13820/4GAZETTE & HERALD: Superstore Morrisons in Chippenham could grow half as big again if a major planning application gets the go-ahead. The huge 2,498 square metre extension, which would be mostly at the front of the current building off West
Jazz giant Acker Bilk will appear on November 21GAZETTE & HERALD: Inclusion is the hallmark of Chippenham Festival 2004, with plenty of concerts and events for everyone to enjoy. Tickets for the town's third arts festival go on sale on Monday from
GAZETTE & HERALD: PEWSHAM Post Office will be closing permanently from November 20, Post Office Ltd confirmed yesterday. Councillors, residents, and postmaster Howard Greenman are dismayed at the decision following the three-month consultation period
Lydia CrossGAZETTE & HERALD: A REPORT this week cleared doctors at Chippenham Hospital of blame, after failing to diagnose Lydia Cross with meningitis for three days. The Review Team, from the Primary Care Trust, have come to the conclusion that the
GAZETTE & HERALD: Villagers at Colerne, who wish one day to be laid to rest with their ancestors in the village burial ground, have issued an appeal for a vital extension to the graveyard. North Wiltshire District Council planning officers have recommended
IT CERTAINLY wasn't the weather for swimming when MP Tim Yeo visited Highworth pool. The shadow secretary of state for the environment and transport clutched an umbrella as he heard how plans for a pool roof had finally come to fruition. Residents have
THE future of leisure in north Wiltshire is coming into the spotlight in a major survey to find out what people want to do in their free time and how local leisure centres can meet their needs over the next ten years. The major consultation was launched
PEWSEY carnival queen attendant Josephine Connolly will be heading a group from a local school and pre school on a sponsored walk for Children in Need. The annual televised appeal for children's charity, this year marks its 25th anniversary, will be on
THE first youth drama productions in over 12 years in Pewsey will be taking place tomorrow and Saturday. The three one-act plays, interspersed with dramatised poetry, are being presented by the newly formed youth section of Pewsey Vale Amateur Dramatic
Michael WebbANGRY Michael Webb wielded a machete and headbutted his father-in-law while searching for his wife who had fled the family home in fear. Webb, 36, had earlier punched his wife Claire on the side of the head at their home in Pewsey during an
St Lucian Rene Regis was delighted to get his first win as Chippenham's captain on Saturday. Regis, 30, retained the skipper's armband after he was given it last week for the FA Cup game against Lymington and New Milton. He said: "It was a nice feeling
FORMER Cirencester players James Constable and Matthew Mcentegart can't wait to return to their old club in Tuesday night's vital league game. It will be the first return for both players to the Corinium Stadium since their moves from to Chippenham. Constable
CHIPPENHAM Town boss Steve White is desperately trying to bring in a new striker to boost his attack before Saturday's top of the table clash with fourth-placed Chesham. White is concerned that his three strikers' goals have dried up in recent weeks and
Top quality theatre will be appearing in Malmesbury as the award-winning Watermill Theatre's touring production of The Comedian comes to Malmesbury Town Hall. The production is one night only and takes place on Saturday, October 23 at 7.30pm. The Comedian
14301/4DEVIZES School has officially launched itself as a specialist sports college with an open day when sports such as scuba diving, tug of war and kick boxing were on show. The open day last Thursday was in place of the school's normal open evening
The deadline for primary school applications is drawing near, and it is time for parents and children up and down Wiltshire to make up their minds. Parents of children starting at voluntary controlled or community primary schools in September 2005 should
PEOPLE in Malmesbury have rallied to defend the town's most famous benefactor King Athelstan despite claims that he never fought his most famous battle in the area. The battle of Brunanburh involved the king taking an army of men to finally beat the Viking
GENEROUS Malmesbury businessman Badrul Amin is spearheading a new fundraising campaign to build the first cancer hospital in Bangladesh. More than 150,000 Bangladeshi die each year because hospitals lack advanced treatment facilities. Mr Amin, 40, of
TOWN councillors are looking into the possibility of reopening a market in Malmesbury. Mayor Coun Patrick Goldstone said: "The working group agrees in principle that a weekend market should return but we have not proposed a particular day. While we have
Ex-Olympic swimmer Jaime King will be coming to Malmesbury Swimming Pool on Saturday to help raise money for Burton Hill School in their swimathon for a new school minibus. As well as the Olympian, members of RAF Lyneham, the Army at Buckley Barracks
A NEW plan for the redevelopment of Malmesbury Town Hall was unveiled to town councillors on Tuesday. Two previous schemes were dismissed as financially unviable, but the latest plan is to make the building in Cross Hayes more user friendly and able to
STAFF from a Swindon company have given £1,000 to a medical centre for its pioneering work with burns victims. Employees of Dorcan-based Thermal Transfer, specialist mechanical contractors, won the money in an internal safety competition, after a year
Lydia CrossA REPORT this week cleared doctors at Chippenham Hospital of blame, after failing to diagnose Lydia Cross with meningitis for three days. The Review Team, from the Primary Care Trust, have come to the conclusion that the doctors concerned had
Celebrities are backing a new campaign to get Wiltshire's 11 and 12-year-olds physically active in a bid to stem the rising tide of obesity in youngsters. Children will be encouraged to walk to school, to take up sport and to keep on the move in the Well
14329/01DOCTORS, staff and patients in the Lavington area agreed on Saturday that the five-year wait for their new surgery has been well worthwhile. After years of making do with cramped conditions at the former surgery in Church Street, they were delighted
FAMILIES in the Wootton Bassett area have a chance to learn about learning on Saturday. The Family Learning Day aims to give adults and children a chance to experience different educational opportunities. The idea is that adults will find out more about
The National Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) and the Pre-School Learning Alliance are running a Play to Learn course for parents and carers in Penhill and Pinehurst. The free course aims to teach parents and teachers a greater appreciation
