Archive
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Captivated and creative
CHILDREN'S author Angela McAllister had a strong feeling of dj vu on the drive down the M3 to meet her prospective father-in-law. She'd lived in Fordingbridge as a child and attended La Retraite School in Salisbury, moving to London after university.
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Cut out the wait
HEALTH chiefs have marked the first birthday of the Great Western Hospital with a pledge to drive down waiting lists. The hospital's acting chief executive, Paul Bentley, wants to see waiting times reduced to six months within two years. He said: "Our
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Money should not be a motivator
IN last Thursday's edition you reported that Chippenham Town Councillors have voted to pay themselves 'participation' and other allowances. What a sad day for local democracy when local councillors expect to be paid for doing something which they should
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Website wants Q&A input
A SALISBURY business is urging companies to submit questions to the under-secretary of state for employment relations, Gerry Sutcliffe. The call comes from HR Gateway, which provides online human resources news and information for businesses and human
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Man hit on nose after insulting taunts
NICHOLAS Roberts, 31, fractured the nose of a man who taunted him with provocative insults about his family a court heard. Roberts, of Field View, Chippenham, appeared at Chippenham Magistrates Court on Thursday for sentencing, after pleading guilty to
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Festive fair is family affair
Frogwell School's Christmas Fair was a family affair with parents, grandparents, aunties and uncles all joining their children at the event. Organised by the Friends of Frogwell School, the event attracted crowds of people keen to play games and browse
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Dixon of Dock Green would not approve
AT a personal level, David Blunkett is a sort of superman. But the proposed £40 compulsory ID card is not necessarily good news. Smart cards could contain your employer, salary, savings, marriages, not to mention your inside leg and bust measurements.
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Remembering then & now . . . the war memorial
THE town's dignified war memorial is one of the few structures that have not changed in Regent Circus during the past 30 years. When this picture was taken, on Remembrance Sunday in 1972, the place was dominated by the Baptist Tabernacle, with its classical
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Judge holds fire bug for second opinion
A woman whose obsession with her ex-boyfriend was likened to the film Fatal Attraction has been remanded in custody for further psychiatric reports. Angela Webb set fire to her ex-boyfriend Mark Kibble's house in the third attack on his home in the few
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Woman seriously injured in crash on notorious road
A WOMAN was seriously injured and the A346 was blocked at Chiseldon services after a two-car crash at the Liddington crossroads. The accident is the latest in a long history of crashes on the notorious stretch of road, which has claimed nine lives in
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Travel down memory lane
Anchor Road residents past and present are invited to a trip down memory lane at a reunion on Saturday. Boyhood pals Ian Beaven, 58, and Mick Powley, 63, who share golden memories of their adventures while growing up on the road, have organised the event
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A star is born
Wannabe pop stars took to the stage and sang their hearts out in Corsham School's first Pop Idol contest. More than 50 children took part in the initial auditions, hoping for a spot in the limelight and a talented final 14 were picked out to perform on
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Final push for heart appeal
TODAY marks the start of the final 12 days of fundraising to give Salisbury its own lifesaving heart unit. People all over the city will be joining in the £1 Million In A Million Seconds final push, which will finish on December 15. There is about £350,000
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New college campus plan
WILTSHIRE College has submitted plans to build a new campus in Devizes. The college wants to replace the existing mobile classrooms with a one storey purpose-built building on the same site in Southbroom Road. College principal George Bright said the
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Computer glitches put data in danger
THOUSANDS of small businesses could be at risk of closure if they aren't aware of simple back-up procedures needed to protect their business information in the event of problems with their hardware, says Microsoft. About 40 per cent of small businesses
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Devizes Town 0 Odd Down 3
DEVIZES Town boss Dave Hopkins is planning to tinker with the team's playing system after it slumped to its third consecutive defeat on Saturday. It appeared the rot had stopped the after a passionate performance against league high flyers Paulton Rovers
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Terror suspect taken to high-security cells
THE police station at Marlborough found itself at the centre of attention last week when police arrested suspected al-Qaeda terrorist Sajid Badat in Gloucester. High-security cells behind the building were used for the first time since the new police
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New boss can see positive signs
STEVE White said he was delighted with his team's spirited performance in his first match at the helm. He has been tasked with steadying the Bluebirds fast-sinking ship and restoring morale in the team's dressing room, which appeared devoid of confidence
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Shop front to go
A Victorian shop front in Malmesbury is set to be demolished despite objections from English Heritage. North Wiltshire District Council's development control committee last week overturned the officers' recommendation to refuse the plans, arguing the
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Topping out
THE most interesting picture of the viaduct under construction in last week's Gazette probably dates from autumn 1898. Work had begun on the 14 and a half mile line from Stert to Westbury in 1897 and was completed in about three years. The line opened
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North Wilts Youth League
WESTLEA Wanderers' Sam English helped himself to a hat-trick as his under 13s team battered visiting Brunel Boys 8-1. Hillis gave the home side a 10th minute lead and they never really looked back. McCulloch struck to make it 2-0, before English pounced
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Employers honoured
MORE than 20 organisations in Swindon have been praised for their treatment of people with disabilities. Swindon charity Working for Opportunities staged a ceremony for the second year running to honour a select group of local employers and support groups
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What a shabby way to treat us
SO once again people in Kennet and North Wiltshire are to lose out as someone, somewhere decides the health trust that serves the area does not need its own chief executive. This is an amazing conclusion to come to considering the area is about to go
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Man grew cannabis to ease back pain
A court heard how 43-year-old Glyn Davies claimed to use the crop from the drugs farm in his loft to ease his painful back condition. Police raided Davies' previous home in Keevil, in June, where they discovered five plant pots, filled with soil and the
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Pupils box up gifts for less fortunate children
Generous youngsters at Corsham School enjoyed a fundraising and box-making extravaganza in a bid to spread some seasonal goodwill to children less fortunate than themselves. Pupils at the secondary school made up 321 boxes of gifts for Operation Christmas
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New boss can see positive signs
STEVE White said he was delighted with his team's spirited performance in his first match at the helm. He has been tasked with steadying the Bluebirds fast-sinking ship and restoring morale in the team's dressing room, which appeared devoid of confidence
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Plans afoot for social club
The saved Football Social Club in Calne is hoping to set up a children's Saturday morning club if it can raise enough money. Two months ago the club, in Bremhill View, was under threat as councillors planned to sell the land for housing development. But
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Computer glitches put data in danger
THOUSANDS of small businesses could be at risk of closure if they aren't aware of simple back-up procedures needed to protect their business information in the event of problems with their hardware, says Microsoft. About 40 per cent of small businesses
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Website wants Q&A input
A SALISBURY business is urging companies to submit questions to the under-secretary of state for employment relations, Gerry Sutcliffe. The call comes from HR Gateway, which provides online human resources news and information for businesses and human
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Insolvency specialists strengthen their team
MIDDLETON Partners, the insolvency practitioners who specialise in corporate recovery, have appointed Michael Stevenson to the team. Mr Stevenson joins the firm from accountants Smith & Williamson where he was national head of corporate recovery.
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Shrews bounce back in style
SHREWTON United put the previous week's defeat behind them to run out comfortable 4-0 winners over Shepton Mallet. United dominated from the start, scoring their first midway through the half through Jessie Walters following a good run down the left.
