payne who has just reached
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Mail for their eyes only
TOWN councillors in Marlborough have found themselves enveloped in a row over who should open their mail. Coun Marian Hannaford told the town council on Monday that she believed it was wrong that letters sent to councillors at the town council offices
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Mystery on pub bidders
MYSTERY surrounds one of the Devizes businessmen vying to take over Munnelly's Bar in Southbroom Road, which closed three weeks ago. Pub owner, the Punch Pub Company, confirmed this week it had received two bids for the franchise. One is Brian Foster,
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Earl wins his court battle to overturn driving ban
LORD Cardigan has been saved from a driving ban after successfully appealing against the sentence at Swindon Crown Court. The 50-year-old Earl was disqualified for 28 days in April after he was convicted for not having insurance when he was stopped on
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Girl drove truck to Baghdad under fire
TWO years ago Natalie Bull was a school leaver whose biggest excitement had been playing soccer with a girls' side in Ramsbury. Now Natalie,who will be 19 on Monday, is a war veteran who served in the conflict in Iraq. Although the only women allowed
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Town flies flag for Fairtrade
The town council has formally declared Marlborough to be a Fairtrade town. The decision by councillors on Monday means that tea and coffee at council functions from now on will be from Fairtrade sources. Councillors will have to ensure that at least ten
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New nursing home on way
THE ageing county council-run Coombe End House nursing home in Marlborough is to be replaced by a larger and more efficient building, it was confirmed yesterday. There has been growing concern in the town over the future of the London Road home, which
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No Mini-feat for two on honeymoon trip
Ref. 26071-36A MINI-MAD couple are hoping to find the road to true happiness as they take to the highway to compete in a gruelling 2,500-mile road race. Paul Doick, 36, and fiancee Jo Field, 30, of Abington Way in Queensfield, Swindon, plan to spend their
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Local RAF officer gets top training position
AN RAF squadron leader from Wroughton has been appointed to one of the RAF's most prestigious jobs. Sqn Ldr John Banbrook from Ashen Copse Road in Wroughton is now in charge of Recruit Training Squadron, which provides basic training for airmen entrants
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Market manager plans a musical retirement
Ref. 22944-4HIGHWORTH and Wootton Bassett market manager Dennis Williams will retire from managing both markets at the end of the month. Mr Williams, 77, has been a familiar figure at the Saturday Market in Highworth and Wednesday Market in Wootton Bassett
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Cash threat to street wardens
THE pioneering Parks and Walcot street wardens could be out of work in the New Year victims of Swindon Council's tightening its purse strings. One council source, who did not want to be named, said some of the wardens felt so confident they would be out
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Clever clogs
Ref. 260668-53MOST youngsters would do anything to avoid school in the summer holidays. However, a group of exceptional pupils at Churchfields have braved the heat to join the fortnight-long Summer Safari School for gifted and talented children. The majority
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Solution is needed to road's tragic toll
I have just arrived back from holiday and seen the article in the Gazette on yet another accident on the Derry Hill/Studley section of the A4 and last week's letter from Andrew Warner on the same topic. He is quite right, though we have discussed the
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'Missing' millions: A bit of confusion
FORMER director of resources Ian Thompson thinks the conundrum of Swindon Council's missing £2.5 million is nothing more than a little simple confusion. The council's budget strategy task group part of the new Star Chamber that scrutinises every service
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Snapper Tom wins by a nose
BUDDING Paparazzi Tom Dickinson has exposed his poor dad and bagged himself a photography prize. Nine-year-old Tom, of Eastcott Hill, Old Town, snapped his dad Gordon who was sporting a strange mask seemingly picking his nose at last month's Swindon Festival
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Traffic lights would be a mistake on this road
MANY residents of 47 Bristol Street in Malmesbury are outraged by the intention to place traffic lights on Bristol Street, a residential road that leads out of Malmesbury towards Sherston. Undoubtedly, the building of the new secondary school has made
