RESIDENTS and businesses in Chippenham have been urged to support the town's folk festival to prevent it making a loss. The event, which will cost £78,000 to stage this year, runs from May 31 to June 3. Organiser Bob Berry said it was possible the festival
Thousands of visitors took a look at life in the slow lane when Castle Combe race circuit played host to a two day steam and vintage rally. The circuit has recently been upgraded to international status but at the weekend steam vehicles travelling at
Lee Stevens has been called up into Wootton Bassett's 1st XI for their away trip to Malmesbury tomorrow following his impressive bowling display for the 2nd team last weekend. Figures of 3 for 28 off 12 overs made him the obvious choice to replace the
This weekend's fixture list matches Purton up against Marlborough. The first team travel after an improved performance in last Saturday's game against Hinton Charterhouse. Despite that improvement they are still seeking their first win of the league campaign
Swindon's John Lewis took four wickets as Gloucestershire set themselves up for their first win of the season as Nottinghamshire ended the day 42 runs in arrears with only five second innings wickets remaining. Craig Spearman moved from his overnight
A DRIVER who collided with another car near Corsham is believed to have suffered a stroke. The 68-year-old man was airlifted to the Royal United Hospital in Bath where he is in a serious condition. The accident happened at 2pm on Tuesday on the A4 at
YOUNG footballers are celebrating after a kind-hearted company replaced goalposts which had been stolen. Sneak thieves stole the posts from Trowbridge Town Youth FC and the children were faced with a £500 bill to buy new ones. Then Westbury Park Engineering
A PILOT scheme targeted at combating voter apathy is to be tested for the first time in a west Wiltshire village. Ballot papers for a district council by-election will be posted to the 258 people on the electoral roll in Heywood, near Westbury. Voters
TRADERS in Warminster have reacted angrily to the new parking charges that were slapped on the town last month. From April 1 motorists visiting Warminster have had to pay 25p an hour to park and £1.80 to stay all day. Now councillors and traders have
A HEROIN addict has been jailed for three years after he was caught with £10,000-worth of drugs at his home. Braham Aissaoui, 27, was found to have 474 ecstasy tablets and 231g of amphetamine sulphate when police raided his house, Swindon Crown Court
Two teenagers will have their artwork used on mobile phone accessories. First-year Wiltshire College students at were approached by Westbury-based telecommunications company Pulsair to create designs for mobile phone radiation shields. Nick Hards, 16,
RAPE TRIAL: ANTHONY Joyce has denied that he had seen the 74-year-old woman he is accused of raping as early as 1992. Joyce worked at a south Wiltshire garage where the 74-year-old woman had her car serviced twice in 1992. He said that he would sometimes
RAPE TRIAL: ELEVEN witnesses saw a car similar to that owned by Anthony Joyce near the home of the 74-year-old rape victim. At Bristol Crown Court on Monday, the jury heard statements which the prosecution alleged could place Joyce at the scene on June
RAPE TRIAL: THERE is a seven million to one chance of the DNA found at the scene of a rape belonging to anyone other than Anthony Joyce, a jury heard this week. Joyce, 49, of Neville Close, Salisbury, denies raping a 74-year-old woman in the Westbury
COUNTY CRICKET: WILTSHIRE travel to St Just to take on Cornwall in their second group match in the 38 County Cup on Sunday. Having beaten the Somerset Cricket Board at Chippenham in their first match, Wiltshire are looking to continue their campaign with
CLUB CRICKET: Westbury made three changes from the side that lost to Westlands the previous week. Neil Dolman, Stuart Lewis and Ian Pothecary replaced the unavailable Dave Callaway and injured duo Adrian Kesby and Garrick Hopkins. Frome won the toss and
MEMORIES of the great Avon factory fire in 1966 were brought flooding back as Melksham firefighters from seven decades were brought together. The grand reunion was held at the town's fire station in Semington Road on Saturday, May 11, as old memorabilia
POLICE were called in to break up a 10-strong family row, which threatened to turn into a brawl. Officers from Melksham, Trowbridge and traffic units were called to the incident in Church Lane, Melksham, on Sunday in the usually peaceful neighbourhood
The Royal British Legion will be holding a dedication parade in Melksham on Sunday, May 19. The parade, lead by the Avon Glen Pipes and Drums from Bristol, will leave King Street Car Park at 4.30pm. A service for their New Branch Standard will be held
PLANS for a 17-house development on farmland in Bowerhill have incensed nearby residents. Persimmon Homes have submitted proposals to build up to 17 homes at Bowerhill Farm, near Melksham. Garages and an access road onto the busy Devizes Road are included
UP TO 11,000 leaflets have been sent to residents in Melksham detailing new schemes and projects planned for the next decade. Civic leaders hope the consultation plan will spark renewed interest from the public in the future development of Melksham. CCTV
DETECTIVES have branded Melksham child abuser Dennis Donnithorne "a wicked bully" for ruining the lives of three young girls. DS Dave Martin, of Trowbridge CID, said 48-year-old truck driver Donnithorne had systematically destroyed, bullied and humiliated
DESPITE changes in name and venue thousands of people flocked to the annual Wiltshire County Show at the weekend. The West Woodlands site in Frome was packed with displays as people of all ages gathered to enjoy the entertainment. Amusing the crowds were