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Co-op switches to Fairtrade coffee
THE Co-op, which has stores in Amesbury, Downton, Fordingbridge, Durrington and Mere, has switched all of its instant and ground coffee to Fairtrade. And it is calling on the multinationals to launch their own Fairtrade coffee. Co-op's conversion will
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Council chief trains in India
NORTH Wiltshire District Council leader Ruth Coleman will be leaving her desk in rainy Chippenham far behind when she takes a passage to India, to share her local government expertise. Coun Coleman was due to leave for sunnier climes yesterday. She will
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Risk profile 'is crucial' for investors
INVESTORS are being urged to make regular checks on their portfolios to ensure they have the right types of financial products to achieve a balance between their willingness to take risks and their desire for increased reward. Bob Collom, of the Salisbury
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Save money on fuel bills
We are offering readers the chance to save money on fuel and car washes with the Q8 service station in Pewsey. The first 1,000 readers to take advantage of this offer will receive a free bottle of screen wash and a pack of wash wipes, to keep both sides
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Fight against tax hike is on
FURIOUS campaigners have vowed to fight possible council tax rises, which they fear would force many south Wiltshire residents out of their homes. As the Salisbury Journal reported last week, both Salisbury district and Wiltshire county councils predict
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Tots record a Christmas gift
Finding presents for grandparents, uncles and aunts and other relatives will be no problem this year for parents whose children attend the pre- school at Pewsey Leisure Centre. Last Wednesday children from Puddleducks recorded their own Christmas album
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Gabbi's dream needs a fairy godmother
BUDDING starlet Gabbi Lee's dreams of a stage career look set to collapse unless a fairy godmother comes forward to fund her schooling. Gabbi, 12, from Enford, near Pewsey, has been forced to drop out of the prestigious Arts Education School at Tring
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College faces pariah treatment
SALISBURY College faces a future as an outcast in educational circles if it does not come up with an explanation for the abrupt departure of principal Howard O'Keeffe after just eight months in the post. The principals of Wiltshire's other major further
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Wood casts spell
UNTIL DECEMBER 21: THE trees at Westonbirt Arboretum are cast in a magical light in the run-up to Christmas. The Enchanted Wood is an illuminated one-mile trail through the Old Arboretum that will be on show every Friday, Saturday and Sunday until December
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College drop out
SWINDON College Old Boys RFC have pulled out of their league rugby commitments for the remainder of this season after a chronic shortage of players forced them to cancel their third match of the campaign. The Nationwide-based club called a halt to their
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Resin found in old jeans
AN old pair of jeans landed Shane Smith in trouble with the police. Smith, of Waiblingen Way, Devizes, was arrested by police on suspicion of causing a breach of the peace when he and his partner were arguing. When he was taken into custody at Melksham
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Pensioners see light after two year fight
PENSIONERS have finally seen the light at the end of the tunnel after a two-year fight for repairs to two streetlamps outside their Malmesbury homes. The residents of the five bungalows in Hodge Lane, all of whom are aged 80 or above, had to use torches
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Draw ends losing streak
HIGHWORTH Town put a stop to their recent bad run, holding second-in-the- table Brackley Town to a 1-1 draw. Highworth boss John Fisher thought his side deserved the point and was pleased that his troops had bounced back after a couple of dismal performances
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Pupils' super mouse leads festive spirit
PUPILS at The Mill School, Potterne, are well into the Christmas spirit. The school's four to seven-year-olds performed the nativity play Michaelmas Mouse, and the school's eight and nine-year-olds took part in the pantomime Cinderella. Both were performed
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Thieves go on a crime spree
RESIDENTS and business people in the Pewsey area are being warned to increase their vigilance in the run-up to Christmas as the criminal fraternity looks to build up some festive spending money. Thousands of pounds worth of tools, garden equipment and
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Trust to be run part-time
CRISIS hit Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary Care Trust is to be run by a part-time boss, the Gazette has learned. The trust, which is proposing to close maternity units in Devizes and Malmesbury, and has already closed beds at both Devizes and Malmesbury
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Hospital is bedding down well
IT was on the cards a long time before the Great Western Hospital opened that there would be teething troubles and anxieties about a range of problems from waiting lists to a shortage of parking places. From the time it was on the drawing board everybody
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New boss can see positive signs
STEVE White said he was delighted with his team's spirited performance in his first match at the helm. He has been tasked with steadying the Bluebirds fast-sinking ship and restoring morale in the team's dressing room, which appeared devoid of confidence
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Buried circle stones are unearthed at Avebury
ONE of the most significant discoveries at Avebury World Heritage Site was announced this week after National Trust archaeologists discovered 17 huge Sarsen stones buried inside the massive stone circle itself. The stones were thought to have been pushed
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We are so sorry, says holiday firm
A DISABLED mother who suffered a nightmare holiday has finally won £2,000 compensation after a two year battle with a package tour firm. Julie Jeans, from Green-meadow, who suffers from chronic neurological problems, has now been given a full apology,
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Honesty proves the best policy
That's my ball. Salisbury and High Wycombe players give it their all during Saturday's match. AFTER last week's less than convincing performance at Windsor, Salisbury faced a midweek honesty session on personal commitment and their answer was un-equivocally
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Website wants Q&A input
A SALISBURY business is urging companies to submit questions to the under-secretary of state for employment relations, Gerry Sutcliffe. The call comes from HR Gateway, which provides online human resources news and information for businesses and human
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Creative talent rewarded in competition
CALNE Mayor Tony Trotman helped to judge the children's snowman competition at the switch-on of the Christmas lights on Saturday. Rachel Coombes, aged nine, from Lower Compton, was told that she had won first prize after the festive event. She won a free
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Broker offers insurance tips in talk
GETTING the best out of your insurance broker is the subject of the talk to be given to Salisbury business networking club Ambassadors at its meeting tomorrow. Richard Scrivens, an account executive with Robert Fleming Insurance Brokers, will speak at
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Time to listen
THE row over the Malmesbury Sunday market is a classic case of blowing a situation out of all proportion by not talking to those involved. The traders are upset, as are the church representatives and the local residents, as there was no consultation with
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Taxing question
If Ian Dobbie is correct in his statement that a reduction in government grant is the cause of inflation-busting council tax rises, then the increase on this year's tax over last year should be confined to the difference in the grants received. May we
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Curtain up on hall stage
A PLAN to extend the village hall at Compton Bassett has been given the green light despite fears of extra noise and car parking congestion on the Briarleaze estate. Members of North Wiltshire District Council's development control committee approved
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Fight against tax hike is on
FURIOUS campaigners have vowed to fight possible council tax rises, which they fear would force many south Wiltshire residents out of their homes. As the Salisbury Journal reported last week, both Salisbury district and Wiltshire county councils predict
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Dickens with a difference
ERLESTOKE Players believe Charles Dickens would have been chuffed with their melodramatic but humorous rendering of his novel, David Copperfield, as their panto this Christmas. Village playwright Bill Pidduck came up with his own version of the classic
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Health care trust to recruit part-time chief
CRISIS hit Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary Care Trust is to be run by a part-time boss, the Gazette has learned. The trust, which is proposing to close maternity units in Devizes and Malmesbury, and has already closed beds at both Devizes and Malmesbury
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Electrical fire blacks out leisure centre
A fire in an electrical sub station left the Olympiad leisure centre and around 30 other nearby buildings without power for around seven hours on Monday. The Olympiad was forced to close after the fault in the Southern Electric equipment turned off all
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Council facing market law suit
Ref. 11659MALMESBURY Town Council has been threatened with legal action over its decision to stop the Sunday market. There was outrage from shoppers when the council decided the final market would be held last Sunday. Landmark Markets, which managed the
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Green light for awning
THE Old Swan Yard in Devizes will have a Mediterranean look about it next summer after the Campanella family were given planning permission to put up awnings outside their restaurant and caf. Councillors at Thursday's meeting of Kennet District Council's
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Tots record a Christmas gift
Finding presents for grandparents, uncles and aunts and other relatives will be no problem this year for parents whose children attend the pre- school at Pewsey Leisure Centre. Last Wednesday children from Puddleducks recorded their own Christmas album
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Santa makes an early call
FATHER Christmas will make an early flying visit to Malmesbury tomorrow as part of the annual festive late night shopping celebrations. Shops in and around the High Street will open until 9pm and lay on a host of festive fun, with many serving mulled
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It's a festive spectacular!
