Archive
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MP no right to complain
With reference to a story in the Sunday Telegraph on February 15. I refer to the article about North Wiltshire MP James Gray, who queried why the prime minister's office pays for the cenotaph wreath on Remembrance Sunday, but was complaining after he
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Dorchester Ladies 0 Chippenham Ladies 122
DORCHESTER were able to field only 12 players, so Chippenham loaned them two of their own as substitutes. The home side started the game kicking the ball straight to captain Sue Keevil. She quickly passed the ball out wide to winger Leatitia Delannay,
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Triumphant return for Calne
CALNE 2nd made a triumphant return, beating Sutton Benger 33-12 in their first game in three years. The team, comprising mainly of new recruits, were supplemented by a hand full of veterans and the 1st team captain and vice captain. Calne went ahead when
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Barkley in new deal with Bath
Bath's England international Olly Barkley has signed a new two-year contract with the Zurich Premiership leaders. The 22-year-old has scored nine tries this season and tops the Premiership points scoring charts with 336 from 23 appearances. Barkley, who
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Chippenham 3rd 59 Minety 2nd 5
CHIPPENHAM got back to winning ways after a series of defeats. Chippenham started slowly and allowed Minety to dominate the early phases of play. After a quarter of an hour, a Minety forward broke off the back of the scrum, beat the cover defence and
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Minety 31 Chippenham 2nd 7
CHIPPENHAM were comfortably beaten by Minety. They immediately put pressure on the Chippenham defence which held firm until a break from the Minety number eight from the back of a scrum resulted in the first try of the game. Minety were able to capitalise
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Chippenham 12 Cleve 15
UNDER-STRENGTH Chippenham went behind early on in this friendly and never managed to recover. Cleve had the first points on the board, scoring an unconverted try, in just three minutes. Their second try came ten minutes later from a well executed inside
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Vase glory snatched by a single point
PROUD skipper Paul Wakefield heaped praise on his Swindon battlers as they fell short of Dorset & Wilts 1st XV Vase glory by a solitary point. Trowbridge grabbed the silverware after a tense 16-15 final triumph at Devizes on Saturday, but Wakefield
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Trust fails us
I HAD no hesitation in signing a motion of no confidence in the Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary Care Trust, during a meeting at Sheldon School on March 16 between the patients and friends of Dr Barney Williams. As the district and town councillor of
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Parking goal
I note with interest the letter from Coun Judy Rooke regarding the parking problems at the Bristol road end of Hungerdown Lane, Chippenham. This matter, which has been a problem for some years, was highlighted in the Sheldon Torch winter newsletter last
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Green issues
I WRITE to thank the 20 per cent of voters in the recent Hill Rise Ward by-election who voted for the Green Party. I would also like to let your readers know of two forthcoming Green Party events. On April 12 the Big Green Bus of the South West region
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Kids are first
IN answer to Coun Dolman's letter re Springfield site can I say the site is still in the fledgling stage of discussion. The priority of the children will remain paramount. Whipping up local anxiety does nothing to resolve the situation. A Calne Town Council
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Help with book on villages
DID you grow up in a village? If so, you might be able to help. I am currently researching a book which takes a nostalgic look at village life in the United Kingdom from 1900 to 1970. I would love to hear from anybody who has photographs or memories which
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Footballers have a ball for Kandu
GAZETTE & HERALD: Sky Soccer AM presenter Tim Lovejoy's team lifted the trophy on Sunday, but local charity Kandu Arts was the real winner as more than £4,000 was raised from the friendly football match. A crowd of around 1,500 people packed into
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Lucky Mutley saved by firefighting hero
GAZETTE & HERALD: FIREFIGHTER Russ Lewns has been lauded a hero by two young brothers, after he saved their frightened dog from their smoke-logged home. Firefighter Lewns, 35, was with one of three fire crews which responded to reports of a ferocious
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Yes, I'm delighted, says star of sitcom
GAZETTE & HERALD: Actor Derek Fowlds, one of the stars of the 1980s comedy Yes Minister, is delighted that the show was named sixth best British sitcom. Mr Fowlds, who lives in Colerne, said he was impressed that the show received 123,000 votes from
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Head bids farewell to school of excellence
GAZETTE & HERALD: HEADteacher Tony Cleaver will tomorrow bid farewell to Chippenham's Sheldon School. Since Mr Cleaver, 55, took charge of Sheldon seven-and-a-half years ago it has grown from 1,100 to 1,570 pupils and has leapt from 53 per cent of
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Getting a rare feel of Spring
GAZETTE & HERALD: RARE Manx Loghtan lambs were the star attraction for young visitors to Langley Chase Organic Farm, near Chippenham. Children from the Sutton Benger Pre-school, the Benger Bears, took a day out of the classroom to visit the farm last
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Grants help disabled kids
GAZETTE & HERALD: A TRUST set up in memory of a Chippenham chemist has up to £100,000 this year to give away in grants to help children and young people with disabilities and special needs. Application forms for a grant from the William 'Doc' Couch
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Court curb on drunkard
GAZETTE & HERALD: A COURT put a special order on alcoholic Stephen Hayward, 32, on Tuesday to try to curb his drink-fuelled anti-social behaviour. Chippenham Magistrates gave Hayward, of Ladyfield Road, Chippenham, a two-year Anti-Social Behaviour
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Plant now for spectacular summer display
How many of our splendid spring bulb gardens will be transformed into summer bulb gardens? Not enough is the answer. Now is the time to plan the change. Most summer bulbs are planted about now. There are hundreds to choose from and I've picked out just
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Batman takes ladder along
GAZETTE & HERALD: SHOPPERS in Chippenham were stunned last week when Batman was spotted washing the Gazette office windows. But the man behind the mask was window cleaner Sam Whitaker, who had just walked from Calne to Chippenham carrying his ladder
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Man found with crack and heroin cheats jail
GAZETTE & HERALD: TUMAINI Matsimela, who was caught with hundreds of pounds worth of class A drugs at a house in Chippenham, has walked free from court. Matsimela, 21, of Bristol, told police he was going share the heroin and crack cocaine with friends
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Thieves take holiday cash
Thieves stole £800 in cash from an elderly Highworth couple who had been saving up for a holiday last Wednesday. The pair were in the living room of their Cotswold Avenue bungalow when the intruders forced a bedroom window. The thieves also stole £100
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First film festival is voted a triumph
GAZETTE & HERALD: The Global Village Film Festival ended on a triumphant note with a showing of the silent film Sunrise, accompanied by pianist James Harpham who composed a new score especially for the show. The 1927 classic, directed by FW Murnau
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It's time for residents to clean up their act
Councillors fear Wiltshire's growing problem of litter could drive tourists away from the county. Now they are calling for the Environment Agency to get tough and are urging residents to help, as SARAH SINGLETON reports. The scourge of litter is spoiling
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A4 CAMPAIGN: Serious crashes led to 'death row' tag
March 18 2004: A Rover crashed into the back of a Peugeot van on the bend before the Saab garage, travelling towards Calne. Two people received minor injuries and were taken to Chippenham Hospital. January 2 2004: A Seat skidded on black ice as it descended