A MENTORING scheme set up just three years ago has received a national award for its efforts to help young people stay out of trouble. Wiltshire Youth Offending Team received the prestigious Approved Provider Standard status at the annual awards ceremony
CAN drugs offer a better quality of life to sufferers of alzheimers disease, or do they produce the zombie effect by suppressing behaviour? That is one of the issues set to be raised at a debate on drugs and dementia patients led by Dr Simon Manchip,
A bike pool launched by Wiltshire County Council is designed to make it easier for staff to cycle to meetings. The scheme, based at county hall in Trowbridge, aims to cut down car usage for short journeys on council business. Council chief executive Keith
GOVERNMENT troubleshooters have been called in as the crisis deepens at the Royal United Hospital, Bath. In the last week two independent reports have revealed the hospital is in massive debt and had released inaccurate waiting list figures. This comes
AN APPEAL has been launched by the Wiltshire Rural Music School to raise money for soundproofing so that it can continue to offer musical activities. The school is hoping to raise £10,000 to help fight a noise abatement order banning the playing of all
FOOTBALL: Screwfix Direct League Premier Division champions Bideford completed a league and cup double on Sunday with a 2-1 win over First Division champions Frome Town in the final of the Les Phillips Cup. Alan Chapman and Mike Southgate scored for Bideford
WILTSHIRE failed in their bid to lift the Southern Counties title when they were soundly beaten by South East champions Hampshire at Melksham Town. Mel Gingell's team, crowned South West Counties champions last month, missed top scorer Gary Banks and
SCREWFIX DIRECT LEAGUE: WARMINSTER Town manager Andy Crabtree is fuming with the Screwfix Direct League's management committee after his club were relegated into the Wiltshire League last week. Warminster finished bottom of the First Division with a meagre
FORMER Bath City stalwart Colin Towler has become Chippenham Town's first signing as they prepare for their first season at Dr Martens Premier Division level. The 31-year-old defender helped his former club secure Premier Division survival on the final
A FOOTBALL-CRAZY couple from Chippenham are off to back England's bid to lift the World Cup. Doug and Sandie Webb leave next weekend for Japan and if all goes well they won't be back for six weeks. The couple, staunch supporters of Chippenham Town during
DESPITE changes in name and venue thousands of people flocked to the annual Wiltshire County Show at the weekend. The West Woodlands site in Frome was packed with displays as people of all ages gathered to enjoy the entertainment. Amusing the crowds were
A WARMINSTER school has the finest set of young businessmen and women in all of Wiltshire, it was announced last week. Kingdown School beat off competition from more than 30 other schools to win the county final of the Young Enterprise scheme, which ran
A PAINTER and decorator accused of tying a 74-year-old woman to a chair and repeatedly raping her has denied he was responsible for the attack. Anthony Joyce, 49, took the stand at Bristol Crown Court this week and said he was nowhere near the Westbury
A NEW Automotive Academy to bring out the best in Britain's car manufacturers is part of a £45 million boost for the industry announced by the Government. Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt was yesterday unveiling the long-awaited strategy for
NEW car warranties are getting more generous. Unlimited mileage and free servicing with three year cover are two of the latest offers to surface and the standard of used car warranty deals is keeping pace with them. A quarter of a century ago, the typical
A DAY centre in Bradford on Avon is looking for volunteers who can spare a few hours on Mondays. Cedar Court day centre needs people to help out on Mondays between 9.30am and 4pm, and particularly to help serve lunch between noon and 2pm. The group, which
FIREFIGHTERS battled for more than two hours to save a horse from the Kennet and Avon Canal. Chester, a chestnut five-year-old cross-breed, got himself stuck in thick mud when he tumbled into the canal at Trowle Common on Thursday, May 16. Fire crews
Volunteers have helped Bath Hospital Radio to win a gold award as the top hospital radio station in the UK. Bath beat 200 other hospital radio stations to win £1,000 prize money at an award ceremony in Glasgow. Chairman of Bath Hospital Radio, Nigel Richards
WESTWOOD doll maker Julia Raynor is helping bring joy to under-privileged children in India. Miss Raynor was approached by Somerset Levels Rotary Club to make its contribution for an international doll museum designed to give youngsters a glimpse of people
INSPECTORS have praised Box Primary School for its teaching and its pupils' progress. Ofsted inspectors said they found well-behaved, happy pupils with a positive attitude to work. The team also said teaching standards at the school were good. Their report
CHILDREN who go to Nestlings Pre-school in Staverton clocked up lap after lap of the playground last Thursday, May 9, as they tackled a sponsored bike ride. The children brought their own bikes and trikes to the School Lane pre-school to pedal around
A WOMAN who saved a man from being burned alive was honoured for her bravery on Wednesday, May15. Suzanne Wise, 61, from Bradford Leigh was presented with a certificate from the Society for the Protection of Fire at Bradford on Avon fire station after
RANDLE Williams, who has been charged with his wife's murder, was released on bail after a court appearance this week. The 42-year-old computer software boss from Bradford on Avon is accused of murdering his 33-year-old wife, Natalie. Her body was discovered
