GAZETTE & HERALD: A 33-year-old Chippenham man who admitted making a lewd suggestion to a 12-year-old girl has been jailed for nine months. Swindon Crown Court heard that Danny Rogers, of Portway, Chippenham, was drunk when he crouched next to the
15702/01GAZETTE & HERALD: FANATICAL runner Nicholas Gaulder is limbering up to take part in next month's London Marathon in honour of his mum and fiance who both suffer from epilepsy. Mr Gaulder, an RAF Lyneham communications officer, is hoping to
15688/1GAZETTE & HERALD: BUILDING work on a new £2 million sports hall and education centre for Notton House School at Lacock is underway after the first turf was cut on Monday. Gerry Gamble, headteacher at the residential special school for children
15627/1GAZETTE & HERALD: Dozens of intriguing and colourful old bottles will be on display at Chippenham Museum and Heritage Centre in a new exhibition next week. An anonymous local collector, who has amassed a horde of old bottles, has generously
GAZETTE & HERALD: BRAVE George Mitchell, who has a cancerous brain tumour, has spent four days in hospital fighting an infection brought on by a line into his chest needed for his gruelling chemotherapy treatment. George, three, is battling the infection
Station Commander Paul Oborn arrives at the opening of the inquest 15716/6GAZETTE & HERALD: WIDOWS of the servicemen killed in the RAF Hercules tragedy in Iraq broke down yesterday as more traumatic details of the crash came to light. At the collective
Gerard MacMahonGAZETTE & HERALD: SHELDON headteacher Gerard MacMahon has been so worried by Jamie Oliver's school dinners TV documentary that he wants to ban chips from his Chippenham school. Mr MacMahon wants to stop chips from being dished up but
GAZETTE & HERALD: BEAUTY queen Sarah Bligh competed in a Bath pageant on Friday night - but missed out on the top spot. The Miss Wiltshire winner failed to make the top five but her sponsor, Bob Barber said she won in the crowd support department.
SAM Parkin's travel plans today involved nothing more adventurous than a trip to Town's training ground as deadline day dawned. The 24-year-old knows matters could be taken out of his hands if an irresistible offer is slapped on the table, but if he is
GAZETTE & HERALD: IT will be life on the ocean waves for a family in Corsham who scooped the top prize at the RYA Dinghy Sailing Show this month. The Coombs took home a brand new Laser Pico sailing dinghy after being picked in a prize draw, which
GAZETTE & HERALD: GEORGE Mills, Corsham's Twinning Association vice chairman, has called on young people to get involved in the 25th anniversary of the town's relationship with its French counterpart. Mr Mills, who went on the original visit to the
COUNCIL manager Laurie Bell picked up a prestigious national award from comedian Lenny Henry. Mrs Bell, one of North Wiltshire District Council's four strategic managers, has been awarded Local Government Manager of the Year at a ceremony in London. She
COMMUNITY and voluntary groups in North Wiltshire are being urged to apply to the district council for funding towards their projects. North Wiltshire District Council's five area committees are inviting applications for consideration during 2005/2006
Householders in North Wiltshire should put out their refuse as normal over the Easter period, because collections will operate on both Good Friday and Easter Monday. The kerbside recycling scheme, operated by Hills Waste, will also operate as normal on
POLICE want to speak to anyone who witnessed an alleged racist incident in Pewsey at about 8.30pm on Sunday. Two local men, both in their twenties, have been arrested and released on bail while police inquiries into the incident continue. Sgt Andy Peach
STEVE White sent out his secret weapon to help protect his team's lead at Gloucester new boy Sam Bailey. Bailey, who signed earlier this month from Bath City, is a hate figure at Gloucester after he was involved in a headbutting incident with one of their
BATH City manager Gary Owers is hoping to boost his side's promotion chances by beating Chippenham. The two arch rivals clash tomorrow, kick off 3pm, with Bath sitting four points away from the play-off places. The match between the two sides at Twerton
BLUEBIRDS chairman Sandie Webb said the club could not survive if it were not for the efforts of its diehard fans, who have raised more than £52,000. She spoke as the club's lottery, run by fan Dave Johnson celebrated its third anniversary last week.