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Ofsted inspectors heap praise on school
Stonehenge School headteacher Andrew Packer celebrates the glowing Ofsted report with some of his pupils. Picture by LARA BALL DA5222Stonehenge School has gained full marks following a recent Ofsted inspection. The inspectors heaped praise on standards
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Footballers have a ball for Kandu
Sky Soccer AM presenter Tim Lovejoy's team lifted the trophy on Sunday, but local charity Kandu Arts was the real winner as more than £4,000 was raised from the friendly football match. A crowd of around 1,500 people packed into Chippenham Town's Hardenhuish
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World Cup star set to join the Bluebirds
CHIPPENHAM Town could have a World Cup international in their ranks for Saturday's crunch derby with Bath City if boss Steve White can beat today's transfer deadline. White was busy yesterday trying to push through the signing of 30-year-old St. Lucian
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Cool Paul keeps his nerve to for winner
CHIPPENHAM'S goal-scoring hero from the Weymouth game Martin Paul admitted his heart was in his mouth as he struck the vital shot. The 28-year-old had only had one half-chance in the entire game but was presented with an open goal on 88 minutes after
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Wilmot back at his peak
ELLIS Wilmot made his return from injury at Weymouth on Saturday and was glad to have contributed to the impressive win. The 23-year-old, who was signed from Mangotsfield in the summer, had been struggling with a knee injury but says he is now fighting
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£2,000 prize for business
RECENTLY formed businesses in Malmesbury are being asked to compete for £2,000. The competition run in with conjunction with Malmesbury Chamber of Commerce, Wessex Chamber of Commerce, North Wiltshire Festival and Business Link is to promote the entrepreneurial
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Pupils' mini wedding
THERE was something old, something borrowed, something blue and something a bit unusual going on at Sherston Church on Tuesday. In a full wedding ceremony, five-year-old bride Hannah in a flowing purple dress and four-year-old Tom walked down the aisle
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Piggy tale tells a few porkies
A real life story that featured the heroics of two Malmesbury pigs was always stranger than fiction but now it has been given even more quirky twists by programme makers. The story is set to appear on TV this Easter as DEBBIE WAITE reports SIX years after
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Firefighters' cash handout
MALMESBURY firefighters donated £1,700 to charity last week after a year of fundraising events. Sub officer Wayne Jones said the total, split equally between Cancer Research and the fire service's National Benevolent Fund, was up on previous years. "We
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Cabbie helps catch crooks
POLICE have praised Malmesbury cabbie Antonni Evans for his help in catching two shoplifters last week. Mr Evans, who works for cab firm Manor Taxis, stepped in with the location of the crooks' car after police had been called to the Co-op in the High
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Simply capital
MATERNITY unit campaigners lobbied MPs as they took their fight to Westminster. More than 30 mums and midwives fighting to save Devizes and Malmesbury maternity units from closure travelled from Wiltshire to London on Monday. They presented a Gazette
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Mothers vow to fight to the end
THE fight to save Malmesbury maternity unit continues this weekend after mothers marched on Parliament calling on the Government to intervene. Placard waving mothers from Malmesbury and Devizes, angry at health chiefs' proposals to shut both units, presented
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Grade two Ofsted for school
MORGAN'S Vale and Woodfalls Primary School is one of only a handful of primary schools in Wiltshire to achieve a grade two following the latest Ofsted report. Headteacher Sue Larkin said that, six years ago, the school was judged as providing good value
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Concert is a delight
YOUNG musicians and drama students who took part in the annual Young People's Festival, held over four days in March, staged the annual festival concert on Sunday, at the Blackledge Theatre, in the city's Godolphin School. As well as performing at the
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Ofsted inspectors heap praise on school
Stonehenge School headteacher Andrew Packer celebrates the glowing Ofsted report with some of his pupils. Picture by LARA BALL DA5222Stonehenge School has gained full marks following a recent Ofsted inspection. The inspectors heaped praise on standards
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New man at college helm
Ray Dowd, interim principal of Salisbury College.TROUBLESHOOTER Ray Dowd has taken the helm at struggling Salisbury College. The Journal spoke to the 52-year-old Wirral Metropolitan College principal, who has been brought in as interim principal at the
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Shrewton dent Rovers' hopes
SHREWTON United signed off their home campaign with an impressive 2-1 defeat of promotion chasing Clyst Rovers. Clyst, desperate to stay in touch with the leaders and the Shrews, hoping to sign off in style for their home fans, both contributed to an
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Louisa joins Olympic stars on trial at Somerley
SOMERLEY Park near Ringwood is the first stop on this year's road to Athens which may lead to Olympic gold for some of Britain's top equestrian stars. Medal hopefuls Pippa Funnell and William Fox-Pitt are among a host of stars competing today and tomorrow
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City close in on promotion place
SALISBURY City took another step closer to securing promotion to the restructured Dr Martens Premier Division with a 2-0 away win at Ashford Town. Craig Davis was instrumental in both goals as Nick Holmes' side made it three wins in a row. His 14th minute
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Weighty carp is a beauty
SOME hefty carp and a good size tench that have been caught over the last few days indicate that summer fishing is just around the corner. The big carp, headed by a 33lb 12oz beauty, all came from the New Forest Water Park fishery between Fordingbridge
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Clean sheet joy as youngsters avenge last year's cup defeat
SALISBURY under 12s put in a powerful display, brushing aside the opposition in three matches to lift the Wiltshire Cup without conceding a single point. The team travelled to Devizes determined to go one better than last season when they were beaten
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Salisbury prepare for relegation fight
SALISBURY Rugby Club have just two games remaining to ensure they escape relegation from South West Two (East) of the Powergen League. Currently third from bottom of the table, level on 12 points from 20 games with Wimborne, the Castle Road-based club
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Brace yourself for a good time
TODAY is International Fun at Work Day and no, it's not an April fool. Businesses across the world are bracing themselves for the usual assortment of forged written warnings and photocopied body parts. But International Fun at Work Day is a wholly serious
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Inquiry after two callers hit on elderly
Wootton Bassett police are investigating after two incidents involving bogus callers preying on elderly people in Lyneham and Wootton Bassett this week. The first incident occurred at 8.30pm on March 24, when a bogus caller stole money from an 87-year-old
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Vilage side is into last 16
SHORT MAT BOWLS: KINGTON Langley's short mat bowls foursome put their village on the map last weekend when they competed in the sport's national finals near Milton Keynes. Husbands and wives Dave and Anthea Williams and Mike and Sandi Wilson had defeated
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Westbury 9 Melksham Park 1
IT was a great day for Callum Russell who scored five goals for home side Westbury in their 9-1 win over Melksham Park in the under 12s Red Division. The first ten minutes gave no indication of the final result as Melksham started really well and pressed
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Desert race for ambulance
WILTSHIRE soldier Rab Lundie is about to take on the toughest race on earth as he prepares to run 157 miles across the vast tracts of the Sahara Desert in North Africa. Mr Lundie, 33, serves with the 29 Regiment Royal Logistic Corps, is taking part in