TROWBRIDGE LEAGUE: FIFTEEN-year-old makeshift keeper Stefan Klukowski was airlifted to hospital as the Division Three game between FC Chippenham and Semington Magpies was abandoned on the hour. A collision with his own defender led to the incident. He
CHIPPENHAM SUNDAY LEAGUE: HAVING been close to extinction at the start of the season, West Lavington (Sunday) have turned things around and currently head the Premier Division along with Corsham Cricket Club. Manager Simon Drewitt is leading by example
WILTSHIRE LEAGUE: PURTON Reserves chalked up their first league victory of the season when they beat visitors Shrewton United 4-1 at the Red House. Pete Temple gave the home side the lead on 15 minutes and then paved the way for Adam Woolford to add a
NATIONAL health staff working in Kennet and North Wiltshire and West Wiltshire Primary Care Trusts are to be asked for their views on their working lives. The trusts will send questionnaires to 1,300 employees as part of the second national NHS staff
STRIKER Glenn Armstrong went to the top of the Screwfix scoring charts with a superb double to put Calne back on top of the league on Tuesday. A penalty in the first half and a blistering strike in the second was enough to beat the team from Salisbury
LAST year schoolchildren, churchgoers and other members of the community in Devizes, Marlborough and Pewsey put together 2,500 shoeboxes full of presents that were distributed among underprivileged children in eastern Europe, Asia and Africa. In total
Cricklade went into the break three up with goals from Ben Carter, Ian Ross and Adam Smith and held on in the second half to become the first giant killers of the cup this season. Five minutes into the second half the home side's keeper Paul Warren pulled
14315/3NEARLY 400 people of all ages went bonkers for conkers on Saturday at a family fun day at Westonbirt Arboretum. More than a thousand conkers had been harvested from the arboretum's 102 horse chestnut trees for use in a variety of games. These ranged
STEVE Wootton has decided to stay on as Pewsey manager after showdown talks with his players and his chairman. Wootton had considered leaving the club after last week's crushing 7-0 defeat to the hands of bottom placed Shortwood United. He said: "The
A NEW dawn for the Wiltshire and Swindon Record Office could be the death knell for Chippenham's livestock market. Detailed plans for the new record office and heritage centre on the livestock market site in Cocklebury Road have been submitted and building
14309/1CHILDREN and staff at Lea Pre-School went teddy bear mad last week to support the Forever Friends Appeal at Bath's Royal United Hospital. Around 35 children brought their favourite teddies during the week of Ted's Big Day Out. Donations made by
AFTER being beaten in last season's final by Trowbridge, Corsham manager Colin Bush wants his side to lay the ghosts of defeat to rest this time around. "We did not do ourselves proud in last season's final and I want the players to put the record straight
Celebrities are backing a new campaign to get Wiltshire's 11 and 12-year-olds physically active in a bid to stem the rising tide of obesity in youngsters. Children will be encouraged to walk to school, to take up sport and to keep on the move in the Well
ONE of the great party houses of the early 18th century is being restored so that once again it can echo to the sound of entertainment. Tottenham House was built in 1820s as a place where the 1st Marquis of Ailesbury could stage lavish banquets. Now it
AN Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder sufferer may have breached a three-year-driving ban because his condition caused him to act without thinking, a court heard. Father-of-five Scott O'Connor's Ford Sierra was spotted at a filling station in Dorcan
Ref. 72434-12ELEVEN out of 13 rescued kittens featured in the Advertiser have found new homes. They came from the Teckels Animal Rescue centre near Gloucester but when they ran out of space they were taken on by Latton Cat Rescue near Cricklade. Two kittens
THE FUTURE OF THE POST OFFICE: T will be end of an era for Swindon's oldest post office when the final customer is served next month. Mohibali Nayani, who has been running the Clifton Street branch in Old Town with his wife, Noorjahan, since 1988 said
THE key to the hidden fortune of Swin-don-born actress Diana Dors could be revealed now that her former home is on the market. The Berkshire property, which has remained practically unchanged since her death 20 years ago, is up for sale for £1.5m. Estate
Ref. 72717-33 Detective Inspector James Vaughan addresses a press conferenceTHE BODY of a 44-year-old father of three from Swindon is to be exhumed following fears that he may have died in suspicious circumstances. Stephen Smith, an electrical engineer
GAZETTE & HERALD: The 30th Calne Music and Arts Festival finished on Sunday with a spectacular 15-minute fireworks display to patrons and guests. The festival proved successful with packed audiences throughout the ten days. Chairman Tim Brown was
15970GAZETTE & HERALD: MOTHER-of-two Melanie Gowans has come out of self-imposed retirement to bring her alter ego Marilyn Monroe back to life again. The 32-year-old, of Braemor Road, Calne, hung up her blond bombshell outfit ten years ago before
GAZETTE & HERALD: CALNE has seen a drop in thefts, violent crime and burglaries in the last five months, but drug-related crimes soared by 476 per cent over the same period. Sergeant Nic Shorten told the town council last week that, while police were
14298/1GAZETTE & HERALD: Retired farmer Paul Candy has helped old friends in need after donating the use of his tractor to Calne Town Football Club. Mr Candy, 55, from Quemerford Gate Farm, Cherhill, saw an article in the Gazette two weeks ago about
DEVIZES residents are being urged to take part in a lantern-lit procession that will form the highlight of a Christmas Festival in the town on November 26, which will culminate in the switching on of the town's Christmas lights. Dave Buxton, chairman
A REMARKABLE exhibition by a family of potters from Beaminster in Dorset has just arrived in Devizes. Some 170 ceramic pieces with exciting new glazes and colours are on show until the end of the year at the Wiltshire Heritage Museum in Long Street, the
VILLAGERS at Urchfont near Devizes have been shown two new options for the redevelopment of Manor Farm Yard, described as the quiet heart of the village. Two previous planning applications for 22 homes on the site, nine of them affordable, have been turned
COUN David Wren (Lab, Dorcan) is inviting local group representatives to contact him with plans to form a community association. He wants to meet local community groups and can be contacted on 01793 337591.