CONFIDENT manager Steve White says his side are just two wins away from achieving his target of a play-off place after Chippenham tamed the Tigers on Saturday. The win puts them on 67 points with a 12-point gap over sixth place Merthyr Tydfil. Although
STEVE WHITE COLUMN: DERBY games at any level are always played with a huge amount of spirit and are great for the fans. We are hoping to have about 2,000 people there tomorrow and that will be fantastic. I am not worried about the game. I am sure it will
KENNET has become the last area in Wiltshire to get a savings and loan co-operative run by local people for the benefit of local people. The Kennet Credit Union was formally launched on Tuesday in Marlborough. Chairman Tom Welch welcomed supporters and
A START could be made on the first buildings on the new Marlborough Business Park by early summer, the Gazette has learned. Town councillors in Marlborough have been puzzled why work on the business park in Salisbury Road came to a halt once the access
Plans have been submitted to North Wiltshire District Council for a single- storey extension at the Old Bell Hotel for a function room. Hotel director Simon Haggarty compared the proposed expansion to the Tardis time machine in the BBC's Doctor Who programme
Car parking supremo Ross Henning's plans to introduce hefty charges into Malmesbury's car parks have been universally opposed by the town's district councillors. North Wiltshire District Council proposed charging for the long stay car park at Station
SPEED was the cause of a head on road crash at Callow Hill, Brinkworth, in which pensioner Brian Selman died last June, an inquest heard in Salisbury on Tuesday. Mr Selman, aged 70, of Kirkstall Close in Toothill, Swindon, died from multiple injuries
15660Persuasive Hullavington villagers have convinced local building suppliers to donate free materials for a new bus shelter. North Wiltshire MP James Gray officially opened the new shelter last Friday. This example of a community working together began
15673/4CYCLIST Peter Lambert is fighting the scourge of heart disease by getting on his bike and riding 1,700 miles from Calais to Rome. Joining Mr Lambert on the adventure will be Chippenham men Richard Brunning and David Bourne. They will depart the
Intrigued town councillors have welcomed a radical proposal from Kings Church to salvage the town hall, after the district council quashed a plan from Centrex, the charitable body set up to save the building. Malmesbury Town Council is allowed to manage
Swindon Film Festival will be held in November this year and will see events at venues all over Swindon, including the Arts Centre, Cineworld, the University of Bath in Swindon and the town centre. Last year the festival was opened by Richard Kiel, who
The time when Wootton Bassett High Street will be adorned with a new musical clock is edging closer. Wootton Bassett and District Rotary Club have been granted planning permission for the tuneful ticker which will commemorate the 100th anniversary of
CAMPAIGNERS fighting for an all singing all dancing arts centre in Wootton Bassett are calling for support once again as demolition work on the old St Ivel site begins in earnest. Initial demolition work on the 27-acre site began last Monday and is expected
15631/1Staff and pupils at Longleaze Primary School are basking in the glory of a glowing Ofsted report. The fear-inducing inspectors spent three days at the Wootton Bassett school in February but the report shows that there was no reason for worry in
Father Neil Twine with children Jack, Lauren, George and Harry and wife Alison (15705/2)The Twine toddler triplets and elder brother Jack have been filmed putting dad through his paces for a new ITV programme Mum's On Strike. On Friday mother-of-four
15662/04Wootton Bassett residents turned out in force to view development proposals for local beauty spot Brynard's Hill and put forward their views. Nearly 200 residents visited the two- day exhibition at the mayor's parlour organised by developers Wainhomes
ST John Ambulance want to recruit motorbikers from all over the county to act as the first response to road traffic accidents. They will be launching the new course on March 30, designed to train motorcyclists how to respond to any accident scene they
The new Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre has come one step closer now a contractor has been appointed to build it. Wiltshire County Council has selected Cowlin Construction to build the new facility on the former livestock market site in Cocklebury
THE new chairman of Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary Care Trust is promising to get out and talk to staff and patients. Professor Alastair Bellingham, 66, will take up his £19,454 a year part-time post on May 1. Prof Bellingham, who lives near Salisbury
AN 87th minute winner plunged Pewsey deeper into relegation trouble after a controversial defeat to fellow strugglers on Saturday. Vale had two players sent off for dissent and conceded from a dubious free kick late on as manager Steve Wootton is preparing
LOCAL government strikes against Government pension plans were called off on Friday following John Prescott's decision to talk with unions. Hundreds of council staff from North Wiltshire, Kennet and Swindon were prepared to go on strike and march through
BIDDESTONE'S future in the Screwfix First Division was secured on Monday after league officials decided not to relegate any teams this season. The decision was made to increase the Western League from 40 to 42 teams at its board meeting. The league's
THE Corsham bandwagon kept rolling on Saturday as a last minute goal from John Eldred sunk Bridgwater. In recent weeks Corsham have played all of the top six sides, drawing with Frome and Exmouth. But more impressively they have conquered table toppers
Station Commander Paul Oborn arrives at the opening of the inquest 15716/6WIDOWS of the servicemen killed in the RAF Hercules tragedy in Iraq broke down yesterday as more traumatic details of the crash came to light. At the collective inquest of the ten
CHIPPENHAM SUNDAY LEAGUE: BOX Rovers celebrated a remarkable victory after defeating Bradford News 2-1 with just eight men. They arrived at Trowbridge Road with nine players after late cancellations, and when Sam Lye was forced off through injury 15 minutes
MANY schools across Wiltshire say they have already got the healthy eating message and are doing their best to outlaw junk food. In Calne headteachers say they are firmly behind Jamie Oliver's programme with one saying it is the responsibility of parents