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Financial help for students
STUDENTS heading for higher education can apply to Wiltshire County Council for financial support. Application forms for all types of support are now available from schools and colleges and the county council. For the first time, students will also be
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Bridge players show their hand for Lydia
THE Lydia Cross appeal was given a huge boost last week, by a band of fervent bridge players. The event, organised by Rosemary Caddick, of Argyle Drive, Chippenham, was held at the Masonic Hall in Emery Lane on Wednesday and attracted 80 entrants. And
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North Wilts Youth League
SHAW under 11s clinched the West Division championship with two games to spare following a 4-1 home win over Marlborough. The prolific Dominic Rekowski scored twice and there were further goals from Kristopher Redford and Henry Traas. Ferndale Rodbourne
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Wiltshire League
AFC STRATTON maintained their 13 point lead over nearest rivals Trowbridge Town with a 3-0 win at Corsham Town Reserves. Stratton were gifted an interval lead when a home defender put through his own goal under pressure, but after the break the visitors
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Trowbridge League
DIVISION One and Two title favourites North Bradley Saints and Broughton Gifford do battle on Saturday as they will do again in this season's Revolutions CafeBar-sponsored Knockout Cup final. After their thrilling 4-4 A and B Cup semi-final three weeks
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Swindon Supermarine 1 Team Bath 0
GILES Harris' late goal gave Mark Collier his first victory as permanent boss at Swindon Supermarine. It was a deserved success for Marine who had been the better team for much of the Western Division contest as new boy Steve Jenkins shone alongside some
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Police change on the Plain
THE policing of the Salisbury Plain training area will be carried out from a new police station at Tidworth garrison, the Ministry of Defence Police has announced. Following the country-wide reorganisation of the Ministry of Defence policing teams, operations
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Ancient pots saved
A NATIONALLY important project to save more than 100 Bronze Age ceramic pots has been completed. A celebration to mark the end of the four-year Wiltshire County Council project was held at Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum's lecture hall on March 24
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Lottery gives cash boost to recyclers
FAMILIES on low incomes across Swindon and Wiltshire will be able to buy cheap electrical goods, thanks to an injection of £300,000 National Lottery money to fund the next three-year phase of the county's Refurbiz project. Refurbiz was set up with the
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Last-gasp heartbreak for Victoria
HIGHWORTH are one step away from an appearance in the final of the much-maligned Supplementary Cup after Richard Knox's last-minute strike saw off Malmesbury Vics in a tense quarter-final battle. The competition was once labelled a Mickey Mouse Cup by
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Search begins for our communities' heroes
NOMINATIONS are flooding in for this year's People of Wiltshire Awards, set up to celebrate the achievements of the county's unsung heroes. The day after the launch of the 2004 awards, nominations began to arrive at Wiltshire County Council, with people
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Pewsey Vale 3 Bishops Cleeve 6
PEWSEY'S hopes of bouncing back from their Wiltshire Senior Cup exit were dashed by three late Bishops Cleeve goals. Pewsey led 3-1 at the break but the visitors had drawn level by the hour mark and then enjoyed a late goal burst to complete their comeback
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Godley is unveiled as boss at Devizes
DEVIZES Town have taken less than a week to unveil former player Mark Godley as their new manager. The club had been hit by the shock resignation of player-manager Dave Hopkins last week. But they immediately sought a successor and this week chairman
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It's time for residents to clean up their act
Councillors fear Wiltshire's growing problem of litter could drive tourists away from the county. Now they are calling for the Environment Agency to get tough and are urging residents to help, as SARAH SINGLETON reports. The scourge of litter is spoiling
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Winter ban on 4x4s to save ancient track
CAMPAIGNERS are celebrating partial success in their fight to get vehicles banned from what is acknowledged to be Europe's oldest road. Four-wheel drive and other recreational vehicles are to be banned from using a 30-mile stretch of the Ridgeway from
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Murder fear after gran dies in alley
THE grief stricken family of 80-year-old Margot White have told how police quizzed them as the pensioner lay dead in an alleyway just yards away. The body of the frail grandmother was found in a pool of blood at 10.15am on Saturday in an alleyway leading
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Museum hits grant target
WILTSHIRE Heritage Museum has secured its grant funding by having 20,000 people visit the museum. In order to secure the grant funding it receives from Wiltshire County Council and Kennet District Council the museum had to have 20,000 visitors by yesterday
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Holiday fun for all tastes
DANCE, soccer and swimming are all on the cards as part of Kennet District Council's Activate programme for activities during the Easter holidays. The council has organised a wide range of activities for children at leisure centres in Devizes, Marlborough
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It's a first class match
CHILDREN from St Michael's School in Aldbourne took part in a fairytale wedding in their village church on Monday. All the children from the school took part in the wedding with two Year 2 pupils, Rebecca and Thomas, as the bride and groom, Cinderella
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Companies hit by yellow peril
Ref. 29775Business owners on a trading estate in Old Town saw red after council officials painted double yellow lines in error. The proprietors of businesses on the Central Trading Estate in Signal Way were getting on with business on Tuesday morning
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Plea after girl is attacked
DETECTIVES are convinced someone must have seen the sex attacker who assaulted a young girl in Toothill. The 12-year-old was attacked while she sat alone in Folly Park, off Flint Hill. It is two weeks since the attack, and tonight officers will be at
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Private eye is hired to clear wife murderer
A PRIVATE detective is to investigate the disappearance of Highworth mother-of-four Linda Razzell. Rachel Smith, the girlfriend of Glyn Razzell who was convicted of murdering his estranged wife, has enlisted the help of the unnamed detective who read
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Mum's crisp change of luck
Single mother-of-five Shirley McCafferty has won a brand new car from a packet of crisps even though she cannot drive. Ms McCafferty, 40, from Calne, also went to London for the first time where she met the star of the latest Walkers advertisement, Terry
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Council's award
CALNE Town Council has received the first quality status award in North Wiltshire. It recognises the work undertaken by town and parish councils is conducted professionally and efficiently. Town clerk Ann Kingdon said: "This is the culmination of several
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Texan fiddler is to top the country music bill
Texan fiddler John Permenter is back by popular demand at Calne Country Music Festival this summer. It is the 15th year of the festival, which is the only one of its kind in Wiltshire. The weekend event attracts thousands of people from across the UK
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Recalling the class of '65
The Bentley Grammar School class of 1965 is holding a reunion for students and teachers for a trip down memory lane. The reunion is for the 80 plus pupils who joined the school, which later became the John Bentley School, at the age of 11 in 1965 and
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A dancing class full of eastern promise