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Hospital is vital
I am sure people must recover far better and more quickly when they are cared for in a hospital near to their own home than in one that takes them and their visitors up to one or even two hours or more to reach. Our primary care trust, which has one of
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Next time it will be £60
Ref. 26074-31WARNING leaflets the size of parking tickets are being put on parking offenders' windscreens ahead of Swindon Council's take over of traffic warden duties on September 1. Swindon currently has a single traffic warden to cover the whole of
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Hot shot AJ bags world title
A FORMER clay pigeon champion is back on top of the world after returning to the sport as a veteran. Anthony John Smith, more commonly known as "AJ," first won a world title as a senior competitor back in 1987. However, the Stapleford sharp-shooter blasted
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Ice is in big demand at the shops
SWINDON is chilling out and investing in ice to combat the hot weather. Tesco supermarket in Ocotal Way is selling nearly 1,000 bags of ice a day, as temperatures reached a sweltering 32 degrees Celsius in Swindon. Graham Sadd, fresh food training manager
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Burning question
THE members of Devizes Guardians have been monitoring the situation at Westbury Cement Works for some time. Apart from burning tyres as fuel, the owners have now applied for a licence to burn waste solvents, known as recycled liquid fuel and classified
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Toy guns: danger of armed response
WILTSHIRE police are urging parents not to let their children play with replica or ball-bearing guns, after an increase in the number of cases where armed units have been called to deal with young people brandishing realistic-looking weapons. Officers
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Green advice
A scheme is being run for those wishing to find out how to be more environmentally aware in their everyday life. Called Permaculture, the idea is to use less energy to create more. Methods include recycling bathwater, using journeys to accomplish several
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Dash 2's questions have been answered
The letter from DASH 2 published last week over Paula Winchcombe's name contained serious inaccuracies that may have misled many of your readers. I would like to use your columns to set the record straight. In her capacity as observer from Kennet District
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A big boost for research
THE Economic and Social Research Council, based in swindon, has announced nine new professorial fellowships. The annual scheme has been created to enable the recipients to concentrate solely on research by providing funding for a PhD student and, by application
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Green-fingered success
GREEN-FINGERED Susan Bugden's dedication to making her front garden look beautiful paid off this year, for it gained her top prize in the annual Salisbury district council gardens competition. Mrs Bugden, who lives in Douglas Haig Road, Salisbury, received
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Correct address
ON July 19 you published details of the Mailing Preference Service in the Know Your Rights column. We are delighted that you publicised the service but note that the address you printed is one we left over 18 months ago. The correct address is below.
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Better training is key to reducing crashes
I am writing in response to the story headlined "widow's tragic warning" in last week's Gazette. Although I feel deeply sorry for Angela Harris's loss I was incensed by another persecution of motorcyclists everywhere. I find the display of a crashed motorbike
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Gas drama keeps 150 out all night
MORE than 150 residents were evacuated from their homes and forced to spend the night in emergency accommodation, after a gas pipe was severed. Contractors working on sewers in the Milton Road area of Boscombe Down cut through an essential gas main, causing
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Reunion invite
COULD you help us with our search for ex-pupils of British Forces Schools in Germany. Due to the nature of moving with forces families every couple of years we are struggling to find many ex-pupils who may well wish to attend two reunions that are to
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Let me carry on
I fully agree with the comments of Dave Tilbury regarding the Ridgeway (Access for All, EA, August 1). I myself ride a motorcycle on unsurfaced roads and can see why people can become upset at the state of it in several areas. To lay the blame for the
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Let's hope they find more!