RESIDENTS of White Hill Close in Ramsbury gave all the villagers a thrill on Monday night as they switched on their Christmas lights display. The householders have been vying with each other over the last few years to produce bigger, better and brighter
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Shop front to go
A Victorian shop front in Malmesbury is set to be demolished despite objections from English Heritage. North Wiltshire District Council's development control committee last week overturned the officers' recommendation to refuse the plans, arguing the
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Maternity units are being 'brutally dismantled'
Richard Hallett and Linda Turner, UK trustees of the National Childbirth Trust who are both on the steering group of Birth Centre Network UK, which represents community midwife-led maternity units, give a personal view on the threat to the maternity units
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League donates cash to support carers
MALMESBURY Hospital League of Friends have given £2,740 to the Alzheimer's Society to cope with the extra demand following the closure of the day centre at Malmesbury Hospital. The centre, which cared for patients with mental health problems, was closed
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New move to ease the way for disabled
DISABLED residents living at Reeds Farm in Malmesbury are hoping a proposal to introduce dropped kerbs becomes a reality. Wheelchair users have complained about difficulties getting to the supermarket because there is no dip in the pavement, which allows
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Pupils fly the flag on Mars
INTREPID pupils from Malmesbury Primary School were awarded for their team spirit in a Mission to Mars competition held last week. Youngsters had to design and make a robot from Lego building blocks that would be able to complete tasks on a replica Martian
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Health care trust to recruit part-time chief
CRISIS hit Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary Care Trust is to be run by a part-time boss, the Gazette has learned. The trust, which is proposing to close maternity units in Devizes and Malmesbury, and has already closed beds at both Devizes and Malmesbury
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Abbey gates may be closed
THE closing times for Malmesbury Abbey gates could be altered if vandalism persists, the churchwardens have warned. Irreparable damage was caused to Norman carvings on the entrance to the south porch two weeks ago. One inch chunks of masonry were gouged
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Hartlepool 2 Swindon Town 0
ANDY King blasted his players for their lack of displipline for almost an hour after this sorry defeat. He said: "I am totally annoyed as I've told them that if we're going to achieve something this season then we have to get results at a place like this
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Website wants Q&A input
A SALISBURY business is urging companies to submit questions to the under-secretary of state for employment relations, Gerry Sutcliffe. The call comes from HR Gateway, which provides online human resources news and information for businesses and human
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Lesson spans subject divide
PUPILS at St Katharine's Primary School in Savernake Forest, close to Marlborough, will be able to carry over what they learned about bridge building to other subjects in the National Curriculum. The 59-pupil junior school had a visit from Cambridge-based
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No need to panic says Town boss
CHIPPENHAM Town boss Steve White won't be pushing the panic button despite seeing his side end a potentially money-spinning FA Trophy run and being reduced to just 11 fit players. White had only 11 senior players and two youth team members available for
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MPs vow to do their best for students
SWINDON'S two Labour MPs are more than happy for Prime Minister Tony Blair's reputation to suffer if it means making the right decisions over university top-up fees. The Government is desperately trying to persuade an increasingly rebellious party to
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Jazz star's top album breaks platinum mark
YOUNG music maestro Jamie Cullum has become the first British jazz artist to have an album go platinum. Twentysomething has now sold more than 300,000 copies since its release in October. The record, which reached the top 20 in the charts, is the first
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Tip-off leads to successful drugs raid
SHOP A PUSHER: Police seized a number of class A drugs from a house in Calne after a tip off from the Shop-a-Pusher hotline. Ecstasy tablets, cannabis and a quantity of yet to be classified class A drugs were found in the house in Newcroft Road last weekend
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Santa will be arriving
FATHER Christmas will be visiting Keynes Country Park's visitor centre on Sunday, December 7, and Sunday, December 14. He will be visiting from midday to 4pm and will be making an entrance across the lake. On the two days there will also be magic shows
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Outclassed Robins are hit for six
DOWNTON were undone by a masterful display of finishing from Wimborne Town's Gareth Barnes at the Cuthbury on Saturday. The Magpies are unbeaten in the league and just a point behind leaders Winchester City, writes Ryan Lovejoy. Barnes opened the scoring
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LEAGUE TABLES: How your school fared
LEAGUE tables show parents how their child's school is faring. The data is based on pupils' performance in the Key Stage Two exams, which all pupils took in May. Each school is ranked according to a score out of 300. This is arrived at by adding up the
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Computer glitches put data in danger
THOUSANDS of small businesses could be at risk of closure if they aren't aware of simple back-up procedures needed to protect their business information in the event of problems with their hardware, says Microsoft. About 40 per cent of small businesses
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GWH thanks
I read the Adver every day on the internet and would like to pay tribute to an area of nursing and caring that sometimes may be overlooked. The Prospect Hospice and the Macmillan nurses get all the credit so richly deserved, but I would like to add the
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Seventh heaven for bouyant Chippenham
Chippenham 24 Oakmedians 13 CHIPPENHAM made it seven wins on the trot after another excellent erformance in difficult conditions at Allington Field on Saturday. Chippenham were the first to open the scoring after 13 minutes. A superb individual try from
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Warm welcome for anti-violence move
A REFUGE that has sheltered thousands of women who have been abused by violent partners has welcomed legal measures designed to offer them greater protection. Swindon Women's Refuge has given its backing to the Domestic Violence, Crime and Disorder Bill
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Poppy thanks
THE 2003 Poppy Appeal has been a great year for Calne and District branch RBL. May I congratulate all the collectors that took the time and trouble to go out and spend a few hours either knocking on doors or standing at static points around the town,
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Wood set for appeal
Bath will appeal against the six-week ban handed to Martyn Wood at an Rugby Football Union disciplinary meeting in Leeds on Tuesday night. A disciplinary panel found the scrum-half guilty of stamping on the head of Leicester Tigers flanker Lewis Moody
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Technology aids icy roads battle
NEW technology is at the forefront of the battle against icy roads in Wiltshire this winter. Electronic weather stations are being used to help highway managers decide when the county's roads need to be gritted. The mini weather stations are used to collect
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What a shabby way to treat us
SO once again people in Kennet and North Wiltshire are to lose out as someone, somewhere decides the health trust that serves the area does not need its own chief executive. This is an amazing conclusion to come to considering the area is about to go
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Date
Website wants Q&A input
A SALISBURY business is urging companies to submit questions to the under-secretary of state for employment relations, Gerry Sutcliffe. The call comes from HR Gateway, which provides online human resources news and information for businesses and human
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Date
Co-op switches to Fairtrade coffee
THE Co-op, which has stores in Amesbury, Downton, Fordingbridge, Durrington and Mere, has switched all of its instant and ground coffee to Fairtrade. And it is calling on the multinationals to launch their own Fairtrade coffee. Co-op's conversion will
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Date
Broker offers insurance tips in talk
GETTING the best out of your insurance broker is the subject of the talk to be given to Salisbury business networking club Ambassadors at its meeting tomorrow. Richard Scrivens, an account executive with Robert Fleming Insurance Brokers, will speak at
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Date
Risk profile 'is crucial' for investors
INVESTORS are being urged to make regular checks on their portfolios to ensure they have the right types of financial products to achieve a balance between their willingness to take risks and their desire for increased reward. Bob Collom, of the Salisbury
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Officers to be honoured for brave acts
THREE Salisbury policemen are to receive certificates of merit tomorrow, Friday, for their actions in two city centre dramas. Sergeant Rick Taylor is to be honoured for his determination in arresting a wanted man following a chase that ended in a violent
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Pupils fly the flag on Mars
INTREPID pupils from Malmesbury Primary School were awarded for their team spirit in a Mission to Mars competition held last week. Youngsters had to design and make a robot from Lego building blocks that would be able to complete tasks on a replica Martian