I REFER to the letter from Charles Copland-Griffiths (Wiltshire Times, May 10). Steps are already being put into effect to increase the attack on fishing and shooting. I read in the national press a week or so ago that the League Against Cruel Sports
ON behalf of everyone at The Stroke Association, I would like to thank all the readers who nominated people for our 'Life After Stroke Awards 2002'. The awards are held each year and recognise the extraordinary courage shown by people of all ages who
Tuesday, May 21 marks the end of my year as mayor of Trowbridge. Please allow me to use these columns to wholeheartedly thank the people of the town for all the support they have shown throughout the year. Being mayor of our town is a great privilege
MANY years ago Hilperton WI started a Village Scrap Book, a fascinating record of village history, which has been kept up to date ever since with photos, articles, diaries, etc. We are now on the third book. The first volume was placed into the County
THE silent demise of the farming industry is the subject of an unusual art show in a milk parlour near Swindon. Purton artist Toni Robinson is holding the exhibition this week at Hurstead Farm, between the village and Cricklade. Entitled Silent Change
YOUNG mother Helen Ralston died from a rare form of cancer six months after giving birth to her first child, Katie. Mrs Ralston, 29, of Abbey Meads, was a receptionist at the Marlborough doctors' surgery, and had intended to leave written messages for
CONGREGATIONS from Swindon churches will join together on Sunday in a town-wide ecumenical service to celebrate Pentecost. Thousands of people are expected to attend Sunday's open-air worship outside the Steam Heritage Centre from 11am. Among the speakers
ADMISSION prices at Swindon's struggling Steam museum have been put up by mistake. Charges went up by an average of five per cent, against the wishes of councillors who had asked for them to be frozen. The blunder, which could cost £43,000 to correct,
THE former husband of missing Highworth mother-of-four Linda Razzell has been charged with her murder. Glyn Razzell was today due to appear before Swindon magistrates. Linda, 41, a part-time learning assistant at Swindon College, vanished eight weeks
GLOUCESTER have revealed that South Africa international Thinus Delport is in talks with the club over a possible move to Kingsholm. Director of rugby Nigel Melville is looking to strengthen his squad ahead of next year's Heineken Cup campaign and the
A NEW support service for victims of domestic violence has been set up by a group of women from Trowbridge. The women, who have all been victims of domestic violence, set up the advisory group last Friday, May 10, after taking part in a workshop organised
A TEENAGER with learning difficulties failed to stop for police because he was obeying his parents' instructions to take his car straight to a garage. Keelan Shanley, 19, of Hammond Way, Trowbridge, admitted failing to stop when required to by the police
SO that was the season that was. Thankfully, we have made it to the end of what has been a long and frustrating season relatively intact, and can now put the events of a difficult 2001-02 campaign behind us and start to build towards next season. Amongst
YOUNG footballers are celebrating after a kind-hearted company replaced goalposts which had been stolen. Sneak thieves stole the posts from Trowbridge Town Youth FC and the children were faced with a £500 bill to buy new ones. Then Westbury Park Engineering
CAN drugs offer a better quality of life to sufferers of alzheimersdisease, or do they produce the zombie effect by suppressing behaviour? That is one of the issues set to be raised at a debate on drugs and dementia patients led by Dr Simon Manchip, consultant
CRIMINALS across the district have helped to refurbish the new Citizens Advice Bureau in Trowbridge that is due to open later this month. Up to a dozen people serving community punishment orders with Wiltshire Probation have been refurbishing the CAB's
BRASS players from John of Gaunt School in Trowbridge have been invited to play at the finals of Europe's largest youth music festival for the third year running. The brass band is one of eight invited to play at the prestigious National Festival of Music
POLICE are urging witnesses to come forward after a 17-year-old youth was mugged in Trowbridge. The teenager had two bracelets and a leather baseball cap stolen after being kicked and punched to the ground in Innox Road, on May 3. The incident happened
A PILOT scheme targeted at combating voter apathy is to be tested for the first time in a west Wiltshire village. Ballot papers for a district council by-election will be posted to the 258 people on the electoral roll in Heywood, near Westbury. Voters
NURSES at Trowbridge Oaks travelled back in time on Sunday, May 12, to celebrate Nurses Day. The national day is traditionally celebrated on Florence Nightingale's birthday and so more than 15 nurses dressed up in 19th century clothing to commemorate
A Trowbridge man returned to the Spinal Unit in Salisbury on Friday, May 17, to promote Spinal Cord Injuries Awareness Day. Peter Hutchings, 41, has organised the event with Owen Clarke, 70, from Amesbury, to highlight what former patients can do to support
A bike pool launched by Wiltshire County Council is designed to make it easier for staff to cycle to meetings. The scheme, based at county hall in Trowbridge, aims to cut down car usage for short journeys on council business. Council chief executive Keith
A coffee shop with a difference has opened in the centre of Trowbridge. As well as drinks, Caf India serves light meals and snacks, all with an Indian flavour. Owner Shepon Rahman said: "My brother Mijanur runs the Tale of Spice restaurant next door.