MUCH has been written about the competence of senior officers and councillors who claim to have the skills required to run our local authority. When senior officers are found wanting they are allowed to resign or retire with significant pay-offs and generous
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In praise of a very special Reverend
THE in-depth article by Shirley Mathias (EA, August 2) painting a written portrait of the Rev Derryk Evans was a breath of fresh air and absolutely fascinating. There are so many facets to this unique and extraordinary personality. I first encountered
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Gardeners can blossom
Chippenham's beautiful gardens were brought into the limelight in this year's Chippenham in Bloom competition, organised by the town council. Nearly 30 entries were received for six classes and the overall winners were Jacqueline and Allan Neale, for
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Man took life after marriage break-up
COLIN Scott, a 57-year-old Brinkworth man, took an overdose of anti-depressants two years after the break-up of his marriage, an inquest at Chippenham Magistrates Court heard on Thursday. Mr Scott was found dead in his bedroom at his house at Well Corner
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Confused ghost got cross over changes
A WOMAN says a ghost in her renovated Chippenham home subjected her and her partner to nightmarish paranormal attacks. The woman, who has lived in Lowden for just over a year, said the attacks, which started in January felt like "something was trying
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History all set to go on show
THE historic council chamber in Chippenham's ancient timber-framed Yelde Hall could soon be open to the public. The 15th century Grade I-listed building, in Market Place, is owned by North Wiltshire District Council and this year started a new life as
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Illness delays sentencing
A CROWN court judge adjourned the case against Chippenham man David Gascoigne after hearing that the 25-year-old had a stomach bug. Gascoigne, of Marshfield Road, was due at Swindon Crown Court on Thursday to face sentence for possessing and supplying
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Teacher joinswoods project
A teacher at a Chippenham primary school has won an Earthwatch Environmental Award and the opportunity to join leading scientists on a field research project. Christine Meakin, a supply teacher for Ivy Lane Primary School, will be joining a project called
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Family baffled after mum's shock death
A GRIEVING family may never know how mother-of-two Jane Manning died from acute alcohol poisoning five days after the death of her mother. A court heard how her baffled husband Brian Manning said she had no opportunity to drink while he was with her on
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Florrie has big appetite for life
Ref.10456FLORENCE Julians celebrated her 100th birthday with a party and a visit from the Mayor of Chippenham Desna Allen at St Clements Court. Mrs Julians was famous in her 80s for running keep fit classes for the other residents at the sheltered accommodation
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John's 76 not out!
CRICKET-mad John Wilson is well on the way to a century, but not the sort usually associated with the sport. The 76-year-old became the Swindon Midweek League's oldest player when he took to the crease for Division Four side L&K Skips. Walcot-based
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European Tour trio among Pro-Am entries
THREE former European Tour golfers are among more than 160 players at tomorrow's Pro-Am tournament at Salisbury & South Wilts Golf Course. Andy Beal, Andrew Sherbourne and George Ryall line up alongside most of the top 20 players in the PGA West Region's
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More apprentices taken on
PERSIMMON Homes, the UK's second largest housebuilder, is increasing its number of apprentice and graduate placements during 2003, as part of the company's commitment to tackling the current skills shortage in the UK construction industry. The number
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Blencowe gears up for next challenge
TISBURY race ace Alan Blencowe faces a fresh challenge this weekend when he competes in rounds 13 and 14 of the Green Flag British Touring Car Championships at Snetterton. Blencowe, currently third in the Production Drivers' standings, will be competing
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Town heading for 10,000 target
SWINDON Town could be heading for a magical five-figure County Ground crowd for Saturday's opening Nationwide Division 2 encounter against Sheffield Wednesday. Early indications suggest that Saturday's attendance may well break the 10,000 barrier, and
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Chef gives empty pub a Flemish identity
CHEF Jerry Edwards, 36, has completely revamped The Packhorse Inn in Corsham, and given it a new identity. The Cornishman took over the pub with his girlfriend, Nathalie Bellamy, 28, and plans to re-open it at the end of next week. The pub was closed
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Former town chapel to be new restaurant
A NEW restaurant could be the latest addition to the £3 million makeover of the former Corsham Precinct. Developers hope most of the work on the Martingate Centre will be completed by October, including an expanded Somerfield supermarket. Wiltshire College