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New evidence uncovered in yew tree poisoning case
POLICE may reopen an investigation into the poisoning of two yew trees in a Tisbury churchyard, after the Journal uncovered evidence that points the finger at the person who might deliberately have caused their deaths. Just a few days ago, the two yew
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Council chamber likened to a farmyard
ANONYMOUS, ineffective and pedantic were just some of the words used by residents to describe Salisbury district council at a public consultation last month. And when asked the question, "If the council were an animal what would it be?", councillors were
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Ilfracombe 0 Corsham Town 3
CORSHAM recorded their fifth win on the bounce with a comprehensive victory against bottom of the table Ilfracombe. Assistant manager John Woods said the team was under no illusions their Devonshire opponents would scrap for everything to help them escape
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Night shelter house for auction
A COTTAGE in Whiteparish that has provided shelter for hundreds of homeless people is to be sold. Harestock Cottage, owned by Salisbury district council, was leased to Salisbury Trust for the Homeless as a night shelter from 1997 until October last year
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Christmas present stack is still growing higher
PRESENTS are starting to take over office space at the Journal, as the 14th annual Christmas appeal gathers momentum. Our readers have responded as generously as ever and, as fish-and-chip shop owner Derek Mitchell says, "Every little helps". Derek and
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Final push for heart appeal
TODAY marks the start of the final 12 days of fundraising to give Salisbury its own lifesaving heart unit. People all over the city will be joining in the £1 Million In A Million Seconds final push, which will finish on December 15. There is about £350,000
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Boom time for Porton Down as Dstl regroups
PORTON Down is to become one of only three core research centres for the ministry of defence, following the news that 850 members of staff are to be transferred to the site near Salisbury. As part of a rationalisation programme, Defence Science and Technology
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College faces pariah treatment
SALISBURY College faces a future as an outcast in educational circles if it does not come up with an explanation for the abrupt departure of principal Howard O'Keeffe after just eight months in the post. The principals of Wiltshire's other major further
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New secrets revealed in ancient stone circle
Huge stones thought to have been destroyed seven centuries ago have been found within Avebury stone circle. LEWIS COWEN meets the archaeologist whose 21st century equipment made the exciting discovery THE history of Avebury stone circle over the past
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Name change salutes mum
THE Abbey Leaze building at Malmesbury's Burton Hill School has been renamed after the mother of a former pupil who died of cancer. Polly Viner House, as it is now called, was given a £250,000 refit to convert it into a six bed semi-independent living
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Swindon and District League
GOALS flooded in when second round ties in the Chairman's Jubilee Cup were played. One of the games of the day was between Spectrum and Woolworths. Spectrum were 3-1 up at half-time, but Woolworths hit back with six goals after the interval to win 7-5
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College drop out
SWINDON College Old Boys RFC have pulled out of their league rugby commitments for the remainder of this season after a chronic shortage of players forced them to cancel their third match of the campaign. The Nationwide-based club called a halt to their
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Outclassed Robins are hit for six
DOWNTON were undone by a masterful display of finishing from Wimborne Town's Gareth Barnes at the Cuthbury on Saturday. The Magpies are unbeaten in the league and just a point behind leaders Winchester City, writes Ryan Lovejoy. Barnes opened the scoring
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Ladies shine for county
FIVE Salisbury Tennis Club members - four present and one past - lifted Wiltshire ladies to promotion from Group 6B of the Winter Inter County Cup indoors at Taunton. After victories over South of Scotland (9-0) and the Isle of Man (8-1), the real drama
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Revving up for toy run
MOTORCYCLISTS will deliver toys to a hospital children's ward. Swindon's Pinkertons Motorcycle Club makes its hospital toy run every year, and Saturday's will be the 12th. The money for the toys comes from members themselves, from the public and from
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Vienna here we come
A TRIO of Salisbury powerlifters head to Austria this week hoping to continue the city's proud tradition of success at the World Champion-ships, writes Mike Turner. Lee Steggles, Paul Newell and Bill West will take on the world's best in Vienna and all
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President steps down
SWINDON and District Bowling Association held their 43rd annual dinner and presentation evening at the Winners Lounge. Principal guests were John Wilks of Wootton Basset, the outgoing Wiltshire Bowls Association president, and David Greenleaf, marketing
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The mine sweeper
A weekly column focusing on the legal labyrinth of company law, employment law and property law. This week, Paul Archer looks at the issue of overpaying wages to employees. In businesses operating computerised payroll systems, it is not unusual for an
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Ladies shine for county
FIVE Salisbury Tennis Club members - four present and one past - lifted Wiltshire ladies to promotion from Group 6B of the Winter Inter County Cup indoors at Taunton. After victories over South of Scotland (9-0) and the Isle of Man (8-1), the real drama
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Mid-Wilts Youth and Minor League
U16 League Cup BEMERTON Heath Harlequins took a 4-1 lead at half time in their cup tie against Warminster Highbury before going on to finish 6-1 victors. Steve Deer (2), Matt Cox (2), Marvin Brown and Jack Slade scored for Bemerton with Joe Nolan replying
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The new Jonnies
WILTSHIRE'S Jonny Wilkinsons of the future kicked off their very own rugby world cup when they scrummed down at Devizes School's U12 rugby tournament on Saturday. The school's deputy PE teacher Matt Hammond said the influence of England's world cup-winning
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Council chief trains in India
NORTH Wiltshire District Council leader Ruth Coleman will be leaving her desk in rainy Chippenham far behind when she takes a passage to India, to share her local government expertise. Coun Coleman was due to leave for sunnier climes yesterday. She will
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Man grew cannabis to ease back pain
A court heard how 43-year-old Glyn Davies claimed to use the crop from the drugs farm in his loft to ease his painful back condition. Police raided Davies' previous home in Keevil, in June, where they discovered five plant pots, filled with soil and the
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Underwater frolics
YOUNGSTERS at Cheverell Old School Nursery have been plumbing the depths for their Christmas play. The three and four-year-olds together with staff are starring in the play called Submerged. The play has been written by the staff and is the highlight
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You're simply the best
Primary school league table results have been released this week with schools across Wiltshire achieving higher than the national average in English for the first time. The figures include results of key stage two SATs tests taken at age 11 and a new
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Judge holds fire bug for second opinion
A woman whose obsession with her ex-boyfriend was likened to the film Fatal Attraction has been remanded in custody for further psychiatric reports. Angela Webb set fire to her ex-boyfriend Mark Kibble's house in the third attack on his home in the few
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Yard transformed into a shopping haven
BRITISH farmers are well-known for their ingenuity when it comes to diversifying their business, but Brian and Diz Plank's Old Potato Yard at Manor Farm, Lydeway, near Devizes, has got to be one of the best ideas yet. The yard has been transformed, with
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Health care trust to recruit part-time chief
CRISIS hit Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary Care Trust is to be run by a part-time boss, the Gazette has learned. The trust, which is proposing to close maternity units in Devizes and Malmesbury, and has already closed beds at both Devizes and Malmesbury
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Final push for heart appeal
TODAY marks the start of the final 12 days of fundraising to give Salisbury its own lifesaving heart unit. People all over the city will be joining in the £1 Million In A Million Seconds final push, which will finish on December 15. There is about £350,000
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Melksham Town 1 Frome Town 3
MELKSHAM Town threw away a 1-0 half time lead on Saturday as three second half goals from managerless Frome brought them back down to earth with a bump. Melksham had only lost one of their previous six matches before Saturday's game, keeping five clean
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Risk profile 'is crucial' for investors
INVESTORS are being urged to make regular checks on their portfolios to ensure they have the right types of financial products to achieve a balance between their willingness to take risks and their desire for increased reward. Bob Collom, of the Salisbury
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Last gasp equaliser makes White's day