HARRY Potter mania swept west and north Wiltshire on Saturday, May 11, when the long awaited video and DVD of the first film went on sale. Copies of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone were released for sale at midnight on Friday. Fans eager to snap
CHILDREN from Newtown School, Trowbridge, raised £100 for the British Red Cross on Friday when they abandoned their school uniform for the day and dressed in red. Youngsters at the school sported red clothing and they all gave a silver coin to the charity
PUPILS at a Trowbridge school were treated to a visit by the writer and poet Colin Macfarlane this week. Mr Macfarlane ran a series of workshops and events between Monday and Wednesday at the John of Gaunt School. Children aged between 11 and 13 were
A Trowbridge father jilted by his married girlfriend was found hanging in the stairway of his home. The body of 46-year-old George Marshall was found by son Shane hanging from the stairway banister by a stretch of blue nylon cord. An inquest, held at
NOW, pay attention. Star Wars Episode II: Attack Of The Clones is the sequel to 1999's Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, which was the prequel to Return Of The Jedi from 1983, which itself was the sequel to The Empire Strikes Back, released in
CHILDREN at Holbrook School, Trowbridge, were treated to a display by Philipo the clown on Tuesday, May 14. Headteacher Christine Wilmott said: "He was entertaining from the moment he entered the room. He juggled five tennis rackets, and a pupil was invited
Swindon Supermarine's titanic battle against the drop has been rendered pointless following the resignation of Bilston Town from the Dr Martens League. Marine staged a magnificent recovery to pull away from the one relegation berth in the Western Division
Swindon Town's Matt Hewlett is still waiting to hear whether the club are willing to meet him half way on his contract demands. Hewlett, 26, was offered a new two-year deal by boss Andy King, but the midfielder requested the club break their contract
Even football agnostics who would struggle to tell the difference between offside and a sideboard will be engrossed in the World Cup. But it might be difficult following the fortunes of Sven Goran Eriksson's boys, because kick-off times in Japan and Korea
CLIVEY's Pond was the venue for last week's Airsprung match where fish proved hard to tempt. Top honours on the day went to Trowbridge's Ian Stainer with a mixture of small carp, roach and skimmers weighing 5lb 6oz 8dm taken alternating with pole fished
THE initials VW conjure up a certain image. But let's think of them separately. The V formation is undoubtedly the most effective engine design, says the German car maker. That's the reason it powers the world's finest limousines. But due to the length
THEY carry the same 'ST' badge, but these are two very different cars. The new Focus ST170 and Mondeo ST220 have been developed for performance and honed to offer two very different driving experiences. ST is Ford's badge which stands for Sport Technologies
THE girlfriend of teenager Jenkins Anderson, who was found drowned in the Kennet and Avon Canal in Devizes, believes his death was an accident. Wiltshire coroner David Masters recorded an open verdict at an inquest, saying there was much that remained
FORMER Status Quo star, John Coghlan will open a summer fete at a residential home this weekend. John left the band as its drummer in 1982 after becoming disillusioned with its musical direction. He went on to pursue a solo career with his own band, Diesel
FOUR men from RAF Lyneham have set off for Kenya in a Hercules to install a new dental surgery in a slum district of Nairobi. And later this year they plan to finish building a school in the same district that will give mentally handicapped children,
VILLAGERS in Purton are combining their annual carnival celebrations with events marking the Queen's Golden Jubilee. The Helping Hand Carnival usually takes place for a week at the end of May or beginning of June, with a procession on the last Saturday
THE funeral of an Italian war hero who saved the lives of 11 of his fellow soldiers was being held at Swindon's Holy Rood Roman Catholic Church today. Father-of-three Eugenio Giorno, 81, who lived in Grosvenor Road with his wife Concetta, died at Princess
THE young people of Cricklade will have more of a voice than ever before if a group of campaigners have their way. A meeting has been called on Sunday to discuss the setting up of a youth council. Aimed at young people aged 11 to 19, it would give extra
ANDREW Lister is the new manager at Swindon's Wyvern Theatre. The 27-year-old, originally from Liverpool, will be undertaking the day to day running of the theatre while general manager Ted Doan remains in charge. Andrew said: "It is a good move for me
A WOMAN was given part of her boyfriend's ear in a pint glass after a fight in a nightclub, a jury heard. Swindon Crown Court heard that painter and decorator James Gibson bit off Mark Traynor's earlobe after a dispute over Mr Traynor's girlfriend, Jane
THE Rector of Avebury, Warren Sellers, took on the role of Dr Dolittle for the morning when he led a pets' service in the grounds of St James Church, with his congregation ranging from hamsters to horses. The last pets' service at St James Church was
ACCIDENTS on the county's roads are claiming an average of a life a week. Now Wiltshire police have formed a new squad to crackdown on speeding motorists and reduce the death toll. Three roving vans with mobile speed cameras and a trailer-mounted automatic
VISITORS to the Steam Museum might have thought the sight of 40 children dressed as Victorian apprentices meant it was about to start employing child labour to ease its financial woes. But the 39 children from Minety Primary School were there to get a
AN exhibition aimed at getting people into Swindon's empty homes is being held next week. Swindon Council, together with the Empty Homes Partnership, is marking the National Week of Action on Empty Homes by holding an exhibition for the owners of empty
THE A419-A417 dual carriageway could be the most expensive stretch of road per mile in the country, according to a local pressure group. Transport 2000 claims the 33 miles of road between the M4 at Swindon and the M5 at Gloucester have been constantly
JUBILEE party organisers in Ermin Street have been cut a break by Swindon Council, which has reduced the charge it is making for their road closure. Organisers of the Ermin Street party were shocked to be landed with a bill for £850 when they applied