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Almshouses need guides
HISTORY enthusiasts are needed to join a team of guides at the Lady Margaret Hungerford Almshouses in Corsham. The unique, Grade I-listed building is open to the public, and extra guides are needed to volunteer two and a half hours a week to meet people
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£10,000 for games area
TEENAGERS in Lacock will soon have a multi-use games area now North Wiltshire District Council has agreed to make a £10,000 grant. Lacock parish councillor Dave Wootten, said: 'Lacock is spread over a large area with communities in the historic centre
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Village guns for speeders
NORTH Wiltshire District Council wants to talk to police about involving community volunteers in running local speed checks. Coun Dick Tonge proposed the scheme following the success of an initiative in South Gloucestershire where volunteers armed with
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Top union rep fights Lyneham job losses
WORKERS fighting redundancies at RAF Lyneham's largest contractor will be boosted by a visit from a leading trade union representative. At the end of July, Babcocks/HCS proposed 31 redundancies. The workers' trade unions have continued negotiations with
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Pets given a free check
TRAVELLERS stopping off at the Leigh Delamere service station on the M4 took the opportunity to have their dogs checked over at a PDSA PetCheck at the weekend. The PDSA, Britain's leading veterinary charity, parked its special PetCheck mobile unit at
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Grants offer for groups
COUNCILLORS are appealing to community groups to come forward with more grant applications. North Wiltshire District Council's area one committee has £40,000 in capital grants and £10,000 for revenue grants available to dish out to local groups. At a
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Man beats neighbour after sex taunts
PAUL Ingman savagely attacked his neighbour in a drunken rage after he taunted him with claims that he was sleeping with his girlfriend, a court was told. The neighbour was pulled from a sofa in his home, in Silverston Way, Malmesbury, by his hair and
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Youth club is set up to combat vandalism
VILLAGERS in Minety, who have suffered a spate of vandalism including an attempt to set fire to the school, are hoping a new youth club will go some way to tackling the problem. The club, which opened last night in the pavilion at the playing fields,
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Farewell song for caretaker
Ref.10474CARETAKER Brenda Kembrey, who has spent the last 34 years keeping Crudwell School spick and span, retired on her 65th birthday. To mark the occasion all the children sang Happy Birthday during their assembly. Mrs Kembrey has also supervised the
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Canal revives carnival spirit
TEA room and boat shop owner Graham Lee is reviving a once popular waterside carnival at Pewsey Wharf. Mr Lee, who owns the Waterfront tea room and adjacent boat shop at Pewsey Wharf, has old photographs showing hundreds of people enjoying events at the
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Big time hope for rock band
Ref.10395INNOVATIVE Pewsey rock group 8th Fret has won a Battle of the Bands contest, which the youngsters hope will launch them into the big time. The five-strong band is based at the Shak youth club. Its prize for winning the contest at Hungerford was
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New queen's just like mum
Ref.10483PEWSEY'S new carnival queen Danielle Robb could have been forgiven if she had a touch of dj vu when she was selected. That's because her mum Tracy, 33, was carrying Danielle when she was crowned carnival queen of Pewsey in 1986. Carnival royalty
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Saunders' battle to keep hold of players
CHIPPENHAM Town were this week facing a fight to hold onto two of their players following bids for Tom Gould and Matt Rawlins while manager Tommy Saunders admitted he had failed in an attempt to bring back a crowd favourite. Gould was the subject of a
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Man beats neighbour after sex taunts
PAUL Ingman savagely attacked his neighbour in a drunken rage after he taunted him with claims that he was sleeping with his girlfriend, a court was told. The neighbour was pulled from a sofa in his home, in Silverston Way, Malmesbury, by his hair and
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Making a final splash
Ref.10508THE people of Malmesbury have been flocking in their hundreds to cool down at the open air pool as temperatures soared across Wiltshire. There were queues at the pool on Old Alexander Road, which had a one- out, one-in policy, after 200 people
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Beware, blind hedgehog
A SIGN warning drivers to avoid a blind hedgehog around Mill Lane, Corston, was put up by caring residents last week. Over the past few months, villagers have spotted a hedgehog that seemed to be blind or partially-sighted bumping into trees, posts and
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Homes on pub site would be too dense
A GROUP of residents has spoken out against a scheme to build 19 houses on the site of the Suffolk Arms at Tetbury Hill in Malmesbury. About 20 householders from Reeds Farm and Tetbury Hill areas voiced their concerns to town and district councillor Patrick