15698/1WILTSHIRE'S director of education Bob Wolfson has been out and about sampling school meals as the debate over the nutritional value and quality of food provided for pupils reached Westminster. Mr Wolfson said he had been planning to visit schools
MELKSHAM boss Lee Burns is hoping his team will get revenge in the derby clash with Devizes on Monday. Burns was playing at centre back when Devizes came out 2-1 winners at Nursteed Road thanks to a controversial winner. The referee ordered a player off
15707/1THE bus service that provides Marlborough's only public transport link with the Great Western Hospital in Swindon could be withdrawn, it has emerged this week. The Number 70 service provides 16 out of the 27 daily buses between the two towns, but
SWINDON residents have the chance to raise any concerns about health care in the town. Members of the public are invited to an open meeting of the Swindon Primary Care Trust. A public question time will be held at the beginning of the meeting at 9.30am
SWINDON residents are being urged to return a survey about housing. Many of the people sent a housing needs questionnaire in February have not yet returned them to the council. The survey, the first since 2001, is a rare opportunity for people to contribute
YOUR Swindon Your Verdict was the first major survey of Advertiser readers conducted in Swindon, and aimed to find out what was most important to residents here. Reporting in February, it took the temperature of the views of almost 900 people, a cross-section
Winners and runners up collect their awards from Advertiser editor Mark Waldron and Mayor Peter Stoddart Picture: CLARE HOMER Ref: 76660-26THE first ever Community Champion Awards have honoured people in Swindon. At a ceremony at Swindon Council's Civic
EXPLOSIVES experts at Cranfield University in Shrivenham are playing a part in eliminating the world's landmines. The ordnance and explosives experts have teamed up with Disarmco, a de-mining company to develop the next generation of anti-land mine device
THE brother of a woman gunned down with her 17-year-old son by her estranged husband, is preparing to take his complaints about the police's handling of the tragedy to the Government. Frank Mullane of Old Town, whose sister, Julia Pemberton, was murdered
GAZETTE & HERALD: Calne Rugby Football Club has been awarded £612 from the National Lottery to run after-school rugby sessions for children from seven local primary schools. The schools being visited from the club are St Dunstan, St Edmund's, Heddington
GAZETTE & HERALD: TEENAGERS involved in creating a snooker hall in Calne are hoping a second snooker star will soon be putting in a guest appearance. Trowbridge-based snooker star Stephen Lee, who is ranked nineth in the world, last month opened Make
GAZETTE & HERALD: Animal lover Tom Baker, who has been ordered to move his pet ravens to stop them annoying a neighbour with their calls, says it would be cruel to move them while they are nesting. Mr Baker, 55, who runs an animal sanctuary at Stockley
GAZETTE & HERALD: POLICE are appealing for witnesses after two police officers and two door staff were injured during a fight, which spilled out from a Calne nightclub into the street. Police believe the fight began inside the White Hart Hotel, in
ST Peter's Church in Bath Road, Devizes, is to get its own resident priest after nearly three years. Since Father Leslie Attwood left in October 2003, the congregation at the Anglo-Catholic church has been served by a team of visiting priests. But there
PHILIPPA Riseley-Prichard has opened her second NHS dental practice in Devizes but her list is already full. After a battle with planners at Kennet District Council, who originally told Miss Riseley-Prichard that her plan to convert the former Cook's
BAKERY worker Adam Rose, 19, has been convicted of assaulting a man in a late night attack. But a jury at Swindon Crown Court on Friday cleared his father Kevin of any wrongdoing in the incident involving builder Roy Wylie. The father and son, of Waylands
DEVIZES father of four David Harrison killed himself by driving his car at speed into a railway bridge near Market Lavington. An inquest into Mr Harrison's death heard no other vehicles were involved. Police accident investigator PC John Milner said there
THE Marlborough Gardeners' Fair will be celebrating its eighth year on April 17. The fair is taking place at Marlborough College and more than 60 exhibitors will be selling a wide range of plants, outdoor furniture, garden antiques and other gardening
DEVIZES man David Johnson has been jailed for three years for his part in a drive-by shooting that left a 14-year-old boy scarred for life. The boy had to undergo surgery and is peppered with scars on his back and buttocks after being fired at with a
15657/2A DEVIZES nursery is just one of ten in Wiltshire to gain a prestigious award. St Joseph's Nursery, formerly pre-school, has been given the Pre-School Learning Alliance accreditation award of excellence in childcare. Nursery manager Delia Hatala
THE Civic Society in Marlborough has been wound up because of a lack of active support. The decision to end the society was taken at a special meeting held before the annual general meeting at the Merchant's House on Thursday. The society, which was founded
A 17-year-old Melksham teenager is in a serious but stable condition after a car crash at Bishops Cannings near Devizes in the early hours of Friday. She was a passenger in a silver Vauxhall Corsa, which left the A361 as it drove towards Devizes at 1.20am
DEVIZES Town Council is to object to the controversial plans by Kennet District Council to introduce car parking charges in the Market Place. Councillors on the town council's planning committee met on Tuesday and were against the prospect of charging
A ROYAL Marine from Great Bedwyn has lost his licence for failing to provide a breath specimen following an accident in Marlborough in February. James Nash, 20, from Castle Road, pleaded guilty at Kennet Magistrates Court in Devizes on Tuesday to careless
BANK customers in Devizes have been asked to look carefully at their automated telling machines before inserting their cash cards. Posters are going up all over town warning local people Don't Be A Victim of Crime. The campaign is the brainchild of police
THERE was standing room only at West Wiltshire Crematorium in Semington yesterday afternoon as family, friends and acquaintances bade farewell to young mum Julia Smith, who has died at the age of 27. Soldiers from the 1st Battalion of the Royal Gloucestershire