RESIDENTS living near Claridge's Pond in Stratton say a gang of youths are making their lives hell. They claim they are being bombarded with noise from youngsters who zoom around on a motorbike and up and down a lane running from Swindon Road to Marshfield
14329/01DOCTORS, staff and patients in the Lavington area agreed on Saturday that the five-year wait for their new surgery has been well worthwhile. After years of making do with cramped conditions at the former surgery in Church Street, they were delighted
IF you've cleared out your children's toy cupboard and fancy making some money why not sell them at a nearly new toy sale? There will be a sale of toys, books and family videos at Wootton Bassett Methodist Church, in High Street, on November 6 from 11am
Dogs roam a urine-soaked room littered with faeces as owner Kathryn Johnson looks on.DOG owner Kathryn Johnson has been banned from keeping pets for ten years after her seven collies were found starving and living in disgusting conditions. Kennet magistrates
EFFORTS to prevent a re-occurrence of the major blazes that have dogged Marlborough throughout its history continue with a fire safety event. It will be taking place on Tuesday between 10am and 4pm at the town hall where a variety of fire prevention and
CELEBRITY chef Keith Floyd has pulled out of his bid to buy Highworth's Jesmond Hotel. The hotel was put up for sale earlier this year by Swindon borough councillor Lisa Hawkes, right, following the death of her husband Maurice. The 16th century hotel
A 16-YEAR-OLD student at Dauntsey's School in West Lavington has the opportunity to be one of the air cadets going to Vietnam. Trystram Negus, from Great Cheverell, near Devizes, is hoping to go to the communist state this month to take part in
SWINDON Lions Club is holding its annual fireworks show on Saturday, November 6 at the Marlborough Road Polo Ground. Proceeds from the display will be used by the Lions Club for charitable causes. Advance tickets are priced at £3.50 for adults and £1.50
14273/01FARMER John Chandler and his family have adopted an unusual pet. A sparrow has become a fully fledged member of the family. The chirpy bird has been nicknamed Cheepy Cheepy and loves to sit on Mr Chandler's shoulder. The bird was brought into
BOOKWORMS in Swindon are set to benefit from a £17,000 cash pot. The cash is the fruit of a new partnership between Swindon Council and the Arts Council For The South West Of England. It's hoped the funding will help lure some of the top literary names
14340/1PLUCKY Mandy Rowley, who has one leg half an inch shorter than the other, is training for one of the greatest challenges of her life. Miss Rowley, of Sheep Street, Devizes, is running the London Marathon next April. She has never run a marathon
APPLICATION is being made in court today for the first anti-social behaviour orders relating to alleged louts from Marlborough. The court will be asked to issue ASBOs on two teenagers, believed to be 16 and 14, both from the Portfields area. The ground
14301/4DEVIZES School has officially launched itself as a specialist sports college with an open day when sports such as scuba diving, tug of war and kick boxing were on show. The open day last Thursday was in place of the school's normal open evening
Kevin Chandler, son of murder victim Karen ChandlerGRANDFATHER Bryan Maloney, who was acquitted of the murder of Karen Chandler, has died of a heart attack, aged 67. After a jury at Bristol Crown Court found Mr Maloney innocent in 2001, police issued
RESIDENTS living near phone boxes targeted by vandals want action taken to stop them from being abused. A kiosk near the Stratton Com-munity Leisure Centre and one by the shops in Grange Drive have been smashed up recently. Some residents say they now
FREE drug awareness training is available in Swindon. The borough's Drug And Alcohol Action Team has organised the training for staff in both the public and voluntary sector. The one and two-day courses are held by the Merus Training Consultancy at various
THINGS are beginning to hot up in the second I'm a Councillor Get Me Out of Here competition, as Swindon school pupils fire more questions at the remaining competitors. Councillors Chris Van Roon, Colin Lovell, Barrie Thompson and Chris Shepherd have
LESLEY Davies has been committed to stand trial at Swindon Crown Court on three counts of taking indecent photographs of children and one of possessing indecent images of children. Davies, 28, of Farrfield, Upper Stratton, was remanded on unconditional
Benjamin JonesGARDENER Benjamin Jones was sacked from his job while he was being questioned by police after firing his shotgun from his flat window. Jones, 29, scared his employer Amanda Sunley who feared for the life of her three children when she heard
THE history of Swindon band XTC is among the specialist subjects for questions in the next edition of Mastermind on BBC2 on Monday. The band, whose lead singer is Andy Partridge, was formed in the town in the 1970s, and went on to become a major force
SWINDON Arts Forum has met to discuss ideas to celebrate Isambard Kingdom Brunel's 200th birthday. The milestone isn't until September 2006 but council bosses are keen to start the ball rolling. Brunel, famed for designing the Great Western Railway, is
14372/4MOTHER-of-two Sarah Gray is disgusted at the drivers who failed to stop when two ponies were running about at the side of a stretch of the A4 known as Death Valley. Mrs Gray, of Clench Common, was with her husband and two children when they saw
A DRIVER, who had no licence, was over the alcohol limit and using a handheld mobile phone was fined a total of £240 by magistrates. Ali Sari, 23, of Goddard Avenue, Old Town, was also banned from getting behind the wheel for 16 months by the Swindon
THERE'S just three days to go until the Swindon Half Marathon on Sunday. Competitors should be thinking about abstaining from alcohol, getting a goodnight's sleep and tucking into high-carbohydrate pasta. Among the crowd of 1,500 runners will be serial
Ref. 72603-4 Janette ChippingTHE NSPCC's headquarters in Victoria Road is a bright and happy place with toys piled in every corner and children's paintings decorating the walls. It offers hope to thousands of Swindon children who have suffered horrific