Belly dancing teacher Heather Azhar is encouraging men and women to take up the ancient art form, in a bid to challenge modern perceptions of the Eastern dance. Ms Azhar, who teaches Egyptian belly dancing in Calne, said the west has misrepresented belly
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Pressure is on market town
Calne has been involved in a survey on the character and distinctiveness of England's small market towns. The survey was carried out by the Campaign to Protect Rural England and included more than 100 towns across England. The results of the survey have
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Money is pledged for town's heritage
WORK will soon begin on the interior of the new Calne Heritage Centre after a £24,000 grant was secured. After more than ten years of negotiation, the trustees have announced their redevelopment programme. North Wiltshire District Council has awarded
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Murder fear after gran dies in alley
THE grief stricken family of 80-year-old Margot White have told how police quizzed them as the pensioner lay dead in an alleyway just yards away. The body of the frail grandmother was found in a pool of blood at 10.15am on Saturday in an alleyway leading
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Children left as orphans by crash
TWO children were left orphaned on Friday when their parents Graham and Nicola Smith died in a head-on collision on the A361 between Caen Hill and Seend Fork. The couple's 13-year-old son Sam was a passenger in the car and is still in hospital recovering
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Legionnaire's scare sparks prison sit-in
PRISON governor Clive Broom had to calm down inmates who held a two-hour sit-in at his jail after a health scare over their water supply. About 40 prisoners staged a sit-in in their recreation room at Erlestoke Prison on Thursday after labels appeared
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Drunk man assaulted bus driver, court told
A MAN who assaulted a bus driver and a passenger while drunk has been told he faces a stiff community sentence. Paul Smith, 35, of Bridewell Lane, Bath, pleaded guilty to two counts of assault when he appeared before Kennet magistrates in Devizes on Tuesday
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Darts ace says I'm very sorry
DEVIZES darts ace Mark Hiscock has apologised in person to a police officer he verbally abused while drunk and disorderly earlier this month. Hiscock, 30, of Roseland Avenue, was fined £40 after admitting being drunk and disorderly. He appeared before
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Beat Bounds to help kids
PEOPLE interested in the history of Devizes are being urged to take part in a sponsored walk around the town's boundaries in aid of charity. The annual Beating of the Bounds sponsored walk takes place on April 18 and all proceeds will go to Mayor Paula
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Spin Hill speed limits to be assessed at last
WILTSHIRE County Council will examine if the speed limit at Spin Hill, Market Lavington, should be reduced but there are no guarantees any traffic calming measures will be introduced. At a meeting yesterday the county council's regulatory committee decided
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Double dose of chaos
WORK is due to start next week on laying a new water main in Devizes. A new 250mm water main is being laid from The Crammer across Nursteed Road, The Green and then along the A360 to the Southgate roundabout. Work is due to begin on Monday from the Southgate
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Pupils show science is fun
STUDENTS at St John's School, Marlborough, have been taking part in a national competition called Paperclip Physics. Competing teams had five minutes to explain a physics concept in a creative and entertaining way using ordinary household objects only
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Accident verdict on death of motorbiker
Terry Brown, left, who was killed in an accident on the A4, pictured with his mother Cherry Carr and brothers Colin and SimonDEPUTY Wiltshire coroner Williams Baiche has recorded a verdict of accidental death on motorcyclist Terry Brown, 22, who died
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Roadworks begin early
DRIVERS in Marlborough were surprised on Monday to see roadworks start a week early on Granham Hill. The Pewsey road out of Marlborough will be closed from Monday for two weeks to enable Granham Hill to be resurfaced. However traffic lights appeared at
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New town manager appointed
JANET Duffield, a 42-year-old mother-of-two has been appointed as town centre manager by the Devizes Development Partnership to spearhead a campaign to revive retail and community life. Mrs Duffield, who works for Royal Mail in Swindon, has lived in Devizes
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Fly with me, says rector
THE Rector of Marlborough, the Rev Andrew Studdert-Kennedy, wants everyone in the town to have their eyes turned to the skies on Easter Sunday. He wants the town to mark the day of the resurrection of Jesus Christ by flying kites on Marlborough College
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£7,000 bill to light up town hall
PLANS to illuminate the town hall at Marlborough at night have been approved by town councillors, for an estimated cost of £7,000. On Monday, architect Malcolm Ward from Humberts, who is supervising the current town hall external refurbishment, showed
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Town is tops for giving
MORE than three quarters of the families in Marlborough donate to two or more charities a year making the town the most generous place in Britain, a national survey reveals. At the other end of the scale, Erith in Kent is said to be the meanest. In a
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Concerns voiced on rebuilding of school
RESIDENTS are calling for more consultation over the proposed £20 million redevelopment on one site of St John's School, Marlborough, financed by the sale of the lower school site for homes. Members of the newly-formed St John's Neighbourhood Residents
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Lib Dem leader plans flying visit to town
POLITICIAN Charles Kennedy is to make a flying visit to Wootton Bassett tomorrow. The leader of the Liberal Democrat party will arrive in town in the early afternoon and visit Borough Fields shopping parade. Mr Kennedy, who will be greeted by mayor Coun
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Swan is killed by diesel spill
THE Environment Agency is under fire over its handling of a diesel spillage at a beauty spot. Almost eight weeks have passed since a 250-litre red diesel tank leaked its contents into a lake at Cotswold Water Park a popular location for Swindon day-trippers
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Cabs told 'take the guide dogs'
Ref. 29774-16MINICAB drivers who refuse to accept fares from guide dog owners now face fines of up to £1,000. Until now many blind people, who rely on their specially trained dogs to get around, have faced a lottery when trying to book private-hire cabs
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Dyslexia classes' future in balance
AN independent adjudicator will be called in to decide the fate of Swindon's specialist dyslexia units. Swindon Council intends to shut ten special units at Swindon schools as part of broad changes in the way it deals with children with learning difficulties
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Pupils to get an eggs-tra special treat
PUPILS at Burton Hill House School, in Malmesbury, had an early Easter treat yesterday when a load of chocolate eggs was delivered, thanks to a Wootton Bassett undertaker. Maslin Funeralcare, which has a branch in Wootton Bassett, has been running a nation-wide
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Grab your tickets to great air displays
TICKETS for this year's spectacular Kemble Air Day are due to go on sale today. The show will pay homage to the RAF's world-famous Red Arrows, which were previously based at Kemble. It will be held at the former RAF station on June 20 and will feature
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Bible shows the way to safe food
Ref. 29773-23THE spread of mad cow disease could have been prevented if animals were still slaughtered by religious methods, according to a leading Swindon doctor. Dr Adel Abbas, consultant microbiologist at Swindon's Great Western Hospital, said modern
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Stay away from food giant, says councillor
Ref. 29719-07COUNCILLORS have called for the authority to withdraw all future co-operation with supermarket giant Tesco if it goes ahead with plans to close Shaw Village Post Office. The chairman of the west area panel, Coun David Glaholm, (Lab, Penhill
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When does year end?