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Pregnant pause for maternity
THE long-awaited maternity survey that will determine the future of units in Devizes and Malmesbury is now out. Worryingly though, details of who will be surveyed and how many people will be asked their views seem to be in short supply. Mums in both towns
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Free export guide for businesses
MANY business owners and managers do not consider exporting their products or services abroad because of fears about difficulty and expense of trading overseas. In view of this, South West-based Bibby Factors, a business-to-business service has launched
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Tragic week of motoring accidents
IT has been a tragic week for Salisbury motorists, after an eight-year-old boy and a pensioner lost their lives in separate accidents and another six people were seriously injured in a series of crashes. Alderbury schoolboy George Collins died after a
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High five for Richard
EXCELLENT bowling from Richard Colbourne set up Damerham's victory over Michelmersh & Tims-bury II in the Hampshire League Regional Division Four West Central. With only Joy, 27, in form, Michelmersh were removed for 96, Col-bourne taking the excellent
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Racing fan Doug dies
MANY in the horse-racing world were last week mourning the death of race-going lottery winner Doug Wood, after he died suddenly. The larger than life character was a popular visitor to racecourses across the country. He had vowed to spend all his winnings
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Williams ensures Flamingo suffer again
THE importance of South Wilts II's match with Flamingo could not be over-estimated. In football parlance it was a relegation six-pointer that they simply had to win. They did, and in some style. A rare run out in the seconds for Adam Smith brought reward
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South Wilts in a spin as derby clash ends all square
THE last all-day 'time' fixture of the season was played under brilliant sunshine at Havant Park. With both sides having slipped out of title contention in recent weeks, the match did not seem to have the usual cutting edge that these encounters have
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Rich pickings at stake as Salisbury prepares for seasonal highlight
SALISBURY Racecourse's richest ever race is the centrepiece of its annual two-day August meeting which opens on Wednesday, writes Mike Turner. The Sovereign Stakes, now in its fourth year, takes place the following day with £50,000 up for grabs to the
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Louisa's so close to glory
LOUISA Lockwood and Opposition Summertime continued their recent run of success, mounting a strong challenge at Gatcombe Park at the weekend. They went into the Intermediate Championships at the prestigious event in confident mood following second and
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Phil sets new personal best
NEW Forest Cycling Club's Phil Gates was pleased to improve his personal best ten-mile time on Sunday in the Salisbury Road Club-promoted East Dorset Cycling Association event staged at Andover. Triathlete Gates, who fits in swimming, running and cycle
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Rail timetable altered
FIRST Great Western, the rail franchisee that operates trains between London Paddington and the West Country, is introducing a special timetable to minimise the effect of speed restrictions due to high temperatures across the region. Network Rail, which
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Teacher aids Caribbean kids
WILTSHIRE teacher Jeanne Bergin is to fly out to the Dominican Republic next month to volunteer her skills for two years to a small, poverty-stricken community. Mrs Bergin, 51, will take up the post of advisory teacher for children, some with special
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Fire support help appeal
WILTSHIRE Fire Brigade is looking for volunteers to help man its new Fire Victim Support Unit. The unit is a motor home that provides shelter, food, a change of clothes and washing facilities to people whose homes have caught alight. It also has a phone
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All the fun of the fair at fete and flower show
VILLAGERS in Seend are preparing for their village fete and flower show on Saturday. The fete and flower show usually attracts more than 1,000 people. The fete is on The Lye Field in the centre of the village. The main attractions will be the Devizes
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Village hall cost must be met by land sale
A NEW community hall is unlikely to be built in Market Lavington unless land on the site is sold off for housing, a meeting in the village was told last week. Peter Furminger, chairman of the village community hall trust, told the annual meeting at Lavington
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Burglars beware - Operation Delta is after you
Ref. 26055-01Burglary rates in Swindon are rising at an alarming rate and police are now set to take action with the launch of a special project. TAMASH LAL and ANDY TATE report POLICE in Swindon have pledged to catch the drug addicts who they believe
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So where have all the crowds gone?