MAY I, through your page, welcome the gentleman who has recently bought an apartment in Swindon to the reality of life beyond work in Swindon town of the 21st century. If you wish to spend your life propping up a bar, partying half the night away and
I WOULD like to hear from anyone who knew Minnie Hickson, who died in a home in Swindon in 1994, aged 100. I believe she was an opera singer, and sang with Lillie Langtry. I'd be grateful if anyone who knew Miss Hickson, or knows about her, could contact
Thank you for allowing some motorised users of the Ridgeway to put their point of view in the debate over the proposals for restricting traffic on the Ridgeway. However, I would like to correct the statement in your report that, "Through a quirk in the
YOUR opinion column (EA May 10) suggested the White House Hotel "was never the wisest choice Wiltshire Probation Service could have made as a site for its planned bail hostel." I would like to point out that Wiltshire Probation chose the White House after
LAW and order in this country is fast falling into a state of complete chaos. Every day we read of old ladies being mugged, pensioners robbed and murdered in their own homes, and many other crimes too numerous to mention. We are told that the majority
RUGBY UNION: Chippenham lock forward Martin Walsh has not ruled out a playing return as he begins his recovery from the horrific injury he sustained in the club's play off defeat against Berry Hill last month. Walsh spent 12 days in Bath's Royal United
GRIEVING brother Kiker Singh has spoken for the first time of the feud that ripped apart his Chippenham family. The 35-year-old has revealed that the feud over money did not end with the death of his 51-year-old brother Sawa. Last week an inquest recorded
CHIPPENHAM'S new mayor is Richard Meek. Mr Meek, of Wentworth Close, was officially made mayor last night. His wife Karin, who is also a town councillor, will be his mayoress. Desna Allen was named as deputy mayor. Mr Meek, who has been a town councillor
MORE trains will stop at Chippenham when First Great Western launches its summer timetable. The firm will run more than 200 services each weekday between London Paddington, the south west and Wales. That is several more than last summer and 40 per cent
WILTSHIRE travel to St Just to take on Cornwall in their second group match in the 38 County Cup on Sunday. Having beaten the Somerset Cricket Board at Chippenham in their first match, Wiltshire are looking to continue their campaign with another victory
Last weekend Swin-don's sides played five games and won them all, which should ensure that confidence is high coming into what promises to be a more difficult set of fixtures this week. Highlights last week included Will Nichols' bowling and John Baden's
SWINDON Town director Bob Holt has defended the club's delay in issuing season ticket renewal packs, and insists that loyal supporters will not be out of pocket. Existing regulars will receive their renewal invitations when they are sent out on May 21
PLANS for a skate park in Corsham are going on show. Land has been earmarked for the facility on the Springfield playing field, alongside Valley Road. Town teenagers have designed the ramps and equipment. Details of the scheme are currently on display
CORSHAM is set to rival the likes of Pinewood and Elstree following the announcement that multi-million pound film studios are opening at the town's media park. The new Bath Studios will open in the autumn bringing more than 200 jobs. Film-makers are
YOUNG footballers are celebrating after a kind-hearted company replaced goalposts which had been stolen. Sneak thieves stole the posts from Trowbridge Town Youth FC and the children were faced with a £500 bill to buy new ones. Then Westbury Park Engineering
Two teenagers will have their artwork used on mobile phone accessories. First-year Wiltshire College students at were approached by Westbury-based telecommunications company Pulsair to create designs for mobile phone radiation shields. Nick Hards, 16,
A WARMINSTER school has the finest set of young businessmen and women in all of Wiltshire, it was announced last week. Kingdown School beat off competition from more than 30 other schools to win the county final of the Young Enterprise scheme, which ran
A dog that leapt on a train without his owner and has not been seen since could be in Westbury. Ned, a 10-year-old Labrador Alsatian cross, was with his owner, Jonathan Leach, in Bath when he ran off and he was last seen getting off a train in Westbury
DESPITE changes in name and venue thousands of people flocked to the annual Wiltshire County Show at the weekend. The West Woodlands site in Frome was packed with displays as people of all ages gathered to enjoy the entertainment. Amusing the crowds were
RAPE TRIAL: A PAINTER and decorator accused of tying a 74-year-old woman to a chair and repeatedly raping her has denied he was responsible for the attack. Anthony Joyce, 49, took the stand at Bristol Crown Court this week and said he was nowhere near
CRICKET: Bradford Beehive batsman Micky Spong scored a career best 158 in their victory over Bathford 2nds in last week's Wiltshire League Division Eight programme. Spong, above, hit 12 sixes and 10 fours as he reached three figures in a league match
CHIPPENHAM continued their winning start to life in the West of England Premier Two with a nervy three-wicket victory over Taunton at Hardenhuish on Saturday. Spinners Richard Bates and Jason Searle claimed seven wickets between them as Taunton were dismissed
Volunteers have helped Bath Hospital Radio to win a gold award as the top hospital radio station in the UK. Bath beat 200 other hospital radio stations to win £1,000 prize money at an award ceremony in Glasgow. Chairman of Bath Hospital Radio, Nigel Richards
FIREFIGHTERS battled for more than two hours to save a horse from the Kennet and Avon Canal. Chester, a chestnut five-year-old cross-breed, got himself stuck in thick mud when he tumbled into the canal at Trowle Common on Thursday, May 16. Fire crews
Volunteers have helped Bath Hospital Radio to win a gold award as the top hospital radio station in the UK. Bath beat 200 other hospital radio stations to win £1,000 prize money at an award ceremony in Glasgow. Chairman of Bath Hospital Radio, Nigel Richards
THOUSANDS of nails and screws spilled onto a Melksham road causing traffic chaos as scores of drivers were left stranded with punctures. A lorry shed its load of nails on the A350 at Beanacre last Thursday afternoon, May 14, creating a headache for drivers
A MOUNTAIN bike was taken from a Melksham school bike shed on Friday, May 10. The £450 Saracen Exile was stolen from bike sheds at George Ward School between 8.30am and 10am.