SO this year we are getting £100 towards local rate increases, but this year only. This year I thought ended December 31, but it seems this year ends September 30. I am 70 in October this year so this one off this year I will not be getting this year.
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Won't stop terrorism
A FEW months ago John Utting was 'dying' to see George Galloway respond to allegations. Now Galloway has won substantial damages at law you might think Mr Utting would fall silent with embarrassment. Sadly he presses on with increasing hysteria. So enthusiastic
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This is another debacle just waiting to happen
Swindon Borough Council is not well known for its financial management. The current proposal to spend nearly £3 million on a joint record office in Chippenham looks to be another debacle waiting to happen. The project costs are out of control, escalating
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Plans are a breach of faith by council
A few years ago my family and I joined hundreds of others and spent hours wading in mud on a freezing cold day to plant trees on the old Shaw tip. We did so because we had been told we we would be creating a new country park a legacy for our children,
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Devizes Under-15s 22 Swindon Under-15s 0
A SUPERB display by all the Devizes players saw them overcome a strong Swindon side. Devizes produced a brilliant demonstration of power, commitment, skill and teamwork that destroyed a big and powerful-looking Swindon side who in the end had no answer
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Longlevens U13s 0 Chippenham U13s 53
CHIPPENHAM shrugged off last weekend's second cup defeat and came back with a convincing 53-0 win at the Gloucester based club, Longlevens. The home side could only put out twelve players and so Chippenham gave them three players to balance up the two
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Wootton Bassett 53 Cirencester 0
BASSETT produced some entertaining rugby at the expense of their Gloucestershire neighbours Cirencester. Bassett controlled the game right from the start and pushed the visitors back into their own half with strong running, from backs and forwards alike
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Youth rugby
BOYS and girls from seven under-12 rugby teams enjoyed the pinnacle of their season when they competed in the Wiltshire Cup on Sunday. The event was hosted by Devizes Rugby Club and featured seven teams from across the county. Trowbridge pulled out on
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Devizes 3rd 23 Stow on the Wold 3rd 14
HONEST endeavour, good humour and elusive running characterised a game in which Devizes deservedly ran out winners. Stow got into their stride straightway capitalising on a Devizes handling error to win a scrum and construct five phases of play before
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Gobbledegook?
IT was gratifying to see Coun Darby celebrating the high standard of council service. Did anyone mention Goldiggers? Why should £350,000 be used to build up Planning Enforcement Capabilities. Why not sort out No 9 London Road. It's a disgrace, likewise
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Council ploy to save money
FOR many people, the Chippenham record office project is proof that the self-centred North Wiltshire group who dominate the county council cabinet are focusing on the interests of their own area to the exclusion of those in the rest of Wiltshire. However
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Don't be duped into signing for 'charity'
I WOULD be interested to know how many other people got duped by the MNBA credit card sales personnel in Safeways store two weeks ago. I am not usually so easily duped but after a long hard day at work, I was this time. This sales woman was exceptionally
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Special schools must embrace 21st century
IN response to Mr Dolman's letter of March 25, please may I add a few words of clarification. The public spaces and local plans panel does not, of itself, have decision-making powers. It makes recommendations to the executive of North Wiltshire District
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Station in line for £500,000 revamp
GAZETTE & HERALD: Work is underway on a £500,000 revamp at Chippenham Railway Station, designed to make travelling more pleasant and efficient for passengers. The historic station was part of Isambard Kingdom Brunel's vision for the Great Western
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Friends help nursery rise from the ashes
GAZETTE & HERALD: NURSERY boss Rosemary Ballard has re-opened her business in temporary accommodation just eight days after a blaze destroyed her premises. Forest Nursery in Pewsham, Chippenham, which Mrs Ballard opened in October 1995, was gutted
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Prison for gang who mugged three men
GAZETTE & HERALD: A GANG of youths who mugged three people in Chippenham town centre have been sent to prison. Richard McKenzie, 21, of Croydon, Jelani Nicholson, 18, of Rolleston Street, Swindon, Justin Stewart-Nicholson, 20, of Toothill, Swindon
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Scooters all set to ride
GAZETTE & HERALD: WITH just one more day until the shopmobility scooter scheme is back on track, new operator Borough Parade has already been inundated with calls, from as far and wide as Frome and Cirencester. The two battery-operated scooters will
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Lessons taste sweet
GAZETTE & HERALD: YOUNGSTERS at Frogwell Primary School in Chippenham put their thinking caps on to examine the science of sweets in a special activity morning. The 60 Year 5 pupils had a mouthwatering experience when they explored the longevity of
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Final Push
PROUD skipper Matt Hewlett is confident his troops are ready for the 'final push' and that Tuesday's amazing comeback at Vale Park is proof that Town will not choke so close to the finishing line. Hewlett led by example as Town fought back from the dead
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Anniversary beer festival
GAZETTE & HERALD: The Hare and Hounds pub is hosting a beer festival this week to mark the first anniversary of landlords Mark Foster and his fiance Hayley Gill. The couple took over the Corsham pub one year ago and within months won the industry
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Celebrations must wait
GAZETTE & HERALD: Daredevil David Hempleman-Adams said investigations into his record-breaking altitude flight have prevented the team from celebrating. Last Tuesday the explorer broke the world altitude record in a traditional open wicket basket
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Nightclub hero hurt trying to halt attack
GAZETTE & HERALD: A CORSHAM man suffered severe injuries when he was hit in the face with a glass at a Chippenham nightclub after trying to stop two women being assaulted. Peter Beckenham, owner of Buds Nightclub, on Station Hill, where the attack
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Campaign goes on to save GP surgery
ANGRY patients have vowed to continue their fight against health chiefs' decision to shut down Lacock's Cantax Surgery this week. Despite a petition signed by hundreds of patients and objections from Wiltshire County Council's health overview and scrutiny
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MP denies he was whinging about cost of poppy wreaths
NORTH Wiltshire MP James Gray has angrily denied he was being miserly when he asked a question about claiming for poppy wreaths on his Parliamentary expense account. Mr Gray was criticised in the Sunday Telegraph after he raised a question in the House
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Crowds flock to new village post office
HUNDREDS of villagers gathered together on Friday at Kington St Michael to open a special present, which they spent months saving up for a new post office. More than a year ago the former post office closed down, but the parish council vowed to reopen
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Running for Kate
Richard Dutton and his son Tim are getting in some tough training for the gruelling London Marathon as part of their ongoing commitment to fund-raise for a meningitis charity. The pair, from Draycott Cerne, will be running the marathon together on April
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A4 CAMPAIGN: Petitions illustrate strength of feelings
Our campaign to reduce accidents on the A4 drew support from all political parties and in just two months 3,000 names were collected on a petition. It was launched to illustrate the strength of local feeling to the county council and cross-party councillors
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A4 CAMPAIGN: Tragedy spurred the call for action
Six months ago the Gazette launched a campaign to get safety measures introduced on the A4 between Chippenham and Calne following the tragic death of 60-year-old Geoffrey Smith. The Gazette decided it was time to act and persuade Wiltshire County Council
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A4 CAMPAIGN: Victory!