Ref. 72718-19The new £56,000 play park in Covingham is already a big hit with children, even though it hasn't been hasn't been officially opened yet. Work was completed and fences were removed last week and ever since children haven't been able to keep
GETTING a glass of water in this country is as easy as, well, turning on a tap. But for millions in the developing world, it can mean walking miles to the nearest well and even then the water may be far from clean. The Water Aid charity exists to provide
SWINDON MP Julia Drown plans to expose the scandal of grotty school toilets and the problems they can breed. Ms Drown will be carrying out spot checks on latrines in Swindon as part of the Bog Standard Campaign a national push for better school loos.
Around 35 Swindon singers will be brushing up their Shakespeare next week in the hilarious musical Kiss Me Kate. Swindon Amateur Light Operatic Society is presenting the musical at the Wyvern Theatre from October 21 to 30. Based on the comedy, Taming
AS we move into that time of year when we switch on our central heating, many older people will be wondering how they can afford to heat their homes this winter. With rising energy bills becoming a fact of life, ensuring there is affordable warmth to
THE council has again refused any removal of the trees along the river bank in Coopers Meadow. Only one member of the council, Coun Peggy Dow has visited the affected houses in Town Mill and she was astonished at the height and nearness of the trees as
Chippenham Hi-lights are celebrating 25 years of pantomime to the community and we will be putting on a show at the Neeld Hall on October 28, 29 and 30. We will also be doing a Sunday matinee on October 31 where all our proceeds will be donated to Children
ON the Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary Care Trust, the latest news is that Roger Waymouth, director of finance stepped down from his £75,000 a year post following the National Audit Commission investigation of overspend by £2 million for 2003/2004.
GAZETTE & HERALD: The Vienna Festival Ballet will present Coppelia, at the Olympiad Leisure Centre, Chippenham, on November 2. An amusing story, which appeals to the whole family, the ballet is about an eccentric toy maker who makes a wonderful life-like
GAZETTE & HERALD: Visitors to Lacock Abbey this weekend will find themselves transported back in time to the Victorian era. The National Trust is holding a family learning weekend on a Victorian theme, offering an insight into two very different young
A determined Hungerford were no match for a disjointed Calne, even after the visitors lost tighthead prop Matt Arnold to a calf injury in the warm-up. Number eight Alan Wicks moved to loosehead and Mick Dyer crossed to the tight, but they were further
Chippenham ground out a home victory over their Wiltshire rivals Salisbury on Saturday. Coach Rob Alford, though, was satisfied with their hard-fought win despite the lack of points, and said: "Given the windy conditions, this was a good win for us. "
Three of the Devizes starting line-up reported in injured as a result of the previous day's school matches and two others had been taken ill overnight before this contest on Sunday. The match was played with uncontested scrums as a result, a huge disappointment
DEVIZES Saddlebacks travelled to Sherborne in need of a victory to get their league campaign back on course but they were beaten by a side stronger in most facets of the game. The match was played on a wonderful surface at Sherborne School as the home
MINETY Rugby Club postponed their game against Bournemouth on Saturday as a mark of respect after former player Philip Claxton died suddenly. Claxton, 38, was playing on a golf course in Chipping Norton at a work event when he suffered a heart attack
LAST Thursday I was browsing through the Gazette when I came across an article on fox hunting which included comments that made me choke on my tea with astonishment and disbelief. How on earth can the Rev Chris Mulholland, vicar of St Mary's Church in
I am amazed at all this controversy over moving the Record Office from Wiltshire's county town. Every other record office is in its county town. Cornwall's is in Truro where people who want to use it expect it to be. People from outside Wiltshire do use
Michael Howard in his speech to the Conservative Party conference said, and I quote. "Three weeks ago, on a Saturday night I went out on the streets of Brixton. I saw the problem their community is up against. In two hours we didn't meet a single policeman
GAZETTE & HERALD: A CLINICAL research company in Chippenham shocked its employees by announcing 17 redundancies last Friday, just weeks after a rumour circulated that the business could be axed in 18 months' time. American company, Omnicare Clinical
ONE World Week is fast approaching. In fact it has already begun in Calne and I would like to draw your readers' attention to the programme of events arranged here and in Marlborough. The theme this year is Your Move! There is an emphasis on Movements
GAZETTE & HERALD: A NEW dawn for the Wiltshire and Swindon Record Office could be the death knell for Chippenham's livestock market. Detailed plans for the new record office and heritage centre on the livestock market site in Cocklebury Road have
GAZETTE & HERALD: POLICE are warning people to be on high alert when walking through Monkton Park after a string of muggings took place there in just one month. Last week the Gazette reported the most recent attack, in which a 17-year-old Chippenham
Sally Anne Matthews (14363/1)GAZETTE & HERALD: EIGHT new magistrates were sworn in during a special ceremony at Chippenham Magistrates Court on Monday, and now begin a new voluntary career dispensing justice. The popular image of a magistrate is of
14311/1GAZETTE & HERALD: CANCER Research in Chippenham is being forced to dig deep after an arson attack on the charity destroyed a wheelie bin, two windows and 15 bags of donations. The total cost of the attack last Wednesday night is still to be
Chippenham Town mid-fielder Ben Kirk bares all for the new calenderGAZETTE & HERALD: The wraps are off at Chippenham Town Football Club, where players have stripped to help raise money for the club. The saucy calendar features the footballers displaying
Dr Barney WilliamsGAZETTE & HERALD: DOCTOR Barney Williams, who was recently reinstated as an NHS GP, has been described as a loose cannon and accused of berating patients and breaching confidentiality. Dr Williams, who was sacked by the Kennet and