A LAST gasp equaliser deep into injury time from Nathan Edwards kept the Bluebirds' FA trophy dreams alive in manager Steve White's first game in charge. Only last week White said he was concerned at the side's habit of conceding goals in the last quarter
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There's hope among the supporters
The management has changed but has the Hardenhuish Park atmosphere? ANDY DAVEY assessed the mood on Saturday THE driving rain did nothing to dampen the spirits of the Bluebirds excited fans as they flocked to Hardenhuish Park to welcome the team's new
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Yard transformed into a shopping haven
BRITISH farmers are well-known for their ingenuity when it comes to diversifying their business, but Brian and Diz Plank's Old Potato Yard at Manor Farm, Lydeway, near Devizes, has got to be one of the best ideas yet. The yard has been transformed, with
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Davies is unable to resist the challenge
CHIPPENAM Town's heroic defender Gareth Davies is confident Steve White is the man to rescue the Bluebirds from the relegation zone. Davies, who played with White during his spell at Hereford, was magnificent in Saturday's FA trophy match against Basingstoke
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Charles set to join charter festivities
THE Prince of Wales is likely to do a royal walkabout in Marlborough High Street as part of the 800th anniversary celebrations in the town next June. The visit by Prince Charles, which has not been officially confirmed yet, would be the highlight of a
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Streets awash with Christmas colour
DESPITE showery rain and blustery winds, hundreds of people turned out to enjoy Devizes Christmas market and see Father Christmas switch on the town's Christmas lights on Friday evening. Up to 100 traders began to arrive as early as 7.30am for the Christmas
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Dogfight offers a test for Bluebirds
ON Saturday Chippenham's new gaffer Steve White will cut his teeth in the Dr Marten's Premier division when the Bluebirds clash with Welling United. The Wings from above have spiralled to the bottom of the table with their poor home form, and crashed
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Bishop going on sabbatical
THE Bishop of Salisbury, David Stancliffe, will begin a three-month sabbatical after Evensong on Christmas Day. He will step back from his normal duties, returning in time to celebrateHoly Week and Easter in Salisbury Cathedral in April 2004. The Bishop
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Mid-Wilts League
BAR OC regained the top position in the league following a resounding 5-1 victory over Amesbury. Mark Hulland opened the scoring for the Bar after ten minutes when he slotted home following a 1-2 with Danny Powell. Tom Paget made it 2-0 with a sweet header
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Putting on a brave face
Sharon Richardson, the ex-wife of a Penhill man stabbed to death earlier this year, has been nominated for a national award marking her dedication. Mrs Richardson, 46, of Helmsdale Walk, Park South, will travel to London tonight to see if she has won
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Health care trust to recruit part-time chief
CRISIS hit Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary Care Trust is to be run by a part-time boss, the Gazette has learned. The trust, which is proposing to close maternity units in Devizes and Malmesbury, and has already closed beds at both Devizes and Malmesbury
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Swindon and District League
GOALS flooded in when second round ties in the Chairman's Jubilee Cup were played. One of the games of the day was between Spectrum and Woolworths. Spectrum were 3-1 up at half-time, but Woolworths hit back with six goals after the interval to win 7-5
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You're simply the best
Primary school league table results have been released this week with schools across Wiltshire achieving higher than the national average in English for the first time. The figures include results of key stage two SATs tests taken at age 11 and a new
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Trowbridge League
BROUGHTON Gifford boss Stuart Irons knows that there is still a long way to go but after a two-year absence the Division One crown in the Premier Training International-sponsored league is on its way home. On the eve of tomorrow's Wiltshire Junior Cup
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Wood casts spell
UNTIL DECEMBER 21: THE trees at Westonbirt Arboretum are cast in a magical light in the run-up to Christmas. The Enchanted Wood is an illuminated one-mile trail through the Old Arboretum that will be on show every Friday, Saturday and Sunday until December
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Calne Town 3 Bitton 4
THIS game was as good as the scoreline suggests, as Calne came close to halting the Bitton bandwagon. In the end the Bristol side showed their intense determination, which will surely take them to one of the promotion slots. Calne started in magnificent
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Vienna here we come
A TRIO of Salisbury powerlifters head to Austria this week hoping to continue the city's proud tradition of success at the World Champion-ships, writes Mike Turner. Lee Steggles, Paul Newell and Bill West will take on the world's best in Vienna and all
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Don't sit back
I STRONGLY believe that access to higher education should be free and that no one should be denied access to learning because they cannot afford it. The government's proposals, as outlined in the recent Queens speech to introduce selective top up fees
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Chippenham Sunday League
Premier Division SHERSTON Town are on course for the title after the leaders beat last season's champions, The Duke Corsham, 3-1. Alan Webb scrambled home Sherston's opener which was cancelled out by Luke Chapman's strike from the edge of the area. The
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Henley Town 5 Pewsey Vale 1
PEWSEY Vale's manager Steve Wootton blamed his side's heavy defeat on a combination of bad luck and a devastating injury list. The beleaguered outfit has seven first team players sidelined with injuries and Wootton said he is being forced to call on the
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Woman seriously injured in crash on notorious road
A WOMAN was seriously injured and the A346 was blocked at Chiseldon services after a two-car crash at the Liddington crossroads. The accident is the latest in a long history of crashes on the notorious stretch of road, which has claimed nine lives in
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Team pick up an award for a winning delivery
Motorola has been announced as one of six winners at the sixth annual Investing in Excellence Awards, where BT recognised the best suppliers that have delivered world-class products and services. BT said the winning companies have contributed to improved
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A bookworm at nine weeks
THE youngest ever member of Marlborough library received his prize on Friday after his granny entered him in a competition run by Wiltshire County Council's libraries service. Frazer Bailey was just 13 days old when his granny, Ann Harley, who lives in
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Pupils hit a high note for charity
PUPILS at Oliver Tomkins CE Junior School are waiting to see if they have sung themselves into the record books. All 212 pupils of the Toothill school took part in the world record attempt for a mass sing along, collecting more than £30 for the charity
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Health boss to be part-time
CRISIS hit Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary Care Trust is to be run by a part-time boss, the Gazette has learned. The trust, which is proposing to close maternity units in Devizes and Malmesbury, and has already closed beds at both Devizes and Malmesbury
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Large tax increase inevitable for council
AN independent financial watchdog has slated the Government for leaving Swindon Council with no choice but to heap another inflation-busting hike in council tax on residents. In a hard-hitting report, the Audit Commission said civic chiefs in Euclid Street
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Broker offers insurance tips in talk
GETTING the best out of your insurance broker is the subject of the talk to be given to Salisbury business networking club Ambassadors at its meeting tomorrow. Richard Scrivens, an account executive with Robert Fleming Insurance Brokers, will speak at
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Promise kept as precept reduced
Calne Liberal Democrats have honoured their promise to reverse a rise in the precept and have set it at the same rate as 2001. The town's precept for a Band D property will be reduced from £150.96 to £115.07, a reduction of 31.2 per cent. The precept
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Glass cup hopes are shattered by George
ROYAL George, languishing at the wrong end of Division One, turned the tables on high-fliers Salisbury Glass in Saturday's Chalke Cup preliminary round tie. When the sides met in the league just a few weeks ago, Glass ran out 3-0 winners, however George
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LEAGUE TABLE: Lethbridge records best set of results
TOP of the table Lethbridge Primary School has an extra reason to celebrate after it failed to make the top 10 last year. While many schools in Swindon are finding that raising standards is slow going particularly in English Lethbridge Primary School
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Shame on you all
I WOULD like to add my voice to the many that are appalled at the pathetic, insular, self-serving behaviour of some of the shopkeepers in Malmesbury concerning the Sunday Market. The fact that shops such as the Fromagerie can be instrumental in the market's
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Devizes 2nd 11 Cleve 2nd 22
SWNDON College had cried off the first XV game on Saturday morning so Devizes were left with only one home game. It opened at a furious pace with both teams testing defences. Devizes struggled to compete with Cleve in the lineouts and fly half Alex Bennett