For six months the Gazette has rallied support for measures to make the A4 between Chippenham and Calne safer. Yesterday the county council highways department agreed to act. LILY CANTER was there. In a dramatic turn around highway officers have agreed
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Pedestrian safety talks
PARISH councillors in Pewsey have been given an assurance that all businesses in Wilcot Road will be consulted before any changes to the traffic system in the street are introduced. There has been growing concern over the conflict between vehicles on
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Community trust is splash hit in village
A COMMUNITY trust set up to promote the regeneration of Pewsey is this week on the crest of a wave, with the launch of two of its projects. The first was to provide a fleet of new kayaks for the use of young people in Pewsey, and the second is the creation
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17th century casket could fetch £50,000
AN embroidered 17th century casket carrying an estimate of £30,000 to £50,000 will be the highlight of a sale of antique rugs and textiles at Netherhampton Salerooms in Salisbury later this month. Textile and rug specialist Dr Ian Bennett said the casket
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Pride and promotion is at stake for rivals
DESCRIBING Saturday's Chippenham Town versus Bath City league derby clash as a crunch game is an understatement. Not only is local pride at stake but both teams are sprinkled with ex-players and there is also the small matter of promotion play-off places
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Boost for bakery in top store takeover
THE takeover of 18 small Safeway stores by Waitrose is very good news for the Devizes-based bakers that provides the company's high-quality cakes, pastries and tarts. The acquisition of the stores in the Safeway chain, which was taken over by Morrison's
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New town manager appointed
JANET Duffield, a 42-year-old mother-of-two has been appointed as town centre manager by the Devizes Development Partnership to spearhead a campaign to revive retail and community life. Mrs Duffield, who works for Royal Mail in Swindon, has lived in Devizes
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Provident Society to boost town hall scheme
MALMESBURY Town Hall Action Group, which has come up with a new plan for the redevelopment of the building, voted last week to form a Industrial and Provident Society. Ian Pollard, group chairman, said the move would give individuals and groups the opportunity
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£2,000 prize for business
RECENTLY formed businesses in Malmesbury are being asked to compete for £2,000. The competition run in with conjunction with Malmesbury Chamber of Commerce, Wessex Chamber of Commerce, North Wiltshire Festival and Business Link is to promote the entrepreneurial
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Weird, wacky, wearable art
YOUNGSTERS in Malmesbury and Sherston recycled old clothes to make weird and wacky costumes for a fashion show last Thursday. Pupils from schools in Malmesbury and Sherston Young Craft Group worked with textile artist Heather Martin to produce a range
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Verger and BNP want to stand for election
FORMER abbey verger Bill Blake is set to stand for a seat on Malmesbury Town Council. Mr Blake, who resigned as verger in January, wants to fill the vacancy left by James Beesley, who had to stand down because of work commitments. He said it was a strong
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Jordan heads United into final
SHREWTON United under tens booked their place in the Testway League Cup Final with a narrow victory against Overton. Jordan Matthews' first half header from Jamie Fry's corner proved the only goal of the game. The win keeps alive United's hopes of yet
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Harnham reduce Durrington's lead
PFC Durrington's Saturday Premier Division title hopes suffered a set-back with a 1-0 home defeat to Harnham, only their second loss of the season. Harnham will feel they have a shot at the championship, but Durrington are still a point ahead of their
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Crook's double makes it three in a row for 'Quins
BEMERTON Heath Harlequins picked up their third win in a week when they visited Bournemouth on Saturday. They worked hard on an uneven pitch against a stubborn Poppies side who are struggling at the wrong end of the table. Darren Crook blazed over the
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Mayor to honour Hill as the World Cup comes to market
RUGBY World Cup winner Richard Hill will be at the heart of the celebrations in Salisbury's Market Square next week when the Webb Ellis Cup wings into the city as part of the nationwide Sweet Chariot Tour. Hill, one of the lynch-pins of England's cup
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Allez Les Bleus as England succumb to French double
Emily Cooke in Six Nations action. Picture by SARAH WILLIAMS.THERE was bitter disappointment for England rugby stars Richard Hill and Emily Cooke across the Channel at the weekend in their Six Nations clashes with France. England women's team were denied
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10 years' worth of applications finally pay off
A BUSINESS born in the depths of the recession is celebrating because after 10 years of applying, it has finally been given the chance to exhibit its garden furniture at the UK's most famous flower show. Dave and Tracey Griffiths, both 39, started Rain
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Councillors support arts centre proposal
PLANS for the future of the former St Ivel site in Wootton Bassett are one step closer to being finalised. At a North Wiltshire District Council meeting, councillors backed the idea to build houses on the site and also turn the former Beaufort Brewery
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Chippenham Sunday League
DOG and Fox Ashley remain in the hunt for second spot behind Sherston Town in the Premier Division of the Vanitec Computers-sponsored Chippenham Sunday League after their 5-1 victory over Hullavington. Hullavington, who played the whole game with just
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Ambulance service forum
Members of the public can raise their concerns about Wiltshire Ambulance Service at a forum in Swindon on April 7. The Wiltshire Ambulance Forum will meet at the Arts Centre, Gallery 2, Devizes Road, in Old Town, Swindon at 11am. Forum members will plan
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Piggy tale tells a few porkies
A real life story that featured the heroics of two Malmesbury pigs was always stranger than fiction but now it has been given even more quirky twists by programme makers. The story is set to appear on TV this Easter as DEBBIE WAITE reports SIX years after
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Mobile skateparks to bridge gap in holiday
YOUNGSTERS who have been left without skateboarding facilities in their towns will be able to brush up on their boarding skills after all in the Easter holidays. Special mobile units are to visit Calne and Devizes next week, while churches in Chippenham
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Mid-Wilts Youth and Minor League
CHIPPENHAM Town Youth completed their season on a high by running out 2-1 winners against Trowbridge Town Youth in the under 13s Blue Division of the Wiltshire Times and Chippenham News Mid-Wilts Youth and Minor League. In a very tight game Chippenham
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Six-a-side fun
HIGHWORTH Town are running their annual six-a-side tournament again in June and are invting more teams to join in the fun. The tournament is open to junior teams aged from U6 to Under 14 and will take place on June 19 and 20. Forms can be obtained from
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Move back to real nappies
This week is Real Nappy Week a time to take stock of the environmental cost of using disposable nappies and to check out the wide range of alternatives now available to parents. Nearly three billion nappies are thrown away in the UK every year and 90
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It's time for residents to clean up their act