ANDY King has been offered the chance to sign Rushden & Diamonds midfielder Andy Burgess but only if Rory Fallon is allowed to move in the other direction. And that is something the Town boss won't contemplate at the moment. King had made an enquiry
DEDICATED poppy sellers in Highworth have been honoured for their support. Three supporters were given badges and certificates at a ceremony held at the Jesmond House Hotel. Kirsty Matthews was rewarded for 20 years of collecting, while Hazel Hayes and
FAMILY, friends and well-wishers of Guinness Book of Records founder Norris McWhirter CBE gathered for a memorial service at St Martin in the Fields in London on Thursday. Mr McWhirter, who died on April 19, lived at Kington Langley, and among the 500
MANY people in north Wiltshire are not seeking help for basic problems, according to the Citizens' Advice Bureau. North Wiltshire CAB raised the concern following the results of a survey showing up to 6.5 million people across England and Wales had problems
MATTHEW Nightingale, the new head at Pewsey Primary School, is to hold an open evening to get to know people from the community. Mr Nightingale is throwing open the school on Thursday November 11 from 7pm to provide an opportunity to get to know local
AUSSIE midfielder Matth Mcentegart said two inspirational training sessions during the week were the key to Chippenham's victory at Solihull on Saturday. The former Southend triallist said that there was a good turn out to both sessions. He said: "We
CREWE Alexander is the latest league club to be alerted to the form of Chippenham striker James Constable. Crewe scout Eric Evans was in the stands for the Solihull game on Saturday after being told to keep an eye on the youngster, whose wages are being
CHIPPENHAM'S players had the eye of the tiger on Saturday after listening to songs from the Rocky movie soundtrack before the game. The boxing film's score has taken the place of Rolf Harris as the players' choice of inspirational music in the changing
Law firm Wood Awdry and Ford has taken on new office space at Bewley House in Chippenham for 25 members of staff in the litigation and housing teams. They have taken up the whole of the first floor, which is owned and managed by HPH Commercial Property
GENEROUS Malmesbury businessman Badrul Amin is spearheading a new fundraising campaign to build the first cancer hospital in Bangladesh. More than 150,000 Bangladeshi die each year because hospitals lack advanced treatment facilities. Mr Amin, 40, of
SINGERS from the Morriston Male Voice Choir were in fine voice at Malmesbury Abbey last Saturday. The performance was part of an evening of song to raise money for a new sports clubhouse and facilities at Wortheys Sports Association. The concert also
Philip Claxton with wife Alison and children Mary, left, Tom and Laura on holiday in Florida in February this yearRugby mad former first team flanker Philip Claxton died last week, leading to Minety Rugby Club's game with Bournemouth on Saturday being
JJB Sports, with two Swindon shops, said negotiations which might have led to its takeover have ended. JJB said on October 1 that it had received a possible takeover bid, reported to be by the private equity firm Cinven. The news came on the same day
Ref. 72711-61SWINDON firm MAN ERF is celebrating the biggest contract in its history and possibly the biggest of its type in Europe in the last 25 years. It has been announced that the company, which employs 300 people in Blagrove, is the preferred bidder
Dr Barney WilliamsDOCTOR Barney Williams, who was recently reinstated as an NHS GP, has been described as a loose cannon and accused of berating patients and breaching confidentiality. Dr Williams, who was sacked by the Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary
It's that time of year again. summer's coming to a close, autumn's around the corner. The colder weather is on its way There is a direct link between cold weather and a rise in the mortality rate. As the weather gets cooler, so do we. During winter, we
14347/1Police are urging shopkeepers in Wootton Bassett to be extra vigilant after a number of fake £50 notes were discovered last week. Four shopkeepers in Wootton Bassett and one in Lyneham have been fooled by the fake notes. The counterfeits were discovered
The deadline for primary school applications is drawing near, and it is time for parents and children up and down Wiltshire to make up their minds. Parents of children starting at voluntary controlled or community primary schools in September 2005 should
A new group will hold open its doors on October 26 to support carers looking after people with mental health problems. The inaugural meeting will be held at the Jubilee rooms in Chippenham, from 2pm to 4pm, for carers who attend people with mental health
The English and French enjoyed an entente cordiale when two historic canals were linked in a historic twinning ceremony. The Wilts and Berks Canal Partnership last week signed an Agreement of Friendship with The Association des Canaux Bretons to twin
Burglar Peter Smith who raided 16 houses to fund his heroin habit shortly after being released from prison, may be treated at prestigious rehabilitation unit. Smith, who was jailed in 2002 for 57 house burglaries, had only been out of prison for a few
MID WILTS YOUTH AND MINOR LEAGUE: FC CHIPPENHAM are through to the first round of the Wiltshire Times and Chippenham News Mid-Wilts Youth and Minor League under 11s cup. They had the upper hand in the first half of their tie against Trowbridge Wanderers
It's that time of year again. summer's coming to a close, autumn's around the corner. The colder weather is on its way There is a direct link between cold weather and a rise in the mortality rate. As the weather gets cooler, so do we. During winter, we
IT WAS announced on Friday Wiltshire and Swindon Fire Authority will not be allowed to provide a regional fire control centre. But the fire authority can take some consolation from the fact that bids by its fellow fire authorities in the South West region
RELEGATION awaits Biddestone according to manager Gary Skidmore if they do not improve the form they showed in crashing out of the Wiltshire Senior Cup on Saturday. Biddestone looked in control for the first half and were in the lead through midfielder