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Battle of bank is lost
A PLAN to build a bank instead of a wall at the entrance to a new Corsham housing estate has been approved despite concern by caused by underground springs. Developers Taylor Woodrow and Persimmon Homes applied to North Wiltshire District Council for
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Health boss to be part-time
CRISIS hit Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary Care Trust is to be run by a part-time boss, the Gazette has learned. The trust, which is proposing to close maternity units in Devizes and Malmesbury, and has already closed beds at both Devizes and Malmesbury
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Woman found guilty of throwing wine at PC
MAGISTRATES convicted Joanne Nutland of throwing a bottle of wine at a police officer during a drunken fracas in Devizes Market Place. Nutland, who is living in a caravan in Green Lane, admitted assaulting PC Tom Kinderman by punching him in the head
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Maternity units are being 'brutally dismantled'
Richard Hallett and Linda Turner, UK trustees of the National Childbirth Trust who are both on the steering group of Birth Centre Network UK, which represents community midwife-led maternity units, give a personal view on the threat to the maternity units
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Project comes home to roost
The return of the Great Bustard to Britain would be a major coup for a group of Wiltshire ornithologists who have been championing the cause for many years. LEWIS COWEN reports on the project's progress WITHIN five years the Great Bustard, which has not
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Tax hike looms after council grant is cut
A SENSE of despair has descended on Kennet District Council after news that the cut in Government financial support next year is even worse than it forecast. Councillors will once again be put in the position of not only looking for savings in their already
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Fight goes on as new consultation begins
THE details of the public consultation on the future of Devizes and Malmesbury maternity units will be reported to the board meeting of the Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary Care Trust on December 16. The trust will make a final decision next April on
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Council chamber likened to a farmyard
ANONYMOUS, ineffective and pedantic were just some of the words used by residents to describe Salisbury district council at a public consultation last month. And when asked the question, "If the council were an animal what would it be?", councillors were
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Bishop going on sabbatical
THE Bishop of Salisbury, David Stancliffe, will begin a three-month sabbatical after Evensong on Christmas Day. He will step back from his normal duties, returning in time to celebrateHoly Week and Easter in Salisbury Cathedral in April 2004. The Bishop
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Festive fair is family affair
Frogwell School's Christmas Fair was a family affair with parents, grandparents, aunties and uncles all joining their children at the event. Organised by the Friends of Frogwell School, the event attracted crowds of people keen to play games and browse
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Abbey gates may be closed
THE closing times for Malmesbury Abbey gates could be altered if vandalism persists, the churchwardens have warned. Irreparable damage was caused to Norman carvings on the entrance to the south porch two weeks ago. One inch chunks of masonry were gouged
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College faces pariah treatment
SALISBURY College faces a future as an outcast in educational circles if it does not come up with an explanation for the abrupt departure of principal Howard O'Keeffe after just eight months in the post. The principals of Wiltshire's other major further
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LEAGUE TABLE: Lethbridge records best set of results
TOP of the table Lethbridge Primary School has an extra reason to celebrate after it failed to make the top 10 last year. While many schools in Swindon are finding that raising standards is slow going particularly in English Lethbridge Primary School
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Santa's carols on the road
DEVIZES Lions' carol float with its Santa's grotto will be winding its way through more streets this week. All money raised will go to Devizes charities and other good causes. The float will be on the streets from 5.30pm to 8pm and will tour the following
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LEAGUE TABLES: Three primaries make UK's top five per cent
STAFF and pupils at three Swindon schools are celebrating after learning they are among the best at raising pupils' achievements. For the first time, Local Education Authorities have revealed the 'Value Added Measure' of schools, which clearly show how
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LEAGUE TABLES: How your school fared
LEAGUE tables show parents how their child's school is faring. The data is based on pupils' performance in the Key Stage Two exams, which all pupils took in May. Each school is ranked according to a score out of 300. This is arrived at by adding up the
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Cut out the wait
HEALTH chiefs have marked the first birthday of the Great Western Hospital with a pledge to drive down waiting lists. The hospital's acting chief executive, Paul Bentley, wants to see waiting times reduced to six months within two years. He said: "Our
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Victims of shooting are buried in Swindon
HUNDREDS of mourners have paid their last respects to the mother and son shot dead by a former Swindon financial advisor. Yesterday family and friends gathered at Douai Abbey Church, near Newbury, for the funerals of Julia and William Pemberton who were
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Traders urged to join battle for TIC
MARLBOROUGH Town Council wants traders to help it in its battle against the closure of the tourist information centre. The finance and general purposes committee was told on Monday that the Ombudsman is not prepared to take up the council's complaint
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Closing the gap
BETTER, but still not good enough is the message to Swindon primary schools after this year's league tables were published. The tables are based on tests taken by 11-year-old youngsters in May. They show Swindon's schools have made steady progress and
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College drop out
SWINDON College Old Boys RFC have pulled out of their league rugby commitments for the remainder of this season after a chronic shortage of players forced them to cancel their third match of the campaign. The Nationwide-based club called a halt to their
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Buy the perfect gift for a mere
A rare book of poetry by James Joyce could make the perfect Christmas present if you have £20,000 to spend. Pomes Penyeach, by Joyce, complete with illustrations by his daughter, Lucia, is just one of nearly 500 lots to go under the hammer at Dominic
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River of light
MORE than 4,000 people poured on to the streets of Calne on Saturday to celebrate the switch-on of the Christmas lights. John Parkinson was selected to turn on the lights after being nominated by his three grandchildren as best grandparent in Calne. He
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Artist books in for show
Artist Christy Wyper is displaying her work in Calne library in the run- up to Christmas. Mrs Wyper, 33, from Lower Compton, moved to the area from Scotland a year ago with her husband James, who is in the Navy, and six-year-old son Sam. As an amateur
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Maternity units are being 'brutally dismantled'
Richard Hallett and Linda Turner, UK trustees of the National Childbirth Trust who are both on the steering group of Birth Centre Network UK, which represents community midwife-led maternity units, give a personal view on the threat to the maternity units
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High achievers of the county collect awards
Care leaver Charlie Murray, 19, from Calne, has been given an award in recognition of her achievements. Miss Murray, who used to be in care, helped to organise the 2003 Annual Achievement Awards. The awards are given to young people in the care of Wiltshire
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Promise kept as precept reduced
Calne Liberal Democrats have honoured their promise to reverse a rise in the precept and have set it at the same rate as 2001. The town's precept for a Band D property will be reduced from £150.96 to £115.07, a reduction of 31.2 per cent. The precept
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Officers to be honoured for brave acts
THREE Salisbury policemen are to receive certificates of merit tomorrow, Friday, for their actions in two city centre dramas. Sergeant Rick Taylor is to be honoured for his determination in arresting a wanted man following a chase that ended in a violent
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Santa's team light up town
Crowds were amazed at the Calne Christmas lights celebration when Santa flew into town on his sleigh pulled by a team of authentic Lapland reindeer. The ever-popular reindeer returned to the town for the third year in a row to start the celebrations on
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Lorry driver is killed
PORTUGUESE lorry driver Amandio Dasilva Cordeiro died when his vehicle collided with a bus on a notorious accident black spot at Snowhill, near Calne on Saturday. Mr Cordeiro, 48, was travelling in the Volvo articulated lorry towards Lyneham with his
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Santa's team light up town
Crowds were amazed at the Calne Christmas lights celebration when Santa flew into town on his sleigh pulled by a team of authentic Lapland reindeer. The ever-popular reindeer returned to the town for the third year in a row to start the celebrations on
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Shoppers to step into Victorian era