ANGRY traders fear their businesses could be hit over the Easter weekend because of traffic chaos caused by temporary traffic lights in London Road. The lights have been installed by Wessex Water as it completes a ten-month project to replace the water
Firefighters tackle flames among the blackened timbers of the cottage in Easterton (15683/6/1)A LISTED thatched cottage was destroyed by fire on Saturday just two weeks before new owner Robert Trevis moved in. Mr Trevis, a barrister, had spent months
TEENAGERS in Marlborough are to get the chance to go clubbing thanks to a new scheme pioneered by the Azuza night club and town police. The young people aged between 13 and 16 will be getting their own regular club nights, which will be known as Bluez
15663/8CHILDREN who went down to the woods in Savernake Forest on Saturday had a really big surprise Easter eggs hidden among the greenery. The Marlborough and District Branch of the National Childbirth Trust held what was believed to be the town's first
OFFICERS in Marlborough are tracking down an increasing number of offenders, town councillors were told by local police commander Jerry Dawson. Insp Dawson said the detection rate for domestic burglaries had gone up from 15.4 per cent last year to just
OVER the Easter holidays there will be a special quiz trail at Lydiard House. In each of the state rooms, children must find hidden painted eggs to solve the clues. The Easter Eggstravaganza quiz trail is available at Lydiard House from tomorrow to April
15642/4THE benefits to Marlborough of the annual Summer School at the town's public school are incalculable, says its director Jon Copp. The 2005 summer school at Marlborough College will be the 31st since the idea was first tried out. Other public schools
15707/1THE bus service that provides Marlborough's only public transport link with the Great Western Hospital in Swindon could be withdrawn, it has emerged this week. The Number 70 service provides 16 out of the 27 daily buses between the two towns, but
Ann Holloway and Debbie Bradshaw, of Nationwide, help Shauna Burgess and Harvey Mitchell unwrap the TV/DVD player the firm has donated to the hospital Picture: SIOBHAN BOYLE Ref: 76596-41CHILDREN at the Great Western Hospital have been given a boost,
Easter bonnet winners Hannah Almond and Charlie Martin Picture: MATTHEW SWINGLER Ref: 76608-19YOUNGSTERS from King William Pre-School enjoyed a day of Easter activities in the Town Gardens. All twenty-four pupils of the playgroup, based at the Savernake
Teaching assistant Trish Evans and Karl Egerton are safely harnessed Picture: STUART HARRISON Ref: 76636-71SPECIAL needs children had a great afternoon at the fair with the mayor of Swindon. Coun Peter Stoddart invited children from Brimble Hill School
Elton John who is to give a concert at the County GroundTICKETS sales for Elton John's appearance at the County Ground are selling faster than a piece of crocodile rock at a reptilian beach party. Concert promoter Ben Martin, of Marshall Arts, said that
THREE quarters of 14-year-old girls in the south west have had a one-night stand, according to a new survey. Swindon has the second highest teenage conception rate in the south west. Latest figures show there are 48.6 conceptions per 1,000 young women
A HEROIN addict who squandered nearly £80,000 on drugs could face jailed after he failed on a drug treatment and testing order. Mark Ellis inherited a £200,000 house and £79,000 in cash when his mother died from cancer. But the 34-year-old has got through
RE: Faringdon Road. It's no big mystery really, pinch it in to make it impossible to exit from Cambria Bridge Road. Send all the traffic along Albion Street to make that a rat run, then you can close Cambria Bridge Road to build all the new flats and
I HOPE the bus accident last week was not the accident waiting to happen. Seventy pupils, one driver, no supervision. I know it was a different bus company but the question is was Mr Telford right to do what he did? Of course he was. The authorities are
GENERALLY, as a pensioner I think the recent budget was quite a good one. However, I was disappointed that Mr Brown put a penny on a pint of beer and 4p on a bottle of wine. When he did so, he should have made the proviso that one penny meant one penny
I REFER to Mr K Ratcliffe's letter (EA, March 10) in which he says he enjoys the letters of Mrs Lubin and myself, peculiar though our opinions are to him. Wanting to help get one's country back on its feet after a war what's peculiar about that? And hoping
ONCE again, a Conservative councillor uses your letters page to evade responsibility for the inefficiency of Swindon Council. Although Steve Wakefield (Letters March 14) appears to accept that this Labour Government has increased funding for Swindon by
JOHN Thompson has forgotten the support given to the Conservatives by country voters. Not an action of a section of the community that suffered under them, however at least Mr Thompson agrees with me that Gordon Brown is manipulating the system. What
Devizes U15 manager Roy Farrant used this friendly as a warm up for next week's France tour, giving his whole squad a run. Even so the Saddlebacks were far too strong for Bradford-on-Avon, scoring eight unanswered tries. Bradford held their own against
GAZETTE & HERALD: Young musicians from Chippenham's French twin town La Fleche will join in a concert with members of CLOGS in the Neeld Hall. More than 100 visitors from the Loire region will arrive at Abbeyfield School, Chippenham, at around 5pm
Bassett last played Corsham earlier this year with Corsham claiming a narrow 7-5 victory but this time Bassett took the honours through a brilliant second half performance at Ballards Ash. The final score for this match disguises a solid first half performance
AFTER winning the Bath Combination Plate last season by defeating Stothert and Pitt, this win sets up another possible trip to the Rec for the Saddlebacks, but in the main cup draw. Devizes outplayed their Bath opposition in the first half of Saturday's
GAZETTE & HERALD: MORE than 25 students from Wiltshire College Lackham are due to finish a 24-hour ploughing marathon today. The students started ploughing at midday yesterday in fields lining the A342 between Chippenham and Devizes and hope to plough
Having not had an outing since early February, Calne were narrowly beaten a larger and more organised pack at their Recreation Ground. Two early unconverted penalties from both sides were indicative of the even early exchanges but a turnover moments later
BATH Combination Cup holders Chippenham have taken a massive stride towards retaining the trophy for a fourth consecutive season. The win against higher league opposition in this quarter final tolls well for the Wiltshire side should they make the South