INSPECTORS have praised Box Primary School for its teaching and its pupils' progress. Ofsted inspectors said they found well-behaved, happy pupils with a positive attitude to work. The team also said teaching standards at the school were good. Their report
A MELKSHAM farmer will face trial next week on 21 charges of animal cruelty and farm mismanagement. Lancelot Beale, of Wyatts Farm, Westbrook, near Bromham, is being prosecuted by Wiltshire Trading Standards for a string of cruelty charges. Beale, who
A MELKSHAM mother-of-three will brave the barren and lonely Russian landscape to raise money for a charity close to her heart. Rachael Kilbane, 37, of Spa Road, is aiming to raise £2,500 for a national cerebral palsy charity as her 45-year-old brother
CHILDREN who go to Nestlings Pre-school in Staverton clocked up lap after lap of the playground last Thursday, May 9, as they tackled a sponsored bike ride. The children brought their own bikes and trikes to the School Lane pre-school to pedal around
A BUTCHER expecting a delivery of Chinese chicken got more than he bargained for when two asylum seekers crawled out from underneath the delivery van. Barry Pocock of Pocock Poultry in Shaw, near Melksham, was expecting his usual meat delivery on Wednesday
SO that's it the end of another season and probably not one we will look back on with satisfaction. There has been a lot of criticism, both from papers and colleagues about what has happened this season some of it justified and we have to take responsibility
NATIONWIDE has repelled the latest bid by one of its members to convert it from a building society into a bank. Andrew Muir sent in a resolution ahead of the annual general meeting, on July 25, that the Swindon-based society convert. It was backed by
UNIONS have stepped up their opposition to the Government's controversial use of private funds to build hospitals after a report said the scheme was not value for money. Costs under the so-called private finance initiative (PFI) were almost double those
UNION members at Swindon's Honda car plant are celebrating a £45 million Government boost to the British motor industry. The Department of Trade and Industry is to press ahead with the establishment of a so-called Automotive Academy. Its industry-wide
REPORTS in the national press claiming that householders need licences for compost heaps have been scorned as 'absolute rubbish'. The Environment Agency said that individual householders are excluded from waste management licence controls. West Wiltshire
Officers at North Wiltshire District Council are struggling to overcome a benefits backlog. The council admitted it had failed to provide the usual quality of service recently, because of the high volume of work and staff sickness. The benefits call centre
Volunteers have helped Bath Hospital Radio to win a gold award as the top hospital radio station in the UK. Bath beat 200 other hospital radio stations to win £1,000 prize money at an award ceremony in Glasgow. Chairman of Bath Hospital Radio, Nigel Richards
A baby that is 6ft 2in tall has been born in Wiltshire. The newborn, Shakula which means 'food' in Afrikaans arrived at the beginning of May and is the first giraffe to be born at Longleat Safari Park this year. The female giraffe is the eighth calf to
Police in Wiltshire have embarked on a three-year project to ensure the force is not 'institutionally racist'. The racism audit is required as part of the Race Relations Amendment Act, 2000. It is one of the recommendations to come out of the 1999 Macpherson
D Room writes: "I am so frustrated by the fantastic potential that Swindon possesses, but fails to realise on every occasion." (Evening Advertiser letters, May 14). How right he is. As the number of pubs and clubs proliferate, in the very area where he
FOOTBALL: This year's Chippenham Sunday League six-a-side tournament will be held at West Lavington on Sunday August 11. The event is held annually in memory of former league officer Ken Clarke with proceeds going to the Wiltshire Air Ambulance. Entry
FOOTBALL: More than 2,000 youngsters are expected to take part in FC Chippenham's annual six-a-side festival this weekend. The event has attracted a record entry of 202 teams, with clubs from across the region travelling to take part. Age group teams
TROWBRIDGE Wanderers under 11s have had a fantastic first season at 11-a-side competition by completing a remarkable treble. They have won the Wiltshire Times and News Mid-Wilts Youth and Minor League, the League, League Cup and on Tuesday night at Devizes
CHIPPENHAM Town Youth under 15s will be bidding for a cup double this weekend. Having already won the County Cup, they will be bidding to beat neighbours Corsham Town in the final of the Wiltshire Times and News Mid-Wilts Youth and Minor League Cup tomorrow
Kelvin Highmore will co-manage Screwfix Direct First Division Calne Town alongside Paul Rankin next season after ending a five-year association with Biddestone. Highmore, who led Biddestone to a mid-table finish in the Wiltshire League Premier Division
SCREWFIX DIRECT LEAGUE: DEFENDER Graham Ford swept the board as Corsham Town held their annual presentation dinner at The Southbank on Saturday evening. The consistent left back took the manager's, supporters' and players' player of the year awards after
THE DEATH of the Queen Mother united a nation in sorrow, but while others laid flowers and mourned in their own way, one pensioner from Warminster was busy creating his own personal tribute. John Jones, 72, from Imber Road, Warminster, wrote a letter
Two teenagers will have their artwork used on mobile phone accessories. First-year Wiltshire College students at were approached by Westbury-based telecommunications company Pulsair to create designs for mobile phone radiation shields. Nick Hards, 16,
TRADERS in Warminster have reacted angrily to the new parking charges that were slapped on the town last month. From April 1 motorists visiting Warminster have had to pay 25p an hour to park and £1.80 to stay all day. Now councillors and traders have
MASERATI has appointed NHT Motors of North-leach near Ciren-cester, now a division of the Swindon-based Dick Lovett Specialist Car Group, as their dealer for the South West region. For many, the Maserati marque evokes memories of a glorious era in the