ORGANISERS of two of the area's largest events have been asking where the crowds were after suffering drastically reduced turnouts. Both the Swindon Show and Air Display and the Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford suffered from poor turnouts
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Miracle girl set to start school
Ref. 26066-48A LITTLE girl who defied the odds to battle back from a life-threatening illness is looking forward to starting her first day at primary school next month. Doctors refused to give odds on how successful Hannah McCarthy's bone marrow transplant
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Mercy is shown to recovering addict
Ref. 25620-3A RECOVERING heroin addict who committed "an appalling catalogue of petty crime" has walked free from court. Twenty-nine-year-old Candice Montgomery pleaded guilty to loitering as a prostitute, theft, benefit fraud, possession of cannabis,
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Don't do it!
That's what Swindon businesses, which have £500,000 ready to spend, told the council after it pulled out of a project to renovate Lydiard Park. THE leader of Swindon's business community has urged the council not to pull the plug on the multi-million
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Patients satisfied
SOUTH Wiltshire's GP and dental practices have been given a vote of confidence by patients. The first-ever patient survey on primary care services across the country shows that most patients served by the south Wiltshire primary care trust have confidence
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City man detained in Belgium in connection with murder
A SALISBURY man has been arrested in Belgium in connection with the murder of a millionaire businessman and his family. Kenneth Regan (54), also known as Kenneth Avery, was captured by Belgian police on Sunday and has been detained awaiting extradition
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Village groups benefit from record donations
DONATIONS totalling more than £3,600 are being distributed to groups in Figheldean following the village's record-breaking summer fair last month. More than 2,500 people attended the fete, helping to raise sufficient money to give a helping hand to more
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Children enjoy summer lessons
THERE are so many gifted and talented youngsters in the Amesbury area that a special summer school had twice the number of applicants for the spaces available. The fortnight-long special summer session at Amesbury's Stonehenge School began last week and
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A life spent in uniform
THE adage that old soldiers never die couldn't be truer for Warrant Officer Brain Stoddart, who, after leaving the regular army, found that the Territorial Army could offer plenty of opportunities to continue in uniform. WO1 Stoddart, of Amesbury, first
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Boy conquers dyslexiato step into spotlight
Ref.10401A 16-year-old boy, who has spent his life struggling with severe learning difficulties, has won a place on a prestigious acting course. Proud mum Kerena Angell, 47, of Richmond Road, in Calne, said she feared her son JJ would not survive his
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Play area suits special kids
CALNE'S vision of a playground for able bodied and special needs children can now become a reality, thanks to a successful double cash bid. The playground will be built in the new state of the art housing estate at Stokes Croft. At the estate, the homes
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Friends pull out the stops
A working group has been set up to complete the £250,000 restoration of the Harris organ at St Mary's Church, in Calne. The organ, which was donated by the Harris family of meat tycoons in 1907, fell into a state of repair and was out of commission for
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Youngsters enjoy all the fun of the circus
FORTUNATELY for relieved parents, lion taming and the high trapeze were not included in a special circus skills course organised for Calne children. The children, aged between eight and 13, were taught how to juggle, spin plates, hoola hoop and do tricks
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Decision on police station
THE future of Calne's police station in Silver Street will be decided at a meeting of the Wiltshire Police Authority next week. Members of the finance and major projects committee will decide whether to go ahead with a scheme to share offices with the
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Campaign for road crossing goes on
TOWN councillors have vowed to continue their fight to install a pedestrian crossing and improve safety on Calne's London Road. They have been pursuing the project since 1998, but little progress has been made. But at a meeting of the council's planning
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Nathan on target for Bluebirds
CHIPPENHAM Town were comfortable 4-1 winners over Screwfix Direct League side Westbury in last night's friendly at Hardenhuish Park. The visitors took a shock early lead when Wayne Wheeler lobbed Town keeper Mark Hervin, but Chippenham were soon level
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Churchyard sex attack on tourist