GAZETTE & HERALD: Brave Chippenham postman Steve Lyon who jumped into a river to save a toddler from drowning, has been named the bravest postman in the country. Mr Lyon won first prize in the bravery section of a national competition organised by
WE may be coming into the off season, but the next two months loom as the most important in Simon Whatling's career. The England under 21 centre and former Devizes School student wrapped up a successful Six Nation's campaign on Friday night with a solid
GAZETTE & HERALD: CARER Susan Carter has been jailed for nine months after she admitted stealing thousands of pounds from an 86-year-old widower. She plundered the bank account of elderly Ivor Coates to fund family holidays and finance her gambling
ALL-CONQUERING Marlborough Tigers were crowned the kings of the county at the Wiltshire RFU U12 Rugby Festival. After a superb display of tackling and work rate, the youngsters from Marlborough edged the final 5-0 against a resilient Devizes side at Chippenham
Your correspondent Coun Charles Winchcombe writes (Gazette, March 10) that I do not attend Devizes Town Council meetings other than on exceptional occasions. This is true, but then I am not a member of Devizes Town Council. Equally, Coun Winchcombe is
GAZETTE & HERALD: The Royal United Hospital in Bath has agreed to pay out a six-figure sum to the family of Chippenham mother Helen Cooper who died of breast cancer after medical negligence. Helen Cooper, of Danes Close, was 51 when she died on September
ACCORDING to a report in last week's Gazette & Herald Dr Simon Burrell is already pre-empting the decision of the Primary Care Trust in respect of community hospitals so much for in-depth consultation. He says that "community hospitals were designed
GAZETTE & HERALD: Residents of The Hamlet are campaigning to protect their narrow road from drivers who break the law by taking a short cut through the restricted road. Paul Vincent, who lives in The Hamlet, Chippenham, took a petition to Wiltshire
Lucy MaullGAZETTE & HERALD: STRAIGHT A grade student Lucy Maull cut her own wrists and wrote a message in blood on her teacher's car window, Chippenham magistrates heard last Thursday. Nineteen year-old Maull, of Cheney Manor Road, Swindon pleaded
GAZETTE & HERALD: CHIPPENHAM'S Caledonia Dental Practice will be taking on 2,000 new NHS patients when its new Polish dentist can find somewhere to live. Dariusz Giej is currently living in bed and breakfast accommodation and says his quest to find
GAZETTE & HERALD: A DRIVER was taken to Swindon's Great Western Hospital with neck injuries after an accident involving two cars on Friday evening. The woman had to be cut out of the wreckage after the vehicles collided at the junction of the A3102
15717/03GAZETTE & HERALD: The village of Lacock will be adorned with more than 40 colourful scarecrows for the third annual Lacock Scarecrow Trail, which kicks off on Good Friday. The event attracted thousands of participants last year raising £3,500
GAZETTE & HERALD: FOLK duo Tom Napper and Tom Bliss will share their passion for the culture of Britain's islands when they perform at the Pound Arts Centre in Corsham. One of the most successful folk duos in the UK, they will entertain with an evening
GAZETTE & HERALD: FORMER pupils of Box School are organising a reunion in a bid to boost funds needed to finance three new classrooms. The school needs to raise £50,000 to pay for the extension, which is set for completion in June. Bob Hancock, 64
15695/02GAZETTE & HERALD: CORSHAM School has dominated a recent educational table and been crowned the third best school in Wiltshire. Knocked off the top spot by two grammar schools in Salisbury, the visual arts college at The Tynings, Corsham scored
15674/03GAZETTE & HERALD: TWO runners from the Corsham area are to compete in the Flora London Marathon for the first time. Both competitors have been running seriously for less than a year, but will be meeting the challenge in just three weeks. Ann
15655/2AFTER five years trying for a baby, Cheryl and Alistair Walker couldn't believe their luck when they discovered they were finally going to be parents. Nine months later little Zara was born and for six weeks, the family was like any other. Then
Plans have been submitted to North Wiltshire District Council for a single- storey extension at the Old Bell Hotel for a function room. Hotel director Simon Haggarty compared the proposed expansion to the Tardis time machine in the BBC's Doctor Who programme
DOG owners in Pewsey are being implored by their parish council to clear up after their pooches. Members of the parish council are asking dog owners to make sure that if their pets foul in public places that they bag it and bin it. Parish councillor Vince
WINGER Scott Walker plans to be 100 per cent fit to face old club Bath City on Good Friday. The winger has been on the sidelines for the past month, suffering from an ankle injury. Walker, 24, was on the bench for Saturday's win at Gloucester. The midfielder
STRIKER David Gilroy believes the battle for the Southern League title is now a two horse race. Histon have closed the gap on Town to five points after their 1-1 draw at Banbury on Tuesday night and still have two games in hand over the Bluebirds. But
CHIPPENHAM Town will face Swindon Town in the Wiltshire Premier Shield Final at the County Ground, Swindon, on Tuesday April 5, it was announced yesterday. Town boss and Swindon legend Steve White is looking forward to a return to his old stomping ground
Malmesbury town councillors have debated the merits of twinning the town with its namesake in South Africa. Malmesbury Twinning Association has been seeking ways of furthering the relationship between the two for several months. Coun Glyn Davies, joint
Malmesbury will benefit from 30 more parking spaces when a temporary Station Road facility opens on April 1. The car park, costing £10,000, is expected to stay open until September as an overflow measure and will hopefully alleviate parking difficulties
An alcohol exclusion zone in Malmesbury will reduce petty crime by dealing with louts and under-age drinkers, according to councillors, police and publicans. They all spoke out in favour of the ban as members of North Wiltshire District Council's Malmesbury
Sophie, Alice and Alice with their prizes at Malmesbury Library (15708/02)Kids have been drawing on their artistic abilities as part of a competition to colour in and name a new dinosaur rug in Malmesbury Library. Librarians decided to buy the colourful