SCENES reminiscent of the Victorian era will greet visitors to Wootton Bassett tomorrow. The town's annual Dickensian evening is being held to get people in the festive mood. Visitors will be able to witness the Christmas lights being switched on and
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'Stock's lengthy run is halted
LAVERSTOCK & Ford's six-match un-beaten run came to an end on Saturday when they lost 2-1 away at in-form Overton United. The Salisbury outfit dominated the first half against the side promoted with them from last season's Division Two, but a shot
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LEAGUE TABLES: Three primaries make UK's top five per cent
STAFF and pupils at three Swindon schools are celebrating after learning they are among the best at raising pupils' achievements. For the first time, Local Education Authorities have revealed the 'Value Added Measure' of schools, which clearly show how
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Thanks for your support
MAY I express my thanks to Vicky Waite, Grace Akester, Liz Hollands and Robert Stinchcombe for manning the dropiIn centre stall at the Christmas lights switch on last Saturday 29th November here in Calne. They raised the magnificent sum of £155 for our
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Police chief pledges to go on beat on foot
WILTSHIRE'S new assistant chief constable has pledged to go on patrol regularly. Peter Vaughan, 41, started work with Wiltshire Constabulary on Monday at the police headquarters in Devizes. He has 19 years experience in the police service, serving with
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Thieves caught in the act by camera
Police have released a CCTV image of three people they would like to identify in connection with a shoplifting offence in the One Stop Shop in Devizes Market Place on November 22. Two men and a woman selected a quantity of confectionery from the displays
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Feeder stolen
I HAVE a friend who has been denied one of a small number of pleasures by a person who chose to steal her bird seed holder from her garden. As she is paralysed, my friend has access to fewer pleasures than most of us, so this act, which stops her from
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Resin found in old jeans
AN old pair of jeans landed Shane Smith in trouble with the police. Smith, of Waiblingen Way, Devizes, was arrested by police on suspicion of causing a breach of the peace when he and his partner were arguing. When he was taken into custody at Melksham
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Dickens with a difference
ERLESTOKE Players believe Charles Dickens would have been chuffed with their melodramatic but humorous rendering of his novel, David Copperfield, as their panto this Christmas. Village playwright Bill Pidduck came up with his own version of the classic
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Underwater frolics
YOUNGSTERS at Cheverell Old School Nursery have been plumbing the depths for their Christmas play. The three and four-year-olds together with staff are starring in the play called Submerged. The play has been written by the staff and is the highlight
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Woman found guilty of throwing wine at PC
MAGISTRATES convicted Joanne Nutland of throwing a bottle of wine at a police officer during a drunken fracas in Devizes Market Place. Nutland, who is living in a caravan in Green Lane, admitted assaulting PC Tom Kinderman by punching him in the head
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Brownies bag cash for base
DEVIZES Guides and Brownies packed shoppers' bags for them at Sainsbury's and raised £898. The youngsters, together with group leaders, spent eight hours at the supermarket's checkouts on Saturday. They did stints of two hours and were delighted with
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Part-time chief for health trust
EXCLUSIVE: CRISIS hit Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary Care Trust is to be run by a part-time boss, the Gazette has learned. The trust, which is proposing to close maternity units in Devizes and Malmesbury, and has already closed beds at both Devizes
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Charles set to join charter festivities
THE Prince of Wales is likely to do a royal walkabout in Marlborough High Street as part of the 800th anniversary celebrations in the town next June. The visit by Prince Charles, which has not been officially confirmed yet, would be the highlight of a
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It's a festive spectacular!
RESIDENTS of White Hill Close in Ramsbury gave all the villagers a thrill on Monday night as they switched on their Christmas lights display. The householders have been vying with each other over the last few years to produce bigger, better and brighter
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Anti-war pair off to Egypt
TWO Swindon delegates are to be sent to an international anti-war conference in Egypt. Andy Newman, the secretary of the Swindon Stop The War Coalition, and Deborah Schofield, who is also a member of the coalition, will be among more than 1,000 delegates
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Christmas tree blessed
THE Rural Dean of Swindon visited a funeral home in the town to bless its Christmas tree and help invite the bereaved to tie remembrance cards to it. Canon Michael Johnson performed the ceremony of dedication at Temple Street Funerals in Old Town, which
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'Think before splashing out on presents'
SHOPPERS are being urged to think carefully before they splash out this Christmas. Dennis Grant, of Swindon Chamber of Commerce, said he is concerned about the general on-going debt problem and believes Christmas could make it worse. He said: "While I
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Shoppers to step into Victorian era
SCENES reminiscent of the Victorian era will greet visitors to Wootton Bassett tomorrow. The town's annual Dickensian evening is being held to get people in the festive mood. Visitors will be able to witness the Christmas lights being switched on and
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Estate agent fined £3,500
TRADING Standards officers at Wiltshire County Council have successfully prosecuted Bradford and Bingley Plc under the Property Misdescriptions Act 1991. The company was fined £3,500 and ordered to pay £1,400 costs by magistrates on Monday. At the hearing
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Santa will be arriving
FATHER Christmas will be visiting Keynes Country Park's visitor centre on Sunday, December 7, and Sunday, December 14. He will be visiting from midday to 4pm and will be making an entrance across the lake. On the two days there will also be magic shows
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Mansion takes on a festive mantle
LYDIARD House and Park are taking their Christmas style inspirations from the inventors of the traditional English Yuletide the Victorians. Children will be able to make their own traditional Christmas decorations at special workshops held on this and
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Pupils hit a high note for charity
PUPILS at Oliver Tomkins CE Junior School are waiting to see if they have sung themselves into the record books. All 212 pupils of the Toothill school took part in the world record attempt for a mass sing along, collecting more than £30 for the charity
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Date
Buy the perfect gift for a mere
A rare book of poetry by James Joyce could make the perfect Christmas present if you have £20,000 to spend. Pomes Penyeach, by Joyce, complete with illustrations by his daughter, Lucia, is just one of nearly 500 lots to go under the hammer at Dominic
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MPs vow to do their best for students
SWINDON'S two Labour MPs are more than happy for Prime Minister Tony Blair's reputation to suffer if it means making the right decisions over university top-up fees. The Government is desperately trying to persuade an increasingly rebellious party to
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New move to ease the way for disabled
DISABLED residents living at Reeds Farm in Malmesbury are hoping a proposal to introduce dropped kerbs becomes a reality. Wheelchair users have complained about difficulties getting to the supermarket because there is no dip in the pavement, which allows
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Motorists feeling the benefit as fuel prices remain stable
Motorists in Wiltshire are getting a better deal on petrol than the average UK driver. New figures suggest motorists in the county are paying almost the same as they did a month ago. Unleaded petrol costs an average of 75.58p a litre across Wiltshire
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Hospital is bedding down well
IT was on the cards a long time before the Great Western Hospital opened that there would be teething troubles and anxieties about a range of problems from waiting lists to a shortage of parking places. From the time it was on the drawing board everybody
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Fight against tax hike is on
FURIOUS campaigners have vowed to fight possible council tax rises, which they fear would force many south Wiltshire residents out of their homes. As the Salisbury Journal reported last week, both Salisbury district and Wiltshire county councils predict
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LEAGUE TABLE: Pre-school is the time to sort out problems
PROBLEMS need to be tackled in pre-school before they have time to grow. That's according to Dick Mattick, secretary of the Swindon branch of the teachers' union NASUWT. Mr Mattick (pictured left) says many learning problems could be quickly dealt with
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Calne Town 3 Bitton 4
THIS game was as good as the scoreline suggests, as Calne came close to halting the Bitton bandwagon. In the end the Bristol side showed their intense determination, which will surely take them to one of the promotion slots. Calne started in magnificent
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Insolvency specialists strengthen their team
MIDDLETON Partners, the insolvency practitioners who specialise in corporate recovery, have appointed Michael Stevenson to the team. Mr Stevenson joins the firm from accountants Smith & Williamson where he was national head of corporate recovery.