A SMALL piece of history was made at Le Mans recently when the DeWalt Morgan Aero V8 took to the track in preliminary test sessions for the 2002, 24-hour race. The moment marked the return of Morgan to Le Man 40 years after Christopher Lawrence scored
WITH the introduction of a fourth shift, the production of the Peugeot 206 hatchback and new 206 SW derivative at its Ryton plant near Coventry, could create 700 new jobs. The firm says that to satisfy current demand, production will need to increase
Bill Calthrop talks to Chris Lowe, co-founder of Venues Unlimited, about his very rare car, an original TVR 1968 Tuscan V8 SE. How long have you owned the car? I managed to get my hands on it about three years ago. This car has quite a history having
NISSAN could well claim to be a badly misunderstood company. Here it is, producing cars on a pretty massive scale in Britain for the European market with sales that are the envy of many of its rivals. The vehicles it produces are well made and well respected
SUDBURY'S Saab in Swindon is helping commerorate 25 years of Saab turbocharging with the exclusive 9-3 turbo anni- versary model. Back in 1977 Saab introduced a car that permanently changed the face of performance motoring and went on to become an automotive
MERCEDEZ-BENZ is set to launch an exclusive special edition of its sporty SLK-Class Roadster. Only 250 units will be available with a choice of three engines: two-litre supercharged, 2.3 litre supercharged and 3.2 litre V6 with either a six-speed manual
DOROTHY House Hospice at Winsley is turning the clock back 30 years with a glam-house party at Randall's Nightclub, Twerton, on May 31. The venue opens at 8pm with three live bands performing. Local band No Sympathy start the evening with rock covers,
DOROTHY House's annual plant sale took place in Winsley on Tuesday, May 14, and raised £2,700. Organiser Alison Mayall said: "We had many interesting plants this year, including Canterbury Belles and black and white Day Lillies, which are very unusual
TRAVEL choices in Bradford on Avon are set to get more varied as the A2B travel awareness week began this week. The A2B project is aimed at trying to improve the range of travel choices for people living in the town. Project manager, Janet Gascoigne,
SCHOOL children shared 138 tubes of Smarties as charity organisers launched the Dotty Day appeal. Every child at Winsley Primary School was given the sweets by Dorothy House community fundraising co-ordinator, Helen Francis. She asked the pupils to fill
The publication of the Government's white paper on regional governance should act as a very loud alarm call to the people of England. The plan is to divide the country into regional assemblies with no constitutional basis or legislative powers and remove
The NSPCC's latest campaign has shown that the physical punishment of children is not 'common sense'. In fact, not only is hitting children ineffective and a lesson in bad behaviour, most parents, like the NSPCC, agree that it is simply wrong. The Government
I was pleased to read that West Wiltshire District Council is now offering help to community groups by providing tools and advice with litter collection. However, the litter removed is soon replaced by more. It is quite clear that a considerable amount
CAN any readers of the Wiltshire Times tell me who is responsible for changing the names of roads in Bradford on Avon? In front of me there is an official street plan based upon an Ordnance Survey map sanctioned by the Controller of HM Stationery Office
So Wiltshire has come out top of a new league table designed to give a 'true picture' of councils' performances in England. The Wiltshire County Council chief executive, Keith Robinson, is quoted as saying: "We continually strive to provide excellent
FOOTBALL fans flocked to Swindon in person and by telephone for a specialist auction of memorabilia, with many items relating to England's 1966 World Cup victory. The items they were bidding for ranged from collections of old programmes to players' jerseys
Armed with a clutch of clubs, an electric trolley, and iron determination, Vanessa Evans braves the driving range. As captain for women's golf at Broome Manor Swindon, she sets the example and warms up before her ritual 18-hole Sunday round. Far from
CAMPAIGNERS seeking justice for victims of Swindon Disease are today celebrating a double victory in House of Lords. The law lords yesterday made it easier for workers who contracted the asbestos-related cancer meso-thelioma to claim compensation, even
A FATHER today explained why he informed police when he found a drugs haul in his pregnant daughter's bedroom. Kirsty Doole, 19, was sentenced to three-and-a-half-years in a young offenders' institution for using her home as a safe house for heroin. She
CIRENCESTER have two remaining vacancies for their invitation sevens tournament tomorrow. The club have 10 confirmed teams so far including an Army Seven, Worcester, Le Rheu from France and the Royal Agricultural College and would welcome two more teams
A SMOKER desperate to kick the habit stole nicotine patches from a Trowbridge supermarket. At North and West Wiltshire Magistrates Court 18-year-old Darren Milner of Heathershaw, Trowbridge admitted stealing patches worth £17.49 from Tesco. Michelle Hewitt
POLICE were called in to break up a 10-strong family row, which threatened to turn into a brawl. Officers from Melksham, Trowbridge and traffic units were called to the incident in Church Lane, Melksham, on Sunday in the usually peaceful neighbourhood
Two teenagers will have their artwork used on mobile phone accessories. First-year Wiltshire College students at were approached by Westbury-based telecommunications company Pulsair to create designs for mobile phone radiation shields. Nick Hards, 16,
WESTWOOD doll maker Julia Raynor is helping bring joy to under-privileged children in India. Miss Raynor was approached by Somerset Levels Rotary Club to make its contribution for an international doll museum designed to give youngsters a glimpse of people
THE MESSAGE breast is best has been hammered home to mothers across the county this week. Midwives from Trowbridge hospital set up shop in the Shires on Wednesday as they dished out advice on the benefits of breast over bottle feeding as part of breastfeeding