Councillors fear Wiltshire's growing problem of litter could drive tourists away from the county. Now they are calling for the Environment Agency to get tough and are urging residents to help, as SARAH SINGLETON reports. The scourge of litter is spoiling
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TV seeks out naked truth about life
The BBC is looking for people in Wiltshire who are about to change their lives dramatically, for a new documentary series called Naked Us. The channel is looking for people on the brink of giving everything up and building a new life. They will be looking
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West End Wanderers 5 Chippenham Sports and Social Club 0
WEST End Wanderers outplayed fellow First Division side Chippenham Sports and Social Club in every department to set up a cup final showdown with Second Division leaders Corsham Centre in the Rainbow Launderette-sponsored WG Parr Trophy. Wanderers, who
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Sparrow tops bird survey
COLLARED doves and wood pigeons are now five times more common in gardens than in 1979, according to the results of the RSPB's 25th Big Garden Birdwatch survey. Collared doves, seen in 62 per cent of gardens, have increased by 525 per cent, while wood
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Wing way to thrills
THE only professional wing walking team in Europe will be performing breathtaking stunts at the Kemble Air Show on June 20. Slicing through the sky at 150mph, the Utterly Butterly wing walkers will wave to the Kemble crowd from the top wing of their 1940s
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Youth dance groups are set to defy gravity
YOUNG people from all over the county will be able to take part in a contemporary dance project thanks to a £23,000 grant aid won by the Wiltshire Youth Arts Partnership. The partnership was awarded £19,000 in grants from the Arts Council England South
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Calne's strength in reserve
CALNE Town had a blank weekend but manager Kelvin Highmore used the day off to watch his reserves in action. The club's second string travelled to face Stratton Reserves and their side included returning first-teamer Ben Moore and new signing Charlie
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Corsham Town U18 2 Calne Town U18 0
CORSHAM'S rookies matched the achievement of the first team by reaching a cup final. They won their Wiltshire County Youth Cup semi-final at Corsham's Southbank on Sunday with goals from Liam Phillimore and Scott Lye. Now Brian Bartlett's team will face
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Tripp warns his players
Screwfix Premier Division: MELKSHAM Town travel to Bridport on Saturday looking to make it a hat-trick of wins over the Dorset club this season. Nigel Tripp's troops picked up wins over Bridport at home in both the league and cup but he in not taking
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Winter ban on 4x4s to save ancient track
CAMPAIGNERS are celebrating partial success in their fight to get vehicles banned from what is acknowledged to be Europe's oldest road. Four-wheel drive and other recreational vehicles are to be banned from using a 30-mile stretch of the Ridgeway from
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Friday is the night for taking a chance
Screwfix First Division: WILTSHIRE Senior Cup finalists Corsham Town get back into action tomorrow night when they entertain Clevedon United. Nobby Bush's side will go into the game on the back of a ten-day break but will be without influential captain
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Piggy tale tells a few porkies
A real life story that featured the heroics of two Malmesbury pigs was always stranger than fiction but now it has been given even more quirky twists by programme makers. The story is set to appear on TV this Easter as DEBBIE WAITE reports. SIX years
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Odd Down 2 Devizes Town 2
SEAN Moffatt almost led Devizes to victory in his first match as caretaker boss but they were denied by a last gasp goal. Devizes had fallen behind in the first half but hit back before half-time. They took the lead from the penalty spot in the second
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Teenager's infectious smile was cheer to all
TRIBUTES have been paid to 18-year-old Billy Bedford of Market Lavington who died suddenly. Friends and relatives have spoken of Billy's smile which lit up their lives. Billy was found in his bedroom on March 24 by his mother, Christine, but attempts
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Ready to do any job that will help
IN THE LINE OF DUTY FEATURE: Lt Col Nick Welch, the commanding officer of the RGBW, is a man who is both popular and well respected by the soldiers he commands. He also likes to lead from the front and, five years ago, when the regiment had soldiers in
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A record of honours that's second to none
IN THE LINE OF DUTY FEATURE: The Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment has traditionally recruited many people from the Swindon area. The regiment is in fact one of the youngest in the British Army but was formed 10 years ago from county
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All in the line of duty
Soldiers from Swindon's local Army regiment have received a warm welcome from local people after arriving back in Kosovo to take up peacekeeping duties again. They were called into action following fresh outbreaks of ethnic violence between Albanians
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Traders glad to see meters on the streets
Ref. 29780STRANGE shapes have appeared in Wood Street in the run-up to the introduction of metered parking next week. The new solar-powered meters come into use on Monday as part of a £12,000 council scheme to increase the amount of short-term parking
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Coming of age while keeping the peace
SOLDIER Dean Bird is coming of age in a former war zone today. The former Kingsdown School pupil is helping to contain ethnic tensions in Kosovo as a private with the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment. But his family and fiance Nicky
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It's meals or books
Ref. 29763That is the dilemma faced by a Swindon school which has been forced to raise the cost of dinners by 10p or face making drastic cuts. TWO Swindon schools have been forced to abandon plans to charge children for eating packed lunches in the canteen
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Pub regulars plan a karaoke for Kieran
A Calne pub is helping mother-of-two Michelle Smith raise £6,000 for a specially adapted bathroom for her disabled son. The Kings Arms Pub in High Street is holding a series of fundraising events for the family. Kieran, four, suffers from cerebral palsy
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Opposition to homes builds
OPPONENTS of proposals to build homes on land next to St Mary's Church in Market Lavington have vowed to stand as members of the community hall trust at its next meeting. Trustees present at a public meeting on March 23 welcomed a suggestion that objectors
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Simply capital
MATERNITY unit campaigners lobbied MPs as they took their fight to Westminster. More than 30 mums and midwives fighting to save Devizes and Malmesbury maternity units from closure travelled from Wiltshire to London on Monday. They presented a Gazette
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Volunteers' clean sweep
A SKIP full of rubbish was collected by volunteers during a litter pick day in Waiblingen Way and surrounding streets in Devizes. The litter pick day on Saturday was organised by the Waiblingen Way and Community Residents' Group. Committee member Samantha
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Pupils' diary charts change
PUPILS at Rushall School donned hard hats on Tuesday for a close-up inspection of a £458,000 extension that is going up around their classrooms. Like the TV children's programme character Bob the Builder, they had to wear hard hats to inspect the builders
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Village development plan for old foundry
RESIDENTS of London Road, Devizes, gave plans for 54 homes at Roundway Mill, the site of the Surecast foundry, a cautious welcome last week. Surecast, which proposes to build the houses when it has found alternative premises in the Devizes area, had its