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Taxing question
If Ian Dobbie is correct in his statement that a reduction in government grant is the cause of inflation-busting council tax rises, then the increase on this year's tax over last year should be confined to the difference in the grants received. May we
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Feeder stolen
I HAVE a friend who has been denied one of a small number of pleasures by a person who chose to steal her bird seed holder from her garden. As she is paralysed, my friend has access to fewer pleasures than most of us, so this act, which stops her from
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Skipping the rubbish bin
MARLBOROUGH Town Council has decided not to provide an amenity skip service when Kennet District Council withdraws its scheme at the end of March. The town council received a letter from Kennet informing it that the service will be withdrawn from March
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Real nappies are saving the planet
BRIAN D Coombs may well be correct about the silly 'non-jobs' local authorities are advertising at the taxpayers expense, but I must put him right on one thing, real nappy officers. If he stopped living in the 1950s, and bothered to find out facts before
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Topping out
THE most interesting picture of the viaduct under construction in last week's Gazette probably dates from autumn 1898. Work had begun on the 14 and a half mile line from Stert to Westbury in 1897 and was completed in about three years. The line opened
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Show them how much you care
Christmas is a time for giving and The Evening Advertiser aims to raise £5,000 to make a real difference to children's lives across Swindon. Today marks the launch of our annual Christmas Appeal and Nation-wide, based in Pipers Way, has kicked off the
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Santa makes an early call
FATHER Christmas will make an early flying visit to Malmesbury tomorrow as part of the annual festive late night shopping celebrations. Shops in and around the High Street will open until 9pm and lay on a host of festive fun, with many serving mulled
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Wood set for appeal
Bath will appeal against the six-week ban handed to Martyn Wood at an Rugby Football Union disciplinary meeting in Leeds on Tuesday night. A disciplinary panel found the scrum-half guilty of stamping on the head of Leicester Tigers flanker Lewis Moody
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Devizes 2nd 11 Cleve 2nd 22
SWNDON College had cried off the first XV game on Saturday morning so Devizes were left with only one home game. It opened at a furious pace with both teams testing defences. Devizes struggled to compete with Cleve in the lineouts and fly half Alex Bennett
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Calne 27 Bath Old Edwardians 22
CALNE went into this friendly with not many expectations as they were treating it as a team building exercise due to the fact that they were fielding five new players that had really only played rugby at school and that their opponants hadn't been beaten
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Mid-Wilts League
BAR OC regained the top position in the league following a resounding 5-1 victory over Amesbury. Mark Hulland opened the scoring for the Bar after ten minutes when he slotted home following a 1-2 with Danny Powell. Tom Paget made it 2-0 with a sweet header
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I need market
I STRONGLY support the Sunday market in Malmesbury. By the time I get home from work (around 6 pm) all the local food shops are closed. My preferred shopping times are therefore either weekday evenings, or Sunday morning (for food). Previously, there
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Town's light fantastic
I WOULD like to take this opportunity to thank everyone that took part in the Calne Christmas Light Celebrations on Saturday evening. Whether you were a spectator or a participant, I hope that you enjoyed the evening and thank you for supporting this
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Money should not be a motivator
IN last Thursday's edition you reported that Chippenham Town Councillors have voted to pay themselves 'participation' and other allowances. What a sad day for local democracy when local councillors expect to be paid for doing something which they should
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Seend clinch open fours
FIFTY-TWO teams, including 15 from Wiltshire, representing a total of ten counties formed the magnificent entry for the open fours, competing for the Warman's Holidays Short Mat Trophy. Run in its traditional and popular format, with teams being drawn
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Whites chalk up three more points
SALISBURY City made it four wins out of four in the league since their FA Cup exit at Hills-borough, but manager Nick Holmes was far from happy with his side's 3-1 victory over a Dartford side reduced to ten men on the half-hour mark. Whites, so often
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Estate agent fined £3,500
TRADING Standards officers at Wiltshire County Council have successfully prosecuted Bradford and Bingley Plc under the Property Misdescriptions Act 1991. The company was fined £3,500 and ordered to pay £1,400 costs by magistrates on Monday. At the hearing
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Anger as dad finds splinter in frozen meal
FATHER-of-four Justin Oliver discovered a jagged wooden splinter, hidden in the gravy of his boil-in-the-bag meal, as he sat down to eat dinner with his family. At first Mr Oliver thought it was piece of lemon grass, but when he fished the mysterious
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High achievers of the county collect awards
Care leaver Charlie Murray, 19, from Calne, has been given an award in recognition of her achievements. Miss Murray, who used to be in care, helped to organise the 2003 Annual Achievement Awards. The awards are given to young people in the care of Wiltshire
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Electrical fire blacks out leisure centre
A fire in an electrical sub station left the Olympiad leisure centre and around 30 other nearby buildings without power for around seven hours on Monday. The Olympiad was forced to close after the fault in the Southern Electric equipment turned off all
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Pilning 6 Tetbury 10
TETBURY earned a good win at Pilning in a game of two halves. They dominated for large periods, but playing against a strong wind in the first half made any real benefit difficult to come by. Two penalties by the home side saw Pilning go into half-time
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Campaign 'has made an impact'
THE Gazette campaign will raise the A4 on Wiltshire County Council's priority list, believes Chippenham Mayor Coun Desna Allen. Coun Allen has helped collect hundreds of signatures for the A4 petition, which will be presented to the county council's regulatory
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Driver in chase is jailed and banned
Banned motorist Stephen Saunders who led police on a four mile high-speed chase and then lied about driving the car, has been jailed for two and a half years. Saunders, of Neald Crescent, who has a long history of offending, was already on bail for dangerous
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Councillors fail to halt town centre homes plan
The first phase in the long-awaited redevelopment of the Flowers scrapyard site has been approved, despite the protests of Chippenham Town Council about the need for jobs and leisure, instead of housing. Barratt Homes wants to build 73 new homes with
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Widow killed in M4 crash tragedy
Mother-of-four Joan Gover, 72, was killed on the M4 near Chippenham after she drove down the carriageway in the wrong direction last Friday. Mrs Gover's red Ford Escort saloon collided with a red Ford Fiesta van in the eastbound fast lane between junction
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Light up park
NOW that winter has put an end to evening use of Monkton Park in Chippenham, this is a good time to consider installing more walkway lighting along the riverside of this attractive park. The absence of sensible lighting in this area from the Olympiad