A GERMAN language student was put through a terrifying ordeal when she was sexually assaulted in broad daylight in a Devizes churchyard. The attack happened at St James Church in Estcourt Street at about 1.30pm on Friday as the 24-year-old woman was examining
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Town snubbed in cultural report
COUNCILLORS at Marlborough have slammed a county council document for making the town look like a cultural vacuum. On Monday members of the town council heaped scorn on the Draft Cultural Strategy for Wiltshire. Coun Nick Fogg said from the list of organisations
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Buurglars beware - Operation Delta is after you
Ref. 26055-01Burglary rates in Swindon are rising at an alarming rate and police are now set to take action with the launch of a special project. TAMASH LAL and ANDY TATE report POLICE in Swindon have pledged to catch the drug addicts who they believe
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Police ask callers: Please be patient
POLICE have issued a new non-emergency number to be used when the main switchboard number is engaged. Insp Bill Dowling told Marlborough town councillors on Monday that the Wiltshire force main switchboard number (01380) 722341 is frequently engaged because
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Police say thanks for alert over suspect callers
POLICE have said a big thank you this week to public-spirited citizens who reported a suspicious van in the St Martin's area of Marlborough on Monday. They believe recent publicity in the Gazette about doorstep tricksters preying on elderly victims have
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Fury at tourist centre closure
ANGER is growing over the decision to close the Marlborough Tourist Information Centre, which town councillors have been told is irreversible. Members of the town council are so appalled they have taken the unprecedented step of calling a public meeting
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Tributes flood in for crash victim
TRIBUTES have been pouring in for 37-year-old coach company worker Angela Eldridge, who was killed in a road accident while on her way home from her job in Aldbourne. Ms Eldridge, who had worked for Barnes Travel in Aldbourne for the past ten years, was
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Asbestos experts ready with claim help
AN EXPERT compensation firm specialising in asbestos-related claims is holding advice sessions in Swindon this week. This year claims experts Industrial Diseases Compensation (IDC) has uncovered thousands of cases where workers may be due compensation
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A show of solidarity
Ref. 26059-08A PETITION against the planned eviction of a tenant farming couple from land near Barbury Castle has been handed over to Swindon mayor Derek Benfield. More than 500 people signed their names in opposition to the moves against Brian and Lynne
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E-voting election success
SWINDON Council's pioneering electronic voting scheme has been hailed a success even though turnout at the recent borough elections was one of the lowest in memory. The council was one of a handful in the country to experiment with alternative voting
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Village all set for big parade
VILLAGERS bearing torches will parade through Purton on Saturday in a procession to raise funds and awareness of St Mary's Church. The march planned for Saturday at 7.45pm from the church was cancelled last month because of wet weather. A Christmas tree
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A day dedicated to child's play
Ref. 26076-102CHILDREN in Swindon basked and played in sunshine to mark the Playday national play celebration yesterday. Called Playday, the event, which is the biggest yearly play celebration in the country, saw thousands of children take part. Events
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The stamp of approval
Ref. 26069-10A UNIQUE slice of history is being preserved in a new issue of stamps. The Cross Keys pub in Burycroft, Lower Wanborough, was the venue for the official launch of a range of stamps that commemorates a millennium of pub signs. The Cross Keys
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City man detained in Belgium in connection with murder
A SALISBURY man has been arrested in Belgium in connection with the murder of a millionaire businessman and his family. Kenneth Regan (54), also known as Kenneth Avery, was captured by Belgian police on Sunday and has been detained awaiting extradition
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Why we miss out
THE reason the Welsh are able to spend, spend, spend on their roads and anything else they feel like, Mr Belk, (Gazette July 31), is due to the Barnett Formula, introduced in the late 1970s for an intended temporary period to balance Government spending
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Arts Centre close to £ handout
SALISBURY Arts Centre is on the brink of getting a £m-plus handout, thanks to a decision by Salisbury district council's cabinet. It is recommending the full council give £190,000 towards the programme of urgent refurbishment work. If this gets the green
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They're just the tops!