Plans to relaunch Malmesbury's controversial market this weekend have been cancelled, to the delight of many traders who feared it would affect trade. Original plans for a market split the town and led to former mayor Charles Vernon being banned from
THE key to getting a job in Swindon is to make sure you are happy on a computer. That's the advice of the manager of the town's Manpower branch, who says that there are many high-calibre candidates around for the jobs available. The firm says that employers
The 40th anniversary of Father John Reville's ordination to the Roman Catholic priesthood has been celebrated by a packed congregation at Sacred Heart Church, Wootton Bassett , where he has been parish priest for nearly three years. Since retiring from
Wootton Bassett School pupil Charlie Humphries has won a competition to see her art work immortalised on the front cover of the new Made In Wootton Bassett Area directory. The 14-year-old year nine pupil was selected as the winner for the design a logo
A DOCUMENT detailing an important chapter in the history of Winterbourne Monkton has turned up after being missing for nearly 200 years. The lost enclosure award record for the village was discovered in the records of a Berkshire solicitor. Landowners
Youngsters in Wiltshire who enjoy writing are being invited to use their creative skills in a major writing contest organised by the Department for Education and Skills. Any budding JK Rowlings and Philip Pullmans are challenged to complete a piece of
MEMBERS of the National Union of Teachers (NUT) from Wiltshire will be attending its annual conference in Gateshead over the Easter weekend. The conference will debate issues around the use of teaching assistants and the union's position that each class
GRANGE Junior School produced top marks to win the regional final of the English Schools FA under 11s six-a-side Cup. The route to the final has seen them play other schools from Swindon, Wiltshire, and the south of England. The format for each tournament
MID WILTS YOUTH AND MINOR LEAGUE: U9 League Cup semi final - PENALTIES were all that could seperate AFC Corsham Jaguars and Trowbridge Town Youth Blue in a an entertaining tie. Alfie Cross had given Corsham a half time lead only for Trowbridge to cancel
CHRIS Jones is not giving up the fight for survival yet even after watching his Wootton Bassett side suffer a shambolic 5-0 mauling at the hands of Slimbridge. The men from Rylands Way stay rooted in the bottom two in the Hellenic Premier ten points from
FED-UP boss Gary Skidmore blasted his inconsistent defence as Biddestone's three-match unbeaten run came to an abrupt end on Saturday. Biddestone, who cannot now be relegated this term (see story, right), had fought their way to three well- deserved draws
WILTSHIRE'S leading archaeologist Roy Cranham is giving the last of the winter lectures at Lackham Museum of Agriculture and Rural Life on Tuesday at 7.30pm. The Ancient Field Systems of Wiltshire is a fascinating illustrated talk presented by the county
A FRUSTRATED Kelvin Highmore has challenged his strikers to regain their early season form following a recent goal drought. Calne have scored just seven times in the last six league matches and the statistics are frightening the manager. He wants his
WILTSHIRE County Council wants to raise awareness of the help available to elderly people suffering from abuse. The awareness drive is linked to this year's Comic Relief campaign against abuse of the elderly. Thelma Claydon, Wiltshire County Council planning
WALKERS are being invited to retrace the route of a former waterway through Wiltshire's beautiful countryside to raise funds towards its eventual restoration. The Wiltshire and Berkshire Canal Trust is holding its second annual sponsored walk, along a
DEVIZES boss Mark Godley has hit out at member's of his club's committee after his players were criticised by them as they left the field on Tuesday night. Devizes were robbed of a point after high flying Bristol Manor Farm stole the points with a fluke
15714/02THOUSANDS of runners were cheered on by spectators as they pounded the streets of Bath for charity during the half marathon on Sunday. In sunny conditions runners from all over Wiltshire joined others at Great Pulteney Street before running for
Doctor Who returns to TV this Saturday, 16 years after it was axed. It features Christopher Eccleston as the Doctor and Swindon's Billie Piper as his sidekick. She tells of her delight at winning the iconic role LANDING the part of Rose Tyler, the latest
MANAGER Colin Bush has warned his Corsham players that he will not allow their season to turn into an anti-climax. His spoke after the goalless draw with mid-table Backwell United at the Southbank on Tuesday night The boss fears his side may be getting
WILTSHIRE LEAGUE: HAT-TRICKS from Stratton's Rick Casey and Rich Carter kept the club's season alive when they beat Purton Reserves 6-0 in the semis of the Corsham Print Senior Cup. Bottom-of-the-table Purton faced an uphill task after just 13 minutes
POPULAR Corsham assistant manager John Woods spoke for the first time this week about his battle to beat cancer. Woods, 33, went to watch his Corsham teammates play on Saturday just hours after being released from Bath Clinic after completing his first
TEENAGER Chris Allen is taking a step closer to his dream of becoming a professional football after he was accepted on to Swindon Town's Youth Training Scheme. The 16-year-old, attacking midfielder, of Teasly Close Devizes, was told his good news in a
THE Labour Party has protested against the decision by Kennet District Council to close a number of rural polling stations. Labour's prospective Parliamentary candidate Sharon Charity said the decision would disadvantage elderly people and others who
KENNET has become the last area in Wiltshire to get a savings and loan co-operative run by local people for the benefit of local people. The Kennet Credit Union was formally launched on Tuesday in Marlborough. Chairman Tom Welch welcomed supporters and
Shoppers in Swindon town centre Picture: MATTHEW SWINGLER Ref: 76648-47BUSINESS IN SWINDON: SWINDON could be on the threshold of a new boom. The new owners of the Brunel Centre have pledged to improve shopping in Swindon and are just one of a number of
A WROUGHTON man is appearing in court today charged with sexually assaulting a 71-year-old woman in front of others, and performing an indecent act in front of two children. Wayne Underwood, 46, of Thorney Park, also faces a charge of exposure in front