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Car gang grab woman's bag
A 67-YEAR-OLD woman was robbed after a man leapt out of a car and snatched her handbag as she was walking along Bath Road, Devizes last Friday at 1pm. The burgundy-coloured car was carrying four young men and one jumped out of the passenger door and made
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Warning follows suspected overdose
POLICE are warning drug users that there could be a strong batch of heroin circulating in the Devizes area following the death of Richard Pegg. Police are awaiting the results of a post mortem examination and toxicology tests but believe that Mr Pegg,
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Teenager's infectious smile was cheer to all
TRIBUTES have been paid to 18-year-old Billy Bedford of Market Lavington who died suddenly. Friends and relatives have spoken of Billy's smile which lit up their lives. Billy was found in his bedroom on March 24 by his mother, Christine, but attempts
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Children left as orphans by crash
TWO children were left orphaned on Friday when their parents Graham and Nicola Smith died in a head-on collision on the A361 between Caen Hill and Seend Fork. The couple's 13-year-old son Sam was a passenger in the car and is still in hospital recovering
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Despair at dog mess problem
TOWN councillors in Marlborough could be forced to buy a CCTV system to catch dog owners who do not clear up after their pets. On Monday, members of the town council recreation and amenities committee despaired over the number of owners who continue to
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Devoted couple die in car crash
Marlborough postman John Fell has spoken of his heartbreak after his daughter and son-in-law were killed in a car crash on Friday, leaving their two children orphaned. Nicola and Graham Smith, who married in 1985, had been teenage sweethearts and did
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TREE-MENDOUS!
THE Great Western Community Forest has been handed good news. The Government's Rural Affairs Minister Alun Michael has announced all 12 community forests will receive funding for an extra two years. The Great Western Forest stretches from Wootton Bassett
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Walk around to see winged visitors
ORNITHOLOGISTS keen to see birds arriving from their wintering grounds in Africa should head to the Cleveland Lakes Reserve on Sunday for a guided walk. Graham Maples, from Dursley Birdwatching and Preservation Society, will lead the walk to see birds
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Worker has his chance
KAMTORN Ridgers is on track to achieve his dream of becoming a mechanic after a kind-hearted boss saw his plea for help in the Evening Advertiser. In desperation, after failing to find a mechanical apprenticeship, Kamtorn, 24, who lives in Wroughton,
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Group in call for ideas to ensure town is blooming
Flower power could be the key to success for Cricklade this year. The Cricklade Bloomers group wants to get as many people as possible involved in improving the town's environment. They are holding a clean-up week, starting on April 26, and a Freshen
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Out to boost confidence in the police
AN ORGANISATION designed to boost public confidence in the police starts work today. The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) is charged with investigating grievances against forces in England and Wales. For the first time, allegations will
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Eye, eye what's going on here?
Ref. 29720-12A SWINDON opticians launched its new premises in Regent Street by holding a fun day. A street team from Specsavers, including an Ali G lookalike, were handing out leaflets, helium balloons and Specsavers bugs. Practice manager Jackie Molesworth
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Drug rehab not working
A DRUG rehab programme that aims to help criminals in Swindon rather than send them to prison is failing in the majority of cases. A report by independent watchdog the National Audit Office found that 75 per cent of offenders were dropping off the scheme
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Japanese choir shows pupils how it's done
Commonweal School, in the Mall, is to play host to a Japanese girls' school choir today. The Kurume Shin-ai Jogakuin High School Choir, which has been running since 1992 and has won many awards,will perform for the schoolchildren. Swindon Council's music
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Singers pull in the notes
SWINDON Amateur Light Operatic Society this week donated the proceeds of recent concerts to Gorse Hill's Green Hut. The £2,200 cheque came from two shows SALOS performed at the Upper Room above the Savoy, in Regent Street, on March 19 and 20. The Green
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Exploring the final frontier
Outer space seems not so far away thanks to the work of the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council PPARC to you and me which celebrates its 10th anniversary today. ANTHONY OSBORNE reports TWO Swindon research councils are marking their 10th anniversary
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Bid for roundabout to be Heritage site
IT is the shimmering jewel at the core of Swindon's traffic network and now the Magic Roundabout is set to be catapulted to World Heritage status. If the bid for UNESCO World Heritage Site status is successful, the infamous interchange could be ranked
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Civil liberties in wake of war discussed at meeting
THE impact on civil liberties of the war on terror is to be discussed at a public meeting organised by the Swindon Stop The War Coalition. The main speaker will be Matt Foot, a civil liberties lawyer who successfully defended protesters arrested in 2002
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Too many benefits
NOT quite sure about the point of bus driver Bryn Reed's letter. I am aware the council is placing people in so-called 'affordable housing'. Some of them are subsidised, they pay no rent or council tax, such is the case on the new estate on the New College
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World Cup on tour
LOCAL rugby fans will get the chance to be England legend Martin Johnson for the day when the World Cup trophy is displayed in Chippenham next week. The Webb Ellis Trophy has been taken on a whistle stop journey around the country as part of the Sweet
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Young rugby players have got it tagged
IT was rugby all the way last Thursday when more than 250 children took part in the Kennet District Tag Rugby Festival. The annual event was held at Devizes Rugby Club and gave 24 teams of Year Five and Year Six school pupils their first real taste of
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It's villagers who will have to pick up pieces
I have lived in Rowde for over 30 years and I have great sentiment for the village. Since the proposal for a new school came about I have happily sat on the fence as I do not live in close vicinity of the school or to where the proposed new school is
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Town council told hands off
ONCE again Malmesbury Town Council is to attempt to take over the running of St Paul's Without. Might I suggest to Mayor Charles Vernon and the council that they make a better job of running what they have before contemplating taking on something that
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Chippenham U14s 43 Widden Old Boys 5
WITH Maidenhead cancelling their scheduled fixture due to County commitments, Chippenham Under 14s, entertained the Gloucester side, Widden Old Boys at Allington Field on Sunday. This saw the team continue their success for this current season with a
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Animal lover?
WhilE supporting James Gray's campaign on the plight of live export horses it should be remembered that our MP is an enthusiastic supporter and participant in fox hunting, a cruel and barbaric pastime that has no place in a civilised society. What a pity