THE two Wiltshire amateur sailors taking part in the Global Challenge round the world yacht race continue to do well. Jon Duffield, of Urchfont, is onboard the BG Spirit yacht while former Calne resident Emma-Kate Lacey is a member of the crew on the
A SWATHE of chances went begging as Corsham came away with only a point from Tuesday's clash. The home side took the advantage in the first half, against the run of play, and the visitors came back in the second half with new boy Toby Colbourne grabbing
Devizes avoided their customary poor start on Monday to dwin a passionate derby and go through to the second round. The away team took the lead through Brain Kayll in the first half and had a penalty saved before Melksham came back to level the scores
A FEROCIOUS wind defeated Devizes as much as a spirited Barnstable at Nursteed Road on Saturday. The visitors leapfrogged Devizes in the Screwfix league to occupy seventh spot when they scored a goal either side of half time to put the game out of reach
DERRY Hill FC youth coach and founder member Alan Crocker had the day of a lifetime after being given a top coaching award during England's win over Wales at Old Trafford on Saturday. Crocker, 41, was handed the FA's Charter Standards coach of the year
YOUNG footballers have been left without a kit after their new blue and white strip was stolen. Netheravon U15 manager Donna Jones got home on Sunday evening to discover club's kit had vanished from the boot of her car. Chairman Jim Castle was horrified
Ray Winstone plays a policeman who visits prostitute Jan Graveson for mysterious reasons of his own in EverythingWHEN writer and director Richard Hawkins told his agent he wanted to shoot a feature film in nine-and-a-half days for less than £50,000 he
THE mysterious ghost picture taken at the Red Lion at Avebury by Gazette cameraman John Myers has created international interest. The Gazette's own website www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk had more than 100,000 extra hits within hours of the photograph appearing
Ref. 72712-185EVERY Halloween Swindon's streets are alive with bloodcurdling ghouls, zombies and other hideous creatures enjoying a night of trick or treating. For most children it is an evening of harmless fun, resulting in a hoard of sweets dished out
THE FUTURE OF THE POST OFFICE: POST Office chiefs say "harsh" decisions had to be made over the future of services in Wiltshire. A restructuring and modernising programme meant they had to put their national network of more than 8,400 urban post offices
Ref. 72713-203 UNHAPPY Sue Phipps and Gordon Walters outside Clifton Street Post Office which is due to closeTHE FUTURE OF THE POST OFFICE: Campaigners are angry at the decision to close three post offices in the town despite a big campaign to save them
IT CERTAINLY wasn't the weather for swimming when MP Tim Yeo visited Highworth pool. The shadow secretary of state for the environment and transport clutched an umbrella as he heard how plans for a pool roof had finally come to fruition. Residents have
GAZETTE & HERALD: St Dunstan Church of England Primary School celebrated the formal opening of its new £300,000 building on Monday. The new building, which is designed around the school's logo, the sun, links the infants and the primary school. It
GAZETTE & HERALD: Yatesbury village hall management committee is a fifth of the way towards extending the village hall to include toilets for the first time and to create better access for the disabled. The village hall project got off the ground
GAZETTE & HERALD: Calne Town Council is set to build two new sporting facilities for the public after announcing plans at last week's development control committee meeting. The facilities at Bremhill View and Hillcroft Playing Fields are to include
14313/02GAZETTE & HERALD: Calne company Arrow Tyre Services brought a bit of the speed and thrills of Formula One to the town last week when Michael Schumacher's 2003 racecar came as part of a Bridgestone Tyre deal. Along with the Schumacher's car
14358/1GAZETTE & HERALD: Devoted grandfather David Winter says he has no regrets about giving up his life in Swindon to look after his grandchildren, a year after his daughter died of an asthma attack. Mr Winter, 65, from North End in Calne, worked
A FUNDRAISING concert due to take place tonight at Devizes Town Hall has been cancelled because only one ticket had been sold up to Monday. Pam Chivers-Trevett, who wanted to help the Wiltshire Air Ambulance appeal after paramedics aided her following
DAUNTSEY'S School's veteran sailing yacht Jolie Brise left all the opposition standing in last weekend's Round the Island Race, a 50-mile race round the Isle of Wight. Toby Marris, Dauntsey's head of sailing and skipper of the 74ft gaff-rigged pilot cutter
The Swindon Rangers have launched a project which aims to get under 25-year-olds involved in environmental projects. Environmental groups have set up a number of challenges for those taking part in the project to meet. These include Tree Dressing at Seven
14312/1THE big-hearted people of Devizes are being asked help research into breast cancer and commemorate a local victim of the disease at the same time. All 160 tickets to a fundraising disco, table top sale and auction at Wiltshire police headquarters
MICHAEL Ancram, the Devizes MP and shadow spokesman on foreign affairs inherited the title the Marquis of Lothian upon the death of his father on Monday. The 12th Marquis of Lothian, 82, died peacefully at his home in Ferniehirst Castle in Scotland with
TOWN councillors in Marlborough have refused to reconsider their decision not to fell or trim trees that are keeping natural light from old people's homes. On Monday Coun Peggy Dow, chairman of the town council recreation and amenities committee, asked
GORDON Bridewell from Devizes, Britain's longest surviving liver transplant patient, was delighted to be able to go to Downing Street on Tuesday to help celebrate the tenth anniversary of the NHS organ donor service. Mr Bridewell, 59, underwent surgery
A CHARITY concert in aid of Swindon Life featuring Swindon Male Voice Choir and Pegasus Brass will be held at Holy Rood Church, Ground-well Road on November 20. Tickets, costing £5 for adults, £4 for concessions, can be booked by phoning 01793 522709.