Ref. 26016-87SWINDON CANCER APPEAL: MACMILLAN supporters in Marlborough raised £1,400 for our appeal by holding a street collection and a car boot sale. Around 30 sellers paid £5 each for a plot at the car boot sale held at Marlborough Town Football Club's
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Cottage history
THE Gazette's feature regarding a thatched cottage in Wood Lane reminded me of a possible and tenuous link with my parents. They were offered a thatched cottage in Wood Lane for £500 in the 1930s. However this property was rejected and instead they purchased
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Horror as young man steps in front of train
A YOUNG man died after being struck by a train at Salisbury Railway Station on Saturday afternoon. Nicholas Roach (20), who had been a patient at the Old Manor Hospital in Salisbury, was seen by several witnesses to step out in front of the two-carriage
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Bokka gets hot under the feathers
Ref. 26057-52WITH temperatures to rival the African jungle, even parrots are struggling to cope with the heat. But Bokka, a four-month-old African Grey from Toothill, has found the perfect solution cola. And if that doesn't do the trick, his owner, Angela
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Vicar burdened
I WOULD like to clarify a few points arising from the Gazette's report last week headlined "Mystery as TV vicar walks out." The Rev Jamie Allen did ask for a meeting with the Bishop but the suggestion that he and his family might take a long break was
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Billy 'The Whiz' smashes blind speed record
A FORMER soldier smashed the blind solo world land speed record on Saturday, when he blasted down the main runway at Boscombe Down at over 170mph. The average speed for two consecutive runs from opposite directions was 165.8mph. Billy Baxter, known as
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Better training is key to reducing crashes
I am writing in response to the story headlined "widow's tragic warning" in last week's Gazette. Although I feel deeply sorry for Angela Harris's loss I was incensed by another persecution of motorcyclists everywhere. I find the display of a crashed motorbike
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A big thank you
COULD I thank everyone who contributed to the door to door Christian Aid collection in May in Swindon and villages around. A great total again this year £29,528.09. Many areas of Swindon are without collectors. If you live in one of these areas and would
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Funds crisis hits city transport plan
A GOVERNMENT-BACKED plan for ridding Salisbury of its crippling traffic problems was thrown into doubt this week, after it was revealed funds are drying up. The award of the contract to build the new park-and-ride site at Wilton has already been put on
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Help new buyers
SO I see that Swindon Council is likely to propose yet another council tax rise (EA August 2). This monthly council tax will soon be the equivalent of my monthly mortgage payment. Yes, I am one of the lucky ones with a low mortgage. But spare a thought
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Just think why the bumps are there!
THE much publicised speed bumps in the Covingham area have attracted much adverse criticism from local motorists. Even the leader of the council, Mike Bawden has threatened to have them removed. As a motorist and retired traffic engineer, I beg to take
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Rookies in for a week of fun and coaching
THE Gazette and Herald's Rugby Skills Week kicks off on Monday at Chippenham Rugby Football Club Allington Field ground. Now in its eighth year, the week provides rugby playing children, both boys and girls aged between eight and 16-years-old, in the