Gary Goodall with his pregnant girlfriend Rebecca Kennedy and their 11-month-old daughter Rhiannon Picture: MATTHEW SWINGLER Ref: 76332-21A SIXTEEN year old girl pointed a knife at a pregnant woman's stomach and threatened to stab her unborn baby. The
GAZETTE & HERALD: CASTLEFIELDS Canal and River Park Association (CARP) has announced detailed plans for a new pocket park. CARP received planning permission early last month and has now produced the detailed plans, which are on show at Sainsbury's
15656/3GAZETTE & HERALD: TWO girls from St Mary's School in Calne are likely to be the youngest female competitors in the Devizes to Westminster Canoe Race which sets off tomorrow from Devizes Wharf. Cordelia Dolan, 16, from West Kington, near Chippenham
GAZETTE & HERALD: SPRINGFIELDS School in Calne, which is hoping for specialist sports status, has been given a cheque for £5,000 raised from the town's mayoral ball. As part of her year as Calne Town Mayor, Coun Carol O'Gorman chose Springfields as
15676/2GAZETTE & HERALD: TEACHERS at Fynamore School in Calne are to help one of their students raise money for her operation. Schoolgirl Ellie Brown is six weeks through a life-changing treatment, which her parents hope will remove part of a huge
THE Rising Sun pub in Devizes reopens today with a new landlord, Gary MacMartin. Mr MacMartin, who also runs the Four Seasons pub in High Street, Devizes, has spent tens of thousands of pounds on refurbishing The Rising Sun. Punch Taverns, which owns
SALES consultant David Challinor will experience isolation as he attempts to be Devizes' David Blaine. Mr Challinor will sit in the window of the Thomson travel agent where he works in Wine Street on Saturday, April 2 from 9am to 5.30pm. He will be allowed
THE organisers of Devizes Boys' Brigade are calling on all former members to contact them as the organisation prepares for its 75th birthday. Group leaders Peter and Marion Hughes are planning a special reunion party at the Wyvern Club in Church Walk
CHARITY shop manageress Emma Seabright who stole almost £18,000 from the takings, has been jailed for a year at Gloucester Crown Court. Emma Seabright, 26, formerly of Paganhill, Stroud, in Gloucestershire, but now living at Lower Foxhangers Farm, Rowde
CONCERNS have been expressed about the way Erlestoke Prison is being run following an incident on Monday when a prisoner was found hanging. The prisoner, thought to be in his twenties, was being treated at Salisbury District Hospital as the Gazette went
THEY look like the original Fab Four, John, Paul, George and Ringo, and they even sing like them: the Bootleg Beatles are to appear in Marlborough. The group, arguably the best known Fab Four tribute band, will be performing at the Memorial Hall at the
15659/2RESIDENTS of Kennet looking to get or keep fit and find the right way of doing it have been aided by the launch last week of a sports website. People looking to have fun and get trim over the spring and summer can now log on to www.sports-central.co.uk
THE headteacher of Lavington School has expressed his annoyance that one of his staff has painted the institution in a bad light. Martin Watson said that criticisms levelled by Liz Greed, who teaches at Lavington, over the lack of support for teachers
15648/3A 19-YEAR-OLD student from Poulshot, near Devizes, has been selected for the semi-final of a national competition for the sexiest specs wearer in the country. Stephanie Clarke, who has been wearing spectacles since childhood, was chosen from 2,000
A START could be made on the first buildings on the new Marlborough Business Park by early summer, the Gazette has learned. Town councillors in Marlborough have been puzzled why work on the business park in Salisbury Road came to a halt once the access
THREE men who stole a generator attached to a mobile phone mast near Marlborough were swiftly arrested because the equipment was fitted with a tracking device, magistrates in Devizes heard this week. Paul Parker, 24, and his brother Andrew, 26, both from
POLITICAL affiliations went out of the window when Marlborough town councillors selected Bryan Castle to be their next deputy mayor on Monday. Tradition also fell by the wayside when councillors nominated two members to serve as deputy mayor, causing
15654/3YOUNG soccer players at St Nicolas School, Baydon, have a spanking new strip to walk out in thanks party to the generosity of the Nationwide Building Society. The Swindon-based building society match-funded the Friends of the school so that the
LARGE-scale engineering work could disrupt Easter train travel for any Swindon residents travelling outside the area. Network Rail has announced a programme of works for the West Country. Routes affected over the Easter weekend include the lines between
15658/1WILDLIFE artist Joanna May is finding new success with lifelike and almost life-sized paintings of African wildlife. Miss May, who runs her own gallery in Hughenden Yard off Marlborough High Street, is already acclaimed for her paintings of British
THE Ramblers are meeting at Coate Water Country Park on Easter Sunday, by the Rangers Centre, for a five-mile walk at 2.30pm. "The route has a couple of short hills, several stiles and some soggy bits, said leader Pat Crabb. "We shall cross fields to
TREASURE hunters are invited to take part in the Nine Elms pub's first sortie across north Wiltshire. Up to 50 cars can take part and participants will travel from west Swindon to Minety. The hunt is to raise money for Great Ormond Street Hospital. Organiser
SWINDON'S Clivey Credit Union will buy new equipment after a cash boost. The union will get a new computer and printer after being given a £700 community dividend grant from Oxford, Swindon and Gloucester Co-op. The credit union is a financial co-operative
SWINDON Council has welcomed a new debate about how social care is provided in the future. In a new green paper on adult social care the Government says that people using social care services should be given individual budgets so that they can buy in
WITH carp hardly showing, results in the Ivy House Lakes AC match at Ivy House were much closer than usual. The winner was Julian Heaver with 13lb 6oz from peg 21. Andy Dixie was second with 12-9-0 (23), and Dick Young was third with 10-10-0 (13). Jo
HEALTH bosses are urging people to turn over a new leaf and sign up for fitness classes to fight against everyday blues. Mental health agencies concerned that we may be getting more pessimistic about life have teamed up with North Swindon Library to offer
Andy Pett and Tiggy York with their trophy at Riff's in Greatfield Picture: SIOBHAN BOYLE Ref: 76655-33WHEN Andy Pett took over a country pub near Swindon his thoughts turned to a life of ploughman's lunches and pints. But rather than take the all too