SCRAMBLERS and 4x4 drivers will be swapping engine grease for elbow grease later this month to help clean up parts of the Ridgeway. Twice a year members of the Green Lane Association (GLASS) a national off-road motoring group take part in the green operation
A SWINDON veterinary nurse has won a £1,500 bursary to specialise in animal dentistry. Diane Haynes, who is based at the Drove Veterinary Hospital in Croft Road, was selected by judges as one of two award winners. The bursary will allow her to study for
PHOTOFIT: Wanted youthPOLICE are renewing their appeal for information on two teenage burglars who stole £1,500 and jewellery from the home of Gladys Gibson in Seend. The pair broke into her home on Sunday October 3 at 8pm. One of the youths confronted
AUSTRIAN aristocrat Count Konrad Goess-Sarau has defended his decision to put a six-feet high fence around the home of Philip and Lesley Catling. Last week the couple accused the Count of ordering the erection of the deer fence around their home in Winterbourne
DEDICATED poppy sellers in Highworth have been honoured for their support. Three supporters were given badges and certificates at a ceremony held at the Jesmond House Hotel. Kirsty Matthews was rewarded for 20 years of collecting, while Hazel Hayes and
GRANTS are available for community groups in Highworth. The town council has a small pot of cash to share with societies and clubs. Applications must be received by noon on Friday October 29 to be consider next month. Groups need to state what the cash
PENSIONERS in Highworth can get help with the cost of their Christmas lunch. Every year, Highworth United Churches dishes out vouchers which can be exchanged for meat. Anyone wanting to apply should be at the town council community room between 2pm and
14297/1POLICE constables John 'Geordie' Forster and Ivor Noyce are a pair to be reckoned with as far as crooks are concerned. The detection duo who usually work night shifts together will collect a top award today. They will receive Divisional Commandant
Irish crooner, Brendan Shine, pictured, is making a welcome return to Swindon next month. Brendan is singing at a dance on November 6 at the Grange Drive Sports Centre in Stratton St Margaret. The dance is in aid of the Moloney and McInerney Irish Dance
A SERIES of late night attacks on people and property in Silverless Street, Marlborough, has led residents to set up a Neighbourhood Watch group. Within the space of 72 hours a local man was beaten by a gang of three attackers in their early 20s, a window
NIGHT-TIME entertainment and leisure facilities in Swindon will be reviewed in a major new study. The Night Time Economy Task group has to report its findings to Swindon Council by next March. Topics for examination include does Swindon offer a good choice
14326/1APART from a few words from showmen's leaders and from Marlborough Mayor Graham Francis on Saturday there was nothing to let visitors to the first of the town's Mop Fairs know that it was their 800th anniversary. There was no special pomp and ceremony
THE mysterious ghost picture taken at the Red Lion at Avebury by Gazette cameraman John Myers has created international interest. The Gazette's own website www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk had more than 100,000 extra hits within hours of the photograph appearing
STUDENTS at Faringdon Community School have been given a £10,000 grant. The money has been provided by Barclays through its education sponsorship scheme, Barclays New Futures. The grant will be used to establish the Junior Sports Leaders Awards (JSLA)
SWINDON'S Stop the War coalition is urging people to join an international demonstration against war this weekend. The demonstration, which takes place in London on Sunday, takes place a fortnight before the American Presidential election. Andy Newman
Ref. 28840-13SWINDON is bracing itself for one of the coldest winters Britain has experienced in years. According to so called experts at weather website Metcheck.com temperatures will plummet and we'll be lucky if the mercury reaches six degrees Celsius
Ref. 72706-07A CAF owner is so fed up with the binge drinking culture in Swindon that he plans to stay open at night to offer an alternative nightlife for the over 30s. Matt Lewis, the owner of Bex Coffee, in Havelock Street, hopes to introduce Mediterranean-style
Ref. 72654-29INSIGHTS into black culture were given as part of Black History Month at the Broad Green Community Centre. Visitors learnt African drumming, had their hair braided and listened to talks on black people in history. There will be a Celebration
Ref. 72699-19PUPILS from a Swindon school were winding their way through the town's shopping centre, when they became the first to trek the New Town trail. The Year 6 pupils from Even Junior School were learning about the history of the centre's buildings
WAITING times for accident and emergency patients at Swindon's Great Western Hospital have been improved dramatically, according to a new report. Figures released by the National Audit Office show that 95.3 per cent of patients spent less than four hours
Ref. 72724-43NEWLYWEDS Mel and David King thought they had had the dream wedding until they returned from their glitzy honeymoon. They discovered that the online catalogue, through which their guests had placed orders for wedding gifts, had gone bust.