A TEENAGER charged with attempting to murder two Trowbridge policemen has been remanded in custody. Glenn Brightwell, 19, of Charles Street, Trowbridge, is accused of attempting to kill Pc Dave Sharp and Sgt Ron Peach on Friday afternoon, May10. The officers
CHILDREN who go to Nestlings Pre-school in Staverton clocked up lap after lap of the playground last Thursday, May 9, as they tackled a sponsored bike ride. The children brought their own bikes and trikes to the School Lane pre-school to pedal around
POOL players shocked by the death of 32-year-old ace player Paul Rodgers are planning to dedicate a competition in his memory. The father-of-four, who died from a single stab wound to the chest, was one of the founding members of the Trowbridge and District
VICTORY could be in sight for campaigners fighting to keep Trowbridge Magistrates Court open, a campaign which has been supported by the Wiltshire Times. The Lord Chancellor's secretary, Michael Wills, admitted in a parliamentary debate on Wednesday night
AN INVESTIGATION putting the turbulent lives of Trowbridge murderers Timothy Seviour and Jason Lee under the microscope could be completed by September. Childcare organisation NCH was recruited by Wiltshire Social Services last May after the brothers
The Screwfix Direct Western League will be three teams lighter next season, after this year's applicants for the league failed to claim promotion positions. The Screwfix had already lost Taunton Town to the Dr Martens and Yeovil Town Reserves who had
Swindon Town director Bob Holt has defended the club's delay in issuing season ticket renewal packs, and insists that loyal supporters will not be out of pocket. Existing regulars will receive their renewal invitations when they are sent out on May 21
JK Rowling's Harry Potter books have captured the imaginations of children and adults alike. The first movie, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, was released with all the usual hype and blaze of publicity, and there cannot be many people who did
THEY'RE not fools at Skoda. You only have to take a look at how its cars have won awards recently to realise that the management has got things right ever since it became part of the VW organisation ten years ago. So they presumably knew what they were
FOR a car maker which has always seemed to know exactly where it is heading, Germany's VW conglomerate seems to be out of control, racing around in all directions like a headless chicken. The multi-brand organisation VW, Audi, Skoda, Seat, and now Bentley
ONE of the UK's top guitarists, Gordon Giltrap, is playing in Swindon this weekend. Gordon is performing at the All Saints Church Hall in Southbrook Street on Sunday at 7.30pm. Gordon was voted second only to the legendary Eric Clapton in Guitar Magazine's
TOP event rider David Green and his wife Jacky have been through every parent's worst nightmare of having a child go missing. For more than 24 hours, the couple from Ogbourne St George, endured the agony of not knowing the whereabouts of their teenage
EXPERIMENTAL courts to tackle night crime could be introduced in Swindon. Michael Wills, MP for North Swindon and Minister for Courts, is spearheading the night courts initiative, which saw pilot schemes launched in London and Manchester this week. He
THE SWINDON Disability Resource Centre is preparing to close its doors at the end of this month after offering advice and support to disabled people for the past three years. The centre, based in the Brunel Shopping Centre, is run by the Swindon Coalition
EIGHT people applied to be street wardens in Parks and Walcot. Swindon Council mounted a recruitment day for wardens on March 21 and 22. There was a high standard of candidate and jobs were offered to all eight, subject to police checks and references
A Brushcutter machine has been presented to staff of the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust by gas pipeline company Transco at Swindon's Hagbourn Copse. Worth £600, it is used to cut paths through dense grass, weeds and other problem vegetation. The machine will
SWINDON'S history and changes in fortune over the last half century have been reflected in art at a new exhibition. The people of the town were invited to produce their impressions of Swindon's trans -formation from a declining railway town to a modern
INTERNET savvy youngsters from Nythe Primary School have been given the chance to publish their own work on the internet under the Evening Advertiser's Communigate Scheme. Head teacher at the Nyland Road school, Debbie Kelynke, said: "The children have
I was alarmed to read in the report of the 'Green Machine' street cleaner going up in smoke. The reason for my concern is that I witnessed exactly the same thing happen on Saturday. This time it was in Swindon, where I was out shopping with my wife. The
HITTING children must stop Full Stop. The NSPCC's latest campaign has shown that the physical punishment of children is not common sense. Not only is hitting children ineffective and a lesson in bad behaviour, most parents agree that it is simply wrong
THOUSANDS of coloured newsletters have been delivered by a potential housing developer to Swindon residents, headed Swindon Southern Development Area Planning Swindon's Future. This cleverly- worded document attempts to convince us that a 4,000-home development
I AM writing on behalf of Crowdys Hill School to thank everyone in the community who has donated trees, and offered support in providing and planting trees in Crowdys Copse following our recent theft. The school has also benefited from offers for enhancing
BATH are lining up a tough summer tour to France to prepare themselves for next season's Zurich Premiership campaign. A series of matches against Gallic opposition is one of the options available to team director Michael Foley as he sets about repairing
TROWBRIDGE minis celebrated their most successful-ever season with a series of games against youngsters from the twin town of Charenton le Pont. The Trowbridge youngsters have won several tournaments and a record number of players have been registered
AN office block dubbed the ugliest building in Chippenham is undergoing a £1m facelift. Bewley House, which was formerly one of North Wiltshire District Council's offices, is being refurbished and turned into office suites. The Marshfield Road complex