A CORONER has recorded an open verdict in the inquest of Shrivenham-based skydiver Stephen Hilder, who plunged 13,000ft to his death. The 20-year-old died at Hibaldstow Airfield, North Lincolnshire, in July 2003 after both his main and reserve parachutes
THE crew of a Lyneham-based RAF Hercules which crashed in Iraq killing 10 servicemen sent a distress signal eight minutes after it took off, an inquest in Wiltshire heard. The content of the signal was not revealed but no further contact was made and
THERE could be traffic hold-ups in Old Town when Devizes Road is closed next week. The road is being shut off to traffic because of emergency repairs. Drivers will be diverted in different directions to avoid the popular route. Devizes Road will be shut
A horse-drawn hearse makes its way to St Mary's Church Picture: SIOBHAN BOYLE Ref: 76641-89A HORSE-DRAWN hearse helped give Purton farmer John Scott a proper send-off when mourners gathered for his funeral yesterday. Mr Scott, who wrote a book about his
Floyd Hendricks at the internationally renowned course at the Town Hall Picture: STUART HARRISON Ref: 76637-10A SWINDON man who swapped agency work for an international dance career is fighting to save the course that led to his success. Floyd Hendricks
TORY leader Michael Howard has sparked a war of words with Swindon police by claiming the town is becoming more violent. In an exclusive interview with the Advertiser, Mr Howard insisted crime will be a crunch issue for Swindon voters at the general election
SWINDON is winning the war against under age boozers who flout the law by buying alcohol. Trading standards officers say the number of positive test purchases for alcohol is plummeting meaning fewer young people are getting served. Chief trading standards
COMMONWEAL School rocked to the beat of the Battle of the Bands. More than 30 students from across the school's year groups competed, playing original and cover songs, raising £200 for Red Cross overseas relief work. The concert was intended to enhance
I AM trying to trace any family of my great-aunt Charlotte, nee Sparey, who lived in Downing Street, Chippenham, during the early 1950s. I think she died circa 1953. Unfortunately I do not know her married name. Charlotte, known as Lottie, was born in
I WOULD like to say a big thank you to all the people who gave a donation to Viva! on Saturday March 12 in Swindon town centre. A total of £83.30 was collected and I can assure you it will be put to good use. I would also like to thank all who stopped
I HAVE read with interest the letter from Terry Gaylard (March 17) regarding the condition of the old Devizes Assize Courts in which he advocated demolition of all but the faade. I share all his recollections of the courts from the perspective of the
Last Saturday, March 19, as I was travelling back into Devizes along Bath Road, I encountered an estate car travelling in the opposite direction on Prison Bridge (adjacent to the Black Horse public house). The driver of the other vehicle was engaged in
SWINDON finished bridesmaids for a second successive year as they went down to a last-gasp try in Sunday's Dorset and Wilts Vase Final in Corsham. Trailing 15-5 and 22-8 in the first half of a rousing decider, the Greenbridge Road side hauled themselves
Chippenham made a slow start playing against the wind and Worcester kicked for position in the first half. After being caught offside at a ruck, Worcester went ahead by three but on the whole defence dominated and that scoreline remained until half time
GAZETTE & HERALD: FIREFIGHTERS wearing protective gas proof suits were called to a factory on Bumpers Farm, Chippenham, on Saturday following a toxic spill. The building was evacuated as two teams of two fire fighters entered the building to clear
RUGBY rules in one house in Devizes where brothers Bryn and Sam New squabble over who brings home the most silverware. Scrum-half Bryn, nine, and younger sibling Sam, seven, both captain the Devizes team at their respective age groups. But they could
AT last the roadworks in Curzon Street, Calne are complete as far as the movement of cars is concerned but what a lot of work was entailed and how fortunate we were to have such a good workforce and with the weather on our side. The roadworks were finished
GAZETTE & HERALD: THE man trying to get an after-school club for children with special needs off the ground in Chippenham says he thinks a play leader has been found. After months of advertising, Jon Kingaby said someone had finally come forward to
Do others share our concern about the practice of Kennet District Council demanding a contribution towards parking, road improvements, schools etc not directly attributable to a development? McCarthy and Stone's objection to paying this charge reported
THE wearing of the Wiltshire regiment cap badge by Michael Jackson is an insult to all of us, who were privileged to do so, in peace and war. The initials AEA in the centre stand for Albert, Edward, Arthur, the old Duke of Edinburgh, not the present and
GAZETTE & HERALD: GAZETTE readers have rushed to help single mum Joanne Simpkins buy a special pushchair for her disabled daughter Danielle. Danielle, eight, has Rett Syndrome, a complex neurological disorder which means she can't walk or talk. Ms
We would like to thank all those who helped to make last Saturday's Fair Trade Fiesta in Marlborough the success it was. Lots of people dropped in to our Fair Trade caf, bought the many cakes and cookies (made using FT ingredients), crafts and clothing
15714/02GAZETTE & HERALD: THOUSANDS of runners were cheered on by spectators as they pounded the streets of Bath for charity during the half marathon on Sunday. In sunny conditions runners from all over Wiltshire joined others at Great Pulteney Street
Pensioners will be pleased that the budget is giving some light relief from the increases in council tax. The Conservatives are offering to help, too. However, we have seen little if any mention of the council tax revaluation which is due to start on
A HOTCH potch of a policy. I refer to the articles in the Gazette and Herald on March 17. A visit to Devizes, a shopping trip, a coffee perhaps or/and a lunch date at the Bear Hotel or wherever was a leisurely affair. No more. It now becomes, according
I WAS interested to read your report of the recent Marlborough Town Council meeting where a debate took place regarding how the council proposed to mark the decommissioning of HMS Marlborough. I believe it is important for the people of Marlborough to