NATHAN Seymour, from South Marston, has scooped a top engineering prize. The 22-year-old, who is studying agricultural engineering at Harper Adams University, in Shropshire, bagged this year's JCB Group Trophy, along with two others. The trio impressed
Having read the story of the state of the public toilets and the syringes found in them maybe the council should think of supplying sharps bins for used syringes. Although I don't agree with these people using the toilets to take their drugs maybe the
A DRIVE through Cricklade Street shows the building that was Townsend's old public inn is up for development. How many more of Swindon's historical buildings are to be lost before someone realises enough is enough? I have witnessed too many older dwellings
What is the point of installing speed limit signs along a stretch of dual carriageway from Bruce Street bridges to Mannington roundabout on Great Western Way when they are never policed? I strictly adhere to these limits, one being 30mph, the other 40mph
TODAY is World Sight Day and today, like every other day, one person in our world will go blind every five seconds. Yet today, here in the UK, as many as ten million people are putting their sight at risk by not having regular eye tests. That's why on
IS that what poetry is all about? (EA Oct 7, Poet shows write way) "Poems are merely writing stories." Really? I thought one called this prose. If Mr Hillier's statement were true then surely the great poets (Homer, Shakespeare, John Donne, John Clare
In recent weeks the media have exposed the 22-year-old woman who lives with her boyfriend in the Midlands with her six children, (she plans to have more), pays no council rent or council tax and receives more than £2,100 a week in benefits. This year,
I FEEL I have to write this letter as I fear it won't be too long before there will be fatalities on the certain Chippenham streets notorious for being dangerous rat runs. For too long Palmer Street, Lowden, Ladyfield, Audley and Sheldon Road have suffered
LIKE many parents with links to St John's School we were amazed to learn last week that the head teacher had frittered £11,000 on a promotional DVD. What a waste! Especially since hardly anyone is opposed to the concept of the single site school. Dr Hazlewood
Wootton Bassett went down to their second league defeat, losing out 25-13 at fellow Wiltshire side Trowbridge. Bassett's pack secured plenty of set-piece possession in the early exchanges, but they were never really allowed to convert this into a decent
GAZETTE & HERALD: The gala opening of Chippenham's new sports ground, Stanley Park will be celebrated with a grand festival of football involving hundreds of young players. The official opening will take place at 11am on Thursday October 28, with
Malmesbury won their fifth league match with the back row having a field day scoring five of the team's nine tries. Huw Jones scored his first try after seven minutes. David Worker missed the touchline conversion and also missed converting his own try
Chippenham's first game in this year's Bristol Combination Cup against Whitehall proved to be an entertaining game, dominated by Chippenham's forwards and backs. Good forward support play and rucking and mauling provided Chippenham's backs with plenty
GAZETTE & HERALD: FORMER soldier Neil Barton, who carried out a racist attack in a Chippenham takeaway, has again failed to turn up in court for sentencing. The 29-year-old pleaded guilty in July last year to racially aggravated assault and public
GAZETTE & HERALD: STAGE hypnotist Rod Scarth, dubbed Chippenham's answer to David Blaine, has been invited to Sri Lanka to show off his skills. Mr Scarth, of Ladyfield Road, will be leaving his wife Anthea and seven children behind when he heads for
CORSHAM continued their 100 per cent start to the season with a 35-5 victory over Pewsey Vale. In a game officiated by Texan exchange referee Randy Campbell, the home side met a different Pewsey team from the one thumped by Westbury last week. In came
GAZETTE & HERALD: A crack cocaine addict who took part in a raid on the golf academy at Yatton Keynell has been jailed for a year. John Clouter was part of a gang who broke into the driving range and made off with thousands of pounds worth of gear
I MOVED to Chippenham in 1978 with my family. My three sons and families still live there. But I moved to Devizes in 1986. Nearly every week we come to visit and I am appalled at how Chippenham people put up with the state of the town. The toilets at
If Coun Cavill wants his photograph in colour, let him have it. I believe that the dyes used in colour printing are less stable than those used in monochrome depending on the chamber lighting, in around 50 years no-one will be able to see what all the
GAZETTE & HERALD: Poetic twins Alexandra and Oliver Feltham, six, from Kington Langley, scooped top awards in the Wiltshire Libraries poetry competition with their verses about summer. Alexandra won first place in the four to six age group with her
HAVING worked with five different packs of foxhounds over the last 20 years it infuriates me that the Labour Government are hell bent in taking my livelihood away from me. Banning hunting has got nothing to do with fox welfare, as independent enquiries
GAZETTE & HERALD: SOME parents and pupils at Ivy Lane Primary School, Chippenham, have criticised the decision to ban conkers from the playground. Governors and staff imposed the ban on the traditional break-time game because of fears the conkers
I REFER to the article in last week's Gazette and Herald regarding my report to Devizes Town Council on October 4. The article, particularly the lead on the front page, appeared to suggest that it was my opinion that anti-social behaviour orders (ASBOs
